The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal
Release Date | January 25, 2011
Premise | 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 dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.
Summary from Goodreads
Review | I’ve been wanting to read this book for a really long time. Why? It has everything I like: magic, courtly intrigues, a slow burn romance, and a fairy tale touch.
What really struck me was how this book emulates the fairy tale of Cinderella. It follows the same plot trajectory being that someone goes from a position of status and wealth to one of a lower class and then finally balance is re-established once again when she rises up to her original level of superiority. What everyone really forgets about the Cinderella fairy tale is that in the many written origin sources is that Cinderella (or her other names) starts off from a position of wealth and in many tales she’s either from nobility or royalty. I think this makes a very interesting parallel in this book.
I really liked the characters in here. Sinda is so conflicted but never slips into the morose or overly sulky. She has to deal with having her identity ripped away from her and then trying to remake a new one for herself, but also a detachment from a place of comfort she called home and the rejection of her supposed family members and also her actual ones. Yet, while she is gifted with special magical abilities, it’s never abused and always involves effort at mastering.
She tries so hard to prove to herself and others that she isn’t some worthless ploy to be tossed away when her usefulness has ended, and wants everyone to know that she is someone of value and that they should feel a great amount of regret and remorse at what they did.
I love Kiernan! He’s such a loyal friend who is always kind and while not necessarily scholarly inclined, he is quick on his thoughts and is willing to learn. I like that while he is outgoing and charismatic he does get emotionally hurt and shows it. Quite different compared to some other male leads that either brush it off like it’s nothing or keep their stoic exterior. It’s not bad to have your romance interest show some vulnerability, it makes them a lot more likeable and realistic in my opinion.
The romance was excellent. I always thought being friends with someone and knowing their quirks, vices, and character before entertaining the idea of entering a relationship with them is very prudent. This is why I enjoyed it here. The characters actually know each other and when their new feelings for each other start to show, they show it in more subtle and gradual ways rather than an all-consuming attraction and need. I totally loved how Kiernan did not care about her social standing and would be willing to make sacrifices to be with her – not like some YA males we know, in which the girl has to do everything to be with their partner.
While certain plot devices or twists are a bit predictable, it still is fun. I really enjoyed seeing Sinda be so forward thinking and set out to solve the mystery behind the princess switch ups and not have things suggested to her beforehand. The pacing might have been a bit slow in the beginning but it really picks up at the halfway mark, or slightly earlier than that.
This is a fantastic debut novel. The ending was one of most satisfactory wrap ups I’ve read in a novel in a while. I’ll say that if you liked Crown Duel or Brightly Woven, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.
Grade | A/A+
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