Prophecy’s Heirs, the first book in the Arualian Archives series by Emily G. Watson, introduces us to Crown Prince Walter, Princess Airdella, and Princess Amy. Due to turmoil in their country, they are sent to stay with retired knight, Sir Dorrian. Away from a life of luxury and privilege, the teens and younger sister, Amy, begin learning to do things for themselves, including skills used for knights. This leads to a series of adventures and a quest to protect their kingdom from an evil enemy and restore their father’s health.
Watching the kids grow as a tighter family unit as they
learn more skills and protect one another is an excellent lesson for the age
group intended for this series. As they lean more on one another, they also
learn to differentiate between friends and foes along the way. When things fall
apart, they each learn the ability to reason as they search for solutions. I
also liked the addition of Aaron to the group of youngsters. He is also on a
quest and has additional skills to round out the group.
For me, the book had times that I couldn’t put it down, but
also chapters where I would lose interest. I am not the target audience, so
tweens and teens who love fantasy and exploring new worlds should love the
series. It would also be great for homeschoolers or families who enjoy reading
books together.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Prophecy’s Heirs from the
author. Opinions are my own.
