Book 1) - Book 1 of the Ascendance Trilogy - The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy

3.5 Stars, but rounding down because the story wound down the further it went.

It's the story of an orphan boy who gets selected to replace the missing heir of a kingdom's royal family. The scope of the story covers the boys training and competition with two other boys, also selected as possible princes.

The writing was excellent. I really liked Sage, he had a very engaging voice. The secondary characters were also interesting and well developed.

I thought the author did a wonderful job of showing us clues as to what was really going, without telling us what was really going on. It made Sage that much more of an interesting character (he's a sneak and a liar, and he sneaks and lies a lot).

But... What was really going on (big picture rather than small) was so incredibly cliche that I ended up being disappointed. The more of the 'real' story that came out, the more my interest in the story waned. I would have loved for the ending to have twisted things up and surprised me (as I was expecting it to do). As is, the twist was pretty obvious from page one.

Still, I enjoyed it. It's worth a read and the author is one I'll keep an eye on.

Wasn't sure I would want my child to read this book when one of the boys are killed at the very beginning. There is more violence then I like for a childs book. Overall the story ends on a good tone. There are good lessons in the book. More of a book for boys than girls.

I started reading this as a bit of light bedtime reading....and then stayed up all night and read the whole thing in one sitting!! The plot is well developed, unpredictable, and consistently surprises and delights! I can't wait for the sequel

Book arrived on time, but was not as described. Very good does not mean bent covers, and very work copy. The book, I'm certain will be wonderful, but if I decide I want it in my collection, I'll have to purchase a better copy.

I liked the pace of the story, and the characters were likable and/or interesting. It was a fun read, but the ending just seemed too contrived.

A fun, easy read, but I want stories to teach me something about people, or inspire me, or give me something to ponder. It's missing that level, so it's not the kind of book I'd read again.

One note - there aren't any strong female heroines in the book, which tends to disappoint me when the author's female.

It moved way to slow, for that reason I didn't finish reading it, if it got better, I will never know, sorry it isn't my style of reading. The Forgotten Prince was recommended but I thought it would be better to start at the beginning, wrong Choice

There were plenty of positives to this book: snappy pacing, engaging characters, and an almost spartan lack of boring expository details.

Why the two stars?

It's bad enough to have a plot twist that stretches the suspension of disbelief further than it was ever meant to go. That's not such an egregious sin considering the intended audience for this book. The biggest problem is that this story is a first-person narrative, and all of the plot twists rest on things that the narrator was aware of. He just conveniently managed to not share any of them with us for 3/4 of the book. If building suspense about those twists was so important to the story, it should have been written in third person.

The premise had promise, and I was engaged at first, but it fizzled under the weight of too much artifice. I haven't decided if I'm going to bother with the second book.

This book was so good, it was solid five stars and it is so UNDERRATED. I NEED THIS BOOK TO BE MORE HYPED. Let me tell you why:

First of all, I really enjoyed Sage. I loved how sassy he was and how smart. I also really like his name. Sage is a nice name. This book has a lot of good names in it. Like Imogen or Mott. I liked pretty much all the characters in this book, well the nice ones at least. My 3 favorites were Sage, Mott and Imogen. Sage is probably my top fave though and I LOVE his narrating. Tobias was interesting, he varied for me. Sometimes I liked him, sometimes I did not. I like him more at the end.

Second of all, the plot twist got me good. I did not see it coming, at all and did not expect anything like that. There might have been some hints but no huge indications and then it shows up in your face. BOOM. Yup, good plot twist. I approve.

Overall plot is good as well. It was intrigueing and it kept me interested, I was not bored at all. The pace was perfect and I read this book in maybe three hours? I read the whole thing this morning and finished it after lunch.

The writing was well done too. It is easy enough that I think kids can understand but it wasn't overly easy and so I liked it. It was solid enough and I never was confused or missed something crucial to the plot.

This book deserves 5 stars! I am putting it on my favorites list because I loved it and I highly recommend it to everybody. I can't wait to start book two which is conveniently sitting on my shelf now, along with book three.

The book came in good condition and I love the paperback version, nothing was damaged and it is sturdy. I RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYBODY!!!!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

I tend to pick up any new or trending YA books to read something fast and fun before my core authors release their newest books, so although I may not be the intended audience for The False Prince, it's pretty obvious that this book was a total dud.

Characters: Underdeveloped, the characters were cardboard cut-outs of already overused cliches that were clumsily painted over to appear vivid. Let's take the protagonist, Sage. He's supposed to be the anti-hero, the sometimes jerk with admirable qualities who you root for. Nielsen didn't come close to achieving charming with Sage, instead coming up with someone annoying, flighty, uninspiring, and the epitome of an unreliable narrator. The villain, friends, romantic interest, and the helper/guide were hero-journey archetypes that were so dull and flat, they only served to make Sage interesting in comparison.

Plot: Any reader over the age of ten who has read at least a couple fantasy-genre books (or even movies) will be able to identify and predict the plot straight off. Either Sage is the prince all along in a daring twist or he will be chosen to be the one to pose as the prince with all the dangers such an action entails. The way Nielsen handles the reveal is downright negligent as a writer and an opportunity for a decent story absolutely wasted. It's a gross abuse of the first person perspective and was set up poorly. The narrator withholds information crucial to the plot without any foreshadowing that he is doing so. Meaning he is outright lying to audience, not obliquely like someone like Nick Caraway did to great success.

And all the stuff leading up to that reveal? Not worth reading. Seriously. After the first six or seven chapters, I skipped ahead to the last sixty pages or so to see if any of the exposition paid off and it really didn't. Nielsen poses a life or death competition for the three candidates to pose as the prince. However, toward the end, every candidate was still alive. This to me, means the competition ultimately didn't have any stakes. The main villain appeared to be just as negligent as Nielsen who creates enormous plot-holes with Sage conveniently finding evidence everywhere and mercenaries that don't function in any capacity.

I can see why this book was trending, but it didn't warrant a recommendation from me. The False Prince could possibly be given to a young reader who hasn't had any experience in the genre, but with so much more on the market to offer (Shusterman's Unwind, Neil Gaiman's YA, etc.) this one could be left on the shelf.

~~~~3.5 Stars~~~~

This book was a mixed bag of uuuwww interesting...no wait booooo... yawn....no wait MEH... no wait YAY!! Confused? I was too but I'll elaborate.

I loved the MCs voice through and through! His attitude and delivery of witty quips was perfectly executed and fun to read.

The mission? Try and turn one of three 14 year old (illiterate?), uncouth orphans into a long lost prince in 2 weeks time in order to seize control of a recently vacated throne. Wellll....it turns out that making a prince is slow, tedious and oft times a chore to read about. The storyline wasn't boring per se but it felt like I was working...working on my patience/ concentration levels.

I know this book was very well received but, for me, I was ready to start skimming before the halfway mark (definitely NOT a good sign!). I have so many tantalizing books on my formidable TBR pile that wasting time on a read that has gone sour just feels wrong. BUUUUT I soldiered on. At about the 70% mark things picked up and even though the twists weren't entirely surprising, it unfolded brilliantly. I really enjoyed the main reveal and how all of the subsequent events played out. From page 1 Sage (prince Jaron??) felt visceral and his attitude towards possibly sitting on the throne (with the weight of carrying a country soon to be at war on his shoulders) not only felt genuine but congruant with who he was from start to finish. This will go down as one of THOSE books...you know the type...the ones that draw you in and then somewhere in the middle test your resolve to see things through to the acknowledgments page and then BAM!! You're suddenly as happy as a thoroughly petted pup that you chose to persevere because it was one of THOSE books that come through (shining big sunny literary smiles) in the home stretch....GASP...end of run on rambling!!

I definitely ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would but not LOVING it as much as most.

3.5 stars.
The problem with this book is that it's very similar to Megan Whale Turner's The Thief.
For example:
Gen is a thief. Sage is too.
Gen has a mysterious past. Sage does too.
Gen takes a mysterious journey to a destination that is unclear with two other boys around his age, a older man who is important to the king and a strong servant/protector who Gen ultimately befriends. Sage does too.
Gen is taught history of the kingdom by the older man. Sage is too.
Gen gets whipped at the command of the older man by the servant/protector. Sage is too.
The older man believes that Gen will run away. He takes many precautions against this, including chaining Gen's foot to the servant/protector when they are sleeping. Sage does too.
The group that is traveling does not want people to know they are traveling. Sage's group doesn't want that too.
Gen can't ride a horse. Sage can't either.
Gen has a stone that is very important to him. Sage does too.

And it continues into a spoilery category, which I can't say, but because of the similarities, I guessed all the twists from a mile away.

I ultimately liked the book, and I do want to read more of the series, but I think I would have liked it more if I hadn't made so many connections between the books. Ultimately, it felt like the same story. I don't know if I would have picked up on these similarities if I had read the books farther apart. However, I do plan on reading the next book of the series. (After I read the second book in the Queen's Thief series, of course.)

Sage is an almost fifteen year old orphan from Avenia who lives at Mrs. Turbeldy’s Home for Disadvantaged Boys in Carchar, a city of Carthya, and has the reputation of being a defiant thief and a liar. King Eckbert of Carthya has been murdered, along with his wife Queen Erin, and heir Crown Prince Darius. This information is being kept secret for now, but when it is known the nation could be plunged into civil war. However, the king had a younger son, Jaron, who was lost at sea. A Carthyan nobleman, Bevin Connor, has a plan to place an impersonator of Jaron on the throne to avoid war. He has purchased Sage and three other orphan boys named Latamer, Roden, and Tobias because they are the right age and appearance. After a time of training at Connor’s estate of Farthenwood near the city of Tithio, one of them will be chosen to play the prince.

Which onwill win the competition? Can the plan work? What will happen to the boys who are not selected? And just exactly who is Sage? The False Prince, Book 1 of the Ascendance Trilogy, is an action-oriented fantasy filled with danger and adventure. The numerous plot twists, characterized by lies and deadly truths, will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats. I know that it did me, and I enjoyed it. One reviewer wrote, “It moved way to slow, for that reason I didn’t finish reading it, if it got better, I will never know, sorry it isn’t my style of reading.” Yet another said, “There were plenty of positives to this book: snappy pacing, engaging characters, and an almost spartan lack of boring expository details.” I guess to each his own. There is nothing objectionable. It is said that people swore, but no actual swear words are used. One killing scene is rather blunt, but not overly graphic. The sequels are The Runaway King: The Ascendance Trilogy, Book 2, and The Shadow Throne: The Ascendance Trilogy, Book 3.

Carthya is a kingdom on the brink of war. The royal family is dead. The youngest son, Jaron, is missing, presumed dead. A group of regents all have their eye on the vacant throne, and if one of them seizes power, it's likely that the entire kingdom will be plunged into ruin. But one nobleman named Conner has a plan. He's rounded up a group of four orphan boys - Latamer, Roden, Tobias, and Sage - that all have the look of Jaron. His plan is to groom them, train them, and in two weeks, crown the one who has best taken to the role. As for the others, well...death.

Despite being a thief and an orphan, Sage is a proud boy, and doesn't take kindly to Conner's cruel tyranny. He sustains a number of beatings, whippings, and torments at the hands of his captor. The other boys can't be trusted, either. They're all in competition for the same thing, and if one of them fails, the survivors in this cruel competition will gain from their loss.

THE FALSE PRINCE is one of those books that sounded so good, I was afraid to read it, because I couldn't stand the thought of being disappointed. This was in error. THE FALSE PRINCE is awesome. It's got all the things I love in YA - court intrigue, surprising twists, peril, death, heartbreak, friendship, competitions, deception, and action. Sage is an excellent narrator. He has all the snark of Artemis Fowl, but the humanity and determination of characters like Katniss Everdeen that make your heart ache for them as well. No matter how big a jerk he is, there's never a moment where you don't want him to succeed, because you feel in your heart that he deserves it.

The only things that I can really ding this book for are - the main twist. I saw it coming pretty early on. Also, Roden's and Tobias's characters started to feel pretty interchangeable in the last third of the book. Roden especially did some things that just felt out of character. This is just me being nit-picky, though. I finished this book in a single sitting; it was just that good.

Lord, I need that sequel. That ending.

5 out of 5 stars

“If I had to do it all over again, I would not have chosen this life. Then again, I’m not sure I ever had a choice”. (pg. 1) This book has been one of the most entertaining and action packed books that I have ever read. Sage’s journey takes you through so many different emotions, and feelings that the possibilities are endless. It also uses very descriptive language to show anything from pain to happiness, and uses vivid emotion to point out important moments. Throughout Sage’s trip, we learn many lessons, but in the end, more than anything else, we learn to persevere through whatever comes across our path.

There are four boys, one plan, one teacher, and a whole kingdom that they need to fool. In a faraway land, there is a war that starting, and in order to save the entire kingdom, someone needs to step up, and take control. A nobleman named Conner goes out to find someone to replace/impersonate the king’s long-lost son, and make things right. He collects four orphans and forces them to compete to take the role, including a very smart boy named Sage. Although, Sage’s life is on thin ice. He has to play the role of the prince, or he will be killed. Along this process, some suspicion starts when the king’s long-lost son appears so sudden. Sage and the other boys must stay hidden to the public until they are ready.

Our main character, Sage, is very strategic and smart, and uses his skills for certain tasks. Sage uses his ability to outsmart the others so he can survive out of the four, and become the new king’s son. Since Sage was in an orphanage, he knows he can’t mess up, or he will be sent right back to the horrid place, or even get killed. ‘“What do I care about sportsmanship?’ I said. ‘If I’m about to get killed, it’s not play anymore. I won’t check the rules to see if my survival fits with someone’s codebook of fair play.”’ (pg. 27) To keep the training and the whole impersonation process secret, Conner must kill all the other boys who don’t make it to be the king’s son, so the secret doesn’t get out, and so a rebellion does not start. ‘”Two weeks, boys. Pray you are the one I choose.”’ (pg. 39)

Throughout all the things that Sage faces, Sage learns that he has to stay strong, and fight for what he wants, even if that’s going out of his comfort zone. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars: Jennifer A. Nielsen writes a heart-racing story that keeps me hanging on to the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down!

4.5/5 stars

This book had been on my to-read shelf for such a long time. I love fantasy novels and the synopsis of this one sounded incredible to me. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this! I absolutely adored it.

Let’s start by talking about the plot. We start the story a few moments before Sage meets Conner. There’s always a certain point -usually in the beginning of the novel- for me in which I know whether I like the character or not. Usually it’s a witty response or line, doesn’t matter. In the False Prince that moment came quite early on, right when Sage meets Conner. His defiance and witty responses instantly made me like him. It made reading from his perspective very enjoyable.

This book mainly focuses on the competition between the four orphans chosen by Conner to play the long-lost prince. Being the one to win is pretty much all that matters, as the other boys most likely won’t survive. I guess you could say this book is a bit slower as the competition takes up most of it. But it didn’t make me feel bored or annoyed once. I was absorbing everything happily and was truly captivated. While I kind of suspected the twists coming, they still took me by surprise.

Then, there’s the characters. Sage is one stubborn kid. That’s the first thing to know. Sometimes annoyingly so, he would knowingly do things that would get him into trouble. And you don’t really understand the reasons why for most of the book. But he stays true to himself in the competition -unlike most of the others- and while he’s clearly not a saint, he is not a cruel person either. He is impulsive though, someone who doesn’t always think about the consequences of his actions.

Then there are the side characters: the other orphans, Conner, his associates and his household. During the whole book, I never really knew what to think of Conner. He seemed to be a nobleman trying to do what he deemed best for his country, even though he is basically committing treason by having someone impersonate a prince. Is he a good guy or not? That thought constantly drifted around in my mind while reading. I enjoyed the added mystery to the story. And the other boys were really interesting as well. All orphans trying to survive. And for some, that means leaving their conscience behind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely read the following books in the series, I want to know what will happen next! I’d recommend this to people that enjoy middle grade/YA and either love/like fantasy or want to get into it but don’t really know where to start. This is quite an “easy” fantasy to follow!

This book you guys, this book!

The False Prince is THE best middle grade book I’ve read in a long time. I know that sentence doesn’t do much justice, but seriously it is. Now I love me an action packed plot but The False Prince isn’t like that. It has a slow burn plot that drives you nuts about what is going to happen. It makes you not care that your stomach is growling, that you are cutting into your time to sleep, or that your bladder is going explode into thousands of pieces. You only care about what is going to happen!

This book is full of secrets and the plot thickens all the way till the end. If I didn’t know how young the main character was I wouldn’t have ever guessed it was middle grade. It is pretty dark and intense for a middle grade series! Anyways…so I guess first I’ll try my best to explain the plot without giving too much away.

Sage is a 14 year old orphan boy. A seriously clever orphan boy that has learned to become a thief. He has lots of tricks up his sleeve. Not only is he a thief but he has an arrogance and sense of humor about him that I loved to pieces. A nobleman, Conner (one of the best villains ever!), has decided to find some orphan boys who could pull off impersonating and actually being the prince. All to keep a Civil War from breaking out.

After he finds said boys he plans on teaching them the ways of being in with the Royal and then after a few weeks of intense “training” he intends on picking one un(lucky) boy to become the prince’s impersonator. Sage really gives Conner a run for his money and let me tell you these two are what make this book so freaking awesome. As much as Conner got on my nerves I loved him as the villain. It’s like you love to hate him. ?

Now there is this twist that happens toward the end. At one point I suspected it but then I was like nah…no way there MUST be something else going on. To me it was the best twist ever, but if you read a ton of fantasy you may easily guess the big plot twist. But even still you should read this book! The book is all about being slow burn and it will drive you nuts too about what on earth is going to happen even if you know the secret. I was dying to find out who would Conner choose and what would happen after the boy got chose. Craziness is what happens…

The False Prince is that amazing book that makes you want to read the entire series within a few days. In fact I am already reading the sequel. Even if you have a hard time with fantasy or if you do love fantasy you should definitely read this asap. The way everything comes together is brilliant and so clever. BEST. FANTASY. BOOK. EVER. Go forth and read it!

From the first few paragraphs I thought this was going to be hilarious. It wasn't. Oh, there was some witty banter but not enough for first person. Though that's probably just me.

Cons:
Plot holes-Okay, there was only one but it was pretty big.
Weird time skips-It was just so weird. I would be reading a sentence and suddenly the time would skip. And I know I have a problem with switching words and letters but this wasn't it.
Roden-He was who the author wanted him to be and not himself.
Easy to figure out-Okay, maybe this is just me. After all, this is a middle grade novel. But it was really easy to figure out which made the exposition chapter all the worse. Especially since I usually like exposition.

Pros:
Sage-Okay, Sage is funny. But is he too smart or not?
Mott-I like Mott! He and Darius were the only characters I actually liked (Darius isn't actually a character, ssshhh). Lord Kerwyn was okay, too.
Other spoilery stuff-Unfair of me, isn't that?

I read this before letting my sons read it because I was concerned by a one star reviewer saying it was a "violent boy version of a trashy romance novel." Having read it, I can't think what that reviewer meant. This book was much less violent than the Hunger Games and there is no romance in it. As a mom of teens and published author, this isn't my usual sort of book. I was very pleasantly surprised. It's well written and interesting. The plot moves along quickly with predictable as well as unpredictable twists. It is well edited and lacks the typos plaguing so many books these days. Women are treated with respect, a feature important to me in books my sons read. It had a great ending.

This story had me hooked from start to finish. Once I started I ended up reading it until the very end. The character of Sage is witty, defiant, and real. Sage is not perfect, nor does he claim to be. There were parts of the story I wanted to shake him and go 'Why are you doing that?'.

Sage is an orphan who is picked up by a wealthy benefactor with several other orphans. He quickly finds out the nefarious reason that the nobleman Conner brought them all together. It is in the fictional Kingdom of Carthya. The King, Queen, and Crown Prince are dead, although only select noblemen know this. In order to keep the country from falling into Civil War he is training them to impersonate the lost Prince, the younger brother of the Crown Prince who died years ago. Sage must make the decision to follow through with Connor's plan and be the orphan he picks, because his life depends upon it.

As soon as I finished this book I wanted nothing more than to pick up the second one, The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy).

If you like fantasy and want a light read this book young adult book will appeal to you. It's not super graphic, and would be good for preteens to adults.

The False Prince has a crackerjack plot, focusing around a group of orphans collected in secret and competing to be the one chosen by their new master to impersonate the missing heir to their kingdom's throne. It feels a little like The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastards) in its audacious impersonation schemes, but the protagonist that kept coming to mind as I read this book was actually Darrow from the Red Rising series. Like him, the orphan Sage excels at thinking his way out of tight spaces, creating opportunities where the reader and other characters least expect it. I did see a few of the twists coming, but Sage is such an engaging character that I didn't really mind. I can't wait to see where the story goes after this.

This is The Prince & The Pauper meets The Hunger Games. The author came up with an ingenious recipe for success: take a male protagonist like Harry Potter, add the life-and-death premise of The Hunger Games, and mix thoroughly with a tried-and-true story of mixed identities. The end result should have been the next big thing. But it wasn't. I did enjoy the street-wise, cynical, and imperfect main character. And the overall storyline had promise. However, the build up consumed 90% of the book, and the event that the entire story built toward wound up being disappointingly rushed. This was yet another book #1 of a series where the author was so anxious to set up for a sequel that the book's current plot was not tied up well enough. As I reader, I felt a little set up.

A fun Middle-Grade fantasy novel to kick off a trilogy that features a fun main character, deplorable villains, plots and intrigue, and enough twists to keep you guessing even until the final pages are finished. It begins in a typical fashion: a group of people are selected for a task that will possibly save the kingdom. Yet the people chosen are all orphans, and the task is hardly something that you find in your typical fantasy book. This allowed the trope to feel fresh and new and was certainly packed with enough plot twists to keep things interesting.

There are certainly times when the main character, Sage, acts almost like an anti-hero and is definitely someone who can be classified as an unreliable narrator. There were moments where I wanted to yell at the character, which in the end adds to some of his charm. He doesn’t always do what you expect, nor what you think he should do. Yet he has his own set of morals and convictions and he is clearly an honorable and worthy protagonist by the time you reach the conclusion. This book is certainly worth reading, as the story will leave you anxious to dive into the next book. I highly recommend this to all readers.

Fans of the YA Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or the adult Gentlemen Bastards series by Scott Lynch will surely find something to love in this fantasy story "The False Prince" by Nielsen. I picked up the book on a whim, actually without even having read the back cover. I started the book, and only then flipped to the back cover copy to see what it was about more generally. The quippy sarcastic first-person voice (typical of YA) is served well here, lending a lot of characterization of Sage, our POV character/main protagonist of the novel.

The story is also tightly and simply plotted, which is a nice change from more complex fantasy worldbuilding. Most of the action takes place within a single location, with only the barest glimpses of the world beyond. (More fleshed out worldbuilding will come in the subsequent books, it seems). The pacing is good, and though our hero is definitely that sarcastic, resourceful thief with a heart of fool's gold, he avoids being "gritty" (meaning, the all-knowing, all-skilled, sexual abuser, machismo-fueled youth that seems to fill grimdark fantasy these days), which is a relief-- especially the all-knowing 12-15 year old trope which is so tired it should just retire completely. So, the characterization of Sage is good, but unfortunately the voice of the other characters is really weak since they all sound exactly like Sage, just saying different things for different motives. So, all characters with the exact same voice is the reason this is a four, not five star review, but I eagerly look forward to the next books!

Reading just a chapter a day aloud to my students was pure torture. This book begs to be devoured. (Judging by their audible groans at the end of every chapter, I think it is safe to say I am not alone in this sentiment.)

Reading just a chapter a day aloud to my students was pure torture. This book begs to be devoured. (Judging by their audible groans at the end of every chapter, I think it is safe to say I am not alone in this sentiment.)

Sage is an orphan that has been pulled from a medieval orphanage and thrust into a dangerous game of political intrigue. Conner plans to mold Sage, or one of the other three orphans he has “selected”, into the supposedly dead Prince Jaron. He plans to claim the throne through his chosen boy, rule as a regent and live himself a pretty fine life. What happens to the three not chosen? Well, one is already dead.

Secrets and facts are woven into half-truths and bold faced lies. The reader is tugged (not always so gently) through each chapter with the promise of more truth around every corner. Who will be chosen? Who will be declared the winner at the end of the dangerous game? The best part of this book just maybe that reaching the end is truly only a beginning. Two more books follow in this incredible middle grade series.

Published: April 1st 2012 by Scholastic
Genre: Middle Grade
Read: March 8, 2015
The Blurb:
THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

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.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

My Review:
Now, if it means anything, I read this in one sitting. This novel revolves around the clever Sage and I really enjoyed reading from reading from his POV. Even though this book is middle grade, it doesn't feel it. I honestly loved all aspects of this book and it really surprised me. The False Prince wins the award in my book for biggest plot twist. The fact that I was somewhat expecting this plot twist and somehow it still surprised me is what gave it the five stars. Overall, The False Prince is a really enjoyable quick read, and will surprise anyone.

Recommend: Highly

The False Prince was an interesting read. The novel started out a little slow for me, especially knowing the premise from the back of the book. Once Sage and his fellow potential princes got set up in the main setting of the story, things moved along at a good pace. I didn't feel connected to Sage at first; he was too cocky and standoffish. Once I got to see more of his character through his actions and values, I was invested and ready to root for him.
Details like Sage's interest in Imogen, the mute servant girl, his stubbornness with the fool's gold and how he defied Lord Connor's commands as a way to show his princeliness, and his connection with Mott were great to watch unfold. The pieces came together nicely and wove together into a relatively smooth narrative. The reveal about two-thirds of the way through was a little jarring at first, as the story shifted into a chapters-long flashback, but the events shown were a welcome addition to the plot. They revealed a lot about Sage and his past, as well as showing us a little more about the way the kingdom of Carthya and its rulers.
The ending was satisfying and showed how calculating Sage truly is. I'm interested to see where the characters go next, especially having read the back of the next book in the series, The Runaway King. If you enjoy stories with a medieval setting but don't care for magic, Nielsen's right up your alley. There is a lot of worldbuilding established throughout the novel, which I can only imagine will be expanded in the rest of the trilogy.

The highest praise I can give a book is that it can surprise me. Especially when something appears at first blush to be fairly formulaic, to have the plot throw me a twist I'm not expecting is always a delightful treat.

I like the character of Sage. His motivations aren't always clear, at least not until the end, but his wit and charm make him a wonderful protagonist. Rodent and Tobias are well written, and individualized; each boy was his own unique person, with his own motivations for wanting the crown. Even Connor wasn't just a two dimensional antagonist, as he so easily could have been. I really liked Mott, and his honor in spite of the circumstances.

I can't wait to read the next installment; I hope it lives up to its predecessor.

I started this book and I was both pleased and disappointed with it-----at first. Then I was just pleased.

On one hand the story is fast-paced and interesting. I finished over half the book in just one day because it just begs to stay in your hand. There was also some great character building here. Sage was both crazy likable and crazy frustrating but in a good way. It was like whenever he did something stupid I wanted to reach through the pages and shake him. Rarely does a character feel so three dimensional that I care so much about their actions so that is a compliment to the author. And the character of Mott! I swear he was just like Mike Armentrout from Breaking Bad. He starts off as a villain then he kind of steals the show. I was also pleased with the brief introduction to Amarinda, something about her is just so likable.

But with all the good there were other parts that I felt shaky about. Some of the characters seemed wishy-washy. First they portrayed Roden and Tobias in certain lights then suddenly all of their actions seemed to undercut their first impressions. Like somehow Roden goes from being a douche to being the sweet teddybear of the bunch and honorable Tobias became conniving. And then there were other parts that simply did not add up in my eyes. I don't want to give anything away so I won't go into detail but sometimes I just sat there and rolled my eyes thinking "No way." And then----Chapter 42 happens.

After that I take back everything I said. I thought maybe the author was being a bit too cliché at points but upon reading Chapter 42 my brain exploded for a half a second. Suddenly everything made sense. And as the book closes other parts that seemed off came around full circle...Believe me when I say I'm very critical and this is a very well written novel. It's like the author tricked me into thinking she wasn't so good then she's like "BAM! Say I'm a bad writer now!" All I can say is touché, Ms. Nielson, touché.

Having just finished another book recently in the same genre that disappointed me greatly I was all ready to pen a review about how maybe YA has just lost all of its appeal for me but this book turned things around for me. I am excited to read the rest of the books in the series and discover where things go from here. I just want to note something to potential readers: If for some reason you are like myself and find parts of the book a bit obvious and grating, just stick it out and hopefully you'll be as satisfied as I was by the twist.

Highly recommend this book!

Story:
Sage is an orphan living in Avenia. One day he is bought by Bevin Conner, who is a regent of the nearby kingdom of Carthya. The royal family of Carthya has been murdered and civil war threatens to erupt. To prevent this Conner has hatched a plan that if they fail will result in everyone being executed for treason. The plan is to train an orphan boy to behave and look like the lost prince Jaron, who was lost at sea years earlier. Sage finds himself against two other boys, Tobias and Roden. Those who do not convince Conner that they're perfect for the role will be killed. With enemies around him, and a reason to win, will Sage be able to stay alive and fill the role of Jaron?
This is not the typical fantasy. Yes there are kingdoms, but Jennifer A. Nielsen doesn't fill the land with dragons, elves, or any other fantasy creature we would expect. Her book focuses on the political side of a world. Treachery and deceptions are around every corner, and the reader will find themselves wondering who can be trusted. Even though I would've liked to have seen some fantasy creatures I enjoyed the story too much.
Caution:
A boy is killed by a crossbow to show the seriousness of the mission. Some boys attack each other with knives and blood is drawn. A soldier is killed. Boys are threatened with death.
Lessons:
There may be times where we have to hide who we are to help those in need. We should not be afraid to stand up for others. It is our duty as citizens of our country to keep men from abusing their power.

From the first page The False Prince is non-stop action. When Sage, a young orphan boy, gets in trouble for stealing meat from a butcher he finds himself being purchased by Connor, a nobleman of Carthya. Sage is a strong main character. He takes care of himself no matter the situation. Because of his stubbornness and eagerness to fend for himself he gains the attention from Connor who's intentions are to train the three boys he's captured/purchased to pretend to be the King's long lost son.

Despite the great character writing I found myself wondering where all of the scenery was. What year is it? Is it supposed to be historical fiction? Why is there no background information for this world?

The False Prince is aimed at young boys- ages 8-12. Now, I was a 24 year old woman who thought the book was bad-ass. The protagonist wasn't a whiny brat, he wasn't weak, he was quite awesome. He was quick-witted and a great character to cheer for. (The other two boys were as well.) The whole book focuses on Sage. The False Prince is a great introduction to the series and gets you pumped to find out what happens to everyone later on.

Halfway through the book I thought it picked up even more speed. Once we knew what was going on it was time to focus on how it was going to end. To me, that is how you tell a great, fast-paced adventure/fantasy novel. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this wasn't a Prince in the Pauper re-telling, but a genuine story about a young boy and his emotions.

The False Prince is a great middle grade book, but it felt like it was far beyond most of the MG books I've read in its constant violence. I would definitely recommend this book to any young person or adult. It is such a well-written adventure! (Even if you don't continue the series.)

Excellent novel! A friend highly recommended​ this novel and I'm glad I read it. I loved Sage the moment I met him and the way he told this story was a breath of fresh air. Mind you, I never read any blurbs or any plot summaries. I prefer to go in cold and let the story tell itself. This one was perfect- I never guessed the plot twists which was such a delight. The first person POV is also my favorite.

As far as content is concerned, there was some violence. At least four or five instances of physical violence, so I'd probably rate it mild+. There was no language, nudity, or sexuality.

Thank you for a very entertaining, clean story!

The first thing to catch my attention about this book was the cover and title, both sparked my interest and imagination. I am happy to say that Jennifer A. Nielsen did not disappoint my expectations. This book has the feel of a well written fantasy novel without the magic and sorcery involved.

The protagonist Sage is a witty sharp tongued orphan who seems too smart for his own good, and I mean that in a positive way. His quick wit and sharp mind get him out of trouble almost as often as they get him into it. Along with three other orphans Sage is dragged into a scheme concocted by one of the kingdom’s noblemen, Conner. This scheme involves a competition between the boys to see which of them has what it takes to become the kingdom’s lost prince.

Secret agenda’s and trickery are the heartbeat of the competition starting with Sage himself. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on the story throws in twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.

The layers-upon-layers in this book created a momentum that never let up. Every detail, no matter how small, felt like it was leading to something. Sage himself always seemed to be hiding something from everyone, including me as a reader. Oftentimes I knew he was hiding something more than he was revealing and it would drag me breathless through more pages as I searched for the reveal that was inevitable, crying out in excitement when I got it right and berating myself when I got it wrong.

I enjoyed seeing the story told from Sage’s point of view. Not only because he acted as an unreliable narrator (something I love) but because it’s not often I get to read a book written from the perspective of a male character and I enjoy the difference when it happens.

Each of the books characters are interesting with each one having their own agendas and backgrounds. Not one felt like a cookie cutter creation with each one being well rounded. And while you may not find yourself loving every character, you will find a grudging respect for some, and more than one will surprise you by the end of the story.

One of the best parts of this book is that it leaves you feeling satisfied with it’s ending. Yes you desperately want more, but that’s because you’ve fallen in love with the characters and the world, not because you’ve been left with a cliffhanger.

I would (and am) recommending this book to anyone and everyone that I can, both old and young. It’s a great read from start to finish, a true gem to discover. I only recommend waiting to start it until you have time to read it from cover to cover.

There are so many series that I feel that I would've enjoyed if they weren't so hyped and acclaimed. In The False Prince's case, I definitely believe this book is extremely underrated and that it deserves more attention. I know that this book is a NYT bestseller, but The False Prince is one of the fantasy books I've ever read. I haven't had this much fun reading a book in ages and The False Prince really captured my attention full heartedly.

Sage is an orphan and he becomes apart of a scheme to restore balance in a kingdom on the verge of civil war. Sage and two other orphans, Tobias and Roden, are competing for the prince's throne and the competition is fierce. Sage's life is at stake if he doesn't win the trust of Conner and become his princely puppet.

Sage is one of my all-time favorite protagonists because he is so clever and incredibly loyal. I never knew truly what to expect from Sage, due to the fact that he always had some tricks up his sleeves. I really wish I had even half the resourcefulness and wit that Sage possessed. It's nearly impossible not to like Sage because even though, he is a smart aleck, he also has a huge heart and is extremely compassionate.

I loved reading about the competition and the different areas of training that Sage, Roden, and Tobias had to endured to win the competition. Each area of training was high-stakes and extremely tense because all 3 boys' lives were hanging in the balance. I was constantly on the edge of my seat and I absolutely loved the sword fights. It was interesting to see the different tactics each boy used to try to ensure that they would be chosen by Connor to become prince. I was rooting for Sage throughout the entire novel, and with each obstacle Nielsen threw in his way, I became even more confident in Sage's skill.

Though The False Prince revolves a deadly competition, it's an extremely humorous and fun novel. Sage's wit is always pristine and he always manages to make even the most dire of situations feel hopeful and light. There were so times when I was getting too exhilarated and having too much fun during a competition where the whole kingdom is at stake. Readers of all ages will have so much fun reading The False Prince and will be enthralled from start to finish.

Jennifer A. Nielsen has written such an incredible novel and I applaud her for writing a middle-grade novel that truly will appeal to all readers. The False Prince is strong on character development and plot, I am so impressed with this book and I'm extremely eager to start the sequel ASAP. The False Prince is the type of book that will keep reluctant readers hooked and transform them into avid readers. The False Prince is a must-read for all readers, especially those who love Game Of Thrones.

I almost feel like that description tells you more about The False Prince than I ever could. I started The False Prince because I was browsing my library's audiobook selection--which isn't all that diverse, but it's growing--and I remembered seeing that people liked The False Prince, though I haven't ever read any other reviews about it. So I decided I'd give it a shot. Funny enough, The False Prince ended up being the free Sync audio download the very next day so I downloaded it as well.

The description doesn't say, but the royal family has all been murdered. The country of Carthya is on the brink of war. The False Prince follows the four orphan boys being considered for the position of impostor for the long, lost prince, but mostly it focuses on one orphan in particular, Sage. Sage is quirky and chess-player smart. He comes off as not being as serious as the other boys at learning what he needs to learn in order to fill the role of missing prince. Sage never wanted to be in a position of becoming prince and taking over the kingdom. But if he doesn't take this seriously, the only other option is death. He's witnessed that first hand. And Sage...well he doesn't want to die.

Tobias and Roden are the other two orphans that really have a shot at filling the position. Tobias is a quick learner and determined to win, but he also is a little too eager to please Connor. Roden plays the game a little better than Tobias and develops an ally in order to help give himself an advantage. But neither boy possesses the same unruly character at his core like the lost prince. Sage is the only one who has that. And while Connor is constantly trying to bend Sage to his will, this characteristic is one of the top reasons why Sage is perfect for replacing the lost prince.

There are other secondary characters that play their roles perfectly. Connor, of course, is the mastermind behind this plot. Mott is more than a servant, but he's loyal to Connor and to doing what he thinks is best for the country. We are also introduced to Imogen who is currently working as a kitchen maid for Connor in an attempt to pay off a debt. Imogen and Mott both take risks for Sage throughout this twisted plot, but Imogen goes so far as to share her most sacred secret with Sage thus forging a bond between them. There's also the princess who was betrothed to Prince Darius who was murdered along with his mother and father. She will automatically be betrothed to whichever orphan can convince Conner and the country that he is the long, lost prince, Jaron.

The plot seemed simple enough from the beginning, yet truly interesting for me. There was one twist in particular that I admit I should have seen coming, but just really didn't until it was upon me. The entire book was one big chess game and I loved seeing everything revealed and brought together.

Charlie McWade did a really good job with the narration. All in all I'm happily giving The False Prince 4 Stars. Looking forward to book 2, The Runaway King. Have you read The False Prince? What did you think? Let me know!

*Note: I listened this book on audio. Any misspellings of character names or places result from not being able to see them in print and not being able to find them on the internet. If there are any that you see, please let me know in the comments, and I'll update this post.

For more book reviews, check out Somewhere Only We Know - [...].

In a land far away, a very brutal civil war is rising. The best people fitting to stop it is one nobleman, named Conner, and four orphan boys. The king of this land, Carthya, has lost his son, and Connor’s plan is to turn one of those four orphan boys into looking exactly like a prince. They must outsmart, and outwit their opponents, for if they do not do so, their life may be on the line. One of these orphan boys named Sage can do just that. Although he is a very clever and skilled thief, he must keep all his thoughts to himself, because he never knows the next time one of his friends will take advantage of him. As Sage travels through this dangerous quest, while meeting friends and foes along the way, he will discover many things about himself and others.
The False Prince is a fantabulous book. The way he can steal and fool people so easily, is very entertaining to see. As he travels through this adventures he is very funny and clever to everyone he meets. This book is perfect for adventure lovers, and trickery. I give this book five stars because it was the first book that made me read the whole series because I liked it so much.

In a divided and discontent kingdom, the only hope is to find the long-lost prince Jaron, the only heir to the throne. When a nobleman of the court takes three orphans from their “homes” and plans to make one of them into the Prince, he recruits a cunning and defiant boy named Sage. Sage is the boy who least has a shot in to be the Prince, but he knows that if he doesn’t get chosen, he will most certainly be killed. In comes a dangerous game where every day could be his last, where secrets and conspiracies are hiding beneath the surface. Sage must use his cunning skills to his advantage, if he doesn’t want to lose the game… and his life.

This story is one of the most wonderfully written stories I’ve read in a long time! It has a wonderful “slow-burn” kind of pace, but it’s wonderful.

The book is set in Carthya, a rundown kingdom whose enemies are slowly closing in. The world-building was completely believable! I could totally imagine myself in that place and in that time.

What I really loved the most was Sage. Sage was like the Sherlock Holmes of the story. He was always one-upping everyone. You thought you had him figured out, and then BAM! He surprised you again. I am totally in love with Sage. (Is it wrong to be swooning over a 14 year old when I’m 18? sigh) This mainly has to do with the fact that I “read” the audiobook, and Sage’s narrator was AH-MAY-ZING. He sounded so mature, but at the same time had a hint of mischief and innocence. I loved that about him. Sage is one of the most wonderful heroes I’ve read about in a long time.

This book also has some sweet, yet subtle romance. When I say subtle, I mean about a 3% romance, but what romance there is, it’s absolutely smile inducing and reinforces the general swoon over Sage. I’m glad that the romance doesn’t overtake the plot, because this plot is so complex.

This book teaches us that the most courageous heroes arise from the most unusual situations. It teaches us how important we are, regardless of our status or education.
“A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen , The False Prince

You think that the book is going in one direction, but suddenly there’s this twist that you weren’t expecting and it takes you somewhere else. This book is classified as middle grade, but I guarantee you that this is appropriate for adults as well. There’s action around every corner, lies, deceit, romance, suspense, mystery… this book has it all.

Overall, if you want a story that basically has it all, with wonderful characters and an amazing storyline, then you should definitely pick this one up.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

OVERALL: 3 1/2 STARS (but I am putting it on my 4 STAR shelf)

Story/Plot: 3 - I have a confession to make: I have always been a fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy since I was little. Tales by Lloyd Alexander, J.R.R. Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Robin McKinley(my all time favorite author), Mercedes Lackey - to be honest I can write a whole review with just authors names - litter my shelves and are stacked in boxes and holding up the walls of my home. Every year, I re-read The Lord of the Rings. I cannot help myself, as I get drawn into the amazing worlds fantasy authors write about.

Now, you might think because I gave this story a lower rating than 4 or 5, I didn't enjoy it. This is not true, especially since you know I measure everything against LOTR, which is a true 5!. I had some issues with the story, BUT, there were slight. I enjoyed the story and it flowed beautifully for the most part. I cannot wait to continue the story of Sage and to see what is going to happen next.

Re-read Value: 3 - This is a 50/50, but I think it will fall a little more on the positive side of re-reading this story, for two reasons. The first is, I liked this world and wouldn't mind reimmersing myself with it. I will most likely re-read this prior to reading the second book in the series The Runaway King, but I cannot 100% say I will, so I leave it at 50/50. Second, I would highly recommend this to fellow fantasy readers - and shock and amazement - I have both a niece and nephew I plan to tell about this book. I never recommend a book I wouldn't mind re-reading or consider a really nice relaxing read.

Continue Series: 4 - Yes. I do plan to continue the series. I have to admit it might take a while for me to get to it with my ever growing TBR list, but I am adding the next book in the series, The Runaway King to my TBR shelves as soon as I finish this review.

Characters: 4 - I enjoyed Sage the lead protagonist in this series very much. Without dropping the ever present SPOILERS, I have to admit I wanted to give this rating a 3, but I am sure Ms. Nielsen will have the characters grow over the series and some of the things that bugged me will be ironed out.

Cover: 5 - Well, you see the cover, right? It is a good cover for this book and this series in general. I also feel the fantasy vibe - yes, I am not an idiot and can read the word "Prince" on the cover *sigh* - when I look at it, so I know what to expect from this book just from the cover.

Genre Fulfillment: 4 - This IS a fantasy novel, so yes. Could there are have been MORE in the book, yes. But, this is a first book in this series and it is an introduction - and as I admitted above, my standards for a "true" fantasy novel are pretty steep though. So forgive me.

Personal Involvement: 4 - As I mentioned throughout this review, I love fantasy novels. I find for me, they are like getting into your worn and tatty clothes, you know the ones you never wear in public? It's like coming home, but each world is different - even when they are similar. The characters are similar to old friends welcoming you back, even if it's your first time reading this book or this author. There are times when you're reading you just slip right into the world and The False Prince was one of these for me. I will admit I recently read another book I had such high promises for and I struggled through the whole book and the only enjoyment I had was getting to the last page and promising myself I would not continue the next book. I mention that because I felt the exact opposite while reading this book and when I finished it, I said to myself "What's going to happen now?!"

We are given a SMART (and very clever and unreliable protagonist) who knows far more than you ever thought. And I believed everything he said or thought and never questioned things he let slip by because he was just that good.

While sadly my OTP never sailed into the sunset, I was very happy with the entirety of the book and the end had NO CLIFFHANGER and still was amazing!

We didn't really even need a romance which I was thankful for but come on guys, you know Imogen and Sage are canon, right? *Nudge* Riiigghhht?? Yeah:)

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that our Princess Amarinda was not some snobby, stuck up, pampered, golden-haired-fair-beauty. She was beautiful but smart and respectable and realistic. Imogen-who I ship so hard with the MC-has lived a hard life but doesn't believe a man will save her! She is brave and kind and OMG she's brunette! :D

While predictable at some parts, the twists were so well written that I was blown away and some parts I couldn't even see coming. It was written in such a way that it was not insulting the reader or doubting your intelligence.

Highly recommended!

And that ending! See this is why you should never piss off someone. Revenge sucks big time. Doesn't it, our dear noble?

It is so hard for me to put my thoughts into words with this one. I read this book following a slew of three star and under reviews, so this was not only a refreshing change, but a read that I easily and excitedly devoured while hanging on Nielsen's every word. To properly put my thoughts into words would be nearly impossible because my main thought after reading this one is "I need book two, I need book two, I need book two." With that being said, I'm going to do my best and break this review down in increments in an attempt to get my delightfully jumbled thoughts in check.

The Plot. Ho-ly Cow. I cannot describe the sheer creativity and literary genius that is this middle grade high fantasy. Nielsen exhibits the kind of writing that will easily stand out among the rest and continue to propel her further in her field. Four boys are chosen to compete to become the impersonator of Prince Jaron and take over the throne after the murder of both his parents and his brother, Darius. All unruly orphans, the four boys have only two weeks to prove themselves in pursuit of the throne, risking their lives in the process of gaining what some would view the ultimate freedom but others would view as the most intense of imprisonments.

The Characters. I loved the large plethora of characters in this one. It is one of the many things about this novel that makes us love it. They range from evil nobles, murderous villains, poor orphans, clever young boys, and silently willful servants. Sage is incredibly clever and resourceful, especially for a fifteen year old orphan, so his wittiness and determination made him respectable and easily adored. He made this book and easy read for me, as did the others competing for the crown because they were all so different with varying skill-sets, yet equal levels of determination. Conner, the man trying to make the false prince, is truly the definition of villainous at its finest. While I did not like him, I can't help but love his spot-on characterization. Then there were also characters like Mott and Imogen--stuck to following their orders, but having minds of their own. They do what they think is right and risk their welfare in the process without truly compromising their lives. They were very endearing and unique to the tale.

The Intrigue. I loved that for the entire novel we were switching back and forth about who would impersonate the prince and not lose their life. It seems that almost every chapter a new boy was in the lead because of his various unique talents. I couldn't put it down! But, oh boy, there's even more delicious twists later on in the story that had my mouth gaping open like a guppy from the pure shock, respect, and excitement that I experienced all at once. I'm telling you, when you think you finally know what's going to happen, Nielsen finds a way to completely knock your socks off with less than a fifth of the book remaining. I sit here and I'm still shaking with excitement just thinking about the last bomb she dropped on us that changed the entire course of this wondrous novel.

Overall. GET. THIS. BOOK. Beg your parents, trade for it, buy it for yourself, run to your local library. Whatever you have to do, go get it. It's so worth it, high fantasy lover or not. However, if you have any brain at all, hold off on getting your own copy until we are closer to the release of book two. Trust me when I say that the anticipation may just be enough to kill you. Five stars to my official new favorite middle-grade ever. How I wish that one day Nielsen will venture into the young adult field, she certainly has the skill and creativity to do so.

The False Prince is the first book in Jennifer A. Nielsen's Ascendance Trilogy. The collection includes the following books:
#1 The False Prince
#2 The Runaway King
#3 The Shadow Throne (February 2014)

When I saw The False Prince as my favorite goodreads group's book of the month, I was not overly motivated to read it. I anticipated the story to be too young-readerish for my taste based on the cover art, title, publisher, etc...but the book of the month selection has yet to leave me disappointed.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this story! The False Prince is a mixture of medieval fiction, fantasy, and mystery, and an unexpected plot twist took this book up a notch in my opinion, offering the reader surprise and suspense. It is "filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities" and is an intelligent book for a children's audience. Regardless of the target audience, this story is entertaining for any age group and gender. I am always excited to see popular young adult fiction that a boy could be captivated by. There is a plethora of girl-targeted stories, much to the despair of my son. I am excited for him to read this story and can't wait to share this experience with him!

My favorite quotes:
“A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.”

"If I'm about to get killed...I won"t check the rules to see if my survival fits with someone's codebook of fair play."

"There is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9b

I have been reading since I was four years old, and sometimes it seems I've seen it all. There are no plot twists that are new to me. This isn't always a bad thing, as there are authors who can take old, tired ideas and create something fresh and new out of them. Jennifer A. Nielsen has done this in The False Prince.

Sage is living in an orphanage when he is purchased by a noble as an indentured servant. It soon becomes apparent that his duties will not be what you might expect, however. Conner doesn't ask Sage to scrub floors or peel vegetables. He's looking for a prince. It turns out that the entire royal family has recently been poisoned; but the youngest son, Prince Jaron, was lost at sea years earlier. Conner has proof that Jaron is dead as well, but rather than share that information with anyone, he has a plan to find a new Prince Jaron, and it seems that Sage and two other boys look a lot like Jaron would now. All that remains is to see which one of the three will win the title.

Sounds like a cliché? The Prince and the Pauper comes to mind, of course. And yes, the plot does borrow from stories like that. However, there are twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I found myself grinning like an idiot as I read the "big reveal," and I often roll my eyes and sigh at those.

The characters are very real, each with their own personality and motivations. Conner, especially, is fascinating. He maintains that he is a patriot who is only trying to avoid civil war: if there is no heir to the throne, the regents will fight over which of them rules. However, his methods are suspect at best. Sage's two rivals for the position of false prince have engrossing character arcs; and Sage himself learns and grows a lot along the way.

I really enjoyed this story, and I will definitely be looking for the next book in The Ascendance Trilogy: The Runaway King.

The "False Prince" is a wonderful story of an orphan named Sage who is purchased from the orphanage by a man called Connor. Connor has also purchased three other orphans.

From the start, Sage is more resistant to whatever plans Connor has in store for him. Sage does not trust Connor or the fellow orphans that he finds himself with. Sage is clever and his wit keeps us laughing.... As the story emerges Sage discovers that Connor has a plan to save the country Carthya and that Sage and the other three orphans are part of his plan.

In the story the royal family has been murdered and a new king will need to be named. Connor has decided to train an orphan boy to become the "lost prince of Carthya". From the moment that Sage learns of Connor's plans he is resistant and fights against him. However, Connor holds his grip over the orphan boys by proving that they must follow his will or be killed. He proves his will by making an example of the sickliest of the four orphan boys, allowing him to request to be freed and then killing him.

This story is the story of a competition to be the chosen prince. You like and dislike the other orphan boys. You love Sage and are sucked into this story of survival and wit. It is a great adventure and vividly told.

I highly recommend this story. I was never bored and I really enjoyed the characters and their development. I cared about what happened to Sage and to the other surviving orphans and the remaining cast of characters.

As many others can attest, this is a book that demands your attention from start to finish, with gripping characters and a storyline so compelling it is near impossible to set it down. Coming from someone who gets easily distracted while reading, this is quite an accomplishment!

Not once did my eyes skim, though I found myself devouring Nielsen's words as the stakes of the conflict kept getting higher and more dangerous; there were several points in the book where I was just as awed as the characters, which speaks to how much The False Prince can draw you in.

Sage is a wonderful character. Too often in fantasy, main characters get what they want too easily, or as boring as cardboard--not Sage! From the very beginning, I fell in love with his cleverness and wit, and the indomitable spirit required of any true fantasy hero.

But the whole cast of characters, from Mott to Imogen, built a world of diverse and motivated characters who all, in their own way, tugged the action in believable, fulfilling ways. I can't really say much about the plot at all without giving away spoilers (there is no fat to be had in this tale; no long, boring expositions, no disjointed subplots), but it has been a long time since I have been so satisfied with a book.

I am so glad that the the second book is already out, and the third is available for pre-order! I'd hate to have to wait too long to continue this story.

This book caught me off guard with how good it was. I'll admit, though the cover and the word "Prince" are what caught my attention, I really didn't have high expectations for it. I'm happy to say, I was proven very wrong. Nielsen's writing style was simplistic, yet engaging, and even though there wasn't a lot of action, the plot didn't drag to the point where I had to stop reading or anything. I actually couldn't stop reading!

The False Prince was all about intrigue and less about swashbuckling action and adventure. Yes, there was some short (very short) action scenes, but the mystery and scandal are what carried this book. In most cases, this would annoy me to no end. I mean, what's a fantasy book without the adventure? But in this instance, the suspense as to the outcome of Conner's plan was almost too much to bear, and I forgot they weren't really doing much of anything.

Although I loved Sage's character, he drove me crazy sometimes. He was just so hard-headed and defiant and sometimes I wished he would just bow down and shut up. But I also respected his character for his mutinous attitude towards everything. He wasn't afraid to ask questions and if the answers weren't to his liking, he found different questions to ask or he sought out new answers. He was a trickster and a thief, and those had to be his most fun qualities to see explored throughout the story. Overall, he was a great main character who I became completely invested in, and actually came to care about. The other characters like Conner (the "villain"), Tobias and Roden (the other orphans), and Mott (Conner's servant), were all good supporting characters, but I didn't like any of them as much as Sage.

The last third of this book was like WOAH. There is a plot twist that I didn't see coming and was psyched up about when it did. It was brilliantly integrated into the story, and looking back, there were tiny clues (very tiny) and things that happened that alluded to this outcome. But you won't notice any of them until you're already getting slapped in the face with the truth!

I adored this book and read it in like a day. I can't wait to get my hands on The Runaway King (Ascendence Trilogy #2) because I've heard some great things about it. Definitely a fan of this trilogy and I'm excited to see how it all ends!

This is really more middle reader than YA. Or is it "intermediate reader" they call it? Whatever. From a kid's point of view, this prince, false or otherwise, can't help but be five-star royalty. It takes you back, it does. You know. To the days when pages flip themselves, you're so hungry to see what happens next. And Nielsen pulls it off in the most cliché-ridden land of all -- The Land of Happily Ever After.

Right. This is the Middle Ages of our childhoods. Kings. Queens. Castles. Everything but a dwarf. (They were all used up, apparently, in the Game of Thrones series). Young Sage has been plucked from his orphanage by Conner, a regent of the late great King Eckbert, now dead along with his wife Erin and his eldest son and heir Darius. Well, dead doesn't quite give you the whole story. Poisoned, actually. And as the Kingdom of Carthya is now on the brink of war, Conner needs a lookalike for the late king's youngest son, Jaron, who went missing on a ship attacked by pirates four years earlier.

Still with me? OK, then. Conner's posse has gathered three boys, including Sage, who are reasonable lookalikes for the younger prince. He plans to train the lad into being a "false prince" and save the kingdom. Trouble is, the two losers in this royal sweepstakes will be killed. Loose lips, you see.

And that is the main driver. These boys are competing not just for a dangerous pretender's role under a ruthless man, but for their very lives. And Sage, a typical wise guy who's learned a thing or two about picking pockets in his street days, doesn't play by the rules very well. He's Oliver with attitude. Oliver time-warped to Sword in the Stone days.

As the plot moves inexorably toward its conclusion, Nielsen whips up some court intrigue, close calls, hand-to-hand combats, and, of course, twists. This plot-driven book moves quickly, with the late king's castle as its destiny. Trouble is, other pretend princes are headed there, too. Nothing excites villains and mountebanks like a power vacuum, I always say.

In a word: fun. In three words: for reluctant readers. And (surprise!) it has a sequel, which I'll have to chase down, The Runaway King. Probably it will start, "Once upon a time...," but who cares? With dialogue and action like this, the greater good -- false or not -- rules the day.
flag

Trying to figure out what to rate this book has been frustrating beyond anything I've felt all day. The book is good. It really is. I can't wait to read the next one.

But.

Yes, there's a but.

There was a very significant plot twist near the end, but it would have been much more effective had I not figured it out far sooner than I was supposed to. I was actually disappointed when I figured it out, because it meant the rest of the book would not be as wonderful as it should have been.

On the other hand, this is a middle grade book, so perhaps I am being too harsh.

There were, however, other things that bothered me as well. The book is written from Sage's perspective- yet something the audience should have witnessed from his perspective was hidden until poorly revealed later in the book. I actually had to read that section twice to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding. And when I did understand, it simply didn't make sense for the reader to be discovering it at that juncture in the story. I understand why she wrote it that way- but it was very poorly executed and simply didn't fit into the linear flow of the story.

Writing nitpicks aside, it was a wonderful story that captured and kept my attention. Sage's character is just the right blend of snark and vulnerability. I had no trouble at all siding with him from the very beginning.

I will definitely be looking for the second book of the trilogy when it is published.

Notes Jotted Down While Reading This Book:

Note #1: "Really fantastic first page. Authors take note."

Note #2: "I'm only four pages in and already I like what I see."

Let it be known that as a children's librarian I read a lot of malarkey meant for the kiddos. On the down side it makes me a jaded reader. On the upside it has given me the gift of a 10-year-old's impatience. If I'm struggling to read a particularly dull section in the first chapter then I can usually bet dollars to donuts that a kid is going to feel the same way. If, however, I pick up a book and immediately encounter a charming thief with a roast under his arm running hell-for-leather as meat cleavers are thrown in the direction of his skull, THAT I'll pay attention to. The mark of a good action/adventure children's book is easy. You need action and adventure. The mark of a GREAT action/adventure children's book is difficult. You need action and adventure sure, but also a bit of brains and wit if you can get it. I haven't read author Jennifer Nielsen's previous novel for kids Elliot and the Goblin War but if it contains even a tenth of the excitement and downright smarts of The False Prince then it'll be worth a look. Coming as close to the definition of a children's psychological thriller as possible, Nielsen creates a story that will feel simultaneously new and familiar all at once. No mean feat.

Sage has never been keen on the fact that he was an orphan but usually the trouble he got into was something he could handle. No longer. When Sage finds himself essentially sold to a nobleman named Conner it doesn't take long for him to discover that he is now a pawn in a dangerous game. Alongside three other orphans of similar age and build Sage is in the competition of a lifetime. If he wins he will be crowned as prince (the real ruler having died years ago). If he loses he will be killed. It's the ultimate competition and the stakes are as high as they can be. Part mystery novel, part psychological war, you may see where the book is going at times but you'll never forget the journey.

There's a big push in this country to get boys reading and to get them there we librarians tout all kinds of thrillers. And thanks to the magic of Harry Potter, female authors no longer have to hide the fact that their chromosomes are of the XX variety (J.K. Rowling's initials aside). Nielsen's book should be sure to lure in the boy base, even as it pleases female readers who are hoping to find something clever in its pages. The book also manages to avoid some of the pitfalls you'll find in fast-paced novels. I've never had much respect for books where a main character is killed and then instantly forgotten. Nielsen does do away with a character in this manner (in a very James Bond villain-ish scene) and I was pleased to see that Sage not only grieves for the death but continues to think about it periodically throughout the book. Nielsen does a great many things to make Sage sympathetic in the midst of acting like a jerk (charm goes a long way) but it's this grief that first gives you insight into the fact that he's a three-dimensional character and not just a repository for witty lines.

Keeping Sage sympathetic is a full time job for Nielsen too. To explain why I need to hang a mild SPOILER ALERT over this portion of the review. If you feel inclined to stop reading here I'll just sum up with a quick: This is a good book. Give it to a kid. All set? Okay. So without giving too much away, Nielsen's job in this novel is to make Sage a definite threat to the fellow boys vying for the crown. Yet he can't really directly sabotage them without becoming unsympathetic (after all, he has an innate advantage over them). So a lot of scheming has to go on, not just from Sage's point of view but from Nielsen's as well. To do this, she falls into a rather brilliant set structure. It goes something like Sage in trouble / Sage clear / Sage in trouble / Sage clever, etc. It should feel rote after a while but for me Nielsen is always keeping the reader guessing.

Folks have compared The False Prince to Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief in terms of its twist ending. And you'll probably hear a fair number of adult readers say they saw that twist coming, but I'm fairly confident that kids will be truly shocked. Nielsen plays fair from page one but she also definitely pulls a little of the old The Murder of Roger Ackroyd here and there to fool the reader (the advantage of the first person narrator). In the end, it's really the character of Sage that supports the novel. In him kids will find a proto-Artful Dodger and a charming scamp. With enough twists and turns to keep a well-oiled brain humming, Nielsen trusts in the intelligence of her readers to follow along her delightfully complicated path. Their reward is a truly enjoyable book, start to finish.

For ages 10 and up.

The synopsis suggests that Sage sneaks around Conner's home in search of the truth behind Conner's schemes, and he does. Only, the true extent of the plot isn't revealed until the end. I appreciate this, as it keeps us guessing about the great secret behind all this, and I understand why we don't get to learn about these things until the time that we do. It's cool to learn what Sage has been up to all this time (also because we can't be sure who is his enemy for much of the plot). At the same time, I had been looking forward to learning about Conner's plans along with Sage. The way that the plot unfolds leaves us with a simplified, predictable version of what could have been a deep, complex plot. The elegant simplicity with which the story is told makes it good for the intended audience of middle-grade readers, but older readers may find this lacking in depth. For me, I still loved this book, though I can easily imagine how this could be tweaked to target an older audience.

Sage is a crazy, obstinate, clever boy. I couldn't have asked for a better protagonist. I admire how he's not afraid to antagonize Conner and how he'll hold onto his beliefs even if it gets him into trouble. Within the bundle of mischief that he is, Sage has a kind heart and strong beliefs. He knows what he needs to do, and he'll do what's best for the people around him, even if it means sacrificing his own needs. And these people are worth it. In spite of the dire situation he finds himself in, Sage manages to liven the situation and make good friends. I especially love Roden and and Mott.

I do feel that this book is lacking in character development. While we get to know the boys and their respective circumstances, I don't feel as though they really matured and grew as characters. The character that I feel grew the most is Tobias. He starts off as an arrogant brat who sucks up to Conner, but he learns to humble himself (after being put in his place, but still) and becomes a decent kid. There is change in Sage; however, I feel as though it's more because he reverted back into who he was supposed to be but was suppressing all this time.

This book seems to be more of a setup for larger events to take place, and I hope to see more development of Sage's character and those of the friends he makes over the course of this novel. I am looking forward to reading The Runaway King, book two in The Ascendance Trilogy!

This recommendation comes directly from my blog, "rollingstaircase.com"

Stealing, lying and cheating are necessary skills that Sage has developed over the past few years. Although being an orphan isn't the most glamorous of lives, at least Sage is in control of his own day to day activities. When a wealthy nobleman, Conner, comes to buy Sage's debt from the orphanage, however, Sage foresees a doomed life of servitude and imprisonment. Yet, when Sage notices four other orphans in Conner's wagon, he begins to question Conner's true motives for collecting these boys. It wasn't long before Conner revealed his big plan. In order to obtain more control of the King's court, Conner has conceived a plan for one of the orphan boys to impersonate a royal prince who was thought to be dead. Now, the four orphans are set in a competition against each other for the chance to impersonate the prince, and to lose this competition surely will mean death.

I think this book has one of the strongest first paragraphs I have ever read. I was laughing out loud at the absurd description that was taking place in one of Sage's ordinary days as an orphan. I'm not going to ruin it here but I'm definitely urging you to download the free first chapter. Nielsen created a seamless story that flowed well from beginning to end. There is a huge twist at the end of the book, which I admit took me by surprise, but I loved every single part of the twist.

From a first person perspective, Sage was a strong character who narrated a great story. He was smart but stubborn, yet very charming. He also had a strong sense of right and wrong which along with his stubborn nature, often got him into trouble. I also enjoyed Conner as a non-typical villain character. Although he wanted more control of the kingdom by placing a puppet prince on the thrown, Conner truly believed that by replacing a weak King, the kingdom will be a better place. It was fun to watch Conner and Sage's dynamic relationship because Conner stands his ground with his beliefs of making a better kingdom while Sage stubbornly stands his ground of doing what's right.

Although there is very little love story in this book, I could not put it down. If you're tired of the romance novels that are seemingly everywhere at the moment, I definitely suggest picking up this book. It's a fast paced read with interesting events and information being revealed on every page.

Sage is an orphan boy with a quick hand and a quicker tongue. The witty hero of The False Prince finds himself in a bind that he can't escape. Bought from the orphanage he has been living in, he and three other boys must train to become the lost prince, Prince Jaron - who is assumed to have died at sea - and only one of them will survive game that Lord Conner seems to be playing.

I'm not a fan of labeling books "the next (insert famous book here)" but, Jennifer Nielsen's novel will appeal to the hearts of the adventure loving masses - especially those who love the famous green-eyed-boy-wizard books.[1] It is packed with excitement and intrigue - what happened to Jared? Why is Lord Conner trying to influence the throne? What happened to the rest of the royal family?

Nielsen lays a complex mystery, littering bread crumbs along the way, but can the reader trust the narrator? There were two spots towards the end of the novel where the narrative switched from first person to third, and they cast enough doubt on Sage's reliability as a narrator, that, even after the story ended, I couldn't be certain that my assumptions were true, and ... I loved it!

There was never a dull moment, yet, it did not feel rushed. Even though this book had a clean ending, I'm most certainly looking forward to the next installments. Though it's geared towards a younger audience, I think The False Prince is one of those books both kids and adults can appreciate. I'm trying my best not to spoil the story, so, I'll end it here by saying - go out and read it!

------

[1] Hmmm .... what book could that be?

I'd heard awesome things about this book, so when I requested it from the library, and I'm so glad I did!

Sage, a teenage orphan, is taken captive by a nobleman, Conner. Unbeknownst to the people of the kingdom, the entire royal family has been murdered. Conner fears a civil war, and decides to recruit a few orphans who might pass for a long lost prince, who could peaceably take the throne.

But there's four orphans and only one throne, and Conner's cold personality leaves Sage questioning his true motives.

What I liked about this book:
I'll try to keep the gushing to a minimum, but this book had a lot of elements working in it's favor.

First of, Nielsen did a fantastic job drawing the boys' characters. Sage flew off the pages -- his actions and his dialogue were believable, and his sharp, biting sense of humor kept me cracking up chapter after chapter. He is just the right amount of defiant while still being thoughtful and clever.

The pacing is amazing, too. Nielsen keeps the tension turned up high, making this a hard book to put down.

Finally, while this book has fantasy elements (fictional countries, people using swords and riding horseback, etc, etc) the story stays away from fantasy tropes and instead focuses on court intrigue, which I found to be a refreshing change.

What I didn't like about this book:
Several of the plot twists were too predictable (I'll not name them so that this post stays spoiler-free). While I liked that the twists were logical and fit within the narrative, I would have liked a bit more of a surprise at the end.

Final verdict:
Snag a copy of this page-turner. It was fast, fun, and intriguing, and Sage's dry humor and wit will keep you entertained through the final page. I highly recommend this book.

I just finished listening to the audio version of all three books in this trilogy. Charlie McWade as the narrator fits the tone just right. His voice is young enough to convince us that he is the cunning, street urchin teen, Sage, chosen by the noble Connor to try and impersonate the long lost son of the King.
Sage is one of the most memorable characters I have ever spent time with. He is cunning, audacious, agile of body and mind, stubborn, compassionate and rebellious. He is drawn with careful craft by Nielsen. I kept admiring her ability to draw such complex plot lines with a character who is himself very complex.
There is much to love in this trilogy: lots of action, wit, humor. Holding onto your seat to see if Sage will get out of the mess he is in.
Very satisfying reading. This trilogy is now on my top 100 list! I will never forget Sage.

Oh my gosh! By the end of first chapter, I knew I liked the book. But by the end of the book I was completely in love with it! The hard part though, is writing a review without giving everything away! This book kept me on my toes the entire time as I tried to riddle out how the story was going to unfold. I never knew how it was going to play out as alliances were made and broken, motives were never as they seem and the truth came out in a slow, but urgent pace. It was intense and exciting the whole way through. And the ending was so perfect that it makes me want to reread it to pick up all the threads that I missed along the way.

Sage is an incredibly charming narrator with quick wit, super powers of observation and a self-deprecating humor. He is always four steps ahead of everyone else, including the reader! I also think this book bridges a gap between a younger audience (Middle School - Early High School) and an older audience. I think this is a tricky feat to accomplish. It is not easy to write a book that both audiences will find thought-provoking, exciting, and challenging enough. Fans of Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief will also appreciate this book. It has some of the same intrigue and the main characters are two peas in a pod.

I teach language arts, and we have a list of recommended books we encourage our students to read every year. I try to read the books along with the students so I can know what they are reading and make recommendations. That is how I was first introduced to "The False Prince."

I immediately became a fan! The storyline is great, the characters are very well-written and have a life and personality of their own. There is a good mixture of adventure, mystery, and plot twists that keep you turning the pages. I have read through most of the book again. Every time I reread some of it, it becomes more real to me. I love Sage's sarcasm and Conner's arrogance; I especially love how they play off each other.

I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling the story for those who have not read it. Take it from me and from several of my students who have fallen in love with it as much as I have, read this book!

Original Post: The False Prince (Ascendance Trilogy 1) at FLYLēF (reviews.flylef.com)

JENNIFER NIELSON'S THE False Prince is a thrilling first installment in The Ascendance Trilogy filled with action-packed adventures, secret identities, and a shocking final revelation that will leave readers breathless.

In the kingdom of Carthya, the royal family is brutally murdered leaving the realm on the brink of a civil war. To prevent a divided kingdom, Connor, a regent of the court, devises a treasonous plan to install an impostor as the king’s long-lost son – Prince Jaron. Four orphans are swept away from their impoverished living conditions, and inserted into Connor’s palatial estate to compete in a twisted game for the role of the puppet prince: Latamer, Tobias, Roden, and the defiant Sage. When Connor orders the death of one of the less qualified orphans, Sage knows that his life hangs precariously on the outcome of the competition.

Impersonation…or, execution.

The stakes are extremely high. But, Sage's remaining opponents have their own hidden agendas as well.

Borrowed from a student in Ms. Neilson’s high school debate team, Sage is a “charming, brilliant, and relentlessly mischievous” 14-year old boy. His wit and sarcasm combine to deliver hilarious and clever verbal swordplay. BUT, he is also vulnerable and flawed; his plans are more passion-driven than they are strategic, his executions are often spontaneous, and his outcomes are rarely predictable. One thing is for certain; where other players have no clue that all the rules of the game are subtly being rewritten, Sage always seems to stay one step ahead.

I highly recommend The False Prince for the adventure-loving readers. It will not disappoint!

I was caught by surprise at how well this book engaged my attention and then held it all the way to the end.
The intelligence with which it is written reminded me a lot of Ender's game. Sage, our boy protagonist, is so well developed, with layers that peel off with every chapter. He is smart, really smart, and watching him struggle against things outside his control makes us believe that his situation really is desperate. The writing is intelligent and witty with elegant prose that sinks you into the story so far you won't want to come up for air. Combine that with an unreliable narrator and every chapter had me guessing what would come next ( and usually surprising me )

Even though this book is the first in a trilogy it does a really good job standing on its own two feet with its own story arc that leaves you satisfied while at the same time pushing you to pick up the next book.

It's clean with no cursing and no sex and very little violence. ( what violence there is is not gory and is very plot specific and non-exploitive ) there is one scene in which someone dies in a very abrupt way that could possibly be upsetting to very young readers.
There is what seems to be the basis of what could develop into a romantic interest in the next couple books but it is only a thread in the whole complex weave of the story not the Main part.
I would have no problem giving this to girls and boys alike as well as adults.

It was that good. Best book I have read in a while

I have started a new job. The commute is about 20 minutes one way. What better time to start listening to a book on CD?!!!

My 12 year old daughter read The False Prince this summer and loved it. So I started with it. The beginning was a little hard, I found it a bit slow. However, once the story got going it was exciting and I wanted to take extra drives so I could listen to the book.

The story was new to me. I didn't know what was going to come next. I liked the plot twists. I admit I was not a fan of the main character. I have a hard time understanding him and why he behaves the way he does. He makes me anxious. Although somehow I am still routing for him.

There is a sequel to this book called The Runaway King. I plan on listening to it next. Bring on the commute!

Warnings: Murder, torture

I would let both my 12 and 15 year old daughters read this book. As stated before, my 12 year old recommended the book to me.

I enjoyed listening to this on audio. The reader was great. The story line is pretty simple but really done well by this author. I was not bored once. I loved the main character his snarky comments and attitude were what really kept me reading. I knew this kid had something up his sleeve and I so enjoyed waiting to the twist at the end. The ending of this book is brilliant and I can't wait to listen to the next. Really fun story for teens. There is some violence, the main character gets beat up a couple times and one is pretty brutal. There is no swearing or kissing.

When young Sage is taken from an orphanage by a nobleman named Conner, his suspicions are aroused when he finds he's not the only boy that has been taken. And their appearances are all fairly similar. Conner tells them he has a plan to groom the boys and to choose one of them to replace a missing prince, yet ensuring Conner remains in control. Sage and the others soon learn there is no escape from Conner's plan except by death. Conner holds many secrets and will go to any lengths necessary to see his plans through.

Sage is a bold and brash young man and is surprising likeable. He says things that most would think, but never say aloud. He disguises his cunning intellect with hotheaded and sarcastic remarks. And he's clearly the only one who could match wits with the scheming Conner.

The False Prince is the first in a new trilogy, yet this first story ended well, without major cliffhangers. Sage is a memorable character and completely engaging. With the mood dark and covert, I couldn't put this one down. Nielsen's writing is captivating and full of thrilling suspense. With plenty of plot twists and surprises, there is never a dull moment in this adventure novel for middle readers on up.

When does the motion picture come out???? Although, I doubt they could find an actor to play Sage, as well as he is written.....

I absolutely loved this book from start, to nail-biting finish.

The author did an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing and not knowing who to root for the entire way. There were so many twists and turns and surprises along the two week journey this book covers. My daughter and I had to fight over who got to read the book when, we both loved it so much and did not want to hand it over to the other one before we got finished.

I seriously hope that the author can keep the intrigue and incredible story line going into books two and three. I think there is plenty of potential for this to be one of my favorite series ever. Onward to book two, The Runway King which is available now.

Scholastic Books sent me the above book for review purposes. It will allow me to keep the book. I have no other connection to and have received no other compensation from Scholastic.

I remember around spring last year The False Prince was all over my goodreads dash. It was one of those books that had medium hype and was staying afloat due to its own success. But of course I never read it because a) it's a fantasy (and fantasy is the genre I struggle with the most) b) the plot sounded very simple and predictable c) I rather read something I knew I was going to enjoy rather suffer through another bad choice.

But yet again, I assumed wrong.

The False Prince does have its flaws, but compared to its strengths, they pale. In fact, one (maybe even two) of its major flaws doesn't really irk me. I'm sort of glad it played out the way it did (and I've read other reviews where they completely disagree. My "strength" is their "flaw"). Unfortunately, speaking anymore would spoil pretty much the whole story (though it's not too difficult to figure it out. By the third page I already had an idea). But let me say one thing: I LOVE UNRELIABLE NARRATORS.

There. Said it. Done.

The biggest flaw in The False Prince lies in it's world building. When it comes to the government, the whole monarchy political system, it shines. But actual world building? I honestly have no clue what Nielsen's world looks or feels like. I got the impression it was more late 16th or 17th century rather than your typical medieval fantasy descriptions but I honestly have no clue. The Nielsen's world lacks luster all around. There's no shape whatsoever. But of course it's hardly noticeable due to first person narrative of Sage. Sage is too busy snarking and plotting to worry about what the landscape looks like and, honestly, if you're deep in characters, then the setting begins to fade a bit.

The biggest strength falls on the characters. I appreciate how each character, major, minor, secondary, and so forth all have minds and morals of their own (Well, pretty much). You can feel the malice between the boys competing to be the False Prince and you can also feel the sympathy they share for one another. Connor is mostly (you'll see why there's a "mostly" here soon enough) a great villain. I honestly wasn't sure if he was trustworthy or corrupted to the core. Nielsen had me guessing pretty much the entire book.

But here is where "mostly" comes in. The last fourth of the book, three fourths of the characters sort of turn around. I can sort of understand how, but most of the time, I found it frustrating. I won't say anymore about it due to spoiler's sake but it left me feeling "meh." (Also Sage did this thing where, he pretends to care the least--but then he turns around and shows that he cares for people more than most. That really put a damper on his character most of the time. Besides that he was a fun narrator)

Finally the only character that felt useless was Imogen. She's a fine person, I have no personal issues with her but her presence felt...a waste. I can see her as a future love interest, but still--she did nothing to contribute to the story. More like, she cause some trouble and put Sage in a horrible position due to her rash actions. Point is: Imogen wasn't needed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure how the sequel will play out--I'm still a bit iffy about it, but I'm definitely looking forward to it. I suggest anyone, those who like or dislike fantasy, will enjoy this.

"The False Prince" is a middle grade or young adult fantasy novel. It's aimed at boys, though I think girls and adults would also like it. It's the first book in a trilogy, but it stands on it's own and doesn't end on a cliff-hanger.

I liked that the teen hero cared about and tried to help other people even when forced into a situation where a person normally wouldn't. The main characters were generally good people even though they didn't always act like it because of the difficult situation they were in. The characters were complex and had some depth, and I cared what happened to them.

While the twists won't be a huge surprise to anyone who has read a lot of traditional fantasy, they weren't obvious and there was even one I didn't expect. The suspense was created by the physical danger to the characters, but the conflict was mainly due to (non-romantic) relationship tensions.

There was a minor amount of "he cursed" style of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting and engaging fantasy novel.

Set in the time of kingdoms, kings and queens. Sage is simply an orphan spending his days in the orphanage and learning to fend for himself. His world is turned upside-down when a nobleman, Conner, purchases him from the orphanage. Sage doesn't realize what he is about to be asked to do. Connor is a madman, only hoping for power, and is willing to kill to have his plan succeed. Sage and four other boys are asked to become the missing prince, Jaron, who is rumored to be dead. Complications arise - Jaron's soon-to-be bride, Sage's fighting and the boys' abilities threaten to compromise Conner's plan. Connor tries to convince them that they are doing this for Carthya, their homeland, as it is on the brink of war with Avenia (where Sage was found). But the boys see through his lies. Sage goes through three weeks of training to act, talk, and speak like the prince. Will Sage be able to impersonate the dead Prince Jaron, or will he be killed by Connor and his crazy scheme?

This is book one in a three book series by Jennifer Nielsen. Plenty of fantasy, action, adventure, and an insane plot twist near the end. This book kept me interested and wanting more! I need to read the rest of the series!

When I first read "The False Prince" I was pulled in on the very first page. It was a story about an orphan boy who was bought with two other boys by a member of the castle court. They were to learn to act and behave like a long lost prince and trick everyone they were the heir to the throng and he had returned.
The only problem I had with this book was that bad people murdered the royal family along with some other innocent people just to get what they wanted. Some people were just kids or families that didn't do anything, yet awful people would take advantage of them and kill people. Other than that, this book is by far one of my favorites.
It was my Library teacher in Elementary School who first requested it to me. When I finally picked it up and read it, I had to agree with her that it was a great book. Now I would request it to you and share this fascinating book with others.

I had been waiting for False Prince to come out for months, and eagerly snatched up my audio copy. The book is a wonderful listen/read and goes at a good pace, especially later on. At first it may be a bit slow because of the "training" but once you get past the first bit of that, then interesting things begin to happen, several of them were small enough that I didn't realize they were of import until later in the book when it came out. I want to listen again so that I can see what else I may have missed.

Overall I give this book a 4 star because it was a good first impression. I may re-rate once I go through it again.
The book is clean, no sex, no profanity, some violence, there is always some level of that in any adventure story, boys are whipped, stabbed, shot, threatened, etc. This book is safe for 12 and up, possibly younger as long as your child can handle the death of a secondary character or two. Nothing is graphic (ie: blood spilling every where, etc)

If you enjoy this book I recommend the very similar False Princess. Another great read/listen.

3.5 stars

I started this book and wasn't sure I would like it. It seemed a bit more juvenile than I had wanted. There were 3 boys always fighting each other and trying to impress a criminal who promised to make one King. I almost gave up on the story more than once.

Then, suddenly there was a shift. Our main character had secrets I hadn't predicted. I was curious how things would play out.

It got more interesting and I liked how things progressed. It ended well and I might just carry on to book 2....

I teach 6th-8th grade reading and spend 5-10 minutes every day doing a read aloud. Hands down this is the best book I've ever read to a class, the Hunger Games series included. I read the book to all six sections, 2 per grade level of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

It's a difficult thing to capture the attention of 26 early teens for any amount of time. The kids loved it as did I. They would arrive early and eager for me to start read aloud, ask about the plot after absences, discuss the book at lunch, and threaten to take it out my classroom so they could finish it on their own. They were asking about the second book, The Runaway King, and demanding that I start it sooner than planned. The students also want this to become a movie, with 100% of the boys thinking they could play Sage if necessary.

Read this as an adult or kid. You won't be disappointed!

This story was fantastic! The way everything came together at the end......where you have those “OOHHHHHH......NO WAYYYYY” moments! I love love Sage. He was brilliant and funny and brave and strong. He deserves everything wonderful in life. He is so wise beyond his years and has a tremendous heart. I can’t wait to dive into book 2. I am so thankful that I picked up this book!

Oh my gosh! By the end of first chapter, I knew I liked the book. But by the end of the book I was completely in love with it! The hard part though, is writing a review without giving everything away! This book kept me on my toes the entire time as I tried to riddle out how the story was going to unfold. I never knew how it was going to play out as alliances were made and broken, motives were never as they seem and the truth came out in a slow, but urgent pace. It was intense and exciting the whole way through. And the ending was so perfect that it makes me want to reread it to pick up all the threads that I missed along the way.

Sage is an incredibly charming narrator with quick wit, super powers of observation and a self-deprecating humor. He is always four steps ahead of everyone else, including the reader! I also think this book bridges a gap between a younger audience (Middle School - Early High School) and an older audience. I think this is a tricky feat to accomplish. It is not easy to write a book that both audiences will find thought-provoking, exciting, and challenging enough. Fans of Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief will also appreciate this book. It has some of the same intrigue and the main characters are two peas in a pod.

I teach language arts, and we have a list of recommended books we encourage our students to read every year. I try to read the books along with the students so I can know what they are reading and make recommendations. That is how I was first introduced to "The False Prince."

I immediately became a fan! The storyline is great, the characters are very well-written and have a life and personality of their own. There is a good mixture of adventure, mystery, and plot twists that keep you turning the pages. I have read through most of the book again. Every time I reread some of it, it becomes more real to me. I love Sage's sarcasm and Conner's arrogance; I especially love how they play off each other.

I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling the story for those who have not read it. Take it from me and from several of my students who have fallen in love with it as much as I have, read this book!

Original Post: The False Prince (Ascendance Trilogy 1) at FLYLēF (reviews.flylef.com)

JENNIFER NIELSON'S THE False Prince is a thrilling first installment in The Ascendance Trilogy filled with action-packed adventures, secret identities, and a shocking final revelation that will leave readers breathless.

In the kingdom of Carthya, the royal family is brutally murdered leaving the realm on the brink of a civil war. To prevent a divided kingdom, Connor, a regent of the court, devises a treasonous plan to install an impostor as the king’s long-lost son – Prince Jaron. Four orphans are swept away from their impoverished living conditions, and inserted into Connor’s palatial estate to compete in a twisted game for the role of the puppet prince: Latamer, Tobias, Roden, and the defiant Sage. When Connor orders the death of one of the less qualified orphans, Sage knows that his life hangs precariously on the outcome of the competition.

Impersonation…or, execution.

The stakes are extremely high. But, Sage's remaining opponents have their own hidden agendas as well.

Borrowed from a student in Ms. Neilson’s high school debate team, Sage is a “charming, brilliant, and relentlessly mischievous” 14-year old boy. His wit and sarcasm combine to deliver hilarious and clever verbal swordplay. BUT, he is also vulnerable and flawed; his plans are more passion-driven than they are strategic, his executions are often spontaneous, and his outcomes are rarely predictable. One thing is for certain; where other players have no clue that all the rules of the game are subtly being rewritten, Sage always seems to stay one step ahead.

I highly recommend The False Prince for the adventure-loving readers. It will not disappoint!

I was caught by surprise at how well this book engaged my attention and then held it all the way to the end.
The intelligence with which it is written reminded me a lot of Ender's game. Sage, our boy protagonist, is so well developed, with layers that peel off with every chapter. He is smart, really smart, and watching him struggle against things outside his control makes us believe that his situation really is desperate. The writing is intelligent and witty with elegant prose that sinks you into the story so far you won't want to come up for air. Combine that with an unreliable narrator and every chapter had me guessing what would come next ( and usually surprising me )

Even though this book is the first in a trilogy it does a really good job standing on its own two feet with its own story arc that leaves you satisfied while at the same time pushing you to pick up the next book.

It's clean with no cursing and no sex and very little violence. ( what violence there is is not gory and is very plot specific and non-exploitive ) there is one scene in which someone dies in a very abrupt way that could possibly be upsetting to very young readers.
There is what seems to be the basis of what could develop into a romantic interest in the next couple books but it is only a thread in the whole complex weave of the story not the Main part.
I would have no problem giving this to girls and boys alike as well as adults.

It was that good. Best book I have read in a while

I have started a new job. The commute is about 20 minutes one way. What better time to start listening to a book on CD?!!!

My 12 year old daughter read The False Prince this summer and loved it. So I started with it. The beginning was a little hard, I found it a bit slow. However, once the story got going it was exciting and I wanted to take extra drives so I could listen to the book.

The story was new to me. I didn't know what was going to come next. I liked the plot twists. I admit I was not a fan of the main character. I have a hard time understanding him and why he behaves the way he does. He makes me anxious. Although somehow I am still routing for him.

There is a sequel to this book called The Runaway King. I plan on listening to it next. Bring on the commute!

Warnings: Murder, torture

I would let both my 12 and 15 year old daughters read this book. As stated before, my 12 year old recommended the book to me.

I enjoyed listening to this on audio. The reader was great. The story line is pretty simple but really done well by this author. I was not bored once. I loved the main character his snarky comments and attitude were what really kept me reading. I knew this kid had something up his sleeve and I so enjoyed waiting to the twist at the end. The ending of this book is brilliant and I can't wait to listen to the next. Really fun story for teens. There is some violence, the main character gets beat up a couple times and one is pretty brutal. There is no swearing or kissing.

When young Sage is taken from an orphanage by a nobleman named Conner, his suspicions are aroused when he finds he's not the only boy that has been taken. And their appearances are all fairly similar. Conner tells them he has a plan to groom the boys and to choose one of them to replace a missing prince, yet ensuring Conner remains in control. Sage and the others soon learn there is no escape from Conner's plan except by death. Conner holds many secrets and will go to any lengths necessary to see his plans through.

Sage is a bold and brash young man and is surprising likeable. He says things that most would think, but never say aloud. He disguises his cunning intellect with hotheaded and sarcastic remarks. And he's clearly the only one who could match wits with the scheming Conner.

The False Prince is the first in a new trilogy, yet this first story ended well, without major cliffhangers. Sage is a memorable character and completely engaging. With the mood dark and covert, I couldn't put this one down. Nielsen's writing is captivating and full of thrilling suspense. With plenty of plot twists and surprises, there is never a dull moment in this adventure novel for middle readers on up.

When does the motion picture come out???? Although, I doubt they could find an actor to play Sage, as well as he is written.....

I absolutely loved this book from start, to nail-biting finish.

The author did an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing and not knowing who to root for the entire way. There were so many twists and turns and surprises along the two week journey this book covers. My daughter and I had to fight over who got to read the book when, we both loved it so much and did not want to hand it over to the other one before we got finished.

I seriously hope that the author can keep the intrigue and incredible story line going into books two and three. I think there is plenty of potential for this to be one of my favorite series ever. Onward to book two, The Runway King which is available now.

Scholastic Books sent me the above book for review purposes. It will allow me to keep the book. I have no other connection to and have received no other compensation from Scholastic.

I remember around spring last year The False Prince was all over my goodreads dash. It was one of those books that had medium hype and was staying afloat due to its own success. But of course I never read it because a) it's a fantasy (and fantasy is the genre I struggle with the most) b) the plot sounded very simple and predictable c) I rather read something I knew I was going to enjoy rather suffer through another bad choice.

But yet again, I assumed wrong.

The False Prince does have its flaws, but compared to its strengths, they pale. In fact, one (maybe even two) of its major flaws doesn't really irk me. I'm sort of glad it played out the way it did (and I've read other reviews where they completely disagree. My "strength" is their "flaw"). Unfortunately, speaking anymore would spoil pretty much the whole story (though it's not too difficult to figure it out. By the third page I already had an idea). But let me say one thing: I LOVE UNRELIABLE NARRATORS.

There. Said it. Done.

The biggest flaw in The False Prince lies in it's world building. When it comes to the government, the whole monarchy political system, it shines. But actual world building? I honestly have no clue what Nielsen's world looks or feels like. I got the impression it was more late 16th or 17th century rather than your typical medieval fantasy descriptions but I honestly have no clue. The Nielsen's world lacks luster all around. There's no shape whatsoever. But of course it's hardly noticeable due to first person narrative of Sage. Sage is too busy snarking and plotting to worry about what the landscape looks like and, honestly, if you're deep in characters, then the setting begins to fade a bit.

The biggest strength falls on the characters. I appreciate how each character, major, minor, secondary, and so forth all have minds and morals of their own (Well, pretty much). You can feel the malice between the boys competing to be the False Prince and you can also feel the sympathy they share for one another. Connor is mostly (you'll see why there's a "mostly" here soon enough) a great villain. I honestly wasn't sure if he was trustworthy or corrupted to the core. Nielsen had me guessing pretty much the entire book.

But here is where "mostly" comes in. The last fourth of the book, three fourths of the characters sort of turn around. I can sort of understand how, but most of the time, I found it frustrating. I won't say anymore about it due to spoiler's sake but it left me feeling "meh." (Also Sage did this thing where, he pretends to care the least--but then he turns around and shows that he cares for people more than most. That really put a damper on his character most of the time. Besides that he was a fun narrator)

Finally the only character that felt useless was Imogen. She's a fine person, I have no personal issues with her but her presence felt...a waste. I can see her as a future love interest, but still--she did nothing to contribute to the story. More like, she cause some trouble and put Sage in a horrible position due to her rash actions. Point is: Imogen wasn't needed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure how the sequel will play out--I'm still a bit iffy about it, but I'm definitely looking forward to it. I suggest anyone, those who like or dislike fantasy, will enjoy this.

"The False Prince" is a middle grade or young adult fantasy novel. It's aimed at boys, though I think girls and adults would also like it. It's the first book in a trilogy, but it stands on it's own and doesn't end on a cliff-hanger.

I liked that the teen hero cared about and tried to help other people even when forced into a situation where a person normally wouldn't. The main characters were generally good people even though they didn't always act like it because of the difficult situation they were in. The characters were complex and had some depth, and I cared what happened to them.

While the twists won't be a huge surprise to anyone who has read a lot of traditional fantasy, they weren't obvious and there was even one I didn't expect. The suspense was created by the physical danger to the characters, but the conflict was mainly due to (non-romantic) relationship tensions.

There was a minor amount of "he cursed" style of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting and engaging fantasy novel.

Set in the time of kingdoms, kings and queens. Sage is simply an orphan spending his days in the orphanage and learning to fend for himself. His world is turned upside-down when a nobleman, Conner, purchases him from the orphanage. Sage doesn't realize what he is about to be asked to do. Connor is a madman, only hoping for power, and is willing to kill to have his plan succeed. Sage and four other boys are asked to become the missing prince, Jaron, who is rumored to be dead. Complications arise - Jaron's soon-to-be bride, Sage's fighting and the boys' abilities threaten to compromise Conner's plan. Connor tries to convince them that they are doing this for Carthya, their homeland, as it is on the brink of war with Avenia (where Sage was found). But the boys see through his lies. Sage goes through three weeks of training to act, talk, and speak like the prince. Will Sage be able to impersonate the dead Prince Jaron, or will he be killed by Connor and his crazy scheme?

This is book one in a three book series by Jennifer Nielsen. Plenty of fantasy, action, adventure, and an insane plot twist near the end. This book kept me interested and wanting more! I need to read the rest of the series!

When I first read "The False Prince" I was pulled in on the very first page. It was a story about an orphan boy who was bought with two other boys by a member of the castle court. They were to learn to act and behave like a long lost prince and trick everyone they were the heir to the throng and he had returned.
The only problem I had with this book was that bad people murdered the royal family along with some other innocent people just to get what they wanted. Some people were just kids or families that didn't do anything, yet awful people would take advantage of them and kill people. Other than that, this book is by far one of my favorites.
It was my Library teacher in Elementary School who first requested it to me. When I finally picked it up and read it, I had to agree with her that it was a great book. Now I would request it to you and share this fascinating book with others.

I had been waiting for False Prince to come out for months, and eagerly snatched up my audio copy. The book is a wonderful listen/read and goes at a good pace, especially later on. At first it may be a bit slow because of the "training" but once you get past the first bit of that, then interesting things begin to happen, several of them were small enough that I didn't realize they were of import until later in the book when it came out. I want to listen again so that I can see what else I may have missed.

Overall I give this book a 4 star because it was a good first impression. I may re-rate once I go through it again.
The book is clean, no sex, no profanity, some violence, there is always some level of that in any adventure story, boys are whipped, stabbed, shot, threatened, etc. This book is safe for 12 and up, possibly younger as long as your child can handle the death of a secondary character or two. Nothing is graphic (ie: blood spilling every where, etc)

If you enjoy this book I recommend the very similar False Princess. Another great read/listen.

3.5 stars

I started this book and wasn't sure I would like it. It seemed a bit more juvenile than I had wanted. There were 3 boys always fighting each other and trying to impress a criminal who promised to make one King. I almost gave up on the story more than once.

Then, suddenly there was a shift. Our main character had secrets I hadn't predicted. I was curious how things would play out.

It got more interesting and I liked how things progressed. It ended well and I might just carry on to book 2....

I teach 6th-8th grade reading and spend 5-10 minutes every day doing a read aloud. Hands down this is the best book I've ever read to a class, the Hunger Games series included. I read the book to all six sections, 2 per grade level of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

It's a difficult thing to capture the attention of 26 early teens for any amount of time. The kids loved it as did I. They would arrive early and eager for me to start read aloud, ask about the plot after absences, discuss the book at lunch, and threaten to take it out my classroom so they could finish it on their own. They were asking about the second book, The Runaway King, and demanding that I start it sooner than planned. The students also want this to become a movie, with 100% of the boys thinking they could play Sage if necessary.

Read this as an adult or kid. You won't be disappointed!

This story was fantastic! The way everything came together at the end......where you have those “OOHHHHHH......NO WAYYYYY” moments! I love love Sage. He was brilliant and funny and brave and strong. He deserves everything wonderful in life. He is so wise beyond his years and has a tremendous heart. I can’t wait to dive into book 2. I am so thankful that I picked up this book!

The lost prince has been found- or at least that is what the noble Connor wants people to believe after he takes in several orphans and plans to refine them to pass off as the prince. One such orphan does not want to be chosen, but there is not much he can do since it is become a false prince or die for options.

I enjoyed the smart alec main character- I liked Sage and all he was doing to disrupt the plans of Connor. He was quite a feisty boy. He made me laugh several times as he spoke from cleverness or stupidity.

I disliked the telling of who Sage was- this came too early in my opinion. I very much liked more of the plot line in The thief where you don't learn the details until the end. It would have read better if we knew less of Sage until the end moment.

Recommendation: Sure- if you like books like The Thief- it reads along those lines. It is a medieval like book of hidden kings and such.

I am a fan of this book, even though I read it just yesterday (beware: this book won’t let you go til you read the last word of the story).

Very nice plot with the unexpected twists… The characters well developed, and likable, but of course the story has evil nobles thirsty for the crown. The ending of the book is very satisfying, but it’s not over yet. The author skillfully resolved all the issues risen in the book, but yet she gave the sense of continuality for future events that will take places in the future on the pages of the following books.

Both I and the MS Library Aide read this several years ago, when it first came out and loved it. I searched for the next book for quite awhile, then finally semi forgot it as more and more good young adult books became available. I recently stumbled across book two rand three and still remembered what a rewarding read it had been and that I still wanted to read the rest of the story, so I purchased them. Unfortunately, with the holidays, I haven't had time to read them yet. I truly hate series books for this reason. I love to discover a series once it's complete so I can just keep reading! Even though I haven't had time to finish the series, I highly recommend this book and author. If you like adventure and mystery, you'll enjoy this one and now you can finish!

My kids liked these books so much, I decided to give it a read. I was blown away at how much i enjoyed the story. It was entertaining, gripping, and exciting. I read it within a day. Im half way through the second book in the series and am enjoying that one as well. Glad i came across this author.

If this exciting first installment of The Ascendance Trilogy is a promise of things to come, we are in store for a real treat. The novel is filled with deception, trickery, danger, and high adventure. The kingdom of Carthya is in an uproar and war is pending. The royal family has been murdered and there is no heir to the throne. Regent Conner, a nobleman of the Carthyian court, has devised a scheme to calm the people of his land and perhaps leverage a bit of power for himself. He scours the countryside for orphans who may resemble the long-missing and assumed dead younger prince of Carthya. His plan is to train the orphans in the ways of the court and Carthyian government, and then present the most fitting to court as the missing Prince Jaron. He is ill prepared for the results of his search, however, when he has the misfortune of taking an incorrigible, defiant, and devious orphan named Sage into his household as part of his scheme. While the other orphans try their best to please Connor and do his bidding in hopes of gaining the crown, Sage does everything he can to make Connor and his staff miserable to the point of murderous rage. The only thing that keeps Sage alive is the fact that he may be the one true hope Connor has of passing off any of the orphans as the missing prince. Can Sage put aside his anger and hatred for Connor to save his own life and the lives of the other orphans by being the Prince Jaron he is destined to be or will he forfeit even his own safety to defy the king-maker? Nielsen does a wonderful job of creating characters that readers will both cheer for and loath at times and of creating the sense of danger and upheaval in both Connor's household and the land of Carthya. I am looking forward to reading the next installment! Excellent reading for students grades 6 and up with plenty to intrigue adult readers of teen lit as well.

Often when I finish a book, I have this honeymoon period where I think it's great before I start to realize maybe it's not the one for me, and I'm not so taken with it after all. That's why I don't post ratings on my blog, I'm constantly changing them after I think about a book for a while and most often for the worse. The False Prince, however, was that rare gem of a book that was kind of a slow burn. I didn't love it when I read it, in fact, I was annoyed by quite a few things, but then I started to realize that those things that were annoying me really had nothing to do with Jennifer Nielson's The False Prince at all. Once I let them go, I starting realizing that I, in fact, might love this book, and am incredibly happy that I own it as anything that can keep me this mystified for so long is worth a reread.

So, you might ask, what were `the things'? Well, I will tell you. Honestly, I was mad at The False Prince for not being The Thief and at Sage for not being Eugenides. How unfair is that?! Before reading, I had read many reviews that compared the two, and so of course I felt disappointed. Frankly, nobody is Eugenides but Eugenides, and such comparisons will always fail. I should have known this going in, but I couldn't help but let myself be bitter about the whole thing. Why make the comparison at all? Well, honestly, it's impossible not to. I have to admit that if anyone were to ask me for a read-a-like suggestion for either one of these series, the first that would come to mind would be the other. And that's a good thing, not a bad one! Sure, The False Prince wasn't Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, but if it were, it would have been a hack job. Instead, Jennifer Nielsen has created her own fun, compelling, and well-plotted tale that may be less likely to surprise, but is no less likely to delight.

Plus, The False Prince has something very important that MWT's books do not: a map!

The False Prince is one of those incredibly intelligent middle grade books that not only refuses to write down to kids, it could unabashedly be consumed and loved by teens (and adults) of all ages. Sage, our hero, is in fact 15, and while I would suggest this read starting around 12, it is an incredibly mature read. I do not mean mature as in drugs, sex, and violence (though there is some violence), I mean mature as in it gives the respect to young readers that they deserve. It will challenge them to think, learn new concepts, and keep them on their toes. In short, it's the type of book I feel every middle grade should be.

Sage has been chosen, against his will, to play a very deadly game. The winner will become prince (and king) of Carthya, the losers will meet their graves. To be installed as prince means a life of deceit at the hands of Connor as a puppet master, and Sage is far less interested in these things than his competitors. Unfortunately for them, however, he is very interested in keeping his life. I really enjoyed Sage as a character, I found him to be incredibly well developed and written. I've always had a thing for characters that are lovable, but scary at the same time. It was clear to me as a reader that Sage was someone worth fearing, and that the only way not to be on the wrong edge of his approval was to be a very decent, or sometimes weak individual. He holds a fierce protectiveness for those he feels need protection, camaraderie for those who would stand by his side, and scorn for anything less. He doesn't have grand schemes or ambitions of his own, he mostly wants to survive and be left alone, but Connor (and fate) won't leave him to it. Caught up in a plot that is one part power grab, one part attempt to stave off war, Sage is backed into a corner and forced to decide if he can become the boy selected to rule, rather than the boy he always hoped to be.

The major `twist' of The False Prince didn't surprise me, not even a little. At the time, this really annoyed me. I felt like instead of breadcrumbs that were easy to miss, Nielsen was leaving whole slices of bread neatly along the pathway that Hansel and Gretel couldn't miss if the witch had struck them blind. It was only much later that I decided that I don't think this was supposed to be a complete shock or big unveil. How could a book that's so intelligent assume its readers are so stupid? It wouldn't! So once again, I let this complaint go. After all, it's not where the story is going that needed to be a surprise, it was how it would get there. And that, my friends, was a marvelous journey.

The Plot

The False Prince is the story of Sage, a 14-year-old orphan struggling to survive in the fictional kingdom of Carthya. At the opening of the book, Sage is purchased by Conner, a wealthy nobleman. Conner also purchases three other boys similar in age and appearance to Sage. The boys aren't sure of the reason for Conner rounding up orphans, but they know it's probably not good.

Soon, Conner reveals his plot: he intends to groom them to impersonate Prince Jaron, lost prince of Carthya, so that one of them can take over the throne and save the kingdom. They will have two weeks to transform into Jaron. One of the will be selected for a future of luxury and power. The other three, Conner implies, will not have much of a future at all.

Through the two weeks leading up to Conner's selection, Sage and the other boys struggle to learn all the skills and knowledge befitting a prince, from swordplay and horseback riding to reading, table manners, and the history of Carthya. Their competition is fueled by the knowledge that not being chosen by Conner will result in a fate worse than any they faced in their previous lives as orphans.

My Thoughts

This book was so much fun to read. It was a refreshing change of pace from many of the other books I've been reading lately. The False Prince is a witty and engrossing story that doesn't have a ton of action or adventure, but has plenty of intrigue fueled by engaging characters.

Sage narrates the book in the first person, but he only ever lets us know as much as he wants us to know. So there were several surprises throughout the course of the narrative, when Sage finally decided to clue us into a past action or motivation.

I loved the characters in this book. Nearly all of them were nuanced, with no clear-cut bad guys or good guys (at least until the end). Even Conner, with his devious and treacherous plot, keeps you guessing as to his true motivations. And while Sage starts out disliking his fellow princes-in-training, he eventually forms a tenuous friendship with them as we understand that they, too, are just 14-year-old boys that are in over their heads.

As for Sage himself, he was clever, witty, and reckless. He was frustrating at times, but what 14-year-old boy isn't? It was exciting to see the story unfold through his eyes. And although Sage is indisputably the hero of this story, he has definite weaknesses and flaws, which is kind of refreshing. Too often I think male protagonists are just good at everything, and it gets annoying. Sage can indeed be annoying, but it's not because he's The Awesomest Ever. It's because he's a kid, and kids can be kind of annoying. But he was also likable and charismatic, and I was completely rooting for him.

And the story...I just loved it. It's a fairly simple story that takes place almost entirely in the same setting (Conner's estate). But the challenges the boys face, the constant threat of what Conner will do with the boys who are not chosen, and the slow revealing of the nature of the royal court of Carthya, made this book hard to put down.

Actually, it was impossible to put down. I thought I was going to put it down and go bed, and then a huge twist completely woke me up. So I wound up reading the entire thing in one day.

Although this is the first book in a trilogy, the ending wraps up the events in this book neatly. So you won't find yourself frustrated with a cliffhanger ending. I kind of hate when a book ends on a cliffhanger, then I have to wait months (or more) to find out what happens. This one is open to sequels, but doesn't need a sequel for you to feel satisfied.

I'd recommend this book to anyone, be they young teens or adults, male or female. It's easy to read, totally engrossing, and left me feeling utterly content and happy at the end. Needless to say, I am eagerly awaiting the sequel!

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: The outcome of a treacherous plot to crown an imposter left me tense until the very end.

Opening Sentence: If I had to do it all over again, I would not have chosen this life. Then again, I'm not sure I ever had a choice.

The Review:

Sage's life changes forever when a stranger named Conner buys him from the orphanage where he lives. Sage is a fighter and initiates confrontation at every chance possible. For someone who is so self-preserving, Sage has knack for getting himself hurt for his outspoken nature. Though Sage is intentionally difficult to deal with, Connor has a plan for him and three other orphans the same age that probably will end in death for the boys that do not pass Connor's tests.

Sage lies and steals as if it was second nature to him, and when we find out why, his character makes a lot more sense. Connor, one of the twenty regents to King Eckbert of Carthya, also lies, murders, and steals, but for very different reasons. He is wealthy and influential, though not in the innermost circle of the King's trusted advisers. He claims his goal is patriotic because he wants to help Carthya prosper; though, because of his treachery and lies, I felt that he really wanted the power for himself to influence how the country was ran.

Connor spends two weeks grooming the boys he picked to be able to pass for the prince and take the throne in light of the recent, and mysterious deaths of the king, queen, and crown prince. The boys are competing to win the title, and know that the losers will most likely be killed. Sage, Roden, and Tobias are the three that remain to be instructed by Connor and his crew in reading, history, deportment, horsemanship, and swordplay. Tobias is the most studious of the three, but the weakest physically. Roden is the opposite. He is illiterate initially, but is talented with swords. Sage describes himself as being between both Roden and Tobias in skills, but he is also the most defiant, which Connor tries to beat out of him. There is obviously tension between the boys as they are forced to live together and compete for their lives that eventually spills over.

One thing that really kept me reading was the uncertainty of which boy would be picked for Connor's plan. The fact that this is part of a trilogy partially gives it away, but the story is still well done. There are times where you really fear for a character's life, which I think is important to have since it is closer to reality, even though the novel is set in a fictional land. The world of the novel is very close to what we would think of medieval Europe. There is a common religious organization and royal power structure that readers will be familiar with, even though there is no such place called Carthya. I really enjoyed these moments that reminded me that I was still reading about a fictional land, but that it felt so real.

I don't want to give away any more of the plot since it would spoil the book for readers, but I would recommend this for anyone who likes adventure, strong willed protagonists, and looming uncertainty about the future of the characters. This is worth reading to the end to see what really is going on.

The Ascendance Trilogy:

1. The False Prince

FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of The False Prince. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

As a mother who screens everything her 12-going-on-13-year-old reads, I found "The False Prince" by Jennifer A. Nielsen to be one of those books which shows said daughter's taste in reading to be starting to diverge from mine! It wasn't a badly-written book, but I thought it plodded along in parts, and the ending was predictable for one with my kind of, ahem, life experience ... In addition, I didn't like the characters at all - I found Sage (unlike said daughter!) to be abrasive throughout most of the book - and even when the reason for his abrasiveness was revealed, it does nothing to excuse it - for me, anyway. I much preferred Avi's "Crispin" series for something along similar lines. We'll probably follow the series, since it's the first book of the "Ascendance Trilogy", but I'd be interested to see if I find the characters more likeable in the later books. Again, the five stars awarded here is said daughter's. Her review of the book follows:

" `The False Prince' by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a fantastic, totally awesome read that is perfect for any bookshelf.

"War is brewing in the kingdom and Connor, a nobleman of the court, has devised a devious and cunning plan - to have a nameless orphan pretend to be the long lost prince! However, he didn't count on Sage. Sage is one of the nameless orphans Connor picked off the streets. He is also cocky, too smart for his own good, and refuses to take part in the lessons Connor sets up. But if Sage doesn't do what Connor says, his life might end up on the line! Good thing Sage has a secret trick or two up his sleeve ...

"My favorite part was the ending. I think that it was totally cool and unexpected - well, at least some parts of it was expected! I also liked when Sage tries to ride the horse and he stays on her till she stops - and then he falls off into the river! That was really funny!

"My favorite character was definitely Sage. He was really funny and smart, and I like how he tries to protect Imogen even though she is a mute servant and everyone else treats her badly.
"I think that I would give the book five stars: one star for the cover, two stars for the characters, and two stars for the plot. I would totally recommend this book to my friends - it is funny, clever, dangerous, adventurous, and is, as one of my friends would say, fantabulous!" :-)

I snagged this ARC at ALA Midwinter after agent Tricia Lawrence (not the agent who sold it, but at the same agency, EMLA) talked about how amazing it was and what a huge hit it was going to be.

THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Scholastic, April 1, 2012)

So, a friend read the book, and then another friend read the book, and both told me how amazing it was. And so first, I passed it to my son (10 years old) to read who gave it a huge stamp of approval. And as it worked out, the Scholastic Book Fair had copies early (whoot!), so I got enough for the fifth grade boys' book club I run, and it became our March read.

Our meeting isn't for a couple weeks, so I can't give you complete feedback on what they think yet, but I have read it myself now, and I've also talked to some of them ahead of time. And with that in mind, I'll give you...

...five reason why you have to read THE FALSE PRINCE!

1) You've been searching for a fun middle grade book. Okay, this is it. THE FALSE PRINCE is witty and charming and sure to have you cheering the whole way through. And talk about hard to put down. Once I hit the half-way point, there was no way I was going to bed. I had to know what was going to happen!

2) You love to root for an underdog! Sage is a character worth caring about. He's charming and sympathetic, and real, and I have a total sweet spot for him in my heart.

3) You love a happy ending. I mean, sure, the book is not all sunshine and roses. Things happen, and people are sad and lonely. But the ending rocks. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

4) You're trying to inspire a kid to read. I've had boys from the book club begging me to have the meeting sooner so we could talk about this book because they enjoyed it so much. I love that!

5) You love the rich feel of a high fantasy mixed with a fresh voice. You know everybody in kingdoms didn't talk all fancy and stuff. And you want to just be able to relate.

The consensus? This book is not to be missed! The boys loved it. Their sisters loved it. I loved it. And as far as middle grade goes, it doesn't get much better than this!

Highly recommended! And I'll go with 4th grade and up for this one.

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST RIGHT NOW!

Source of book: From publisher at ALA Midwinter

After reading this book, it has became one of my favorite books of all time. The storyline of this tale is absolutely astonishing. Sage - the main protagonist - is now one of my favorite characters in any book. He's sly, witty, and resourceful, and has a knack of getting into trouble. The story is told in his perspective, and wow, it works extremely well. The way it's told through Sage's eyes was very well done. You actually sympathize with him and root for him... well, at least I did. The plot twists were a plenty. Normally figuring out plot twists before they happen, I did not expect them in this book.

I recommend for everyone to read this book, especially those who are into great stories (told in the first person narrative) and plot twists. Get out there and read this book now!

Ok, so I am from Utah, my kids go to school in Utah, and with every parent-teacher-conference there is a bookfair!! Sounds familiar? Anyway, this was on the shelf listed under: "local writer", and trying to support, I bought it, thinking, oh, whatever... (not being of the dominant faith!!)! But then, on a sunny afternoon, not having anything else to read, I picked it up, and I have to tell you, I REALLY liked it!!! I can't wait for the sequal. I keep checking the store.com for an update, to see when it might come around....! I guess you still can be surprised, and you still can find a dimond in the rough...! It was very clever and made you think, and I LOVED the twist!! Like I said, very surprised (but in a good way)!

The False Prince has become the best book I have read this year..once I started it I could not put this book down! At first, I wasn't sure how much I would like this book...I'm not a huge fan of all out fantasy types of books, but four hours later, I couldn't believe that I didn't pick this book up sooner.

One of my favorite parts about the book was the plot! Jennifer A. Nielsen does a fabulous job of creating a world that sucks you right into the story. Like I said above, once I started The False Prince I could not put it down. There was so much action and mystery packed into one book, that I never knew what was going to happen next! I really like reading books where I have no idea what will happen and this book definitely does just that. Another thing that is so great about the plot of this book is that certain details, while at first don't seem very important, end up playing a HUGE role towards the end of the book! I love when authors do that in books..it really makes the reader want to re-read the book and see the scenes with a different perspective. What really intrigued me about this plot was how Conner (the nobleman of the court) is able to come up with this whole elaborate scheme without anyone really finding out!

Of course, my favorite character has to be Sage. I really enjoy reading books from a male POV, especially one like Sage! He is very cunning, and very smart, but underneath it all he is a caring person. He doesn't submit to Conner's games like the other boys, which makes me like Sage even more. Seeing things from Sage's perspective was a really great aspect to this book, and made me as a reader feel like I was on Sage's journey with him.

Overall, I LOVED The False Prince. I don't want to give away any spoilers but Jennifer A. Nielsen adds an awesome twist close to the end of the book that makes me love The False Prince even more! If you are looking for a book with mystery, action, and a really great main character, definitely check this book out!!

Woo! I finished reading the False Prince a whole week ago, and I'm STILL fangirling over it's epicness. I can't even begin explaining to you, in coherent words, how much I have idolized this book. Whether I'm waking up in the morning, brushing my teeth, or doing math equations in school, I always find myself drifting off and pondering how much I LOVED this novel. While I was rambling to myself, trying to find a reason not to adore this book, which I didn't, I actually walked into a wall. I kid you not! My mental stability is on the verge of completely abandoning me.

My first impressions of The False Prince? I glanced at it in Barnes and Noble, but my reaction pretty much equated to mehh, and I walked off to find something better to read. Weeks later, it was in almost all of my recommendation tabs for each of my favorite books. Whatever I did, The False Prince just wouldn't leave me alone! So finally, I relented and decided to request it at the library.

Even with the novel in my hand, I wasn't too excited to read it. You see, I'm not a huge fan of male protagonists, because I don't feel as connected to them as I do to female protagonists. Because let's face it. Boys have a COMPLETELY different mindset then girls do. However, as soon as I cracked this novel open, I knew it was a keeper, because I was immediately entranced by the mindblowing world Jennifer creates. Huh that's weird....the majority of my favorite novels are written by authors who's first names are Jennifer. I'm beginning to see a trend....

The protagonist, Sage, is so freaking amazing! So amazing that he's equally amazing and might even surpass Percy Jackson on my scale of amazingness! Wow, I need to widen my vocabulary. Anyways, in this story four orphans are selected for the chance at a life of lavishness and comfort. What's the catch? The only away they can achieve that life, is to impersonate the long lost prince of Carthya, Jaron. Each orphan embodies a single trait, like strength and intelligence. Sage, the boy who stole my heart, expresses cunningness and the ability to worm his way out of tough situations. He was strong, brave, perceptive, and above all, compassionate towards people, even those who have crossed him countless times. When I picture Sage, I see an eighteen year old guy, while in reality he's only fourteen going on fifteen. Which is so hard to believe, because his way of speaking and some of his more distinct mannerisms remind me that of an adult! As most guy characters are, he has a tendency to be slightly arrogant, but I loved him too much to care!

The other characters in the novel, mostly the other prince impersonators, had my head reeling! One second they were the good guys and then they were the bad guys. I couldn't predict anything, because their actions constantly changed for the better or for the worse. Throughout the whole novel, I found myself talking to who knows what, saying things like, "Trust him Trust him!" and then "Ohh wait...I take that back trust the other guy!" a little while later "Crap..never mind I'm going with my first instinct, and around and around it goes. The False Prince was completely unpredictable, and that's one of the biggest reasons why I loved it! I actually guessed what was going to happen at the end correctly, prior to reading the book. However, as I was reading the novel, I forgot all about my hypothesis and ended up being flabbergasted by the change in events! Now that my friends, is a telltale sign, of an majorly skilled and talented author.

The action was super well paced. Once I started this novel, I couldn't put it down even if my life was depending on it. I was hanging breathlessly to every single word that was being said and each twist and turn that occurred. There was NEVER a single moment, where I got bored or found a spot to stop and call it a night. And once again I became a walking corpse in school, because I read until three A.M. xD

For those of you who only read novels for the romance....you might not have the same views on The False Prince as I did. There was little, if any, romance in this book. Which I'm totally fine with, because I only read books for the action!

Overall, The False Prince has probably made it to my top five favorite books of all time. Which is a huge deal, because I have read a countless number of books in my lifetime. It was chock full of action and had me gasping at every twist and turn on the road. And that ending!? Held me absolutely flabbergasted even when I should've saw it coming. I would recommend this novel to both boys and girls of all ages, and especially to fans of the renowned Percy Jackson series. However, one thing that you should definitely do is set aside enough time to finish this novel in one sitting, because The False Prince will capture your attention and leave you breathlessly flipping pages, begging for more!

Favorite Quotes:

"Hail His Majesty, the scourge of my life," Conner said to Roden and Tobias as he stomped up the stairs. "I fear the devils no longer, because I have the worst of them right here in my home!"-Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

"A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all." -Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

Hero- 6/5
Romance- N/A Not a romance book. :P
Action- 6/5
Comedy- 5/5
Writing- 6/5
Overall- 6/5

For more reviews, visit by website [...]

I borrowed this book form the library and I loved it! Sage's character is engaging and keeps you turning pages to see what is going to happen next. My heart broke at some of the things this boy goes through, especially considering how young he is. I devoured this trilogy in a day and then reread it.

I bought this book very much by chance, the 3rd book on a 3 for five ponds offer. I really didn't expect much, I don't usually read fantasy books by women (sorry ladies), but this was fantasy, and for young teens, not my age either. I was far from correct, Sage proved to be a great character, with flaws and dirt. He proved to be as good as the cover said.
The only problem, for me was the first person view, I found that a little trying.
But if you love fantasy, the hobbit etc, you'll love this, no Dwarfs, no elves, just people and none the worse for it.
Nice book.
Jeremy Poole (Author).
[...]

First of all, some readers have placed this in the "fantasy" genre, which makes no sense to me. It is middle grade fiction, best described as "medieval," I guess, because of Kings and kingdoms and such, but there are really no elements I would associate with "fantasy" (magic, potions, mythical beasts, etc).
Second, the only reason this isn't a 5-star review is because I could see the slow, deliberate pace of the book being a drawback for many readers, even though I loved it. It's not necessarily "thrilling" like some reviews say, but I did find it very satisfying at every turn.
I found the writing tight, the dialogue clever, the characters complicated and enjoyable. There is a bit of violence and definitely some intrigue, but ZERO language or sexual content, with barely even a hint at possible romance. This book is about the STORY, and I think that's great.
Perhaps the only drawback for me was that some of the secrets and intrigue got a little jumbled up at the end and I found it hard to follow exactly what was happening. Sort of like the high points of a James Bond movie - too many intersecting plots and secrets make it a bit confusing. But this didn't override the fact that I really liked this book. I look forward to the rest of the series!

I read this cause someone asked me to read it and tell her if it was good, so after reading the description I didn't have very high expectations. But I started in and soon found myself very interested in the story. I liked how although told in the first person you always feel like there's a lot more to Sage then he lets on, he doesn't tell you every thought going threw his head nor what he's up to every second of the day which makes him seem sort of mysterious. And although I figured just from the description that I could figure out what would basically happen I was so wrong! There were so many unexpected plot twists and turns that by the end of the week of reading mostly broken up into half hour or so segments whenever I could find time (or on lunch break at work) I couldn't wait for the weekend so that I could just curl up and read the rest of the book.
At times I started to feel like the author was forgetting about things that happened and so we'd never get to know who did certain things but she didn't let me down, by the end of the book everything was explained. And it was nice that the ending wasn't a cliffhanger so although you want more you aren't pulling out your hair waiting for the next book to download or till you can get to the library/store so you can get the next book. In fact I was torn between rereading this one and getting the next one.
So in answer to whether it's good or not, yes it was good and I very much enjoyed it.

This is the first book in the Ascendance Trilogy. I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. From the very first page this was a wonderful book. The main character is funny, snarky, and sneaky. This is a great middle grade fantasy that people of all ages will love; its full of lots of intrigue and twists and turns.

Sage is just trying to survive at the orphanage he lives at when he literally runs into Connor. Connor wants Sage for a mysterious purpose. Ends up that the young prince of the realm disappeared years ago and Connor wants a young man to pretend to be that prince. Now Sage will be duking it out against two others boys in an intense two week training course to see who will do the best and win the place of false prince.

Sage pretty much makes this book. He is incredibly resourceful, disrespectful, snarky, funny, and sincere all at once. For a young thief he has quite the attitude and you can't help but root for him the whole time. He is always out to help those who need help, but also likes to help himself.

Sage's tone is light-hearted and sarcastic for most of the novel; I laughed out loud a number of times and found myself grinning widely most of the rest of the time. That's not to say it's all laughs; Sage is involved in some heavy court intrigue and has to make some tough decisions.

The characters surrounding Sage are all very well done. Connor is a character that's hard to figure out in the beginning...is he here to help the kingdom or is he a traitor? It's an interesting mystery for the reader to unravel. All of the characters have strong personalities and a lot of depth to their characters.

Having the boys pitted against each other creates an interesting dynamic; this suspense of who will be the False Prince really drives the story forward and makes it hard to stop reading. While this premise seems fairly straight forward, as the story continues things get more and more complicated. There are some truly wonderful twists in the plot that will have the reader absolutely astounded. The resolution was kind of predictable but the skill with which everything came together was impressive and the irony involved highly entertaining.

The writing is very natural sounding and easy to read, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story ties up nicely in this book, so no horrible cliffhangers. Things are also set up well for continuation of the series in future books.

Overall I absolutely loved this book right from the first page. Sage is funny, resourceful, and completely full of it...he is absolutely entertaining to read about. All of the characters are well done. The book is hard to put down because the competition between the boys really draws the reader in. I loved how this simple premise gets more and more complex; this is a very intelligent and well done story full of mystery and intrigue. In some ways it reminded me a bit of Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, it also reminds a bit of John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I highly recommend this book to fans of middle grade fantasy; in fact I think it would be a highly entertaining read for readers of all ages. I can't wait to see what happens in the 2nd book!

SUMMARY -
Sage - orphan, thief, troublemaker. Rebellious. Never taking orders. But when his antics get him noticed, Sage is in for something bigger than anyone could have guessed. He and three other boys have been taken in, forced into a game of deceit, a plan full of lies. Who will win the prize? Who will live and who will die? Sage finds himself caught int he middle of a huge conspiracy, and he is the only one who can stop it.

MY THOUGHTS -
Boy, I enjoyed this book one heck of a lot! Written beautifully, masterfully crafted...Nielson has some new talent that everyone should read and love. Intrigue! Romance! Conspiracy! Princes! Secret passageways! Secrets - lots of secrets! (And I hear Alan Tudyk saying, "Pain! Lots of pain!")

I had my ideas about the plot from the very beginning (which I usually avoid). A lot of them came to pass, which normally does not happen, those very few times I venture to guess, and which is why it felt a bit too predictable. Some things never happened and a few I ended up discarding because, no, there's no way that could be the case! Well, at least I was surprised where it counts, right? Beautifully twisted. My gosh! I just sat there with my mouth hung open. I laughed, incredulous. It's amazing.

Sage is quite a catch. He's 14(ish), totally cocky, and beyond a doubt brilliant. He is without a doubt one of the most original MC's I've ever come across.
BUT.
(Yes, there is a "but".)
He broke my trust, and my heart. When I meet a character as vivid and personal as Sage, I throw my very hart and soul into the mix. So while that one very spoilery twist shocked me and amazed me, I couldn't help feeling a bit betrayed. It goes along with Sage's character in a way, but still! After that, I didn't trust him like before and found myself pulling away from the story a bit.
Besides that, I loved Sage, the story, the shocking twist that once seemed impossible, and the rest of the cast. I can't wait for more of Sage's story and to see what affect Roden, Tobias and Imogen will have on the story!

This book reminds me of...
Gold crowns (the kind you wear on your head...you know, take a look at that gorgeous cover)
Rascal boys
Oliver Twist, The Prince and the Pauper, Scaramouche, and The Count of Monte Cristo (of which the latter two just happen to be two of the most brilliant books ever written)
Young love
Brillian boys who are undeniably attractive
Quick speed read

For the Parents -
Nothing! Recommended 11+

Lies, deception, trickery...the first three words that come to mind when I think of The False Prince. Another three words? Awesome, intriguing, stunning...

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and it ended all too soon. Told in the point of view of an orphan named Sage, who was bought by a nobleman by the name of Conner. Connor has scoured many orphanages throughout the kingdom looking for young boys with a certain...trait. Connor plans to pass off one of the three boys chosen (Sage, Tobias, and Roden) as the missing, thought to be deceased, Prince Jaron in order to maintain peace and in hopes of preventing a war since the remaining members of the royal family have been murdered.

Sage, Tobias, and Roden must compete amongst each other in hopes of convincing Connor that they would be the most convincing false prince. The winner gets the spoils (become the king), and the losers may lose their lives. It is during this two week span that Sage learns horrible truths, suffers torturous discipline, and perhaps finds one or two persons in which he can trust, and hopefully will help him survive the final test.

Jennifer A. Nielsen has created a world in which the ways of the court are exposed for what they truly are, behind the scenes. It's not all fancy dresses, good food and wine, and pleasantries. There is much deceit, lies, and murder for those vying to climb up the ladder and become king. I loved that the story was told through a male point of view, and through such a powerful character and voice such as Sage. The descriptions of his life as an orphan and what he needed to do in order to survive was very convincing. There was so much life poured into all of the characters in The False Prince that you can't walk away without wanting to think twice about them. All have their own distinct voice and agenda, The False Prince is a story that readers of all ages will want to know more about.

At times, it was difficult to grasp the fact that the voice of Sage is that of a 15 year old boy. His thought process and actions seemed to be more of an older teen. But after reading the book, it comes together why he seems so much older than he really is.

The different twists and turns that are found hidden throughout this fantastic read is enough to keep a reader's attention. When I thought that all was lost, Nielsen throws in another curve ball that had me wanting to fly through the pages even faster to know what else could possibly happen next. Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle are revealed, and even though I knew well into the book what was bound to happen, that didn't deter me from wanting to read how Nielsen would weave it all together. And weave it she did. Nielsen weaves a tale of hope when there is only despair...of light at the end of the tunnel, and to face a past that was thought to be dead and gone.

Although I've seen The False Prince as being billed as a book for younger YA/older MG audiences, I think it's written in such a way that anyone can enjoy it. I would probably place it more in the YA genre than the MG one, but I can definitely see how this would be an appropriate novel for younger audiences. The plot moves along at a decent pace, and there aren't big words that could cause younger readers to struggle with the context.

I thought Nielsen's world building was great in this novel. Once the world was pretty established, she continues to incorporate details that make it a rich and exciting place for the story to take place. At times, I felt like I was walking the halls of Connor's extravagant home and that Sage's world was actually real.

Nielsen did an excellent job of creating an aura of mystery about Connor and the missing prince. How does Connor know the prince is dead? Is he really dead? Why is Conner so intent on saving the royal family and placing someone on the throne? What about the servants - how much do they know and do they support Connor's plans if they know about them? I also liked that we are presented with just enough information about Sage's background to make us believe that we know enough about him. I felt like Nielsen kept the reader as in the dark as Connor about the boys he had chosen to train to become prince.

I do wish that some of the minor characters had been given more focus in the novel, as I would really have like to know more about the other three boys competing against Sage. Why don't they fear Connor as much as Sage seems to? What do they really think of this whole thing? I also found myself wondering about Mott and Cregon and how they ended up as Connor's servants. Especially Mott, since he's more compassionate and helpful than Cregon. The juxtaposition of the compassionate, honorable soldier (Mott) with that of the ruthless, cruel soldier (Cregon) was one of my favorite character comparisons in the book.

Although I was pretty sure I had guessed the big reveal before it happened, it was really interesting to be thrown into a completely different narration style for a little bit in order to be given the whole story. I really enjoyed that, and I liked how it disrupted the story in order to introduce a crucial plot point. It was kind of similar to the way the life of the involved party was disrupted.

With a few more answered questions, The False Prince could have been a great standalone novel. As the beginning of a trilogy though, I'm really looking forward to what happen next with Sage, Imogen, Mott, Tobias, and all of the other characters from this novel. I would give this book a 4/5, and recommend it to fans of YA fantasy and mystery novels.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen is the first book in the middle grade fantasy, The Ascendance Trilogy. The story focuses on Sage. He's a resourceful orphan who is usually up to no good. He catches the eye of Conner, a nobleman, who has taken three boys off the street to try and make them into a 'false prince'. However only one boy will be chosen and the other two will be executed.
Sage is a great character. He's clever, quick on his feet, and has a good heart. Along with the two other boys, Tobias and Roden, he does his best to be chosen as the long lost prince, Jaron. The boys' relationship is a precarious one at best. They are all in the same boat. This fact alone bonds them to each other and a friendship of sorts develops. Nevertheless they all want to be the chosen one. They are fighting to stay alive and using what ever skills they have to win which means they have to be aggressive and put whatever friendships they have aside. However Sage is astute. He realizes that things are not what they seem.
This is a great book for middle grade and above. Nielsen writes an intriguing story with lots of twists and turns. I had a hard time distinguishing the good guys from the bad. She doesn't give much away and it left me glued to the pages to find out how it was going to end. I can't say anything bad about this book. This is a fantastic read that I would recommend. I can't wait to read the second book in the trilogy.

MY THOUGHTS:

"Yes, sir, I am your prince."

I stumbled upon reading the false prince while browsing my kindle and actually read it because I don't want to listen to my lecture that day. And since then I was hooked. Reading it actually makes me feel giddy and excited on what will happen next.

The whole story is told through the point of view of Sage. Sage, is an orphan, living in Mrs. Turbedly's Orphanage. The start of the story actually shows his view as he runs away from stealing a roast. Sage is witty, sometimes a liar, but he follows what he promised you. He built up so many façade that you don't sometimes know what's real. He can be pretty stupid at times and his defiance to order causes him to many bruises to count. His life begins to change when he was picked by Conner to become a part of his ultimate plan.

Conner is the perfect villain or antagonist of the story. He's ideals made him feel like what he is doing for the country are what are right. He's well educated and always tries to wash his hands when Sage questions him. For Conner, what he is doing is for the good of the country.

The story revolve through Conner's ideal with the reigning royals dead and the youngest prince is known to have been dead long ago though the body is never found. He decided to search through orphanages and find someone who can be Prince Jaron.

Sage together with Roden, Tobias and Latamer was bought from the orphanage and he would then chose after their studies on who can be his false prince.

I don't want to actually say much about the story itself because I might reveal some integral parts of the story that makes it a thrill to read and discover.

When seeing the way the novel is written, I really enjoy Sage's ideas and his banter. Ms. Nielsen shows a good presentation of dialogues in the story. Though her description of the place is not as vivid as her dialogues but nonetheless I really enjoy Sage witty remarks and the way he speaks in my mind while I read it.

The cover for me is a bit unappealing, so hopefully a better cover on the next book. Although, as they say, don't judge a book by it's cover.

Overall, I enjoy reading this particular novel. I think both gender would love this piece although I think boys would love this more. When reading this you would learn a lot of things along the way and I'm really excited to read the next book. I really don't want to say more and hopefully you'll like this as much as I did.

I'm giving this 4.5 crowned whales ^_^

Learn enough to convince the court you're the presumed-dead prince or die. This is the dilemma facing Sage, a teenage orphan kidnapped by a nobleman who is attempting to save the throne from the evil Veldergrath. Sage, along with three other orphans, are put through a series of tests, challenges, and lessons as they attempt to learn how to impersonate royalty.

Considering I'm an adult who doesn't like historical or fantasy books, this one is a pure winner. Sage is a flawed yet intriguing character who is enjoyable in his role as first-person "host." Though it is technically fantasy because it is set in a world other than our own, there is no long-drawn world building here. You are told the basics of the geographical and political landscapes and then taken on a ride. The book gets to the point and stays there without wandering off on long descriptive passages. I loved this, as it's the main reason fantasy literature holds no appeal for me. But don't get me wrong, Nielsen is still skilled with words. You don't notice that there isn't all this description. She is clear and concise. She also takes no time in getting to the crux of the plot -- Sage is on the run and taken by Conner within the first chapter.

I was torn on my feelings about Sage's rebellious, snarky side. On one hand, it was completely realistic and Nielsen kept it from getting old. In fact, it made me laugh out loud several times. However, parents aren't going to want their kids to imitate half of his behaviors. My only other pet peeve was something that may be answered later in the series. This spoiler gives away the twist, so don't read it if you don't want to know:

****SPOILER****

How did Conner happen to kidnap the actual prince? Was it purely coincidence? If this was answered, I sure missed it, and it bugged me for quite a chunk of the novel so I was looking for an answer. This also ties into the slippery slope of an unreliable first-person narrator. Why was Sage lying to us in his thoughts? If writers want to have twists that a character is in on, why do they avoid third person so much?

****END SPOILER****

Readers of high fantasy will not like this book for the fantasy elements. However, adventure fans will be drawn in immediately. This is a good book for older reluctant readers and more advanced younger readers.

Characterization: Some characters are more fleshed out than others
Frame: Another world, similar to medieval Europe, where kings and queens still rule
Pace: Fast, with short chapters and paragraphs
Point of View: First person, male
Red Flags: Death and murder, not explicit but also not sugar-coated; minor sensuality considering the potential juvenile audience; whipping; stabbing
Tone: Sarcastic, rebellious, adventurous

This book was pretty good, and Sage is probably one of the cleverest characters written in a while. He's like-able, and makes you want to read on. That said, none of the other characters make much of an impact - including Tobias and Roden. Even Imogen & Amarinda are too caricature-ish by the end - the author has to work harder in her next book to make them more "real".

However, I knew the "hidden" truth much before the book reached halfway, so the ending was not much of a surprise, especially the flashback near the end. However, I do want to know what happens next & will definitely read the next book when it releases.

The fate of medieval land called Carthya is at stake after its king and queen are murdered. In the wake of this news, a nobleman named Conner has a plan to use one of four orphan boys to impersonate the king's long lost son named Jaron. In two weeks' time he will prepare each of the boys to both fool and assume rule of the kingdom as the kingdom's only hope for peace. One of the boys, Sage of Avenia, is a rebellious kid with no desire to be Conner's pawn, but he realizes the only hope of his own survival may be to become the long lost prince Jaron. In a contest to see who is most like Jaron, will Sage be able to convince Conner that he can be the prince of Carthya?

THE FALSE PRINCE is the first book in Jennifer Nielsen's new Ascendance Trilogy, and it is a surprisingly thrilling journey of one boy's ingenuity in the midst of a desperate struggle to survive a man who will stop at nothing to bring his risky plan to completion. I picked up THE FALSE PRINCE because of its comparison to THE HUNGER GAMES. I loved THE HUNGER GAMES, and I love trilogies, so I was hoping to discover a new series that would keep me intrigued throughout. While THE FALSE PRINCE is a quite a different story from THE HUNGER GAMES, I really enjoyed the story, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

The story is told from the first-person point-of-view of Sage, and this takes us into the mind of angst-driven rebellious teenager. As his story, and where he's from, is progressively revealed throughout the story, I got the sense that Sage is a drifter, trying to find a place in the world where he belongs. Conner is a brutal man who isn't above killing to get what he wants. The bitter contest between the boys forces the character of each of them out. This becomes clear through the actions that Roden and Tobias take throughout the story to put themselves ahead of the curve.

Nielsen has created a world on the brink of war, and this makes the events of the first novel in her trilogy important. It's thrilling and ultimately surprising in the end. It's a great introduction to what is surely going to be a well-known and loved story.

I received this book for free for review from Scholastic Press, and the opinions contained in this review are completely my own

Connor, a nobleman at the King's court holds a secret. This secret could topple the kingdom if it isn't played just right. So Connor takes off in search of an orphan. Not just any orphan, but one he can pass off as being the long lost Prince Jaron. Sage doesn't trust Connor very much, but is forced to go with him and the other boys. What Connor is doing is treason and Sage and the others are being forced to participate. There are so many lies an deceptions unveiled each day, that no one can tell where the truth lies. When Connor picks the boy who is to be the Prince though, all will become clear and things will fall into place. If only the boys can survive it.

I was really amazed by how much I loved this novel. There were so many deceptions, that you always knew things weren't quite as they seemed, but you could never be sure what they are. I really loved this aspect of it, so I am not sure how I feel about a series for this. I'm just not sure how Jennifer A. Nielsen will pull so much delicious deceit in the next novel. So much was already revealed in this one, though near the end there was that bit where... I will definitely be on the look out for the next novel though, just to see if it is as amazing as this one. I really enjoyed Sage, even his pigheadedness. He was always causing trouble, which is what made him such a fun character. The other kids were okay, but they didn't have that soul that I saw with Sage. They were over-achieving back stabbers. Sage was just surviving and coming up with plans of his own, but not back-stabbing plans. He was very conscious of the other boys and didn't seem to wish them any ill will, even if they wished it upon him. He was a joy to take this adventure with. Definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY read this book. This is now one of my favorite novels.

First Line:
"If I had to do it all over again, I would have chosen this life."

Favorite Lines:
"My father had warned me about my quick tongue countless times. Perhaps he should have warned me more often."

Disclaimer: I was sent this item to review. This does not influence my opinion.

Conner, a nobleman, kidnaps four boys, intent on turning one into a prince who has been missing for years. His goal? To put that false prince on the throne before another nobleman can claim the throne for himself. One of those boys is Sage, a clever thief who drives Conner crazy. This is Sage’s story, and it is very well told. His character is witty, rascally, and surprising. My son figured out the twist as we read this aloud—I was so proud! But we both liked the story so much we instantly went out and bought books one and two. If you love good stories, read this one.

This book came highly recommended from a fellow blogger and believe me when I say I was not disappointed!

Sage. Oh, Sage. How I love you. Sage completely made this book for me. His voice instantly gripped me. He's strong-headed, defiant, sarcastic, snarky, roguish and clever. Oh, sure, he'd pretend to go along with Conner's plans all the while making his own. You sneaky little devil you ; ). Everything he did was for a reason. He was observant and cunning and always had a plan. Even when he was down at his lowest, he didn't give up unless it benefited him in some way. He didn't take crap sitting down and always had a ready retort waiting for the next unlucky victim. But he also had a heart. He stuck up for those who couldn't always stick up for themselves and was always fair and just in his actions. Yes, Sage. You are indeed awesome.

And the plot was brilliantly written. I was never 100% sure about anything. Sure, I guessed the gist of it, but how the answers came about and the reasons behind them was so completely ingenious and shocking that I was still surprised! There were times that I trusted the characters, and then they'd go do something sketchy and I'd mistrust them and then I'd start trusting them again. It was confusing and mixed up and I loved it. I liked that it kept me guessing and I loved where the author took the plot. I can't wait to learn more about Sage and his world in the next book.

And no insta-love!!!!! *happy dance* In fact, romance was put on the back burner. What was there however was sweet and soft. Sure, a bit argumentative, but that made it all the better! It was slow and I loved it.

Overall:
This book is fantastic. If you read this book for no other reason, read it for Sage's voice. Even if the synopsis doesn't grip you, his voice will. He's roughish and strong-headed and clever, but has a kind heart worthy of swoon. I can't recommend this book enough and I'm eagerly anticipating the rest of this series.

The minute I saw this one, it went on my to-read list. I was shocked to see it at my library (my library never gets things that quick after release date). I immediately picked it up and took it home! It was just as good as all the reviews say it is!

Sage is an interesting narrative. While all the boys are picked from the orphanages, there's something different about Sage right from the start. He knows what the world is like because he's seen it. He's not one to settle in and barely get by. He's had to fight for every little thing he has. I was also impressed that despite his hard life, he has a sense of humor and quite a lot of sarcasm. From the start I wondered what he might have been compensating for. I enjoyed him, but felt there was way more to the story.

I loved learning about the country along with the boys. The way the kingdom is(was) run is interesting. The royal family must have been highly despised to have created so many enemies. Enemies that are very patient in waiting for just the right time to strike. I was amazed at just how deep the treachery went. I often wondered who was a faithful follower and who wasn't. I also really enjoyed the training the boys went through. I think it really helped shine a light on each of their strength and weaknesses. I debated to myself and who would make the better prince. I also think it brought forth their true colors. It's amazing who will snap under the pressure.

I have to be honest and say I completely expected the twist in the story. Although, I loved how they explained it all. I really couldn't figure out the how's. The ending really left me wanting the next book. Such a long wait ....

(* If you have not read the book do NOT read this summary, but read the other paragraphs*)

Sage is an orphan and is bought by Bevin Connor. He gets into his wagon and his hands are tied up. He notices one vigil and two boys in the cart. Sage realizes that Conner and the other vigil are riding in the front. Sage and the other two boys ( Roden, and Latamer) are riding in the wagon and they pick up Tobias who is educated while the other boys are not. The four boys are taken to Conner's mansion, Farthenwood. Latamer is sick and is killed at the arrival of Farthenwood. The boys are told they must train to be the false prince or Prince Jaron who was murdered by pirates. The 3 boys train everyday for two weeks every day and they each learn new things. Sage becomes attached to a servant named Imogen and their relationship grows tremendously. Sage steals from Conner and is taken to the dungeon where he is tortured for days. Sage is eventually let out of The dungeon and Princess Amarinda comes. She was supposed to marry the Prince, but since he died she can not marry him. When she arrives Sage tells her she has dirt on her face, and she takes a liking to him because of his honesty. When she wishes to go back to her room, she asks Sage to escort her back. Sage was taking the role of servant at this time.
Then Sage is chosen to be the False Prince. He sneaks into the castle through the secret passageways under the kitchen. Roden attempts to attack Sage because he wants to be king, but Sage defeats him. Sage arrives and is pronounced king. He dismisses Veldergrath as a nobleman and dismisses Connor. To prove he is king he gives a nobleman a piece of fake gold the king gave him. The nobleman had a note from the king that if his son was to return he would give him the fake gold. Sage is Prince Jaron and his family died except him. He remade himself and took the name Sage.

The False Prince The False Prince: Book 1 of the Ascendance Trilogyis one of the best books I have read in a while. book has to deal with dignity, lying and revolution. Conner lies to the boys multiple times throughout the book. Sage takes on any challenge and likes to keep his dignity. He takes on any challenge, for example when he agreed to try to ride the crazy untamed horse. Also, Roden did not want to be a loser and accept so he attacked Sage and challenged him. Jennifer A. Nielson is telling the reader to keep your dignity and never give up. The False Prince also is a revolution because Sage disobeys Cooner and kicks him off the chair of noblemen. Sage was supposed to make Connor his right hand man, but he did not so he revolted against Conner. This book is in medieval times and takes place in Cathrya. I would recommend this book for mainly teens, but I think adults would enjoy it too. Teenage boys can really relate to the emotions and feelings the 3 boys have because the boys in the story are 14. I enjoyed how you were waiting for something big to happen because you knew you did not know something. When Sage turned out to be Prince Jaron, there was that surprise factor that I liked.

The False Prince kept me on my seat and and it was thrilling.The characters are well developed and each one serves a major or minor purpose and they all have a significant trait. I chose a five star because I loved this book and it really was a page turner. Jennifer A. Nielson makes us believe that we should never be completely sure of things. Now it is a New York Times bestseller and it rightfully deserves that award. The False Prince was the best book I have read this year and it was amazing. The book is kind of predictable, but still is amazing. The False Prince's plot is just pure brilliance and it was easy to read. The main character Sage is extremely clever and sly. He knows of secret passageways and sneaks out at night. You need to get this book now!

My rating- 4.7/5

We start off with an orphan named Sage. Sage is somewhat of a troublemaker. He does not follow rules and is quite the rebel.

When he meets Conner, a nobleman, who kidnaps him. He is not the only one, there are three other boys about his age, all orphans. There names are, Roden, Tobias, and Latamer.
No one knows why or where they are being taken.

They soon learn that the entire royal family has been murdered, and the kingdom is on the edge of war. Regents have their beady eyes on the throne. But Conner has his own plans.

That is where the boys come into play. Conner will do anything to get what he wants, even kill.

I loved the twist at the end, I never saw it coming at all.

Characters are extremely important in stories like this, for me and these characters were great. Conner was ruthless, cold-hearted. Sage is clever sharp witted;He is one of my favorites of the books I've read this year.

Now I need to get my hands on the sequel, The Runaway King soon!

Sage is a cheeky and unbelievably mischievous character. His insolent tongue gets him in loads of trouble, and combined with his cleverness, courage, and nerve, it makes it hard to believe this kid is only 14! But Sage carries this story. The plot can become slightly predictable, but in the end, it's his character that makes this such an exciting read. Truly, he has, by far, the most intriguing perspective that I have read in a very long time. It's been a while since I found myself really interested in the mind of a character, but Sage had me from his first thought to the last. The beginning of the novel starts off at an odd place, but it throws you directly into Sage's mind. Not everyone can pull that off in a story, but I must say, the writing style Nielsen uses is captivating. A lot of times the main character--the one you're seeing the story through, tells you everything from the start. You see it all, and you know what's true and what's not. But with Sage, he remains mysterious until about 75% of the way through the book. And man, did I enjoy watching all the pieces come together. That was probably my favorite part of this book. When everything just fits together so perfectly at the end. I don't want to go into details and give any spoilers, so I'll just say that if you enjoy snarky characters who you can't seem to get into the mind of until it just hits you like a brick wall, then you're going to love this book. I'm above the age range for this trilogy, but you can bet I'll keep reading the next books, because a character like Sage makes a great read.

Sage, along with several other boys his age are picked out of orphanages in days of old, and put through preparations so that one of them can be passed off as a missing prince, and heir to a now-vacant throne. The imagined setting of Carthya has a strongly European feel. Young teen readers looking for kings and castles, sword play and treachery in an invented world will find a lot to enjoy. I do have to ask: where are the girls in this story? This is first in a trilogy - maybe they will show up in Book Two. I was rather lukewarm on Sage himself -- I never really liked him, despite the fact he is the hero. He seems whiny and just plain snotty some times. I give him credit for being true to his word, and a stand-up guy when it really counted, but I didn't like him much.
About me: I'm a middle school/high school librarian
How I got this book: purchased for the library

The False Prince is the beginning of a young boys quest to being a king. Is he a incorrigible orphan or an honorable king ready to lead his country to war?

The story caught my interest and held it strong throughout. I truly liked the protagonist, Sage with is sense of courage, kindness and intelligence. Jennifer Nielsen weaves a intricate tale with a few twists which keeps the reader wanting more. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, The Running King. Will the new king meet everyone's expectations including his own? Will he see Imogen again? What role will Tobias play? Will Roden and Conner become another obstacle for the king to face?

As a fifth grade teacher, I am always looking for great books to recommend to my students or to use as a read-aloud. A sixth-grade teacher at my school told me about this book, saying that her sixth grade students could NOT put it down. Intrigued, I picked up my own copy to read it for myself, and I was HOOKED! I will just say that this book is inventive, mysterious, exciting, and just a joy to read. This is one of the best books written for intermediate-aged students in recent memory, and the sequel, The Runaway King, is just as good. A delicious read!

The False Prince is nice beginning to an interesting world. The main character is likable enough and is developed fairly steadily throughout the book until near the end where things quickly pick up. The other characters are fairly stereotypical and not as well-developed and seem to only fit a somewhat narrow personality. Regardless, it was an enjoyable read and I will plan on reading the next book.

This book is well written. Full of action as the storyline moves along. Sage is endearing and entertaining. I loved his thus story progressed and developed. This is a breast read for anyone aged 10 and up. I liked that it is written in a way that younger readers can enjoy, yet it is very entertaining for an adult as well. Well done!

The False Prince, written by Jennifer A. Nielsen, originally published by Scholastic Inc. in 2012, tells the thrilling tale of an orphan who is given a chance to change his destiny. It is an exciting read the entire way. The orphan, named Sage, is entered into a competition for the throne of his country, Carthya. A Carthyan noble named Connor set up the competition in order to ensure a line of succession following the little-known death of the entire royal family. Connor creates a competition between four young orphans to claim that one of them is Jaron, the presumed-dead prince of Carthya. Connor will choose the one who looks and acts most like the missing prince. As the plot continues, Sage realizes what a diffucult and dangerous situation he has been put in. The plot is full of suprising twists that make the story so interesting. For example, it is revealed that civil war is brewing in Carthya, and without a line of succession, many different people will claim the throne.
The author does an incredible job of building suspense throughout the book. For example, Connor puts off choosing a winner of the competition until the very end of the book, constantly keeping the reader guessing. Another example of exiting rising action occurs when Connor threatens to kill Sage early for his insubordination and goes so far as to have him whipped. This story is also full of exciting action that captivates the reader’s attention. For example, another noble suspicious of Connor brings soldiers in to investigate Connor’s mansion for signs of Jaron, and one of them attacks Sage, nearly killing him. Wounded, Sage gets help from a servant and is able to defeat the soldier. The False Prince’s writing style is clear-cut and easy to understand. For example, when Connor explains the civil war crisis, he says it flatly, indicating how serious the problem really is.
This book is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in adventurous fiction. The False Prince is a thrilling book, with many surprising twists and turns. The author does an incredible job of building suspense, and constantly keeps the reader guessing. Between intense action scenes, and a surprise ending, The False Prince is an exciting book from start to finish.

When I first picked up this book, I noticed on the spine that it was going to be a part of a trilogy. Sigh. Something about a new book coming out, already on the pretense of more to come, just rubs me the wrong way. Little did I know how wrong I was.

The land of Carthya is in need of a leader. A prince, to be exact. So, what's a power-scheming royal regent to do but, invent one of course! Lord Connor scavenged three orphans from Carthyan orphanages in hopes of pitting them against one another (sound a little Hunger Games-esque? Not quite.) to vie for a chance to fool the kingdom, and follow Connor's plans to assume the throne of Carthya. What Connor does not expect is an orphan to oppose his plan and his authority. Enter twelve year old orphan, Sage.

To say that the characterization of Sage by the author is well-done would be a massive understatement. His witticisms are spot on, his humor is both dry and hilarious, and ferocious heart and spirit will capture readers of all ages. However, Niesen doesn't stop with her protagonist. Each of her supporting characters is finely crafted to magnify the thrilling, heart pounding plot, while leaving readers speculating the outcome of this story until the final pages. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, or a particular character pegged, she throws you a curve ball. I love that! I think many middle grade readers will as well. Eagerly anticipating the next book in the trilogy!

Loved the book. Was quite simple yet had many questions that were all answered in the end. Short for a fast reader like my self so the series is a good filler for when you have some spare time on your hands and just want to read about some adventure.

The False Prince is an exciting book by Jennifer Nielsen. Nielsen, a newer author, has cleverly written a story of a few orphan boys who try to fool the country in which they live with the help of a mischievous lord. Through the eyes of a pickpocket, the book pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you guessing throughout the whole story. This book keeps your mind racing with questions as to what will happen next and who will succeed in fooling the country. With the lead character's funny antics and smart aleck remarks, you are continually rooting for him to come out on top. Nielsen brings the old world into amazing perspective throughout the story. Her descriptions are amazing and truly help pull you into the story and keep you reading. With royalty and lies, treachery and thievery, the book was well written to keep you wondering and make you laugh. Even though it is a book for young readers, adults would enjoy this book just as much as a child. This book is a fun book for any age and opens your mind to new ideas. The book is a teaching tool for children and adults alike to always fight the good fight!

The False Prince is mind-blowing! The second I finished it, I wanted to reread it.

At times I wanted to throw this book because of the semi-frustrating main character, but for the rest of the book I just had to gasp at the complexity of it. It was masterfully written and I cannot wait to see how the story is continued.

I cannot say too much more without giving away any spoilers.

If you have not read this, I recommend it immensely. Go to your local bookstore, Barnes and Noble or the store, buy it, read it, and revel at this amazing book!

I really enjoyed this book from a male protagonist amongst many female ones for this subject matter. You could not help but rooting for Sage and wanting to see who indeed becomes King and what really happened to the royal family. There are so many surprises and twists that will leave you wanting more. anyone who liked "Throne of Glass" by Sarah Maas or "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard, there is something about the thriller of this exciting race to the throne.

This book was better than perfect. Everything about it was fantastic. I cannot give it enough praise--but I think I can try.
For one thing, Sage was pretty awesome. He was so clever, and rather attractive as well. I could read scene after scene of Sage's inner dialogue, and be satisfied. Another thing I loved about him was how he remained firm in his ways, not letting anyone else tell him what to do. That takes guts!

The pacing was perfect. Nothing moved too quickly, but there was always an air of mystery and suspense about the place. Even after everything was revealed, there was still much to be discovered, and found myself surprised every so often.
And the little romance going on was so sweet. I was so glad to finally see a slow, calm romance instead of all the steamy, fast-paced romance that you see everywhere!

This is something everybody needs to read. It can appeal to fans of all kinds of books, and I hope it does!

I came by this book by an accident, but due to so many great reviews I'm sure that this book will reach plenty of top reader's lists.
If you've read Megan Whalen Turner the Thief series, you'll love this. While The False Prince has a very different style, it's well written, has a great plot. I loved the hero - he's funny, adventurous, confident, yet still a trouble maker. He's also too clever for his age, but it's well justified by his experiences.
I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment.

When I first started reading this book, my initial thought was 'this is super predictable, why do I even bother?'. Actually, when I first saw the title I got that thought. Because, come on, we all know the main character will turn out to be the real lost prince and he'll be crowned king. Yippee. Happy Ending. You can't tell me that's not foreseeable.
But never let the book title lead you astray. I don't think I've ever read a book like this one before.The beginning was slippery and my attention wavered for a bit until I fully settled. The main character was incredibly easy to understand and I didn't find him all that interesting.
But as it turns out, I've been tricked.
Sage (main character) is a perfect example of an unreliable narrator. Actually, every character in this book (or most of them) are not who they seem or say they are. Friends are enemies. Enemies are friends. Those who stand-by are really closer than you think. And those who seem important are just a distraction so you overlook the real ones. There is some serious deceiving in this book.
The story is told in Sage's POV. He's the poor orphan, the thief, and the undeniably clever trickster. I loved that mischievous gleam he gave everything. It was refreshing for me to read a book from a boy's POV (especially since he was about fourteen years old). Sage was super haughty and stubborn as a mule. No one, and I repeat no one, could change that boy's mind. He's a quick thinker and a fast learner, but a fool at the same time. He did things his way and allowed others to think that he was bending to their will. When things sort of took the wrong turn, I was surprised at how rapidly he improvised. And this guy led me to believe everything he said, I trusted him. I feel like a fool now.
Sage's competitors, Tobias and Roden, are two characters you have to keep a look out for. While Tobias is smart and educated, Roden is strong and skilled in sword fighting. Tobias is the guy no one ever likes and no one ever will. Which is why I was so shocked at the end. The guy was a big know-it-all throughout the book, and I wanted to beat him up so badly. I don't know what to think of him now.
Roden starts off on the wrong foot, but he gradually grows humble as he learns his way through the tasks.
His personality is hard to tell. After reading so much about him, he still feels like a stranger to me. Even more so in the end.
The rest of the characters had me thinking one thought throughout the book. The same thing that popped up in my head the second I saw the title. Predictable.
I learned a valuable lesson today. Or maybe I was reminded of it.
Nothing is what it seems.
Sooooo true.
The book starts off on a roll (a bumpy one), but it's impressively easy to emerge yourself in the story once you get a sample of Sage's sassiness. It's addicting and hilarious. You think teenagers are rebellious and defiant? Sage is about twice as much. Get ready to enter the roller coaster of a lifetime. One with sudden sharp turns.
The plot is fast-paced and buttery smooth. There was about a zero chance of me putting this book down. It was glued to my fingers and eyes. There's not much romance (almost none at all), but some seeds were planted here. Maybe the second book will have more of this. There was lots of action, but this is more of a thriller/mystery (sword fights included). The settings were beautiful and easily imaginable. I love this new world Nielsen created. It's smart and well planned.
Overall, I adored everything about this book, even the part where I find out I've been tricked.
The False Prince is one story that should top every Must-Read list. It certainly earned it's place on my 2012's Best Reads.

Connor (a man who is one of the royal family's advisors) gathers a group of orphan boys. His plan is to test them all so that one of them can replace the lost dead prince named Jaron. There is an event in two weeks that when they find the real Prince Jaron that he may be king and rule over Carthya. In Connor's challenge when the one is picked the others are left to die. If they choose not to do it (as shown by Latamer earlier on) they will die as well. So the challenge is for Sage, Roden, and Tobias to compete so that one of them may win by any means even by cruel sabotage.

Just like others said this book is slow paced but not to the point that it becomes irrelevant to the story's plot. There was some obvious plot twists but the story was exciting enough to look over them.

After reading Mark of the thief by the same author I had high expectations for this book, and I was not disappointed at all. It was as good, if not better than Mark of the Thief (which I highly recommend reading). This story is full of suspense and adventure and has shocking surprises. I just couldn't put it down and read for as long as I could stay awake, and immediately after I finished this book I got the other ones in the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. To be honest, I was a little surprised at the brutality that appeared at the onset, but it definitely made it easy to decide which side I was rooting for. Jennifer Nielsen has created an unlikely hero in Sage. Not only will you be cheering him on in his quest to save his country, you'll be left scrambling to your library or favorite bookstore itching to read The Runaway King (book #2).

I absolutely loved this book, especially the ending. My 12-year old son read this book as well, and had passed it along to me after he had finished because he liked it so much and wanted to share it. Aside from the few violent scenes, which I don't necessarily think belong in middle grade fiction, I wasn't disappointed. I would recommend this book to upper middle grade and young adult readers, although adults would also likely enjoy it. This book definitely deserves some awards. Well done!

This is a great book with lots of suspense and action. I borrowed it from my classroom library when I forgot the book I was currently reading. I started reading this and from the first chapter, I loved it. The next day I remembered my other book, but didn't read it at all. I was to engulfed in the thrilling plot to even care about the other book. During class I thought about what was happening in the book. I am in fifth grade, but have a reading level for a sixth grader. I just finished the book and could not believe the end! I would TOTALLY recommend this book to anyone. It is one of the best books I have ever read (Believe me that's saying something, because I have read countless numbers of award winning books.) So if you are considering reading this book, this book is great and wonderful. I imagine the main character, Sage, as a cute, trouble making, guy. I would recommend this book even more to tween girls like me. I hope this review helped your choice! Thank you all!

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a political fantasy tale. Four boys are selected from various orphanages and forced to compete for the oppurtunity to masquarade as a prince.Sage a devious but clever boy knows he must chosen as the prince or he will surely die.Sage encounters many tests from Conner the mastermind of the scheme and his fellow rivals for the crown.I really liked that Sage had a colorful life and is quick witted. The False Prince is very fast-paced and filled with intrigue and murder. I enjoyed the False Prince and Sage is a hero who always has a plan to outwits his opponents. My main problem with the book is it has too many characters involved in the plot who are not necessary for the story. I would recommend the False Prince to political drama or adventure fans.

Loved this book! The twists and turns. The chutzpah of Sage who brazens his way through the world. Even though I wanted to smack him more than once, I loved that he always stood up for what he believed in. Highly, highly recommend this book!

This is not the best book I have ever read, but it is a good book. The plot is interesting, and there is a surprising twist. The characters are delineated well (I am convinced that Sage has ADHD). The writing is good, and the plot development is neither too fast, nor too slow. I look forward to reading book # 2.

I don't understand the really negative reviews and several of them seem to be written by the same (rabid) person. Who cares if it is hard to keep a secret if the servants know the truth? Maybe Conner was planning to kill all of them. Maybe he had his way of making sure that they did not talk. I don't find that this detracts to the story to a significant extent. I also don't mind that the story is narrated by Sage. He told the story well.

This was a fun young adult novel about a country that is on the brink of civil war. Conner a nobleman of the land decides to save his country, he will find an orphan boy to replace the missing prince. The story was exciting and there's a pretty good twist at the end. The dialogue was a little silly at times, but I think it will appeal to its target audience.

This is a wonderful story. It follows the type of story when the main character is trying to find who they are. It's also a mystery. You don't know who murdered his family u til the end. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

The characters development is this book is awesome. The protagonist is both smart, funny and witty. I was really invested with the characters, especially Sage. The most appealing part of this book to me, is the ingenious story plot, the witty and funny characters's conversations throughout the book.
Jennifer A. Nielsen is definitely in my top favorite list of authors. Overall, this book is a page-turner with great characters development. Anyone who enjoys story of strong and smart protagonist surviving and fighting his way through despite all odds will surely enjoy this book. Although this book is under the category for younger readers, I believe adults will enjoy this book just as much. I know I sure did!

The False Prince is mind-blowing! The second I finished it, I wanted to reread it.

At times I wanted to throw this book because of the semi-frustrating main character, but for the rest of the book I just had to gasp at the complexity of it. It was masterfully written and I cannot wait to see how the story is continued.

I cannot say too much more without giving away any spoilers.

If you have not read this, I recommend it immensely. Go to your local bookstore, Barnes and Noble or the store, buy it, read it, and revel at this amazing book!

I really enjoyed this book from a male protagonist amongst many female ones for this subject matter. You could not help but rooting for Sage and wanting to see who indeed becomes King and what really happened to the royal family. There are so many surprises and twists that will leave you wanting more. anyone who liked "Throne of Glass" by Sarah Maas or "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard, there is something about the thriller of this exciting race to the throne.

This book was better than perfect. Everything about it was fantastic. I cannot give it enough praise--but I think I can try.
For one thing, Sage was pretty awesome. He was so clever, and rather attractive as well. I could read scene after scene of Sage's inner dialogue, and be satisfied. Another thing I loved about him was how he remained firm in his ways, not letting anyone else tell him what to do. That takes guts!

The pacing was perfect. Nothing moved too quickly, but there was always an air of mystery and suspense about the place. Even after everything was revealed, there was still much to be discovered, and found myself surprised every so often.
And the little romance going on was so sweet. I was so glad to finally see a slow, calm romance instead of all the steamy, fast-paced romance that you see everywhere!

This is something everybody needs to read. It can appeal to fans of all kinds of books, and I hope it does!

I came by this book by an accident, but due to so many great reviews I'm sure that this book will reach plenty of top reader's lists.
If you've read Megan Whalen Turner the Thief series, you'll love this. While The False Prince has a very different style, it's well written, has a great plot. I loved the hero - he's funny, adventurous, confident, yet still a trouble maker. He's also too clever for his age, but it's well justified by his experiences.
I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment.

When I first started reading this book, my initial thought was 'this is super predictable, why do I even bother?'. Actually, when I first saw the title I got that thought. Because, come on, we all know the main character will turn out to be the real lost prince and he'll be crowned king. Yippee. Happy Ending. You can't tell me that's not foreseeable.
But never let the book title lead you astray. I don't think I've ever read a book like this one before.The beginning was slippery and my attention wavered for a bit until I fully settled. The main character was incredibly easy to understand and I didn't find him all that interesting.
But as it turns out, I've been tricked.
Sage (main character) is a perfect example of an unreliable narrator. Actually, every character in this book (or most of them) are not who they seem or say they are. Friends are enemies. Enemies are friends. Those who stand-by are really closer than you think. And those who seem important are just a distraction so you overlook the real ones. There is some serious deceiving in this book.
The story is told in Sage's POV. He's the poor orphan, the thief, and the undeniably clever trickster. I loved that mischievous gleam he gave everything. It was refreshing for me to read a book from a boy's POV (especially since he was about fourteen years old). Sage was super haughty and stubborn as a mule. No one, and I repeat no one, could change that boy's mind. He's a quick thinker and a fast learner, but a fool at the same time. He did things his way and allowed others to think that he was bending to their will. When things sort of took the wrong turn, I was surprised at how rapidly he improvised. And this guy led me to believe everything he said, I trusted him. I feel like a fool now.
Sage's competitors, Tobias and Roden, are two characters you have to keep a look out for. While Tobias is smart and educated, Roden is strong and skilled in sword fighting. Tobias is the guy no one ever likes and no one ever will. Which is why I was so shocked at the end. The guy was a big know-it-all throughout the book, and I wanted to beat him up so badly. I don't know what to think of him now.
Roden starts off on the wrong foot, but he gradually grows humble as he learns his way through the tasks.
His personality is hard to tell. After reading so much about him, he still feels like a stranger to me. Even more so in the end.
The rest of the characters had me thinking one thought throughout the book. The same thing that popped up in my head the second I saw the title. Predictable.
I learned a valuable lesson today. Or maybe I was reminded of it.
Nothing is what it seems.
Sooooo true.
The book starts off on a roll (a bumpy one), but it's impressively easy to emerge yourself in the story once you get a sample of Sage's sassiness. It's addicting and hilarious. You think teenagers are rebellious and defiant? Sage is about twice as much. Get ready to enter the roller coaster of a lifetime. One with sudden sharp turns.
The plot is fast-paced and buttery smooth. There was about a zero chance of me putting this book down. It was glued to my fingers and eyes. There's not much romance (almost none at all), but some seeds were planted here. Maybe the second book will have more of this. There was lots of action, but this is more of a thriller/mystery (sword fights included). The settings were beautiful and easily imaginable. I love this new world Nielsen created. It's smart and well planned.
Overall, I adored everything about this book, even the part where I find out I've been tricked.
The False Prince is one story that should top every Must-Read list. It certainly earned it's place on my 2012's Best Reads.

Connor (a man who is one of the royal family's advisors) gathers a group of orphan boys. His plan is to test them all so that one of them can replace the lost dead prince named Jaron. There is an event in two weeks that when they find the real Prince Jaron that he may be king and rule over Carthya. In Connor's challenge when the one is picked the others are left to die. If they choose not to do it (as shown by Latamer earlier on) they will die as well. So the challenge is for Sage, Roden, and Tobias to compete so that one of them may win by any means even by cruel sabotage.

Just like others said this book is slow paced but not to the point that it becomes irrelevant to the story's plot. There was some obvious plot twists but the story was exciting enough to look over them.

After reading Mark of the thief by the same author I had high expectations for this book, and I was not disappointed at all. It was as good, if not better than Mark of the Thief (which I highly recommend reading). This story is full of suspense and adventure and has shocking surprises. I just couldn't put it down and read for as long as I could stay awake, and immediately after I finished this book I got the other ones in the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. To be honest, I was a little surprised at the brutality that appeared at the onset, but it definitely made it easy to decide which side I was rooting for. Jennifer Nielsen has created an unlikely hero in Sage. Not only will you be cheering him on in his quest to save his country, you'll be left scrambling to your library or favorite bookstore itching to read The Runaway King (book #2).

I absolutely loved this book, especially the ending. My 12-year old son read this book as well, and had passed it along to me after he had finished because he liked it so much and wanted to share it. Aside from the few violent scenes, which I don't necessarily think belong in middle grade fiction, I wasn't disappointed. I would recommend this book to upper middle grade and young adult readers, although adults would also likely enjoy it. This book definitely deserves some awards. Well done!

This is a great book with lots of suspense and action. I borrowed it from my classroom library when I forgot the book I was currently reading. I started reading this and from the first chapter, I loved it. The next day I remembered my other book, but didn't read it at all. I was to engulfed in the thrilling plot to even care about the other book. During class I thought about what was happening in the book. I am in fifth grade, but have a reading level for a sixth grader. I just finished the book and could not believe the end! I would TOTALLY recommend this book to anyone. It is one of the best books I have ever read (Believe me that's saying something, because I have read countless numbers of award winning books.) So if you are considering reading this book, this book is great and wonderful. I imagine the main character, Sage, as a cute, trouble making, guy. I would recommend this book even more to tween girls like me. I hope this review helped your choice! Thank you all!

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a political fantasy tale. Four boys are selected from various orphanages and forced to compete for the oppurtunity to masquarade as a prince.Sage a devious but clever boy knows he must chosen as the prince or he will surely die.Sage encounters many tests from Conner the mastermind of the scheme and his fellow rivals for the crown.I really liked that Sage had a colorful life and is quick witted. The False Prince is very fast-paced and filled with intrigue and murder. I enjoyed the False Prince and Sage is a hero who always has a plan to outwits his opponents. My main problem with the book is it has too many characters involved in the plot who are not necessary for the story. I would recommend the False Prince to political drama or adventure fans.

Loved this book! The twists and turns. The chutzpah of Sage who brazens his way through the world. Even though I wanted to smack him more than once, I loved that he always stood up for what he believed in. Highly, highly recommend this book!

This is not the best book I have ever read, but it is a good book. The plot is interesting, and there is a surprising twist. The characters are delineated well (I am convinced that Sage has ADHD). The writing is good, and the plot development is neither too fast, nor too slow. I look forward to reading book # 2.

I don't understand the really negative reviews and several of them seem to be written by the same (rabid) person. Who cares if it is hard to keep a secret if the servants know the truth? Maybe Conner was planning to kill all of them. Maybe he had his way of making sure that they did not talk. I don't find that this detracts to the story to a significant extent. I also don't mind that the story is narrated by Sage. He told the story well.

This was a fun young adult novel about a country that is on the brink of civil war. Conner a nobleman of the land decides to save his country, he will find an orphan boy to replace the missing prince. The story was exciting and there's a pretty good twist at the end. The dialogue was a little silly at times, but I think it will appeal to its target audience.

This is a wonderful story. It follows the type of story when the main character is trying to find who they are. It's also a mystery. You don't know who murdered his family u til the end. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

The characters development is this book is awesome. The protagonist is both smart, funny and witty. I was really invested with the characters, especially Sage. The most appealing part of this book to me, is the ingenious story plot, the witty and funny characters's conversations throughout the book.
Jennifer A. Nielsen is definitely in my top favorite list of authors. Overall, this book is a page-turner with great characters development. Anyone who enjoys story of strong and smart protagonist surviving and fighting his way through despite all odds will surely enjoy this book. Although this book is under the category for younger readers, I believe adults will enjoy this book just as much. I know I sure did!

This is probably one of the best young adult novels I've read in a while. I could not put this book down. Just when you think you have the characters and plots figured out, the author throws a twist in. This book kept me on my toes the entire time - in fact, I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it...something I haven't done since Harry Potter was released.

That was pure delight to read! I started chuckling in chapter 1 and chuckled all the way through. Sage is a cheeky, proud little thief but so entertaining!! Lots of surprises in the book just make it all the better.