Originally reviewed at Hooked on Books 
 There are a lot of things to love about this novel, but Sage is easily my favourite. He's the type of character that comes in and dominates the scene. He's funny and intelligent and I love his attitude. Sometimes young male protagonists can drive me crazy because their author's make them all attitude and no substance. But Jennifer A Nielsen delievers a layered and complex character, that you just want to get to know. He'll soon show you there's more to him than meets the eye. 
 Whether in audio or print, the writing in this book really brings the story and setting alive for the reader. This could have easily been a movie playing inside my head it was so detailed and vivid. Though Carthia is an imaginary place, it felt really authentic when I was listening to The False Prince. In the beginning, when Sage is running away from a local merchant I felt like I could picture each street in front of me, as if I was running through them myself. 
 Finally, this book is exciting, adventure filled and some amazing twists. There are some incredibly dramatic moments, some sword play and even a little bit of romance. It was an absolute joy keeping swept up in the action and I can't wait to see where the next book in the series will take me. 
 Final recommendation: A fabulous middle grade read that can be enjoyed by all ages. 
 Notes on the Audio 
 Overall, Charlie McWade is a good narrator. His voice is energetic and interesting to listen to. There is also a clear distinction between each character. I had one issue/question regarding accents. The book specifically mentions how there are two distinct accents, that of the kingdom they're in (Carthia) and that of the land Sage is from. However, when Sage switches between the accents is voice never changes, which was slightly distracting. Even characters from the same area seemed to speak with different accents. While I appreciated the variety in character voices, I thought there should have been a bit more consistency, especially since it is mentioned in the text.