The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen [Review]

4.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy #3
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release: February 25, 2014
Hardcover: 336 Pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:

One war.
Too many deadly battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?

War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?

Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion with The Shadow Throne

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

The False Prince was one of my favorite books I've read in the last couple years.  It really reminded me of another favorite, The Thief.  Both star a sarcastic, yet extremely clever protagonist who is a lot more than they seem at first.  Jaron, the Ascendance Trilogy narrator, is really what brings me back to this series.

Now the King of Carthya, Jaron has the weight of the world on his shoulders.  He has lost his family and is now sitting on a throne he never thought he'd have.  He is very young and untested.  His enemies are growing in numbers and his own people don't trust him.  But he is still clever, quick-witted, calculating, impulsive and rash.  He is a really fun character and narrator. This last book really stacks the odds against Jaron to the point where I was could not believe he would ever get out of it.  But Jaron is always one step ahead of everyone and a lot of the fun of this series is how he gets himself out of sticky situations.

If I am to be honest, my love for the first book has carried me through this series.  Unfortunately, neither the second or third book can really capture the same wonder of the first.  But I would have to give out some major spoilers to explain why that is.  But I will liken it to knowing how a magic trick is done.  It is still fascinating to know how the illusion takes place, but it loses some of its enchantment.  By now we know not to trust what Jaron is telling us because he is a liar and a master of redirection and manipulation.  And Nielsen knows we know and starts to let us in to some of Jaron's thoughts.  But at the same time, the events also seem redundant.  Jaron deals with his new problems much the same way he dealt with his past problems.  It usually involves trickery and Jaron be held captive.  I know this seems like I didn't like The Shadow Throne and that's not the case at all.  Really, these are small complaints.  Nielsen still has a great easy writing style that pulls the reader in. I ripped through this book in no time at all.

Overall, I think this is a great series.  It does read a little younger than most YA, but I don't think that should deter anyone.  

Other books in this series in the order that they should be read:
1. The False Prince
2. The Runaway King
3. The Shadow Throne

Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen [Review]

5 out of 5 Robots!

 

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release:  March 1, 2013

Hardcover: 352 Pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King. (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

I cannot tell you how much I adored The False Prince, so I was super excited to get my hands on the sequel.  Jaron is now King, but has a tenuous hold on his throne.  After an assassination attempt, it becomes obvious to Jaron that he needs to run away.  But Jaron, being Jaron, has some tricks up his sleeves and goes off to take matters into his own hands.  He finds himself being put in increasingly deadly situations and begins to worry that perhaps he has gotten himself so far in that now he won’t be able to get out.

I thought this was a very strong follow up to The False Prince.  This time we are in on most of Jaron’s secrets, which is different than the first go around.  I liked it because it really shows how clever Jaron really is.  You also get to know the real Jaron (those who have read the first book will know what I mean) and begin to understand his doubt, his pain, and his loneliness.  I also liked that he has quite a bit of growth and really begins to open his eyes to the friends and allies he has.  

Overall, a fantastic series.  I highly recommend it!
 
Books in the series in the order they should be read:
1. The False Prince
2. The Runaway King

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen [Review]

5 out of 5 Robots!

 

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Series: The Ascendance Trilogy #1  
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release: April 1, 2012

Hardcover: 342 Pages

Publisher: Scholastic Books

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

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. Four 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.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats. (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

Oh my gosh!  By the end of first chapter, I knew I liked the book.  But by the end of the book I was completely in love with it!  The hard part though, is writing a review without giving everything away! This book kept me on my toes the entire time as I tried to riddle out how the story was going to unfold.  I never knew how it was going to play out as alliances were made and broken, motives were never as they seem and the truth came out in a slow, but urgent pace.  It was intense and exciting the whole way through.  And the ending was so perfect that it makes me want to reread it to pick up all the threads that I missed along the way. 

Sage is an incredibly charming narrator with quick wit, super powers of observation and a self-deprecating humor.  He is always four steps ahead of everyone else, including the reader!  I also think this book bridges a gap between a younger audience (Middle School - Early High School) and an older audience.  I think this is a tricky feat to accomplish.  It is not easy to write a book that both audiences will find thought-provoking, exciting, and challenging enough.  Fans of Megan Whalen Turner’s The Thief will also appreciate this book.  It has some of the same intrigue and the main characters are two peas in a pod.  But really, I truly can’t say enough good things about this book and I hope you love it as much as I did!

The second book, The Runaway King, is due out in April.  I can't wait!!