Book Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Egmont USA
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: January 25, 2011
Author Web Page:
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 kingdom, a princess, maybe two or three, magic, adventure and romance are some of the elements represented in: The False Princess. The story begins the day Nalia AKA Sinda discovers her life has been a lie; the kingdom she thinks to belong to is a mirage and she has only been a puppet to protect the real princess from a terrible prophecy. Without that much emotion from whom she believes are her parents, she’s sent out of the castle to live with the only relative she was not aware of and live the life she was NEVER prepared for even if it means leaving Kiernan behind. I was trapped inside this story and captivating would be a word to describe it. I liked the world where the story is narrated, making me want more. It’s so rich and impressive that prequels and spinoffs would not be bad idea at all. I’m impressed that in O’Neal’s world, it speaks for itself. There’s no need for the characters to tell Thorvaldor’s stories. In character developing terms, O’Neal enjoys of certain “magic”; the characters, even those whom you’ll only get glimpses from will make you fall in love and want to know more from them. Our narrator Sinda is simply exquisite; she’s funny, strong and has a free spirit. This girl’s on top of my favorite characters. When she receives the news of not being who she thought during her entire life and that the circumstances she’s about to live are not the ones she’s used to; she won’t lay down and cry, on the contrary, her courage and determination pushes her forward. It’s refreshing to see this type of heroine in YA Literature. The story’s even more interesting with every chapter and Sinda’s journey as an ex princess, common girl to wizard is interesting. The romance is adorable and I loved it. The False Princess, the story of a “princess’ who doesn’t own a crown but possesses the courage and determination to save a kingdom.
