#13: Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple, The Hostage Prince (Seelie Wars #1)

[kareila]

This is the story of two likeable young characters, a midwife's apprentice and the titular hostage prince. By coincidence, they both end up fleeing the royal castle the same night - Snail escaping misplaced retribution for a perceived insult to the queen; Prince Aspen escaping his anticipated execution after a trusted advisor informs him that war between the two kingdoms is imminent. Unfortunately it takes the entire length of the book for the characters to realize what should have been obvious from the start: that the advice the prince received was false, and that by escaping, he has likely caused the very war he feared. But the friendship between Aspen and Snail blossoms as they learn to depend on each other despite their massive difference in status. The story ends with the two friends preparing to assume new identities to keep themselves safe as they look for a way to make things right. Although the entire story feels like a prelude for events to come, I look forward to their subsequent adventures.