The Shadow Prince (Heartspell) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jan Zimlich (Author)

Book Description

Series: Heartspell | Publication Date: September 2002

When a beautiful Arizanti priestess is left to die on the windswept steppes of the Median Empire, she learns that the only salvation for her life and heart is the youngest--and darkest--prince of the land.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A DARK PACT

The second son of the king, Adrik should have been an honored prince of the Median Empire. Instead, he was sacrificed at birth to his father's lust for power. He became the property of Malkaval--was raised as that great demon's own, and was taught the ways of sorcery. He locked himself away in the gloomy halls of Khorazm, a recluse, never once forgetting his purpose: Someday he would enter the Shadow Realm, trade places with his master, and be damned for eternity.

AN EMBER OF HOPE

His black fate kept Adrik from others. There was no solace for a man like himself--no matter how powerful he became, what magic he might conjure in long lonely nights. Then he met a woman--a stunning beauty, blond and magnificent--who streaked into his life like a dying star. And she needed him. The Arizanti priestess was everything he'd ever dreamed of, and she sparked in Adrik a terrible desire for freedom. For the first time, he dared to hope that their love might overcome the darkness.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Love Spell (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0505524856
• ISBN-13: 978-0505524850
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,555,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I did not like as much as her previous titles., January 8, 2003

By 

Sarah "sssspro" (North East, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shadow Prince (Heartspell) (Mass Market Paperback)

To start, I realize that this book was written as a fantasy/sci-fi story but I had a hard time reconciling this fact when reading. There is a note from the author about being interested in a battle that took place in the 500's BC, in the region which is near present-day Afghanastan. Because of this, I was confused as to whether this story was supposed to be loosely based on fact or was pure fiction. That being said, most of the weapons and some of the clothing sounded much more Medieval than ancient and again, I had a hard time reconciling everything as I was reading.

Adrik and Lorienne were interesting characters, but I never felt like I really got to know them. They rarely talked to one another, so when did their relationship grow? Time passes but not much is said and done. Many opportunities were lost to develop more engaging characters. So on the romance side, there seemed to be a lot lacking.

The fantasy/sci-fi element was done fairly well and what kept this story at three stars for me. The premise of the story is very promising. Ancient curses, magic (from the Magii tribe), wickedly shallow and mean enemies and a damsel in distress. Not a bad mix. There was one surprise at the end which I did not anticipate, and enjoyed as well. This is not the best book I have read from Ms. Zimlich, but if you are looking for an OK read to pass the time, this is not a bad choice.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zimlich at her best!, September 5, 2002

By 

Jann M. "Mrs Mo" (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadow Prince (Heartspell) (Mass Market Paperback)

In her usual inimitable style, Jan Zimlich has penned a classic tale of anger and betrayal, love and passion. Set in a time all but forgotten except by those deeply in love with history, THE SHADOW PRINCE is almost fairytale like, and Lorienne and Adrik are so real they'll tear at your heartstrings. Tender, poignant love scenes will have you sighing deeply while reaching for your fan, and the occasional sparks of humor will cause you to laugh out loud. Yet through it all, the thread of anxiety at Adrik's fate is deftly woven, keeping the tension tight. As hard as I tried, I just could not see how she could possibly turn this around with a happy ever after ending, and just when I'd about given up hope-- she did it! Simply, realistically, while staying true to the storyline--she did it. I didn't even see it coming. And I cried.

This story is a complete departure from Ms. Zimlich's other works. She started out writing Futuristics, and her last story was historical-like in a futuristic setting. As rich and engaging as these other stories are, I'm convinced she's finally found her niche with THE SHADOW PRINCE. Her love of history combines with her story telling ability to perfection. Once you begin reading THE SHADOW PRINCE, you won't want to put it down. I promise.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More fantasy than romance, September 24, 2002

By 

Jenn "jenncw" (SoCal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadow Prince (Heartspell) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book reads more like a fantasy than a historical romance. The historical details are sketchy, and the tribe and geography are so foreign sounding, this could be another planet, or some fantastical world for all I could tell.

The characters here were well-drawn. The plot flowed smoothly, despite its intricacy. The story was involved, but never tangled or got bogged down in its various parts. Neither the romance nor the historical distracted from the fantasy elements of the story, and visa versa. SP missed one of the classic blunders of genre-blend novels. It balanced all of its elements seamlessly. Definitely a good read.