Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
After devouring "The False Prince", I quickly picked up the second in this series, "The Runaway King" hoping that the series would continue to be as interesting and thrilling as the first. Sometimes that is not the case, but Jennifer. Nielsen did it! This didn't feel like an "add on" as some second books do, it felt like a continuation. "The Runaway King" was filled with character development from the first book, more friendship and betrayal, loyalty and character building with plenty of plot twists. The continued theme of battling for a kingdom and a throne, and the coming-of-age story were solid and excellent. I couldn't put this book down and continue through the series engrossed in the Kingdom of Carthya and a group of people, of friendships, of enemies, of those on the sidelines whose lives hang in the balance. The plot thickens with each book, keeping you intrigued while still wrapping up the main plot of the book.
As I wrote about "The False Prince", the fantasy genre is not my first choice, but these books have all the elements of the best kind of story Intrigue, secret plots, betrayal, friendship, and battling for a kingdom and a throne. In many ways, it's a coming-of-age story asking questions like what is friendship, what is character and what kind of choices you make when faced with the impossible. This is middle-grade fiction written with the skill and the thrill of an ever-changing storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
As I wrote about "The False Prince", the fantasy genre is not my first choice, but these books have all the elements of the best kind of story Intrigue, secret plots, betrayal, friendship, and battling for a kingdom and a throne. In many ways, it's a coming-of-age story asking questions like what is friendship, what is character and what kind of choices you make when faced with the impossible. This is middle-grade fiction written with the skill and the thrill of an ever-changing storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Very captivating
Absolutely loved it. Very captivating. I can't wait too dig into the 3rd book!
I totally knew it had to end on a cliff hanger, go figure lol n but now I need to get reading into the next one.
Absolutely loved it. Very captivating. I can't wait too dig into the 3rd book!
I totally knew it had to end on a cliff hanger, go figure lol n but now I need to get reading into the next one.
- Wholly cow! This story was brilliant from beginning to end! I'm never going to get over this book!
- The story starts just a few weeks after The False Prince ends, and it is a thrilling beginning. It sets the mood for the whole book, and never slows down!
- I loved seeing old friends and characters from the first book, but I adored the new people I got to meet. Harlowe was especially a wonderful addition. He is such a tender person, and I just love him. My heart ached for him and rejoiced for him.
- Erick and Fink were also fabulous new characters, and I hope we see lots more of them in the third book. Fink was a bit of a pest at the beginning, but he quickly grew on me. I liked Erick from the moment we met him. He reminds of the Erak from The Ranger's Apprentice series.
- Sage is back and he is as stubborn as ever! How can he do some of the things he does!? His character is so fun and frustrating all at the same time. I don't know whether to admire him or smack him upside the head! He probably deserves both.
- I love that Imogen and Amarinda are friends. I was so scared about there being a love triangle in this book, and there kind of is, but it is handled so well and so nobly. I love both these women! I wish there had been more of Amarinda, but she was doing her part.
- I really love the dynamic between Roden and Sage. There is so much going on in their relationship, but I am SO happy with the way things ended.
- The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but I think I might be able to live with it. What I can't live with is not being able to read more about the characters! I want to know what Jaron is scheming in his head next!
- The story starts just a few weeks after The False Prince ends, and it is a thrilling beginning. It sets the mood for the whole book, and never slows down!
- I loved seeing old friends and characters from the first book, but I adored the new people I got to meet. Harlowe was especially a wonderful addition. He is such a tender person, and I just love him. My heart ached for him and rejoiced for him.
- Erick and Fink were also fabulous new characters, and I hope we see lots more of them in the third book. Fink was a bit of a pest at the beginning, but he quickly grew on me. I liked Erick from the moment we met him. He reminds of the Erak from The Ranger's Apprentice series.
- Sage is back and he is as stubborn as ever! How can he do some of the things he does!? His character is so fun and frustrating all at the same time. I don't know whether to admire him or smack him upside the head! He probably deserves both.
- I love that Imogen and Amarinda are friends. I was so scared about there being a love triangle in this book, and there kind of is, but it is handled so well and so nobly. I love both these women! I wish there had been more of Amarinda, but she was doing her part.
- I really love the dynamic between Roden and Sage. There is so much going on in their relationship, but I am SO happy with the way things ended.
- The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but I think I might be able to live with it. What I can't live with is not being able to read more about the characters! I want to know what Jaron is scheming in his head next!
Second installment of the young, obstinate, quick-witted, rascel of a king. Sage/Jaron is still very likable. Perhaps even more than the first one. And we have an almost complete cast of return characters in various new and/or old roles.
The plot is stil simple(ish), but sometimes that's just what you need, and Jennifer A. Nielsen does it very well.
The plot is stil simple(ish), but sometimes that's just what you need, and Jennifer A. Nielsen does it very well.
While nothing will compare to my love of the first book in this series, The Runaway King was still a fun, second-book-in-the-series read. I loved watching Jaron grow and deepen as a king -- and come to rely on his friends... eventually. And of course I enjoyed the resurrection of Sage as well -- to a point though since Jaron had a difficult time being subdued. For a second book, this succeeded, and I loved the pirates. Gilbert and Sullivan instilled a deep rooted adoration of The Pirate King, and Jaron's adventure with them was fun. All the clever word play was still there in this follow up novel, and I look forward to March 2014 for the third book! (My main wish for that book would be to see more of Amarinda's character' but the ending here bodes well for that.)
The first one was better, but there still were moments in this one where I felt like screaming, "What are you thinking, Jaron!?" The story went a different way than I thought, but it still turned out alright. I still love Sage's antics.
This was definitely better than the first one! I have so much respect for Sage/Jaron. This is one of the best young-adult books that I've read. It's not often that a YA book earns the fifth star from me, but it was earned. Overall, I found the premise of the plot even more ridiculously fictitious, but the execution was actually fairly believable and well-delivered. Great job Nielsen!
I loved this book!!! I can't wait for the third book!!!!
Enjoyed it just as much the second time
That was a fun read! Simple, quick but not predictable.