SOLVED. Three or Four Book Sci-Fi/Dystopian series starts off with a boy that is doing a mock tourney/war type competition with the other youths. They live in a walled city and their ruler is someone that is chosen "magically" by a crown. [s]

[Sleepninja]

I read this book series way back when I was in middle school which was between 2000 and 2003. However, it's possible that the books were published before that. The story starts off with a boy that is doing a mock tourney/war type competition with the other youths. They live in a walled city and their ruler is someone that is chosen "magically" by a crown.

Possible spoilers ahead!!! But I don't know how else to give more details:


The crown ends up choosing him and the advisers (old men) that are in charge of the process end up telling him the truth behind the city and the crown. Technology is involved and it turns out they have survived some sort of nuclear or war related apocalypse type situation. The boy ends up leaving the city to explore.

Some of these details might not be entirely correct, it's just what I have been trying to piece together from my memory. Also, I recall some type of giant worm creature that burned at the touch.

[Sue]

The Prince In Waiting trilogy by John Christopher?

[Sleepninja]

That's it! Thank you! <3

[Rainbowheart]

The Prince in Waiting for the link to the first book in the series.