A review by exhaleartist
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
4.0
I loved the summary for this book and it would have been on my to-read list even if I was not using it for the Debut Author Challenge. I had been checking at my library regularly hoping that I would be able to get this before I broke down and bought it. Then AlleluiaLu (Bookend Crossing) generously offered to let me borrow her copy! This book was definitely worth the wait.
Sinda is an interesting girl. She is raised a princess until after she’s sixteen, when she suddenly finds out she never really was one. All these years she has simply been a decoy because of a prophecy made at the princess’s birth. With the real princess returning to her rightful place, Sinda is sent to an aunt she never knew with a small bag of gold for her service. I was heartbroken for Sinda and really felt for her as she struggled to figure out the new life she was thrust into, and I loved watching her grow as a character. It is really quite hard to say anything here without spoiling, so I will just leave it at that. Kiernan, Sinda’s best friend from childhood, is faithful to her even after her ‘exile’, although Sinda has trouble accepting him when she has nothing to offer. I love the fact that Sinda’s change of status did not alter Kiernan’s feelings for her or his view of their friendship. I really just loved Kiernan altogether. He is an amazing character and not all dark, brooding, and dangerous like so many YA men.
The mystery in the book did have me guessing for quite a while. I was not sure where it was going, but I loved Kiernan and Sinda’s journey as they sought to uncover the truth. The story just completely captured me. I stayed up half the night reading it in one sitting. When it all played out, I was very, very happy with the ending. The fact that this ended with a conclusion and not a cliffhanger was a great relief. This novel could easily be a standalone book or continued into a series, but whatever the author does next I will be eagerly looking forward to.
Sinda is an interesting girl. She is raised a princess until after she’s sixteen, when she suddenly finds out she never really was one. All these years she has simply been a decoy because of a prophecy made at the princess’s birth. With the real princess returning to her rightful place, Sinda is sent to an aunt she never knew with a small bag of gold for her service. I was heartbroken for Sinda and really felt for her as she struggled to figure out the new life she was thrust into, and I loved watching her grow as a character. It is really quite hard to say anything here without spoiling, so I will just leave it at that. Kiernan, Sinda’s best friend from childhood, is faithful to her even after her ‘exile’, although Sinda has trouble accepting him when she has nothing to offer. I love the fact that Sinda’s change of status did not alter Kiernan’s feelings for her or his view of their friendship. I really just loved Kiernan altogether. He is an amazing character and not all dark, brooding, and dangerous like so many YA men.
The mystery in the book did have me guessing for quite a while. I was not sure where it was going, but I loved Kiernan and Sinda’s journey as they sought to uncover the truth. The story just completely captured me. I stayed up half the night reading it in one sitting. When it all played out, I was very, very happy with the ending. The fact that this ended with a conclusion and not a cliffhanger was a great relief. This novel could easily be a standalone book or continued into a series, but whatever the author does next I will be eagerly looking forward to.