The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Fantasy. 342 pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point—he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
My Review:
Man, I love this book so much. I wish I’d found it when it first came out. I read this a few years ago when I did find it, and have gone back to reread the trilogy now that there is a fourth book *cue dance party*!!! It’s just as much fun the second time around, let me tell you!
I heard about this book from different sources for a while. Finally, I decided to pick it up. And, I quite enjoyed it. It may be because I am quite a bit older than what I suspect is the intended audience, but I kinda saw the big plot twist a mile away. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride, though, because there were a few moments of self-doubt and because it really is a very well-written story.
Sage has got to be one of my absolute favorite characters of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed many of the characters, but Sage stole the show. I loved his attitude, his spunk, his wit, and his adventurous spirit. He had such interesting ways to look at things too. It was so exciting to see him climbing out windows and sneaking around like a thief in the night. Though the other characters had there moments, Sage definitely made this story for me! Mott is a favorite, too, and Imogen, of course. I love her quiet strength and quick wit. She can match Sage stride for stride, and I like that. I also found the triangle with Tobias and Roden fascinating. I love how distinct each character is. They round out the story with a very vivid cast.
The plot drew me in, too. I loved the idea and Conner’s plan was certainly unique, I thought. Even though, as I said, I guessed the big twist, I still didn’t know how everything would unfold or how characters would react to everything. There are elements of mystery woven into the plot that I just love! And reading it a second time is even more wonderful because you can find hidden gems and double entendres and figure out a whole new context for some of the events and dialogue. I love the mix of adventure, cunning, intrigue, and nobility. This book is just one of my favorites!
The book was well-written, technically speaking, and the writing style appealed to me. I loved the humor! The setting was simple, for the most part, but that didn’t necessarily detract from the story. I really liked having the map to reference. All in all, I’d certainly recommend the book and I definitely plan to continue to book two!
Also, I did listen to the audio book, and very much enjoyed the narrator! Well done, Sir!
For parents, the book is perfectly acceptable for middle-schoolers. No language, no romance, and very little violence (there is a scene with mild torture, but it was very well done and not graphic.)
More:
Book 2 in the Ascendance Trilogy is The Runaway King (5 Stars)
Book 3 is The Shadow Throne (5 Stars)
Book 4 is The Captive Kingdom (5 Stars)
Book 5 is The Shattered Castle
I have reviewed the original trilogy on Goodreads. Follow the links to find more info on the books and then scroll down to see the reviews. Mine is among them. When I get to the newest book in the series, I’ll come back and update this.
This series must be read in order.
On GraceBought
See my thoughts on the next book in the series here: