Prince of Fortune

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Author(s)

Lisa Tirreno

Publisher

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

14+

Release Date

October 15, 2024

ISBN

978-1665957786

Buy This Book

Red, White & Royal Blue meets A Darker Shade of Magic in this swoony young adult romantasy debut that’s an “entertaining blend of romance and action” (Kirkus Reviews) following a magical young prince and a noble seer who fall in love in the midst of war and intrigue.

Shy Prince Edmund will be a great king one day: it has been Seen again and again. With rare magic giving him dominion over the nation’s plants and weather, Edmund feels a great deal of pressure to live up to the people of Saben’s many expectations, including making a perfect diplomatic alliance through marriage. That is, until he meets Lord Aubrey Ainsley.

Charming, romantic, and politically insignificant, Aubrey is a Seer, but not even he could have predicted catching the eye of Edmund, the Prince of Fortune—nor that the anxious prince who talks to plants more than people could feel so right for him. Aubrey’s dream-visions have been full of battle, not love, but to say that Prince Edmund has captured his fancy would be a grand understatement.

Editor review

1 review

Charming

August 05, 2025 (Updated: June 19, 2026)

Overall rating

3.7

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Prince of Fortune was an utterly charming book, which is no easy feat considering the major conflict is a war. The story is set in a fantasy world where the nobility have magic and the Crown Prince has a special dominion over plant growth and weather. With plants and the clouds constantly calling for Prince Edmund’s attention, he is portrayed as a bit of a dreamy character who is awkward around people. He is supposed to marry an influential person of power to carry on the family line with his heir. That all derails quickly when he meets the fourth son of an honorary lord, Aubrey Ainsley.
The atmosphere of the book has Victorian England or Bridgerton vibes. This book has a mix of openness to same sex couples and hurdles regarding it. Edmund loves Aubrey, but as a socially awkward person, it is a series of embarrassments to him to have his preferences made public. He must gain permission from the government to wed, and several traditional people object. Both families support them, but some in the military give Aubrey a hard time for being the prince’s lover.
While there is instant attraction between the characters, there is time given to the couple to form a meaningful and rich relationship. There is a magical war brewing, and lots of focus is given to the actions of the war, but it is somehow still not really about the war. Exchanging letters and worrying about each other’s safety all add a fairytale, angsty quality to their relationship. This couple’s love story is adorable and makes for a charming read.