The False Princess

Loved It!

It's as simple as this: I LOVED (and I mean LOVED) The False Princess. It's one of those books that has it all- an intriguing plot that constantly leaves you guessing, a strong, relateable main character, swoon-worthy romance, and fantastic writing.

The False Princess starts on the day when Nalia, princess of and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, finds out the most unsettling news of her life. For one, she isn't the princess of Thorvaldor, instead she's the false princess, put in place to keep the real princess safe for the first sixteen years of her life. Her real name is Sinda. And to top everything off, she's sent away from everything she knows (and her best friend) to live with an aunt she doesn't know. Her new life is filled with loneliness and longing for the life and and friends she's left behind, but she soon finds out a secret- one that puts her life and the whole kingdom's in danger. Soon enough, her and her friend Kiernan are off to fix everything. But can she truly fix everything before it's too late? Especially when an old acquaintance stands in her way? And what about her friend Kiernan? Does she like him as more than a friend? Only time will tell in this deeply engrossing tale that fans of Kristin Cashore and Gail Carson Levine will gobble right up.

One of the favorite parts of The False Princess was the setting and the plot and how they worked together to make the book fabulous. The setting was the classic fairytale one. It had the queen, the king, and the usual commoners associated, and what I liked most about it was seeing how it played along with the plot. And with saying that, the plot of this was made of awesome. I loved the idea of a false princess and the deceit and lies that came with it. I adored seeing how Kiernan and Sinda worked together to piece every little secret together to save their world, as well as how during this time something more began to form between them.

Moving on, as I'm sure you can already guess, I loved the characters! Sinda was someone who was strong and smart... someone who would go to the end of the world to save everything, no matter how she may feel about it at the time. And best of all, she felt real to me. Her emotions were ones I feel anyone in her place would experience... loneliness, anger, and sadness about how everything in her life turned out. And best of all, instead of letting those feeling consume her, she moved on and change everything. I also loved her relationship with the sweet and charming Kiernan because it truly was the perfect topping to this book.

In all, Eilis O' Neal has a real winner within The False Princess, and I truly can't wait for its release date so that everyone can see how well-written and addicting this novel is. I can only hope Eilis will have the chance to revisit this world in future novels.

Grade: A+

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Tangled webs, tangled spells

he False Princess is certainly a welcome addition to those of us who loved Ella Enchanted and stories reminiscent of fairy tales. Sinda narrates with an ease that I had no trouble with following, despite her talent of tripping over her feet and causing the fountain water to boil. After finishing Troubled Waters with a more-than-resilient heroine, it is interesting to note that while Sinda could hardly make a sustainable stew or run a household smoothly, she still was made of stubborn stuff - and once she found her new niche in the world, she probably would do well enough. After living a pampered life as a false princess, who could expect anything more without giving her a little more time? The False Princess was an unexpected delight with tangles that I found myself happily caught up in! Just when I thought things were settling down for Sinda, the story twisted once more and sent me racing for the next page. The ending left me breathless in a good way, though sad that it had to end at all. I certainly hope Ms. O'Neal has more in store for us in Thorvaldor!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great read for young adults!

I would like to know if there will be a sequel. Interesting storyline.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Ashley B for TeensReadToo

Nalia is living the life of a princess, heir to the throne of Thorvaldor. Just after she turns sixteen, though, everything changes. She learns that she is not Nalia. Her name is Sinda, and she was a stand-in for the real princess. A prophecy stated that the princess was in danger, and therefore was sent away, a false princess to reside in her place. Sinda must now leave behind the only home she has ever known. She is sent to live with her only relative, a cranky aunt, in a small village. Soon, she notices changes in herself - she has magic. Magic that needs to be controlled, for it has been pushed down deeply inside of her. She returns to her home city of Vivaskari and becomes a wizard's scribe. Her employer also becomes her tutor. And upon her return, she uncovers a secret that could change Thorvaldor forever. THE FALSE PRINCESS was directed more towards the younger crowd, I think. It reminded me a lot of stories written by Shannon Hale, and the storyline had a great plot. It kept me wanting to read more. There were so many twists and turns, as well. I definitely would suggest this both to fans of Shannon Hale and just novels on princesses in general!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Decent read! worth a look see

I'm so glad I read this book. It got me back into reading the Fantasy genre which was certainly lacking. What can I say, but that I really enjoyed reading this book. The fantasy isn't heavy handed, it's light, and the magic system is simple and easy to understand. The background history and information of the setting is mentioned throughout the book so the reader isn't left confused but with a general understand on the layout of the land.

I was upset when Sinda learns of her origins and is sent away. What in the world was that about??? it's like they just casted her out like an overused toy. That got to me! and what's even worse is Sinda just walks along with it. I realize she's really powerless to do anything, but she could have at least put up a fight. The main issue I had with her as a character was her tendency to hesitate, at the wrong times. She was just wishy-washy at times and it got frustrating. Keep in mind, I did like her though, it was just this part of her character that just did not go well with me. Throughout the book she did develop into a stronger person and I enjoyed reading her relationship with Philantha. Philantha is an interesting teacher, although the way she teaches is different than what you might expect from other magic users. I certainly took a liking to her the moment she decided to take Sinda under her wing, Philantha wasn't afraid of what others thought of her. That was admirable, but in a sense I think that gave Sinda a bit of a backbone to grow.

I fell in love with Kiernan. I absolutely loved him as a character. Some characters you just fall for. This is one of them. Not only was he such a great friend, but even after arguing horribly with Sinda, he still managed to forgive her. I fell for him when he came to find her. That just hit me and I thought to myself this guy has just become awesome in an instant. Kiernan and Sinda did make such great friends, of course naturally as the story progresses, you can feel the chemistry between the two of them grow and although obvious of the outcome, it's still nice to see the two of them together.

The plot of the book was good although the mystery and intrigue did not happen until you read further into the story. It wasn't bad as you're literally set up with a good slap in the face in the first chapter. The pace of the book was steady although you do experience a bit of a lull when Sinda is with her Aunt. Yet it's a welcome lull to what's in store for the reader throughout the later half of the novel. The ending was also really good yet I can't help but wonder if there is going to be a sequel with this one. If there is, I would not hesitate to pick it up. I would love to read more about Sinda, and about Kiernan of course!

This book was a decent read with a simple and easy to understand magic system, a nice well written fantasy world with characters that aren't overly complex but not the most simple either. Perfect for YA readers who want a decent story, with subtle fantasy that isn't over done.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

review taken from One Book At A Time

There's always one. You know that book that totally surprises you. I have to say this is probably the best young adult book I've read since Anna and the French Kiss. And I LOVED that one.

Sinda jumps off the pages. I enjoyed the brief glimpse we get of her as a princess. I think she would have made a great one and a great Queen. Sadly, we know we aren't going to get that. I was upset with the way it was handled when the truth came out that she wasn't the real princess. How can a girl who's been pampered and educated her entire life be expected to become the exact opposite. And you have to giver her credit, because she really does try. But, then the magic comes rushing into her life and she knows that she might not survive if she doesn't learn how to control it.

I liked that she moved back to the city. She felt so out of place out in the middle of nowhere. I like that she chooses a misfit magician to teach her about magic. And my favorite part is her rekindling her friendship with Keirnan. For a change, it's the boy next door that wins out. He's the perfect blend of friendship with the development of romance. He will literally do anything for Sinda and it shows through out the story.

I appreciated that the story wasn't just about a princess scorned, or magic, or even just about love. There's a 16 year old mystery buried within this story. Sinda must figure it out for the good of the entire kingdom. That education is put to good use and she unravels all the clues. Turns out she's not the only false princess, and the villian will stop at nothing to keep the real one off the throne. It's also a story about vengeance years in the making.

It was a fantastic book that I almost gave a 5 too. Why not... well it dragged just a little bit in the middle. But, the book is well worth your time!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The False Princess

A kingdom, a princess, maybe two or three, magic, adventure and romance are some of the elements represented in: The False Princess. The story begins the day Nalia AKA Sinda discovers her life has been a lie; the kingdom she thinks to belong to is a mirage and she has only been a puppet to protect the real princess from a terrible prophecy. Without that much emotion from whom she believes are her parents, she's sent out of the castle to live with the only relative she was not aware of and live the life she was NEVER prepared for even if it means leaving Kiernan behind. I was trapped inside this story and captivating would be a word to describe it. I liked the world where the story is narrated, making me want more. It's so rich and impressive that prequels and spinoffs would not be bad idea at all. I'm impressed that in O'Neal's world, it speaks for itself. There's no need for the characters to tell Thorvaldor's stories. In character developing terms, O'Neal enjoys of certain "magic"; the characters, even those whom you'll only get glimpses from will make you fall in love and want to know more from them. Our narrator Sinda is simply exquisite; she's funny, strong and has a free spirit. This girl's on top of my favorite characters. When she receives the news of not being who she thought during her entire life and that the circumstances she's about to live are not the ones she's used to; she won't lay down and cry, on the contrary, her courage and determination pushes her forward. It's refreshing to see this type of heroine in YA Literature. The story's even more interesting with every chapter and Sinda's journey as an ex princess, common girl to wizard is interesting. The romance is adorable and I loved it. The False Princess, the story of a "princess" who doesn't own a crown but possesses the courage and determination to save a kingdom.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Fun Fantasy

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia has led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when she learns, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city, her best friend, Kiernan, and the only life she’s ever known. Sent to live with her only surviving relative, a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. Then she discovers that magic runs through her veins – long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control – and she realizes that she will never learn to be just a simple village girl. Sinda returns to the city to seek answers. Instead, she rediscovers the boy who refused to forsake her, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor’s history, forever.

For sixteen years, Nalia had been raised as the princess of Thorvaldor, but one day she learned that her real name was Sinda and that she was part of a complicated plot that would change the future of her country forever. The concept was very intriguing and the emotional aspects really kept the story going for me, but you do get A LOT (almost too much!) thrown into the tale: old magic, royal conspiracies, dark wizards, rocky family history, abandonment problems, sneaky religious acts, oracle prophesies, and much much more. It almost felt as if there were different plot lines running throughout the entire story, but overall it was interesting and an okay read. The setting (be it castle or country-side) was fascinating to me and Nalia/Sinda's torn feelings about her "injustice" was gut-wrenching to witness as times but the end-result worked out well for Kiernan's ultimate plan which was sweet and satisfying. Lots of twists, heartbreak, and supernatural elements come to life in The False Princess - so, expect a bumpy but enjoyable ride.

Likes: Kiernan's perpetual feelings toward Sinda after her sudden separation from the royal family was very sentimental and charming.

Dislikes: The three-hundred-year-old map of the palace grounds about the secret location of King Kelman's Door that Sinda and Kiernan discovered at the very beginning was a big flop (very un-climatic!) for me. I had high-hopes that it would become more central to the whole tale, but when it finally came into play near that end . . . I kept asking " That's it! " I wanted more to it: more magic, more historical importance, or even more of a pivotal role in the whole story.

Tons of magic, suspense, and romance

I loved the book!! What I liked most about it was that the plot had a huge twist that I didn't expect at all. This left me wanting to read more about the story. Ultimately, I loved the magic, betrayal, romance, suspense, and adventure that this book had to offer. :)

ENJOYABLE!!!!

This was such an enjoyable book with such an original plot! I've never read anything like it and I seriously recommend it. This book really keeps you interested and is not as predictable as most books of this genre. It is just the best book I've read in a long time. READ IT!!!

A great story for everyone.

What a fun fairytale! It has many twists and surprises. I love the character development and how the story unfolds. Each main character has to deal with a major change in their life and must decide who they are and what they will do with their life from that point. There is even magic to add to the intrigue.

A great story, but has an inapropriate cover

This is an excellent story. I highly recomend it except for the cover.

I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I absolutely LOVED this book.I like everything about it.I especially loved the part where Keirnan kissed Sinda.This book was awesome and Im gonna read it again!

Noooo

Waste of money

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mad

It is not doenloading grrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

a novel twist

Nalia has lived a life of privilege, as the princess and heir to the throne. As her 16th birthday arrives, however, she learns that she was merely a stand-in for the real princess. As The False Princess, Nalia (now Sinda), must leave everything she has ever known. Poor and without the ones whom she grew up loving, she is left with a choice - turn her back on those who did the same to her or follow her upbringing and save the crown.

Debut author, Eilis O'Neal has twisted the typical Cinderalla story in an entirely new way. With well developed characters and a novel idea, the book is one of quiet strength.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Finally! A truly smart captivating princess story!

Teens: "The False Princess" is for you! You want a book where you can't predict what will happen next, right? You want a book that doesn't get too violent or sexual. You will want to read straight through this book just because the characters are all interesting, colorful, and provoke your imagination. Sinda is just like you: gutsy, intelligent, thinks quickly on her feet, and doesn't settle for the easy road. Not when the hard curvy exciting road beckons.
I'll be waiting with anticipation for more works by Ms. O'Neal. She certainly writes what teenagers like and need to read - interesting stories with twists, tumbles, and turns!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

3 1/2 Stars

3 1/2 stars:

I liked this book. It has all the elements of a good story: action/adventure, fantasy, mystery, and romance. The main character, Sinda Azaway, was relatable and likable- though not a cookie-cutter character- she had her faults. Kiernan was a great character, and a great love interest for Sinda, as he was almost completely her opposite, but it worked with them. He was sunshine and joking to her somewhat gloomy and serious nature. Her whole journey throughout the book is exciting and fast paced. And the mystery and the twists and turns throughout that book were excellent. There were only a few things that bugged me. One was the expression Eilis O'Neal repeatedly used throughout the book, "She felt ice go down her spine", or "Ice ran in her veins". You would think the author could come up with different phrases for fear. Two, Sinda would be strong one second and then the next she was so scared she was shaking (she's scared and shaking A LOT in this book), I wouldn't have minded but it happened so many times that it was kind of ridiculous. Finally, the ending/climax of The False Princess took forever to get to, that with about 30 pages to go I started skimming. Overall, the book had its faults, but it was a good, imaginative story that will keep you flipping the pages despite them.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The False Princess

I can not wait until it comes out! The False Princess looks like such a good books for princess-lovers!

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A beautifully written debut you just can't miss!

The False Princess has made it onto my teensy-tiny list of favorite books. When I started it, I wasn't sure what would happen. When I was nearly finished with it, I wasn't sure what would happen. Nothing was predictable at all. It's not one of those books with so many unpredictable turns, you just end up with a headache. No, this was perfectly planned and well-written, from start to finish. The False Princess is one debut you have to add to your list of books to read right away.

The story begins with Nalia, Princess of Thorvaldor, being summoned to a hall to meet her parents - the king and queen. They rarely call her to that particular hall, so Nalia is confused and very uncertain of what awaits. She stands before the throne and listens in horror as her life is thrown away. Nalia - or Sinda Azaway - is not the princess. Small bits of her appearance was altered by magic to make her look like the real princess, who the king and queen have hidden away because of a prophecy that claimed she would be murdered in court. Cast away with nothing but the clothes on her back and a small sack of money, Sinda has to live with an aunt who doesn't even want her. She's angry, distraught, and unsure of what her life means anymore. As a princess, she knew what her life meant, now, there isn't any meaning.

Soon, her anger means more than just anger. She has magic. Inside her, bubbling uncontrollably, wanting to spew out whenever she throws a fit. The magic can be useful to her in many ways, if only she knew how to use it. Fate takes Sinda back to the city (close to the palace), where she learns a terrifying secret. One only she and her best friend knows, one that could change the fate of Thorvaldor forever.

The False Princess is full of suspense. The first fifty to sixty pages weren't as gripping as the rest of the book, but as you will see, it was worth it. I love the setting - the land of Thorvaldor, the characters - Sinda, her best friend Kiernan, and the others, and the length of the book - it was just right. It never dragged on and on, nor did it just end abruptly. If you're looking for a book that will send you off to a far away land and capture your heart, pick up The False Princess. Anyway, how can you not pick up a book with such a pretty cover?