Skip to main content

The Runaway King

Man oh man can Jennifer Nielsen write a story that captures you and won't let you out of its grip until it's done. That was the case with last year's The False Prince (my thoughts) and its sequel, The Runaway King, has the same effect.

**Spoilers for The False Prince ahead. If you haven't read that one, read it, then come back and read this.**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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 Runaway King starts fast and doesn't let up the entire time. The world of this second book is larger and the plot has more action. Reading it is rather like taking a ride on a roller coaster that occasionally jerks to a halt and drops you blind onto some unseen track. I loved that about it. This volume has assassins, thieves, and pirates. There is plenty of action and adventure, but it remains a story about Jaron and his quest to find his place in the best way he can. Jaron is figuring out what type of ruler he is going to be and exactly what is the best way to help his country. In Jaron Nielsen has created a character the reader can truly care about and root for. I sure do. This is problematic for the steadiness of my emotions as Jaron is as reckless as they come with his own safety. He acts on plans with little knowledge or assurance that they will come right, and often they only do due to a convenient twist in events.  Jaron is clever and tries to pave his own way but he is often left having to catch up with what he doesn't know about what others are doing and planning. I like the balance between the two as it is realistic. No one ever has all the answers. Though I did feel Jaron should have been more clued in and less shocked about the true colors of a certain character.

In addition to Jaron many of the other characters from the first novel return and I loved reading about all of them again. There are also some wonderful additions to the cast. I really like the way Nielsen creates all these characters that I care about and want to see succeed while keeping up such a fast paced plot at the same time. Again, there were a few events that were a little too convenient, a couple times when I had to suspend my credulity a bit or wonder how something could be truly possible. Those moments are greatly overshadowed by the fact that I love the story and all the people in it so much. 

Warning: The end is going to make you want the next installment immediately. 

I read a copy joyously received from the publisher via NetGalley. The Runaway King is on sale March 1.

Comments

Betsy said…
Can't wait to read it!!
Brenda said…
Great review, love the series too.
Brandy said…
It's definitely a fun read.
Brandy said…
Thanks! I can't wait to see how it all wraps up in the last book.
Charlotte said…
I've just finished reading it, and drafted my own review, so now I can read yours! I'm glad I'm not alone in feeling that credulity was stretched--for me, sadly, it stretched too far and snapped. Oh well--I'm looking forward to the next book regardless....
Brandy said…
I was more bothered by how clueless Jaron was at times. I wanted the boy to wake up and pay attention. I feel like he is smarter than this. Or was in the first book anyway.

Popular posts from this blog

Favorite Kissing Scenes

When thinking of a favorite things post I could do for February I decided it would have to be kissing. I've already done couples and I was feeling in the mood to do something fluffy and Valentine's related. So kisses it is. I read more MG than YA, and the YA I read tends to not focus on romance so this was actually harder than I expected it to be though a few jumped into my head right away. (And one of my choices does actually come from a MG book. One is adult. Gasp!) The actual scene from the book is quoted followed by my thoughts. The king lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. It was not a kiss between strangers, not even a kiss between a bride and a groom. It was a kiss between a man and his wife, and when it was over, the king closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the hollow of the queen's shoulder, like a man seeking respite, like a man reaching home at the end of the day . - The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner Turner doesn't write the

TTT: Most Recent Additions to My TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly themed blog hop created by  The Broke and the Bookish  and now hosted at  That Artsy Reader Girl . This Week's Topic: Most Recent Additions to My TBR List From Most Recent to Least: What books have recently caught your eye?

This Side of Home

What attracted me to This Side of Home by Renee Watson was the cover. The story hooked my interest. The characters made me fall in love. Maya has lived her entire life in the same neighborhood in Portland hanging out with the same group of friends: her twin sister Nikki, their best friend Essence, and Ronnie, Malachi, and Devin-three boys her father mentors. They have plans for the future that involve each other: prom, college, life. But things in their neighborhood are changing. People are moving in and starting new businesses. Property values are going up as a result. In addition to change, this is also causing trouble. Essence has to move out of her  house when the owner decides he can make more money selling it than renting it. The racial demographics of the school, which has been mostly African American, is shifting. This presents new challenges and choices for Maya and her friends. It brings new people into their lives at the same time. Maya has to figure out how-and if-she wa

Serafina and the Black Cloak

Serafina and the Black Cloak  by Robert Beatty is a thrilling tale of mystery and adventure set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC in 1899. Having lived in Asheville and visited the house several times, there was no way I was going to pass up a chance to read this. (Also it's MG fantasy, always a bonus for me.) Serafina lives in secret in the basement of the Vanderbilt's spacious vacation home. She has lived there most of her life. Her father worked on the house as it was being built and is the mechanic who runs the massive generator and keeps the electricity going. Serafina is the chief rat catcher, slipping through the halls of her massive home secretly and quietly. She is light on her feet, sees well in the dark, and is quick enough to catch the vermin and keep them out. Serafina knows she if different and strange. Her father insists she stay hidden. But all that changes when one night Serafina witnesses a horrible crime. A little girl, a guest in the house, is fleein

Shorter Musings MG Fantasy

Here are some shorter musings on recent MG fantasy reads. Anya and the Dragon   by Sofiya Pasternack This book is fun. It is a book full of adventure, an obvious bad guy, some more complicated morally gray area characters, and a strong, brave heroine. It is also a book about friendships, community, and fighting for what is right. All things that usually work for me really well. While I enjoyed this, I did feel it was a little overlong and there were certain plot points at the end I didn't love. However, there were things I thought were done really well, such as Anya's Jewish faith and the idea that power needs to be challenged. In the end it was a middle of the road read for me, but it is one I will certainly be recommending to dragon and fantasy adventure lovers I know! R is for Rebel   by J. Anderson Coats This is tough because I usually really like Coats's books. I had such a hard time with this one though on so many levels. It's difficult to get into because t