The False Princess

Mar 23, 2011

Vinaya rated it

Shelves: books-i-liked, fantasy, ya-fantasy

I hereby declare that people should stop reading so many YA paranormals and begin to read YA fantasy! The genre has some really good literature that is slipping under the radar thanks to multi-million dollar deals about flowers and demi-gods. Pish!

Eilis O'Neal's The False Princess interested me from the day I first read the blurb for the book. I finally managed to get my hands on a copy, and it's lived up to my expectations. Plot, writing characterization — they were all up to the ma...moreI hereby declare that people should stop reading so many YA paranormals and begin to read YA fantasy! The genre has some really good literature that is slipping under the radar thanks to multi-million dollar deals about flowers and demi-gods. Pish!

Eilis O'Neal's The False Princess interested me from the day I first read the blurb for the book. I finally managed to get my hands on a copy, and it's lived up to my expectations. Plot, writing characterization — they were all up to the mark, and the thing I really liked about this book? It's a stand-alone. No threads are left hanging, in the hope of a multi-book deal, and for a change, I finally got to read a book with a satisfying ending!

Nalia discovers on her sixteenth birthday that she is not the crown princess of Thorvaldor, as she has been told all her life. A prophecy made to the king and queen upon their daughter's birth foretold that the princess would be killed before her sixteenth birthday. In order to avert this dire fate, they decide to hide their child and secretly replace her with a baby from a common family. Thus Sinda, the replacement baby, became Nalia and lived a lie for sixteen years.

Sinda is sent away from the palace almost immediately after being told the truth. She goes to live with her aunt, a dyer, who is unprepared to make place in her life for a niece who has been bred in luxury. But even as Sinda resigns herself to her fate and tries to fit in in the small village, she discovers that she may not be entirely insignificant after all. The beginnings of strong magical power sends her back to the capital Vavaskari, where she ends up becoming a scribe to an eccentric Master wizard. She also reunites with her best friend, Kiernan, and it is this reunion that changes Sinda's life yet again, as she discovers that things at the palace may not be so cut-and-dried after all.

The mystery parts of this story were well-handled. From Sinda's initial discovery to the hunt for the culprit and the eventual confrontation with the baddie, the story moves smoothly and quickly. But although the mystery is one of the important elements of the story, it is not the crux of it. This book is a chronicle of Sinda's growth from a pampered but submissive princess to a strong, confident young woman.

What I liked about Sinda is that she wasn't always the easiest of characters. Like every normal person, she has uncharitable thoughts, she loses her temper on occasion, she feels insecure and unworthy, especially since she has lost her entire identity. But although she managed to irritate me at points, I never disliked her. She's a perceptive, introspective character who doesn't mind taking a good, hard look at her own flaws, and this was something that made her journey towards self-realization a lot more meaningful.

The relationship between Sinda and Kiernan felt a little unequal to me; I guess it always happens in a story where one character knows much sooner than the other that they are in love. There were too many points where Sinda seemed to be taking advantage of Kiernan's love for her, without ever acknowledging that it was there. But eventually, when she had to go to him, I think the balance was sort-of redressed.

I felt like I would have liked the interpersonal relationships in this story to be a little more elaborate. The queen sent away the child she had reared for sixteen years, but received in her place the child she had borne. It would have been amazing if we'd gotten a glimpse into her life, and how she reacted to the situation. Most of Sinda's relationships, except possibly that with her aunt, are lightly touched upon; the complex undertones that ought to underlie such relationships are missing, leaving a void.

The False Princess, for me, was not a WOW! book. I liked it, a LOT, but I wasn't blown away by it. But I would definitely recommend it as being worth a read, especially for people who like character-driven fantasy. (less)

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Nov 09, 2011

Terri rated it

This sounds so much like the Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook. Other than being the exact same plot...

I liked this one much better than Dawn Cook's book. I didn't find myself having an extreme dislike for the main character. And I love the interactions with the main love interest. I hope to have someone make a smile burn across my face someday. :D

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Aug 11, 2011

Erin rated it

Recommends it for: the Y half of YA fans

Shelves: reading-challenge, own, fantasy, love-geometry, no-sleep-tonight, plot-twist, little-romance

It was very, very difficult for me to rate this book. Before even opening it, my expectations were at a 3-star level. The first hundred pages or so were super enjoyable, so I started raising it to the 4 range. But after that my interest almost completely disappeared. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars, but as you can see I went with three.

Well, that was an interesting anecdote. If you can't tell, I am not exactly thrilled to be writing this review. When books don't elicit much of a...more

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Jul 07, 2011

Kailia rated it

I love fantasy. After reading so many different books about fantasy worlds and fantasy characters, I’ve been dying to get my hands on something really good. I heard about this book A LONG time ago and I’ve been waiting for it to be ready for reviewing. When I got my hands on it, I read it immediately. I was looking for something good. Eilis O’Neal delivered.

In most fantasies, a lot of the plot and story are focused on explain the world and how everything works. While this is a good i...moreI love fantasy. After reading so many different books about fantasy worlds and fantasy characters, I’ve been dying to get my hands on something really good. I heard about this book A LONG time ago and I’ve been waiting for it to be ready for reviewing. When I got my hands on it, I read it immediately. I was looking for something good. Eilis O’Neal delivered.

In most fantasies, a lot of the plot and story are focused on explain the world and how everything works. While this is a good idea, it’s not always the most fun stuff to read about. It was not the case with this book. O’Neal took her time explaining everything about this world and its people. It was not at all loaded because everything had its own time to be revealed. Oh the secrecy! And the twists and turns and the seemingly predictable plot. Believe me, O’Neal thought this plot out through because just when I thought I knew who it was or what was happening, BAM! Something would come in and change all of that.

O’Neal has a great clear cut writing style that takes time to develop but it’s not too fast or too slow; it’s just right. She writes her characters to be believable people and people we can relate to even though they live in a fantasy world. She gives her characters a defined voice and is able to write it that way throughout the novel. The False Princess is a great start to a wonderful writing career!

Now if I found out that I wasn’t the real princess but rather a poor girl in the real princess’s place, I’d freak out. Actually, “freak out” doesn’t even begin to cover what I’d be doing. Sinda, though, takes it so well. She’s struggling yes and it’s upsetting, but she realizes early on that that’s not going to help her. If she’s going to figure out what’s going on, she’s going to need to be calm and collected. She knew what she wanted and she knew how to get it. She grew up never changing what she believed in and I was happy when after the reveling, she didn’t change her beliefs. Kiernan was a great friend and he’s always there for her. O’Neal doesn’t jump to the two of them falling right in love but she takes time to develop their relationship as Sinda and Kiernan, not Kiernan and the Princess. He was a great character who was well developed and come on, there was romance, GOOD, well written romance, so of course I loved it. I think you will to! J

One of the best fantasies’s of this year so far and one of my favorite books, The False Princess was a well written book. It had great characters, romance, danger, surprises, twists and turns, sword fighting, a bad guy; it had everything! If you’re looking for a good fantasy, check this book out. Of course, if you want to just read something worthwhile, this is also the book for you! I’m looking forward to anything else O’Neal writes!

(less)

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Oct 08, 2011

Ashley rated it

Shelves: want-to-own, blog

Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal is the story of Nalia, a 16 year old princess who finds out shortly after her birthday that she is not the princess after all. After a prophecy that stated the princess could die before her 16th birthday, the king and queen and their trusted magical advisors secretly switched the true princess with a peasant to keep her safe. Now that they have reached 16, the princess will live, ...moreOriginally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal is the story of Nalia, a 16 year old princess who finds out shortly after her birthday that she is not the princess after all. After a prophecy that stated the princess could die before her 16th birthday, the king and queen and their trusted magical advisors secretly switched the true princess with a peasant to keep her safe. Now that they have reached 16, the princess will live, and it is now safe to bring the princess, who has no idea who she is out of hiding. This means that Nalia, or rather, Sinda must leave. She is sent with no training or preparation to live in a small village with an aunt who believed her dead, and was happy to keep it that way. But it would be too easy to end our story there. There is far more in store for Sinda. She just has to wait.

The False Princess is a strong story. It has all the elements necessary to a great book- The writing is engaging, clear and vivid. The characters are unique and individuals. There are no stock characters here. Each has their own personality, their own tastes, their own motivations. And the story itself, Oh the story! Everyone likes the idea that we are more than we first imagine ourselves to be. That there is something within each of us that is destined for greatness. Sometimes, the circumstances of our birth give us the opportunity to cultivate that, to let it out. Sometimes, they conspire against us to keep us down. And others times, as with Sinda, things get so twisted up that you barely know up from sideways anymore. But no matter what our circumstances would dictate our lives to be, we make of them what we will, and we grow into who we would be.

While this story isn't a fairy tale retelling, it does have the elements important to a fairy tale, and it leaves a reader with a feeling of Once Upon a Time. It has a princess, heroes in unlikely places, a dashing love interest, magic, evil, surprises, and hope. It is a story that will speak to everyone who has ever wished to be a princess, to everyone who has ever wanted a little bit of magic in their life, and to everyone who has wanted to make a difference in the lives of those around them.

The world and character building of O'Neal here is spot on. She has brilliantly captured what it would be like to go from royalty to peasant in the space of an afternoon. When she gets to her aunt's house, she has no idea what to do, or how to work. She has never had to do any of these things on her own before. She doesn't make friends easily, doesn't understand the people around her, and doesn't feel like she is ever going to fit in. She also begins to see the world from an entirely new perspective. She begins to understand the casual cruelty that comes from never having wanted for anything, from being given everything you have ever wanted or needed. The king and queen took her from her family as an infant with no thoughts beyond saving their daughter. If a peasant girl had to die in the process, so be it. They don't think much about their people because they don't understand their life. So what if they are a little poor. They should just work harder. The gift they gave to her aunt for taking Sinda into her home is useless. In theory or thought, it's a lovely gift, but one with absolutely no use in her life. Sinda never noticed things like this as a princess, and as she begins to realize these things, she changes. She grows as a person.

No review of this book would be complete without some mention of Keirnan, who has been Nalia Sinda's best friend for as long as they can remember. He is the perfect friend for Sinda, carefree where she is more serious, and always there for her. You don't see a lot of him in the beginning section of the book, after Sinda leaves the castle, but the few times we do get to meet him, it is very clear how much he cares for her, how much he wants her to be happy, and yes, how much he cares for her. He's exactly the kind of best friend (male or female) that everyone needs.

Overall, this is a book worth reading again and again. This is O'Neal's debut novel and I find myself eagerly awaiting announcements of her future releases. She is an author to watch, and this is a book to be read. So go do it. Now. And then come back and tell me that you loved it as much as I did. Go ahead. I'll still be here when you get back. :)(less)

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Dec 26, 2011

Hallie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ya, fantasy, audiobook

Well. For the most part, I enjoyed this a lot more than I'd have expected, based on its being a medievalesque fantasy, involving a rightful heir(ess), and it being crucial that said rightful heiress be the one to inherit the throne. I think part of what made me like it was that the premise was just so extreme, that I thought it would be hard to go back to the standard fantasy setting of monarchy is the only proper system of governance. Although there are numerous reviews setting out that premi...moreWell. For the most part, I enjoyed this a lot more than I'd have expected, based on its being a medievalesque fantasy, involving a rightful heir(ess), and it being crucial that said rightful heiress be the one to inherit the throne. I think part of what made me like it was that the premise was just so extreme, that I thought it would be hard to go back to the standard fantasy setting of monarchy is the only proper system of governance. Although there are numerous reviews setting out that premise, I'll sketch in in briefly so what I'm saying about it makes some sense for anyone who doesn't know what happens. Nalia is a princess, and as only child of her parents, heiress to the throne of Thorvaldor. However, shortly after her 16th birthday, she's told that she isn't actually the princess at all, but a random common baby who was brought up as the princess because the king and queen had been given a prophecy that the princess would be murdered before her 16th birthday. Seriously - grab a baby, treat her as your beloved child enough to fool everyone, just so she can get knocked off instead of your real child, whom you can then produce with a "Here's one I prepared earlier" flourish. AND NOBODY WILL SAY YOU'RE CRIMINALLY HARD-HEARTED BECAUSE YOU'RE THE KING AND QUEEN. Seriously!

Anyway, poor old Nalia - now Sinda - has a rotten time, being turfed out of the castle with some money, though not a lot, and getting to see the "real princess" be greeted lovingly by parents, nobles and castle serving folk alike as she's whisked away from the city alone. That's just way harsh. Oh, and she's separated from her best friend for life, Kiernan, without even getting to say goodbye. She has to live with her only living relative, her aunt, who's a dyer in a small village, and try to learn to be useful enough to pay her way.

I enjoyed all this, but if I can say it without revealing any major spoilers, there were elements to the resolution of the story that really bothered me. Yes, Nalia found a life in which she could be valued and useful, and even find a use for the princessly training she'd received, as well as her spanking new skill. But on the other hand, things were going to improve for this wildly unjust kingdom in a way that could *only* have happened with the "rightful heir" on the throne (even though -- hmmm - that rightful heir had got the background that would enable her to improve things as a result of the baddie's actions), and that's a fairy tale trope I really dislike in fleshed-out novels. Frankly, I think a (preferably peaceful) rebellion would have done the country much more good.

That said, I liked Kiernan, and I very much liked Philantha (think that's the spelling - the problems with audiobooks!), and if Nalia herself occasionally made really rotten choices, it was fairly understandable, and she didn't get away from having to live with the guilt the consequences brought her. (But compelling Kiernan? Not nice!)(less)

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Jan 25, 2011

Mocha ღ Latte (YA Reviewer) rated it

Shelves: alltime-favorites

More of my reviews at "A Cupcake and A Latte"*updated daily*
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, Keirnan, and...more

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Apr 19, 2011

Joana (Best of YA) rated it

Shelves: reviewed-on-blog

check out the full review here: http://best-of-ya.blogspot.com/2011/04/r...

Plot: This book has pretty much everything you would want to read about; romance, adventure, magic, fantasy, mystery, etc. There is a lot happening in the story-line, but it is not at all confusing and is really easy to follow along with. There were some parts that were easy to guess, but there were just as many that surprised me. I had a hard time putting this book down because of all the suspense. I needed to...morecheck out the full review here: http://best-of-ya.blogspot.com/2011/04/r...

Plot: This book has pretty much everything you would want to read about; romance, adventure, magic, fantasy, mystery, etc. There is a lot happening in the story-line, but it is not at all confusing and is really easy to follow along with. There were some parts that were easy to guess, but there were just as many that surprised me. I had a hard time putting this book down because of all the suspense. I needed to know what happened next! The magical aspect of the story seemed to be a bit detached at the beginning and just seemed to be an added detail that wasn't as important as everything else. However, once the story picked up, so did the magic. Sinda had a hard time with it at first and I admired the fact that she never gave up.

Characters: Sinda is the first false Princess and I thought she was a great main character. When she finds out that the first 16 years of her life were a lie and is sent to live with her only surviving relative who she has never met before, she tries to make the best of a pretty bad situation. She does not complain as most people would if they were in the same situation. Instead, she tries her hardest to be the best dyer she can be and to help her aunt with anything she needs. She is not very good at it, but at least she tries. All of this makes her strong and less selfconsious. Kiernan, Sinda's best and only friend, is pretty amazing too. He is extremely loyal, kind and a bit of a prankster who really helps Sinda get out of her comfort zone. He sticks by Sinda's side even after it is revealed that she is not the real princess and it is obvious that he is in love with her from the beginning. Then there is Orianne and Mika. They were both very nice, but my favorite of the two would have to be Mika and her sarcastic personality.

Cover: I tend to pick books based on their covers (which is a no-no, but I still do it anyways) and this one was no acception. I love the purple wallpaper background. I'm not quite sure which of the three girls it is on the cover, but I'm guessing it is Sinda wearing a locket with a picture of Nalia. It reminds me of the old Elle Enchanted cover.

Overall Impression: For anyone that likes fantasy, magic, wizards, kings, queens and a whole bunch of other things, this is definitely the book for you. This is the first YA fantasy I've picked up in awhile because there aren't that many and I really liked it. I will definitely be looking for more and other books by Eilis O'Neal from now on.

Rating: * * * * (less)

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Sep 22, 2011

Emily rated it

I wasn't in love with this book. I can't put my finger on it either, which is frustrating; however, there was nothing that really jumped out at me that made me dislike it...it just never grabbed me.
That said, if you're into YA Fantasy, you liked Ella Enchanted, you'll probably like this book.

*NOTE* Upon reflection, I think the reason why I didn't like this book very much was because I didn't like the protagonist's voice. It didn't resonate with me or make me like her. That's not t...more

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Nov 29, 2011

Michelle rated it

Shelves: fantasy, magic, romance, child

On her sixteenth birthday, Nalia learns that she is not actually a princess. She was switched at birth to protect the real princess from an assassination attempt. Even her name is different, she is actually Sinda. She is sent back to her only living relative with very little money and no skills for village life. Now that the spell making her appear to be the princess is gone, her own suppressed magic makes itself known. She must learn to handle it before it harms someone. To do that she mus...more

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Mar 09, 2011

Reading Vacation's Mom rated it

Review

Prepare for some seriously gushy book love.

The False Princess is the perfect storm. It delivers magic, secret identities, hidden truths, and a bit of romance in one incredible story. I am in LOVE with this book!

The intricate story-line is perfectly laid out. It is not at all confusing, but it is most certainly compelling. Let’s just say that Eilis O’Neal is an expert at building suspense and I did not want to stop reading for even a minute. With moments that will make you cry, scream, laug...more

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Jan 18, 2012

Aaron rated it

This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It is like a twisted fairy tale in which Nalia, the princess of a kingdom called Thorvaldor, learns that everything she has known about her life has been a lie. She is not, in fact, the princess. Instead, she is a stand-in that was brought into the family to protect the true princess form a horrible prophecy that indicated the young royal would be killed prior to her 16th birthday. Nalia's real name is Sinda, and she is from a poor and unimportant f...more

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Jan 11, 2012

Chris rated it

Shelves: fantasy, not-graphic, ya

Whether in the guise of Cinderella, The Princess Diaries, The Boy Who Lived, the Skywalkers born with many midi-chlorians, or countless others, we all know how the story goes: an everyperson youth is raised in a mundane setting by obscure people as an ultra-normal, nondescript person until the teen years, then shockingly discovers he or she is destined for greatness due to a prophecy, secret royal blood, being the chosen one, or some other similar twist. It’s what we all yearn for, after all, t...moreWhether in the guise of Cinderella, The Princess Diaries, The Boy Who Lived, the Skywalkers born with many midi-chlorians, or countless others, we all know how the story goes: an everyperson youth is raised in a mundane setting by obscure people as an ultra-normal, nondescript person until the teen years, then shockingly discovers he or she is destined for greatness due to a prophecy, secret royal blood, being the chosen one, or some other similar twist. It’s what we all yearn for, after all, to be grand and important and the hero. It’s something we all feel, that we’re destined for more than just this. It’s the structure behind many of our greatest stories.

That is not what this book is about. This book, in fact, tells the opposite story. Nalia learns during her sixteenth year that she is not Nalia, the princess who will someday rule as queen, but is actually Sinda, an orphaned peasant who has secretly been a decoy her entire life because of The Oracle’s prophecy about the real infant Nalia. The time foretold by the prophecy has passed without event, so the king and queen decide it’s time to bring the real princess back to the palace and tell Nalia->Sinda that her whole life has been a lie. Oh, and that they’re grateful for her service, but she can go try to eke out some kind of life as a peasant in a rural village with an aunt who doesn’t want her as a sudden burden, a life she’s not been prepared for in any way whatsoever.

The tale doesn’t end there, of course, as Sinda soon realizes she has latent magical abilities that were masked by the spell that hid her true identity and heads back to the capital in search of training so she can learn to control her power. And she still has Kiernan, her lifelong best friend from the palace. And there might just be more to the false princess masquerade than anyone has let on, more of a conspiracy than even the king and queen are aware of. She has a long journey ahead of her, as she works to figure out just who Sinda is, who she is meant to be.

Halfway through I was sure this was headed for a four-star review, but two frustrations led me to mark it down a star. First, the more exciting the action became, the less actually took place and the more time we spent in Sinda’s head with her obvious, repetitive mental hand-wringing and naval-gazing. Accompanying this was some of the most frustrating decision-making possible. Yes, to be relatable and real a character has to make some mistakes, but this was just too much for me to handle. And it seems the author even knows it: Mika fixed me with a look that said, for all my knowing what a princess should know, I was really and truly stupid. Aside from these two quibbles, though, I enjoyed the book, and I recommend it in spite of them.(less)

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Dec 24, 2011

Tarkaneea rated it

Since It's Winter Break, I took my annual WB gander through my library to find all sorts of books to read over break. I always spend most of my time in the New Shelf of the Teen Section; it has a good number of YA books released in the past year. When I saw the title The False Princess, it intrigued me, I thought; that is new, never in my many years (7, to be exact) of reading YA books, have I been so dragged in by a title. I imediately added it to my pile. (Which would be expanded to 9 books by...moreSince It's Winter Break, I took my annual WB gander through my library to find all sorts of books to read over break. I always spend most of my time in the New Shelf of the Teen Section; it has a good number of YA books released in the past year. When I saw the title The False Princess, it intrigued me, I thought; that is new, never in my many years (7, to be exact) of reading YA books, have I been so dragged in by a title. I imediately added it to my pile. (Which would be expanded to 9 books by the end of my trip.) At the time of this particular trip, I had been reading the amazingly attention-grabbing Clockwork Angel, so I finished that and immediatly started reading this. It took me less than a day to finish it; partly because it was only 323 pages, but more importantly; it was AMAZING!!!

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, Keirnan, 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.

A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.

Doesn't it sound amazing? With passionate love of friendship, her country, and her past, Sinda is attempting to reconstruct a plot to set a 'False Princess' on the throne; someone other than her, that is.(less)

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Dec 21, 2011

Esther Shaindel rated it

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2011...

The False Princess is really amazing. The book eases into the story, giving us a good look at the characters and what they're like before plunging into the real plot, which I always like. And then once the real plot starts, it's one surprise after another, with the tension building and building as each attempt to uncover the truth is thwarted, as each brush with danger is overcome. Sinda is a thoroughly likabl...more

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Nov 21, 2011

Burgandy Ice rated it

The main character in this book is so different, it is refreshing. She is quiet & shy, clumsy, sometimes painfully obedient, obsessed with duty… the exact opposite of the brash lead woman I expected. In fact, I found Sinda closer to my version of reality. I tend to trust authority, enjoy studying and writing, and prefer the position of wall flower to the center of attention. So when Sinda tackles the mystery of the throne and perseveres to make things right, she is believable and enjoyable.
...more

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Nov 16, 2011

Marina rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 29, 2011

Suzanne rated it

Shelves: peach-consideration

Princess and the Pauper story with a Harry Potter sense of unexpected magical and additional twists.

Sinda THOUGHT she was Nalia, the princess of Thorvaldor, comfortable in the palace, though never perhaps the most princess-y of princesses, meaning she was a bit clumsy and ill at ease with some of her duties. She was happy playing games and trying to solve palace mysteries with her best friend Kiernan. Then one day, she is called before her parents and told that she was never really...more

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Aug 31, 2011

Ashlie Swainston rated it

This is TRULY a story of a girl trying to figure out who she is. Raised as a princess for 16 years, only to discover that she was merely a stand-in, Sinda jumps through hoops and goes to all lengths to gain a sense of self. I LOVE Sinda. She is headstrong and persistent, and determined to do the right thing, even if through unorthodox methods. In fact, sometimes Sinda has to do the wrong thing in order to do the right thing. Sinda's journey is so fantastic. It's difficult, sad, frightening...moreThis is TRULY a story of a girl trying to figure out who she is. Raised as a princess for 16 years, only to discover that she was merely a stand-in, Sinda jumps through hoops and goes to all lengths to gain a sense of self. I LOVE Sinda. She is headstrong and persistent, and determined to do the right thing, even if through unorthodox methods. In fact, sometimes Sinda has to do the wrong thing in order to do the right thing. Sinda's journey is so fantastic. It's difficult, sad, frightening, adventurous and exciting, and every twist only adds to the intensity and suspense. I loved that romance was a part of the story but not the main factor, because it me feel hope and despair and a few other conflicting emotions that TORMENTED. MY. SOUL. I'd do it all again in half a heartbeat!

I loved Kiernan, *swooooon* & without any spoilers, I love the depth, heart & layered character of all young girls involved. I love the triangle involved in this story, it's so nice that it wasn't a love triangle this time! I wonder if Mrs. O'Neal was also sick of love triangles and thought, what else can we do with a triangle? And then grinned at the thought of tormenting us :)

Kiernan was strong, but not the kind of strong that clashes against a strong main character, but rather he compliments all of the characters and their storylines. He is the perfect touch of masculinity in a world of princesses, bringing enough chivalry without being overbearingly "Don Quixote."

When I first started listening to the story I thought, "UGH! Screw the king & queen!" Then when Sinda meets her replacement face to face for the first time, I changed my tune a little. I was sad for all that Sinda loses, and then what some of the other girls in the story loose too. To be deceived so deeply for so long is SO heartbreaking!!! The emotional connection this story makes with the reader/listen is intense and the characters are amazing. The setting is wonderful too, its an excited enchanted world of changes and deceit, romance and fantasy, where magic can fool, ensnare and captivate you.

This is a book that I would listen to/read several times. I felt that "piece of my soul is missing" feeling when it was over :( but I can't wait to share it with my friends!(less)

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Jul 28, 2011

Sophie rated it

Recommends it for: fans of retold fairy tales

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, read-in-2011, young-adult

At first, reading this book, I didn't think it was going to be anything spectacular. It does get off to a bit of a slow start, with a few clichés thrown in. But as the plot picked up, I found I couldn't stop reading, and by the end, I didn't want it to be over.

The plot is kind of like Spindle's End turned inside-out. Instead of the perspective of the "common" girl who's secretly a princess, we get the reverse--a girl who thought she was a princess finds out she's a commoner, ...moreAt first, reading this book, I didn't think it was going to be anything spectacular. It does get off to a bit of a slow start, with a few clichés thrown in. But as the plot picked up, I found I couldn't stop reading, and by the end, I didn't want it to be over.

The plot is kind of like Spindle's End turned inside-out. Instead of the perspective of the "common" girl who's secretly a princess, we get the reverse--a girl who thought she was a princess finds out she's a commoner, and has to adjust. While trying to fit in to her new, simpler life, she discovers she has magical powers, hidden for years by the same spell that made her appear to be princess. That's when things get interesting. Her magic is out of her control, and she's afraid it will come bursting out and harm someone if she doesn't figure out how to wield it, so she sets off back to the city to find someone to train her.

I'm a sucker for Figuring Out Your Place In The World narratives, and fortunately there are a lot of them in YA. While this isn't the best-written one I've read, it's thoroughly entertaining. The romance is delightful, the plot twists keep you turning pages until the end, and it even has a bit at the end about class issues, which I think was my favorite part. The narrative of "royal person lives as a commoner and understands what the common people are about so zie can be a better ruler" is not a new one, but it feels fresh here, and I couldn't help but think of America as it is right now, with the richest people having most of the power but no idea how bad it is for the rest of us. I mean, how many times do you read a light-hearted fairy tale that actually explores the concept of the working poor?

There are a few things I wish had been explored or fleshed out a bit more--Sinda's relationships with the king and queen, what life was like for her growing up as the princess, the idea that royal blood must rule even if the heir is not the best candidate for the throne--but it was a fun read anyway, and I'm interested in seeing what this author will write next.(less)

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Jul 07, 2011

Kendra rated it

This is a clever and unusual story about Nalia....I mean Sinda. You see Sinda, at her birth, was taken to the castle in the kingdom of Thorvaldor as a stand-in for Princess Nalia, who was born at the same time. For sixteen years, Sinda has believed herself a princess set to inherit the kingdom. She has built her life, education, and friendships around her anticipated future, so following her 16th birthday she is shocked to find that she has been used, all these years, to keep the real princess s...more

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Jun 05, 2011

Brandy Painter rated it

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, fantasy

Review originally posted here.

From first reading the premise of this book I wanted to read it. It is an interesting concept, having a character go through finding out their life is a lie. Even though there is nothing new about it, it is a fascinating idea. I began reading expecting to get an interesting story about a girl having to cope and change after learning a devastating truth. I had no idea I was in for a story with so much political intrigue and mystery. Imagine my deligh...more

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May 24, 2011

Beth G. rated it

Shelves: 2011, books-for-teens, fantasy, magic, mystery, library-books, fiction, author-female, debut-author-challenge-2011, 5-star

I was a good, quiet, and rule-following girl. The perfect princess, if not for my clumsiness and sometimes painful shyness.

Just after her sixteenth birthday, the Princess Nalia is summoned to meet with her parents. What they tell her could not have come as more of a shock. She is not their daughter, not the Princess. She is a commoner, brought to court as a baby to stand in for the real Nalia, in an attempt to keep the royal heir safe from a prophecy that she would die before the age...more

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May 23, 2011

Semisweet Bookblog rated it

Shelves: books-i-ve-read-2011

**Review taken from my blog semisweetbookblog.blogspot.com**

By Eilis O'Neal
Published January 25, 2011 EgmontUSA

Girl Power: Sinda was an interesting character. She’s spent her first sixteen years being raised as a princess, although she feels as though her mannerisms don’t suit the title. She’s studious and serious and admits that the only person who can coax a full smile from her is her best friend, Kiernan. When she loses everything and is forced to live with a rel...more**Review taken from my blog semisweetbookblog.blogspot.com**

By Eilis O'Neal
Published January 25, 2011 EgmontUSA

Girl Power: Sinda was an interesting character. She’s spent her first sixteen years being raised as a princess, although she feels as though her mannerisms don’t suit the title. She’s studious and serious and admits that the only person who can coax a full smile from her is her best friend, Kiernan. When she loses everything and is forced to live with a relative she’s never met or known about she has an understandably difficult time adjusting. She tries to do what her Aunt asks of her, tries to be helpful in the house to earn her keep, but doesn’t feel as though she truly belongs there, either. Sinda meets someone who is able to make her feel at home with herself and she grows into a self-confidant girl who undertakes a great task in exposing a threat to the throne that she was so unceremoniously ejected from. I really enjoyed watching Sinda come into her own, believe in herself and who she was even though she went from being royal to being a peasant. She was a strong, well written character and I absolutely loved her.

Crushometer: I was absolutely charmed by Kiernan! He’s as smart and strong willed as Sinda, but he’s also amusing, quick with a smile, able to laugh at himself, and protective of Sinda despite the fact that she’s able to take care of herself most of the time. He’s the sort of person who other people naturally gravitate towards and want to spend time with, easily eliciting smiles (occasionally at his own expense)..

Overall: I loved this book! The story drew me in so completely that I stayed up waaaay later than I should have because I was so desperate to find out what happened in the end. It was well written, with excellent characters that I was able to admire, mourn for, and identify with. The only thing that bothered me at all was the villain. After concocting such an elaborate plot to take control of the throne I thought perhaps someone would have worked just a little harder to hide the evidence of their treason. I mean, leaving documents in existence that pretty much paint a guilty sign on your forehead isn’t the move of an ace super villain. But like I said, that’s a small complaint because aside from that our villain was believable, our heroine brave and fierce, and our love interest completely won me over. : )

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes

And without warning, he stepped in front of me, grabbed my shoulders to stop my pacing, and kissed me.
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. It was like being kissed by sunlight, or joy.
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May 22, 2011

Maxine Mathew rated it

Shelves: books-i-own, young-adult, fantasy

Nalia was brought up to believe that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Thorvaldor. But her life is turned upside down when she is informed that she is not the real princess instead she is a mere commoner’s daughter, Sinda. She was only a stand-in for the real Nalia because it was predicted that someone would try to hurt the princess fatally on her sixteenth birthday. Now that the danger has passed, Sinda is sent to live with her aunt, who is a dyer, leaving behind all she held precious—h...moreNalia was brought up to believe that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Thorvaldor. But her life is turned upside down when she is informed that she is not the real princess instead she is a mere commoner’s daughter, Sinda. She was only a stand-in for the real Nalia because it was predicted that someone would try to hurt the princess fatally on her sixteenth birthday. Now that the danger has passed, Sinda is sent to live with her aunt, who is a dyer, leaving behind all she held precious—her best friend Kiernan, her supposed mother and father, and the people of the capital city of Vivaskari. She is unable to adjust in the new life with her aunt where she finds herself inept in performing even the simplest of tasks. When the suppressed and uncontrolled reservoir of her magic starts to show up, Sinda knows she has to return to Vivaskari to learn to control her magic - otherwise she may bring harm not only to herself, but also to those around her. Sometime after her arrival in the capital city, Sinda learns a secret that threatens to shatter the peace reigning in Thorvaldor.

The foremost reason that I am fast becoming bored of fantasy novels is that they all seem to have a similar storyline. The False Princess comes as a "breath of fresh air" , if I may use the clichéd term. The author has described Sinda’s situation and her dilemma beautifully. The reader can actually identify with Sinda’s character. She is practically thrown onto her aunt with nothing more than the clothes on her back. The people whom she thought were her parents for sixteen years turn away from her to welcome their real daughter. The King and the Queen seem uncaring and more concerned about the protection of their position than the girl whom they raised as their daughter for sixteen years. Instead of providing for Sinda in a way befitting the upbringing she has got, she is sent away to live with her aunt. Sinda is an utter failure as a commoner; it doesn’t help that her aunt is far from welcoming. She is scornful, impatient and unsupportive to her. At first we see Sinda’s naivety and ignorance in the worldly manner. This can be the case for most rich pampered kids or kids of influential parents. I must admit that I found Sinda a bit annoying first because of her inexperience and lack of understanding. Well, I guess that was not actually her fault because she was never taught to handle such situations. At such times her childhood best friend, Kiernan, is there to guide her through the turmoil of her life. Even though Kiernan is the son of an earl, he does not forsake Sinda like the others. He still holds his friendship with her as precious and something that no rank can prevent from continuing.

As I have already mentioned at the start, The False Princess is something new in the young adult fantasy genre. Just for that fact, I enjoyed this book more than the other fantasies that I have read for the past few months. With its drama, magic, mystery and the sprinkle of romance over it all, The False Princess is an ideal book for young adult fantasy lovers. Considering that this is the author’s debut novel, it is quite well-written and well-executed. Unlike most fantasy books, it was the mystery surrounding the princess that gripped me to the book rather than the magic and action. The suspense made this book hard to put down.

The False Princess is a stunning new debut novel by Eilis O’Neal that will make you cry, laugh, scream, and make you jump up and down with joy. Though this is not a book that can be termed memorable, it is a great book to read when you want something light and entertaining.

Quotes:

Part of me wanted to grab his arm and beg him to forgive me for the things I’d said. Part of me wanted to close my eyes and pretend that we were standing in the gardens of the palace, that nothing had changed. Part of me wanted to sit down on the ground with him and talk to him until my lips went numb, to tell about my life here. The deer at the pool, my confusion with Tyr, the strain in my relationship with Aunt Varil, my fears about the bizarre, something-trapped-inside-me-feeling that had dogged me since I arrived.
Part of wanted it. But the rest of me was too ashamed at being caught unawares, all dirty and wet and poor. And I was too proud to take my words back.

I didn’t know what to say. There was too much distance between us, so much that I thought that I would never be able to cross it to reach her. But she was my only living relative, and I felt a dark well inside me, empty, where it might have been full. If only things had been different, if we had been different.

Kiernan was right, I thought with a miserable, smothered laugh. Neither of us had asked for it. It had all been decided by others—the king and the queen, the wizards they had asked for help, the Nameless God, even, when he sent the prophecy of death upon princess’s birth. The two of us hadn’t had any control over it. And I was tired of being a thornbush, of yelling at everyone around me. Maybe, by not hating Nalia, by forgiving her for the life she now possessed, I could really begin to be Sinda, and not just the false princess.

Overall:
A perfect fairy tale book with lots of twists and turns in the story that will keep you hooked.

Recommended?
Yes, to all those who love fantasy novels with a bit of romance. (less)

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May 18, 2011

Molly rated it

Shelves: kick-ass-female-lead, fantasy, romance

"False princess" is basically an opposite cinderella story. Sinda thinks she is a princess, until her 16th brithday when she finds out that she was just a stand in to keep the real princess safe. She is kicked out of the castle the same day and realizes that all her princess training has taught her nothing about how to survive in the real world. On top of that, she discovers that she has magic that stayed hidden under the spell that made her appear to be the princess.

T...more

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May 13, 2011

Aimee (Coffee Table Reviews) rated it

Shelves: 2011, favorites

Oh the intrigue! When I read about this book, I wasn't sure if I'd really enjoy this. I tend to lean more towards urban fantasy, instead of novels that have that historical feel to them. But this, this was gripping. I had such a hard time putting this down. With a good book, sleep is overrated!

Loved, loved, loved the story. I actually didn't see the triangle thing coming (for those of you who have read it), and when I figured it out, the intrigue doubled. I did think it started...more

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Apr 21, 2011

Rachel Mosq rated it

Review here.

I really loved this book. The summary doesn't really give anything that much about the story. I only knew firsthand that the protagonist is a false princess and that she is a wizard. Other than that, I had no idea what this book is all about. That's why I was really surprised when the main problem in the story was revealed. I could swear my face lit like a bulb when I read about it. I practically bounced on my seat in an omgomgomgomgomg kind of way. It has a really unpred...moreReview here.

I really loved this book. The summary doesn't really give anything that much about the story. I only knew firsthand that the protagonist is a false princess and that she is a wizard. Other than that, I had no idea what this book is all about. That's why I was really surprised when the main problem in the story was revealed. I could swear my face lit like a bulb when I read about it. I practically bounced on my seat in an omgomgomgomgomg kind of way. It has a really unpredictable plot with a lot of adventure, magic and mystery and twists and turns that kept me at the edge of my seat. There is only a little romance but I don't think this will bother romance-loving readers, because Sinda and Kiernan's relationship here is absolute. There are a couple of obstacles to what they have, but I think the readers will be able to foresee that these two are meant to be and supposed to be together.

I really like Kiernan. He is friendly to everyone, loyal and very endearing. I didn't like Sinda's character at first, though. Even though she was raised like a real princess, she is really weak and painfully shy. Even when she was told to leave the palace and stay at her dyer aunt whom she never met, she obliged without so much as a word. She accepted what she has become with no complains even though deep inside her, there is nothing she would rather be than to be in the palace and with her best friend, Kiernan.

If you think about it, one should be impressed by Sinda; that although she doesn't know anything other than to be a princess, she still quickly accepted her new life as the niece of a simple dyer. And never even uttered a single complaint about it. But the fact that she could have done something about it, but is too weak to make it happen is rather very disappointing.

However, as the story moved forward, Sinda continued to grow and grow until she became this strong-willed girl that is full of determination, who ached to tell the rest of the world that she is worth way more than just a discarded false princess. I, myself, am very surprised to see her grow so much. And the great thing about this is that you could see her growth bit by bit.

I think the only predictable part in the book is the ending. I would have been disappointed, but it was just so cute! And it doesn't border on cheesy, trust me. But anyway, I think that a happy ending is something to be expected since this is a fairy tale book. Besides, the journey is what's really important here. So really, there is nothing I could ask for more. Of the ending, I mean. But for the author, I have a few questions for her that she will be answering tomorrow, so watch out for it. :)
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Mar 10, 2011

Kathy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fairytale-or-princess, magic

I enjoyed this one, but admit I went into it thinking I would like it more than I did. The last book I read was pretty fast paced and kept me glued to the pages. This one was a little slower paced, but not boring. There was a lot of detail and world building with bits of action here and there. The story and writing reminded me a bit of Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, which is a favorite of mine. The False Princess was unique and had a few twists that I didn’t see coming. I actually really liked the...more

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Mar 05, 2011

Batz4books rated it

This could have had the makings of a somewhat trite and predictable story, with a spoiled girl learning humility, but the author took an entirely different path - Sinda had been a quiet, gentle, nice and scholarly princess, and she tries to adjust to the changes in her life dutifully, although without much luck. Her aunt sees Sinda as a reminder of her dead brother, Sinda's father, and the wife who abandoned them all - she isn't cruel to Sinda, but she isn't particularly welcoming or happy to f...more

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