Monday, August 26, 2013

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Sage is an orphan and a thief, always on the run from trouble. But this time, when he is caught by a nobleman named Conner, he can't run any farther.

The kingdom of Carthya is on the brink of civil war. Factions are forming—different groups plotting to take over the throne—and Conner has been carefully laying plans, looking for someone to pose as the long-missing Carthyan prince. Sage finds himself unwillingly entered into a dangerous competition with several other orphans, all aiming to outdo the others and win Conner’s favor.

The stakes are high. After all, only one false prince is needed—only one boy can win the competition to be the (fake) Carthyan heir, and no way will Conner let any of the unlucky losers spill the beans about his scheme. Sage has no particular desire to ascend the throne but if he wants to stay alive, he must play along with Conner's game.

The False Prince launches Jennifer A. Nielsen's Ascendance trilogy in lively fashion. The story moves quickly, and Sage is a quick-witted and wily narrator; while I was able to predict some of the twists, the book was still far too entertaining to put down unfinished. Once you've finished The False Prince, pick up the second book in the series, The Runaway King. Book three, The Shadow Throne, will be published next February.

Book details:
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Middle Grade fantasy
Hardcover ISBN: 9780545284134; Paperback ISBN: 9780545284141

1 comment :

Sarah Stevenson said...

I binged on books 1 and 2 this summer and I really can't wait for book 3! I loved these.