Fun Reads Friday: MG Book Review

“The Prince Warriors” series
by Priscilla Shirer

I’ve taken several of Priscilla Shirer’s classes, read her hard-hitting The Resolution for Women, and watched her talented performance in Overcomer; but I never dreamed she’d written fiction, much less a powerful Christian series for middle graders. I stumbled upon the Prince Warriors boxed set, co-written with Gina Detwiler, while looking for a gift for my nephew.

In this epic four-book series, a group of friends discovers an alternate realm called Ahoratos that features eye-opening versions of heaven and hell. They find themselves battling evil in both Ahoratos and back on Earth with armor given to them by a mentor with amazing powers. The series is based on the passage in Ephesians 6:10-18 about using the armor of God to fight the devil’s schemes. These page-turners blend scriptural messages with everyday challenges through high adventure in a fantasy world. With line drawings to break up the text, they are appropriate for both boys and girls.

The first book, The Prince Warriors, introduces readers to the core characters—brothers Xavier and Evan, and Manuel, Levi, and Brianna—who are transported to Ahoratos where they meet their guide Ruwach. He gives the friends breastplates, belts, boots, and wise instructions for navigating life in Ahoratos and dealing with the enemy. Before long, they’re battling surreal beings.

In The Unseen Invasion, the second book, they receive helmets and swords that help them stand strong against evil threats. They also learn about the Source—the ultimate provider. More characters join the battle, and the adventure escalates with several terrifying scenes.

In the third book, The Swords of Rhema, the friends are each given the same unusual gift, but it takes them a while to discover its true purpose. Later, they realize their parents have known all along about Ahoratos. A few more characters enter the fray, and the war intensifies with imaginative settings, weapons, and relentless enemies. The series could have ended with the last mind-boggling battle, but I’m glad the co-authors decided to write a fourth book.

The Winter War, the darkest of the four books, challenges the friends to think out-of-the-box, call on Ruwach when hope seems lost, and believe that the Source will help them complete their missions. Ruwach presents individualized gifts to help the friends face the unspeakable. I don’t recommend letting older elementary schoolers read this book, even if they’re advanced readers, because of the violence and death scenes. It’s meant for true middle graders who possess a little more life experience. It’s a tough book to read, but the no-nonsense scriptural messages are essential for today’s youth, who will benefit from this story’s armor.

To further aid middle graders, Priscilla Shirer penned Unseen: The Prince Warriors 365 Devotional to accompany the series. Each day’s devotional is two pages long. The messages, like the fictional series, are based on recognizing the enemy, building defenses, and claiming the victory God has already won. You can grab a 17-day sample on Amazon.

Have you read a great middle grade or young adult series lately?