The False Prince
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 11+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
A clever page-turner with a hero who lies well but keeps faith with his friends. Sage protects the weak and keeps his promises in a court full of schemers, and that loyalty is the book's moral center. The reservations are a dark world where trust is foolish, a murder shown in front of children, and devils spoken of as if they rule fate in a land with no God.
For parents
Read aloud from 10, independent reading from 11. The violence is real but not gory. Ask when, if ever, Sage's lies were wrong, and why truth matters even under pressure (CCC 2482). Ask why the people talk about devils and never pray. Ask what makes a true king.