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To Steal a Throne
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26In this YA fantasy novel perfect for fans of Divine Rivals, a girl who has always served others decides to take power for herself.
Her magic feeds on lies.
His magic could destroy her.
Mira Kyler runs the court of Virdei from the shadows. Ever since she helped her half-brother Luc cheat his way into the role of Virdei's leader, she's used her lie-powered magic to collect secrets from members of court, then used them as blackmail to keep her brother in power.
But when newcomer Kaidren Vale shows up and challenges Luc's leadership, he threatens the stability Mira has worked so hard for. Kaidren also has magic-magic that can detect the precise nature of someone else's power with a single touch. If Kaidren so much as brushes against her, everyone will discover that Mira is the one who's been manipulating the court for years.
As Kaidren and Luc compete in three deadly challenges called The Trials, Mira realizes that no matter who wins, she'll be stuck serving a mediocre man who doesn't deserve to be in charge. She's done hiding in the shadows. She wants power of her own.
To get it, she'll have to betray both her own brother and Kaidren-but the fiercer the competition gets, the more Mira realizes that the one boy who could destroy everything is the one boy she might not be able to resist.
Her magic feeds on lies.
His magic could destroy her.
Mira Kyler runs the court of Virdei from the shadows. Ever since she helped her half-brother Luc cheat his way into the role of Virdei's leader, she's used her lie-powered magic to collect secrets from members of court, then used them as blackmail to keep her brother in power.
But when newcomer Kaidren Vale shows up and challenges Luc's leadership, he threatens the stability Mira has worked so hard for. Kaidren also has magic-magic that can detect the precise nature of someone else's power with a single touch. If Kaidren so much as brushes against her, everyone will discover that Mira is the one who's been manipulating the court for years.
As Kaidren and Luc compete in three deadly challenges called The Trials, Mira realizes that no matter who wins, she'll be stuck serving a mediocre man who doesn't deserve to be in charge. She's done hiding in the shadows. She wants power of her own.
To get it, she'll have to betray both her own brother and Kaidren-but the fiercer the competition gets, the more Mira realizes that the one boy who could destroy everything is the one boy she might not be able to resist.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication April 7, 2026
1306 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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May 8, 2025My third born child is off to copy edits so I can "review" her! I had so much fun writing TO STEAL A THRONE and I hope y'all love her as much as I do.
Trigger/content warnings listed below. They will also be on my website:
- Violence/death
- Descriptions of physical injuries/blood
- Depiction of war
- Death of a parent
- Discrimination
- Language
- Mentions of poverty and starvation
Trigger/content warnings listed below. They will also be on my website:
- Violence/death
- Descriptions of physical injuries/blood
- Depiction of war
- Death of a parent
- Discrimination
- Language
- Mentions of poverty and starvation
arc-tbr
May 17, 2025Do I have any clue what this is about? No.
Do I still want to read it? Hell yes.
Do I still want to read it? Hell yes.
Want to read
October 9, 2025Currently thinking very much about this... I need it 🫂
Read
November 25, 2025DNF. Not for me.
December 24, 2025
I loved this so much.
Getting to read Gabi Burton's newest book months early was such a privilege - thank you so much to the publisher for the proof 💙
𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
What to expect from To Steal A Throne?
✨️ An illegitimate daughter with secret magic
🗡 A contender for the throne who can sense magic
✨️ A life lived in the shadows
🗡 A half-brother to betray
✨️ Deadly trials for a throne... that Mira intends to steal for herself anyway
🗡 An irresistible enemy-to-lovers romance
✨️ Political intrigue & scheming
🗡 YA fantasy
Gabi Burton strikes again with another fantastic fantasy novel!! Beautifully written, To Steal A Throne had me hooked right from the start, rooting for Mira to emerge from the shadows and make the world see HER. Mira's burning desire to finally be recognised for what she can do, and her incredible power and brilliant scheming made her a great protagonist! Her magic was so cool, too - so unique in how it can be powered up and what it allows her to do. And the urgency of keeping her magic hidden could be felt so intensely throughout the book - I loved how that need played alongside the sizzling chemistry between her and Kaidren, who could unravel her secret with a single touch.
Also - why did I think this was going to be a standalone?! It's not even out for another few months and I already need the sequel!
Getting to read Gabi Burton's newest book months early was such a privilege - thank you so much to the publisher for the proof 💙
𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
What to expect from To Steal A Throne?
✨️ An illegitimate daughter with secret magic
🗡 A contender for the throne who can sense magic
✨️ A life lived in the shadows
🗡 A half-brother to betray
✨️ Deadly trials for a throne... that Mira intends to steal for herself anyway
🗡 An irresistible enemy-to-lovers romance
✨️ Political intrigue & scheming
🗡 YA fantasy
Gabi Burton strikes again with another fantastic fantasy novel!! Beautifully written, To Steal A Throne had me hooked right from the start, rooting for Mira to emerge from the shadows and make the world see HER. Mira's burning desire to finally be recognised for what she can do, and her incredible power and brilliant scheming made her a great protagonist! Her magic was so cool, too - so unique in how it can be powered up and what it allows her to do. And the urgency of keeping her magic hidden could be felt so intensely throughout the book - I loved how that need played alongside the sizzling chemistry between her and Kaidren, who could unravel her secret with a single touch.
Also - why did I think this was going to be a standalone?! It's not even out for another few months and I already need the sequel!
June 26, 2025
The plot is unpredictable. The characters are full and fresh. The worldbuilding is emaculate. This is a page-turner. The theme of honesty permeates throughout, quite literally in the form of the protagonist's magic, but also subtly in the way lies weaken relationships and strengthen advantages. The tension in this book is just one of the ways Ms. Burton shows what a masterful storyteller she is.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4,75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
Wow, this was such an amazing read! Excellent pacing that kept you engaged and entertained throughout, and I absolutely LOVED Remira as our FMC. She was fierce, determined, and she refused to back down once she set her sights on the throne. She was unapologetically power hungry, and I loved seeing her wield her cunning intelligence. And even when she starts getting romantic feelings for our MMC, she still doesn't sacrifice her ambition for him – it was one of my favorite moments in the book, because it felt so important to show that she wouldn't just give it all up for a man. Because why should she?
And speaking of favorite moments... when she finally drops the act and shows Kaidren her true colors? I ate it up. It was such a fun scene, and seeing him realize how much he had underestimated her was brilliant. I really loved the way their relationship evolved from there, when they slowly start recognizing pieces of themselves in each other as well as truly seeing the other as a worthy opponent for the first time. All the delicious tension gets ramped up, and their banter is sharp and on point. So well done!
There were so many fun twists that I honestly hadn't seem coming at all, and I love when a book manages to do that. I will say however, that the ending felt maybe a little rushed and crowded at times, and I would have liked to be able to soak everything up a bit more. It resulted in some slightly confusing moments in the final chapters – not in a way where I didn't understand it, but where it was hard to keep track of all the revelations, agendas, and big moments happening at the same time.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint. It was wildly captivating and enjoyable, and I'm really looking forward to the next one and getting to see how everything plays out. Go read this as soon as it comes out April 7th!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
Wow, this was such an amazing read! Excellent pacing that kept you engaged and entertained throughout, and I absolutely LOVED Remira as our FMC. She was fierce, determined, and she refused to back down once she set her sights on the throne. She was unapologetically power hungry, and I loved seeing her wield her cunning intelligence. And even when she starts getting romantic feelings for our MMC, she still doesn't sacrifice her ambition for him – it was one of my favorite moments in the book, because it felt so important to show that she wouldn't just give it all up for a man. Because why should she?
And speaking of favorite moments... when she finally drops the act and shows Kaidren her true colors? I ate it up. It was such a fun scene, and seeing him realize how much he had underestimated her was brilliant. I really loved the way their relationship evolved from there, when they slowly start recognizing pieces of themselves in each other as well as truly seeing the other as a worthy opponent for the first time. All the delicious tension gets ramped up, and their banter is sharp and on point. So well done!
There were so many fun twists that I honestly hadn't seem coming at all, and I love when a book manages to do that. I will say however, that the ending felt maybe a little rushed and crowded at times, and I would have liked to be able to soak everything up a bit more. It resulted in some slightly confusing moments in the final chapters – not in a way where I didn't understand it, but where it was hard to keep track of all the revelations, agendas, and big moments happening at the same time.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint. It was wildly captivating and enjoyable, and I'm really looking forward to the next one and getting to see how everything plays out. Go read this as soon as it comes out April 7th!
November 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you Bloomsbury for the early copy!
“It's better to elevate where you are, rather than to look down your nose from the top.”
“I've salved his worry and quieted his fears, but I still carry mine.”
“Fury shouldn't call to me. His sings my name. Spite shouldn't entice me. His draws me in like a pulled sledge.”
This book!! I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for the second one and THIS one doesn’t come out till April. I loved the world in this story, the magic system, the high society and the politics that were taking place. Outside of the magical aspect this could be a very relatable story because of what the characters bring to the table. I love Remira; she’s so strong, confident and determined. Remira is all those things while also being soft, but being soft is something she fears due to the environment in which she lives. Kaiden is bold, deceptive, and cocky; while also being vulnerable and wounded. I’m typically not into a YA romance (the romance is very light) but I loved the way these two truly were enemies except in the quiet moments.
This story has a lot of underlining meaning to it while also having tons of twist and turns. I could see some people saying that it has “ a lot going on” and I honestly would agree; but it truly makes the story sooooooo good. It’s capturing and it really makes you feel like you’re there in the pages. I truly loved every second of this book! The only reason it’s not a 5 star is because it got a little repetitive in a descriptive way, if that makes sense. It would often repeat things that the reader already knew so that got annoying, but overall AMAZING! I need a final copy immediately.
Thank you Bloomsbury for the early copy!
“It's better to elevate where you are, rather than to look down your nose from the top.”
“I've salved his worry and quieted his fears, but I still carry mine.”
“Fury shouldn't call to me. His sings my name. Spite shouldn't entice me. His draws me in like a pulled sledge.”
This book!! I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for the second one and THIS one doesn’t come out till April. I loved the world in this story, the magic system, the high society and the politics that were taking place. Outside of the magical aspect this could be a very relatable story because of what the characters bring to the table. I love Remira; she’s so strong, confident and determined. Remira is all those things while also being soft, but being soft is something she fears due to the environment in which she lives. Kaiden is bold, deceptive, and cocky; while also being vulnerable and wounded. I’m typically not into a YA romance (the romance is very light) but I loved the way these two truly were enemies except in the quiet moments.
This story has a lot of underlining meaning to it while also having tons of twist and turns. I could see some people saying that it has “ a lot going on” and I honestly would agree; but it truly makes the story sooooooo good. It’s capturing and it really makes you feel like you’re there in the pages. I truly loved every second of this book! The only reason it’s not a 5 star is because it got a little repetitive in a descriptive way, if that makes sense. It would often repeat things that the reader already knew so that got annoying, but overall AMAZING! I need a final copy immediately.
November 26, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
I will say, this book started off strong. However, as I continued to read it, I felt like there were a lot of convenient moments to push the plot forward. Also, the Trials were not as deadly as I was expecting. Our MC Mira somehow is able to weave her way into each Trial to help her half-brother Luc so he can win. Her magic, at times, also seemed very convenient in helping her not get caught in any situation. Her magic feeds on lies, but she also has the ability to take away memories. And no one else really seems to have magic either that we know of.
I was also not a huge fan of Kieran. At times, it felt like his personality was forced. I found him to be a little awkward. Here is this guy that out of nowhere declares that he is the new person to see at the table (I'm blanking on the position title, but it is essentially equivalent to our IRL Senators). Then before he can even get comfortable in his new role, he declares that he is running for Luc's position (kind of like the President)... Also, I think there is this hate-to-love relationship between Mira and Kieran, but to me, it felt awkward and forced.
Overall, I wish I liked this book more. I thought the world had potential, but it felt flat for me. I hope other people are able to enjoy it.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
I will say, this book started off strong. However, as I continued to read it, I felt like there were a lot of convenient moments to push the plot forward. Also, the Trials were not as deadly as I was expecting. Our MC Mira somehow is able to weave her way into each Trial to help her half-brother Luc so he can win. Her magic, at times, also seemed very convenient in helping her not get caught in any situation. Her magic feeds on lies, but she also has the ability to take away memories. And no one else really seems to have magic either that we know of.
I was also not a huge fan of Kieran. At times, it felt like his personality was forced. I found him to be a little awkward. Here is this guy that out of nowhere declares that he is the new person to see at the table (I'm blanking on the position title, but it is essentially equivalent to our IRL Senators). Then before he can even get comfortable in his new role, he declares that he is running for Luc's position (kind of like the President)... Also, I think there is this hate-to-love relationship between Mira and Kieran, but to me, it felt awkward and forced.
Overall, I wish I liked this book more. I thought the world had potential, but it felt flat for me. I hope other people are able to enjoy it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved Gabi Burton’s Sing Me to Sleep series, so I couldn’t wait to read this one.
Enemies to lovers? Political scheming? Intrigue and secrets? Just my cup of tea.
Loved the world building, the magic system, and SECRETS.
A few predictable plot twists, a few that weren’t all that predictable. I enjoyed the characters, although it sometimes felt like the prose was a little too clunky.
A solid 4 star read for me though.
Enemies to lovers? Political scheming? Intrigue and secrets? Just my cup of tea.
Loved the world building, the magic system, and SECRETS.
A few predictable plot twists, a few that weren’t all that predictable. I enjoyed the characters, although it sometimes felt like the prose was a little too clunky.
A solid 4 star read for me though.
August 18, 2025
This was such an INCREDIBLE read. The tension between Mira and Kaidren??? Chef's kiss, rivals to lovers gold, I'm obsessed. The fast-paced plot, political scheming, and deadly tournament??? Superb and addictive, I couldn't stop reading. The TWISTS??? Genuinely did not see them coming. I need the next book like I need air.
Official blurb to come!
Official blurb to come!
September 2, 2025
I ate this book up. This is giving Cruel Prince but more political tension!! Can’t wait for its release next year!!
Want to read
September 11, 2025"Perfect for fans of Divine Rivals, a girl who has always served others decides to take power for herself.
"
trials, court intrigue, spies & magic? i'm in
"
trials, court intrigue, spies & magic? i'm in
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews