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The Stolen Kingdom #1
The Stolen Kingdom: An Aladdin Retelling
How can she protect her kingdom, if she can’t protect herself?
Princess Arie never expected to manifest a Jinni’s Gift. When she begins to hear the thoughts of those around her, she hides it to the best of her ability. But to her dismay, the forbidden Gift is growing out of control.
When a neighboring king tries to force her hand in marriage and steal her kingdom, discovery becomes imminent. Just one slip could cost her throne. And her life.
A lamp, a heist, and a Jinni hunter’s crew of thieves are her only hope for removing this Gift--and she must remove it before she’s exposed. Or die trying.
THE STOLEN KINGDOM is a loose Aladdin retelling. Set in a world that humans share with Mermaids, Dragons, and the elusive Jinni, this isn’t the fairytale you remember...
***Fans of fairy tale retellings like The Lunar Chronicles, supernatural fantasy worlds like The Cruel Prince, and stories with a crew of thieves like Six of Crows will be drawn to the romance, tension, and magical surprises of the Jinni and human worlds colliding in Bethany Atazadeh’s The Stolen Kingdom Series. ***
Princess Arie never expected to manifest a Jinni’s Gift. When she begins to hear the thoughts of those around her, she hides it to the best of her ability. But to her dismay, the forbidden Gift is growing out of control.
When a neighboring king tries to force her hand in marriage and steal her kingdom, discovery becomes imminent. Just one slip could cost her throne. And her life.
A lamp, a heist, and a Jinni hunter’s crew of thieves are her only hope for removing this Gift--and she must remove it before she’s exposed. Or die trying.
THE STOLEN KINGDOM is a loose Aladdin retelling. Set in a world that humans share with Mermaids, Dragons, and the elusive Jinni, this isn’t the fairytale you remember...
***Fans of fairy tale retellings like The Lunar Chronicles, supernatural fantasy worlds like The Cruel Prince, and stories with a crew of thieves like Six of Crows will be drawn to the romance, tension, and magical surprises of the Jinni and human worlds colliding in Bethany Atazadeh’s The Stolen Kingdom Series. ***
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2019
328 people are currently reading
5218 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Atazadeh
21 books1,076 followersOnce upon a time, Bethany Atazadeh escaped into writing YA fantasy—and never came back. Now she’s the award-winning author of The Stolen Kingdom Series, a wife, mom of two, and professional chocolate taster (unofficial title), who shares her writing adventures and helpful tips she’s learned about publishing on YouTube. To find out when her next book arrives, sign up at bethanyatazadeh.com.
CONNECT WITH BETHANY ON:
Website: www.bethanyatazadeh.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/bethanyatazadeh
Instagram: @authorbethanyatazadeh
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bethanyatazadeh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon Author Profile: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B077FRKJGW
CONNECT WITH BETHANY ON:
Website: www.bethanyatazadeh.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/bethanyatazadeh
Instagram: @authorbethanyatazadeh
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bethanyatazadeh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon Author Profile: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B077FRKJGW
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
November 22, 2022
I never cared about Disney princess stories, so of course I couldn't care less about retellings, and I don't even know exactly what the original tale is about, but this one was such an atmospheric, sweet and cozy story.
And I'm in love with the cover.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
And I'm in love with the cover.
Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Read
April 27, 2020
The Stolen Kingdom is a loose retelling of "Aladdin" and is the first in a four-book series of fantasy retellings, all based in the same world.
Grab your copy of the book:
https://books2read.com/thestolenkingdom
Visit THE STOLEN KINGDOM website:
https://bit.ly/thestolenkingdom
*This is book one in a four-book series. The other three books in the series are set to release in fall of 2019 and spring of 2020.*
August 20, 2019
An exciting, tightly-plotted adventure with powerful characters, ‘The Stolen Kingdom’ really captured me. What I loved about this retelling was everything new Bethany Atazadeh brought to the classic Aladdin story – the magic, the female empowerment and combining it with a larger fairy-tale world.
The main character, Arie, really stood out to me. She’s a princess that cares about ruling her kingdom one day, without being afraid to get her hands dirty and do things for herself. Her determination was so strong, even in the face of manipulation, capture and almost drowning(!)…it all came through in her voice.
Her love interest, Kadin, had a equally powerful presence, and the switching between their perspectives always came at just the right point! I absolutely loved how Arie’s power to read minds affected their relationship and how they saw each other. It was such a clever way to get to know Kadin immediately, and shows an attention to character as well as plot that not all fantasies manage! I was pulling for their romance the entire time, and really anticipate what’ll go down between their as the series continues (if I could find a Jin myself, I’d wish for a happily ever after, of course!)
The pacing was excellent – everything that happened perfectly building on what came before. The scenes with the crew of thieves in the palace, and Arie showing off her powers were my favourite, you honestly won’t be able to put the book down when things come to a head with Amir. And those final chapters….wow. Talk about character development!
I read the book in one sitting, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series! Imagining how this world will expand and how the characters’ journeys will continue is so exciting. Seeds have been planted for ‘The Jinni Key’ that have me wondering if it’s even possible to wait until its December release.
We’re looking at the next ‘Lunar Chronicles’, for sure!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
The main character, Arie, really stood out to me. She’s a princess that cares about ruling her kingdom one day, without being afraid to get her hands dirty and do things for herself. Her determination was so strong, even in the face of manipulation, capture and almost drowning(!)…it all came through in her voice.
Her love interest, Kadin, had a equally powerful presence, and the switching between their perspectives always came at just the right point! I absolutely loved how Arie’s power to read minds affected their relationship and how they saw each other. It was such a clever way to get to know Kadin immediately, and shows an attention to character as well as plot that not all fantasies manage! I was pulling for their romance the entire time, and really anticipate what’ll go down between their as the series continues (if I could find a Jin myself, I’d wish for a happily ever after, of course!)
The pacing was excellent – everything that happened perfectly building on what came before. The scenes with the crew of thieves in the palace, and Arie showing off her powers were my favourite, you honestly won’t be able to put the book down when things come to a head with Amir. And those final chapters….wow. Talk about character development!
I read the book in one sitting, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series! Imagining how this world will expand and how the characters’ journeys will continue is so exciting. Seeds have been planted for ‘The Jinni Key’ that have me wondering if it’s even possible to wait until its December release.
We’re looking at the next ‘Lunar Chronicles’, for sure!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
May 2, 2020
This is the best Aladdin retelling I've ever read!
All right. I'm gonna be honest with you and admit that that's because I haven't read that many Aladdin retellings (I've read like... what, two others? I don't even know, people). And also if there is an Aladdin retelling that actually follows the original story, then please point me in that direction and I will be on my way, thank you kindly.
That being said... despite this one being more faithful to the new Aladdin movie (I do not understand; how does this one remind me more of the 2019 movie than the original Disney movie??) than the original fairytale-- which is usually a major pet peeve of mine, because there is usually so much more retelling material in the original stories, unless you're looking at "The Princess and the Pea" and then it's downsized to like ten paragraphs-- it was still super good. And this might just be wishful thinking, but the story goes on beyond this first book, and the blurb for the third book gives me Aladdin vibes. Real Aladdin vibes. Like giant-roc-bird-egg Aladdin vibes.
And yes, I'm rambling. Look, this is my first time reviewing an Aladdin retelling, so bear with me, will ya?
I really like Bethany Atazadeh's style of writing. It's nicely-structured, flows well, and isn't overly descriptive while still giving you a clear picture of what's going on. What's more, this book is written in revolving 1st-person POVs, which usually annoys me because I don't like that particular trend in YA (but that's just me, really, and my being so used to past-tense that I was literally gobsmacked when I first learned present-tense existed and was an acceptable literary writing form). Yet I still enjoyed the book without being annoyed by that. And I even liked the characters, which is huge because when does Merie ever love the main characters who are narrating the story, right??
I have to admit, I like Arie more than Kadin. I love Arie <3 She is such a sweet, strong female lead and sTiLl reminds me of Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine *winces* I don't know, a lot of the feminine-strength themes just really went to match that of Aladdin 2019, okay? Nevertheless, I definitely like Arie over Jasmine *shrug* She wasn't annoying. She was even lovable and relatable despite the fact that she's a princess.
Kadin... *shrug again* I wasn't particularly attached to him, but I have to admit, his and Arie's first meeting was absolutely ADORABLE. I still don't exactly ship them, of course-- I mean, duh they're together there's no changing that, but y'all already know that when I hardcore ship a couple... it usually means they don't exist. *headdesk*
The Crew~ They were so much fun and I could actually tell them apart! Okay, that isn't much of a big deal considering I can always tell characters apart if I have a mind to, but... I had a mind to this time. :))))
Obviously, Gideon is my favorite character. Need I say more?
I will say more. I initially decided to read this book when I saw that a major character's name in the book was *gasp* Gideon. (Thanks a lot, Angela. Also, Mya, you could have mentioned that little fact to me when you first recommended it? Then maybe I would have read it a long time ago...) But even if his name weren't Gideon, I would've still enjoyed his character immensely. *thumbs up*
The plot was really well-done. It definitely kept me turning the pages. So maybe I do wish it stayed truer to the original version than the Disney one, but... *raises hands* Perhaps we'll see about that in the future, eh? ;)
Now here comes the best part *dusts off hands*
THE WORLDBUILDING.
*everyone around me collectively groans*
It goes without saying that I won't judge a book by its worldbuilding (... unless it's really awful and distracts me too much from the book). And no, I did not judge this book by its worldbuilding because *lowers voice into a whisper* it was so subtly done.
Okay, maybe a bit too subtly-- I would've liked to see more descriptions of the culture in particular. Especially the food, because I'm always going for the food; and also architecture because unique architecture is my secret worldbuilding love (that sounds lame, I know, but it's truly not). But, you know, it wasn't that big of a deal (I can hear the cats hissing), and the author put in enough for me to enjoy it, personally. I have no idea how the rest of you feel about worldbuilding, but I was satisfied in this book, while still wanting to see more of this world. I cannot wait for that time to come. I really like how she borrowed some aspects of Persian (I believe it was Persia. what else could it be) culture to lightly sprinkle into her own world, and THAT, my friends is how it's done. (Worldbuilding is not making a carbon copy of a real-world culture; she made her own the way real cultures are formed and that was wonderful so there.) The whole Jinni and Meres thing was great. xD
Anyway.
Thanks for staying with me through this long rambly sometimes-sidetracked and highly unprofessional review. :P
Yes, I'm done now, and I wonder if this is the longest review I've ever written... but oh well. All for the better, right? ;)
All right. I'm gonna be honest with you and admit that that's because I haven't read that many Aladdin retellings (I've read like... what, two others? I don't even know, people). And also if there is an Aladdin retelling that actually follows the original story, then please point me in that direction and I will be on my way, thank you kindly.
That being said... despite this one being more faithful to the new Aladdin movie (I do not understand; how does this one remind me more of the 2019 movie than the original Disney movie??) than the original fairytale-- which is usually a major pet peeve of mine, because there is usually so much more retelling material in the original stories, unless you're looking at "The Princess and the Pea" and then it's downsized to like ten paragraphs-- it was still super good. And this might just be wishful thinking, but the story goes on beyond this first book, and the blurb for the third book gives me Aladdin vibes. Real Aladdin vibes. Like giant-roc-bird-egg Aladdin vibes.
And yes, I'm rambling. Look, this is my first time reviewing an Aladdin retelling, so bear with me, will ya?
I really like Bethany Atazadeh's style of writing. It's nicely-structured, flows well, and isn't overly descriptive while still giving you a clear picture of what's going on. What's more, this book is written in revolving 1st-person POVs, which usually annoys me because I don't like that particular trend in YA (but that's just me, really, and my being so used to past-tense that I was literally gobsmacked when I first learned present-tense existed and was an acceptable literary writing form). Yet I still enjoyed the book without being annoyed by that. And I even liked the characters, which is huge because when does Merie ever love the main characters who are narrating the story, right??
I have to admit, I like Arie more than Kadin. I love Arie <3 She is such a sweet, strong female lead and sTiLl reminds me of Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine *winces* I don't know, a lot of the feminine-strength themes just really went to match that of Aladdin 2019, okay? Nevertheless, I definitely like Arie over Jasmine *shrug* She wasn't annoying. She was even lovable and relatable despite the fact that she's a princess.
Kadin... *shrug again* I wasn't particularly attached to him, but I have to admit, his and Arie's first meeting was absolutely ADORABLE. I still don't exactly ship them, of course-- I mean, duh they're together there's no changing that, but y'all already know that when I hardcore ship a couple... it usually means they don't exist. *headdesk*
The Crew~ They were so much fun and I could actually tell them apart! Okay, that isn't much of a big deal considering I can always tell characters apart if I have a mind to, but... I had a mind to this time. :))))
Obviously, Gideon is my favorite character. Need I say more?
I will say more. I initially decided to read this book when I saw that a major character's name in the book was *gasp* Gideon. (Thanks a lot, Angela. Also, Mya, you could have mentioned that little fact to me when you first recommended it? Then maybe I would have read it a long time ago...) But even if his name weren't Gideon, I would've still enjoyed his character immensely. *thumbs up*
The plot was really well-done. It definitely kept me turning the pages. So maybe I do wish it stayed truer to the original version than the Disney one, but... *raises hands* Perhaps we'll see about that in the future, eh? ;)
Now here comes the best part *dusts off hands*
THE WORLDBUILDING.
*everyone around me collectively groans*
It goes without saying that I won't judge a book by its worldbuilding (... unless it's really awful and distracts me too much from the book). And no, I did not judge this book by its worldbuilding because *lowers voice into a whisper* it was so subtly done.
Okay, maybe a bit too subtly-- I would've liked to see more descriptions of the culture in particular. Especially the food, because I'm always going for the food; and also architecture because unique architecture is my secret worldbuilding love (that sounds lame, I know, but it's truly not). But, you know, it wasn't that big of a deal (I can hear the cats hissing), and the author put in enough for me to enjoy it, personally. I have no idea how the rest of you feel about worldbuilding, but I was satisfied in this book, while still wanting to see more of this world. I cannot wait for that time to come. I really like how she borrowed some aspects of Persian (I believe it was Persia. what else could it be) culture to lightly sprinkle into her own world, and THAT, my friends is how it's done. (Worldbuilding is not making a carbon copy of a real-world culture; she made her own the way real cultures are formed and that was wonderful so there.) The whole Jinni and Meres thing was great. xD
Anyway.
Thanks for staying with me through this long rambly sometimes-sidetracked and highly unprofessional review. :P
Yes, I'm done now, and I wonder if this is the longest review I've ever written... but oh well. All for the better, right? ;)
Want to read
July 18, 2019this cover is so pretty omg i need this book
June 13, 2020
”You wanna marry this guy? Or do you want us to bust you out of here? Just say the word. I swung my gaze to meet his warm golden eyes, and he winked.” -The Stolen Kingdom
Don’t you ever have that marvelous feeling when you read a book, and you just get a deliciously-weird butterfly feeling you just want to hide under the covers of your bed and giggle to yourself while you squirm with joy? Just me? Well, that’s exactly how I felt reading The Stolen Kingdom. *Swoons*
How do I even start this review?! Well, I loved it. Every single thing about this book is magical. I was very intrigued by how Bethany was going to develop the story. I tried to conceive ideas on how the story would unfold, and let me tell you; you don’t even have the least idea of it! I was so surprised by the twist she gave the book and the integration of other magical kingdoms and characters. I feel we are going to get more than a glimpse of them in her next books (Eeep!).
The story is told from multi-POV an even though it was a little difficult to get into character when the POV changed, I really liked being able to get into the main character’s thoughts. I wish we could have seen a little more about Gideon, but I have a feeling the second book will solve that *Winks*. I also liked the focus Bethany gave to The Stolen Kingdom’s main character, Arie. It has that girl power vibe minus the feminist side…For me, its perfection! I really missed reading about female lead characters that were strong, but at the same time, they don’t shy away when people want to help her or even refuse ASKING help. I absolutely enjoyed that aspect.
From the very first page until the bonus chapter for the next book, I can guarantee you, Bethany will have you captivated with stories about jennies in human bodies, a gang of dark and mysterious thieves, vivid descriptions of castles, fragrances of exotic spices, and the sparkling lives of people in the orient. Trust me, you will wish for a magic carpet ASAP.
Cleanness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 (Bastard is mentioned once, and there are some somewhat descriptive kisses
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
** I received an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All the above-mentioned thoughts are my own and weren’t influenced by the author or publisher. **
Don’t you ever have that marvelous feeling when you read a book, and you just get a deliciously-weird butterfly feeling you just want to hide under the covers of your bed and giggle to yourself while you squirm with joy? Just me? Well, that’s exactly how I felt reading The Stolen Kingdom. *Swoons*
How do I even start this review?! Well, I loved it. Every single thing about this book is magical. I was very intrigued by how Bethany was going to develop the story. I tried to conceive ideas on how the story would unfold, and let me tell you; you don’t even have the least idea of it! I was so surprised by the twist she gave the book and the integration of other magical kingdoms and characters. I feel we are going to get more than a glimpse of them in her next books (Eeep!).
The story is told from multi-POV an even though it was a little difficult to get into character when the POV changed, I really liked being able to get into the main character’s thoughts. I wish we could have seen a little more about Gideon, but I have a feeling the second book will solve that *Winks*. I also liked the focus Bethany gave to The Stolen Kingdom’s main character, Arie. It has that girl power vibe minus the feminist side…For me, its perfection! I really missed reading about female lead characters that were strong, but at the same time, they don’t shy away when people want to help her or even refuse ASKING help. I absolutely enjoyed that aspect.
From the very first page until the bonus chapter for the next book, I can guarantee you, Bethany will have you captivated with stories about jennies in human bodies, a gang of dark and mysterious thieves, vivid descriptions of castles, fragrances of exotic spices, and the sparkling lives of people in the orient. Trust me, you will wish for a magic carpet ASAP.
Cleanness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 (Bastard is mentioned once, and there are some somewhat descriptive kisses
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
** I received an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All the above-mentioned thoughts are my own and weren’t influenced by the author or publisher. **
January 26, 2022
*4.5*
It's just over TOO soon, y'all. Excuse me while I go mourn over the ending. 😭 I think I'm too emotionally invested in stories. XD
Review to come. :)
It's just over TOO soon, y'all. Excuse me while I go mourn over the ending. 😭 I think I'm too emotionally invested in stories. XD
Review to come. :)
September 12, 2019
It was a really nice retelling of Aladdin.
I loved the magic, the gifts and the characters. The adventures were really fun and often unexpected.
The resolution of the different issues they encounter feels sometimes a bit too easy and would have needed more time and trials to be more believable.
The relationships between the characters are sweet but again it evolves faster than expected and I would have preferred some time to build feelings and attachement, same thing with the attraction between two people.
I was so excited when Arie meets the gang but after a few chapters they were not distinctive enough to be attached to them. For instance, there are two cousins who were undistinguishable for me...
I really liked Gideon (I think he’ll be the main character of the 2nd book) and his friendship with Arie.
Despite these shortcomings, I liked my reading and had a good time reading it: will read book 2 when it’s out.
I loved the magic, the gifts and the characters. The adventures were really fun and often unexpected.
The resolution of the different issues they encounter feels sometimes a bit too easy and would have needed more time and trials to be more believable.
The relationships between the characters are sweet but again it evolves faster than expected and I would have preferred some time to build feelings and attachement, same thing with the attraction between two people.
I was so excited when Arie meets the gang but after a few chapters they were not distinctive enough to be attached to them. For instance, there are two cousins who were undistinguishable for me...
I really liked Gideon (I think he’ll be the main character of the 2nd book) and his friendship with Arie.
Despite these shortcomings, I liked my reading and had a good time reading it: will read book 2 when it’s out.
August 18, 2019
Stolen Kingdom by Bethany is a YA fantasy loose (very very very loose) retelling of Aladdin in which a young princess (Arie) has to try and save her kingdom from being stolen from her by a powerful foreign king (King Amir) with magical powers of persuasion. She runs away in order to try to prevent a wedding between her and king from happening and meets Kadin, a young jinni hunter who is trying to find a jinni in order to take revenge on another jinni who wronged him and his friend.
I think that's one of the best book synopsis that i have ever given on this blog and any where else.
And the cover is hella pretty, like I want a hardcover edition just for the cover alone. It is stunning and magical.
Now, I didn't know any of that going into the book. All I knew was Aladdin retelling and so when I went into I was waiting for my Aladdin. I love the Disney story of Aladdin and basically wanted to see some elements of that and perhaps any other version of Aladdin I had read in my childhood or recently.
That's not a bad thing. Honestly, I don't tend to like retellings where you can see the plot of the other story so much that you should just read the actual original story and the characters are just carbon copies.
It was said that it was a "loose" retelling, I didn't remember that.
This book was a good book, nothing much of note in it though. Most of the characters were likeable enough and I found myself rooting for Princess Arie and Kadin during most of it, I definitely was shipping them but like I low-key was shipping Kadin and Gideon because once I'm trash for gay couples until my hopes got crushed in the sneak preview for the 2nd book in the series. (I won't spoil that here, go get the book and read it yourself) One day when that comes out, we will talk about that. But besides the shipping, I didn't have much emotional attachment to the characters. It was mainly just surface level care, nothing deep.
Besides King Amir not being a enjoyable antagonistic force to read about and the story being very simplistic and round-a-bout, I enjoyed most of it. A few parts here and there dragged but overall, the writing is solid and the pacing is good and it makes for a good YA fantasy read.
Not the best YA fantasy read but certainly not the worst. It was enjoyable for what it was and even though it did try to take itself seriously in all the feminist "girls can do it to parts", I didn't care much for it.
Three distinct small nitpicks I have are:
1. Corsets were never meant to strangle you. As a history nerd, nothing drives me more insane than people misunderstanding past trends especially with regard to fashion within what seems to be a pre-1900 world where corsets were a common part of everyday clothing. Corsets were laced tight, yes but normally people would not lace them in a manner that would cut off oxygen flow. No proper historical backing can be found for this modern misunderstanding of corsets.
2. Many minor characters flitted in and out and suddenly became very important at the climax of the novel without much preamble. I don't know if it was me but certain characters (keeping this spoiler free because we could go on all day) became a lot more important in the climax of the story and I felt like they didn't have much proper introduction.
3. This is clearly a set-up for a series. It is a self contained story but you can tell this is the first book in a series. Just from the way that the story is written and from the many questions left behind about certain characters backgrounds and what their motivations are. This circles back to how King Amir was a weak villain because he didn't seem to have at least some sort of a proper motivation but in one line that Arie says at the end of the story. He just seemed one note and I hope we can get some more of him fleshed out because I love me a good villain and I want more well-rounded villains in YA fantasy books.
Because I was sent an ARC of this one, I'm kind of afraid of what will happen because I didn't exactly think it was the best book ever and I mean no disrespect to the author. She is fantastic and I want nothing more but to continue to support her work. She has been an inspiration to me and her videos have motivated me to keep writing and working my my stories so that one day, I can be an author too.
Now I fear my critique has been a bit harsh but I enjoyed the book and I hope you enjoyed this review.
I think that's one of the best book synopsis that i have ever given on this blog and any where else.
And the cover is hella pretty, like I want a hardcover edition just for the cover alone. It is stunning and magical.
Now, I didn't know any of that going into the book. All I knew was Aladdin retelling and so when I went into I was waiting for my Aladdin. I love the Disney story of Aladdin and basically wanted to see some elements of that and perhaps any other version of Aladdin I had read in my childhood or recently.
That's not a bad thing. Honestly, I don't tend to like retellings where you can see the plot of the other story so much that you should just read the actual original story and the characters are just carbon copies.
It was said that it was a "loose" retelling, I didn't remember that.
This book was a good book, nothing much of note in it though. Most of the characters were likeable enough and I found myself rooting for Princess Arie and Kadin during most of it, I definitely was shipping them but like I low-key was shipping Kadin and Gideon because once I'm trash for gay couples until my hopes got crushed in the sneak preview for the 2nd book in the series. (I won't spoil that here, go get the book and read it yourself) One day when that comes out, we will talk about that. But besides the shipping, I didn't have much emotional attachment to the characters. It was mainly just surface level care, nothing deep.
Besides King Amir not being a enjoyable antagonistic force to read about and the story being very simplistic and round-a-bout, I enjoyed most of it. A few parts here and there dragged but overall, the writing is solid and the pacing is good and it makes for a good YA fantasy read.
Not the best YA fantasy read but certainly not the worst. It was enjoyable for what it was and even though it did try to take itself seriously in all the feminist "girls can do it to parts", I didn't care much for it.
Three distinct small nitpicks I have are:
1. Corsets were never meant to strangle you. As a history nerd, nothing drives me more insane than people misunderstanding past trends especially with regard to fashion within what seems to be a pre-1900 world where corsets were a common part of everyday clothing. Corsets were laced tight, yes but normally people would not lace them in a manner that would cut off oxygen flow. No proper historical backing can be found for this modern misunderstanding of corsets.
2. Many minor characters flitted in and out and suddenly became very important at the climax of the novel without much preamble. I don't know if it was me but certain characters (keeping this spoiler free because we could go on all day) became a lot more important in the climax of the story and I felt like they didn't have much proper introduction.
3. This is clearly a set-up for a series. It is a self contained story but you can tell this is the first book in a series. Just from the way that the story is written and from the many questions left behind about certain characters backgrounds and what their motivations are. This circles back to how King Amir was a weak villain because he didn't seem to have at least some sort of a proper motivation but in one line that Arie says at the end of the story. He just seemed one note and I hope we can get some more of him fleshed out because I love me a good villain and I want more well-rounded villains in YA fantasy books.
Because I was sent an ARC of this one, I'm kind of afraid of what will happen because I didn't exactly think it was the best book ever and I mean no disrespect to the author. She is fantastic and I want nothing more but to continue to support her work. She has been an inspiration to me and her videos have motivated me to keep writing and working my my stories so that one day, I can be an author too.
Now I fear my critique has been a bit harsh but I enjoyed the book and I hope you enjoyed this review.
November 28, 2019
Firstly, the plot was super engaging and exciting! Even though it took me a bit longer to read this than usual, that had nothing to do with the book. I’ve just been in a pretty bad reading slump. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was holding breath at some parts. There was enough suspense to keep me guessing. Since this is the first book in the series, I wasn’t sure if there was going to be a huge cliffhanger or if it was going to be a satisfying conclusion to Arie’s story. I would say it was somewhere in between, a little closer to the satisfying conclusion side of the scale. Still, I hope we get to see more of Arie and the rest of the crew in book two!
Speaking of Arie, I think she was my favorite character. I loved her inner journey throughout the story. I also liked her perspective on Jinni Gifts! She was a strong lead, but she was also sweet, sensitive, and good with animals. I’m so glad she wasn’t heartless like many other female YA characters these days. She was a realistic character who I could relate to. Another character I loved was Gideon. He’s definitely my second favorite. At first glance he was mysterious and intimidating, but once we got to know him more we could see how kind and wise he was. I am so excited to see more of him in book two!
The world and the different beings/creatures Bethany Atazadeh created were very intriguing. Once again, I can’t wait to learn more about them. I loved meeting the Meremaids and Jinni! I hope there will be some dragons in the next book. I can tell that Bethany worked hard to create all the different kingdoms as well.
The prose in this book was perfect. There were enough details and description to paint a clear image in my mind, but it wasn’t overloaded with unnecessary adverbs and adjectives. Bethany also did a wonderful job conveying the emotions of her characters, which I always appreciate in a book.
I would definitely recommend reading this book! Book two, The Jinni Key, comes out December 3rd, so you still have enough time to read this before book two’s release. I know that I’ll be adding it to my Christmas list. 😉
Have a beautiful day!
(This review originated on my blog.)
Speaking of Arie, I think she was my favorite character. I loved her inner journey throughout the story. I also liked her perspective on Jinni Gifts! She was a strong lead, but she was also sweet, sensitive, and good with animals. I’m so glad she wasn’t heartless like many other female YA characters these days. She was a realistic character who I could relate to. Another character I loved was Gideon. He’s definitely my second favorite. At first glance he was mysterious and intimidating, but once we got to know him more we could see how kind and wise he was. I am so excited to see more of him in book two!
The world and the different beings/creatures Bethany Atazadeh created were very intriguing. Once again, I can’t wait to learn more about them. I loved meeting the Meremaids and Jinni! I hope there will be some dragons in the next book. I can tell that Bethany worked hard to create all the different kingdoms as well.
The prose in this book was perfect. There were enough details and description to paint a clear image in my mind, but it wasn’t overloaded with unnecessary adverbs and adjectives. Bethany also did a wonderful job conveying the emotions of her characters, which I always appreciate in a book.
I would definitely recommend reading this book! Book two, The Jinni Key, comes out December 3rd, so you still have enough time to read this before book two’s release. I know that I’ll be adding it to my Christmas list. 😉
Have a beautiful day!
(This review originated on my blog.)
May 30, 2023
This is a man’s world and she is a strong woman. She is a princess, forced to marry a manipulative and powerful king. She has a Gift, a power that gives her a chance of escaping this forced marriage. But nobody can find out. Women with Gifts are seen as dangerous and don’t usually live long in this world.
On one hand this is a really cool and cozy Aladdin retelling. It’s got a fun concept and an interesting setting. The plot is solid like a rock. It’s well written too. And you can’t help but root for the unfortunate protagonist. Basically, this has all the ingredients of a very fun story.
On the other hand, there are a few things that keep me from rating this delightful little story a bit higher. The core theme of the story is a not so subtle critique on the patriarchy and sexism. But everything gets resolved a bit too easy for this powerful and important theme to really hit its mark for me. And while the female protagonist is a very strong and intriguing character, the male protagonist for example can feel a bit too romanticized and unrealistic.
Overall, an enjoyable cozy fairy tale read.
On one hand this is a really cool and cozy Aladdin retelling. It’s got a fun concept and an interesting setting. The plot is solid like a rock. It’s well written too. And you can’t help but root for the unfortunate protagonist. Basically, this has all the ingredients of a very fun story.
On the other hand, there are a few things that keep me from rating this delightful little story a bit higher. The core theme of the story is a not so subtle critique on the patriarchy and sexism. But everything gets resolved a bit too easy for this powerful and important theme to really hit its mark for me. And while the female protagonist is a very strong and intriguing character, the male protagonist for example can feel a bit too romanticized and unrealistic.
Overall, an enjoyable cozy fairy tale read.
July 21, 2024
A really fun start to this series! (Because I need to start yet another series right now… *ignores the 50+ others glaring daggers at me for not finishing them yet*)
If you want a strict retelling of Aladdin, this isn’t it, as it’s extremely loose and the ending is more like a typical fantasy series with “to be continued” written all over it rather then the usual fairytale retelling series where each book wraps up on its own.
I liked Arie, Kadin, and Gideon the best out of everyone—they were very different yet worked well together and I hope to see more of their dynamic as the story progresses. And Rena is going to be an interesting character to follow, just sayin’, lol.
I enjoyed this fast paced, fun story and am so curious about what’s going to happen next that I ordered the rest of the series, haha! Also this cover is so beautiful! 😍😍
‼️Content‼️
Language: pissing
Violence: a boy’s tongue was cut out (not shown or detailed); a boy’s head was crushed under a horse’s hooves (not detailed); a man is injured and locked away in a dungeon (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); fighting with hand to hand, weapons, and magic (not detailed); a dagger is held to a man’s throat; a man’s tongue is magically removed
Sexual: a man touches a girl’s arm and says she can have a “job” in an alley (she’s appalled and refuses); kissing (not detailed)
Drugs/Alcohol: wine is drunk
Other: jinn, mermaids, and dragons; magic; magical abilities and objects; a character uses mind control; death and grief
If you want a strict retelling of Aladdin, this isn’t it, as it’s extremely loose and the ending is more like a typical fantasy series with “to be continued” written all over it rather then the usual fairytale retelling series where each book wraps up on its own.
I liked Arie, Kadin, and Gideon the best out of everyone—they were very different yet worked well together and I hope to see more of their dynamic as the story progresses. And Rena is going to be an interesting character to follow, just sayin’, lol.
I enjoyed this fast paced, fun story and am so curious about what’s going to happen next that I ordered the rest of the series, haha! Also this cover is so beautiful! 😍😍
‼️Content‼️
Language: pissing
Violence: a boy’s tongue was cut out (not shown or detailed); a boy’s head was crushed under a horse’s hooves (not detailed); a man is injured and locked away in a dungeon (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); fighting with hand to hand, weapons, and magic (not detailed); a dagger is held to a man’s throat; a man’s tongue is magically removed
Sexual: a man touches a girl’s arm and says she can have a “job” in an alley (she’s appalled and refuses); kissing (not detailed)
Drugs/Alcohol: wine is drunk
Other: jinn, mermaids, and dragons; magic; magical abilities and objects; a character uses mind control; death and grief
December 17, 2019
I love a good retelling that is solid world building and unique. I am never a fan of a medieval/fantasy world where the language is extremely contemporary. *Sigh*
I like for it to be in English (obviously) but for sure with phrases an words that build up the world. This one seemed to lack that which made me sad.
I am giving it three stars despite the fact that I did enjoy this book. The characters were a lot of fun and the story in many ways a good retelling.
BUTTT the writing style itself was slow and, again, more contemporary. Is this wrong to be my one major complaint about the book??
My sister adored this book and is ready to move on to book 2. She loved the characters and fairy tale setting while I'm sitting here very "meh" in general because it bothered me when they spoke with 21st century phrases.
*Sighs heavily again and publishes review*
I like for it to be in English (obviously) but for sure with phrases an words that build up the world. This one seemed to lack that which made me sad.
I am giving it three stars despite the fact that I did enjoy this book. The characters were a lot of fun and the story in many ways a good retelling.
BUTTT the writing style itself was slow and, again, more contemporary. Is this wrong to be my one major complaint about the book??
My sister adored this book and is ready to move on to book 2. She loved the characters and fairy tale setting while I'm sitting here very "meh" in general because it bothered me when they spoke with 21st century phrases.
*Sighs heavily again and publishes review*
March 4, 2021
Oh my goodness, this was so good!! I’ve been dying to read Bethany Atazadeh’s (forgive me if I spelt that wrong😂) books for ages now, having loved her and her personality for so long through her YouTube videos. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
The Stolen Kingdom was so engaging, beautiful, and fun, full of intriguing plot lines, awesome characters, and sweet romance.
I loved Aria and Kadin so much! And Kadin’s crew is great. They made me laugh a lot, especially every time they argued about which scheme to do. It reminded me of Thor and Loki and their ‘get help’ thing.
The description was beautiful, and I felt immersed in the culture of these lands.
I highly recommend reading this series, and am about to go buy the other books right now! 😆
The Stolen Kingdom was so engaging, beautiful, and fun, full of intriguing plot lines, awesome characters, and sweet romance.
I loved Aria and Kadin so much! And Kadin’s crew is great. They made me laugh a lot, especially every time they argued about which scheme to do. It reminded me of Thor and Loki and their ‘get help’ thing.
The description was beautiful, and I felt immersed in the culture of these lands.
I highly recommend reading this series, and am about to go buy the other books right now! 😆
December 23, 2025
I was hesitant to read this because I was afraid it wouldn't be as great as my expectations, especially how the author made it out to be from her YT vids (and I love retellings!!!). Anyway, onto why I rated this book so low (and I hope the author fixes these issues!).
NOTE: The book is told in first-person, dual-POV.
Pros:
✅ diversity
Cons:
❌ lack of world-building
❌ insta-lust type of romance
❌ heavy use of stereotypes (see below)
❌ contrived plot/nothing exciting happened
❌ modern jargon/English culture-specific phrases (when it's set in a Persian-inspired world??)
❌ lack of strong/clear internal conflict
Side note: just need to point out that there's this trend of white women writing the "exotic" culture of their husbands for "representation" but said representation is done poorly. The author wanted to do Persian rep, but therein lies the problem: when Persian rep isn't done properly. As someone who shares a similar culture to that region (language, food, and clothing), I was disappointed at how this story was written. I wanted to see Persian rep when there's so little/inaccurate rep of it in YA/media in general. Did this book not get any sensitivity reader? 🤔
(Just to clarify, even though this book is fantasy, incorporating proper rep grounds the story well, and would avoid potentially offending people from those groups. Some fantasy books like THE DARKANGEL TRILOGY, PRINCETTA, and SIX CRIMSON CRANES have cultural rep from non-western cultures which are done well.)
SPOILERS AHEAD...
This was such a missed opportunity to write a Persian-inspired world SMH. If the author reads this, PLEASE fix these issues. Research is a MUST if you're writing about something that isn't your culture. Will give it a reread and change my rating if edited, but for now, it's not a book I'd recommend.
📖 A book I DO recommend that's set in Persia (it isn't fantasy, but it has that vibe) is ANAHITA'S WOVEN RIDDLE. Other fantasy books that incorporate real-world cultures well are THE DARKANGEL TRILOGY, SIX CRIMSON CRANES, and OF JADE AND DRAGONS.
NOTE: The book is told in first-person, dual-POV.
Pros:
✅ diversity
Cons:
❌ lack of world-building
❌ insta-lust type of romance
❌ heavy use of stereotypes (see below)
❌ contrived plot/nothing exciting happened
❌ modern jargon/English culture-specific phrases (when it's set in a Persian-inspired world??)
❌ lack of strong/clear internal conflict
Side note: just need to point out that there's this trend of white women writing the "exotic" culture of their husbands for "representation" but said representation is done poorly. The author wanted to do Persian rep, but therein lies the problem: when Persian rep isn't done properly. As someone who shares a similar culture to that region (language, food, and clothing), I was disappointed at how this story was written. I wanted to see Persian rep when there's so little/inaccurate rep of it in YA/media in general. Did this book not get any sensitivity reader? 🤔
(Just to clarify, even though this book is fantasy, incorporating proper rep grounds the story well, and would avoid potentially offending people from those groups. Some fantasy books like THE DARKANGEL TRILOGY, PRINCETTA, and SIX CRIMSON CRANES have cultural rep from non-western cultures which are done well.)
SPOILERS AHEAD...
This was such a missed opportunity to write a Persian-inspired world SMH. If the author reads this, PLEASE fix these issues. Research is a MUST if you're writing about something that isn't your culture. Will give it a reread and change my rating if edited, but for now, it's not a book I'd recommend.
📖 A book I DO recommend that's set in Persia (it isn't fantasy, but it has that vibe) is ANAHITA'S WOVEN RIDDLE. Other fantasy books that incorporate real-world cultures well are THE DARKANGEL TRILOGY, SIX CRIMSON CRANES, and OF JADE AND DRAGONS.
March 5, 2021
In this book we meet Princess Arie, who wants to become Queen of her kingdom. She finds out she has a Jinni's gift, a forbidden ability. When her life and kingdom are in danger, she will try everything she can to remove the gift. Or die trying.
I'm obsessed with retellings. There's something so magical about fairytales, myths and folklore and I love an author's unique spin to a well-known story. This is a loose Alladin retelling.
The writing style is amazingly descriptive and flows nicely. The mini cliffhangers at the end of a chapter made me want to keep on reading!
I really like Arie! She is strong, confident and a totally badass. I really enjoyed the fact that she took matters into her own hands, to go and save herself
The plot is filled with adventure and is fast paced. The story is super original and I would totally recommend it!
I'm obsessed with retellings. There's something so magical about fairytales, myths and folklore and I love an author's unique spin to a well-known story. This is a loose Alladin retelling.
The writing style is amazingly descriptive and flows nicely. The mini cliffhangers at the end of a chapter made me want to keep on reading!
I really like Arie! She is strong, confident and a totally badass. I really enjoyed the fact that she took matters into her own hands, to go and save herself
The plot is filled with adventure and is fast paced. The story is super original and I would totally recommend it!
August 16, 2019
I really liked this spin on Aladdin. The journey and story were fascinating, and I had a great time for the most part. But I didn’t know the story wasn’t going to end by the end. Maybe I shouldn’t have assumed, but since each book in the series is covering a different fairy tale, I thought each story would wrap up by the end. I’m just upset. It’s a very personal thing. I don’t like cliffhangers and unresolved issues, especially when I’m not expecting it. But this was a lot of fun overall, and I really liked it until the last chapter.
Maybe I’ll feel better after I read the next book, which I’m a tad leery about because I didn’t like the meremaid when she showed up at the end. I don’t mind her being creepy, in fact I’m there for that – I just didn’t find her dumbness all that cute, and I’m not sure I want to be stuck in her head. But I want to know how this main story is going to wrap up, so I guess I have to be. I wanted a happy ending and I didn’t get it, so I’m mad, and I’m also mad that I don’t like the meremaid, who’s the main character for the next book, but I’m torn because I really liked everything else.
The guy in the Aladdin role, Kadin, was great. And I liked everyone else, as well. And Amir, the bad guy, was super creepy in an absolutely satisfying way. I’m just mad right now, because I was super invested in the story, and I not only have to wait for my happy ending, I have to get it, I’m expecting, through the point of view of a daft, creepy mermaid. I felt a lot of things after finishing this.
Maybe I’ll feel better after I read the next book, which I’m a tad leery about because I didn’t like the meremaid when she showed up at the end. I don’t mind her being creepy, in fact I’m there for that – I just didn’t find her dumbness all that cute, and I’m not sure I want to be stuck in her head. But I want to know how this main story is going to wrap up, so I guess I have to be. I wanted a happy ending and I didn’t get it, so I’m mad, and I’m also mad that I don’t like the meremaid, who’s the main character for the next book, but I’m torn because I really liked everything else.
The guy in the Aladdin role, Kadin, was great. And I liked everyone else, as well. And Amir, the bad guy, was super creepy in an absolutely satisfying way. I’m just mad right now, because I was super invested in the story, and I not only have to wait for my happy ending, I have to get it, I’m expecting, through the point of view of a daft, creepy mermaid. I felt a lot of things after finishing this.
October 30, 2021
I was drawn to this book by its stunning cover (I mean, just LOOK at how gorgeous it is) and the story inside was just as captivating. I read the first paragraph and was instantly catapulted inside, wildly flipping the pages until I finished.
WHAT an incredible tale. THE best fairytale retelling I've ever read. Atazadeh keeps all the elements of Aladdin while weaving her own, unique story, which was so delightful. I love the rich, immersive worldbuilding details. The writing style just blew me away. The description seems simple and straightforward but they're incredibly detailed and the imagery appears so vividly in my mind. I felt like I was actually IN the story. The characters are so fleshed out and portrayed so well, especially Rena, who makes me laugh. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and see her adventure!
WHAT an incredible tale. THE best fairytale retelling I've ever read. Atazadeh keeps all the elements of Aladdin while weaving her own, unique story, which was so delightful. I love the rich, immersive worldbuilding details. The writing style just blew me away. The description seems simple and straightforward but they're incredibly detailed and the imagery appears so vividly in my mind. I felt like I was actually IN the story. The characters are so fleshed out and portrayed so well, especially Rena, who makes me laugh. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and see her adventure!
August 9, 2019
OMG! This book is the best!!!
It has minor similarities with Aladdin, but I was expecting something else and I GOT SOMETHING WAY BETTER!!! in love with this book, I just cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
The characters are so lovable and the plot is really amazing, I am in love with this book and Bethany's writing style!
I recommend it to anyone who loves reading adventure and fantasy with well-developed characters!
It has minor similarities with Aladdin, but I was expecting something else and I GOT SOMETHING WAY BETTER!!! in love with this book, I just cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
The characters are so lovable and the plot is really amazing, I am in love with this book and Bethany's writing style!
I recommend it to anyone who loves reading adventure and fantasy with well-developed characters!
June 20, 2025
An interesting and creative loose reimagining of Aladdin but it was probably too YA for me.
Arie was a tad frustrating with how she thought through things and came to decisions (ex. going to a place she's been to before when she's supposed to be in hiding, etc)
The little mermaid character of the next book makes an appearance and, while mermaids can be clueless about the human world, I thought she was too clueless and lacking in common sense--I didn't much care for her or her love interest.
The plot was interesting and I'm intrigued by the world and also why Gideon wants the lamp.
Content: magical creatures
Christian faith rating: 0/3 clean, no language
Arie was a tad frustrating with how she thought through things and came to decisions (ex. going to a place she's been to before when she's supposed to be in hiding, etc)
The little mermaid character of the next book makes an appearance and, while mermaids can be clueless about the human world, I thought she was too clueless and lacking in common sense--I didn't much care for her or her love interest.
The plot was interesting and I'm intrigued by the world and also why Gideon wants the lamp.
Content: magical creatures
Christian faith rating: 0/3 clean, no language
December 31, 2020
I've had books leave me with the feeling of "I love this" but this is the first book to ever leave me with the emotion of "I NEED TO REREAD THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW"
Saying this book "is so good" is the equivalent to someone saying "Oxygen is alright"
OXYGEN IS A MUST & SO IS THIS BOOK.
****WORLD BUILDING: Is great. Each scene was easily pictured in my mind, the towns, the castles, the characters.
****WRITING: Clean. Edited so freaking well. Impeccable. Beautiful prose.
****CHARACTERS: I wanted to take a meat clever to one person, slap another, kiss another, hug another, and rescue another. I only hope to, one day, write characters that steal your heart like these thieves do. I cried, laughed, grimaced, and fell in love.
****PLOT: Every element that built up this stories plots worked so well that you didn't even notice plot, you only saw/read the story. These characters were written too well to be bored. I was engaged with this book. I cooked while holding this book in one hand and I stayed up till 3 am because I didn't want to put it down. Even after reading my adrenaline rush was still in high swing. I needed the next book to satisfy my fix.
*********EXTRA THOUGHTS***********
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!! Nothing short of INCREDIBLE!!!!!
THIS BOOK IS A GIFT TO ALL BEINGS, EVERYWHERE!!!!!
IF YOU BREATH OXYGEN, I URGE YOU TO READ THIS BOOK.
It is an adventure into a whole new world that rivals the 1st Aladdin story. I'm still trying to catching my breath.
Saying this book "is so good" is the equivalent to someone saying "Oxygen is alright"
OXYGEN IS A MUST & SO IS THIS BOOK.
****WORLD BUILDING: Is great. Each scene was easily pictured in my mind, the towns, the castles, the characters.
****WRITING: Clean. Edited so freaking well. Impeccable. Beautiful prose.
****CHARACTERS: I wanted to take a meat clever to one person, slap another, kiss another, hug another, and rescue another. I only hope to, one day, write characters that steal your heart like these thieves do. I cried, laughed, grimaced, and fell in love.
****PLOT: Every element that built up this stories plots worked so well that you didn't even notice plot, you only saw/read the story. These characters were written too well to be bored. I was engaged with this book. I cooked while holding this book in one hand and I stayed up till 3 am because I didn't want to put it down. Even after reading my adrenaline rush was still in high swing. I needed the next book to satisfy my fix.
*********EXTRA THOUGHTS***********
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!! Nothing short of INCREDIBLE!!!!!
THIS BOOK IS A GIFT TO ALL BEINGS, EVERYWHERE!!!!!
IF YOU BREATH OXYGEN, I URGE YOU TO READ THIS BOOK.
It is an adventure into a whole new world that rivals the 1st Aladdin story. I'm still trying to catching my breath.
October 22, 2019
This is a beautiful and exciting adventure filled with powerful and unique characters. 'The Stolen Kingdom' is a different take on the classic tale of Aladdin. Atazadeh paints a world that is similar to that of Aladdin, but adds more depth to the world building and character development than the classic.
Arie is a strong female lead who is determine to live her life the way she intends to and not by the demands of a powerful neighboring king. I loved that she was a princess who actually cared about her kingdom, who stood up for her people no matter the cost. Arie runs away with the intention of saving her father and kingdom, and meets an unlikely crew of young men. Kadin, is the head of this crew of men (and Arie's love interest), and has an equally strong personality and an upbringing that has scarred and changed him.
I love the aspect of Jinni and Jinni decent having gifts. It brought in a magical twist to our characters and gave the story more depth. The pacing was perfect, bringing each new character and scene at the right time. I enjoyed being able to read from both Arie and Kadin's perspectives - as it allowed us to learn more about them and their pasts.
This was a book that I read very quickly - just wanting to know what happened next! I love that we are introduced to the next books main character, as well as well as the love interest, Gideon! I am very excited to read the next book in this series and in this beautiful, magical world.
Arie is a strong female lead who is determine to live her life the way she intends to and not by the demands of a powerful neighboring king. I loved that she was a princess who actually cared about her kingdom, who stood up for her people no matter the cost. Arie runs away with the intention of saving her father and kingdom, and meets an unlikely crew of young men. Kadin, is the head of this crew of men (and Arie's love interest), and has an equally strong personality and an upbringing that has scarred and changed him.
I love the aspect of Jinni and Jinni decent having gifts. It brought in a magical twist to our characters and gave the story more depth. The pacing was perfect, bringing each new character and scene at the right time. I enjoyed being able to read from both Arie and Kadin's perspectives - as it allowed us to learn more about them and their pasts.
This was a book that I read very quickly - just wanting to know what happened next! I love that we are introduced to the next books main character, as well as well as the love interest, Gideon! I am very excited to read the next book in this series and in this beautiful, magical world.
April 14, 2021
Aladdin ❤️
🎶 “A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us, "No"
Or where to 🎶 “A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us, "No"
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you...” 🎶
Yes, I have listened to that song about a dozen times while reading this book, even watched the Disney’s Aladdin. My daughter is loving it! Lol.
So there is only one other Aladdin retelling that I have enjoyed as much as this one. The Forbidden Wish in my opinion is still number one for Aladdin retellings but this one came in at number two, not too shabby.
This book has all the things that makes Disney’s Aladdin story so memorable. Fun characters, Jinn, magic, deception, morally gray characters, growing affections, romance and of course my first ever fictional boyfriend, Aladdin (aka Kadin)!
My only complaint/worry is that this is going to be a series. I think the author could have tied everything up nicely and made this an excellent stand alone. I worry that it will end up being one of those series that is dragged out with a bunch of “fluff” just to keep readers buying the books. Which for me is extremely frustrating because I love a good ending and I need that closure for these characters that I grew to love.
We shall see how it goes...
🎶 “A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us, "No"
Or where to 🎶 “A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us, "No"
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you...” 🎶
Yes, I have listened to that song about a dozen times while reading this book, even watched the Disney’s Aladdin. My daughter is loving it! Lol.
So there is only one other Aladdin retelling that I have enjoyed as much as this one. The Forbidden Wish in my opinion is still number one for Aladdin retellings but this one came in at number two, not too shabby.
This book has all the things that makes Disney’s Aladdin story so memorable. Fun characters, Jinn, magic, deception, morally gray characters, growing affections, romance and of course my first ever fictional boyfriend, Aladdin (aka Kadin)!
My only complaint/worry is that this is going to be a series. I think the author could have tied everything up nicely and made this an excellent stand alone. I worry that it will end up being one of those series that is dragged out with a bunch of “fluff” just to keep readers buying the books. Which for me is extremely frustrating because I love a good ending and I need that closure for these characters that I grew to love.
We shall see how it goes...
August 16, 2019
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the changes that Bethany Atazadeh made to a well-known story. If you're expecting the Disney version, this is NOT that, except at the barest of bones. I loved all of the characters, and they all had a purpose, though admittedly, Gideon the Jinni is my favorite. He had the best snark/dry humor. I loved the silent strength of Princess Arie, especially when she wasn't so silent, and the vulnerability of Kadin, which showed strength and empathy. They had a very organic connection that didn't feel forced on me. Bethany didn't take her characters or personality traits to the extreme, which was awesome. They were all very balanced, and not at all stereotypical. I loved how easily the book flowed. It was a very quick read for me while maintaining a lot of description and narrative. I never felt as though there was a lull, which is, in my opinion, an incredible feat. Also, just to add this in there, the cover is GORGEOUS. I will definitely be reading more of Bethany's work.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the changes that Bethany Atazadeh made to a well-known story. If you're expecting the Disney version, this is NOT that, except at the barest of bones. I loved all of the characters, and they all had a purpose, though admittedly, Gideon the Jinni is my favorite. He had the best snark/dry humor. I loved the silent strength of Princess Arie, especially when she wasn't so silent, and the vulnerability of Kadin, which showed strength and empathy. They had a very organic connection that didn't feel forced on me. Bethany didn't take her characters or personality traits to the extreme, which was awesome. They were all very balanced, and not at all stereotypical. I loved how easily the book flowed. It was a very quick read for me while maintaining a lot of description and narrative. I never felt as though there was a lull, which is, in my opinion, an incredible feat. Also, just to add this in there, the cover is GORGEOUS. I will definitely be reading more of Bethany's work.
December 22, 2019
I love fairytale retellings, although sometimes they can be very disappointing. Either they follow along with the original so much you can predict what's going to happen at every cliffhanger, or they're so loosely based that you can't see where the resemblence to the fairytale even begins. But then, once in awhile, you come across one that's just perfectly balanced- enough of the fairytale that you definitely get the feels, but it can stand alone on its own as a good story. The latter is how I would desribe Bethany's Aladdin retelling- it a few words, it's pretty awesome!
The Stolen Kingdom has Jinni, a gang of thieves, a princess desperately trying to save herself (and her kingdom), and special gifts that sometimes seem more like a curse. Also, I loved how the romance was sweet and free of any unecessary scenes.
This book is perfect for fairytale fans, and I can't wait to see how the rest of the series plays out!
The Stolen Kingdom has Jinni, a gang of thieves, a princess desperately trying to save herself (and her kingdom), and special gifts that sometimes seem more like a curse. Also, I loved how the romance was sweet and free of any unecessary scenes.
This book is perfect for fairytale fans, and I can't wait to see how the rest of the series plays out!
September 17, 2019
Loved and adored this book! A new favorite of mine! Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
April 18, 2023
Ah, what did I just read?! A masterpiece, for sure. I can’t even think right. That ending ripped my heart and I am going to buy the rest of the series now! Ughhhh 🥰
Kadin 🥹
Kadin 🥹
October 19, 2022
Review to come! =D
January 27, 2021
Amazing, magical, and the best fairytale one could ask for!
March 2, 2021
Actual Rating: somewhere.between 4 and 4.5 stars
tl;dr: Although I didn't like the ending, The Stolen Kingdom is a really unique Aladdin retelling with fantastic worldbuilding.
Thoughts:
-A misfit group of thieves AND telepathy... *favorite trope alert* 😍
-The highlight of The Stolen Kingdom for me was the worldbuilding. I mean, a world with Jinni, Mere, humans and Gifted with a distinct Middle Eastern flavor... good stuff here.
-The writing was really pleasant to read.
- The characters were good; I didn't necessarily fall in love with any of them? But Gideon is a really intriguing character and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better in the next book.
-There's somewhat of a "girl power" message in here, which worried me initially because I hate to see a perfectly good story ruined by an author putting blatant politically correct messages in their books without any reason (looking at you, Ghostly Echoes.) BUT thankfully it didn't overtake the book and was well done.
-The only thing I truly disliked was the ending. It felt abrupt and the romance ended on a negative note. Granted, this is the first book in a series so I know the romance will undoubtedly continue but I was expecting more of an HEA with that aspect.
Content:
This book was almost squeaky clean- a few minor things:
Violence: multiple mentions of a character's tongue being cut out (no description except for mention of blood), a Jinn holds what appears to be a tongue in their hand (I think it was meant to be more symbolic than an actual tongue, but it was still somewhat disturbing.)
Sensuality: Arie hears thoughts, including other's thoughts on her appearance. Arie meets a Mere girl who doesn't understand the concept of clothing. (Enough description to get the point across on both counts, but not any more than that.)
Swearing: None
tl;dr: Although I didn't like the ending, The Stolen Kingdom is a really unique Aladdin retelling with fantastic worldbuilding.
Thoughts:
-A misfit group of thieves AND telepathy... *favorite trope alert* 😍
-The highlight of The Stolen Kingdom for me was the worldbuilding. I mean, a world with Jinni, Mere, humans and Gifted with a distinct Middle Eastern flavor... good stuff here.
-The writing was really pleasant to read.
- The characters were good; I didn't necessarily fall in love with any of them? But Gideon is a really intriguing character and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better in the next book.
-There's somewhat of a "girl power" message in here, which worried me initially because I hate to see a perfectly good story ruined by an author putting blatant politically correct messages in their books without any reason (looking at you, Ghostly Echoes.) BUT thankfully it didn't overtake the book and was well done.
-The only thing I truly disliked was the ending. It felt abrupt and the romance ended on a negative note. Granted, this is the first book in a series so I know the romance will undoubtedly continue but I was expecting more of an HEA with that aspect.
Content:
This book was almost squeaky clean- a few minor things:
Violence: multiple mentions of a character's tongue being cut out (no description except for mention of blood), a Jinn holds what appears to be a tongue in their hand (I think it was meant to be more symbolic than an actual tongue, but it was still somewhat disturbing.)
Sensuality: Arie hears thoughts, including other's thoughts on her appearance. Arie meets a Mere girl who doesn't understand the concept of clothing. (Enough description to get the point across on both counts, but not any more than that.)
Swearing: None
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