The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1)
Written by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Narrated by Charlie McWade
4.5/5
()
Currently unavailable
Loyalty
Survival
Deception
Betrayal
Coming of Age
Secret Identity
Chosen One
Lancer
Hidden Royalty
Fish Out of Water
Mentor
Hidden Identity
Political Intrigue
Hero's Journey
Mentor Figure
Identity
Power Struggle
Power
Family
Loyalty & Betrayal
About this audiobook
More audiobooks from Jennifer A. Nielsen
The Runaway King (The Ascendance Series, Book 2) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Captive Kingdom (The Ascendance Series, Book 4) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Series, Book 3) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uprising Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Night Divided (Scholastic Gold) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lines of Courage Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Resistance (Scholastic Gold) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Words on Fire Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Shattered Castle (The Ascendance Series, Book 5) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mark of the Thief (Mark of the Thief, Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rescue Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Scourge Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rise of the Wolf (Mark of the Thief, Book 2) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Iceberg Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Behind Enemy Lines (Infinity Ring, Book 6) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Deadzone (Horizon, Book 2) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wrath of the Storm (Mark of the Thief, Book 3) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1)
Related audiobooks
The Shattered Castle (The Ascendance Series, Book 5) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mark of the Thief (Mark of the Thief, Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Deceiver's Heart (The Traitor's Game, Book Two) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rise of the Wolf (Mark of the Thief, Book 2) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Traitor's Game (The Traitor's Game, Book One) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wrath of the Storm (Mark of the Thief, Book 3) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Scourge Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Warrior's Curse (The Traitor's Game, Book Three) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Night Divided (Scholastic Gold) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Resistance (Scholastic Gold) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lines of Courage Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Iceberg Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Behind Enemy Lines (Infinity Ring, Book 6) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rescue Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Mutiny in Time (Infinity Ring, Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Trap Door (Infinity Ring, Book 3) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Words on Fire Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Blackthorn Key Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Curse of the Ancients (Infinity Ring, Book 4) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Deadzone (Horizon, Book 2) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Divide and Conquer (Infinity Ring, Book 2) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unwanteds Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Blood Guard Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A World Without Heroes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glitch Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cave of Wonders (Infinity Ring, Book 5) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Horizon (Horizon, Book 1) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Warp in Time (Horizon, Book 3) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sky Raiders Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dragon Slippers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Children's Fantasy & Magic For You
Coraline Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Magician's Nephew Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Howl's Moving Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Heir (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 1) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fortunately, the Milk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Chocolate Touch Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Graveyard Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silver Chair Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Girl Who Drank the Moon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Battle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prince Caspian Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Coraline: Full Cast Production Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Finisher (Vega Jane, Book 1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warriors #1: Into the Wild Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Septimus Heap, Book One: Magyk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wind in the Willows: Classic Tales Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Looking Glass Wars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cinnamon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Odd and the Frost Giants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The School for Good and Evil: Now a Netflix Originals Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The School for Good and Evil #2: A World without Princes: Now a Netflix Originals Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warriors #2: Fire and Ice Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shadowseer: London (Shadowseer, Book One) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/520,000 Leagues Under the Sea Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1)
1,135 ratings115 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be full of action, adventure, and plot twists. The characters are loved and the writing draws readers in. While some found the beginning slow, the story explodes with surprises. The book is recommended for those who love adventure and danger. Overall, readers consider this book to be one of the best by the author and highly enjoyable.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very good, Some sneaky and smart plot twists. 12+ and up-
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was listening to this book only as something to listen to to go to sleep. Well that didn’t work! This book kept me up anxious for what would happen next! I can’t wait to listen to the next in the series!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I started reading this as a preview for my kids and I loved it!! The author is a great storyteller, and the story holds your attention and surprises you!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved the book! Enjoyed the plot. The False Prince is very well-written, and interesting! If you're thinking about reading it or listening to it I believe you should! The book is a 10/10!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This had me finding excuses to go to work early just so I could listen to more of the story. I loved it!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I liked the plot twists
Sage seemed annoying at first but made up for it in the end! Would recommend - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a good book, maybe one of her best ones yet!!! One of the best authors ever!! loved the characters!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/54.5 stars!! To be honest I just tried this book cause I'm bored, but once I started I got hooked. This book is really good!! I love the characters and the twist of the story. Worth the time. I also love the voice of the narrator
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5If I could give this book 100 stars I would. I love all the characters and I listened to it within a week. Totally recommend if you love adventure and danger.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This feels like the Brandon mull series, anyone feel me?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book had so many twists and turns with the characters, plot and direction it had my head spinning! Love all the unpredictability
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This fast paced book had me hooked from the first couple of pages. It's almost impossible not to root for Sage from the very beginning-- the underdog always has a certain appeal. And the ride he took me on, where I read almost the entire book in one day, was well worth it.
Perhaps it's because it was intended for a younger audience, but the chapters could have been a bit longer. A few more details, particularly on how the different countries were developed and what differentiated them, could have been useful. I know next to nothing about what makes Carthya special, nor what really separates it from Avenia. A few notations here and there could have gone a long way.
The characterization could have been stronger, but it sufficed. I sympathized heavily with Sage and could easily grasp his emotions and conceive them as my own. The dramatic setting, along with the emotional involvement, was dead on.
The major quibble I have is that the plot twist wasn't much of a twist. While I was both hoping and dreading the idea of Sage being Prince Jaron, I feel the story suffered from it being true. I would have much more enjoyed a tale where Sage *wasn't* Jaron, where it *couldn't* be wrapped up so neatly, and seen how the author had handled it from there. I would have liked to have seen Sage suffer with Conner underfoot, knowing that he, along with Roden and Tobias, knew the truth. And seen him trying to hold the throne all the while aware he could be deposed easily.
Nielsen has set the stage beautifully for the next book. Civil war, along with war from two other countries, looms heavily in Sage/Jaron's future. For a boy who's been out of the loop for four years, this could be a very daunting prospect. It'd be good to see whether all of his father's regents trust him, both on the idea of him coming out of nowhere to reclaim his throne and based upon his past, reckless behavior. Is the boy king, who was reputed to be the "bane" of his father's reign, up to the challenge? Has he changed enough in the four years he spent as Sage to successfully navigate both the throne and the regents who want his spot? Moreover, what about those other "Prince Jarons", pretenders to the throne? Will they resurface?
The False Prince raises some very interesting questions and I look forward to seeing how Nielsen handles Jaron's reign. I also look forward to seeing when the next book comes out, because there's no word yet on it. It's a shame. This excellent, fast paced book will hook readers...and leave them begging for more. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I am very two-minded about this book. It was a delightful, enjoyable read, but it only felt worth it after I had finished it; whereas, while I was actually reading it, particularly the middle, it felt like most of the content was just—i think unnecessary is the best word. But then again, after the conclusion, I really felt as though I had just read a lovely book. After a long while of endeavoring to understand my own feelings, i make the following conclusions (and this is going to be detailed, and I can’t promise there won’t be mild spoilers):
What made me like the book so much was the hero, even though the story itself was somewhat simple and predictable. Sage is one of the best heroes I have experienced of late, simply (or else not so simply) because of how complex and fascinating and unique he is. From the get-go (although he could be somewhat annoying at times), he pulls you into his plight. Where the plot doesn’t need a lot of figuring out, this was compensated by the intricacy of the main character; the whole time, you try to figure him out, and even when massive twists come that reveal things about him you would never have guessed, you still feel like you know him. So that provides most of the stars for me.
Another downer for me was the fantasy; what I want in a fantasy book is simply to be able to immerse myself in another world of wonder; i call it my literary wanderlust; i really felt as though this was just another pseudo-medieval/European, swords and castles, kings and queens, kind of fantasy; the loss of newness and originality was a bit disappointing. This is by no means a world you can thoroughly immerse yourself in.
Moving on, the characters, as implied, are well developed. In this kill-or-be-killed situation, you really get to appreciate the few ‘good’ characters there are, although I as a reader did get kind of lonely for Sage because of how few friends he had (that’s definitely something I missed in this book, that stalwart friend whose shoulder he could cry on, helping and encouraging the hero on; there was one or two, but they’re almost as angry and irritated with Sage just as frequently as everybody else). And then there’s the antagonist! He makes your blood boil and so makes you will Sage on all the stronger! Conner is clever, crafty, dangerous, and unpredictable. A noteworthy antagonist.
Furthermore, one of the best parts was the conclusion; if ever you feel like putting the book down, persevere! The twists are lovely and stunningly executed. You are left satisfied, and yet curious and excited to get to the next book.
Other than that, I have already said that the plot was somewhat predictable and hard to get through in spite of the luxuriously short chapters. You really lose all sense of the magnitude of the dire and ominous circumstances/setting of the plot (namely the pending danger of treacherous regents, angry enemy countries, and a land without a king) amid the semi-sloggish nature of the bulk of the book.
But it was by no means unpleasant; but it had the potential of being a much more epic book (although I get that this is a series).
But that’s my five cents, and if you have gone through the trouble of reading this review, i hope it was helpful??. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5AWESOME, recommended by an 11 year old. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love vileness in books and romance and danger.
Alli - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Really enjoyed this book. Found myself loving the surprises around many corners. Great characters you love and hate. A bit slow at first but the story explodes. Great book - I recommend it!!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not a very good reader. Good plot that made me want to know the ending but characters were not well developed and parts of it dragged on and on.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5OMG!!! Best book ever! I read a lot of books and this is in my top five! I won’t spoil it but, I will say..... a poor orphan named Sage is taken to a regents house, Bevin Conner. The king, queen, and their son have died. Bevin Conner takes in four orphans to teach one to become the youngest of the two princes, who was supposedly murdered by pirates.The fate of the boys not chosen is harsh and may be death. Roden, the strongest of the two boys becomes Sage’s friend. Tobias is arrogant and hot headed. He threatens the two boys and makes plans of his own. Latimer is sickly and weak.He may not even survive a day a Farthenwood, Bevin Conner’s estate.Sage is a bold boy. He will not let anyone have control over him and has a funny habit of rolling a coin over his fingers. When Sage is around things tend to go missing, but he is never proven a thief. Which orphan will become the youngest prince Jaron? What date awaits for the failures? Read this and find out.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It’s full of action and adventure, I absolutely love the way the writer gives you enough to know about the main character but you learn unexpected new things about the character. The writing draws you in and, I will personally recommend it to people
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5VOYA - Erika Sogge SchneiderSage is a fourteen-year-old boy who lives in an orphanage in the kingdom of Carthya. Can a wealthy aristocrat named Conner rescue him from his pauper's fate? Sage learns that although Conner has purchased him from the orphanage, his fate is not secure. Conner has a bold plot to train three orphan boys to impersonate Carthya's lost prince. Due to the treasonous nature of his plot, only the boy who can best impersonate the lost prince will be allowed to live. Will Sage be able to overcome his obstinate nature and his penchant for finding trouble in time to win the crown? While the basic premise of the plot is sound, the first half of the book leaves much to be desired. The setting of Carthya is not chronicled in enough detail for readers to feel like they have really entered this fictional world. In addition, a number of the characters feel too basic and undeveloped. Many young adult readers may abandon this book because they are not able to understand the characters' motivations within the first one hundred pages. While the end of the book takes a surprising turn and neatly ties things together in an unexpected way, many young adult readers will not expend their energy toiling through the pages to get to the rewarding ending. Although this book may not be the best fit for the average young adult reader, students who like fantasy with kings, queens, castles, and power struggles may find this book worthwhile
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5No me enganchó en realidad, no creo continuar con la serie.
Aunque la autora claramente deja asuntos inconclusos con la idea de alargar la serie, no son lo suficiente interesantes, en mi opinión, para que despierte interés por los siguientes libros. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Exciting book
Love it very adventurous to read and Loren too - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved the story. Sage is a great character with lots of potential. He is clever and strong willed. Sage and Connor's relationship is one of partnership and victim. Sage has the upper hand in the end.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Perhaps this really deserves 4 stars, as I couldn't stop listening once I got started! The plot was somewhat predictable but otherwise this was an enjoyable adventure/fantasy story about a nobleman plotting to put an orphan on the throne in the guise of the missing (and presumed dead) prince after the rest of the royal family has all died from poisoning. Sort of a YA boys version of the Yule Brynner movie Anastasia...
Charlie McWade does a fine job with the narration. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The PlotThe False Prince is the story of Sage, a 14-year-old orphan struggling to survive in the fictional kingdom of Carthya. At the opening of the book, Sage is purchased by Conner, a wealthy nobleman. Conner also purchases three other boys similar in age and appearance to Sage. The boys aren’t sure of the reason for Conner rounding up orphans, but they know it’s probably not good.Soon, Conner reveals his plot: he intends to groom them to impersonate Prince Jaron, lost prince of Carthya, so that one of them can take over the throne and save the kingdom. They will have two weeks to transform into Jaron. One of the will be selected for a future of luxury and power. The other three, Conner implies, will not have much of a future at all.Through the two weeks leading up to Conner’s selection, Sage and the other boys struggle to learn all the skills and knowledge befitting a prince, from swordplay and horseback riding to reading, table manners, and the history of Carthya. Their competition is fueled by the knowledge that not being chosen by Conner will result in a fate worse than any they faced in their previous lives as orphans.My ThoughtsThis book was so much fun to read. It was a refreshing change of pace from many of the other books I’ve been reading lately. The False Prince is a witty and engrossing story that doesn’t have a ton of action or adventure, but has plenty of intrigue fueled by engaging characters.Sage narrates the book in the first person, but he only ever lets us know as much as he wants us to know. So there were several surprises throughout the course of the narrative, when Sage finally decided to clue us into a past action or motivation.I loved the characters in this book. Nearly all of them were nuanced, with no clear-cut bad guys or good guys (at least until the end). Even Conner, with his devious and treacherous plot, keeps you guessing as to his true motivations. And while Sage starts out disliking his fellow princes-in-training, he eventually forms a tenuous friendship with them as we understand that they, too, are just 14-year-old boys that are in over their heads.As for Sage himself, he was clever, witty, and reckless. He was frustrating at times, but what 14-year-old boy isn’t? It was exciting to see the story unfold through his eyes. And although Sage is indisputably the hero of this story, he has definite weaknesses and flaws, which is kind of refreshing. Too often I think male protagonists are just good at everything, and it gets annoying. Sage can indeed be annoying, but it’s not because he’s The Awesomest Ever. It’s because he’s a kid, and kids can be kind of annoying. But he was also likable and charismatic, and I was completely rooting for him.And the story…I just loved it. It’s a fairly simple story that takes place almost entirely in the same setting (Conner’s estate). But the challenges the boys face, the constant threat of what Conner will do with the boys who are not chosen, and the slow revealing of the nature of the royal court of Carthya, made this book hard to put down.Actually, it was impossible to put down. I thought I was going to put it down and go bed, and then a huge twist completely woke me up. So I wound up reading the entire thing in one day.Although this is the first book in a trilogy, the ending wraps up the events in this book neatly. So you won’t find yourself frustrated with a cliffhanger ending. I kind of hate when a book ends on a cliffhanger, then I have to wait months (or more) to find out what happens. This one is open to sequels, but doesn’t need a sequel for you to feel satisfied.I’d recommend this book to anyone, be they young teens or adults, male or female. It’s easy to read, totally engrossing, and left me feeling utterly content and happy at the end. Needless to say, I am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book book awesome! Can’t wait to start book 2.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I very much enjoyed this book. It had shades of David Eddings in it. Sage reminds me a little of Silk. This is supposed to be a trilogy but I think this first book is great even as a stand alone.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5While the supporting characters were a tad stereotypical and predictable, overall this book is a big win. Shelved by my library as YA (perhaps since the main character is 12), this book seems more suitable for the younger end of the "Middle grade" audience.
Reading as an adult, I predicted the big twist about 1/3 of the way through. It will be interesting to see if my fantasy obsessed, precocious reader son (currently in 3rd grade) also predicts the big reveal.
I can see why people compare The False Prince to The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. Of the two, I prefer The False Prince. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Slow beginning. But ended good.. good book all in all.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Once you have exceeded the number in which it can be viewed you can’t listen to it. I am 97 and I want to listen to this book again I can’t so sad oh If you don’t believe me I am saying my son writes these for me I just tell him what to say I am 97 and I am blind and I am to poor to purchase books with braille. So sad ? I can’t listen to the books fox this or I will unsubscribe