Dragon Prince

For other uses, see Dragon Prince (disambiguation).

Dragon Prince
Author(s)	Melanie Rawn
Cover artist	Michael Whelan
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	DAW Books
Publication date	1988
Media type	Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages	576 pp
ISBN	0-88677-450-0
OCLC Number	32462928
Followed by	The Star Scroll

Dragon Prince, is a fantasy novel written by author Melanie Rawn. It is the first book of the Dragon Prince trilogy.

Plot summary

See also: Characters of Dragon Prince

Rohan, Prince of the Desert, is newly come to the throne. He must outwit the High Prince Roelstra in order to protect his vast lands and to maintain peace throughout the world. Sioned, a Sunrunner witch and his chosen bride, must help him in this dangerous quest and during the harsh times of war to come.

Rohan and Sioned have some hard times at first, but they eventually get through. After Rohan's father died and Rohan inherited, he pretended to be a stupid, ignorant young man. The other princes believed him until he showed his true colors. Roelstra, however, thought that he could get Rohan's lands by marrying one of his seventeen daughters off to him. Rohan always came to a head with him. Roelstra wanted the desert, and Rohan was just as determined not to let him have it. No one knew that Sioned was Rohan's Chosen, except his Aunt, the scheming statecrafter Lady Andrade, until he revealed it at one of the many dinners that all of the princes attended. Roelstra was furious, of course, but he managed to keep his cool. For awhile, that is.

Ultimately, Roelstra's daughter Ianthe captured Rohan and seduced him, convincing the drugged prince that she is Sioned. She also captured Sioned, locked her in a lightless dungeon and sent soldiers to rape her. When Rohan discovered the truth, he was enraged and took Ianthe fiercely as a form of revenge. Ianthe got what she wanted: a child was conceived of this. Sioned returned to Feruche and stole the babe from Ianthe just before Rohan's vassal Ostvel burned Ianthe's Castle Feruche to the ground – with Ianthe in it. Sioned adopted the child, naming him Pol, which means "star" in the Old Tongue. War erupts between Rohan and Roelstra, ending when Rohan killed Roelstra in a duel and became High Prince in his stead.

Reviews

Library journal said that "this first of a series ... should appeal to readers of fantasy and epic romance".^[1]

Awards and nominations

• 1989 – Compton Crook Award, Compton Crook Award (Balticon – Best 1st Novel) (Nomination)
• 1989 – Locus Poll Award, Best First Novel (Place: 6)

Footnotes

1. ^ Cassada, Jackie (1988). Library Journal. 113. pp. 88. ISSN 03630277.