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Book Title:  The False Prince (Ascendence Trilogy #01)
Author:      Jennifer A. Nielsen
Number of pages:  342

Synopsis:

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point—he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.

(re: Goodreads @ The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Competitive premise; tautly written page-turning narrative and palatable action sequences
– Low fantasy featuring historical/medieval undertones (no magic or anything as of now) and a politically driven conflict
– World building may not be descriptively vibrant if you’re used to intricate magic systems etc.
– The protagonist walks around with a a witty “better than you” swagger. Likability factor depends on the readers opinion on grey characters that aren’t “good” for the sake of being a hero
– Romance is a bit of instalust and/or love triangle but is not the focus at all.

Initial Thoughts

Good ol’ MG Fantasy pick-me-up.

Continue reading [Review] The False Prince — Jennifer A. Nielsen →

Book Title Half a King
Author: Joe Abercrombie
Number of pages: 336

Synopsis:

Betrayed by his family and left for dead, Prince Yarvi, reluctant heir to a divided kingdom, has vowed to reclaim a throne he never wanted.

But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself – all with only one good hand. Born a weakling in the eyes of a hard, cold world, he cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he has sharpened his mind to a deadly edge.

Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast, he finds they can help him more than any noble could. Even so, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, traps and tragedy…

(re: Goodreads @ Half a King by Joe Abercrombie)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Familiar fantasy setting that draws from medieval influences
– Protagonist feels like a teeny bopper version of Tyrion Lannister of Game of Thrones fame
– Plotting/twists can be predicted with the right skepticism but the provocative writing, clever dialogue, and well-paced action made for an enjoyable experience
– A coming-of-age tale with complex characters who are not pawns to the protagonist’s story
– I would imagine Abercrombie’s grocery list is quite eloquent…