The False Prince (Book 1)
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The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen is the first in her fantasy series for teen readers. Sage, an orphan, has been “purchased” from an orphanage by a nobleman, Conner, in order to be part of his upcoming scheme. Along with two other orphans, Rodan and Tobias, they are taken to Conner’s estate to begin their two week training competition to become Conner’s false prince to present to the council of Regents.
As Sage finds out, the King and Queen, along with Prince Darius have been poisoned. Prince Jaron has been presumed dead for the last four years and with the recent deaths of the royal family Carthya’s regents must crown a new king. That is, unless Prince Jaron really is alive and can claim the throne for himself. Conner’s plan is to keep Carthya from Civil War and siege from outside nations by training up a false prince to take the throne. His motives appear to be altruistic, but as Sage and the reader soon learn, Conner is more nefarious than at first appears to be.
Meanwhile, Sage, Rodan, and Tobias must compete to be chosen by Conner. Their fate is death should they not make the cut. This creates intense competition between the boys that leads to physical scars.
Parents and readers will be happy to know that this story is clean - no profanity or unsavory situations. However, there is some violence - though not graphic. There is another orphan at the opening of the book who is killed when he plans to leave the group, Sage is whipped for insolence and defiance of Conner, a soldier is stabbed by Sage, and there is a final sword battle towards the end of the novel.
Noteworthy quotes/mentions:
Sage in the opening is trying to get away from Conner and the men who have taken him from the orphanage. He slips a noose over Latamer’s neck. However, he doesn’t actually do anything to harm Latamer (15). Latamer is shot dead with an arrow by Cregan on page 22.
“You killed Latamer. So we know you’re willing to murder to win.”
“I am.” Conner backed up, speaking to all of us again. “And I’m willing to lie, to cheat, and to steal. I’m willing to commend my soul to the devils if necessary because I believe there is exoneration in my cause. I need one of you to conduct the greatest fraud ever perpetrated within the country of Carthya” (28-29).
“My father said a person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.”
“Your father was a worthless musician,” Conner said. “It sounds to me like he was both stupid and without education. And Mrs. Turbeldy told me your mother was a barmaid. I hate to think of the education she might have given you” (37-38).
Once arriving at Conner’s estate, Sage has to be thoroughly scrubbed to get all the filth of four years off of him. His servant, Errol, attempts to help him, but Sage refuses the assistance. Errol does make a joke about sending a woman in to help him (47).
There are several mentions throughout the story of having to battle the devils or the “devils have us” as the boys and Conner face the danger of what is going on (110).
Imogen is a servant in Conner’s household who is mute or presumed to be mute. Conner loved Imogen’s mother, but her mother refused Conner. Therefore, Conner forced Imogen’s mother into debt for the land she owned and took Imogen as a servant to help pay off the debt. There is a hint that he might have been interested in Imogen out of spite to her mother, but since she is mute he leaves her alone and thinks she is dumb (139). Unfortunately, Imogen does face abuse from the other servants in the household. However, she reveals her secret to Sage - that she can speak, and Sage does his best to care and provide for her throughout the story.
Princess Amarinda is visiting Conner’s estate. Sage at this point is aware of hidden tunnels in the home and is navigating through them. He is curious of what Amarinda looks like and considers using the tunnel’s access to view what she may look like by peering into her room. He is stopped by Tobias who has other plans of vengeance on Sage (166).
“Conner said he would let the devils have his soul if it meant succeeding with his plan. I had the feeling that when he did, the souls of all the rest of us would go to the devils too” (233).
“He would have secured his papers more carefully if he had known I read every word on them while he slept at night. Of course, my back still stung from where he’d cut me, and that was a far worse crime. I’d agree to forgive him if he forgave me” (274).
Towards the end, Rodan is chosen as Conner’s prince, but soon something is revealed that changes everything. The plot twist will definitely intrigue your reader and lead them to wanting book two. Book one does wrap up well but with a looming war possible the peaceful moment is not intended to last.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and did not want to stop reading. Nielsen did a great job creating Sage’s dynamic character that leaves readers intrigued and rooting for him throughout. If you are looking for a clean fantasy read for your tween/teen reader, then certainly add this one to the list.
The Runaway King (Book 2)
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The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen picks up a few weeks after the end of book one. Jaron is facing a new set of problems and most pressing is impending war. The story opens with this family’s funeral and an assassination attempt on his life that leaves him on the brink of losing his kingdom. In an effort to save his country he walks into the hornet’s nest and the outcome is far from what he expected or prepared for.
Readers who enjoyed book one will absolutely be pulled into the action and suspense of book two. Readers will remember that in book one, the pirates in Avenia were hired to kill Jaron when he was a boy. The pirates are now part of an exposition attempt on Jaron’s life when Rodan sides with the Pirates and delivers their message and ultimatum to Jaron. Rodan’s anger and hatred for Jaron is immense. Based on the news delivered by Rodan and the wound he received, as well as the impending vote to put a steward over Jaron, he leaves the castle, determined to infiltrate the pirates and save his kingdom.
Despite all the advice from advisors and friends, Jaron is undeterred from his plan. Ultimately, over the course of the novel he is successful in infiltrating the pirates, but his confrontation with Rodan leaves him with a broken leg and a constant bid for death. Jaron is hoping to turn Rodan to his side. Without this pivotal moment, Jaron’s kingdom will be lost, and he will die.
As a spoiler for parents, Rodan does choose to submit himself to Jaron who ironically also becomes King of the Pirates in Avenia. Jaron’s original captain of the guard was a traitor seeking his throne which is later revealed in the story.
Noteworthy Mentions/ Quotes:
Imogen plays a crucial role in the story as Jaron forces her to leave his castle in Carthya as a means to protect her. Per the Princess’s instructions, Imogen appears as a servant girl in the pirate's encampment. She is used as leverage by the pirates, but Jaron makes a deal for her release. There is a budding relationship with the two of them throughout the story, but in the end she leaves Jaron and refuses to return to the castle with him. Jaron is destined to marry the Princess and there can be no place for her in his life.
There are mentions about the servant girls being untouched by the men and there is a code that the men are not to touch any of the servant girls.
Imogen makes herself appear as though Jaron was trying to make advances on her in a physically romantic way twice - once when they are speaking in a cellar (188) and other when they are caught in the dark sneaking (225). This could be harmless for older readers, but I know some families may not like these references for their younger readers.
“If there was ever someone I could one day give my heart to, I had just sent her from my life forever” (16).
Another pirate makes a comment about Imogen’s beauty and likes having her around. Jaron is upset by his comment because she is “nearly half his age” (173).
“Will you choose me and humiliate the princess? Destroy the relationship with her country, our only ally?” She shook her head. “The people love her, Jaron, and they should. Choose me, and you would lose your people” (314).
Given the nature of the story, there is violence and death. Nothing terribly gruesome or detailed, but there are sword battles resulting in death. Jaron’s leg is busted with a club. In the opening scene of the story, someone puts a noose around Jaron’s neck. Raiders are killing local villagers, and Jaron receives a branding that solidifies his acceptance as a pirate.
There are periodic references throughout to the devils and their hate or help in certain terrible situations.
“I mumbled my wish for the devils to use their mischief against Devlin, rather than me. It was a fair request. The devils had spent a lot of time on me lately” (245).
Overall, I enjoyed the story. Jaron is definitely a dynamic and complex character who refuses to sit around. He is a young man of action, even if his plans are foolish or half thought out. There isn’t much in the way of Biblical integration with the story; however, one could explore his sacrificial way of trying to protect those he loves and those in his kingdom despite the repercussions to himself. In short, it is a clean story without any profanity and nothing too unsavory other than the mentions regarding Imogen and Jaron’s attempt at deception. If your reader enjoyed the first of the series, they are sure to enjoy the second as well.
The Shadow Throne (Book 3)
The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen is book three in The Ascendance Series. Opening on the brink of war, Jaron must make difficult decisions, some which he must base on deception and a cunning wit or more will be lost than just his throne and his life. Book three opens with a prologue - three weeks before the war - in which Jaron and Roden have a very public argument full of insults, dramatic gestures, and a seeming rift in their friendship. As a bit of a spoiler, but something more astute readers would expect based on Jaron’s character, this is all a ruse in order to throw off Avenia's leadership thinking that Carthya is weaker than it really is.
War is looming on every front, and Jaron sends troops to meet it. Meanwhile, Tobias and Princess Amarinda are on their way to Bymar, with Fink in tow, to seek help from her family’s kingdom in order to shore up the armies of Carthya - especially in the North. Through a turn of events less than ideal, Tobias is captured, Amarinda is on the run, but Fink manages to make it to Bymar before he is taken captive on his return journey. Meanwhile, Jaron tries to help Roden become the leader he is meant to become and then turns to attempt a rescue of Imogen once he learns that Mott himself, in an attempt to rescue her, has fallen into a trap set by Vargan expecting this very thing.
Jaron manages to help Mott and Imogen escape, but Imogen’s release is short lived and she is struck by a deadly arrow in the chest. Jaron is taken captive and tortured to surrender to Vargan. Jaron refuses to break to Vargan, but he is very much breaking inside at the death of Imogen. Captive Tobias arrives and Jaron realizes that Tobias will be tortured in order to make Jaron surrender. Through a series of events, Mott reappears and they all manage to escape.
There are many twists and turns in the story to keep the reader engaged and on their toes as to what will happen next. A visit to the pirates goes less than expected, but they do manage to keep their lives, war is fought on many fronts and while victories seem sweet, they are short lived. Eventually, in an attempt to save Mott’s life and the rest of his men, Jaron offers surrender to Vargan. He is taken to Farthenwood, which will take readers back to book one and Connor. Conner has managed to escape prison in the capital of Carthya and is working with Vargan leading up to the end of the novel. However, through a series of events, readers will be happy to learn that Conner has been helping Jaron, and he dies in service to the throne allowing Jaron to ultimately be victorious at the end, even when he is hanging from the gallows. All the key characters of the novel survive.
Noteworthy quotes/mentions:
When worried about other people sacrificing their lives to save Imogen, Jaron is upset that others seem to presume his life is more valuable than another. Amarina tells Jaron, “The value in your lives is the same, Jaron. But not the value in your roles” (22).
In trying to bolster Roden’s confidence to lead the army, Jaron tells him, “Nobody gives you respect in this life. You must take it, you must earn it, and then you must hold it sacred, because no matter how hard respect is to attain, it can be lost in an instant” (43).
There is a little more romance in this particular installment as the relationship between Imogen and Jaron’s desire for her intensifies. On page 68 when he rescues her, he has an overwhelming desire to kiss her, but he holds back. She puts her hands in his hair - a moment that he later dwells on when she is dead. (SPOILER - Jaron later sees her alive in Fathenwood). When they reunite in chapter 37, they do kiss quite a bit and Jaron desires that closeness.
“So Vargan had told me the truth about their fate. Hearing the news again didn’t lessen the sorrow I felt for their loss, or my regret that I didn’t achieve more for the price of their lives” (116).
“Life has tested your resilience and strength and willpower, and you have succeeded in ways nobody ever thought possible. But the storm has never been worse, and it will either destroy you, or define you” (166).
There are a few mentions in the story of devils and saints. Jaron prays for the saints to be with him in battle. He mentions feeling like they were with him at different times.
When taking the weakest men in his army to fight a battle on horseback, Jaron tells them before the fighting begins, “You have legs, and strong backs, and best of all, you have brains. Never stop thinking, never stop looking ahead and making your plans. As long as you think, you will survive” (215).
As Jaron is contemplating his surrender to Vargan he thinks in his mind, “Sacrificing oneself so that others might live was the ultimate act of love. That was what Mott had wanted me to understand, and now I did” (255).
In chapter 40, Roden and Jaron are hung at the gallows, but spoiler - they survive. Depending on the sensitivity of readers, this scene could be a concern.
Thinking upon Conner and when he turns on Vargan and dies helping Jaron, “Maybe he was, but he had also just saved my life. Conner had died much as he lived, in the grayest shadow between right and wrong” (309).
In the end, Vargan is killed by his own commander - Kippenger.
I really enjoyed the third book in the series, and I look forward to reading book four and five. While Jaron is cunning and deceptive, he is also extremely self-less and caring of the people he is to lead. He is deeply hurt by every loss of life in his army, which ultimately sets up good character traits and theme discussions for students and families. The main characters in relationships also get married, which adds another element to the importance of family and those relationships. For parents looking for good YA fiction, this series is certainly worth looking at.
