Review: The False Princess

The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal

Summary: Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia’s led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it’s revealed, 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 of Vivaskari, her best friend, Kiernan, and the only life she’s ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins – long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control – she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor’s history, forever.

My Thoughts: Ahh, fantasy books, how do I love thee …

Seriously. Every time I read a really good fantasy book, I’m reminded just how much I love this genre. I need to read fantasy more often …

Anyway. In case you can’t tell, I loved this book. LOVED it. I got it from the library, but I MUST OWN it! So good, so fun, and so lovely.

I want to be more specific, but I fear spoiling some of the bigger surprises …

I felt the book started out kinda slowly, but I think it’s more me getting back into the fantasy mindset. There’s a lot more world-building in fantasy literature than there is in many of the other books I’ve been reading lately. More background, more descriptiveness – more words. Less dialogue. More explanation. But not explaining so much you can’t get into it. Getting into this story is a simple thing. Once it picks up, it moves faster and faster and faster. There’s a great, amazing whirlwind, then it’s over. All loose ends are tied up (YAY!) and I was left very pleased. Very pleased.

Favorite Quotes: There were a lot of really good snippets in this book, but I can only share so many …

“How can you be nervous? Don’t you see? We’re in a library.” ~ p. 172

I think all of my book-loving buddies out there know exactly why this made me smile!

If I thought being kissed by Tyr had been what kissing was all about, I had been wrong. This kiss trampled Tyr’s kiss, threw it to the ground, and danced on its grave. ~ p. 220

I just loved this. Love how descriptive it is, and how witty. That must’ve been some kiss, huh?

“Nothing’s really changed since then, except that now any children we have might be wizards themselves, and I’ll be hopelessly outnumbered.” ~ page 318

The comment about being outnumbered just cracked me up!

Source: My local library.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for the 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge and iChallenges 2011.

Find me on Goodreads.com >>

This review is part of Book Review Party Wednesday.
This review is part of Book Review Blog Carnival.

FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.