The pairing this week is self-explanatory. It's all in the title. But these books are not to be confused. They are very different, and I liked one much more than the other.
The False Princess
by Eillis O'Neal
Read: September 2011
Published: January 25, 2011 by EgmontUSA
Source: Library book
Category: YA - Fantasy
Sent to live with her only surviving relative—a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece—Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. Then she discovers that magic runs through her veins—long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control—and she realizes that she will never learn to be just a simple village girl.
Sinda returns to the city to seek answers. Instead, she rediscovers the boy who refused to forsake her, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor’s history forever.
To be fair, there isn't really anything major that I disliked about The False Princess. I read the book and thought it was okay. But if I'm being honest, it bored me in places. There was too much thinking and planning and not enough action. I thought that it took too much time to move the characters from one place to another, which made the plot feel like it was plodding along at times. It’s not that I need dramatic scenes everywhere (and sometimes I like a quiet book - see previous review), so I'm not sure what didn't work for me about this one. Maybe it's that I was expecting something different in a fantasy story.
Also, Sinda and Kiernan came across rather young to me. I know they’ve been friends since childhood, but there was a huge disconnect for me in their progression from friendship to love. I wanted to sense the change, even in subtle ways. But I just didn't feel it.
I do like this cover though.
Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Rating: 2.5 stars
The False Prince
by Jennifer A. Neilsen
Read: May 24-25, 2012
Published: April 1, 2012 by Scholastic
Source: Library book
Category: YA - Fantasy
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.
Despite the two downfalls of (1) a cover that looks like it was created in clip art, and (2) sharing an almost identical title to The False Princess, which I liked less than half as much, The False Prince is an EXCELLENT book.
I have a soft spot for middle-grade fantasy books starring boys, and Sage is right up there for me with Percy and Harry. Although this story is high fantasy - it takes place in a different world/kingdom - it doesn't involve magic, which was actually a relief for me. Though I do love the paranormal, I just happened to think that this story works better without its added complication.
In The False Prince, Sage is an orphaned street urchin who gets caught up in a plot to take the throne. He's charming, mischievous, clever and only 14. (Makes me feel old and unaccomplished.) Although he doesn't always make the best decisions, he's brave and compassionate, especially, to the less fortunate. This made me want to root for him even more. Schemes and intrigue abound, and this book had me hooked from start to finish. I can't wait for the next one.
Sage is by far the character who stands out the most in this story. I actually wish that a few others were a bit more memorable than they were written. But there are some secondary characters that I really liked, including one that I suspect will be the story's love interest for Sage. Though there's no romance in this book, only the beginnings of a connection.
Love Triangle Factor: N/A
Rating: 5 stars
I'd seen you mention The False Princess, but this is the first time I've ever actually read anything about it. Meh--moving on to the good stuff! :P
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you loved The False Prince, I'm right there with you. I love this type of fantasy...I can take 'hard' fantasy too, of course, but something like this is always just so refreshing. Sage was a wonderful character, and I can't wait to read the next book. Although the cover is admittedly worse.
Yeah, Princess is definitely one to skip. I wish I could rewind all the bad books I've read so I don't waste my time on them. But I love discovering treasures like The Lost Prince. I'm really excited to see where the series goes. I love Sage as well, and I can't wait to see how he develops.
DeleteI haven't read The False Princess, but I loved The False Prince too! I've been too lazy to write a review of it, but I agree with you about Sage. He is definitely what I remember the best...and what I'm most looking forward to seeing in the sequel!
ReplyDeleteYES! Sage is so great. I can't wait for more of him. I see big things to come. I'm looking forward to watching his character develop.
DeleteI have to get my hands on The False Prince, everyone raves! And it looks like another great MG book me and my older son could share:)
ReplyDeleteDon't we all wish we could rewind time and replace those crappy books with great ones! That's one reason I have no issue DNFing a book that just isn't doing anything for me. Way too many awesome books out there to waste on the sucky ones:)
YES! A great boy book. Though I'm so bad with age recommendations so you might want to read it first. But it seems on par with Harry and Percy.
DeleteI'm so bad at DNF'ing books. I get involved in the characters and HAVE to see what happens. Though I'll admit a couple of times I've finished the first book and couldn't go on, but wanted to know what happens, so I looked online to see where the plot goes. I don't feel bad about that.
Oh wow The False Prince comparison to Percy = I will be checking it out soon for sure. It's already one that I want to read but the cover has kept me from reading it so far. You know how I am about that.
ReplyDeleteSince it is MG and comparable to Percy and Harry, if my girls have read Percy and Harry do you think they could read this one too? I mean, in terms of appropriateness? Does that make sense?
I know. I don't usually notice covers, but this one is SO BAD. I don't know what they were thinking??? I'm pretty certain that you will LOVE this book.
DeleteYes. I think it's on par with Percy and Harry. BUT I am so bad with age appropriateness so my surgeon general warning is always READ IT FIRST. I do know there is one death that Sage witnesses and a torture scene, which isn't too graphic (tho it happens). That is all I can remember that might be difficult to take. No language or inappropriate relationship stuff. I'm bad on noting the level of writing, but I think it would be fine.
Gotcha. Thanks! I do always try and read what they're reading anyway, especially now as they're getting older.
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