The False Prince

Summary

Sage is an expert at stealing, twisting the truth, and insulting people who deserve it. He has to be, to get by as an orphan in the land of Carthya. But one day, a mysterious man comes to collect Sage, offering a chance at a completely new way of life.

The royal family has been assassinated, and nobleman Bevin Conner believes that the only way to avoid the kingdom's collapse is to present the long-lost prince Jaron to be the new ruler. One of the boys he has taken must become the new king and spend the rest of his life lying to the entire world.

Sage has no desire to be king, but as the boys frantically prepare for an unexpected future, he begins to realize that the stakes may be higher than he thought. The boys who lose the contest can't be trusted with such a dangerous secret. If Sage doesn't win the throne, he will lose his life.

Why I love this book

This is one of my all-time favorite novels, and it's primarily because of the plot. Nielsen is a master of suspense and surprise, making it hard to put down the book once you've started reading it. The plot twist at the end of the novel will delight any reader.

The characters are well developed and memorable. Even very minor characters have a personality that makes them seem real and significant. And Sage shines brighter than any of them, narrating his story with such a unique voice and sense of humor that he seems like a friend. It's impossible not to empathize with Sage and his friends as you get to know them.

I also think this book serves as a great transition from children's novels to longer action-packed books with more complex themes. Vivid scenes activate readers' imaginations, and subtle details about characters and events encourage attentive reading. This is the kind of book that makes kids eager to read more.

Potential concerns

Sage is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, but he's not a stellar role model. He is rude and sarcastic toward both enemies and friends, he deceives others, and sometimes he steals things. To his credit, though, I think Sage rightly values justice, a selfless regard for others' well-being, and the truth. He dodges a lot of questions but almost never directly lies. And at the end of the book, as well as in the series, he proves himself to be a very good friend.

Readers should also be aware that this book contains some violence, including beating, cutting with a knife, and murder or the discussion of murder. The violence is neither unnecessarily gruesome nor overly casual, but a few scenes may be upsetting to sensitive readers.

Support a local bookstore or get The False Prince from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.