The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

👑The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen 👑

Book #1 in the Ascendance series. 

Blurb: 

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.

My thoughts: 

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

Tropes and things you’ll like:

🗡️ Mistaken Identity 

🗡️ Found Family 

🗡️ Slow Burn Romance 

🗡️ Hidden Backup Prince 

🗡️ Dangerous Competition and Secrets 

🗡️ Political Intrigue 

🗡️ The Competent Rogue 

  

AHHH MY MIND!! 

WHAT WAS THAT?!! 

 I think my mind is still trying to wrap around that whole plot twist called an ending.. like it’s been weeks and my brain is still processing 🤯🤯

This book just proved how good of a writer Jennifer Nielsen is! 

Like.. that plot twist that I did NOT see coming?! 

Yeah you heard right.. I didn’t even think about that being a possibility! 

And I feel like listening to the audiobook for the first time ever reading it made it SO MUCH better and I also give the narrator an A+ because I thought his voice was perfect for Sage. 

And just so I heard right.. [Major Spoiler] 

Sage is Prince Jaron and Princess Jaron is Sage??!!

~ Sage ~

Honestly he’s my favorite. Smart, Clever, Sarcastic, Humble but had confidence, Brave but yet not scared to be afraid, Kind… 

Great Qualities right?  He would make a great king one day, just sayin. I loved how we got to know him but I have a feeling that there’s a LOT more to know about him as we continue the series. 

Also, Team Sage and Imogen ALL THE WAY! 

~ Conner ~

Ugghhh.. I loathed him, really. 

~ Rodin ~ 

Too full of himself.. no thank you!! 

He deserved what he got by the end. 

~ Tobias ~

Didn’t like him at first BUT ☝️ he grew on me by the middle-ish part of the book and I started thinking “no no don’t kill him! He actually was starting to do some good!!” 

~ Imogen ~

We didn’t get to see a lot of her.. but we got to see enough of her to see her compassion ,and sweet and quiet nature. 

I can already see me loving her in the near future! 

I could not recommend this book enough!! I need the second book ASAP 😭🥲😅

A fantastic book full of action, fantasy, a 15th century feel, and politics!! That being said, IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS YET.. PLEASE GO READ IT!! 

⚠️ Age recommendation: 12+ ⚠️

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ages 10-12 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ages 13-14 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ages 15-16 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sexual Content:

 2 cheek kisses, a couple of embraces, and very light touches. Some slight noticing, and thinking someone is pretty. A mention of marriage, an arranged marriage, and the crowned prince having to marry the girl Jaron was promised to. A tiny bit of dancing but mostly practicing with older women. A girl nurses Sage’s wounds on his back. A tiny bit of emotions and feelings but it’s very vague and  only hints at it. 

Profanity: 

No cussing. 

Stupid was said i think. 

Violence: 

Some blood, killing, murder, fighting, sword fighting,  threatening, getting cut by a knife, seeing someone die, Sage used to steal. 

Pain. Getting whipped and beaten. 

All of this is pretty moderate and definitely normal for a fantasy book. (PG) 

POV’S: 

(In 1st person) 

-Sage 

252 pages