The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen | Book Review

(I like this cover, and I like that all three books in the trilogy have coordinated covers.)

Throwback Review!

I originally read this book in January 2013.  I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads and didn't write any review.  But January 2013 was only a year ago and I still remember that I really enjoyed this book.  I remember that I offered it up in many Readers Advisories.  I can't believe I didn't write any review!  I so highly recommend this book.  It's marketed to middle grade guys, but don't listen to them.  I'm an adult gal and I loved it.  Go read it.

Here's the plot summary from Goodreads:

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.

This plot summary kind of says it all:  it is an action-packed book filled with so many plot twists and turns.  And I love the main character, Sage.  He's a fun-loving little trickster!  It is a middle-grades book, so the violence isn't too violent and there's no tender loving.  And there's this great twist/reveal at the end of the book that I didn't even see coming.  Just a fantastic book that I want lots of people to go read!