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An American Fairie Tale #1
The Stolen: An American Faerie Tale
Tonight, for the first time in over a century, a mortal child will be kidnapped by faeries.
When her daughter Fiona is snatched from her bed, Caitlin's entire world crumbles. Once certain that faeries were only a fantasy, Caitlin must now accept that these supernatural creatures do exist--and that they have traded in their ancient swords and horses for modern guns and sports cars. Hopelessly outmatched, she accepts help from a trio of unlikely heroes: Eddy, a psychiatrist and novice wizard; Brendan, an outcast Fian warrior; and Dante, a Magister of the fae's Rogue Court. Moving from the busy streets of Boston's suburbs to the shadowy land of Tir na nOg, Caitlin and her allies will risk everything to save Fiona. But can this disparate quartet conquer their own inner demons and outwit the dark faeries before it's too late?
When her daughter Fiona is snatched from her bed, Caitlin's entire world crumbles. Once certain that faeries were only a fantasy, Caitlin must now accept that these supernatural creatures do exist--and that they have traded in their ancient swords and horses for modern guns and sports cars. Hopelessly outmatched, she accepts help from a trio of unlikely heroes: Eddy, a psychiatrist and novice wizard; Brendan, an outcast Fian warrior; and Dante, a Magister of the fae's Rogue Court. Moving from the busy streets of Boston's suburbs to the shadowy land of Tir na nOg, Caitlin and her allies will risk everything to save Fiona. But can this disparate quartet conquer their own inner demons and outwit the dark faeries before it's too late?
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 22, 2014
31 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Bishop O'Connell
10 books65 followersBishop O'Connell is the author of the American Faerie Tale series, a consultant, writer, blogger, and lover of kilts and beer, as well as a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. Born in Naples Italy while his father was stationed in Sardinia, Bishop grew up in San Diego, CA where he fell in love with the ocean and fish tacos. After wandering the country for work and school (absolutely not because he was in hiding from mind controlling bunnies), he settled in Richmond VA, where he writes, collects swords, revels in his immortality as a critically acclaimed "visionary" of the urban fantasy genre, and is regularly chastised for making up things for his bio. He can also be found online at A Quiet Pint (aquietpint.com), where he muses philosophical on life, the universe, and everything, as well as various aspects of writing and the road to getting published.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 1, 2015
My first book, and I'm quite proud.
April 13, 2015
The Stolen by Bishop O'Connell is a fast paced thrill-ride set in a modern day dark faerie tale.
The best part about this book is that it knows exactly what it wants to be, and does it very well. It doesn't try to be something it's not. It relies on tropes a lot but uses them as a platform for telling a story that features plenty of action and keeps the tension ramping throughout. Not since Myke Cole's Shadow Ops series has magic and machine guns been paired so well together. The world of the fae is intertwined within our own in a simple yet convincing way, paving the way for a plot full of twists and surprises. The characters are sympathetic, all battling with demons both metaphorical and real, and the writing and dialogue really brings home their struggles.
I can't recommend this book enough for lovers of contemporary fantasy. Looking forward to the sequel, The Forgotten.
The best part about this book is that it knows exactly what it wants to be, and does it very well. It doesn't try to be something it's not. It relies on tropes a lot but uses them as a platform for telling a story that features plenty of action and keeps the tension ramping throughout. Not since Myke Cole's Shadow Ops series has magic and machine guns been paired so well together. The world of the fae is intertwined within our own in a simple yet convincing way, paving the way for a plot full of twists and surprises. The characters are sympathetic, all battling with demons both metaphorical and real, and the writing and dialogue really brings home their struggles.
I can't recommend this book enough for lovers of contemporary fantasy. Looking forward to the sequel, The Forgotten.
July 29, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A single mother comes home to find her daughter stolen by the fae. Now, she must team up with a wizard, elf, and warrior in order to get her daughter back in this book that had a lot of promise, but ultimately ended up falling a little flat.
Opening Sentence: Brendan Kavanaugh smiled and examined the wrought silver claddagh ring, admiring its fine details.
The Review:
I’ve lately become very interested in books dealing with the fae, whether they’re depicted as good or evil. So, I was very excited about starting this book once I read its description. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While it certainly moved quickly and was entertaining, I had a lot of issues with character development that hampered my enjoyment of the story.
Caitlin has had years to adjust to being a single mom. She loves her daughter Fiona more than anything and often puts her personal life on hold in order to spend as much time with Fiona as possible. Her friends finally convince her that she needs to have a night out, so Caitlin makes a decision that will change her life forever. She hires a babysitter and goes out with her friends. The night starts off with Caitlin feeling as if she’s being watched from the shadows. Then, she’s attacked by two creatures who at first glance, appeared to be teenagers, but proved to be much more than that. She rushes home just in time to see Fiona taken by more of those same creatures. The creatures knock her out, and when she awakes, she finds herself at her friend Eddy’s house. She frantically tells Eddy what happened, worried he won’t believe her, but Eddy has a secret of his own. Turns out, he’s a wizard. Together, they team up with an elf and a warrior to go into the fae lands and bring Fiona back. Will they be able to find her before it’s too late?
I’ll start off by saying I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the story. The first chapter immediately drew me in, and I just wanted to read more. This feeling continued until about the halfway point in the story. At that point, I found myself feeling more and more detached. While I was still interested in what was going on, something just wasn’t clicking for me anymore. I think the fault for this lies in the fact that the characters just aren’t developed very much. We only get to know the very basics of who our main four characters are, and we never really learn anything else. I found Brendan to be the most intriguing, but we never really learn much about him beyond what happens in the first chapter. Caitlin is defined by her love for Fiona. Eddy is a therapist wizard who loves Caitlin but has resigned himself to being just friends. Dante is Brendan’s closest friend and also the Magister of the Rogue Court. We learn all this right away, and then never go any deeper into who these people are. It makes it very hard to care about them when we don’t know anything about them.
As I said, the basic story itself is very interesting. I would be interested in learning more about this world O’Connell has created. However, the lack of character development leaves me a little concerned as to how much I’ll like any future stories set in this world. I would say this book is worth a read, but be aware you might not feel much for the characters.
Notable Scene:
“You’re not going anywhere,” the voice behind her said.
The knot in her stomach began to tighten, but she thought of Fiona and her resolve hardened. She clenched her jaw and turned, ready to fight.
“Leav-” Caitlin stopped when she saw who’d been speaking to her.
An eerily beautiful boy, perhaps thirteen, looked at her with more confidence than anyone that young should have. His skin was white–not just pale, but unreal, alabaster white. His hair was sheer black, as were his clothes and fingernails, and he must’ve been wearing some kind of special contact lenses, because his eyes were all black, no whites at all. He was thin and not much over five feet tall, just about her height.
He smiled, showing his teeth. Every single one, upper and lower, came to a sharp point.
Caitlin felt the blood drain from her face and her heart skipped a beat.
The boy’s eyes narrowed and he looked at her for a moment before he smiled wider. “Boo!”
FTC Advisory: Harper Voyager Impulse/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of The Stolen. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A single mother comes home to find her daughter stolen by the fae. Now, she must team up with a wizard, elf, and warrior in order to get her daughter back in this book that had a lot of promise, but ultimately ended up falling a little flat.
Opening Sentence: Brendan Kavanaugh smiled and examined the wrought silver claddagh ring, admiring its fine details.
The Review:
I’ve lately become very interested in books dealing with the fae, whether they’re depicted as good or evil. So, I was very excited about starting this book once I read its description. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While it certainly moved quickly and was entertaining, I had a lot of issues with character development that hampered my enjoyment of the story.
Caitlin has had years to adjust to being a single mom. She loves her daughter Fiona more than anything and often puts her personal life on hold in order to spend as much time with Fiona as possible. Her friends finally convince her that she needs to have a night out, so Caitlin makes a decision that will change her life forever. She hires a babysitter and goes out with her friends. The night starts off with Caitlin feeling as if she’s being watched from the shadows. Then, she’s attacked by two creatures who at first glance, appeared to be teenagers, but proved to be much more than that. She rushes home just in time to see Fiona taken by more of those same creatures. The creatures knock her out, and when she awakes, she finds herself at her friend Eddy’s house. She frantically tells Eddy what happened, worried he won’t believe her, but Eddy has a secret of his own. Turns out, he’s a wizard. Together, they team up with an elf and a warrior to go into the fae lands and bring Fiona back. Will they be able to find her before it’s too late?
I’ll start off by saying I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the story. The first chapter immediately drew me in, and I just wanted to read more. This feeling continued until about the halfway point in the story. At that point, I found myself feeling more and more detached. While I was still interested in what was going on, something just wasn’t clicking for me anymore. I think the fault for this lies in the fact that the characters just aren’t developed very much. We only get to know the very basics of who our main four characters are, and we never really learn anything else. I found Brendan to be the most intriguing, but we never really learn much about him beyond what happens in the first chapter. Caitlin is defined by her love for Fiona. Eddy is a therapist wizard who loves Caitlin but has resigned himself to being just friends. Dante is Brendan’s closest friend and also the Magister of the Rogue Court. We learn all this right away, and then never go any deeper into who these people are. It makes it very hard to care about them when we don’t know anything about them.
As I said, the basic story itself is very interesting. I would be interested in learning more about this world O’Connell has created. However, the lack of character development leaves me a little concerned as to how much I’ll like any future stories set in this world. I would say this book is worth a read, but be aware you might not feel much for the characters.
Notable Scene:
“You’re not going anywhere,” the voice behind her said.
The knot in her stomach began to tighten, but she thought of Fiona and her resolve hardened. She clenched her jaw and turned, ready to fight.
“Leav-” Caitlin stopped when she saw who’d been speaking to her.
An eerily beautiful boy, perhaps thirteen, looked at her with more confidence than anyone that young should have. His skin was white–not just pale, but unreal, alabaster white. His hair was sheer black, as were his clothes and fingernails, and he must’ve been wearing some kind of special contact lenses, because his eyes were all black, no whites at all. He was thin and not much over five feet tall, just about her height.
He smiled, showing his teeth. Every single one, upper and lower, came to a sharp point.
Caitlin felt the blood drain from her face and her heart skipped a beat.
The boy’s eyes narrowed and he looked at her for a moment before he smiled wider. “Boo!”
FTC Advisory: Harper Voyager Impulse/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of The Stolen. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
August 7, 2014
First, my expectations going into this was that it would be a cool adventure about a group of people teaming up to retrieve a stolen child. I wasn't expecting great writing, just functional.
The first chapter almost made me put the book down. It was loaded with stereotypes that made me cringe. A redheaded stud in a kilt who's a great singer and warrior is buying a claddagh for his love Aine in old Boston, using atrocious dialogue. If that wasn't bad enough, our character development is that Aine gets fridged. Yes, rape and death of the woman he loves in order to give him character. There were plenty of options here, but this is the one we get.
I kept reading though, figuring the book could only get better from that point on.
And to a degree that was correct. In chapter two we shift to modern day and most of the stereotypical stuff is tossed aside, though Brendan still sounds like a bad historical romance novel hero. Unfortunately we then get Caitlin.
Oh Caitlin, did you take lessons from Sookie Stackhouse on how to be a self-centered whiny arrogant heroine who does stupid things that are the opposite of what anyone advises just to further the plot? Caitlin and Sookie could be soul mates. There wasn't one moment where I felt bad for Caitlin about losing her child. I felt bad for the child, don't get me wrong. But about two thirds of the way through the book I actually started wondering if, Fiona's choice being between Caitlin or the one who'd kidnapped her, maybe she wouldn't be better off staying kidnapped. Because at one point Caitlin does her "I'm not listening because I know everything" routine which eventually results in her lying to and killing an innocent childlike Fae so she could save her own child. I couldn't have despised her more from that point.
So, romance novel hero. Sook-alike, whom I despised. Oh, and the last big negative: There's a really obvious question that the characters should be asking, a King Kong-sized elephant in the room that would explain a whole lot to the characters if only someone thought to ask it and think about the answer. That they didn't was not believable.
So what did I like? I liked Eddy and his elf gang. Eddy was a good character who goes through some great changes, none of which involve fridging the woman he loves, and all of which are spoilers. I would buy another book about Eddy if it was just about the elves and him.
Some of the descriptions of the otherworldly places and beings were quite good, very vivid. At times I felt like I was watching the scene unfold movie-like.
Do I recommend this? Not unless you're a fan of TV's True Blood. It was that kind of Faery, that level of writing, that level of characterization, and Sookie. For the most part it wasn't for me.
The first chapter almost made me put the book down. It was loaded with stereotypes that made me cringe. A redheaded stud in a kilt who's a great singer and warrior is buying a claddagh for his love Aine in old Boston, using atrocious dialogue. If that wasn't bad enough, our character development is that Aine gets fridged. Yes, rape and death of the woman he loves in order to give him character. There were plenty of options here, but this is the one we get.
I kept reading though, figuring the book could only get better from that point on.
And to a degree that was correct. In chapter two we shift to modern day and most of the stereotypical stuff is tossed aside, though Brendan still sounds like a bad historical romance novel hero. Unfortunately we then get Caitlin.
Oh Caitlin, did you take lessons from Sookie Stackhouse on how to be a self-centered whiny arrogant heroine who does stupid things that are the opposite of what anyone advises just to further the plot? Caitlin and Sookie could be soul mates. There wasn't one moment where I felt bad for Caitlin about losing her child. I felt bad for the child, don't get me wrong. But about two thirds of the way through the book I actually started wondering if, Fiona's choice being between Caitlin or the one who'd kidnapped her, maybe she wouldn't be better off staying kidnapped. Because at one point Caitlin does her "I'm not listening because I know everything" routine which eventually results in her lying to and killing an innocent childlike Fae so she could save her own child. I couldn't have despised her more from that point.
So, romance novel hero. Sook-alike, whom I despised. Oh, and the last big negative: There's a really obvious question that the characters should be asking, a King Kong-sized elephant in the room that would explain a whole lot to the characters if only someone thought to ask it and think about the answer. That they didn't was not believable.
So what did I like? I liked Eddy and his elf gang. Eddy was a good character who goes through some great changes, none of which involve fridging the woman he loves, and all of which are spoilers. I would buy another book about Eddy if it was just about the elves and him.
Some of the descriptions of the otherworldly places and beings were quite good, very vivid. At times I felt like I was watching the scene unfold movie-like.
Do I recommend this? Not unless you're a fan of TV's True Blood. It was that kind of Faery, that level of writing, that level of characterization, and Sookie. For the most part it wasn't for me.
July 15, 2014
eARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for fair review
The full review can also be found on my blog Fantasy Findings
2.5 stars
On the one hand, the mythology is done well. Sometimes the classics don't really need to be spun. They're classic for a reason. This book is also action packed. O'Connell doesn't watch much time with set up and we get to the meat of the story rather quickly and the story never loses this fast pace.
On the other hand, fans of character building or having the world fleshed out are likely to be disappointed. This book moves by so quickly that O'Connell doesn't take much time with the characters beyond their initial motivation, so I personally found it hard to become emotionally attached to any of them. I mean, I wanted Caitlin to rescue her daughter, but that's human nature and it shouldn't be the only thing vesting you in the story. I'd particularly liked to seen the character of Dante - the Magister of the Rogue Court - and the Rogue Court itself fleshed out a little more as well. Heck, even the motivation of the bad guys is pretty straight forward with no real subtlety or nuance.
The other problem I had with the book is the way that it was structured. The characters were all together for say the first 60% of the book, and then it essentially splits into two tales that merge together once more at the very end. I'm guessing the author was trying to make it feel like these stories were parallel (which they should have been) but instead it made it feel like one set of characters wrapped up their tale and then just disappeared until they were needed once more. It wasn't a book breaker, but it did feel a little jarring for me.
At one point in the book I debated whether or not I'd make it through. I decided to push on, and ultimately I was glad that I did so because the parts set in Tír na nÓg were really quite enjoyable and I admit that if this does become a duology or a trilogy I'd be willing to give this a look. But if you're looking for something a little deeper, you may or may not like what you find.
The full review can also be found on my blog Fantasy Findings
2.5 stars
On the one hand, the mythology is done well. Sometimes the classics don't really need to be spun. They're classic for a reason. This book is also action packed. O'Connell doesn't watch much time with set up and we get to the meat of the story rather quickly and the story never loses this fast pace.
On the other hand, fans of character building or having the world fleshed out are likely to be disappointed. This book moves by so quickly that O'Connell doesn't take much time with the characters beyond their initial motivation, so I personally found it hard to become emotionally attached to any of them. I mean, I wanted Caitlin to rescue her daughter, but that's human nature and it shouldn't be the only thing vesting you in the story. I'd particularly liked to seen the character of Dante - the Magister of the Rogue Court - and the Rogue Court itself fleshed out a little more as well. Heck, even the motivation of the bad guys is pretty straight forward with no real subtlety or nuance.
The other problem I had with the book is the way that it was structured. The characters were all together for say the first 60% of the book, and then it essentially splits into two tales that merge together once more at the very end. I'm guessing the author was trying to make it feel like these stories were parallel (which they should have been) but instead it made it feel like one set of characters wrapped up their tale and then just disappeared until they were needed once more. It wasn't a book breaker, but it did feel a little jarring for me.
At one point in the book I debated whether or not I'd make it through. I decided to push on, and ultimately I was glad that I did so because the parts set in Tír na nÓg were really quite enjoyable and I admit that if this does become a duology or a trilogy I'd be willing to give this a look. But if you're looking for something a little deeper, you may or may not like what you find.
November 23, 2025
The Stolen was an intricately woven story that unfolds magnificently before your eyes.
Caitlin is attacked by fairies and is saved by Fian, a fae outcast. They quickly discover that the fairie attacked had much more sinister motive...which leads to Caitlin's daughter Fiona kidnapped. Fian jumps on board to help Caitlin. Combined, they recruiting more assistance from their friends which ends up giving them a very unique band of allies. Can they uncover the nefarious plot before its too late to save Fiona?
This story had a plot riddled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters each have their own baggage that they must traverse while trying to uncover the who and why behind the kidnapping.
The author takes a unique angle to add some romantic interest, and it wasn't with the characters I suspected.
The Stolen was an entertaining, darker fantasy. I found the characters faced real emotional issues, even though they are mythical creatures of power. A modern-day fairy tale, The Stolen was a great read.
I received this ARC copy of The Stolen from Harper Voyager Impulse in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 5, 2014.
Caitlin is attacked by fairies and is saved by Fian, a fae outcast. They quickly discover that the fairie attacked had much more sinister motive...which leads to Caitlin's daughter Fiona kidnapped. Fian jumps on board to help Caitlin. Combined, they recruiting more assistance from their friends which ends up giving them a very unique band of allies. Can they uncover the nefarious plot before its too late to save Fiona?
This story had a plot riddled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters each have their own baggage that they must traverse while trying to uncover the who and why behind the kidnapping.
The author takes a unique angle to add some romantic interest, and it wasn't with the characters I suspected.
The Stolen was an entertaining, darker fantasy. I found the characters faced real emotional issues, even though they are mythical creatures of power. A modern-day fairy tale, The Stolen was a great read.
I received this ARC copy of The Stolen from Harper Voyager Impulse in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 5, 2014.
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August 11, 2017The Stolen is a fairy tale that is as action packed as any good thriller, except . . . well . . . with fae and pixies and brownies and ogres and more. The action sucks you in from the very first chapter and carries you until the very end of the book. There are a few surprises, interesting magic tricks and intrigue. The fast pace will please anyone who enjoys snappy action, although it may be too speedy for one who enjoys character driven stories with more room to breathe and ponder. Brendan is a big, lovable character, but it is Edward with his all-consuming love for Fiona and Caitlin who takes the prize for my favorite. Enjoy!
August 9, 2014
When Caitlin Brady’s daughter, Fiona, is kidnapped by oíche-sidhe, she finds her fate lies in the hands of Brendan, a mysterious kilted stranger. Caitlin’s everyday world seems suddenly peopled by terrifying creatures she thought only existed in fairytales. Yet, help also arrives from unexpected places, like her dear friend and confidante, Edward, a doctor by day and a fledging wizard in secret.
This breathless, action-packed novel introduces a mysterious fairy world that coexists with our own. Plausible characters and a fascinating back story suck the reader in as unexpected plot twists make the pages speed by. O’Connell’s descriptions engage all the senses, creating an almost tangible impression. The author’s portrayal of Caitlin is particularly sensitive; her character is an eloquent mix of endearing and strong qualities as she faces the possible loss of her only child. Avoiding cliché endings, the conclusion hints at a sequel!
This breathless, action-packed novel introduces a mysterious fairy world that coexists with our own. Plausible characters and a fascinating back story suck the reader in as unexpected plot twists make the pages speed by. O’Connell’s descriptions engage all the senses, creating an almost tangible impression. The author’s portrayal of Caitlin is particularly sensitive; her character is an eloquent mix of endearing and strong qualities as she faces the possible loss of her only child. Avoiding cliché endings, the conclusion hints at a sequel!
February 17, 2016
I wasn't sure if I would like The Stolen after the first chapter. I don't usually care for books that jump right into heavy emotional scenes. But then the next chapters also jumped ahead in time and brought us to the modern world and introduced a whole new situation. I was soon hooked.
I like Caitlin and her desperate quest to find her daughter and recover her from the Fae. She was a great leading character just from her sheer determination to be involved in all aspects of the rescue. She wasn't going to sit at home and wait!
But my favorite characters was Eddy and Dante. Eddy is a wizard who has never practiced his powers and Dante is a very smooth elf. They absolutely stole the show for me. And the pace of the story and great action descriptions made it a clean sweep. The Stolen is just a fun read!
I like Caitlin and her desperate quest to find her daughter and recover her from the Fae. She was a great leading character just from her sheer determination to be involved in all aspects of the rescue. She wasn't going to sit at home and wait!
But my favorite characters was Eddy and Dante. Eddy is a wizard who has never practiced his powers and Dante is a very smooth elf. They absolutely stole the show for me. And the pace of the story and great action descriptions made it a clean sweep. The Stolen is just a fun read!
March 20, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up.
Certainly better than the other fae-centric book I was reading at around the same time (The Last Days of Magic), but that's a low bar to clear. There's a lot of good stuff in this, enough that I'll give the second book a chance, but boy is it tiring that we still apparently can't have a book with a female main character that doesn't include some asinine romance. We're told Caitlin is a mother who is single-minded about getting her daughter back. Except for all those passages where she's getting pantsfeelings about not one, but two of the male characters. Because those silly women just can't help themselves, right?
Certainly better than the other fae-centric book I was reading at around the same time (The Last Days of Magic), but that's a low bar to clear. There's a lot of good stuff in this, enough that I'll give the second book a chance, but boy is it tiring that we still apparently can't have a book with a female main character that doesn't include some asinine romance. We're told Caitlin is a mother who is single-minded about getting her daughter back. Except for all those passages where she's getting pantsfeelings about not one, but two of the male characters. Because those silly women just can't help themselves, right?
August 25, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much, the subject, the characters, the action, the ending ... all of it. I would describe it as a fantasy story for grown ups about modern day fairies who use modern technology and weapons as well as traditional magic and royal courts.
The story is about a woman whose young daughter has been stolen by the Seely Court. She is on a quest to get her back with the help of an inexperienced but powerful wizard, and a berserker with a tragic past and his elite warrior fairy friends.
I'd read this again -- if I had the time
The story is about a woman whose young daughter has been stolen by the Seely Court. She is on a quest to get her back with the help of an inexperienced but powerful wizard, and a berserker with a tragic past and his elite warrior fairy friends.
I'd read this again -- if I had the time
November 6, 2022
The whole time I read this book I had an extremely strong sense of da ja vue…in the form of having read this is a trilogy book. I usually pass my books along for others to read so unable to confirm or deny it’s validity…no record of such in my Goodreads account but then I’m relatively new to the cell phone world smart or otherwise.
I digress…this book was a excellent (albeit a quick) read. If you’re on the fence about should you read or not…get off your arse and read! No regrets!
I digress…this book was a excellent (albeit a quick) read. If you’re on the fence about should you read or not…get off your arse and read! No regrets!
June 13, 2025
I don’t recall the last time I got so engrossed in a book that I wanted to grab it in every spare minute, but this one got me. It was my first experience with urban fantasy and I absolutely loved it. The Celtic influence was lovely as well, though I did find myself a bit disrupted at times by my curiosity around the translations and referring to the glossary.
May 2, 2022
Another fantastic read from Bishop O’Connell. Rich characters, lots of action, and a twisty turny plot that kept me flipping the pages. If you like urban fantasy stories of the fae, definitely pick this one up!
November 30, 2019
I enjoyed this so much and want to read more.
August 13, 2015
I picked up this book on the recommendation of another author, who's writing I quite enjoy. So I was pretty sadly disappointed by how far from what I was expecting this book turned out to be. I really didn't like this book, but gave it a 2 instead of a 1 because it's possible some of that dislike was due to over-expectation.
Per both the recommendation that lead me to it and the summary on the back cover, I was expecting a clearly primary female character (the mother) on a quest to save her child. Instead, the purported main character makes her first appearance on page 15, then spends pages 40-118 unconscious.
Meanwhile, we follow Brendan - an aggressive, violent, homophobic, sexist who has the annoying habit of calling all people (read male) "boss", "mate", or "bucko" (every woman is "love", as is the man he just beat up).
We also meet Eddy, portrayed as physically weak and prone to emotional outbursts (tantrums, even). Presumably intelligent (medical doctor, psychiatrist, self-taught wizard), but that's not well demonstrated in the text, who Brendan threatens, pushes around both physically and emotionally, and generally disregards as any kind of meaningful person.
Immediately upon Caitlin becoming an actual character in her own story, we fall into a bad romance - seriously, her kid just got stolen, why is she suddenly having romantic feelers for her long-time friend, AND simultaneously having heart-racing flutteriness around Brendan (who constantly patronizes her)?
Incidentally, I find it not terribly believable that Brendan would be carrying a flame for his dearly departed from a couple of centuries ago that he'll just get over instantly because he's met Caitlin.
Remember, this is supposed to be a mother-does-anything-to-save-her-child story, right? So why is that half way through the book she's done nothing but scream, be unconscious, cry, and flutter at the big strong men? When she finally sets in to go to her daughter's rescue, she has a total personality change in an instant, and switches from being lost without Brendan's micromanaging to being suddenly bloodthirsty and willing to sacrifice another kid without a second thought. It was jarring and not especially believable. Don't get me wrong, I like story arcs in which characters grow, but growth isn't an on/off switch that changes in a new personality.
Far from being a strongly feminist story, this book passes the Bechdel test only on a technicality - in the first chapter of Catherine (before she falls unconscious) she goes out with several work friends, who are all named once and each given at most 3 lines before being summarily dismissed from the story. All active characters aside from Caitlin are male. The kidnapped child (Fiona) is basically a macguffin - she has a few lines at beginning and end but for the purpose of the story she could have been a boy or even a family heirloom. The queen of faerie shows up for 4 pages at the very end, primarily to conveniently wrap up Caitlin's trouble and set up the premise for the probable next book.
Lesser thoughts during reading:
Including a glossary of foreign words is great, but this one is incomplete and doesn't include pronunciation notes.
Brendan's grammar changes randomly, even within paragraphs.
Exploding cars is reasonable, but a suggestion to shoot out the lock gets a crack about "only if we were in the movies"?
Clearly we don't understand how car fires work - first he can easily explode a bunch, then he can just snuff out the fires with some wind? Seriously - you try blowing out a tire fire.
Per both the recommendation that lead me to it and the summary on the back cover, I was expecting a clearly primary female character (the mother) on a quest to save her child. Instead, the purported main character makes her first appearance on page 15, then spends pages 40-118 unconscious.
Meanwhile, we follow Brendan - an aggressive, violent, homophobic, sexist who has the annoying habit of calling all people (read male) "boss", "mate", or "bucko" (every woman is "love", as is the man he just beat up).
We also meet Eddy, portrayed as physically weak and prone to emotional outbursts (tantrums, even). Presumably intelligent (medical doctor, psychiatrist, self-taught wizard), but that's not well demonstrated in the text, who Brendan threatens, pushes around both physically and emotionally, and generally disregards as any kind of meaningful person.
Immediately upon Caitlin becoming an actual character in her own story, we fall into a bad romance - seriously, her kid just got stolen, why is she suddenly having romantic feelers for her long-time friend, AND simultaneously having heart-racing flutteriness around Brendan (who constantly patronizes her)?
Incidentally, I find it not terribly believable that Brendan would be carrying a flame for his dearly departed from a couple of centuries ago that he'll just get over instantly because he's met Caitlin.
Remember, this is supposed to be a mother-does-anything-to-save-her-child story, right? So why is that half way through the book she's done nothing but scream, be unconscious, cry, and flutter at the big strong men? When she finally sets in to go to her daughter's rescue, she has a total personality change in an instant, and switches from being lost without Brendan's micromanaging to being suddenly bloodthirsty and willing to sacrifice another kid without a second thought. It was jarring and not especially believable. Don't get me wrong, I like story arcs in which characters grow, but growth isn't an on/off switch that changes in a new personality.
Far from being a strongly feminist story, this book passes the Bechdel test only on a technicality - in the first chapter of Catherine (before she falls unconscious) she goes out with several work friends, who are all named once and each given at most 3 lines before being summarily dismissed from the story. All active characters aside from Caitlin are male. The kidnapped child (Fiona) is basically a macguffin - she has a few lines at beginning and end but for the purpose of the story she could have been a boy or even a family heirloom. The queen of faerie shows up for 4 pages at the very end, primarily to conveniently wrap up Caitlin's trouble and set up the premise for the probable next book.
Lesser thoughts during reading:
Including a glossary of foreign words is great, but this one is incomplete and doesn't include pronunciation notes.
Brendan's grammar changes randomly, even within paragraphs.
Exploding cars is reasonable, but a suggestion to shoot out the lock gets a crack about "only if we were in the movies"?
Clearly we don't understand how car fires work - first he can easily explode a bunch, then he can just snuff out the fires with some wind? Seriously - you try blowing out a tire fire.
July 20, 2014
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I have a real weakness for Faes and when I saw this novel, especially the synopsis, I knew it would be perfect for me. And I must say that I had a great time with it and I am now very curious to read more. Bishop O’Connell presents us a rich and interesting world that we take pleasure to discover.
When Caitlin returns home after a party, she is attacked by a gang of some very strange young persons. Narrowly saved by a stranger who kills without flinching one of the attackers, she returns home to discover these persons trying to kidnap her daughter Fiona. Yes you can imagine that this will completely disrupt the life of the young woman who is determined to get her daughter back at all costs! But it seems that she won’t be alone in this adventure when her best friend, Edward is also involved in the adventure by revealing that he is a wizard. Caitlin is not enough already destabilized that she must now manage a whole new world she did not know about and when the stranger named Brendan decides that it is his mission to save Fiona, the young woman will be forced to trust him, and his friend Dante. But these two characters are not ordinary, oh no, because they are part of Faeries people and it seems that the girl is in this other world and it seems that she could be more important than expected.
While we follow Edward and Dante in some chapters and their quest in our world, we also follow the adventures of Brendan and Caitlin in Faerie, and no matter which side we are, I can tell you that the history is moving a lot! Indeed, the first two are trying to find out who the wizard who is helping to neutralize them is, but this wizard is well protected and determined to make them pay for this affront. On the other hand, we also follow, as I told it, Brendan and Caitlin in that other rally intriguing world. The two will have to work together to try to find the girl. Yet many obstacles will come in their way through and it will not be easy to achieve their goals. However, we meet many characters from different species and it’s true that I’m really curious to learn more about them. Oh yes because we meet Puck, but also kings and queens, and many other players fun to explore.
In terms of the plot I admit that I quickly realized where the author was going to lead us, so even if some of the revelations of the main frame didn’t surprise me, I found that everything was really well done and I didn’t have any problems with that. We anyway have some nice surprises and I am very curious to know what will happen later because the story is just beginning. I had a lot of questions about the possible couple Edward / Caitlin and Brendan / Caitlin and I confess that if the second appeared to me quite clearly, I have some trouble with the first. But in any case I think I’ll see how it will end exactly to see how they will evolve the one with the other. I really hope that we’ll see very quickly all the characters that I really appreciated here. It was a very good first novel and I am looking forward to read more! A great surprise for me!
My English review
I have a real weakness for Faes and when I saw this novel, especially the synopsis, I knew it would be perfect for me. And I must say that I had a great time with it and I am now very curious to read more. Bishop O’Connell presents us a rich and interesting world that we take pleasure to discover.
When Caitlin returns home after a party, she is attacked by a gang of some very strange young persons. Narrowly saved by a stranger who kills without flinching one of the attackers, she returns home to discover these persons trying to kidnap her daughter Fiona. Yes you can imagine that this will completely disrupt the life of the young woman who is determined to get her daughter back at all costs! But it seems that she won’t be alone in this adventure when her best friend, Edward is also involved in the adventure by revealing that he is a wizard. Caitlin is not enough already destabilized that she must now manage a whole new world she did not know about and when the stranger named Brendan decides that it is his mission to save Fiona, the young woman will be forced to trust him, and his friend Dante. But these two characters are not ordinary, oh no, because they are part of Faeries people and it seems that the girl is in this other world and it seems that she could be more important than expected.
While we follow Edward and Dante in some chapters and their quest in our world, we also follow the adventures of Brendan and Caitlin in Faerie, and no matter which side we are, I can tell you that the history is moving a lot! Indeed, the first two are trying to find out who the wizard who is helping to neutralize them is, but this wizard is well protected and determined to make them pay for this affront. On the other hand, we also follow, as I told it, Brendan and Caitlin in that other rally intriguing world. The two will have to work together to try to find the girl. Yet many obstacles will come in their way through and it will not be easy to achieve their goals. However, we meet many characters from different species and it’s true that I’m really curious to learn more about them. Oh yes because we meet Puck, but also kings and queens, and many other players fun to explore.
In terms of the plot I admit that I quickly realized where the author was going to lead us, so even if some of the revelations of the main frame didn’t surprise me, I found that everything was really well done and I didn’t have any problems with that. We anyway have some nice surprises and I am very curious to know what will happen later because the story is just beginning. I had a lot of questions about the possible couple Edward / Caitlin and Brendan / Caitlin and I confess that if the second appeared to me quite clearly, I have some trouble with the first. But in any case I think I’ll see how it will end exactly to see how they will evolve the one with the other. I really hope that we’ll see very quickly all the characters that I really appreciated here. It was a very good first novel and I am looking forward to read more! A great surprise for me!
August 3, 2014
Brendan is a “Fian” or part of the Fianna, ancient warriors of Celtic mythology (their leader was thought to be Fionn Mac Cumhaill, or “Finn McCool” in the English version). Early on we see Brendan has this Celtic ‘berserker’ mode that he goes in to if he’s not careful, and while it can help him destroy plenty of enemies, it doesn’t allow him to differentiate between who he’s aiming death blows at. His girlfriend, Aine, gets caught up in that when he’s in a skirmish with some nasty “Oiche” creatures, which are dark fae. In the modern day, Brendan has to help a woman, Caitlin, whose daughter Fiona has been taken by these dark fae and figure out how to get the child back.
If you have a hankering for some Celtic mythology, enjoy the show "Lost Girl" or just generally like urban fantasy novels featuring the fae, you may enjoy "The Stolen." If you enjoy your Celtic mythology and like it to be mixed in with urban fantasy as opposed to epic fantasy, you’ll get a kick out of "The Stolen." It has interesting characters, a compelling lead, intriguing world-building elements and mythology, swerving the reader’s expectations, and more, making for an all-around satisfying urban fantasy read.
Read my full review here: http://thedarkeva.com/2014/08/03/book...
If you have a hankering for some Celtic mythology, enjoy the show "Lost Girl" or just generally like urban fantasy novels featuring the fae, you may enjoy "The Stolen." If you enjoy your Celtic mythology and like it to be mixed in with urban fantasy as opposed to epic fantasy, you’ll get a kick out of "The Stolen." It has interesting characters, a compelling lead, intriguing world-building elements and mythology, swerving the reader’s expectations, and more, making for an all-around satisfying urban fantasy read.
Read my full review here: http://thedarkeva.com/2014/08/03/book...
December 22, 2015
The Stolen is a story of a stolen child, the fae who took her, and the heroes who save her. Caitlin Brady’s always had a sense that things aren’t always as they seem, but never as strong as the day she’s attacked – by fae, if the big hulking hero who saved her can be believed.
When her daughter Fiona is abducted later that same day – by the same fae who attacked her, Caitlin’s world is turned upside down. All of a sudden there’s fae and goblins and wizards and elves and all kinds of otherworldly creatures she’d never have imagined.
The Stolen is a classic adventure quest story, where a group sets out to save the world (and a child) from evil, secrets are revealed, and redemption hard-won. The characters are predictable (you can only fit so many quest-bound in 400 pages), but fun (when not killing bad guys) and I enjoyed the camaraderie that built up as they went along. I didn’t love Caitlin, though I can’t quite put my finger on why. She just didn’t do it for me. I preferred Brendan and Dante, and thought Edward was a tad annoying (until the end).
Overall, The Stolen was a fun read to while a few hours away with.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
This review was originally posted on drey's library
When her daughter Fiona is abducted later that same day – by the same fae who attacked her, Caitlin’s world is turned upside down. All of a sudden there’s fae and goblins and wizards and elves and all kinds of otherworldly creatures she’d never have imagined.
The Stolen is a classic adventure quest story, where a group sets out to save the world (and a child) from evil, secrets are revealed, and redemption hard-won. The characters are predictable (you can only fit so many quest-bound in 400 pages), but fun (when not killing bad guys) and I enjoyed the camaraderie that built up as they went along. I didn’t love Caitlin, though I can’t quite put my finger on why. She just didn’t do it for me. I preferred Brendan and Dante, and thought Edward was a tad annoying (until the end).
Overall, The Stolen was a fun read to while a few hours away with.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
This review was originally posted on drey's library
February 4, 2015
While the premise of this book really intrigued me, the story itself let me down a little. The plot was interesting, the characters were intriguing, the writing was good, and I love anything to do with the Fae. So why didn't this book draw me in as expected?
Most of the story is told from Caitlin's point of view, then it splits and we have Caitlin's and Eddy's parallel adventures. The duel story lines were easy to follow and interesting enough, but I found myself putting the book down more than once for some reason.
After stewing about it for awhile, I think that it was the pace of the plot that ultimately put me off. We know from the synopsis that Caitlin has to travel to Tir na nOg to try to retrieve her daughter, but it takes almost half the book before they even cross!
While it's important to set things up, it felt like the author was giving us almost too much information. I kept waiting for Caitlin to cross over into Fae territory and I admit that I became impatient.
While not a bad book, it was just okay for me. If anyone else has read this one, I'd love to know what you thought! It took me much too long to finish this one, but I'm not 100% sure why.
Most of the story is told from Caitlin's point of view, then it splits and we have Caitlin's and Eddy's parallel adventures. The duel story lines were easy to follow and interesting enough, but I found myself putting the book down more than once for some reason.
After stewing about it for awhile, I think that it was the pace of the plot that ultimately put me off. We know from the synopsis that Caitlin has to travel to Tir na nOg to try to retrieve her daughter, but it takes almost half the book before they even cross!
While it's important to set things up, it felt like the author was giving us almost too much information. I kept waiting for Caitlin to cross over into Fae territory and I admit that I became impatient.
While not a bad book, it was just okay for me. If anyone else has read this one, I'd love to know what you thought! It took me much too long to finish this one, but I'm not 100% sure why.
July 8, 2014
This is a strong opening to what I hope is at least a trilogy. Bishop O'Connell deftly integrates classic celtic mythology with urban fantasy elements and creates a nailbiter of book. Although we start off with the entrance of well meaning yet tragic Brendan, the true heart of the story is Caitlin and her daughter Fiona. The theft of Fiona is where Caitlin's hero's journey takes off. Caitlin is a strong character with depth and a vivid personality. Oddly, she stands out best from the key trio that are the leads of Stolen. Brendan, while also a fairly interesting character with the beginnings of a good backstory, doesn't really get to being fully developed. Edward, the possible romantic rival, is even more sketchy. This isn't a big detraction from enjoying the story, but it does leave you wishing for some development. There is a lot of room here for another book and frankly, it's one I'll be keeping an eye out for.
July 30, 2014
I know that I have been hooked on a story when I find the characters running around in my head till I get to the end. I truly know that it has become an intricate part of my reality when I wonder what next will become of those within the story once I close the cover and move onto the next book.
Did Brendan survive and at what cost. Will Edward and Caitlin find a life with Fiona? Oh and what will become of the Fae
The characters that he has filled the book with are rich, full and very believable. You will rally behind each of them as they find their
way.
I must admit that what drew me to this book was the mention of my home Boston MA. How could I resist. So glad I did not. I suggest to one and all take the chance step up and out of your world, slip into that which Bishop O'Connell has put into words.
Join with me as I wonder what is going on with those characters running around in my head.
Till we meet again.
Did Brendan survive and at what cost. Will Edward and Caitlin find a life with Fiona? Oh and what will become of the Fae
The characters that he has filled the book with are rich, full and very believable. You will rally behind each of them as they find their
way.
I must admit that what drew me to this book was the mention of my home Boston MA. How could I resist. So glad I did not. I suggest to one and all take the chance step up and out of your world, slip into that which Bishop O'Connell has put into words.
Join with me as I wonder what is going on with those characters running around in my head.
Till we meet again.
June 12, 2015
Not a bad read! Started out typical (first chapter, long ago tragedy morph to present day, damsel in distress, yada, yada) but quickly changed in to actually a pretty decent story. I've now bought the second book because this one suddenly became a page turner and (SPOILER ALERT) yes it turns out as you imagine it will, damsel realizes she's in love with nerd guy, daughter is rescued, everyone returns safe except for one of the main characters but you're left to believe he's alive. But for the most part it is well written and well executed.
April 13, 2015
A great fairytale
Without giving away any spoilers, the only thing that kept this review from earning five stars were the main protagonists. While I came to like Caitlin, I never loved her because she was too weepy. Brendan kept everyone at arm's length, so really connecting with him was equally difficult. By the time you really start cheering for them, the story abruptly ends. Despite the drawbacks it's a great story with plenty of adventure and inner workings of the fae.
Without giving away any spoilers, the only thing that kept this review from earning five stars were the main protagonists. While I came to like Caitlin, I never loved her because she was too weepy. Brendan kept everyone at arm's length, so really connecting with him was equally difficult. By the time you really start cheering for them, the story abruptly ends. Despite the drawbacks it's a great story with plenty of adventure and inner workings of the fae.
September 10, 2015
4 stars - on my scale, if I loan out a 4 star book, then I want it back so I can read it again. It probably was closer to 4.5 stars.
This was a great tale that created a new vision of faeries, magic, the Irish, and how they all work in our modern world. The protagonist was particularly inspiring in his dogged pursuit of the kidnapped child.
I devoured this book.
This was a great tale that created a new vision of faeries, magic, the Irish, and how they all work in our modern world. The protagonist was particularly inspiring in his dogged pursuit of the kidnapped child.
I devoured this book.
August 29, 2016
With apologies to Bob Seger:
Here I am
Reading tropes again
There they are
On every page
There they go
So predictable
And yet I
Turn the page
This book reminds me of 80's hair metal . . . a guilty pleasure with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. So I will give the book three stars and cannot explain why.
Here I am
Reading tropes again
There they are
On every page
There they go
So predictable
And yet I
Turn the page
This book reminds me of 80's hair metal . . . a guilty pleasure with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. So I will give the book three stars and cannot explain why.
Want to read
March 20, 201513 March 2015: $0.99 on Kindle
13 October 2014: $0.99 on Kindle
13 October 2014: $0.99 on Kindle
December 7, 2017
At first I was nervous about reading this, because of faeries and guns, but the author handled that well. In fact, the book was quite amazing and hard to put down - especially towards the end. I think a sequel is set up, and I more than look forward to it! ^^
November 5, 2016
Excellent book. I enjoyed Bishop's world, especially the faerie folk. It has a nice twist that I didn't see coming and several good characters. There's one part that's a bit dark which I think will haunt Caitlin for a long time to come.
Want to read
June 24, 2014*Recvd 06/24/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: July 22nd 2014 by Harper Voyager Impulse
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