Heir Apparent

By: Vivian Vande Velde

Narrated by: Carine Montbertrand

Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

In the virtual reality game Heir Apparent, there are way too many ways to get killed, and Giannine seems to be finding them all. Which is a darn shame, because unless she can get the magic ring, locate the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll never win.

And she has to, because losing means she'll die, for real this time.

Public Domain (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Hilarious characters...plus fantastical elements...will spur readers on toward the satisfying conclusion." (Publishers Weekly)

Engaging and enjoyable

I am a grade 7 English teacher. I was looking for a novel that featured a video game as central to the plot and that had a female protagonist ... a tall ask! "Heir Apparent" was suggested and met the requirements very well. Although the novel lacks some sophistication to satisfy the modern grade 7 gamer, Vande Velde deals with the changing parameters and repetitive nature of gaming very well. The story is engaging and my students really enjoyed reading the book. I used the audiobook to listen to the novel during my commute and for one of my students (a reluctant reader), who wished that the narrator had a 'younger' voice. Personally, I found that Carine Montbertrand reads well. Her voices are excellently presented and consistent throughout the novel.

Mom of four in Dallas

This book is a must read/listen for any middleschool aged student. It has the thrill of high adventure, the passion of the middle ages, swords, castles, and dragons, and the power to pull in any avid video gamer. This kind of mix makes this book difficult for the analytical reader to put down, as it never goes where you think it is heading. The main character is a 14 year old girl who finds herself in a virtual reallity game where she plays the roll of the King's illegitimate child (raised as a sheep herder) named the heir apparent at his death bed. She has three days to be crowned king. The obstacles to this include three legitimate older brothers and their mother, the Queen, the barbarians to the north and the peasant uprising as well as many other obstacles she discovers along the way. It was on the summer reading list for gifted and talented/Pre-AP Language Arts. You won't regret it. Awesome....

just meh

I read this book in 8th grade and remember loving it. I was feeling nostalgic and thought I'd relive those childhood memories. The book would have been riveting to my 8th grade self who was just getting into reading, but now at 31 I found it mediocre. not bad, not great. Just middle of the road

Very Good, Worth Listening to

Kept me listening nearly non-stop until the end. My 13yr old son loved it as well. All video game role playing junkies should find it worth listening to.

slow to start but worth it.

slow to get going. plenty of character development and association. more slowness with the false starts.
once the first few hours are past, things start to happen and things are interesting.

Love it

I've read this book several times already but that's what happens when I love a book I keep reading.😊

Very Very much enjoyable

The story was like you, the reader, were in the game yourself, frustrating but fun! I felt so happy when Giannine found Nigel, maybe they Will end up dating, who knows!

Best Book I've Read in a LONG TIME!!!

I has been a long time since I had read a book that had me so engaged that I didn't want to put it down. My husband and I were listening to it anytime the kids were in the car with us and I found myself continuously wanting to listen ahead and just take it hack later once the boys where back in the car. It was so good I even want to read it again.

A Hidden Gem

I first listened to this story way back in 2004, and just like it did then, it still manages to captivate me.

"Heir Apparent," is a mixture of dry humor, science fiction, medieval fantasy, and time travel---all of which really make the experience truly memorable for me. We get to listen to 14-year-old Giannine's struggles as she tries to escape a fantasy game that could potentially end her life. Despite the dire circumstances, we learn so much about Giannine's personality and quirks through the choices she makes and the background she comes from. The supporting characters are all varied and fun to learn more about. The worlds (the future and the fantasy game) are given a set of rules that Velde adheres to wonderfully. Here you'll find murderous kings and queens, dragons, magic boots, ghosts, poem loving statues, silly magicians, and an intriguing main character that moves to plot forward.

I've always liked Carine Montertrand's narration. She's able to capture Giannine's snarky attitude. Some might not like the narrator, however, but I'd urge those who don't to try again via a physical copy of the book. It's definitely worth it!

One of my favourite books in school!

I don't know how many times I read this book while I was back in school. It's such a good read for young and old adults alike! When I added it to my library on here after randomly coming across it and having all the flashbacks, I was so excited to start listening to it, but I was a bit disappointed in the narrator. I'm not too fond of her voice, she sounds like one of those stuck up librarians always telling the kids to "SHHH!", but you get used to it after a while listening.