Has Any One Else Read...

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen? Because it just SCREAMED THE THIEF to me, so much that I actually stopped reading it to post here. Anyone else read it so we can discuss? :D

In short SAGE = GEN 
On so many levels it just weirded me out, I thought I was reading about Gen in his younger days except there was no Attolia, Eddis or Anything so I got confused. Came here and posted as fast as I could. I am not saying it's NOT a good book, it is, it's just GEN. Like I can't really explain it's probably because I'm obsessed with the QT series... but every time Sage said something I thought that's Gen!

Here's just a few lines I grabbed really quick to say, 'I'm not crazy he sounds like GEN' lol : (When talking about an incident concerning a wild horse/riding session)
My soft laughter widened, then I grabbed my chest. "It hurts to laugh. I must've bruised a rib. If you want me to tell you I'm that stupid, I will. The evidence is there"  

He has awkard moments with horses....

"Afraid of a wooden sword?" Mott teased (Mott = our Pol) 
"Just demostrating my skillsin evading an attack" I said, a grin tugging at the edge of my mouth. "Impressed?" 
"No. Pick it up" 

He avoids swords...

But mostly he whines, that's probably why I think of Gen! 

Comments

[inkasrain.livejournal.com]

I found THE FALSE PRINCE unnervingly similar to THE THIEF as well... Don't really know what to make of it, to be honest. It's a bit uncomfortable to read, once those similarities become apparent.

[shelver506.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, yes! Actually we talked about it a bit here ( http://sounis.livejournal.com/538451.html ) but only a bit.

I actually adored The False Prince precisely because of the similarities. It made my review of the book embarrassingly gushy. I'm wagering that Sage and Gen are distant cousins or something. Because Sage ISN'T Gen (he's not cool enough), but he's just the kind of boy that Gen would enjoy training. Maybe a descendant?

(My review of TFP, if you're interested: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-false-prince-by-jennifer-nielsen.html )

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I found it really similar to The Thief, but not done as well...

[manderelee.livejournal.com]

I haven't read it, but I do see a LOT of comparisons with Gen and The Thief. I was actually pretty excited to read this, but as soon as the reviews came out, I'm not sure how I would feel about the reading experience. I mean, if everyone says it's like The Thief, would that ruin the twist for me too? Before, I thought it would be a suspenseful battle between prince wannabes, but then now I'm thinking that Sage is probably just the real prince in disguise as an orphan who had the nobles set up the replacement challenge thingy, and has been plotting the whole thing in a small, dank orphanage somewhere inconspicuous. O__O

I've put it on hold now though, because a lot of people seem to like it despite the similarities, and I'd take a Gen-alike any day over other... popular male characters these days.

[(Anonymous)]

Agreed! That's exactly how I felt about it. Not actually bad, but not nearly as good as The Thief. And I think I might have enjoyed it more if it hadn't reminded me of The Thief quite so strongly.

[(Anonymous)]

That's me, btw -- sorry I forgot to sign.
~deirdrej

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, that's exactly how i felt, awkward because I was like, 'this is just like The Thief but not as good....(like I'm sure if I read it BEFORE TT) but after it was just TOO awkward and too similar!

[meltintall3.livejournal.com]

I liked The False Prince because of the similarities in character types as well. (As I think I mentioned previously, I didn't notice parallels with TT until someone else mentioned it; I'm still trying to nail down some mysterious other book it reminded me of!) The smart-mouth hero who is his own worst enemy, who tries to talk himself out of doing a big heroic thing... fun reading times.

[ladyadeone.livejournal.com]

Heh. I just read it recently and was also struck by the strong similarities to The Thief. Gen and Sage are both teen boys who are chosen by a mysterious older gentleman for top secret purposes involving royal succession. They are both whiny, thieving individuals who are hiding surprising skills. Even the feel of the story was similar.

I would say it's Thief Lite - The Thief for younger readers. : P

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

Ditto to both of you.

[hapaxnym.livejournal.com]

I quite liked it -- like everybody else I was struck by the resemblance to The Thief, so that it was easy to spot all the clues to the "twist". But the ending took the story someplace entirely different, and I am looking forward to reading more about Sage.