In this sci-fi novel from the author of Sabriel we meet Khemri, a young man just starting his life as a Prince of the Empire, a sprawling collection of planet and galaxies throughout space ruled by the Emperor and the 10,000 Princes. Though the holdings of the Empire are far-flung, they are connected by a series of wormholes and a psychic communication network called the Imperial Mind that connects all Princes to the Emperor. Young children are selected to be Prince Candidates and are removed from their families before undergoing rigorous alterations that make them into superhuman servants of the Empire. The Princes lead lives of privilege, but also of danger: not only must they perform sometimes dangerous tasks for the Empire, but violence among them is also common, from assassinations to duels. Fortunately, Princes in good standing can be reborn again and again. This story of Prince Khemri’s life and three deaths is filled with action, adventure, and mystery as he tries to find his place in an Empire that may not be exactly as he was led to believe.
I found A Confusion of Princes to be a refreshing addition to the Young Adult collection. Science fiction is rare among teen books, and good sci-fi even more so. Though some of the tek advancements are a bit fanciful, Nix manages to keep his novel out of the space fantasy void that authors tend to fall into, but also refrains from being so science-heavy as to be confusing for anyone without a physics degree. If you are looking for a fun read filled with adventure and suspense, this is the book for you!
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