The False Prince

From Goodreads:    The False Prince is the thrilling first audiobook in a brand-new trilogy with danger, deceit, and hidden identities that will keep listeners hanging on to the edge of their seats.

NARRATOR: Charlie McWade
FORMAT: 7 CDs, Unabridged

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. Three 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.

My Thoughts:

-    I loved listening to this book!  It was just as fun as reading it.

-    The narrator has a nice voice.  I think it is the same guy that does The Percy Jackson series.

-    I learned and noticed new things the 2nd time through the story.  I was looking for clues and viewed Sage a little different, so it was really fun.  

-    Even thought I knew what was going to happen, I was still surprised.  I still felt like I didn't know which characters to trust and like or dislike.  

-    I loved the extra stuff at the end.  There is a deleted scene at the end about how Jaron challenged a king, and there is a interview with the author.  

-    I decided I really like the twist at the end.  In my first review, I didn't like the twist and I wanted treason and fraud and stuff, but I decided I really liked it, and it is better the way it is.

-    I'm really excited about the 2nd book.  Nielson talked a little bit about the next book, and I'm excited.  I don't like the prospect of the love triangle though.  

My Original Review

Fire

Goodreads Description:   She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to loveFire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.

My Thoughts:

-    It wasn't too interesting to read, but it was good to listen too.  I couldn't just sit and read this story, but I enjoyed the audio book while I played Zuma.  

-    I liked the narrator's voice.  It was strong, but feminine.  

-    The prologue is interesting.  It was cool and sad to see Leck's Grace evolve.  I really want to know what happened to him between the time Fire lost him and when he becomes King.

-    This story moves a lot slower than Graceling.  It was mostly politics and hearing about the war. 

-    Besides Leck, there really wasn't anything that tied this world and the Graceling world together.  It was like reading about 2 separate worlds.  

-    The family relationships were crazy!  It was like watching a daytime talk show.  Who is the father?  That child is illegitimate!  You slept with who?  blah blah blah!

-    Fire's character was interesting.  She was really strong, but had a lot of doubts.  She had a lot to think about, and she had a pretty hard life.   I would not want to trade places with her.