Reviewed by Stephen K.
TITLE: The Student Prince
AUTHOR: FayJay
NARRATOR: FayJay
PUBLISHER: Self Published/Fan Fic
LENGTH: 333 Pages 15 hours
RELEASE DATE: July 20th 2010
BLURB:
A modern day (BBC) Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love…
REVIEW:
What do you get when take Arthurian legend, and make Merlin gay, mix in young Prince William’s paparazzi mystique, a bit of the Harry Potter sensibility, an overly friendly kraken, a lovelorn, tea-totaling, kickboxing ninja, and a Scottish University that sorta rivals Hogwarts? You get this version of The Student Prince.
The Student Prince started as fan-fiction based on ideas inspired by the UK TV series Merlin. Based on the clever story-telling and writing quality alone this SHOULD be a best seller of M/M fiction, but with at least two TV episodes lifted and re-imagined directly into this work, this will probably never be able to be published commercially. While the TV series was clearly set in ye olden days, this “Brokeback Harry Potter” style reinvention / retelling, firmly places Prince Arthur as the Prince of Wales in a paparazzi laden modern day England with his father, Uther, as king. When Merlin, wins a Prince’s Trust scholarship to attend St. Andrews and then finds out that the Prince will be attending as well, the adventure begins.
Merlin, is gay and 17, and apparently secretly master of magic. But is he ready for frequent room-mate contact with the Prince of Wales who’s constantly referred to in the tabloid press as “His Royal Hotness?” – – Sure, Merlin’s been secretly crushing on Arthur since his early teens, but when he must deal with Arthur being, smug, smart-mouthed, entitled, and a part-time prat, but also noble, earnest, likable and even lickable…
This retelling is absolutely brilliant. Even the Modern/ AU updating is explained in a conversation that Merlin has with the Great Dragon about how all great stories are fated to repeat though “details do change.”
Sure, there are Harry Potter moments. How could there NOT be in a story involving schooling in England and a wizard. But the characters are aware of these stories, and sometimes poke fun at the very stories they seem to be inhabiting. There are references to Harry Potter, and World of Warcraft, and Sauron and even a few veiled Princess Di references that are all completely believable and in keeping with the spirit of the story.
Along the way Merlin meets a slightly older fellow wizarding student at a gay-soc meeting, goes out drinking with Morgana (now re-imagined as the Dutchess of Edinborough), and even has a drunken drool fest after telling off Arthur, his once and future King.
“[Arthur]
“Er… Just how much did you have to drink?”
Merlin frowned at Arthur… Both of him.”
The characters are well developed and three dimensional. They’re the kind of people you actually enjoy spending time with. The plot is laugh out loud funny at many points. Yet, the romantic longing is all too recognizable as well. The verbal interplay is as funny as one would expect from highly educated, smart, witty and literate young people.
“Merlin, if you don’t stop whining, I’m going to take Gwen’s sword and beat you to death with it,” said Arthur, evenly.
“It’s plastic.”
“So it will take me a long time. I’m still game.”
There are moments of true nobility and self sacrifice. There are recountings of college experiences that ring entirely true, particularly the drinking games and the subsequent hangovers.
“You know you’re having a crappy morning when the best that can be said for it is that at least you’re not a Smurf.”
I even learned a bit about Raisin Weekend, something I’d never heard of before. The story is pretty much a continual joy to read. The romance rings true, the sexual tension is heartfelt and some of the best I’ve read. The sex scenes (I’m not saying with whom) are really hot as well. But it’s much, much more than that. Poor Merlin goes the entire first third of the book without getting laid at all.
I’ve listened to this about 5 times since I first discovered it a few years back. I am gobsmacked that something this well-done isn’t more well-known. By all means, check out this free gem.
RATING: 
and at least 4 wands
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