“The False Prince” is a middle-fantasy adventure book written by Jennifer A. Nielsen, featuring Sage as the main character. It is book one of the Ascendance series, which consists of three books. The series was originally meant to be a trilogy, but two more books were added to expand the world and story.
As a young adult fiction story, “The False Prince” and the rest of the Ascendance Series became Nielsen ‘s most popular book series.
With the country of Carthya near the brink of a civil war after the deaths of the royal family, a nobleman by the name of Conner plans to take advantage. Taking Sage and two other orphans, Roden and Tobias, Conner plans to choose one of them as his puppet prince. The three boys must compete against each other in order to be chosen for Conner’s plan. Throughout the story, the boys must decide between friendship or permanent enmity.
Sage’s narration and characterization throughout the book allow teens to feel more connected with him. He battles with morality and what is best for himself while also having a cunning and sassy personality. Without falling into the Mary Sue trope or being too morally good of a character, Sage remains an empathetic character for the readers to root for. The story immediately launches you into the action of the world and allows the world-building to seem natural rather than being relayed in an upfront manner that feels out of place.
While “The False Prince” is an impeccable story, the other books in the series do not provide context for certain aspects of the plot. Characters in “The False Prince” have more fleshed-out stories that make the reader feel connected to them and their successes. Later books in the Ascendance Series do not provide backstories or motivations for certain characters, making them feel out of place or like filler characters when they are still main characters. The story, however, still stays true to prompting the reader to think about Sage’s morality.
Overall, “The False Prince” is an action-packed story about deceit, blurred lines, and suspense.
Available almost anywhere you can read books, “The False Prince” is perfect for fans of “Throne of Glass,” “The Thief,” “Princess Academy,” and anyone who would enjoy a sarcastic protagonist navigating hostile politics under a disguise.
