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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
This book was slow for me to get into. Honestly, the first 3/4 I was feeling pretty impatient, like, "Okay, we get it. Can we just move it along already!?" But the characters were well done, and the slow pace of this one was because it was building a lot of the world and setting the stage for well developed events to come in the rest of the series. I appreciate that. And the ending was very exciting!
I chose this book because it was highlighted at the bookfair, not because I was dying to read it. I'm glad that it was highlighted. It is a fun book with a lot of little subplots running through it. This twist wasn't unexpected, but it was done in a different way, which made it seem less contrived. In the "About the Author" section at the end of the book, the author said that Sage (the main character) got some of his personality from former students of here. I felt that same way at different parts of the book. I recognized some of my former students and it made me smile. I'm interested to see how she is going to continue this series and what roles the supporting characters are going to take in resolving it.
My book club read The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen this month. We all agreed that, while this book would definitely appeal to its intended middle grade audience, it definitely doesn’t hold up with anyone older than that.
One of the things I noticed first about this book was the map in the beginning of the book. I like it when books include a map, whether it is needed or not. I definitely perused the map in The False Prince before actually starting the book. While I don’t think I needed it to be able to follow the characters’ journeys in this book, I suspect the map will become more helpful in the following two books in the trilogy. Either way, I enjoyed looking at it.
The language in this book felt more formal. There wasn’t any slang and it definitely felt more medieval with the way certain sentences were worded. Occasionally this caused the language to feel stilted or awkward to me. For the most part it read smoothly to me, though. Another reviewer mentioned that there were more modern words used in the book, which felt jarring to them. For example, the reviewer noticed the word “okay” was used. I didn’t notice this at all while I read, so it must not have stood out much to me.
The False Prince had some very serious events taking place within it. And yet, I never felt the seriousness that I should have, given these circumstances. I felt the tone was very light for most of the book, which made it hard to feel an appropriate amount of concern for what was going to happen next. I also thought that the book should have had a greater sense of urgency to it. After all, the three boys only have two weeks to learn how to act like a prince or else they’ll be killed. I never really felt worried about the boys, though. I don’t know if I didn’t care what happened to them or if I just knew that everything would work out all right in the end. Either way, I wasn’t too concerned about their fates.
There were so many inconsistencies or things that didn’t make sense in this book. For example, That just didn’t make sense to me at all. And that was just one of many things that made no sense.
Wow, I guess I enjoyed The False Prince less than I thought. I’m definitely not the target audience, though, so take my review with a grain of salt. I don’t think I will continue with the rest of the trilogy. Despite my problems with it, I’m going to give this book three stars since I think the age group it is meant for would like it a lot.
One of the things I noticed first about this book was the map in the beginning of the book. I like it when books include a map, whether it is needed or not. I definitely perused the map in The False Prince before actually starting the book. While I don’t think I needed it to be able to follow the characters’ journeys in this book, I suspect the map will become more helpful in the following two books in the trilogy. Either way, I enjoyed looking at it.
The language in this book felt more formal. There wasn’t any slang and it definitely felt more medieval with the way certain sentences were worded. Occasionally this caused the language to feel stilted or awkward to me. For the most part it read smoothly to me, though. Another reviewer mentioned that there were more modern words used in the book, which felt jarring to them. For example, the reviewer noticed the word “okay” was used. I didn’t notice this at all while I read, so it must not have stood out much to me.
The False Prince had some very serious events taking place within it.
Spoiler
Conner is preparing to commit treason, the royal family is dead, and war is looming on the horizon.There were so many inconsistencies or things that didn’t make sense in this book. For example,
Spoiler
everyone thinks Sage brought Imogen along to Drylliad to help him convince Princess Amarinda that he’s truly Prince Jaron. But everyone thinks Imogen is a mute, so how exactly is she going to convince Amarinda of anything when she can’t talk? And why would Amarinda listen to the word of a random servant anyway?Wow, I guess I enjoyed The False Prince less than I thought. I’m definitely not the target audience, though, so take my review with a grain of salt. I don’t think I will continue with the rest of the trilogy. Despite my problems with it, I’m going to give this book three stars since I think the age group it is meant for would like it a lot.
My boys (aged 7&9 at the time) really enjoyed this and were eager to find out what happens. Good suspense that kept the pages turning. Likeable and suitably unlikeable characters to love and hate
Mediocre if I'm honest. It was enjoyable but not memorable and I would have liked more from the characters.
The plot of this story is literally Anastasia. With a different, more evil antagonist (Connor is more of a villain than Demitri). It also reminded me a little of The Selection series, and The Bachelor. I couldn't get into it. Parts were exciting but I was mostly underwhelmed by how predictable the story was, in every facet. Also... a DNA test would clearly rule out all other imposters...
I loved this book!! wonderful storytelling, it reminded me a bit of The Thief in that the narrator holds a lot of information back.
With the right combination of characters, story, and writing it may have worked for me. It just never got there. And frankly, it was just too predictable.
I felt the need to explain a one star review and was trying to be fair. But I keep thinking that I spent money on this book and have to add: I am fairly surprised by the glowing reviews. There is no character development, the plot is trite, and the writing sub par. Usually with an aggregate above 4 stars, it will be a decent book. Not in this case.
I felt the need to explain a one star review and was trying to be fair. But I keep thinking that I spent money on this book and have to add: I am fairly surprised by the glowing reviews. There is no character development, the plot is trite, and the writing sub par. Usually with an aggregate above 4 stars, it will be a decent book. Not in this case.