The False Prince (Ascendance Trilogy Series #1)

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Overview

In this first book in a remarkable trilogy, an orphan is forced into a twisted game with deadly stakes.

Choose to lie...or choose to die.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545284141
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/2013
Series:	Ascendance Trilogy Series , #1
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	3,735
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.38(h) x 0.82(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Jennifer A. Nielsen is the acclaimed author of THE FALSE PRINCE, the first book in the Ascendance Trilogy. She has also written The Underworld Chronicles, a humorous middle-grade fantasy series. Jen lives at the base of a very tall mountain in northern Utah with her husband, their three children, and a perpetually muddy dog.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The False Prince

"A page turner...." – New York Times Book Review

“Sage proves to be a compelling character whose sharp mind and shrewd self-possession will make readers eager to follow him into a sequel.” – Wall Street Journal

“This kickoff to her new “Ascendance Trilogy” is a swashbuckling origin story. . . . Sage is a quick wit, and Nielsen showcases it with terrific dialogue…chock full of alluring details for adventure-loving boys.” – Los Angeles Times

\\“Sage is deftly characterized through humorous first-person narration, quickly establishing himself as a beguiling antihero. . . . First in the "Ascendancy Trilogy, this is an impressive, promising story with some expertly executed twists.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Nielsen has written a terrific story that carries readers along to the very (surprising) end and will leave them clamoring for the next book in her trilogy.” – BookPage, featured “Top Pick” review

“The False Prince is more Harry Potter(minus the magic) than Hunger Games…with authentic characters, a convincing sense of danger and a genuinely high-stakes plot. . . .” – Hollywood Reporter

“Sure to appeal to middle-grade readers, The False Prince is an imaginative, plot-driven adventure story with a classic feel. . . . Readers will be turning pages feverishly, especially toward the climax of the novel. Deception and betrayal abound!” – RT Book Reviews

“The delight of Nielsen's story is the discovery of the true motivations of all the characters in a fast-paced plot with plenty of action, mystery and violence.” – Columbus Dispatch

“The False Prince is a gracefully written fantasy that flows from beginning to end without a hitch. . . . In addition to dynamic characters, Jennifer Nielsen has created a plot with twists and turns in all the right places.” – Deseret News

“Ruthless ambition, fierce action and plotting, complex characters and lots of sword play and hidden passages keep pages flipping. Readers of this multifaceted, well-crafted tale will eagerly await Sage's further adventures.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Fast-paced and exciting, this book will appeal to readers who enjoy intrigue mixed in with their adventure. . . . Full of machinations and surprises, this book will keep students reading until the last page and eager for the second in the trilogy.” – School Library Journal
“A sure-fire mix of adventure, mystery, and suspense.” – The Horn Book

From the Publisher

This highly enjoyable medieval fantasy from Nielsen (the Underworld Chronicles), set in the medieval kingdom of Carthya, centers on 15-year-old Sage, an angry and pugnacious orphan, who is unexpectedly purchased by Conner, one of the king’s regents. The entire royal family—king, queen, and heir—has recently died under mysterious circumstances, and to prevent civil war, Conner is collecting orphans who might believably be substituted for the dead king’s younger son, who was reported lost at sea years earlier. Sage is soon engaged in a deadly, winner-take-all contest with two other boys to earn the right to impersonate Prince Jaron. Sage is deftly characterized through humorous first-person narration, quickly establishing himself as a beguiling antihero: “I’d never attempted roast thievery before, and I was already regretting it,” he says when readers first meet him. “It happens to be very difficult to hold a chunk of raw meat while running.” Secondary characters are equally fleshed-out. First in the Ascendancy Trilogy, this is an impressive, promising story with some expertly executed twists. Ages 8–14. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Sage is a fourteen-year-old boy who lives in an orphanage in the kingdom of Carthya. Can a wealthy aristocrat named Conner rescue him from his pauper's fate? Sage learns that although Conner has purchased him from the orphanage, his fate is not secure. Conner has a bold plot to train three orphan boys to impersonate Carthya's lost prince. Due to the treasonous nature of his plot, only the boy who can best impersonate the lost prince will be allowed to live. Will Sage be able to overcome his obstinate nature and his penchant for finding trouble in time to win the crown? While the basic premise of the plot is sound, the first half of the book leaves much to be desired. The setting of Carthya is not chronicled in enough detail for readers to feel like they have really entered this fictional world. In addition, a number of the characters feel too basic and undeveloped. Many young adult readers may abandon this book because they are not able to understand the characters' motivations within the first one hundred pages. While the end of the book takes a surprising turn and neatly ties things together in an unexpected way, many young adult readers will not expend their energy toiling through the pages to get to the rewarding ending. Although this book may not be the best fit for the average young adult reader, students who like fantasy with kings, queens, castles, and power struggles may find this book worthwhile. Reviewer: Erika Sogge Schneider

VOYA - Erika Sogge Schneider

Mystery, intrigue, adventure, it is all here in Nielson's page turning story. Four orphan boys are "rescued" from misery by a mysterious man named Connor. What does he want with these orphans? Readers learn and each boy also learns how important it is to be the chosen one. They have two weeks to prove their mettle and a tough two weeks it is. They learn everything from reading, to fighting with swords to horsemanship, dancing and etiquette. It is not a bed of roses and one of the boys suffers more than the others—what makes Sage so rebellious and yet in many ways so clever? The story twists and turns as we wonder what will happen next. Betrayal, murder, treason, success—it is all there. For a good reader this book will probably be consumed in one sitting. For reluctant readers, there is enough action to make them want to keep on reading to work their way to the end. The ending has still a final twist and while it is a satisfactory closing, the story begs for a sequel. It will be interesting to see if Nielsen is going to write one and if it will be as gripping as The False Prince. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Gr 5–8—No one knows that the king, queen, and heir to the throne of Carthya are dead. Conner, a king's regent, chooses three orphans to vie for the role of Prince Jaron, the remaining heir, presumed dead, but whose body has never been found. In two weeks, Conner plans to reveal that he has found the missing prince. The boys are thrown into a brutal rivalry, knowing that if they are not chosen, death will soon follow. No one's true intentions are clear, especially those of wily Sage. One of the orphans, he subverts authority at every opportunity, yet never gives up his quest to become the pretender to the throne. On the day of the announcement, a truth is revealed that changes everything for Conner, the orphans, and especially Sage. Fast-paced and exciting, this book will appeal to readers who enjoy intrigue mixed in with their adventure. Although the twist at the end is predictable, the events that precede it are not. The characters' motivations may not always be clear but they remain consistent. Full of machinations and surprises, this book will keep students reading until the last page and eager for the second in the trilogy.—Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL

School Library Journal

A brazen 15-year-old orphan living in the imaginary kingdom of Carthya becomes embroiled in a treasonous power-play to install a false prince on the vacant throne. For years, Sage has survived by lying and stealing in Mrs. Turbeldy's Orphanage for Disadvantaged Boys. When scheming Bevin Connor removes him, Sage assumes he will serve Connor, but he quickly discovers he's one of four orphan boys chosen by Connor for a more dangerous game. Connor plans to secretly transform them into gentlemen and select one to impersonate Prince Jaron, who is missing and presumed dead. Carthya's current king, queen and crown prince have been murdered, and war could erupt at any moment. When the regents meet in two weeks, Connor plans to produce long-lost "Prince Jaron," who will rule as his pawn. Competition becomes fierce as the boys realize the one chosen to play Jaron will be the only survivor. Sage's disdain, defiance and reckless arrogance mark him for failure, but his boldness, instinct and innate decency indicate there's more than meets the eye. Could Sage become Prince Jaron? Sage reveals his story in the first person in slowly unfolding layers guaranteed to shock. Ruthless ambition, fierce action and plotting, complex characters and lots of sword play and hidden passages keep pages flipping. Readers of this multifaceted, well-crafted tale will eagerly await Sage's further adventures. (map) (Adventure. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews