9 Rated Books Book Reviews

Book Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Title: The False Prince

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: April 2012
Hardcover: 342 Pages

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.

Stand alone or series: Book 1 in the Ascendance Trilogy

How did I get this book: ARC from the Publisher

Why did I read this book: I’ve heard nothing but good things about The False Prince, mostly from traditional review outlets and trade publications like Kirkus, PW, and the IndieNext list. I haven’t, however, seen many blogger reviews for the book, which naturally intrigued me even more. When I received an ARC, of course I had to review it.

Review:

An orphan and gifted sneak thief, fifteen year old Sage has managed to get by since the death of his barmaid mother and drunken musician father. Passed from orphanage to orphanage, Sage has a wry but upbeat outlook on life. He steals what food he must to survive, and doesn’t get caught. Well, he manages to talk his way out when he is caught. Most of the time.

Returning from his last unsuccessful heist (word to the wise: stealing a hot full roast is no small feat, since fresh meat is slippery), Sage finds a stranger and nobleman waiting for him at the orphanage – a nobleman that has purchased Sage for a treacherous, even traitorous, plot. A high ranking and ambitious regent, Lord Conner forcibly takes an unwilling Sage back to his estate along with two similar-looking young men – both of whom are also orphans, and both of whom also look very much like Sage.

The kingdom of Carthya is on the brink of war with its neighbors, and Conner has been forced to take a desperate last gamble to preserve peace (while simultaneously installing himself in a position of power, naturally). He reveals to Sage, Tobias and Roden that the King, Queen and Crown Prince Darius have been murdered – a truth that has been kept under wraps to buy Conner time to put his plan into action. While there is no heir apparent, there was one other prince who stood to inherit the throne – an impetuous nine year old named Jaron, Darius’s younger brother, who was sent away from court because of his trouble-causing antics. When Jaron’s ship was attacked by pirates four years earlier, the young prince was written off as lost forever. It is Conner’s plan to bring Jaron back from the dead with one of the orphan boys he has selected and groomed for the job as his puppet monarch.

Sage wants nothing to do with becoming King of Carthya, nor does he wish to participate in Conner’s masquerade and serve as his figurehead King. But obey, or at least appear to obey, Sage must, for Conner is ruthless and will stop anyone that stands between him and his mission. To not be chosen as the false prince means certain death, as Conner’s is too large a secret to hide.

There are many familiar elements to The False Prince, from the trained puppet pretender to the throne aspect, to a sort of prince and the pauper kind of vibe. Of course, the most direct and immediate comparison is to that of Megan Whalen Turner’s much beloved The Thief (but more on that in a bit). For all the the elements of the novel are familiar and the twists predictable, I absolutely ADORED this book and devoured it in a single sitting.

So what makes The False Prince so fantastic and memorable? The bulk of the responsibility for this success has to lie with the writing style and the character of Sage himself. The danger facing Carthya is imminent and believable, and the tensions that divide the kingdom with power hungry Regents – such as Conner – are wonderfully well-drawn. The story proper hinges on the selection of the false prince, which, interestingly, Sage has no desire to become (though readers know and root for his selection, of course). While there isn’t really any doubt that Sage is going to become the prince, he tries his hardest to rebel against Conner’s plot at great personal cost and injury. This can be infuriating at times, but all becomes clear – especially regarding Sage’s motives – as the novel progresses.

Of course, there’s Sage’s voice itself, which truly drives the book. Narrated in the limited third person with insight only to Sage’s thoughts, one can’t help but fall in love with the brazen, smart-mouthed orphan and thief. And here is where the comparisons come in: Sage’s voice and the story of The False Prince at large is incredibly similar to Megan Whalen Turner’s The Thief and there are undeniable similarities between her Eugenides and our own Sage. But…truth be told? I like Sage and his story a whole lot more.

*ducks rotted produce*

Hear me out. I truly enjoyed The Thief and The Queen of Attolia but lacked any real emotional connection to either Eugenides or his Queen. In The False Prince, though, that connection I so desperately wanted in the aforementioned novels was finally forged – there’s something about Sage’s cocky attitude, with his big heart and sharp intellect that completely won me over from the very beginning. And that’s to say nothing of Sage’s true story behind his brazen facade – but therein lie spoilers! Beyond Sage, the secondary characters are also fantastic, and I love that not everyone is what they seem from first glance. Our initial perceptions of characters are not always correct, and I love that turnaround in the novel, particularly as it applies to the snooty Tobias, the cunning Conner, and the servant Mott. I felt like the conclusion of this book, too, was incredibly satisfying and well-executed, complete with the equivalent of a parlor reveal scene and an undeniably irresistible hook for the next book in the series.

The False Prince is the best book I’ve read in 2012 thus far, and I absolutely cannot wait for book 2 in the series. Wholeheartedly recommended.

Notable Quotes/Parts: From Chapter 1:

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.

These were my thoughts as I raced away from the market, with a stolen roast tucked under my arm. I’d never attempted roast thievery before, and I was already
regretting it. It happens to be very difficult to hold a chunk of raw meat while running. More slippery than I’d anticipated. If the butcher didn’t catch me with his cleaver first, and literally cut off my future plans, I vowed to remember to get the meat wrapped next time. Then steal it.

He was only a few paces behind now, chasing me at a better speed than I’d have expected for a man of his girth. He yelled very loudly in his native language, one I didn’t recognize.

He was originally from one of the far western countries. Undoubtedly a country where killing a meat thief was allowed.

It was this sort of thought that encouraged me to run faster. I rounded a corner just as the cleaver suddenly cut into a wood post behind me. Even though he was aiming for me, I couldn’t help but admire his throwing accuracy. If I hadn’t turned when I did, the cleaver would’ve found its target.

But I was only a block from Mrs. Turbeldy’s Orphanage for Disadvantaged Boys. I knew how to disappear there.

And I might have made it, if not for the bald man sitting outside the tavern, who stretched out his foot in time to trip me. Luckily, I managed to keep hold of the roast, although it did no favors to my right shoulder as I fell onto the hard dirt road.

The butcher leaned over me and laughed. “ ’Bout time you get what’s comin’ to you, filthy beggar.”

As a point of fact, I hadn’t begged for anything. It was beneath me.

His laughter was quickly followed up with a kick to my back that chased my breath away. I curled into a ball, prepared for a beating I wasn’t sure I’d live to regret. The butcher landed a second kick and had reared back for a third, when another man shouted, “Stop!”

You can read the full excerpt online HERE.

Rating: 9 – Truly Excellent

Reading Next: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Buy the Book:


Ebook available for kindle US, kindle UK, nook, google, sony & kobo

30 Comments

  • Emily's Reading Room
    April 5, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    YES! I loved this one too. I really enjoyed The Thief, but I really felt more of a connection to Sage than I did to Gen. And, I really feel like this one hasn’t been buzzed enough.

  • Jeff
    April 5, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    I loved this as well, but I really don’t know where they’re going to go with it as a series.

  • Amy @ Turn the Page
    April 5, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    Yes! I so glad you rated this highly – I’ve been excited about this for months, now I know I can pre-order with confidence! 😀

  • Kristen
    April 5, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    Just added this to the wishlist. It sounds wonderful!

  • Michelle
    April 5, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    I was able to get this as an audiobook off Overdrive. But I love Eugenides so much I can’t picture anyone replacing him-lol.

  • Leah @ The Pretty Good Gatsby
    April 5, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    I haven’t noticed many bloggers’ reviews either, but those I’ve seen have been positively glowing. I thought I was excited for this book when I first heard of it but now I’m nearly bursting. 🙂 I cannot wait to read this!

  • Memory
    April 5, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Yours is the second glowing review I’ve read for THE FALSE PRINCE (after Charlotte’s, over on Charlotte’s Library). I’m so glad I’ve got this on hold at the library–it sounds fantastic!

  • Kerry D.
    April 6, 2012 at 12:26 am

    You are evil. One click is evil. Automatic downloads are evil.

    I just bought it because it sounds great. (And I have an automatic loathing of thief and assassin books, so the review has to be good to convince me.)

  • Thea is evil « Too Many Books
    April 6, 2012 at 12:35 am

    […] I’ve just read Thea’s review of a book I’d never heard of before. It’s called The False Prince by Jennifer A. Neilsen and it sounds really excellent. Here’s the blurb and make sure you go and read Thea’s review. […]

  • Charlotte
    April 6, 2012 at 3:14 am

    It was so much fun to read this, and fall so hard for it I really couldn’t put it down! It’s my favorite of the year so far, and I’m so glad you loved it too!

  • Maureen E
    April 6, 2012 at 5:41 am

    It’s so funny how different readers experience different books! I personally have a huge emotional connection to Gen and his Queen(s). As in individual lines from The King of Attolia make me burst into tears.

    I’ll definitely be reading The False Prince after Charlotte’s review and this one both being so positive!

  • Liz
    April 6, 2012 at 5:47 am

    I tend to have this automatic response where I immediately get anything people compare with The Thief. I’ll have to add this to the TBR pile!

  • Lisa (starmetal oak)
    April 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    I was lucky to have been given an ARC of this book and have been waiting for my chance to dive in. This definitely moves it up on my TBR. Thanks!

  • Karen
    April 7, 2012 at 7:09 am

    Hmm, the title and cover hadn’t really pulled me in, but a 9 rated review? Love this site, so it’ll be added to the TBR pile. Thanks!

  • Heidi
    April 7, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    I am SO excited for this MG!! I thought it sounded amazing before, but to have you praise it so highly and compare it so favorably to MWT’s Queen’s Thief series has me absolutely chomping at the bit to get my hands on it. I can’t wait, thanks for the revie!

  • Deirdre
    April 7, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    Like Karen, I hadn’t given this book much thought, but after reading your review, I’m ordering myself a copy. Thanks for the head’s up! :mrgreen:

  • Howard Sherman
    April 10, 2012 at 11:05 am

    I’ve been craving a good book of the adventure variety for a long time. There seems to be a drought of some kind! For you to rank The False Prince the best book you’ve read so far in 2012 says a lot. Especially considering that you read more books in a month than I’ll ever read in my best year. So on to my TBR list it goes!

  • The Leaning Pile of Books | Fantasy Cafe | Reviews of Fantasy and Science Fiction Books
    April 15, 2012 at 8:04 am

    […] reading an excellent review of The False Prince by Thea of The Book Smugglers, I had to read this. She compared it to Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen Thief series – but […]

  • Anonymous
    June 5, 2012 at 5:57 am

    😀 Greatest book of the year!! I cant wait for the second one. I saw the book at a book sale at school and decide to get it. I am soooo glad I did. 🙂

  • Emily
    June 12, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    Same with me ^ 😳 anyways I love this book.bestbook ever! I absolute love it very very very much! I read it.. And still reading it 4 times! ❗ :mrgreen: 🙂 😯 < I was like at at the end of the book!

  • That One Girl
    June 19, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    I just got the book today at B&N and was at first hesitant to start reading. However, after reading reviews about the book, (most of them complimenting the book)and after reading your review, I absolutely canNOT wait to start reading The False Prince. 😀

  • Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen « Bunbury in the Stacks
    June 21, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    […] a second opinion: The Readventurer The Book Smugglers Reading Between Classes Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like this. This entry was posted […]

  • regan
    July 4, 2012 at 10:21 pm

    😀 I loved the first book!I needed a new book to be around as good as the hunger games and this was denfenaly it. The book is amazing and just the fact that it surprised me at the ending as well as the beninging and end. Cant wait to see what happens to sage in book 2 😀

  • Ann @ Blogging Profits Unleashed
    September 11, 2012 at 2:10 am

    Greatest book of the year! I strongly recommend this to anyone who is a great fan of reading! It was so much fun to read this, and fall so hard for it I really couldn’t put it down!

  • Smugglivus 2012 Guest Author: Jennifer Nielsen | The Book Smugglers
    December 20, 2012 at 12:01 am

    […] Work: The amazingly awesome The False Prince, fantasy novel and the first entry in the Ascendance trilogy. Thea absolutely LOVED this book […]

  • Anonymous
    January 2, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    I adore this book!

  • Trina
    January 4, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    I could not agree more. This book was so fantastic. I was also much in love with the whole things especially one rascally thief – although I was not as excited about his name http://www.thebooksmugglers.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

    Love your reviews! I must admit that soooooooo many of the books you review end up as books that I review on my website…. The Bookinista

  • unknown
    October 5, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    its a very good reviw but I WANT TO READ THE REAL BOOK!http://www.thebooksmugglers.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif

  • Heather
    January 2, 2018 at 11:00 am

    Do you know who sage is? He is the lost prince! His real name is Jerun. He wasn’t an ordinary prince. Jerun did NOT follow the rules. His parents sent him away on a ship to a school that would help teach him better. Then his ship got attacked by pirates. He was supposedly thought to be dead. But he jumped ship on the lower deck escaping death. Then he went to the opposing side of the land which was going to go to war with his land. He went undercover. Soon his brother went on a journey to that side and was going to offer peace to that kingdom ,and found his little brother Jerun there. He told his father who later came and told Jerun to go undercover for as long as possible. So Jerun went undercover as Sage a fourteen year old boy who DOSNT follow the rules ,and acts nothing like a prince. Soon Connor finds him and “Sage” then decides it is time for him to regain the throne, after his family was supposedly found dead.

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