Friday, February 8, 2013

Run - don't walk - for The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen


    Picking up shortly after The False Prince left off with Jaron’s return and coronation, it is time for the funeral of the royal family.   Jaron slips out to the garden for time alone only to be attacked by two intruders, one of whom Jaron never expected.  He is given a deadline – surrender to pirates in ten days or Carthya will be attacked.    Encouraged by Gregor Breslin, captain of the guard, to go into hiding and allow a steward to rule until he is older, Jaron instead secretly leaves with Mott and Tobias for Farthenwood.  From Farthenwood, Jaron sends Tobias back to the palace and leaves Mott behind, setting out to join the pirates to bring about their downfall from the inside. 
     Along the way, Jaron resumes life as the orphan Sage, meets Rulon Harlowe, a minor Carthyan nobleman, enters Avenia, joins a band of thieves, avoids detection by the Avenian king Vargan, and with the help of Erick,the band’s leader, is taken to the pirates where he becomes one of them.  The pirate king Devlin is suspicious of Sage, but Sage’s troubles truly begin when someone from his past returns to the camp. 
    How will Jaron save himself, his friends, and ultimately his country?  Who is really responsible for the death of his family and political turmoil in Carthya?  And  the girls -  how does he feel about Imogen and Princess Amarinda, and what do they really think of him?   
    Jaron is as reckless as ever, but he is also clever and fiercely loyal to his friends and his country.  Both a convincing thief and a competent royal, he displays all the hubris one would expect from a royal, but he balances it with the humility learned through life on his own.   The cast of characters, the unexpected twists and turns, and the mystery and adventure build on to The False Prince and will leave readers clamoring for the next book – and it can’t get here soon enough!

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