Ascendance Series

Stories

Sage is a fourteen-year-old orphan who steals from a local butcher and is caught, but is saved by nobleman Bevin Conner, who buys him from the orphanage owner. Conner is visiting orphanages to buy teenage boys who resemble the missing prince Jaron, who was killed in a pirate attack, intending to replace the prince and control the throne. Along with other orphans Roden and Tobias, Sage undergoes training to impersonate the prince. He meets Imogen, a servant girl believed to be mute but who is not, and Mott, one of Conner's men, who befriends Sage.

Sage develops feelings for Imogen but does not act on them, as Princess Amarinda of Bultain is betrothed to the throne. Before leaving for the capital, Mott figures out who Sage is and puts himself in Sage's service. Sage learns that whoever is not chosen by Conner will be killed. Conner initially chooses Roden as prince, but after Sage performs a coin trick only the prince could do, Conner selects Sage instead.

Cregan, one of Conner's men, conspires with Roden to have Roden kill Sage and Tobias. After arriving in the capital and defeating Roden in a duel for the identity of the false prince, Sage reveals Conner's plan and then reveals himself as the true prince Jaron, who escaped the pirate attack. Conner had ordered the pirate attack on Prince Jaron and poisoned the King and Queen. Jaron assumes the title of The Ascendant King, is crowned after imprisoning Conner, and posthumously declares Imogen's father a nobleman, making her a noble who stays at the castle, and making Tobias a noble as well.

King Jaron is attacked by Roden, who has joined the Avenian pirates. Roden tells Jaron that the pirates seek to kill Jaron because they failed the first time, and that the pirates are giving Jaron ten days to surrender or they will attack Carthya. Jaron realizes the pirates are in alliance with Avenia to kill him and destroy Carthya.

Inspiration

The idea of a forced royal impersonation had been on Nielsen's mind for a while, but she lacked a protagonist with enough weight to drive the story. While working with troubled youth, she noticed a boy everyone doubted who became one of the first to hit key program goals. That boy shaped Sage and finally made the book work.

Reception

Critical reception for the first book in the series was mostly positive. The False Prince was named one of the New York Times' Notable Children's Books of 2012. Praise centered upon the book's appeal to a wide age group, as well as its plotting and characters. Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, calling it highly enjoyable.

The New York Times reviewer described the novel as a grim story that takes an occasional mordant turn, concluding that it makes the effort of reading worth the getting to the end but that the absence of a fully furnished world keeps the page turner from lingering long after the book is closed. Popular reception was also positive; the paperback reprint placed it on The New York Times Best Seller list in May 2013. It won the 2015 Intermediate Sequoyah Book Award, voted upon by students in Oklahoma.

Nielsen has been grateful for the response from reluctant readers and their families. Reception for the second entry was more mixed. Publishers Weekly called it a solid sequel but commented that the villains were perhaps too easily manipulated by the young king. Common Sense Media gave a mixed review, criticizing Jaron's arrogance and saying the reasoning behind his reckless schemes is often unclear.

The Buffalo News was more positive, stating that Nielsen offers memorable characters, a complex world, and a vivid political backdrop. Reception for the third book was also mixed. Praise came from how it provided a satisfying ending and was gripping, while it was criticized for unrealistic plot and over-summarized action. In late 2012, Nielsen announced that film rights had been purchased by Paramount Pictures with intent to create a film series.

Bryan Cogman was hired to adapt the first book into a screenplay, and Deborah Forte was announced as producer. In March 2017, Nielsen announced that Paramount would not be renewing the contract.