What do you think?
Pride Wars #1
The Spinner Prince
I am Leo, Prince of Singara, and I am about to die. . .
Prince Leo is next in line for the throne of Singara, a land ruled by super-evolved felines. Like every thirteen-year-old, Leo must prove his worth by hunting a deadly beast called a slaycon. But killing a slaycon is the least of Leo’s problems. The enemy beyond the Great Wall is rising up. Inside the wall, Singara is being torn apart by Leo’s rebellious cousin. Worst of all, Leo is a Spinner, cursed with a dangerous and forbidden power he can’t control.
The future of Singara is in Leo’s hands. Can he conceal his curse, claim the throne, and protect his realm? Or will he embrace his power and discover a far greater destiny . . . for himself and for his world?
An unforgettable adventure, this first book in the Pride Wars series by debut author Matt Laney introduces a world where honor and duty, ferocity and faith, are tested by an unexpected hero.
Prince Leo is next in line for the throne of Singara, a land ruled by super-evolved felines. Like every thirteen-year-old, Leo must prove his worth by hunting a deadly beast called a slaycon. But killing a slaycon is the least of Leo’s problems. The enemy beyond the Great Wall is rising up. Inside the wall, Singara is being torn apart by Leo’s rebellious cousin. Worst of all, Leo is a Spinner, cursed with a dangerous and forbidden power he can’t control.
The future of Singara is in Leo’s hands. Can he conceal his curse, claim the throne, and protect his realm? Or will he embrace his power and discover a far greater destiny . . . for himself and for his world?
An unforgettable adventure, this first book in the Pride Wars series by debut author Matt Laney introduces a world where honor and duty, ferocity and faith, are tested by an unexpected hero.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2018
About the author
Matt Laney
5 books28 followersMATT LANEY is an ordained United Church of Christ minister with over twenty years of service. A longtime Zen practitioner and martial artist, he writes for the UCC’s Still Speaking Daily Devotional (over 30,000 readers) and worked on an early draft of Thich Nhat Hahn's book Be Free Where You Are. With 116K TikTok followers and national media appearances including Comedy Central and The Learning Channel (TLC) and special recognition on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he is a sought-after speaker and spiritual counselo
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 4, 2018
Ok sure, i'm biased, but i have yet to meet a young reader who wasn't hooked by page 5 and finished the book begging for more. The adventure continues in the sequel coming soon!
May 1, 2018
Got more than 2/3s through the book before I had to call it quits.
The concept is great but I just did not like the execution. Also my eyerolling started kicking in when he got to the Academy...and then left like 10 minutes later.
Leo is a wish-washy character for me. I just did not like him. He reveals his secret(that he's a spinner) to one of the soldiers and other than keeping her close, he keeps pushing her away. Like, this solider can have you imprisoned if she reveals that you are a spinner. AND SHE DIDN'T. Like if she was working for the enemy, that would be the easiest way to kick him off of the throne. Like just THINK for a moment.
Also the "spinner gift" is very...confusing? Like hows does it work? Why are there religious overtones to it(or I'm looking too much into it but the dream with the happy field makes me side eye.).
Also the whole divide between religion vs science bothers the HECK out of me. Maybe it hits way too close to home with what is going on in America right now but I hated it. Maybe if it was in a young adult/adult novel I would not mind but this is aimed at kids.
Also, what is the point of saying, on the back, that this takes place on Earth, millions of years in the future? Like will that change anything in the story in anyway? Are there human things around(I doubt it?)
Anyway, yeah, was into this book in the beginning but the more I read, the more I disliked it.
The concept is great but I just did not like the execution. Also my eyerolling started kicking in when he got to the Academy...and then left like 10 minutes later.
Leo is a wish-washy character for me. I just did not like him. He reveals his secret(that he's a spinner) to one of the soldiers and other than keeping her close, he keeps pushing her away. Like, this solider can have you imprisoned if she reveals that you are a spinner. AND SHE DIDN'T. Like if she was working for the enemy, that would be the easiest way to kick him off of the throne. Like just THINK for a moment.
Also the "spinner gift" is very...confusing? Like hows does it work? Why are there religious overtones to it(or I'm looking too much into it but the dream with the happy field makes me side eye.).
Also the whole divide between religion vs science bothers the HECK out of me. Maybe it hits way too close to home with what is going on in America right now but I hated it. Maybe if it was in a young adult/adult novel I would not mind but this is aimed at kids.
Also, what is the point of saying, on the back, that this takes place on Earth, millions of years in the future? Like will that change anything in the story in anyway? Are there human things around(I doubt it?)
Anyway, yeah, was into this book in the beginning but the more I read, the more I disliked it.
April 26, 2018
I am very excited about this book. It is well written and yet easy to read filled with memorable characters and action-packed. Set in a well described other world, Spinner Prince offers the magical gift of the young hero's challenges and triumphs. The story starts when young Leo is sent to battle a fierce beast and he must also conceal a special storytelling gift that is viewed as a curse. If you like adventure, fantasy and the use of folklore, you will love this book. I have been searching for a great series to introduce to my students grades 6 to 8, who have all read the Erin Hunter series and the Unwanteds. I think I have found it and the only sad part is. I now have to wait for the next book.
July 22, 2018
Wow what a very different type of fantasy/adventure story!
I was totally captivated from the first page, devouring this unique tale and all the characters. The author has woven a story adapting myths and legends from a variety of cultures into a fast paced storyline that in a strange way reminded me a little of Planet of the apes ( minus the humans).
Thoroughly enjoyed this and eagerly look forward to the next installment!
Five stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highly recommend this for readers who like ‘different’ !!!!
I was totally captivated from the first page, devouring this unique tale and all the characters. The author has woven a story adapting myths and legends from a variety of cultures into a fast paced storyline that in a strange way reminded me a little of Planet of the apes ( minus the humans).
Thoroughly enjoyed this and eagerly look forward to the next installment!
Five stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highly recommend this for readers who like ‘different’ !!!!
February 2, 2018
ARC
I thought that this might be a new genre for me. A half lion/half boy main character? What an interesting concept and a way to get out of my YA fantasy book binge. I need to try new genres and expand my horizons... But then, when I began reading it, I realized how many of my favorite books were stories told by animals. Who doesn’t love the classics Charlotte’s Web or Black Beauty?
The Spinner Prince has parallels to the Lion King (or Hamlet, if you are a Shakespeare lover) with an element of fantasy. I wonder if these popular stories inspired the author, Matt Laney, to tell this story. Similar to Simba, Leo is heir to the throne and has a relative who is blood-thirsty and wants all the power himself.
Leo is a Spinner, or story-teller, in a society were logic, facts, and war is valued. Throughout the story, Leo tells short parables, or stories with a THEME, that relate to the conflict at hand. He must keep these stories a secret and only trusts his best friend Anjali with them. I couldn’t imagine a place where stories are outlawed. Can you?
Overall, this book is EPIC. The synopsis above really only reveals about 10% of the book. If you like stories that seem to never end (in the best way possible, of course) this might be a good fit for you.
I thought that this might be a new genre for me. A half lion/half boy main character? What an interesting concept and a way to get out of my YA fantasy book binge. I need to try new genres and expand my horizons... But then, when I began reading it, I realized how many of my favorite books were stories told by animals. Who doesn’t love the classics Charlotte’s Web or Black Beauty?
The Spinner Prince has parallels to the Lion King (or Hamlet, if you are a Shakespeare lover) with an element of fantasy. I wonder if these popular stories inspired the author, Matt Laney, to tell this story. Similar to Simba, Leo is heir to the throne and has a relative who is blood-thirsty and wants all the power himself.
Leo is a Spinner, or story-teller, in a society were logic, facts, and war is valued. Throughout the story, Leo tells short parables, or stories with a THEME, that relate to the conflict at hand. He must keep these stories a secret and only trusts his best friend Anjali with them. I couldn’t imagine a place where stories are outlawed. Can you?
Overall, this book is EPIC. The synopsis above really only reveals about 10% of the book. If you like stories that seem to never end (in the best way possible, of course) this might be a good fit for you.
June 15, 2018
This book gets 2.5 stars, but I wish I could give it more. It would easily have won 3, maybe 3.5 or even 4 stars if it wasn't so predictable and full of cliches. I think children will enjoy this story, but it won't capture the hearts of older readers so easily.
The characters are supposed to be lion/human hybrids from the future--and while that's a cool idea, I had a hard time picturing it. I just kept picturing Lion King characters the whole time.
I applaud Laney's attempt to blend faith and fantasy, but it comes across a little heavy handed at times. Still, the scenes of Spinners weaving their tales shone. The small stories woven into the larger novel read like traditional fairy tales, and when characters from those stories came to life, I was reminded of one of my childhood favorites: the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke.
Overall, the execution of The Spinner Prince was lacking. The dialogue was stilted, I was never surprised, and Leo was a hard character for me to connect with. As an adult reader with a great love for children's and young adult fantasy, this book falls short. But I think that children will be able to overlook these flaws and enjoy the simplicity of this adventure tale.
The characters are supposed to be lion/human hybrids from the future--and while that's a cool idea, I had a hard time picturing it. I just kept picturing Lion King characters the whole time.
I applaud Laney's attempt to blend faith and fantasy, but it comes across a little heavy handed at times. Still, the scenes of Spinners weaving their tales shone. The small stories woven into the larger novel read like traditional fairy tales, and when characters from those stories came to life, I was reminded of one of my childhood favorites: the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke.
Overall, the execution of The Spinner Prince was lacking. The dialogue was stilted, I was never surprised, and Leo was a hard character for me to connect with. As an adult reader with a great love for children's and young adult fantasy, this book falls short. But I think that children will be able to overlook these flaws and enjoy the simplicity of this adventure tale.
June 9, 2025
Leo is a prince of the Singa, bipedal lion-like creatures who firmly believe in science and reason, to the extent that they consider any kind of fiction to be evil. Unfortunately for Leo, he is a Spinner – against his will, stories spontaneously burst out of him, accompanied by visions. This is considered a dangerous disease among the Singa, and will have serious consequences for him if he is discovered.
The story was engaging, though I disliked the religious element and the implication that believing in science is a bad thing. I did find it odd that a species who are extremely logical and have no religion would say things like: “What the devil?” Surely they would have no concept of devils?
The book is written in the present tense, something I’m not particularly fond of, and it’s told in the first person, which means all the info-dumping comes across as rather forced and awkward. Leo already knows all the things he’s explaining, as does everyone around him, so who is he explaining it to? The pacing is also a little off – for example, we hear in excruciating detail about Leo’s journey to the military academy, and then next to nothing about his time there.
I read the Kindle edition, which had an issue where the first letter of some chapters did not appear. There were a couple of grammatical mistakes, and the leader of the Singa is called the “kahn” – I’m not sure if this was intentional, as a made-up word, or if the author just didn’t know how to spell “khan”.
Finally, a warning: this is not a complete story. The book ends on a cliffhanger without dealing with the secrets that have been revealed. If you want to know what happens next, you are obliged to read the sequel.
The story was engaging, though I disliked the religious element and the implication that believing in science is a bad thing. I did find it odd that a species who are extremely logical and have no religion would say things like: “What the devil?” Surely they would have no concept of devils?
The book is written in the present tense, something I’m not particularly fond of, and it’s told in the first person, which means all the info-dumping comes across as rather forced and awkward. Leo already knows all the things he’s explaining, as does everyone around him, so who is he explaining it to? The pacing is also a little off – for example, we hear in excruciating detail about Leo’s journey to the military academy, and then next to nothing about his time there.
I read the Kindle edition, which had an issue where the first letter of some chapters did not appear. There were a couple of grammatical mistakes, and the leader of the Singa is called the “kahn” – I’m not sure if this was intentional, as a made-up word, or if the author just didn’t know how to spell “khan”.
Finally, a warning: this is not a complete story. The book ends on a cliffhanger without dealing with the secrets that have been revealed. If you want to know what happens next, you are obliged to read the sequel.
February 18, 2021
I loved this exciting book. I couldn’t put it down. I think it’s a good book for all ages. I was so glad there was a sequel. I love big cats. This review is shared with input by 10 year old girl who read it.
July 2, 2018
Previously published on Purely by Faith Reviews.
This was an interesting thing to discover from my local library. Normally I wouldn't be as interested in a book told from first person. I originally suggested it to my sister, but after she gushed over how good it was, I decided to pick it up and give it a shot.
I have to admit the beginning was confusing, for me at least. If you read the synopsis, you probably know Prince Leo was apparently going to die (which, you know, he really doesn't if the book is that big). It took me a while to grasp what was really going on, but I realized I actually really liked this book.
I found myself getting a bit bored at times, and I actually really didn't like Leo. I know he's the main character, but he wasn't really likeable.... other than his special ability. I kind of found him to be a bit whiny and the actions he took didn't necessarily make sense to me. Why push someone away who knows you have the forbidden disease when she could've totally told on him?
I became fond of Anjali for some reason. She actually might come across as annoying to people, especially since she's the strong female in the book, but that wasn't the case for me. I think it'd be really cool to discover some more information about past as well as her brother who was a Spinner.
While I'm on the Spinner topic, it probably seems weird. But I think it's cool. Apparently, Leo's people don't believe in fiction and only in facts, so it's illegal to even tell a story. Leo has a special "disease" that forces him to tell stories and he can't control it nor hold it back. The best part about this all is that characters from the story actually appear in thin air. Sigh, if only that were true and could happen.
There were two things I really didn't prefer. One would be the evolved aspect. I personally found it to be very pointless, and unnecessary. I really think this book could've been set in a whole different universe where humans just didn't exist instead of saying these lion people evolved from them. Another thing would be the lack of description. I understand that this was told from first person, but I really couldn't make up an image in my mind of what the characters looked like from the one or two sentences about them. I pretty much just put lion heads on Kung Fu Panda characters. And for some reason, the only male lion dude that had a mane in my head was the great Khan. Eh, I have a weird mind.... I guess. xD
There's some violence, battles, and death, but I don't really recall anything super descriptive. There was some language (I actually only remember one word) and crude sayings, and those did bother me, but it might not matter to others. Some religious stuff as well. This would probably be best for maybe thirteen and older?
The story is pretty interesting and intriguing. Leo doesn't really know who his parents were, and I do have a suspicion to who his father is. I would love to read the next book, and am going to watch out for it next year.
I'm not going to spoil what happens, but if you're a fan of Erin Hunter's work, then this would probably be the thing for you to read!
This was an interesting thing to discover from my local library. Normally I wouldn't be as interested in a book told from first person. I originally suggested it to my sister, but after she gushed over how good it was, I decided to pick it up and give it a shot.
I have to admit the beginning was confusing, for me at least. If you read the synopsis, you probably know Prince Leo was apparently going to die (which, you know, he really doesn't if the book is that big). It took me a while to grasp what was really going on, but I realized I actually really liked this book.
I found myself getting a bit bored at times, and I actually really didn't like Leo. I know he's the main character, but he wasn't really likeable.... other than his special ability. I kind of found him to be a bit whiny and the actions he took didn't necessarily make sense to me. Why push someone away who knows you have the forbidden disease when she could've totally told on him?
I became fond of Anjali for some reason. She actually might come across as annoying to people, especially since she's the strong female in the book, but that wasn't the case for me. I think it'd be really cool to discover some more information about past as well as her brother who was a Spinner.
While I'm on the Spinner topic, it probably seems weird. But I think it's cool. Apparently, Leo's people don't believe in fiction and only in facts, so it's illegal to even tell a story. Leo has a special "disease" that forces him to tell stories and he can't control it nor hold it back. The best part about this all is that characters from the story actually appear in thin air. Sigh, if only that were true and could happen.
There were two things I really didn't prefer. One would be the evolved aspect. I personally found it to be very pointless, and unnecessary. I really think this book could've been set in a whole different universe where humans just didn't exist instead of saying these lion people evolved from them. Another thing would be the lack of description. I understand that this was told from first person, but I really couldn't make up an image in my mind of what the characters looked like from the one or two sentences about them. I pretty much just put lion heads on Kung Fu Panda characters. And for some reason, the only male lion dude that had a mane in my head was the great Khan. Eh, I have a weird mind.... I guess. xD
There's some violence, battles, and death, but I don't really recall anything super descriptive. There was some language (I actually only remember one word) and crude sayings, and those did bother me, but it might not matter to others. Some religious stuff as well. This would probably be best for maybe thirteen and older?
The story is pretty interesting and intriguing. Leo doesn't really know who his parents were, and I do have a suspicion to who his father is. I would love to read the next book, and am going to watch out for it next year.
I'm not going to spoil what happens, but if you're a fan of Erin Hunter's work, then this would probably be the thing for you to read!
January 25, 2021
This book is full of fantastic adventure and wonderful characters that spark the imagination. Matt Laney is a talented storyteller who writes about a land full of conflict and triumph among the Singa, a race of evolved big cats. The story makes you feel as if you’re there (or in our daughter’s case, just want to be there). Our 12 year old - who also loves big cats - says, “Oh, how I wish this world was real!”. It has sparked her imagination too. As a bonus, she doesn’t even think about her other past times - you tube and gaming - so her attitude is considerably more positive. This makes it a win for us and has us wanting more of this wonderful story.
August 22, 2019
As a big fan of animal books like Warriors and Wings of Fire, I picked up this book thinking it would be similar to Warriors but with lions. Unfortunately I feel the cover image is a bit misleading; I was surprised when I started reading and found out the characters are bipedal lion-like anthro creatures. Neither the cover image or the back of the book really makes this clear.
I really like some of the IDEAS of this book, but I feel like the ideas aren't followed through and allowed to naturally evolve. The idea of stories being forced upon someone who lives in a society that doesn't believe in anything but 100% factual evidence is very intriguing, but not really explored. We, the readers, get to see these stories but the characters don't get to discuss them together or evolve from them. They are mostly just there to be convenient. When the main character needs a big creature, he conveniently gets a big wolf that will attack things on command. When he or his friend is injured, he conveniently gets a healer. His friend Anjali is fascinated with the stories, but then she disappears for half the novel so the main character can't talk to her about them.
Then, we have the idea of a society where every young person has to be trained in the military. Again, an interesting idea. I was really looking forward to the main character getting to the academy and becoming connected to others his own age in this setting where they have to learn battle strategy and also to depend on each other. I was expecting the main character to be like Harry Potter, and the military academy would be like his Hogwarts. To my disappointment, he spends very little time there and ends the book going to another country altogether. It feels like this book is full of ideas that never got a chance to breathe.
Lastly, I have to say I was really turned off by the heavy-handed religious cliches in the book. We have everything from a messenger that talks in a voice that sounds like many speaking at once, to a creation myth complete with a flood that destroys everything. At the end of the book, I was extremely turned off by the discussion between two characters, one of whom reveals that their race of cat-like beings are descendants of the last two humans who were saved from the flood, while the main character protests that his scientifically inclined society claims their race evolved from large cats over eons instead. This was so obvious a metaphor for how wrong it is for us to believe in evolution over grand creation, it made me cringe. It was no surprise to me when I read the author's bio at the back of the book and it mentioned he was an ordained minister, because often it felt like I was being preached to while reading.
I really like some of the IDEAS of this book, but I feel like the ideas aren't followed through and allowed to naturally evolve. The idea of stories being forced upon someone who lives in a society that doesn't believe in anything but 100% factual evidence is very intriguing, but not really explored. We, the readers, get to see these stories but the characters don't get to discuss them together or evolve from them. They are mostly just there to be convenient. When the main character needs a big creature, he conveniently gets a big wolf that will attack things on command. When he or his friend is injured, he conveniently gets a healer. His friend Anjali is fascinated with the stories, but then she disappears for half the novel so the main character can't talk to her about them.
Then, we have the idea of a society where every young person has to be trained in the military. Again, an interesting idea. I was really looking forward to the main character getting to the academy and becoming connected to others his own age in this setting where they have to learn battle strategy and also to depend on each other. I was expecting the main character to be like Harry Potter, and the military academy would be like his Hogwarts. To my disappointment, he spends very little time there and ends the book going to another country altogether. It feels like this book is full of ideas that never got a chance to breathe.
Lastly, I have to say I was really turned off by the heavy-handed religious cliches in the book. We have everything from a messenger that talks in a voice that sounds like many speaking at once, to a creation myth complete with a flood that destroys everything. At the end of the book, I was extremely turned off by the discussion between two characters, one of whom reveals that their race of cat-like beings are descendants of the last two humans who were saved from the flood, while the main character protests that his scientifically inclined society claims their race evolved from large cats over eons instead. This was so obvious a metaphor for how wrong it is for us to believe in evolution over grand creation, it made me cringe. It was no surprise to me when I read the author's bio at the back of the book and it mentioned he was an ordained minister, because often it felt like I was being preached to while reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2018
Our 10 year old daughter writes a review of “the best book ever” by Matt Laney.
Do you love books that are full of action, friendship, and mystery? Pride Wars, The Spinner Prince, is a book that will keep you clinging on to every word, wanting to find out what happens next. Why did I choose this book? Well, I was drawn over to one of my favorite book’s section, the Warriors shelf, and I saw this book. I wanted to check it out, and so I read the back of it. It started as, “Millions of years from now.....” That got me wondering. I thought, What’s going to happen a million years from now? So, I ended up taking the book off the shelf. When I started, I couldn’t stop. Not that I wanted to. It was so good! When I finished it, I was kind of upset. I wanted to find out what happened next! I liked this book a lot because the main character, Prince Leo, is different. He has an ability that most Singa (a new species) do not have. And they hate this power after a long history of war of a terrible enemy that was finally defeated. I was always wanting to know what would happen, and sometimes I put the book down and thought about what I thought was going to occur next. I loved this book, and it is a quick favorite!
It is now a favorite of the entire family and spreading through friends, family school. Full of adventure, mystery and imagination like the Warriors and other series. We could not put it down and can’t wait for #2 in the series!
Do you love books that are full of action, friendship, and mystery? Pride Wars, The Spinner Prince, is a book that will keep you clinging on to every word, wanting to find out what happens next. Why did I choose this book? Well, I was drawn over to one of my favorite book’s section, the Warriors shelf, and I saw this book. I wanted to check it out, and so I read the back of it. It started as, “Millions of years from now.....” That got me wondering. I thought, What’s going to happen a million years from now? So, I ended up taking the book off the shelf. When I started, I couldn’t stop. Not that I wanted to. It was so good! When I finished it, I was kind of upset. I wanted to find out what happened next! I liked this book a lot because the main character, Prince Leo, is different. He has an ability that most Singa (a new species) do not have. And they hate this power after a long history of war of a terrible enemy that was finally defeated. I was always wanting to know what would happen, and sometimes I put the book down and thought about what I thought was going to occur next. I loved this book, and it is a quick favorite!
It is now a favorite of the entire family and spreading through friends, family school. Full of adventure, mystery and imagination like the Warriors and other series. We could not put it down and can’t wait for #2 in the series!
July 30, 2018
If I knew what Leo is a Spinner meant when I picked up this book I would have been more excited to read this debut tale in the Pride War series. I am grateful for my interest in author Matt Laney was strong, so I did not miss this fantastic story. As a writer, the curse of a Spinner fascinated me. I love the "sayings of the ancients" at the beginning of each chapter a few of my favorites are "Joy and peace are the fruits of sacrifice.", "Bravery is not the absence of fear, but action in the presence of fear.", and "Without experiencing grief, we cannot respond to the pain of the world."
Leo is wise at 13-years-old preparing to go to the academy he thinks, "If there's one thing I've learned in the past few days, it's how much we say by saying very little." When Leo meets Shanti another spinner he learns that at one time humans walked the earth and created wonderful inventions "But the humans were a selfish breed. They had little regard for others or for the earth that was their home." The most powerful part of this coming of age tale for me was when Leo expresses how he hates the part of himself he has "tried to keep hidden all my life." Powerful thoughts, strong characters, ancient wisdom in a new world. I agree with Shanti when he tells Leo, "That is the sign of a great storyteller: the right story at the right time."
Leo is wise at 13-years-old preparing to go to the academy he thinks, "If there's one thing I've learned in the past few days, it's how much we say by saying very little." When Leo meets Shanti another spinner he learns that at one time humans walked the earth and created wonderful inventions "But the humans were a selfish breed. They had little regard for others or for the earth that was their home." The most powerful part of this coming of age tale for me was when Leo expresses how he hates the part of himself he has "tried to keep hidden all my life." Powerful thoughts, strong characters, ancient wisdom in a new world. I agree with Shanti when he tells Leo, "That is the sign of a great storyteller: the right story at the right time."
April 11, 2018
It is impressive when an author debuts with such an engaging, convincing story! Just as Leo in this novel has parables that burst forth out of his mouth, I imagine this story pouring forth from Laney as a story needing to be told. I love everything about these parables coming to life, with characters that linger after the story is "done" (readers can attest to how true that is!). The Spinner Prince seems to be an ideal combination of action/adventure and more thought-provoking events, raising questions about the role of story in our lives and how we determine what is true. Although this genre is out of my natural comfort zone, I found Leo very relatable as a young protagonist, thanks to Laney's ability to develop a character. I listened to this as an audiobook (also out of my comfort zone) and found the reader very compelling. He was able to convince me of Leo's youth, and I think young readers will relate to his struggles to come to terms with his outlawed abilities as a Spinner and his impending responsibilities as heir to the throne. A great coming of age tale!
April 25, 2018
A Wonderful Story By A Great Storyteller
Matt Laney's book "The Spinner Prince" is everything I expected and more. Having been familiar with his writing with the Still Speaking Writers Group, I was excited to hear he was branching out into fiction, and with such a great story. I knew this would be a story that our whole family would love, and can't wait for my daughter to pick it up next. The characters are well developed and easy to get to know, and I found myself drawn deep into the story throughout. My only disappointment is in having to wait until the next novel comes out. Thank you so much, Matt, for this wonderful story. I look forward to reading much more about Leo and Alayah in the years to come!
Matt Laney's book "The Spinner Prince" is everything I expected and more. Having been familiar with his writing with the Still Speaking Writers Group, I was excited to hear he was branching out into fiction, and with such a great story. I knew this would be a story that our whole family would love, and can't wait for my daughter to pick it up next. The characters are well developed and easy to get to know, and I found myself drawn deep into the story throughout. My only disappointment is in having to wait until the next novel comes out. Thank you so much, Matt, for this wonderful story. I look forward to reading much more about Leo and Alayah in the years to come!
April 14, 2018
JUDITH A whole-hearted YES to Matt Laney's Spinner Prince! We meet the prince, aged 13, as he faces a fight to the death which he is unlikely to win. We follow his adventures, trials and developing insights as he learns to distinguish friend from enemy and to accept advice and help from the right people, while at the same time not allowing his deepest values to be compromised. And, yes, we also meet some vibrant, female characters whose courage and audacity are indispensable to the plot's unfolding. I eagerly await the next book in this series to see where this inventive author takes his lively characters. (less)
June 4, 2018
"The Spinner Prince" is a fantastic journey through a new world, one that can easily be imagined in today's world. With new creatures and new lands, this story takes you through an adventure of a young heir to the throne through his rightful passage to become the King....but he's hiding a secret which is a gift. With his descriptive narratives, Matt Laney takes the reader through this imaginative journey with allegories relation to spirituality and faith in such a thoughtful way. This book leaves you waiting for the second in the trilogy. It is a fantastic first book from an exciting new author.
May 3, 2020
Matt LaneyThe Four GuardiansThe Spinner PrinceI love this series. Is there a third one? If there is I must read it. I read it for the 15th time today. I also finally read the second book. I love them both. I so want to own the whole entire series.
April 22, 2018
What a fun ride! The Spinner Prince (Pride Wars) is a captivating book that tells the story of a futuristic world that is inhabited by highly evolved cats. The book follows a young prince and the journey he embarks on shortly after his thirteenth birthday. It is filled with a host of imaginative characters, dangerous encounters and plenty of wild experiences. It is a non-stop adventure that leaves you with a hunger for more.
March 12, 2018
An incredible story! I loved this so much! The unique race of cat-evolved people lends itself to fantastic characters in world rich in description. This is a great story for all ages and the weaving of mythology, both familiar and unfamiliar figures, creates an incredible backdrop for a wonderful coming-of-age story.
March 14, 2018
A rousing and exciting debut. Part "Hamlet," part "Hunger Games," this original fantasy is both familiar (in a good way) and unique. High adventure and action, yet thought-provoking too: What is the role of story in our lives? Is there life after death?
An engaging and instantly likeable narrator keeps the reader turning the pages. Looking forward to the next book!
An engaging and instantly likeable narrator keeps the reader turning the pages. Looking forward to the next book!
March 25, 2018
This novel's protagonist, Leo, tell his story beautifully -- describing his struggle as he comes to terms with being both a spinner and the heir to leadership of his beloved community. Readers of all ages can relate to the challenges of knowing and accepting ourselves. Laney's storytelling technique brings characters to life in unexpected ways in this compelling good read.
August 30, 2019
This book was one of the best books I have ever read! I found it at my local library recently, and I got hooked immediately. I'm a huge fan of the Warrior Cats and Wings of Fire series, so this book was perfect for me! It has lots of adventure, plus magical powers and even a hint of humor. I recommend this for 9-15 year olds who enjoy fantasy and dystopian novels.
May 10, 2020
I wasn't expecting to like this book this much, but I really did love it. The world building is super interesting and I really liked the plot and the characters are awesome. Most importantly, it was really fun to read and had me wondering what would happen next throughout the whole thing. Maybe not the most amazing book ever, but plenty good enough for me.
December 10, 2018
I read this on the recommendation of a fifth grade student who could not put it down. I enjoyed the blending in of traditional tales from many cultures. It was easy to connect with the characters. I appreciated how the back story got woven into the main plot. I am looking forward to book 2!
August 24, 2019
I was loving the book by the first page and didn’t want to turn away after chapter two. It had lovable main characters, interesting storyline, and this is just the authors debut. I cannot wait for the second book, this one is a brilliant read
December 3, 2017
Fans of Erin Hunter will love this
June 15, 2019
A fast-paced and engaging read, this book is highly recommended for Erin Hunter (including the individual authors) and Kathryn Lasky fans.
May 1, 2018
In all reality, this book doesn’t deserve the rating I gave it. I loved this book, but I’m completely biased because despite its quality, these are the concepts I adore.
A post-human society of sentient cat people? Yes, please. A character grapples with self-hate and gradually begins to learn to accept himself -I’ll take another. Also, stories are literally a form of power? Just take my money now.
There’s so much to love. Leo, our main character, is the price and heir to the throne of Singara. He's perhaps the smallest for his age among the tribe and set to face a hunt to the death in order to prove his worth before a kingdom fraught with dissent regarding the future of the throne. Leo is genuinely a good person. He cares about his guards and subjects enough to invert traditions and serve them first. However, goodness isn’t quite enough to quell the seeds of unrest in the kingdom.
The enemies of Singara, inside and out, have made their move. The wall meant to protect the lands has been breached, and Leo’s traitorous uncle is poised to wrest control of the kingdom to his warmongering ways. And perhaps worst of all for Leo, he’s a spinner -a story-teller with the power to bring story creatures into the world. While some may see this ability as a gift, the people of Singara -born and bred for science, logic, and truth- the very act of fiction alone is considered a kind of disease punishable by exile and cutting out the tongue. As a result, the burdens of responsibility and guilt only mount for Leo with no clear means of resolution -at least, none that leave him with the tongue in his mouth or in the graces of his people.
Leo’s abilities as a Spinner give the story an occasional parable-like quality. These little tales-within-a-story are sweet and interesting fables that give some insight into the religion and belief system beyond the stranglehold of science in Singara and generally work to inform what Leo is going through. He doesn’t control when or what stories hit him, but they’re always exactly what he needs.
However, unfortunately, the beauty of the Spinners’ abilities end there with the bulk of their metaphorical power wasted on our characters. In a world without humanities (the arts), none of our main cast is equipped to understand the stories as anything but a falsehood. They can’t see the parallels between the story of the hunter who learned to look at the positives even in disaster and Leo’s own rite of passage hunt. They can’t see the connection between the hungry wolf and Leo’s ambitious and traitorous cousin. And most glaring of all, no one can understand the meaning of the story of the prince who hated himself even when another character is more or less pushing them to see the connection with Leo’s (a prince) self-hate. So, instead of adding a layer of meaning, the stories-within-a-story instead become little more than a frustrating experience with bigotry and dogma in a way that never really pays off within this particular novel on anything other than a literal level.
I would liked to have seen the characters learning to question the stories -what do they mean? What are they trying to say? What is the point? Any one of these trains of thought could have opened the floodgates to explore the stories as something more than lies and sound that will occasionally stick around to defend the main character as willing soldiers.
The perspective of this story feels a little off to me. Leo is our first-person narrator, but everything is written in present tense. That alone isn’t a strike against this book, but it occasionally makes things feel a little stilted and paints Leo as this oddly dry individual devoid of much personality. Outside Leo’s self-hate, we’re given precious little insight into who this character is. What are his interests? What is his defining character trait? I don’t know. In the end, Leo becomes one of the least developed and least interesting characters we encounter despite his central role.
On a related note that continues to make the present-tense choice all the weirder is that the opening of this book frames everything as a flashback. At the start of everything, Leo is dying. He only has two days to live. That moment is then the de jure “present”. However, then suddenly we’re in the past using present tense? This story is framed as Leo telling us his story, but instead of telling it to us as though it happened (in his relative past), we’re told it as though it were in his immediate present (to no real benefit as stated above).
Overall the structure of this book was disappointing in general. The novel is broken up into distinct phases with not a lot of time spent in each and pretty poor transitions between them. By far the longest leg of the story was spent in and surrounding Leo’s rite of passage hunt. This phase does a good job at explaining the world and the state of politics in Singara, even if it does occasionally fall into a pit of dry explanation. However, the following phases are so distinct and change so abruptly that it leaves much to be desired.
There’s the part of the story where Leo has to sneak back into the city because his uncle has launched a plot to kill the royal family. Leo does regrettably little besides meeting Shanti, the mysterious and definitely plot-relevant shepherd, and getting led around, rendering the whole sequence little more than a parade.
There’s the royal feast to celebrate Leo’s success in the hunt where his uncle is “definitely not evil, guys. Come on, man. The official version of history doesn’t say that my family has ambitions to take over the throne, so it can’t be true. Lol. You guys.”
Then, for some reason I guess everything is ok now, and Leo goes to the Royal Academy to train for his mandatory military service, but he doesn’t get to say his goodbyes and as soon as he arrives for training, he is stripped of his identity -reduced to a number (which is SUPER confusing when we’re introduced to a slew of characters by numbers and not name). The book immediately shifts tonally to something very strict, bleak, dry, and absurdly rushed. Leo meets his groupmates, spends no time getting to know them as people or really to become friends, but then within his first hour or so of meeting them, recruits the pair to help him break into the headmaster’s lair to advance the plot.
That’s the thing. In the long-run, nothing at the Academy really matters outside of ticking boxes. Leo gets a group to work alongside, he meets an enslaved member of the enemy race, he’s out of the way during a coup, he inadvertently adds fuel to the fires of war by absentmindedly summoning a story creature, and then he leaves with these new characters that we barely know in tow. What was the point of any of it? Such a big deal is made about this place, but he’s barely there for a week, learns arguably nothing, and then we never deal with the awful people there ever again.
Then the cast is on the run from the new government, Leo learns some self-worth, and Bob’s your uncle.
This frantic run from place to place and plot point to plot point feels very indicative of another series about humanoid animals in a fantasy setting, Curtis Jobling’s Wereworld. Interestingly, they’ve been written for the same age group and both suffer from the same major faults. They are stories of great personal interest but with remarkably lean development and a seemingly tangential relationship to a consistent plot.
This wasn’t a great book. It’s a thing that I read and enjoyed, but it’s so shallow and dry. I understand this book to be the start of a series, and I will very likely continue to read it. However, I’m still struggling with how or to whom I might recommend this series. In all honesty, this is a 2/5 that is only elevated to a higher score by my own interest in the subject matter.
A post-human society of sentient cat people? Yes, please. A character grapples with self-hate and gradually begins to learn to accept himself -I’ll take another. Also, stories are literally a form of power? Just take my money now.
There’s so much to love. Leo, our main character, is the price and heir to the throne of Singara. He's perhaps the smallest for his age among the tribe and set to face a hunt to the death in order to prove his worth before a kingdom fraught with dissent regarding the future of the throne. Leo is genuinely a good person. He cares about his guards and subjects enough to invert traditions and serve them first. However, goodness isn’t quite enough to quell the seeds of unrest in the kingdom.
The enemies of Singara, inside and out, have made their move. The wall meant to protect the lands has been breached, and Leo’s traitorous uncle is poised to wrest control of the kingdom to his warmongering ways. And perhaps worst of all for Leo, he’s a spinner -a story-teller with the power to bring story creatures into the world. While some may see this ability as a gift, the people of Singara -born and bred for science, logic, and truth- the very act of fiction alone is considered a kind of disease punishable by exile and cutting out the tongue. As a result, the burdens of responsibility and guilt only mount for Leo with no clear means of resolution -at least, none that leave him with the tongue in his mouth or in the graces of his people.
Leo’s abilities as a Spinner give the story an occasional parable-like quality. These little tales-within-a-story are sweet and interesting fables that give some insight into the religion and belief system beyond the stranglehold of science in Singara and generally work to inform what Leo is going through. He doesn’t control when or what stories hit him, but they’re always exactly what he needs.
However, unfortunately, the beauty of the Spinners’ abilities end there with the bulk of their metaphorical power wasted on our characters. In a world without humanities (the arts), none of our main cast is equipped to understand the stories as anything but a falsehood. They can’t see the parallels between the story of the hunter who learned to look at the positives even in disaster and Leo’s own rite of passage hunt. They can’t see the connection between the hungry wolf and Leo’s ambitious and traitorous cousin. And most glaring of all, no one can understand the meaning of the story of the prince who hated himself even when another character is more or less pushing them to see the connection with Leo’s (a prince) self-hate. So, instead of adding a layer of meaning, the stories-within-a-story instead become little more than a frustrating experience with bigotry and dogma in a way that never really pays off within this particular novel on anything other than a literal level.
I would liked to have seen the characters learning to question the stories -what do they mean? What are they trying to say? What is the point? Any one of these trains of thought could have opened the floodgates to explore the stories as something more than lies and sound that will occasionally stick around to defend the main character as willing soldiers.
The perspective of this story feels a little off to me. Leo is our first-person narrator, but everything is written in present tense. That alone isn’t a strike against this book, but it occasionally makes things feel a little stilted and paints Leo as this oddly dry individual devoid of much personality. Outside Leo’s self-hate, we’re given precious little insight into who this character is. What are his interests? What is his defining character trait? I don’t know. In the end, Leo becomes one of the least developed and least interesting characters we encounter despite his central role.
On a related note that continues to make the present-tense choice all the weirder is that the opening of this book frames everything as a flashback. At the start of everything, Leo is dying. He only has two days to live. That moment is then the de jure “present”. However, then suddenly we’re in the past using present tense? This story is framed as Leo telling us his story, but instead of telling it to us as though it happened (in his relative past), we’re told it as though it were in his immediate present (to no real benefit as stated above).
Overall the structure of this book was disappointing in general. The novel is broken up into distinct phases with not a lot of time spent in each and pretty poor transitions between them. By far the longest leg of the story was spent in and surrounding Leo’s rite of passage hunt. This phase does a good job at explaining the world and the state of politics in Singara, even if it does occasionally fall into a pit of dry explanation. However, the following phases are so distinct and change so abruptly that it leaves much to be desired.
There’s the part of the story where Leo has to sneak back into the city because his uncle has launched a plot to kill the royal family. Leo does regrettably little besides meeting Shanti, the mysterious and definitely plot-relevant shepherd, and getting led around, rendering the whole sequence little more than a parade.
There’s the royal feast to celebrate Leo’s success in the hunt where his uncle is “definitely not evil, guys. Come on, man. The official version of history doesn’t say that my family has ambitions to take over the throne, so it can’t be true. Lol. You guys.”
Then, for some reason I guess everything is ok now, and Leo goes to the Royal Academy to train for his mandatory military service, but he doesn’t get to say his goodbyes and as soon as he arrives for training, he is stripped of his identity -reduced to a number (which is SUPER confusing when we’re introduced to a slew of characters by numbers and not name). The book immediately shifts tonally to something very strict, bleak, dry, and absurdly rushed. Leo meets his groupmates, spends no time getting to know them as people or really to become friends, but then within his first hour or so of meeting them, recruits the pair to help him break into the headmaster’s lair to advance the plot.
That’s the thing. In the long-run, nothing at the Academy really matters outside of ticking boxes. Leo gets a group to work alongside, he meets an enslaved member of the enemy race, he’s out of the way during a coup, he inadvertently adds fuel to the fires of war by absentmindedly summoning a story creature, and then he leaves with these new characters that we barely know in tow. What was the point of any of it? Such a big deal is made about this place, but he’s barely there for a week, learns arguably nothing, and then we never deal with the awful people there ever again.
Then the cast is on the run from the new government, Leo learns some self-worth, and Bob’s your uncle.
This frantic run from place to place and plot point to plot point feels very indicative of another series about humanoid animals in a fantasy setting, Curtis Jobling’s Wereworld. Interestingly, they’ve been written for the same age group and both suffer from the same major faults. They are stories of great personal interest but with remarkably lean development and a seemingly tangential relationship to a consistent plot.
This wasn’t a great book. It’s a thing that I read and enjoyed, but it’s so shallow and dry. I understand this book to be the start of a series, and I will very likely continue to read it. However, I’m still struggling with how or to whom I might recommend this series. In all honesty, this is a 2/5 that is only elevated to a higher score by my own interest in the subject matter.
May 9, 2025
Another good find from the older kids/young adult section of my local library.
The premise alone made me pick up the book, and though I thought the writing and lore-dumping was clunky at first, after a few chapters it didn't feel very grating. The world of this series is very steeped in rationalism and scientific thought, so it makes sense that the characters sometimes talk or think in a bit of a robotic way: its all they know.
This book feels like a mix between Percy Jackson, The Lion King, and some youth dystopia where society forbids something mundane. I'm a bit confused about how technologically advanced the characters are, even after finishing the book (like, when they wear armor, is it cyberstuff, or leather?), but the worldbuilding is top notch, and made me continue reading even while I was a bit skeptical.
And thank god, a good quality anthropomorphic animal series! After years of talking animal society books, we finally have one where they can read, write, and stand on two legs! This sets it apart from other series like Bravelands or Wings of Fire, because the level of anthropomorphism allows tons of new stuff, like buildings and technology.
The only reason my rating is so low is because I feel like the book's villain was quickly introduced as the villain, and everyone in the story just agreed he was at once. It would've been nice to have a Scar situation, where he's an outcast but still trusted, and is revealed to be treacherous halfway through. That would've given the plot a lot more stakes.
Also the Academy deserved more time. For all that the book builds it up as something dangerous and cool, it spends only a few chapters on it.
The premise alone made me pick up the book, and though I thought the writing and lore-dumping was clunky at first, after a few chapters it didn't feel very grating. The world of this series is very steeped in rationalism and scientific thought, so it makes sense that the characters sometimes talk or think in a bit of a robotic way: its all they know.
This book feels like a mix between Percy Jackson, The Lion King, and some youth dystopia where society forbids something mundane. I'm a bit confused about how technologically advanced the characters are, even after finishing the book (like, when they wear armor, is it cyberstuff, or leather?), but the worldbuilding is top notch, and made me continue reading even while I was a bit skeptical.
And thank god, a good quality anthropomorphic animal series! After years of talking animal society books, we finally have one where they can read, write, and stand on two legs! This sets it apart from other series like Bravelands or Wings of Fire, because the level of anthropomorphism allows tons of new stuff, like buildings and technology.
The only reason my rating is so low is because I feel like the book's villain was quickly introduced as the villain, and everyone in the story just agreed he was at once. It would've been nice to have a Scar situation, where he's an outcast but still trusted, and is revealed to be treacherous halfway through. That would've given the plot a lot more stakes.
Also the Academy deserved more time. For all that the book builds it up as something dangerous and cool, it spends only a few chapters on it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews