Medraut, the illegitimate son of Artos the king, returns from his travels in Africa and elsewhere to watch over his younger half-brother, Lleu.

Their relationship intensifies when Medraut's lessons begin to stick, and Lleu starts to seem a suitable High King.

The Winter Prince deals with a number of themes, most notably jealousy and the desire for greater responsibility, the two flaws which lead Medraut to kidnap Lleu.

Wein's novel illustrates the way in which small slights slowly simmer into true anger over the course of years.

The members of King Arthur's court, on the whole, are quite cosmopolitan, within the bounds of their technology and medieval time period.

It is implied that, as ambassador to Africa, Medraut was given far more responsibility than he is given in Camlan, where, as Artos' illegitimate son and possible contender for the throne, he finds that people are more reluctant to trust him.