The False Prince

by Jennifer A. Nielsen  

Welcome back to Readascopic.  To find out more about the blog click here.  This time I am writing about another book set in the medieval era.

Sword skills are important in this book

This is the first book in the Ascendance trilogy.  

Rating
*****
This book is set in a land called Carthya in a late medieval age when cannons have just been invented, as you will find out in later books.  

The main character is a young orphan called Sage who is forced to work for a man named Conner. He is trained to be a gentleman with two other orphans.  This involves learning how to use a sword, riding a horse and being taught about politics in the kingdom.  One of the children will be chosen to help Conner in his devious plan; the others don't want to guess what will happen to them if they are not chosen. 

The three orphans become close friends without realising it but they still have to fight each other.  This makes the book full of tension and you can really understand the difficulties facing all the characters.

Jennifer A. Nielsen is really good at putting her ideas on the page but not getting bogged down in description.  This is good if you like getting to the action quickly.   

I really liked this book because it is set in my favourite time and is full of plots, schemes and sneaking out in the night.  It is always a hard time for Sage but somehow he overcomes it every time.  But will he be chosen? 

Hope you enjoy reading this book.
Look out for the next post!

The Reada

The Mystery of the Whistling Caves

by Helen Moss

Welcome back to Readascopic.  To find out more about the blog click here.  This time I am writing about a book from a great children's writer, Helen Moss.  

Emily's notebook 

This is the first book in the "Adventure Island" series by Helen Moss.

Rating
*****

"The Mystery of the Whistling Caves" is in a series that is full of adventure, fun and daring actions.  I would recommend it for slightly younger readers.  Once you've read this series you can return to it again and again and it is still gripping and exciting.  

Scott and Jack Carter have to spend the summer holidays in Castle Key because their dad is on an archaeological dig.  They think it will be a boring holiday with their great aunt Kate but when they meet Emily Wild and her dog Drift they end up exploring the whistling caves caves and solving exciting mysteries.  Other characters are Old Bob, Vicky White and Mrs Loveday who sometimes help the three kids but sometimes irritate them.  

I liked this book because it is set on a remote island with a small population that you can get to know really well.  Emily is very fun to read about and she knows about everything on the island.  She is also obsessed with her notebook!  Helen Moss is great at subtle humour and I found myself laughing out loud at what was going on.   

The three children have to solve a major crime by finding some valuable Saxon artefacts.  This book has a lot of tension and cliffhangers which makes it difficult to put down.  

Hope you enjoy reading this book.  There are plenty more in this series!  Click here to find out more on Helen Moss's website.
Look out for the next post!

The Reada