The Runaway King (The Ascendance Series, Book 2)

Second book in a trilogy and the third one not out yet - and I NEED IT! This is YA and I did not list it as romance although there is a light romance running through it (that I hope ends up the way I want it to in the next book). I listed it as fantasy because it is set in a make believe land, but it is not a fantasy with dragons and such. The beauty of this wonderful story is the characters. The hero, Jaron, who is the newly crowned King but considered by some to be too young to lead, is just wonderful. He somewhat reminds me of Han in The Seven Realms series. He is resourceful, clever, has sense of humor, and I won't say totally fearless but he is able to face his fears and live up to his motto. "I never run". His once friend from the first book, The False Prince, Roden, has turned against him and is determined to kill him. But Jaron has a plan, a risky crazy plan that appears to be impossible. Lots of action, intrigue, and as I said, great characters both good and bad. There are two girls in this story, one a princess who is to marry Jaron in the future and Imogen, the serving girl who helped him throughout the first book. She plays a large part in this story too. It's not your normal triangle but I suppose when there are two girls and one boy, that makes a triangle even if different than other books. There is a lot of action in this story, and the climax of this book is a nail biter - I love Jaron with his courage and determination to never give up against the most daunting of odds. This book would be suitable for any age (encompassing my grandkids and myself!) and because it is so much the story of a boy it should appeal to boys/men as well as girls/women! I feel very fortunate that I have recently read books in three fantasy series that were so thoroughly enjoyable. I thought I was throwing out too many five stars, but maybe that is what you get when you finally learn (most of the time, not always) to choose the right books to read and whose reviews give me an idea of whether or not it will suit me. _______________________________________ Jaron: "The knots around my wrists wouldn't have been too difficult to untie, but this time, escape wasn't in my plans. All I could hope was that they gave me a chance to speak before they killed me. Although as I thought about it, it was usually only after I began speaking that most people felt like murdering me." ____________________________________________ As they began to tie me, I wanted to yell out, to release some of my fear that way, but I held it in. Imogen wouldn't be that far from here yet, and I didn't want her to know what was about to happen. If it was possible to scream on the inside, though, I was, and the sound of it was deafening." fl

Wow! That about covers it. I loved the first book, The False Prince, and I love this one just as much. I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book, the characters, the setting, and the plot. Nielsen seems to have a knack for pulling the reader into her stories and never letting go. That was certainly the case for me here. Character-wise, Jaron (Sage) dominates this book as he did the first one. Unfortunately for him, he is stuck in a rather precarious position having been just accepted as king. But he has little support even within his own court, let alone from his people and with his country just inches from war, Jaron much decide what to do about the pirates while facing the possibility of a steward taking his place until he is of age. But Jaron's strength of will, cleverness, and love of country lead him to make a very risky decision, one that could cost him everything. And he doesn't seem to realize that he does have friends that will do anything to help him, whether he wants help or not. Despite Jaron's tendency to find trouble wherever he goes and his often obnoxious tendency to say what he thinks, not to mention pushing the buttons of everyone he meets, often to his own detriment, Jaron is a character I've loved since the beginning because of his courage and determination to do what needs to be done and his utter loyalty to those he cares about. The secondary characters are just as great as Jaron. Imogen, the friend that Jaron rejects in an attempt to protect her risks life and limb to stop Jaron from getting himself killed. Mott, Jaron's loyal bodyguard also seeks to protect the young king and demonstrates his loyalty in powerful ways. Even the bad guys have depth to them, evil as they are. And Roden, the former friend, turned enemy, on whom Jaron risks everything. Will the risk pay off or will it cost Jaron everything? In terms of plot, Nielsen takes us on another breakneck ride, starting with the attempted assassination that occurs in chapter one. Disguises, disappearances, traitors, and pirates all play a key role in Jaron's journey. I'm going to leave it at that because I don't want to spoil anything, just know that the story is full of twists and turns, some expected, some not that will test Jaron to the breaking point. Another fabulous story from a talented writer. I am dying to get my hands on book three. Highly, highly recommended. One of my favorite books ever!

(This review originally appeared on The Bookwyrm's Hoard blog.) Jennifer A. Nielsen has done it again! "The Runaway King" delivers all the excitement and thrills of its best-selling predecessor, "The False Prince". [Warning: this review contains some spoilers for Book 1.] Things are not going smoothly for the newly crowned King Jaron. The neighboring kingdom of Avenia continues to make demands and threatens Carthya's borders. The Avenian pirates, aided by an old friend, are still determined to kill Jaron after their failed attempt four years earlier. Jaron's own regents are considering replacing him with a steward until he comes of age -- and there might be another traitor within their ranks. When Jaron discovers that Avenia and the pirates may join forces to wage war on Carthya, it appears his only option is to find a way to neutralize the pirate threat... personally. WHAT I LOVED: Sage is back, as clever, secretive, stubborn, and proud as ever. This time, however, the traits that kept him alive as a prince-in-hiding are likely get him killed - and possibly others as well. Imogen plays a large role in this book, and we see Mott, Amarinda, Tobias, and even Roden again as well. We also meet some new characters, some likable, some decidedly not. The plot of "The Runaway King" is every bit as convoluted and suspenseful as "The False Prince", and the pace rarely falters; it kept me on the edge of my seat. Jaron/Sage's narrative voice is perfect, and because I'd read the first book, I continually wondered what he wasn't telling me. Watching him needlessly alienate some of his friends for their own good was painful, but it fits his character perfectly. So does the rashness which nearly leads to disaster for both Jaron and Carthya - a closer brush with failure and death than in the last book. Jaron's relationship with both Imogen and Amarinda also develops in this book, in expected and unexpected ways. WHAT DIDN'T QUITE WORK: There comes a point at which a character makes an almost 180-degree turn. Nielsen gave several hints that this was a possibility, and I was able to believe it of the character himself. However, it happens in a context involving a number of other players, and I found it hard to believe that they would accept this turn of events as easily as they did. It didn't spoil the book for me, but it left me a little off-balance. It will be interesting to see whether the status quo vis-à-vis those other characters still holds in the third book. Jaron also makes a choice regarding a traitor's punishment that I felt uncomfortable with; I thought it was both a little too ruthless and a little too indifferent (an odd combination, I know) to quite fit with his personality. CONCLUSION: I loved "The Runaway King"! I tore through it in a few hours and was sorry when I reached the end. The issues I mentioned above barely dented my overall enjoyment, and I can hardly wait until the third book to come out (probably sometime in 2014.) Fans of "The False Prince" will not be disappointed: "The Runaway King" will pull you in and keep you reading late into the night. [FCC disclosure: I received an advance review copy from the publisher. Any opinions are solely my own.]

Waiting for me within my mailbox today was Jennifer Nielsen's Runaway King, the anxiously awaited second installment in her Ascendents Trilogy. After very carefully opening my Amazon package (read: frustratingly tugging at the tape until finally finding scissors to open the infernal thing), I quickly delved into the book, becoming immersed within the world that Nielsen has carefully crafted. Reminiscent of Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief Series, the character Jaron, like Turner's Gen, captivates the reader. His confidence, his sarcasm, his quick retorts, and his carefully hidden doubts and vulnerabilities, all create a vivid and beloved main character. Nielson weaves us through his thoughts throughout his journey while still hiding most of Jaron's intent, showing again and again how strategic his mind is--a mind that thinks like a king. As the novel progresses, we get an even better insight to Jaron's kingly qualities, which are qualities that inspire his people and bring hope for his country. Within the first few pages of Runaway King, Nielsen creates a tense atmosphere. We can feel the weight that has fallen on Jaron's shoulders and the loneliness with which he aches. He is still struggling with coming to terms with his father's dealings with him for the past four years while mourning the loss of his family and the fact that he will never be able to reconcile with them. He also hugely feels the differences between himself and his brother, finding himself lacking. On top of his personal struggles, Jaron also has to watch his back in a court the doubts his abilities as King and openly scorns him. Jaron has few he can truly trust, and he desperately needs friends to help him fight for his right to be king and for his country. However, like most heroes, Jaron sets out alone, trying to save his friends and country from the ravages of pirates and war. The story's pace never slows. Just as Jaron is running, we are running right along with him. Along with the burdens we see laid on Jaron's shoulders and the seriousness of the situation that Carthya is in, Nielson still creates a lightness to ease the tension: Jaron's sarcasm and his witty remarks. Several times I found myself laughing out loud to one of Jaron's responses. For example, while talking to his council, one of the regents ask, "Which part do you object to?" to which Jaron responds, "The part where you began speaking." Jaron is unafraid to speak his mind, even if his mouth often gets him into trouble. I absolutely love it. Upon reaching the end of this fast-paced novel, we (I) am left wanting for more. Now, I must wait another year waiting for how Jaron will get his country through the war waiting at his doorstep-- wait a year until the next book is delievered to my doorstep.

I don't think I will ever get tired of characters who, no matter how terrible the odds against them are, will always have a trick up their sleeve, or plans that no one saw coming. Jaron walks the fine line between doing reckless things on the spur of the moment and doing reckless things that are well thought out and planned from the beginning. He's always unexpected in that way, and reading about his adventures is just so entertaining! There are great secondary characters in this story who contribute to truly touching friendships. Jaron surrounds himself with people who care about him, even as they are exasperated by his actions, and seeing that kind of loyalty in their group made me tear up more than once actually. The romance aspect with Imogen is really touching as well because their relationship is born of actions and not words and it is particularly emotional I think that they feel a certain way for each other but never say it. I think it was nice to see Jaron on his own and relying on his wits again in this - as there was a danger now that he is king that he would be so mired and hindered by the politics and his need to prove himself to his country. The reader sees still more of his cleverness and resourcefulness as he comes up against some very daunting odds. It's incredibly satisfying really to read every moment when he comes through on his claims despite how outrageous they may seem. I just love characters who deliver on their promises, and Jaron always does. This is such a fun book and a fantastic series so far, if you haven't had a chance to pick it up yet, I highly recommend you do and save it for when you need a diverting story where everything is possible as long as you have the will and the spirit to accomplish it.

Reader thoughts: I expected to be amazed, which is always dangerous with a book I want so badly to like. JN delivered; Jaron/Sage was just as good in this book as the last one. The first is still my favorite of the three because there are the most reveals. I started to get used to Jaron's way of keeping secrets from the reader by the end of the trilogy, and, while I was still impressed with his cleverness, I was less surprised. Now, the Runaway King shows Jaron with more responsibility and even more readiness to sacrifice everything to save those he loves, which happens to include his entire kingdom. He is as witty as Alcatraz Smedry, as wily as Artemis Fowl, and as dedicated as Percy Jackson. He's quite the gambler and repeatedly throws all into the conflict to gain the world or lose it. I just love that he has no trouble putting his life on the line for anyone he cares about, even those he just met. I also love an MC in pain. Jaron is always getting injured and pushing through to resolve the conflict despite the pain of, say, a broken leg. Writer thoughts: These stories are so well crafted. Somehow, readers get a sense of the outside world (the commoners, the other kingdoms, etc.) without JN having to mention anyone more than necessary. Even Jaron's encounter with thieves toward the beginning turns into a main plot point later. It is clear that JN has a plan going and each scene accomplishes three or four things. Master storytelling, and in one of the funnest voices, too (next to Connwaer's in The Magic Thief and Alcatraz Smedry's).

He may have taken his rightful place on the throne, but Sage - now known to be the long lost prince Jaron - still has many problems ahead. Roden, the brilliant swordsman who used to be his friend, has joined the vicious pirates of Tarblade Bay, while the evil king of Avania, Vargan, threatens invasion and war to Carthya. And, to Jaron's dismay, even those within his own kingdom are quickly turning against him. Desperate, he flees the kingdom, to take the defense of his country into the only hands he believes capable - his own. Book two of the Ascendance Trilogy is one of the few sequels that overshadows its predecessor. April Henkley did it for the Rebellion Series, and, to a lesser extent, The Sea of Monsters for Percy Jackson. But Runaway is truly a masterpiece, filled with emotion and the wild-fully childish behavior of Jaron, who, in many ways, is still the thief he used to be. He is as masterful, funny and brave as before, even though the odds are even worse in this tale than in False. But, no book is perfect... Imagen. That's not how you spell her name, but I don't care. Allow me to go scream in the phonebooth. ...ok, I'm back. I HATE HER. I'm not exactly sure how to end my review, so I guess I'll just tell you the truth - this may be the best trilogy ever written for young adults - Imagen excluded - and all three books, False, Runaway and Shadow, are worthy of their fandom.

We received the first part of this trilogy in a packet of summer readers for our kids and ended up reading it all together as a family, then we ordered this, the second book. Wow. We are ridiculously impressed. The story is interesting and engaging (and surprising even), and the writing is a big step above! The writing is so noticeably good, that after we had finished this novel and decided to take a break by reading from a different series that we like, my husband and I both were struck by how much we noticed the writing (that is, that it wasn't as good as Nielsen's writing). Another thing that we thought was interesting is how well female author Jennifer Nielsen writes male characters--and the first two novels are predominantly male charactered. It's irrelevant to enjoying the novels, but we thought it interesting nonetheless. We will definitely be buying the third book in the series soon.