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Mar 19, 2013

My Thoughts: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

 *A word about this review.  If you have not read book one of this series The False Prince, stop reading now and go pick it up.  The very nature of this book spoils a main plot point of that book.  You have been warned!


5 wonderful oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies!

Cover Love:  I like the simplicity and the colors and that it matches the first one.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I simply loved The False Prince.  It was so good!  This is a trilogy and I wish I had discovered it after all three books were out so that I could just read them with no breaks, but alas, it is not to be.  And there was no way I was putting off reading this one until the third one was out!  Here's the synopsis for book #2:
A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!
Romance?: No, but there are two key relationships that will be developed in the next book.  And I am not sure who I like more for our main character.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book because I feel we got more inside Jaron's head than before.  There was no hiding who he really was, in this one we knew him so he just got to grow as a character.  He is a very, very strong willed man/boy who only wants to become a strong leader.  He has accepted his fate and really wants to do a good job to ensure the longevity and prosperity of his country.

There were not as many twists in this book but I liked that.  While I loved The False Prince I felt there were slow moving parts.  This one was pretty quick--both as a read and the timeline within the book.  I couldn't put it down.  With the first one you just knew Jaron knew more than he was telling us, but with this one I feel like we knew what was in his head more.  I really liked that because Jaron is an awesome character.  I love being part of his world!

He has so much integrity, even though he would disagree with that.  He still calls himself a thief, but he is not a liar and he keeps his word.  It's easy to see how he gets people to follow and trust him.

I felt we got to know Imogen much better as well.  And it's going to be interesting to see what happens with the little love triangle between Jaron, Imogen and Amarinda.  I like both of these ladies would be fine with him ending up with either one!

This book ended on way more of a cliffhanger which made me glad because we will be guaranteed another book.  I can't wait to read to see how this is all going to end up!

To Sum Up:  Another winner!  Jennifer A. Neilsen has created a great character in Jaron.  I will be following his story as long as she keeps writing it!

Book requested and received from Scholastic.  Thanks Candace!

6 comments:

  1. I so love this series too. I was so happy that Jaron still kept his Sage-personality, which is really him, in this book. Can't wait till the next book comes out. Thanks for the review.

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    1. It was just so good and I was so pleased it was as good as the first, in a different way!

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  2. Great review. I too wanted to wait for the third but there was no way I could. Looking forward to the next one. Love the plotting.

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    1. I might have to re-read the first two when that third one comes out. It's going to be a long year!!

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  3. I love both of the leading ladies too. I can't decide who I want to see him end up with more. Of course I love Imogen and it seems like she's who Jaron really loves, but Amarinda...I feel like she has the potential to bring out a better, more mature man in Jaron. It will be interesting either way!

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    1. Exactly! I felt like in this book he really does want to do what is best for his country so he might be more suited for Amarinda. But...
      And the funny thing is that there really is no romance at all.
      It's such an undercurrent!

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