Review: The Runaway King

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!

My Thoughts:  I have to admit that although I liked The False Prince, I didn’t love it as much as many of the bloggers, teachers, and librarians that I follow.  I think I expected something different and that colored my opinion of the book.  So, when I picked this one up I was expecting to like the story but not to love it.  I was wrong.  I LOVED this one!  I was sucked in immediately by the circumstances that seemed impossible to figure out.  Prince Jaron is a clever and brave character and I loved every second of this one.  It made me want to go back and read The False Prince again, because obviously I missed something in that story.  This one kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book and I will anxiously await the third book.  There is so much romantic tension (but not too much for the boys) and I am ready to figure out how things will work out for Jaron.  I would highly recommend this one to boys and girls alike…and I know of a few students that are anxiously awaiting our Scholastic order to get their hands on this one!  

4 out of 5 stars