Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The concept was interesting and I really enjoyed the first half of the book because our main character was so funny and his stubborness amused me lol.
But I kinda lowered my rating because the plot in the last half was weird, and so does the plot twist. It felt like another 2010-YA fantasy series tho.
The execution was so poor, and I feel it could've been better. It has potential, I mean.
But I kinda lowered my rating because the plot in the last half was weird, and so does the plot twist. It felt like another 2010-YA fantasy series tho.
The execution was so poor, and I feel it could've been better. It has potential, I mean.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
I don't normally bother to write reviews, but in this case, I felt I had to clarify my rating. I would like to make it clear that this is not a bad book exactly... and yet... it fell sort of flat for me.
Unfortunately for The False Prince, I have already read the Queen's Thief Series (Megan Whalen Turner) and enjoyed it immensely, so it was hard to ignore certain plot and character similarities even though I don't feel it to be derivative at all. Snarky young thief gets plucked from obscurity by a noble guy with sketchy motives for a dangerous plan tied to royal intrigue. Then there's the noble's henchmen with a soft spot for the thief and two other boys along for the ride to create some interesting relationship dynamics. Also, unfortunately, for The False Prince, the Queen's Thief did it better. Sage felt like a watered-down version of Gen until maybe the final fifth of the book when he started to show a little something. I also feel that the major twist in The False Prince was quite predictable and not handled as well as in The Thief, and overall, Turner's world building just proved stronger for me.
Having said that, I do feel Sage has room to grow into a more compelling character as the series progresses, and the plot hopefully branches out a bit into some different territory. Nielsen's writing style and the ending hold just enough interest for me to pick up the next one, especially since it's a quick read.
Basically, me not loving this book is entirely my own fault, so don't let my rating dissaude you from reading it. I'm sure that if I hadn't read the Queen's Thief, I would have enjoyed this a lot more instead of spending most of the book missing my best friend Eugenides.
Unfortunately for The False Prince, I have already read the Queen's Thief Series (Megan Whalen Turner) and enjoyed it immensely, so it was hard to ignore certain plot and character similarities even though I don't feel it to be derivative at all. Snarky young thief gets plucked from obscurity by a noble guy with sketchy motives for a dangerous plan tied to royal intrigue. Then there's the noble's henchmen with a soft spot for the thief and two other boys along for the ride to create some interesting relationship dynamics. Also, unfortunately, for The False Prince, the Queen's Thief did it better. Sage felt like a watered-down version of Gen until maybe the final fifth of the book when he started to show a little something. I also feel that the major twist in The False Prince was quite predictable and not handled as well as in The Thief, and overall, Turner's world building just proved stronger for me.
Having said that, I do feel Sage has room to grow into a more compelling character as the series progresses, and the plot hopefully branches out a bit into some different territory. Nielsen's writing style and the ending hold just enough interest for me to pick up the next one, especially since it's a quick read.
Basically, me not loving this book is entirely my own fault, so don't let my rating dissaude you from reading it. I'm sure that if I hadn't read the Queen's Thief, I would have enjoyed this a lot more instead of spending most of the book missing my best friend Eugenides.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very quick read. Really enjoyed it.
Second time around 2022
Audio. Just as good as the first time. I love a smart and devious protagonist. Very like queen’s theif.
Second time around 2022
Audio. Just as good as the first time. I love a smart and devious protagonist. Very like queen’s theif.
Really boring. The writing is too juvenile for my liking, but that was to be expected. I cannot take the plot seriously as it feels like a child wrote it. The villain is ridiculous. The author tries too hard to make the characters interesting and funny. the scene where Conner kills Lamater was useless and laughable. It looks like the boys were affected by his death and scared for their lives, but only for 3 sentence. By the beginningof the next paragraph they seem to have forgotten it. Why is Conner telling people that he is at the orphanage at the king's behest? The truth will always come out and his actions seem dumb. Supposedly in the past the prince fought the king and almost won. At 10. In what universe? The political intrigue is silly. There is no subtlety, no intrigue. Everything is explained, the readers aren't making any connections themselves. I have read some reviews and the plot twist is completely obvious even as of right now. Also this book is allegedly very similar to the thief. I have no desire to pick this back up and even if I finished it would be forgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No