The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Title: The Summer Prince
Author: Alaya Dawn Johnson
Type: Young Adult Novel
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: No
Pages: 289
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine 
Rating: 3.5 out of 5


Summary: From Good Reads

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Três shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Três will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.

Feelings:
June Costa is a resented in the Palmares Três pyramid and she has always put her art first. She lives in tier eight one of the higher levels placing her among the individuals with more going for them. Enki the new Summer King is from verde the lowest level and not the nicest place in Palmares Três. 

June and Enki form a friendship built around creating political art. Gil Junen's best friend became Enki's lover his first night as the new Summer King and June feels it is necessary to keep things between herself and Enki about art and not to let it become sexual. As the Summer King Enki has many lovers. People allow him this because he will die at the end of the summer to justify the queen staying on a queen. 

The third thing you should know about Enki is that he wants to die. He doesn't seem like the kind of boy, I know. They almost never do. But he wants to be a summer king, and so he wants to die. (p. 13)

This is a story about young individuals in a world of adults that don't age and who are given power but Enki a young summer king who will die. I really enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it was still good.

I would recommend this book to individuals that like young adult fantasy and science fiction.