The Ascendance Trilogy, a young adult fantasy series by Jennifer A. Nielsen, follows the story of Sage, an orphan who is recruited to impersonate the long-lost prince Jaron and become a puppet ruler. Wikipedia describes the series as a thrilling journey filled with danger, deceit, and adventure.
The False Prince: Sage, an orphan, is recruited by Bevin Conner to impersonate the long-lost prince Jaron and unite a divided kingdom. He competes with other orphans for the role, facing treachery and deceit as he learns Conner's ulterior motives.
The Runaway King: King Jaron is attacked by Roden, still resentful of losing the throne. Jaron is forced to fight for his life and the kingdom, facing threats from Avenian pirates and other enemies.
The Shadow Throne: Avenia, Gelyn, and Mendenwal wage war against Carthya. Jaron and Roden stage a public argument to deceive their enemies, while Roden secretly defends the borders.
The Captive Kingdom: Jaron travels across the sea and uncovers secrets about his brother Darius, secrets that could lead to Carthya's destruction.
The Shattered Castle: Jaron, back in Carthya, faces another crisis as his kingdom is attacked. He must use his cunning and the secrets he uncovered to protect his people and the throne.
