Book Review: The False Prince

Title: The False Prince
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Middle Grade
Goodreads rating: 4.23
My rating: 4

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.

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I really wanted to review this book because the third book in this trilogy comes out today.  In my opinion this book falls under the middle grade category but it's a little more mature than some middle grade I have read.  But then it's also pretty on par with some middle grade I have read.  So even though in my opinion this book fits under middle grade some people would put it in the YA category.  

I actually read this book a while ago, closer to when it first came out.  Before I read it I had read a book called The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal.  I really enjoyed The False Princess and when I saw The False Prince I wanted to give it a go.  I always like to read books telling the same story and finding which one I like best.  The False Prince, though a similar concept has a much different experience to offer than that of The False Princess.  They are very respectively their  own books.  

Sage is a very strong main character.  Something I find that middle grade literature does really well.  He has had many very trying experiences in his young life and he does everything he can to rise above it.  He is smart, clever and caring.  He is a young man with a purpose and focus.

There is definite mystery in this book and although you may predict the outcome before it happens it by no means takes away from the journey in getting there. What's even better is that Sage's story doesn't end there.  He's back for more adventure and mystery in The Runaway King and The Shadow Throne(available today!).