The False Princess
Author: Eilis O’NealGenre: YA FantasyPrincess 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.
The real Princess Nalia is sent away because a
prophesy was given at her birth that said she would die at age 16 if she stayed
at the palace. Now that the real Nalia has survived past her 16th
birthday, it’s time for her to come home and for her stand-in to leave.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Royal intrigue and
political strife in fantasy is one of my “things,” and this book certainly
delivered. Nalia (well, Sinda) is unfortunately caught up in the games and fears
of royalty. When the time comes for her to leave, she is literally exchanged. As
she’s leaving, the new princess is arriving. I wanted to shake the king and
queen and demand to know how they could do this to a girl who was practically
their daughter.
To say Sinda is not welcomed by her aunt is an
understatement. The woman views her new “princess” as just that—a useless
member of the upper class. Despite her situation, Sinda gives her new life an
honest try. She doesn’t want to let down the woman who was kind enough to take
her in. With that effort comes Sinda’s attempt to fit in her new village. She
makes a friend (a boy) only to find he’s not her friend at all. It’s in that
moment she snaps and realizes she has magic, and that isn’t the only thing that
snaps. O’Neal does a great job of transitioning Sinda from the “I just have to
accept this” attitude to a “if they think they can do this to me…” one.
My biggest sad face with this book was the segment
between when Sinda is exiled and when she returns to the city. It felt so
rushed. There are mentions of time passing, but they don’t seem real. She
arrives, and then all of a sudden she’s been there a week, a month? Keep going?
And then there’s Kiernan—the love interest. I love
his name. The character isn’t bad either. He’s a noble’s son, and he’s
thoroughly dedicated to his beliefs and Sinda. My only issue with him is his
visit to Sinda’s new home. It felt forced. Everywhere else, though, he was a
great character and a great match for our leading lady.
Overall, this is a great, fun read. Sinda is a
character who really shines in her growth. She begins a pampered princess and
changes into a self-assured, confident young woman. I love that she never
pretended to be happy with her new life. While she tried to make it work, she was
never content. She did chores every day, hating them, and I also love that she
wasn’t mystically an expert at everyday tasks even though she’d never done
them. Too often, characters receive “author education,” the sudden ability to do
something because the author wants/needs them to. This is not the case with Sinda,
and it makes her all the more awesome.
Favorite Quote:
I saw a small square of paper, folded over on itself and sealed with a blob of wax from the candle by my bed. Cracking it open, I recognized Kiernan's hand.
Don't you dare get up until you're rested! When you are, send one of those message lights and I'll come. In the meantime, I'll talk to O., see if she remembers anything about last night. And I'll find out if anyone saw M. or N. wandering the palace last night. Don't frown like that! I'll be sly.
I was frowning, I realized, which made me let out an irritated huff of breath. He knew me too well.
