Review: A Princess of Oldir by Bryan Wilson
Blurb:
The Ojurn family has guided the planet of Oldir for centuries, and as the ancestors of a prophet, the world’s citizens have always honored their bloodline. However, the people’s struggles are on the rise, and their solar system’s limited resources continue to dwindle.
Rhanna, the daughter of the current Lord Supreme, considers it her duty to rid the planet of its troubles. She spends most of her days training to take up her family’s mantle. But when a popular young leader from a neighboring world arrives on their soil, it becomes evident that there are those with other wishes.
Set more than three decades before the events of The Forsaken Planet, this is a story of one family’s struggle to do what is right, even if it costs them their legacy.
A Princess of Oldir is both a standalone story in the Power of the Stars universe and a complementary addition for those familiar with the main books. You do not need to have read the other work to enjoy this novella.
Review:
As a preface, I read this book as someone who has read and loved both The Forsaken Planet and The Son of the Prophets. I’ve been a huge fan of Bryan since he started writing this series and this story only increased my excitement for the saga. A Princess of Oldir is a standalone story that can serve as an introduction to Wilson’s series or as an extra treat for established fans. For me, this novella adds rich depth and worldbuilding to the solid framework that the Power of the Stars saga rests upon. Since many people who will want to read this are going to be new initiates to Wilson, I will keep this spoiler free.
A Princess of Oldir takes place on the planet of Oldir, which is one of a handful of planets where humans reside and have access to Solara, the literal power of the stars, which allow humans to perform incredible feats. We follow Rhanna, the daughter of the Lord Supreme of Oldir, as she has her first true interactions with the leader from their neighboring planet. This is an action-packed novella that within its few pages pumps you up while simultaneously ripping out your heart as Wilson reminds us that he doesn’t allow character armor to influence his stories.
It had been a little while since I read The Son of the Prophets, but this novella reminded me how much I love this series and made me so excited for the third book to come out. There are easter eggs and hints dropped in this book that made my jaw drop and are almost certainly going to be essential for the series moving forward.
Your heart is going to be pounding, your blood boiling, your jaw dropping, and your eyes misting. Whether A Princess of Oldir is your initiation to the Power of the Stars saga or you’re an experienced Solara wielder, this is a must-read for sci-fantasy fans.
