The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Title: The False Prince
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Age Group: Middle Grade
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy, book one
Star Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
The bottom line: This book was just okay for me. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't terrible either. It was kind of one note.

The False Prince begins with an orphan boy named Sage, caught stealing from a butcher. Once brought back to the orphanage, the boy meets the ruthless, conniving Conner Bevin, a nobleman with a daring plan to save Carthya from civil war: He will choose one boy out of four to try and imitate the dead prince, Sage being one of them. On this journey, Sage discovers more about himself than he realizes.

What I enjoyed:
-Sage, though sarcastic and bitter and angry, becomes a respectful, wise boy beyond his years
-Imogen
-Conner
-Roden
-Tobias
-Mott

What I didn't enjoy:
-Cregan
-The regents
-The cruel twist at the end
-The cliffhanger!

If anyone wants a great mystery with good pacing, grab The False Prince! Next on deck: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross!