As a page turner, this book has immediately taken its place among my favorites.
With an age range of 8+ for the reading level, its rating is a high 8.8.
Sage, an orphan boy, is taken along with other orphans by Bevin Connor, a sly, power-hungry regent, bent on the throne. Soon Sage and the others are sucked into his schemes, and with their lives at stake, they have to come out on top. Making unlikely allies among his enemies, Sage's decisions can effect Carthya for better or for worse.
It must be noted though, that I listened to this as an audiobook, and highly recommend that you do also. The reader does a decent job portraying and diversifying the voices of the characters, and gives an overall better experience of the book.
There is never a dull moment in the book, with a story that just keeps progressing. The more you read, the more you push on, wanting the story to unfold faster. But what really keeps this book interesting, is the characters. With Sage's stubborn and clever personality rubbing with the other characters, I found myself smiling at some of the interactions between them. Yet, it is not all jovial, with the multiple decisions and emotions that Sage displays, it keeps the characters relatable. Adding in the twist at the end, this book has lept onto my favorites list, though not as a stand-alone. "The False Prince" is book one in the Ascendance Trilogy, and a masterpiece in my eyes. I highly recommend this enjoyable read.