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Prince Ezrick and the Morpheäs Curse
13-year-old Prince Ezrick of Urkeneye can’t stay out of trouble. From horseback riding through the Dungeons to his frowned-upon friendship with the servant-girl, and his recent expulsion from school (the one joy that made life bearable), his life’s a royal mess. His cold stepmother and unloving father further fuel his misery, and after an especially awful incident, Ezrick flees to join a colorful camp of travelers called Vagaries. What follows is a journey across kingdoms, where he discovers exciting new freedom, friendship, and adventure. But fun is fleeting, and being a royal runaway ushers Ezrick down a dark path of telling lies at every turn. Only, he’s not the only one with secrets. Something evil is afoot, threatening all realms, and as Ezrick pieces together the chilling mystery surrounding his kingdom and Morpheäs, he realizes the troubles he left behind were merely a whisper of the nightmare ahead. . . .
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2012
911 people want to read
About the author
Jordan McMakin
2 books30 followersJordan McMakin holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in business management. She interned at Puffin Books and Viking Books for Young Readers, and was an editorial assistant at Disney*Hyperion Books. Her first novel, Prince Ezrick and the Morpheäs Curse, won the 2006 BuzzBook Award from the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, as well as a 2007 Writer’s Digest Honorable Mention out of 2,400 entries worldwide. She has lived in France and Thailand, and resides in Washington State.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com
No one in Urkeneye, not even his father and stepmother, care at all for twelve-year-old Prince Ezrick. His only friend is the cook's daughter, Maddie, with whom he sneaks around the castle and tries to avoid the wrath of Ezrick's stepmother, Vicursa, who they call "the witch" because of her cruel treatment of Ezrick, whose real mother died when he was a young boy. Vicursa finally goes too far when she promises that Maddie will be beaten for any mistake that Ezrick makes, and Ezrick, not wanting to put his friend in danger, runs away from the castle and joins with a band of gypsy-like Vagaries, but not before stumbling across information that a dangerous object, known as Morpheäs, is hidden in the castle.
Ezrick tries to ignore what he knows about the intrigue that plays out after he leaves home, instead trying to accommodate to the Vagarie lifestyle. He befriends a Vagarie boy, Leroy, and together the two of them engage in humorous escapades, but the whole time Ezrick must keep his identity a secret from everyone. Slowly, Ezrick begins to pick up more and more clues about the Morpheäs, and the curse that is supposedly linked to it. With the help of Leroy and the long-distance support of Maddie, Ezrick sets out to prevent the curse from being unleashed once again.
McMakin's characters read like real soon-to-be-teens. I admired Ezrick's integrity, Maddie's toughness, and Leroy's spunk. The geography of the story wavers between amusing and impressive, with settings that often feel like intentional caricatures of fantasy standards but have hearts of their own and add to the story's underhanded humor. The plot relies more upon the human abilities of the characters than any kind of magic, and indeed none of the characters are wizards, although fantastic creatures and curses do appear within the story. Overall, it was an enjoyable, fast-paced read, and I look forward to seeing what McMakin has in store for Ezrick next.
No one in Urkeneye, not even his father and stepmother, care at all for twelve-year-old Prince Ezrick. His only friend is the cook's daughter, Maddie, with whom he sneaks around the castle and tries to avoid the wrath of Ezrick's stepmother, Vicursa, who they call "the witch" because of her cruel treatment of Ezrick, whose real mother died when he was a young boy. Vicursa finally goes too far when she promises that Maddie will be beaten for any mistake that Ezrick makes, and Ezrick, not wanting to put his friend in danger, runs away from the castle and joins with a band of gypsy-like Vagaries, but not before stumbling across information that a dangerous object, known as Morpheäs, is hidden in the castle.
Ezrick tries to ignore what he knows about the intrigue that plays out after he leaves home, instead trying to accommodate to the Vagarie lifestyle. He befriends a Vagarie boy, Leroy, and together the two of them engage in humorous escapades, but the whole time Ezrick must keep his identity a secret from everyone. Slowly, Ezrick begins to pick up more and more clues about the Morpheäs, and the curse that is supposedly linked to it. With the help of Leroy and the long-distance support of Maddie, Ezrick sets out to prevent the curse from being unleashed once again.
McMakin's characters read like real soon-to-be-teens. I admired Ezrick's integrity, Maddie's toughness, and Leroy's spunk. The geography of the story wavers between amusing and impressive, with settings that often feel like intentional caricatures of fantasy standards but have hearts of their own and add to the story's underhanded humor. The plot relies more upon the human abilities of the characters than any kind of magic, and indeed none of the characters are wizards, although fantastic creatures and curses do appear within the story. Overall, it was an enjoyable, fast-paced read, and I look forward to seeing what McMakin has in store for Ezrick next.
December 25, 2017
this was a giveaways book
this book is an easy read and does have some good mystery and fun characters to it, but the tempo often felt rushed or like ideas were not fully flushed out. it is a nice quick read for a book with a bit of adventure and mystery.
this book is an easy read and does have some good mystery and fun characters to it, but the tempo often felt rushed or like ideas were not fully flushed out. it is a nice quick read for a book with a bit of adventure and mystery.
April 22, 2017
I just finished this book. I found this book to be an excellent read. The story line was full off suspense. This granny gives it the thumbs up. I will pass it along to the grand children and I am sure they will enjoy it as I did. Thanks for the free book. I look forward to reading others you write.
December 8, 2017
i won this as a goodreads giveaway and hadn't really known of the book or author ahead of time. but i really enjoyed it. the characters were good. i liked the setting. there were a few times when i thought, oh i know how this is going to end, and a few times i was wrong ;) my only critique is that the book seemed to have not gone through enough editing rounds (there were more than what i would consider normal amounts of spelling and grammar mistakes). but i can overlook that with a good story :)
April 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. It was familiar as an old Grimm fairy tale. It has a very interesting landscape. There are wonderful descriptions and good characters. I am looking forward to reading the next story. I received this as a Giveaway from Goodreads.
July 28, 2007
swell!
September 10, 2023
This book is on my shelf because the author is a local and when I was a kid, she came to my school to read to us, and I have a signed copy. I didn't remember a single thing about it when I went to revisit it, and... well, I don't want to be terribly harsh. I think this is the author's first and only published novel, it's small press and never really made much of a splash. The thing that kills me about it is that there are actually some really cool ideas and frankly haunting images in this novel, some of the world-building ideas are totally unique and like nothing I've ever read before. The actual story-within-a-story of the Morpheas Curse, the spooky music box and blackened violin, that was all really interesting. And the Spungeon-Uglies are such a fun twist on sort of dragon-like magical creatures!
The issue really comes down to the actual style of the writing, and also the pacing of the story. This was a pretty clunky reading experience. The characters often made strange choices that didn't feel particularly motivated. Certain things happened at certain moments kind of just because they needed to, to get to the next part of the plot. Ezrick went from being enormously insightful at certain moments, to unrealistically dense at the next, depending on whether or not the story needed him to figure out the next clue, and it wasn't very smoothly portrayed.
There's also a tone problem: as I said, there was some cool and spooky imagery in this book, but cutting from the cartoonish evil of Vicursa at the beginning of the story to the ending where the king and Ezrick calmly discuss how she'll get a trial but then she'll be put to death... that's kind of fucked up, in a way I'm not sure the author intended.
So yeah, this was... an uneven reading experience, to say the least. I think the author had some cool ideas, though, I hope she decides to try her hand at middle-grade fantasy again someday.
The issue really comes down to the actual style of the writing, and also the pacing of the story. This was a pretty clunky reading experience. The characters often made strange choices that didn't feel particularly motivated. Certain things happened at certain moments kind of just because they needed to, to get to the next part of the plot. Ezrick went from being enormously insightful at certain moments, to unrealistically dense at the next, depending on whether or not the story needed him to figure out the next clue, and it wasn't very smoothly portrayed.
There's also a tone problem: as I said, there was some cool and spooky imagery in this book, but cutting from the cartoonish evil of Vicursa at the beginning of the story to the ending where the king and Ezrick calmly discuss how she'll get a trial but then she'll be put to death... that's kind of fucked up, in a way I'm not sure the author intended.
So yeah, this was... an uneven reading experience, to say the least. I think the author had some cool ideas, though, I hope she decides to try her hand at middle-grade fantasy again someday.
December 1, 2024
I discovered this book in my hometown library when I was about 12 or so, meaning I was the age of the main characters at the time.
I remembered it so fondly — the sweeping world, the characters’ voices (dialogue), the haunting dark woods and terrifying ice creatures. I remembered the finale taking place in a hall of mirrors and the imagery stayed with me.
I remember emailing the author and her representation to try to find out when the sequel would be coming because I was such a huge fan. (I never heard back but I tried more than once to reach someone.)
I chose to revisit it when I thought I discovered recently (more than a decade later) that a sequel did finally come out, and I wanted to refresh my memory before diving into it. (I have since learned, to my disappointment, that the new novel is not a sequel but a different approach to her original concepts.)
This book sounds younger to me now. (I’m not 11 anymore, so, duh), but it retains all that I loved about it.
A fresh take on dragons — complete with new names! Misdirects that give you the ability to track them after you know the reveals. Friendships between children that feel the way childhood friendships truly interact with one another.
I docked this book one star for the “sin” of being a novel in need of a part two. This book meant so much to me when I was younger, and I truly enjoyed rereading it now. I’d love to share it with my kids if I ever have them someday.
This is a sentimental favorite, and I stand behind that.
I remembered it so fondly — the sweeping world, the characters’ voices (dialogue), the haunting dark woods and terrifying ice creatures. I remembered the finale taking place in a hall of mirrors and the imagery stayed with me.
I remember emailing the author and her representation to try to find out when the sequel would be coming because I was such a huge fan. (I never heard back but I tried more than once to reach someone.)
I chose to revisit it when I thought I discovered recently (more than a decade later) that a sequel did finally come out, and I wanted to refresh my memory before diving into it. (I have since learned, to my disappointment, that the new novel is not a sequel but a different approach to her original concepts.)
This book sounds younger to me now. (I’m not 11 anymore, so, duh), but it retains all that I loved about it.
A fresh take on dragons — complete with new names! Misdirects that give you the ability to track them after you know the reveals. Friendships between children that feel the way childhood friendships truly interact with one another.
I docked this book one star for the “sin” of being a novel in need of a part two. This book meant so much to me when I was younger, and I truly enjoyed rereading it now. I’d love to share it with my kids if I ever have them someday.
This is a sentimental favorite, and I stand behind that.
January 27, 2012
2006 BuzzBook Award Winner,
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
2007 Writer’s Digest Honorable Mention Winner
“Five stars” -TeensReadToo.com
“Highly recommended!” —USABookNews.com
“McMakin grabs her readers and pulls them into the page with her lively, action-filled plot and lyrical writing. This is a remarkable first novel from a remarkable writer. I haven’t been this engrossed in an author’s fantasy world since I read Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain series many years ago.”
—Carol Reed-Jones, author of Salmon Stream, The Tree in the Ancient Forest, and Hildegard of Bingen: Woman of Vision
“A fast-paced fantasy adventure with a dash of humor and plenty of plot twists to tickle a reader’s fancy.”
—Janet Lee Carey, author of Wenny Has Wings, Dragon's Keep, The Beast of Noor, and Dragonswood
“McMakin offers a fresh voice in the literary world of fantasy by introducing readers to an appealing adventure and engaging characters. She offers up the right blend of magic and fantastical scenarios with familiar elements to hook even the most reluctant fantasy reader.”
—Nancy J. Johnson, English Education Professor, Western Washington University, and 2003 Newbery Committee Member
“A rousing fantasy adventure, full of wonder and whimsy, sure to enthrall the young reader. Fast-paced and brimming with imaginative fun!”
—Sara Stamey, Tarragon Books publisher and author of the novel Islands
“A runaway prince joins a group of gypsy-like vagabonds and a lively adventure begins! McMakin weaves together themes of rebellion, friendship, loyalty, justice, and courage in this absorbing first novel.”
—Roxann Heffelfinger, Challenge teacher, Island View Elementary
“Prince Ezrick and the Morpheäs Curse is a delightful book — well written, with all the elements of a suspenseful, adventurous fantasy novel. A fun read!”
—Laura Picco, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
“One of my favorite books in the contest and I enjoyed reading all the way through . . . . The story is creative, full of magic and adventure. The world, characters, and creatures McMakin has created are very fun and inventive. She has carefully crafted a wonderful fantasy that I think children will devour (and adults secretly enjoy)." —Writer’s Digest Judge
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
2007 Writer’s Digest Honorable Mention Winner
“Five stars” -TeensReadToo.com
“Highly recommended!” —USABookNews.com
“McMakin grabs her readers and pulls them into the page with her lively, action-filled plot and lyrical writing. This is a remarkable first novel from a remarkable writer. I haven’t been this engrossed in an author’s fantasy world since I read Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain series many years ago.”
—Carol Reed-Jones, author of Salmon Stream, The Tree in the Ancient Forest, and Hildegard of Bingen: Woman of Vision
“A fast-paced fantasy adventure with a dash of humor and plenty of plot twists to tickle a reader’s fancy.”
—Janet Lee Carey, author of Wenny Has Wings, Dragon's Keep, The Beast of Noor, and Dragonswood
“McMakin offers a fresh voice in the literary world of fantasy by introducing readers to an appealing adventure and engaging characters. She offers up the right blend of magic and fantastical scenarios with familiar elements to hook even the most reluctant fantasy reader.”
—Nancy J. Johnson, English Education Professor, Western Washington University, and 2003 Newbery Committee Member
“A rousing fantasy adventure, full of wonder and whimsy, sure to enthrall the young reader. Fast-paced and brimming with imaginative fun!”
—Sara Stamey, Tarragon Books publisher and author of the novel Islands
“A runaway prince joins a group of gypsy-like vagabonds and a lively adventure begins! McMakin weaves together themes of rebellion, friendship, loyalty, justice, and courage in this absorbing first novel.”
—Roxann Heffelfinger, Challenge teacher, Island View Elementary
“Prince Ezrick and the Morpheäs Curse is a delightful book — well written, with all the elements of a suspenseful, adventurous fantasy novel. A fun read!”
—Laura Picco, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
“One of my favorite books in the contest and I enjoyed reading all the way through . . . . The story is creative, full of magic and adventure. The world, characters, and creatures McMakin has created are very fun and inventive. She has carefully crafted a wonderful fantasy that I think children will devour (and adults secretly enjoy)." —Writer’s Digest Judge
April 23, 2017
I enjoyed this book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews