The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Library, Bought

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.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

If you don't have time to read my entire review, base your decision on whether to read The False Prince on this paragraph. After I read the last word on the last page, I set the book in front of my husband and said "Read this. Now." Not a request. A command. As the smart boy does in most circumstances, he immediately complied and loved the book. My copy of The False Prince was from the library. I waited until the last moment to return the book, re-reading favorite passages multiple times. Before I reluctantly slid it into the return slot at the library, I literally kissed the book goodbye. Since that time, I've bought an e-copy of the book and re-read it. I also bought a physical copy for my parents which I'll take back when they finish it. The book is that good!


The False Prince may be my favorite read of 2012 thus far. It is one of my favorite boy fantasy adventure stories since Harry Potter. What sets the book apart?

(1) Sage

The protagonist of The False Prince is an incredible character. He could talk the money right out of your pocket and into his and then convince you that you wanted to give him the cash. Sage always gets the last word - usually a sarcastic one. Because of Sage,  The False Prince has some of the best dialogue I've read in a long time.

Sage is supremely self-confident. Or where he's not, he easily fakes it (a skill I would desperately love to acquire). He is accustomed to being the smartest person in the room and carries himself that way. It would be easy for such a person to be boastful, arrogant, reckless, and condescending, but Sage isn't. He has a strong underpinning of decency. He is an excellent judge of character - sensing who is inherently good or bad. He does not suffer fools easily.

(2) Friendship

Sage is a candidate prince alongside Roden and Tobias. The dynamic between them is fascinating. They are comrades in arms, experiences the same trials, united against the same "enemy." Yet they are also rivals - in a game where the stakes are as high as they get. All three want to win. In their own way, each works to undermine the other two. The three act as a team sometimes, while two gain up against one at others. I love how complicated Roden and Tobias's personalities were. Each was capable of desperate cruelty, yet I couldn't dislike them completely. Sage's interaction with Roden and Tobias highlights his charisma and intelligence.

(3) Plot and Pace

The False Prince is an action filled novel. Every chapter Sage is getting into trouble, getting out of trouble, or going on some dangerous adventure. The book never drags. At the same time, it doesn't feel like you're reading a bunch of disjointed action scenes. The plot flows well. Through the action scenes, the story moves from point A to point B. After a few chapter, you discover that you understand the characters really well. Not because you've been told that their personality is X or Y, but because you've been shown. Ms. Nielsen actually achieves the show not tell goal that so few authors do. I was quite surprised by the direction of the plot, but even if you're not, the exact journey will keep you on your toes.

I particularly like that the plot is appropriate for middle grade readers, but is mature enough that it can be enjoyed by adults. It has universal appeal. While it does not contain any swear words or romance, it doesn't feel juvenile. It does have a surprisingly amount of violence and cruelty. It feels appropriate given the plot and is never graphic, but it's not sugar coated for a younger audience.

(4) The Special Something

The best books have something indescribable that sets them apart.  The False Prince just feels right. Sage immediately feels like an old friend - or a friend you'd really like to have. It's impossible not to get invested in his plight - can he be chosen as the imposter prince? What happens if he is chosen? What happens if he isn't?

What's even better is that the book improves on a second read. The book is enjoyable on a surface level, but there are tons of little details that only become clear once you've read the entire story. It doesn't have the complexity of the Harry Potter series, but Sage has a stronger, funnier personality than Harry. As much as I love Harry, if I had to choose between going out to eat with Harry or Sage, I think I'd have more fun with Sage.

Faults?

As much as I'd like to say that  The False Prince is a flawless book, it's not. The world building is lacking. We know very little about the kingdom that Sage lives in. We get little details about different countries and the basic history, but much is lacking. It's harder to put the political crisis into context when you only have partial background knowledge. This may be rectified in future books in the series, but I still think more should have been introduced in the first book.

Also, there's a point late in the book where the tense shifts from first person to third person. I understand why it was done, but it's still choppy. I'm not sure how the plot development could have been handled better, but I would have preferred something other than the jarring change.

The few problems that  The False Prince has were minor. They in no way effected my enjoyment of the book. Few books are perfect and I imagine that each book in this series will get better and better.

I can't recommend  The False Prince highly enough. It is an entertaining, hilarious, seat of your pants read for all ages. In a world crowded with fantasy adventure series,  The False Prince stands out for its fabulous dialogue, enchanting protagonist, and well developed plot.

Rating: 5 / 5