Book Review: The False Prince

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Summary:

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 Take:

A fantastic book filled with swordplay, treachery, wit, suspense, good versus evil, and against-all-odds, edge-of-your-seat action.  In short, very well-plotted. My 12-year-old son read it and its sequel, 'The Runaway King,' in record time.  I followed suit, and we're both anxiously awaiting the publication of the third book in this Ascendance Trilogy.

If you need a page-turner to help get your boys get through a summer slump or hours in the car on a road trip, THIS IS YOUR BOOK!!

The verdict is still out on whether it's a good fit for girls.  My 5th grade daughter just started reading it on the recommendation of her brother, who said, "It's a little violent, but I think you're mature enough to handle it."  She's a fast reader, so I'll find out shortly if she's a fan.


View all my reviews