“The False Prince” is a strong stand-alone novel. It takes a great amount of skill to make all of the elements of such a story work. And even though I figured out one of the key elements prior to it being revealed, I still found myself utterly caught up in the story. There’s a strong story here - one filled with adventure, mystery and intrigue. The other young men are also well-developed, as are Jennifer’s supporting characters. Indeed it’s imperfections that help him stand out. Sage is a bright young man who is instantly likeable. It’s a bold story that practically leaps off the page. But make no mistake “The False Prince” is not a copycat. In many ways “The False Prince” reminds me of “The Prince and the Pauper.” In both cases, boys are asked to take on roles and responsibilities far beyond what they’re prepared for. There’s more to Prince Jaron’s story than even Connor knows, and when the truth comes out, it could be more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.

In the end, it will come down to one key piece of evidence. Sage knows he must win, and he knows the other boys feel the same. If he isn’t chosen to play the prince, his life will most certainly be forfeit. Sage is defiant and quietly questions Connor’s motives. It is through Sage’s eyes that the story unfolds. One boy is quickly out of the running, leaving Tobias, Roden and Sage the only competitors. They will have just two weeks to prove themselves up to the task. Four orphans are “recruited” for the role. Lord Connor, one of the lesser noblemen, has a plan to unify the people and the country, but his plan is also treason.Ĭonnor’s plan - find a young man similar to the king’s long-lost son and convince court that he is Prince Jaron. Most of the country’s 20 regents care more about becoming the king themselves than protecting their actual ruler. The country of Carthya is fractured to the point of failing. That’s why I recently returned to the book and now feel capable of sharing my thoughts on it. Some books I had to shelve completely, but my thoughts kept coming back to Jennifer’s tale of a missing prince and the boy who would be him. It’s been five months since I first read “The False Prince.” It’s taken me that long to get back on track and fairly - although not completely - caught up.

But even through my fragmented reading, I could tell her book was special. Because of that, my experience with Jennifer A. My eyes were temperamental at best and I could only read in short 15-minute spurts. “The False Prince” was the first book I read following eye surgery in March. “ The False Prince: Book 1 of the Ascendance Trilogy,” by Jennifer Nielsen, Scholastic, April 1, 2012, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)

The false prince hardcover