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To Steal a Throne
In 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.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That reveal?! And then that ending?!
To Steal a Throne was a such a great read! The atmosphere was spectacular. The snowy mountains, the skycarts, all of it had me shivering under the covers with my AC set at 72 degrees. I loved the magic, the setting, the lady whistledown vibes of the shadow queen, and all the drammmmma. Not to mention the shimmering feminine rage and the romance! 10/10 no notes.
The FMC is *perfect* she’s strong, ruthless, and making impossible decisions. She has depth for days and I love her so much!
My first thoughts when finishing this book were…
Strong girls deserve to be treated softly too. They deserve support and care, even when it doesn’t look like they need it. Above all they deserve to be seen, completely, their prickly bits, their soft vulnerable parts, and the wounds they hide from everyone.
I really want to give the FMC a giant hug and tell her I’ll take care of her, that she can take a break from being brave and strong.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Whats to love…
- feminine rage
- political intrigue
- snowy setting
- rivals to lovers
- “for body heat”
- grade A banter
- atmospheric
MUST READ!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Bloomsbury for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
To Steal a Throne was a such a great read! The atmosphere was spectacular. The snowy mountains, the skycarts, all of it had me shivering under the covers with my AC set at 72 degrees. I loved the magic, the setting, the lady whistledown vibes of the shadow queen, and all the drammmmma. Not to mention the shimmering feminine rage and the romance! 10/10 no notes.
The FMC is *perfect* she’s strong, ruthless, and making impossible decisions. She has depth for days and I love her so much!
My first thoughts when finishing this book were…
Strong girls deserve to be treated softly too. They deserve support and care, even when it doesn’t look like they need it. Above all they deserve to be seen, completely, their prickly bits, their soft vulnerable parts, and the wounds they hide from everyone.
I really want to give the FMC a giant hug and tell her I’ll take care of her, that she can take a break from being brave and strong.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Whats to love…
- feminine rage
- political intrigue
- snowy setting
- rivals to lovers
- “for body heat”
- grade A banter
- atmospheric
MUST READ!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Bloomsbury for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 10, 2026
3.75 ★— I wanted to love this book so bad!
To Steal A Throne is a YA story with all the ingredients to worm its way into my heart. A morally gray heroine desperately trying to keep everything together, a love interest that is down bad even after he sees behind her façade, and all the political machinations and scheming plots you could want.
I feel like my biggest problem really was that this story suffered from some very flat characterisation of anyone who wasn’t the heroine Mira and the MMC Kaidren.
Even her brother, who is a focal part of the story, as the man she covers for and controls behind the scenes didn’t feel like a well-constructed character, and I came away with the impression that the sibling dynamic that should be the foundation of this felt underdeveloped. I really think that the twistedness and resentment of their relationship weren’t really explored enough to make this main thread of the story work.
I also thought that Kaidren really struggled for me as a male love interest. With some intriguing scenes in the beginning, it felt like he actively devolved as the story continued on, being a little too forgiving and too patient with Mira to an extent that made him look like a doormat. It’s interesting because I felt like Sing Me To Sleep, a prior book of Burton’s I’ve read, suffered from very similar problems for me. The author makes these down bad men, which — I love a down bad man — but in the process of them being down bad, she nukes their real intriguing character potential and depth.
Another negative for me was this book's tournament arc, which just felt unnecessary. I would have loved to see some other plot device used here instead of a tournament, which I know is a staple of the YA fantasy genre, but… damn, it didn’t work here for me.
The ending did pique my interest, and I can’t lie, Mira's line about a character's wig being crooked genuinely made me chortle!
So even with my reservations, because I feel like the genre lacks morally gray heroines (Black heroines especially!), I will continue on with the series, hoping the sequel might grab me more.
_______________________
Thank you to Bloomsbury YA for the ARC.
To Steal A Throne is a YA story with all the ingredients to worm its way into my heart. A morally gray heroine desperately trying to keep everything together, a love interest that is down bad even after he sees behind her façade, and all the political machinations and scheming plots you could want.
I feel like my biggest problem really was that this story suffered from some very flat characterisation of anyone who wasn’t the heroine Mira and the MMC Kaidren.
Even her brother, who is a focal part of the story, as the man she covers for and controls behind the scenes didn’t feel like a well-constructed character, and I came away with the impression that the sibling dynamic that should be the foundation of this felt underdeveloped. I really think that the twistedness and resentment of their relationship weren’t really explored enough to make this main thread of the story work.
I also thought that Kaidren really struggled for me as a male love interest. With some intriguing scenes in the beginning, it felt like he actively devolved as the story continued on, being a little too forgiving and too patient with Mira to an extent that made him look like a doormat. It’s interesting because I felt like Sing Me To Sleep, a prior book of Burton’s I’ve read, suffered from very similar problems for me. The author makes these down bad men, which — I love a down bad man — but in the process of them being down bad, she nukes their real intriguing character potential and depth.
Another negative for me was this book's tournament arc, which just felt unnecessary. I would have loved to see some other plot device used here instead of a tournament, which I know is a staple of the YA fantasy genre, but… damn, it didn’t work here for me.
The ending did pique my interest, and I can’t lie, Mira's line about a character's wig being crooked genuinely made me chortle!
So even with my reservations, because I feel like the genre lacks morally gray heroines (Black heroines especially!), I will continue on with the series, hoping the sequel might grab me more.
_______________________
Thank you to Bloomsbury YA for the ARC.
Read
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
Did Not Finish
January 22, 2026DNF @ 30%
This isn't grabbing my interest. The story, worldbuilding, and characters felt very cliche, predictable, and unmemorable.
I wasn't feeling the surface level political intrigue, nor the cat and mouse game between Remira and Kaidren. Nothing was unique enough for me to grasp onto and keep on reading.
The story also moved so quickly that I didn't even have time to breathe and let it all seep into my mind. The novel started in media res, which made me feel disoriented and I kept wondering if I was accidentally reading the second or third book in a series. It was like I was expected to know all the 5 Ws from the get-go.
It felt like I had no time to get to know the characters, their motives, and their thoughts and thought processes before another scene would start playing and interrupt any gains I had when it came to understanding these characters.
This novel wasn't for me, but it might work for other readers.
Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for this arc.
This isn't grabbing my interest. The story, worldbuilding, and characters felt very cliche, predictable, and unmemorable.
I wasn't feeling the surface level political intrigue, nor the cat and mouse game between Remira and Kaidren. Nothing was unique enough for me to grasp onto and keep on reading.
The story also moved so quickly that I didn't even have time to breathe and let it all seep into my mind. The novel started in media res, which made me feel disoriented and I kept wondering if I was accidentally reading the second or third book in a series. It was like I was expected to know all the 5 Ws from the get-go.
It felt like I had no time to get to know the characters, their motives, and their thoughts and thought processes before another scene would start playing and interrupt any gains I had when it came to understanding these characters.
This novel wasn't for me, but it might work for other readers.
Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for this arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
To Steal A Throne ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🫑
From the shadows she built a kingdom on lies, but when she gets sick of serving mediocre men she decides she wants the crown for herself.
📓 Mira, a girl who has spent her life manipulating power from the shadows decides she's done serving mediocre men and decides to take the throne for herself, even if it means betraying the ones she cares for most.
Beneath the court drama is a sharp, political, and culturally resonant story about power, identity, and who is allowed to rule. A story about reclaiming authorship over your own narrative, refusing invisibility, silent complicity, and recognizing ambition itself can be revolutionary. What if the girl standing in the shadows behind the throne stopped helping and took the throne for herself?
✨ No quotes as book isn't released yet for me to check quotes against.
🫵🏼 To Steal A Throne is for readers who:
• enjoy reading about power being taken, not given
• enjoy ruthless, ambitious, morally grey FMCs
• appreciate characters who choose power over likeability
• enjoy a FMC who is strategic, manipulative, and hungry
• have ever thought "let her be angry"
• enjoy shifting alliances, power plays, and strategy > sword skill
• appreciate books where who controls the board > epic battles
• are drawn to "feminine rage" - women stepping out of supportive/invisible roles, anger being justified, not softened, and taking power in a system designed to exclude you
• enjoy stories about marginalization, being underestimated, or reclaiming agency
📓 I had such a great time reading this. The deeper meanings and real world parallels were fascinating and made me viscerally angry at times (not angry at the book, at our world). I love the duality shown, it makes the characters more dimensional and real.
I loved the Lady Whistledown-esque letters penned to the public as the Shadow Queen. They provide a lot of insight as well as intrigue.
While I loved the majority of it, I didn't love everything. Some of it could be due to or related to the fact that I'm middle aged and this is YA.
One twist was genuinely surprising for me (loved it!), others felt a bit too convenient for my tastes. As it is YA, I tried to account for that, particularly when a twist felt a bit predictable. Just because it's predictable to my middle-aged brain doesn't mean it would to someone else, especially someone in the YA age range. Character motivations also seemed a bit inconsistent at times, but again, the character is roughly 18. I tried to keep that in mind as a parent of a kid that age whose motivations can feel (or flat out be 😅) inconsistent at times.
Without the tattoo marking Kaidren as Opheran, he's able to be somewhat of a chameleon, something Remira isn't able to do since she does have the crescent moon tattoo. Kaidren is able to bend in and pretend to be whatever he wants at that moment. I feel like this is a metaphor about real world light skinned or white passing Black/Brown people being able to do the same.
🤔 Will I continue the series? Absolutely! I can't wait to see where the story goes.
📗 Themes & Deeper Meaning
🔌 Power, Exploitation, and Invisibility
Mira has already been ruling — just unofficially. She's the puppet master cloaked in shadows, collecting secrets and pulling strings. Mira got her brother into his position of power and has kept him there for 4-5 years already. Manipulation, secrets, and magic are the tools of her trade. Yet, she's never received any recognition nor thanks for all her time, dedication, and work. Additionally, her brother turns a blind eye to her when people disrespect her. The direct, real world parallels cannot be ignored. Women, especially Black women, doing invisible labor, marginalized people sustaining systems that exclude them, and being "useful" but never worthy of power or leadership. The central thesis revolves around: If you're already doing the work of power, why shouldn't you claim it?
⚖️ Race, Colonialism, and Prejudice
The story explicitly includes prejudice against Mira's people (Opheran's) and her divided identity within a dominant society. Real world parallels: Colonized or occupied peoples navigating dominant regimes, respectability politics (Mira must be "useful" to survive), and assimilation vs loyalty to one's own origins. Mira isn't just ambitious, her ambition is shaped by being othered, being resented in elites spaces, and being denied legitimacy despite competence. Her hunger for power becomes an act of resistance. Feminine rage + racialized marginalization = radical self-claiming of authority.
🪞 Another real world parallel is the men in power having affairs (with or without producing children) with the hired help. The servants aren't there due to chattel slavery (far as I know currently, at least), but they're servants nonetheless, so there's a power imbalance.
⚖️ Truth vs Lies (Epistemic Control)
Mira's magic literally feeds on lies, and she has the ability to alter a person's memory/perception. This is one of the strongest metaphors in the book. Whoever controls truth controls power. History, memory, and and narrative are political weapons. Oppressed people are faced with a narrative that's been altered to suit their oppressors.
Meanwhile, Kaidren's magic (detect others people's magic and their source) threatens to expose Mira and all that she's worked for. This makes him a living, breathing embodiment of accountability, surveillance, and truth-seeking systems.
The combination provides a fascinating ideological clash.
Mira = constructed truth/survival through manipulation
Kaidren = exposure/ destabilization of hidden systems
💅🏼 Gender and Feminine Rage
Mira's arc isn't about becoming "good" or even "useful" - it's about becoming unapologetic, wholly herself, good, bad, or otherwise. The book proposes that women are allowed to want power, not just support it.
🔇 Silence as Complicity
There's a character that Mira loves who chooses willful ignorance rather than confronting a cold, hard truth. Mira handles it exceedingly well and I'm so glad there's a discussion on it.
✍🏽 Told in first person POV, the prose is as sharp as it is intimate. We get a fair bit of internal monologue and strategic thinking, which I enjoyed. It's accessible, easy to read, and I love that the voice is persistently determined. It's clean, fast, emotionally direct, and prioritizes momentum and tension over lyrical prose. I feel the prose serves the character well, as you're inside Mira's head. You're inside her ambition, not an innocent bystander. Mm
The dialogue fits the characters and story, and reads smoothly and naturally. I appreciate the couple bits of levity, the biting-sharp dialogue between Mira and Kaidren.
⏳Fast paced and gets going quite early on (no drawn out build up) with high stakes and constant escalation. This lends well to making you want to read just one more chapter. 😅 It's a momentum driven story that prioritizes tension over subtlety.
🗺️ I found the world to be well developed and richly imagined. The dark, snowy setting is atmospheric and fun. The strong sense of divide between class and systemic prejudice was handled well. The world feels alive and dynamic, but I would've loved a bit deeper of a dive, maybe some additional lore. Being the first book in a series, we may get that down the road.
🔮 I found the magic system to be well developed and explained. This conceptual magic system is less for show and more for psychological and political warfare. It reinforces that information is power, lies can be survival tools, and truth can be a destabilizating force. I appreciate the way magic is integrated into governance and hierarchy.
⚔️ The Trails/Tournament
A three-part deadly competition for the crown with external and internal stakes.
I love that it's less about winning fairly and more about who can manipulate the system the best. I feel like that's true for so much in the real world, even though I'm not ok with it being that way.
The Trials expose the brutality of power systems and the illusion of "fair competition" in rigged hierarchies.
I wanted more focus and time spent on the trials. I expected a large chunk of the book would be focused on the trials, and it wasn't that way, so maybe that's on me.
👥 We get an all Black cast (as best I recall everyone was Black anyway) and I love that. I also love how morally grey characters were handled - with nuance and care that dives into what made them and how they're minds work.
We see how deeply Mira has been shaped by marginalization and invisibility, she's calculating, ambitious, and angry. She's angry for damn good reasons and puts it to use to help herself and her fellow marginalized people. She isn't always likeable, but she's always compelling (for me). I enjoyed that Kaidren is both a threat (to Mira) and a source of romantic tension. He represents exposure, disruption, and possibility and their dynamic = attraction + danger + ideological opposition.
💚 I love that it's a slow burn. These two are rivals, enemies for the majority of the book. Mira is so torn and conflicted for her attraction to Kaidren and you can feel those emotions warring. I'm incredibly excited to see where this goes.
The change from rivals/enemies to more was a bit more sudden than I prefer, but it fit the story and characters so I'm not mad.
🫑 It's YA so no spice, but there is some tension and maybe some kissing. Maybe. 😉 It's age appropriate and fit the story and characters.
📚 If you liked: This Poison Heart (Kalynn Bayron), Heartless Hunter (Kristen Ciccarelli), Blood Debts (Terry J Benton-Walker), The Jasmine Throne (Tasha Suri), The Fall Before Flight (Kristine Castillo-Negron), Of Hoarfrost & Blood (Scarlet Tempest), Sing Me To Sleep (Gabi Burton), The Final Strife (Saara El-Arifi), The Cruel Prince (Holly Black), The Young Elites (Marie Lu), Iron Widow (Xiran Jay Zhao)
Thank you to @queryqueen339 @bloomsburybooksus and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
---
“We are a Republic in name only. We are basically already a monarchy with a rotating king.”
frtc - I didn't see that twist coming - well done!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🫑
From the shadows she built a kingdom on lies, but when she gets sick of serving mediocre men she decides she wants the crown for herself.
📓 Mira, a girl who has spent her life manipulating power from the shadows decides she's done serving mediocre men and decides to take the throne for herself, even if it means betraying the ones she cares for most.
Beneath the court drama is a sharp, political, and culturally resonant story about power, identity, and who is allowed to rule. A story about reclaiming authorship over your own narrative, refusing invisibility, silent complicity, and recognizing ambition itself can be revolutionary. What if the girl standing in the shadows behind the throne stopped helping and took the throne for herself?
✨ No quotes as book isn't released yet for me to check quotes against.
🫵🏼 To Steal A Throne is for readers who:
• enjoy reading about power being taken, not given
• enjoy ruthless, ambitious, morally grey FMCs
• appreciate characters who choose power over likeability
• enjoy a FMC who is strategic, manipulative, and hungry
• have ever thought "let her be angry"
• enjoy shifting alliances, power plays, and strategy > sword skill
• appreciate books where who controls the board > epic battles
• are drawn to "feminine rage" - women stepping out of supportive/invisible roles, anger being justified, not softened, and taking power in a system designed to exclude you
• enjoy stories about marginalization, being underestimated, or reclaiming agency
📓 I had such a great time reading this. The deeper meanings and real world parallels were fascinating and made me viscerally angry at times (not angry at the book, at our world). I love the duality shown, it makes the characters more dimensional and real.
I loved the Lady Whistledown-esque letters penned to the public as the Shadow Queen. They provide a lot of insight as well as intrigue.
While I loved the majority of it, I didn't love everything. Some of it could be due to or related to the fact that I'm middle aged and this is YA.
One twist was genuinely surprising for me (loved it!), others felt a bit too convenient for my tastes. As it is YA, I tried to account for that, particularly when a twist felt a bit predictable. Just because it's predictable to my middle-aged brain doesn't mean it would to someone else, especially someone in the YA age range. Character motivations also seemed a bit inconsistent at times, but again, the character is roughly 18. I tried to keep that in mind as a parent of a kid that age whose motivations can feel (or flat out be 😅) inconsistent at times.
Without the tattoo marking Kaidren as Opheran, he's able to be somewhat of a chameleon, something Remira isn't able to do since she does have the crescent moon tattoo. Kaidren is able to bend in and pretend to be whatever he wants at that moment. I feel like this is a metaphor about real world light skinned or white passing Black/Brown people being able to do the same.
🤔 Will I continue the series? Absolutely! I can't wait to see where the story goes.
📗 Themes & Deeper Meaning
🔌 Power, Exploitation, and Invisibility
Mira has already been ruling — just unofficially. She's the puppet master cloaked in shadows, collecting secrets and pulling strings. Mira got her brother into his position of power and has kept him there for 4-5 years already. Manipulation, secrets, and magic are the tools of her trade. Yet, she's never received any recognition nor thanks for all her time, dedication, and work. Additionally, her brother turns a blind eye to her when people disrespect her. The direct, real world parallels cannot be ignored. Women, especially Black women, doing invisible labor, marginalized people sustaining systems that exclude them, and being "useful" but never worthy of power or leadership. The central thesis revolves around: If you're already doing the work of power, why shouldn't you claim it?
⚖️ Race, Colonialism, and Prejudice
The story explicitly includes prejudice against Mira's people (Opheran's) and her divided identity within a dominant society. Real world parallels: Colonized or occupied peoples navigating dominant regimes, respectability politics (Mira must be "useful" to survive), and assimilation vs loyalty to one's own origins. Mira isn't just ambitious, her ambition is shaped by being othered, being resented in elites spaces, and being denied legitimacy despite competence. Her hunger for power becomes an act of resistance. Feminine rage + racialized marginalization = radical self-claiming of authority.
🪞 Another real world parallel is the men in power having affairs (with or without producing children) with the hired help. The servants aren't there due to chattel slavery (far as I know currently, at least), but they're servants nonetheless, so there's a power imbalance.
⚖️ Truth vs Lies (Epistemic Control)
Mira's magic literally feeds on lies, and she has the ability to alter a person's memory/perception. This is one of the strongest metaphors in the book. Whoever controls truth controls power. History, memory, and and narrative are political weapons. Oppressed people are faced with a narrative that's been altered to suit their oppressors.
Meanwhile, Kaidren's magic (detect others people's magic and their source) threatens to expose Mira and all that she's worked for. This makes him a living, breathing embodiment of accountability, surveillance, and truth-seeking systems.
The combination provides a fascinating ideological clash.
Mira = constructed truth/survival through manipulation
Kaidren = exposure/ destabilization of hidden systems
💅🏼 Gender and Feminine Rage
Mira's arc isn't about becoming "good" or even "useful" - it's about becoming unapologetic, wholly herself, good, bad, or otherwise. The book proposes that women are allowed to want power, not just support it.
🔇 Silence as Complicity
There's a character that Mira loves who chooses willful ignorance rather than confronting a cold, hard truth. Mira handles it exceedingly well and I'm so glad there's a discussion on it.
✍🏽 Told in first person POV, the prose is as sharp as it is intimate. We get a fair bit of internal monologue and strategic thinking, which I enjoyed. It's accessible, easy to read, and I love that the voice is persistently determined. It's clean, fast, emotionally direct, and prioritizes momentum and tension over lyrical prose. I feel the prose serves the character well, as you're inside Mira's head. You're inside her ambition, not an innocent bystander. Mm
The dialogue fits the characters and story, and reads smoothly and naturally. I appreciate the couple bits of levity, the biting-sharp dialogue between Mira and Kaidren.
⏳Fast paced and gets going quite early on (no drawn out build up) with high stakes and constant escalation. This lends well to making you want to read just one more chapter. 😅 It's a momentum driven story that prioritizes tension over subtlety.
🗺️ I found the world to be well developed and richly imagined. The dark, snowy setting is atmospheric and fun. The strong sense of divide between class and systemic prejudice was handled well. The world feels alive and dynamic, but I would've loved a bit deeper of a dive, maybe some additional lore. Being the first book in a series, we may get that down the road.
🔮 I found the magic system to be well developed and explained. This conceptual magic system is less for show and more for psychological and political warfare. It reinforces that information is power, lies can be survival tools, and truth can be a destabilizating force. I appreciate the way magic is integrated into governance and hierarchy.
⚔️ The Trails/Tournament
A three-part deadly competition for the crown with external and internal stakes.
I love that it's less about winning fairly and more about who can manipulate the system the best. I feel like that's true for so much in the real world, even though I'm not ok with it being that way.
The Trials expose the brutality of power systems and the illusion of "fair competition" in rigged hierarchies.
I wanted more focus and time spent on the trials. I expected a large chunk of the book would be focused on the trials, and it wasn't that way, so maybe that's on me.
👥 We get an all Black cast (as best I recall everyone was Black anyway) and I love that. I also love how morally grey characters were handled - with nuance and care that dives into what made them and how they're minds work.
We see how deeply Mira has been shaped by marginalization and invisibility, she's calculating, ambitious, and angry. She's angry for damn good reasons and puts it to use to help herself and her fellow marginalized people. She isn't always likeable, but she's always compelling (for me). I enjoyed that Kaidren is both a threat (to Mira) and a source of romantic tension. He represents exposure, disruption, and possibility and their dynamic = attraction + danger + ideological opposition.
💚 I love that it's a slow burn. These two are rivals, enemies for the majority of the book. Mira is so torn and conflicted for her attraction to Kaidren and you can feel those emotions warring. I'm incredibly excited to see where this goes.
The change from rivals/enemies to more was a bit more sudden than I prefer, but it fit the story and characters so I'm not mad.
🫑 It's YA so no spice, but there is some tension and maybe some kissing. Maybe. 😉 It's age appropriate and fit the story and characters.
📚 If you liked: This Poison Heart (Kalynn Bayron), Heartless Hunter (Kristen Ciccarelli), Blood Debts (Terry J Benton-Walker), The Jasmine Throne (Tasha Suri), The Fall Before Flight (Kristine Castillo-Negron), Of Hoarfrost & Blood (Scarlet Tempest), Sing Me To Sleep (Gabi Burton), The Final Strife (Saara El-Arifi), The Cruel Prince (Holly Black), The Young Elites (Marie Lu), Iron Widow (Xiran Jay Zhao)
Thank you to @queryqueen339 @bloomsburybooksus and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
---
“We are a Republic in name only. We are basically already a monarchy with a rotating king.”
frtc - I didn't see that twist coming - well done!!
March 6, 2026
I went into To Steal a Throne really excited. The premise sounded right up my alley— a morally gray, egocentric female main character in a YA fantasy romance. The story follows Mira as she helps her half-brother (Luc) maintain the throne against their rival, Kaidren.
There are a lot of moving parts in this book, but unfortunately many of them felt extremely convenient. Characters seemed to appear exactly when the story needed someone to explain away murders, plot points, political problems, or even wars. Because of that, much of the plot ended up feeling predictable rather than tense or surprising.
I know this is a YA fantasy, and normally I don’t love saying something “feels YA” because readers of any age can enjoy the category. But the tone here sometimes bordered on immature, particularly in how Mira behaved. Her motivations were meant to be selfish and morally gray, but they also shifted in ways that felt inconsistent, which made it hard for me to really understand or connect with her.
The romance between Mira and Kaidren also didn’t quite land for me. They go from being brutal enemies to suddenly discovering he had a crush on her before he even knew her, and then they’re risking everything to kiss each other. The progression just didn’t feel believable, and the romance ended up reading more like a throwaway subplot that was there to help market the book as enemies-to-lovers.
Overall, this one was honestly a bit of a struggle for me to get through. I kept hoping the story would click because I love a good revenge arc mixed with political fantasy, but the pacing and plotting made it feel like a slog. There were moments I enjoyed, but there were also quite a few points where I seriously considered DNF’ing.
In the end, I’m giving this 2 stars. I’m disappointed because the premise had so much potential, but the execution didn’t quite work for me. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be continuing with book two.
That said, I really appreciate Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me an advanced reader copy.
There are a lot of moving parts in this book, but unfortunately many of them felt extremely convenient. Characters seemed to appear exactly when the story needed someone to explain away murders, plot points, political problems, or even wars. Because of that, much of the plot ended up feeling predictable rather than tense or surprising.
I know this is a YA fantasy, and normally I don’t love saying something “feels YA” because readers of any age can enjoy the category. But the tone here sometimes bordered on immature, particularly in how Mira behaved. Her motivations were meant to be selfish and morally gray, but they also shifted in ways that felt inconsistent, which made it hard for me to really understand or connect with her.
The romance between Mira and Kaidren also didn’t quite land for me. They go from being brutal enemies to suddenly discovering he had a crush on her before he even knew her, and then they’re risking everything to kiss each other. The progression just didn’t feel believable, and the romance ended up reading more like a throwaway subplot that was there to help market the book as enemies-to-lovers.
Overall, this one was honestly a bit of a struggle for me to get through. I kept hoping the story would click because I love a good revenge arc mixed with political fantasy, but the pacing and plotting made it feel like a slog. There were moments I enjoyed, but there were also quite a few points where I seriously considered DNF’ing.
In the end, I’m giving this 2 stars. I’m disappointed because the premise had so much potential, but the execution didn’t quite work for me. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be continuing with book two.
That said, I really appreciate Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me an advanced reader copy.
March 27, 2026
(3.75/5) I'm not sure how to properly rate this book because while I love the premise and so many aspects of it, I'm torn on the execution.
A sincere thank you to Bloomsbury for gifting me an ARC ahead of its pub date. I'm a part of their Bloomsbury Creator Circle (for transparency).
📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: April 7, 2026
👑 YA fantasy
👑 1st person POV
👑 Political intrigue
👑 Rivals to lovers
👑 Deadly tournament
Spice rating: 🫑
I'm gonna be frank and age myself (early 30s), I'm not the target market for YA (12-18). I still love reading YA because it isn't overly focused on explicit romance that rivals the plot. HOWEVER, I think the writing of this book leaned a bit more into the teen category for me than YA (IN MY OPINION).
Now, there were a lot of fantastic aspects to this book. Mira is strong-willed, cunning, and fiercely determined. She is willing to do anything to get what she wants, even if it means betraying her own feelings. I enjoyed the complexities of her character, even if it's hard to watch her self-sabotage herself over and over again. I also LOVE how her magic works (it's fueled by lies) and is something I've never seen in a book before.
I have mixed feelings on Kaidren and their dynamic. His character development fell a bit flat for me. I almost wished there was a bit more build up and mystery to his character, but instead he just allows Mira to walk all over him. I'm still not sure why he's so forgiving of her. At times, his reactions felt so unbelievable that they pulled me out of the story. She did WHAT to you and you're going to basically let her get away with it?! I love a simp, but I want a simp to still have a stronger backbone.
A lot of this book mirrors things I typically like in romantasy/fantasy books—mystery, political intrigue, rivals-to-lovers, and trials. While I found many moments to be predictable and at times too convenient, there was a plot twist that caught me off guard and I bumped up my rating by .5 stars for it.
At this time, I do not plan to continue reading this series. It's not a bad book by any means, I'm just not invested enough to deprioritize other books on my TBR for the sequel.
A sincere thank you to Bloomsbury for gifting me an ARC ahead of its pub date. I'm a part of their Bloomsbury Creator Circle (for transparency).
📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: April 7, 2026
👑 YA fantasy
👑 1st person POV
👑 Political intrigue
👑 Rivals to lovers
👑 Deadly tournament
Spice rating: 🫑
I'm gonna be frank and age myself (early 30s), I'm not the target market for YA (12-18). I still love reading YA because it isn't overly focused on explicit romance that rivals the plot. HOWEVER, I think the writing of this book leaned a bit more into the teen category for me than YA (IN MY OPINION).
Now, there were a lot of fantastic aspects to this book. Mira is strong-willed, cunning, and fiercely determined. She is willing to do anything to get what she wants, even if it means betraying her own feelings. I enjoyed the complexities of her character, even if it's hard to watch her self-sabotage herself over and over again. I also LOVE how her magic works (it's fueled by lies) and is something I've never seen in a book before.
I have mixed feelings on Kaidren and their dynamic. His character development fell a bit flat for me. I almost wished there was a bit more build up and mystery to his character, but instead he just allows Mira to walk all over him. I'm still not sure why he's so forgiving of her. At times, his reactions felt so unbelievable that they pulled me out of the story. She did WHAT to you and you're going to basically let her get away with it?! I love a simp, but I want a simp to still have a stronger backbone.
A lot of this book mirrors things I typically like in romantasy/fantasy books—mystery, political intrigue, rivals-to-lovers, and trials. While I found many moments to be predictable and at times too convenient, there was a plot twist that caught me off guard and I bumped up my rating by .5 stars for it.
At this time, I do not plan to continue reading this series. It's not a bad book by any means, I'm just not invested enough to deprioritize other books on my TBR for the sequel.
April 16, 2026
General Thoughts:
Let's take a moment for the cover.... because it's fantastic!! **bows head**
This book was a whole lot of fun! I loved the slightly unlikable, but extremely strong and confident FMC. You definitely rooted for her, even though she was definitely conniving and underhanded. She was going to win at all costs, and you absolutely wanted that for her. Even though she was very sneaky and underhanded about it.
The political intrigue really shined through in this novel, and I feel like it was really well done. There was secrets, betrayals, and alliances that just added so much depth to that aspect of the book. It definitely felt like a trust. No one kind of situation and those types of books always keep me very intrigued because I wanna know who's involved and why.
The light sub plot of romance was just enough to keep me interested in the dynamics of the characters. I felt like it added something to the character development versus being there solely for effect. I like the book was still fantasy forward versus being all about the romance.
The complex family dynamics definitely added even more depth to the story. Luc was that character that was just so confounding and unkind without realizing that he was. I literally could not decide if I loved him or hated him up until the very end. I'll let you decide for yourself how you feel about him at the end lol
Definitely a solid book and I will be reading further into the series.
Things to Love:
* Strong and competent FMC
* Well formed political intrigue
* Slow burn deception
* Magic based on lies
* Light romance
Things to Question:
* Start was a little slow
Book Stats:
📖: 363 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: ebook
Series: 1/?
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 11 hours 46 minutes
🎤: Dami Olukoya
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: single narration
Was the narration good??
I enjoyed this narration quite a bit. I felt like the narrator did an excellent job of giving the characters different inflections and timbers in their voice so that I could easily distinguish who was talking. But it wasn't comical or in any way drew me out of the book. I'm not sure if it was just me or my copy, but there was like a distant thunderous sound in the back of the audiobook at times that made me pause the audiobook to see if somebody was running upstairs in my house. 😂😂 I finally figured out It was the audiobook and eventually was able to ignore it.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted eARC from NetGalley and a self purchased audiobook. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Let's take a moment for the cover.... because it's fantastic!! **bows head**
This book was a whole lot of fun! I loved the slightly unlikable, but extremely strong and confident FMC. You definitely rooted for her, even though she was definitely conniving and underhanded. She was going to win at all costs, and you absolutely wanted that for her. Even though she was very sneaky and underhanded about it.
The political intrigue really shined through in this novel, and I feel like it was really well done. There was secrets, betrayals, and alliances that just added so much depth to that aspect of the book. It definitely felt like a trust. No one kind of situation and those types of books always keep me very intrigued because I wanna know who's involved and why.
The light sub plot of romance was just enough to keep me interested in the dynamics of the characters. I felt like it added something to the character development versus being there solely for effect. I like the book was still fantasy forward versus being all about the romance.
The complex family dynamics definitely added even more depth to the story. Luc was that character that was just so confounding and unkind without realizing that he was. I literally could not decide if I loved him or hated him up until the very end. I'll let you decide for yourself how you feel about him at the end lol
Definitely a solid book and I will be reading further into the series.
Things to Love:
* Strong and competent FMC
* Well formed political intrigue
* Slow burn deception
* Magic based on lies
* Light romance
Things to Question:
* Start was a little slow
Book Stats:
📖: 363 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: ebook
Series: 1/?
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 11 hours 46 minutes
🎤: Dami Olukoya
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: single narration
Was the narration good??
I enjoyed this narration quite a bit. I felt like the narrator did an excellent job of giving the characters different inflections and timbers in their voice so that I could easily distinguish who was talking. But it wasn't comical or in any way drew me out of the book. I'm not sure if it was just me or my copy, but there was like a distant thunderous sound in the back of the audiobook at times that made me pause the audiobook to see if somebody was running upstairs in my house. 😂😂 I finally figured out It was the audiobook and eventually was able to ignore it.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted eARC from NetGalley and a self purchased audiobook. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
April 8, 2026
Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Bloomsbury YA for the free ebook!
•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
If you’re in the mood for a courtly, high stakes story packed with palace intrigue, magical espionage, deadly trials and plenty of feminine rage - don’t miss this one.
Burton did an amazing job building an overarching sense of paranoia throughout this book. The atmosphere was thick with tension and delightfully dangerous, adding to the high stakes competition arc, as well as the forbidden romance. I loved how much I felt pulled into this story, and then trapped in its web. Fantastic world building and excellent political plot.
Mira is strong, calculated, increasingly ruthless, and definitely the highlight of this book for me. Her evolution from silent supporter on the sidelines to fighting for the crown is inspiring and completely badass. She isn’t a “chosen one” in a traditional sense, but rather an ambitious, smart girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
The “Tournament of Thrones” kept the pacing consistently within medium to high territory, and although I am pretty over deadly trials in general, these were genuinely creative.
As for the romance: it offered the familiar tension of rivals/enemies to lovers, but it is completely overshadowed by the sheer magnetism of Mira’s personal journey. This isn’t a bad thing, but it did have me wishing I could skip those portions and get back to the meat of the story.
Overall, I highly recommend this one, especially if you’re in the mood for YA and a less traditional "chosen one" story! I will definitely be checking out more books from this author!
✦ 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✦
This is the start of a series, so there is a mild cliffhanger
✦ 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 ✦
Powerless, The Cruel Prince
✦ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 ✦
Rivals to Lovers
Hidden Powers
Deadly Tournament
Class and Privilege
Feminine Rage
Power Corrupts
•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•
✄----------
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Romance
Format Read: eBook
Series
✄----------
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish content
•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
If you’re in the mood for a courtly, high stakes story packed with palace intrigue, magical espionage, deadly trials and plenty of feminine rage - don’t miss this one.
Burton did an amazing job building an overarching sense of paranoia throughout this book. The atmosphere was thick with tension and delightfully dangerous, adding to the high stakes competition arc, as well as the forbidden romance. I loved how much I felt pulled into this story, and then trapped in its web. Fantastic world building and excellent political plot.
Mira is strong, calculated, increasingly ruthless, and definitely the highlight of this book for me. Her evolution from silent supporter on the sidelines to fighting for the crown is inspiring and completely badass. She isn’t a “chosen one” in a traditional sense, but rather an ambitious, smart girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
The “Tournament of Thrones” kept the pacing consistently within medium to high territory, and although I am pretty over deadly trials in general, these were genuinely creative.
As for the romance: it offered the familiar tension of rivals/enemies to lovers, but it is completely overshadowed by the sheer magnetism of Mira’s personal journey. This isn’t a bad thing, but it did have me wishing I could skip those portions and get back to the meat of the story.
Overall, I highly recommend this one, especially if you’re in the mood for YA and a less traditional "chosen one" story! I will definitely be checking out more books from this author!
✦ 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✦
This is the start of a series, so there is a mild cliffhanger
✦ 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 ✦
Powerless, The Cruel Prince
✦ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 ✦
Rivals to Lovers
Hidden Powers
Deadly Tournament
Class and Privilege
Feminine Rage
Power Corrupts
•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.••*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•
✄----------
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Romance
Format Read: eBook
Series
✄----------
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish content
April 25, 2026
The premise sounded promising, and it started on a good note, but the more I read, the more I lost interest. The politics were all over the place, the side characters didn’t bring much, and the romance wasn’t intriguing.
I love a morally gray FMC, but I was conflicted about Mira. I really liked that she worked behind the scenes, exposing corruption and secrets while also helping her brother keep his position. Luc wouldn’t be anyone without the help of his sister. On the other hand, there were times when she frustrated me. I didn’t like what she did to her mother. It felt unnecessary, even though she did it out of love. The way she treated Kaidren also rubbed me the wrong way, mostly because he’s supposed to be the love interest, so I wanted them to work together, or at least for her not to betray him.
Speaking of Kaidren, I did like him, but for some reason, the romance didn’t work for me. It felt forced, and there was no chemistry. There was a moment when Mira did something to him, and he stood his ground and refused her apology, but a couple of words later he softened and accepted it. I was rooting for him to stand up for himself because what she did to him was messed up, but he didn’t hold onto his anger for long. I wouldn’t have minded if Mira did a little groveling.
The trials were also anticlimactic. I wasn’t really excited for them and felt kind of pointless. I usually enjoy trials, but this felt boring and went by too quickly.
Overall, it was promising, but unfortunately it felt short for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC.
I love a morally gray FMC, but I was conflicted about Mira. I really liked that she worked behind the scenes, exposing corruption and secrets while also helping her brother keep his position. Luc wouldn’t be anyone without the help of his sister. On the other hand, there were times when she frustrated me. I didn’t like what she did to her mother. It felt unnecessary, even though she did it out of love. The way she treated Kaidren also rubbed me the wrong way, mostly because he’s supposed to be the love interest, so I wanted them to work together, or at least for her not to betray him.
Speaking of Kaidren, I did like him, but for some reason, the romance didn’t work for me. It felt forced, and there was no chemistry. There was a moment when Mira did something to him, and he stood his ground and refused her apology, but a couple of words later he softened and accepted it. I was rooting for him to stand up for himself because what she did to him was messed up, but he didn’t hold onto his anger for long. I wouldn’t have minded if Mira did a little groveling.
The trials were also anticlimactic. I wasn’t really excited for them and felt kind of pointless. I usually enjoy trials, but this felt boring and went by too quickly.
Overall, it was promising, but unfortunately it felt short for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC.
April 10, 2026
A review from an advanced Arc Copy provided by Netgalley
This book was captivating and I loved living in this world while reading it. The FMC was brilliant! Mira is easily my favorite part of the book. The strength, resilience, the rage (rightfully placed), intelligence and scheming were wonderfully written. It’s also a breath of fresh air that she isn’t some trained martial artist or prodigy of magic, but seemingly ordinary on a physical aspect and still out to get every bit of power that she wants.
Luc continued to piss me off throughout the book. Nepotism at its finest and really expected their sibling bond to hold more weight throughout the plot. I understand that he had to fuel her anger and hatred for the plot to progress but in all aspects Luc was totally useless without everyone else coming to save him.
Kaidren is smoking hot but I wish there was more to their relationship being built. He seems to have fallen so fast for her and entirely too forgiving. The banter and tension were chefs kiss though.
Shoutout to the big reveal! I wasn’t expecting that big plot twist and should’ve known there was going to be another book. The cliffhanger is going to kill me lol
This book was captivating and I loved living in this world while reading it. The FMC was brilliant! Mira is easily my favorite part of the book. The strength, resilience, the rage (rightfully placed), intelligence and scheming were wonderfully written. It’s also a breath of fresh air that she isn’t some trained martial artist or prodigy of magic, but seemingly ordinary on a physical aspect and still out to get every bit of power that she wants.
Luc continued to piss me off throughout the book. Nepotism at its finest and really expected their sibling bond to hold more weight throughout the plot. I understand that he had to fuel her anger and hatred for the plot to progress but in all aspects Luc was totally useless without everyone else coming to save him.
Kaidren is smoking hot but I wish there was more to their relationship being built. He seems to have fallen so fast for her and entirely too forgiving. The banter and tension were chefs kiss though.
Shoutout to the big reveal! I wasn’t expecting that big plot twist and should’ve known there was going to be another book. The cliffhanger is going to kill me lol
April 17, 2026
4.25 stars
★★★★☆
“My throat burns with words I want to scream, but I can’t, because I’m not a person with a voice. I’m a shadow in the rafters, and shadows are, above all else, silent.”
Remira "Mira" Kyler is a kingmaker.
She pulls the strings from the shadows, dictating policies and writing speeches. She is the real power behind the throne. Everyday she schemes and plans, and everyday she must prove useful, or find her hidden powers outed and herself conscripted.
“You’re either useful to me, or you’re nothing.”
Her brother, Luc, is her 'Manchurian Candidate', a figurehead and her mouthpiece. The new election cycle brings new challenges, but Mira plans to get Luc relocated without a hitch. Enter - Kaidren Vale, the new councillor and now challenger for the throne. To earn the throne, you must win the Tournament of Thrones, three deadly trials testing candidates cunning and prowess.
Mira realises Luc cannot not win the trials. She must use all her cunning to crown her fraud of a brother. What these men don’t realise is she is tired of being in the shadows. She wants the power for herself. Mira will do whatever it takes to win Luc the crown, so she can seize it from him.
“This world never made space for me. So, I carved room for myself into the mountain.”
Rimera is cunning, conniving, and cruel. She cannot afford to be soft or sweet, nor is it in her nature. She is exhausted. Everyone demands pieces of her while she suffers everyday, with little rights, no respect and under threat of it all being taken away from her. She has no power until she steals it, in the shadows, with deceit and lies.
“Before, I had nothing, but here, I’m invisible. When I’m not invisible, I’m scorned. And I’m tired. All the time. I have to think for Luc, for Ophera, for the Honorate, for myself. I’m shredding myself into a million pieces, and still, no one sees me.”
Rimera is a secrets broker. She has a closet full of information, some secrets used for blackmail while others are exposed in her anonymous column (à la Lady Whistledown from Bridgerton). Her workload is quite extensive, and with also writing policies and speeches, I think The Shadow Queen business should be a full operation with others helping her. It could have been a great !feminism! moment when it’s a little club full of woman who work as maids or aids from important houses.
Power is hoarded, coveted and stolen. Positions are inherited and the people have no say in their leaders. Rimera does what she can from the shadows, writing policy and exploiting secrets to gain resources and help the underprivileged, but she knows to enact real change she must be on the throne.
To Steal a Throne is a commentary on the current US political landscape, the kinghood and nobility residing in a democratic republic and how the system doesn’t work for the population. Themes of class, corruption, power, perception, privilege, prejudice, political systems, marginalisation, colonisation, the elite, the weaponisation of the truth (and lies) and the impossibility of social mobility are present and intersect. Presence and power is a form resistance, and all her conniving and scheming are needed to combat against all these forms of oppression.
“Revenge is a multistep process. It requires careful planning, attention to detail, and enough fury to set the world alight. I have all of the above.”
The romance was fiery in the beginning but once they truly saw each other, in their darkest moments, the heat and tension evaporated. I loved the verbal sparring, the rivalry and ruthlessness in their dynamic. Once the plot needed them to be together and work as a team, the tension and spark fizzled out for me.
The trials ended up being somewhat underwhelming. Mira manipulating and cheating were fun to read but it didn’t distract me from how fast trials were. I am used to trials taking the majority of a book, so when each trial was a chapter or two each, I was shocked each time. I wanted more, I wanted them to be harder and I wanted higher stakes. Not once did I think there was danger for the three main characters nor the threat of discovery, or fear that Mira won’t find a way out and cheat her way to winning. The trials were simple and I wanted tense and heart-racing.
Ultimately, Rimera wants to matter, and to make a mark on the world for the better. She will outsmart and outfight her way to the top and her legacy will be cemented. They cannot silence or ignore you when you are in charge.
“I want to feel like I matter. I’ve earned the right to matter. Men with power take and take, and they give nothing back. I want to be so powerful that no one can take it from me, no one can threaten me, or ignore me, or discard me. People like Luc have unassailable power. Is it so wrong for me to want the same?”
I think it was a mistake to advertise and market this as a standalone, and not advise readers this is the start of a series. I went into it thinking this was a standalone, that fmc would successfully steal the throne and we would read her sitting on it at the end.
I recommend this book to people who love politics in their fantasy books.
For fans of The Fixer, The Cruel Prince, The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid.
-------
the dedication:
For Black girls who smile when they want to scream
oh im sat
Thank you to Oneworld Publications / Rock the Boat for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To Steal a Throne series:
#1 To Steal a Throne - ★★★★☆
#2 To Burn a Kingdom - 2027 release date - tbr
I also posted my review on my blog ✿
★★★★☆
“My throat burns with words I want to scream, but I can’t, because I’m not a person with a voice. I’m a shadow in the rafters, and shadows are, above all else, silent.”
Remira "Mira" Kyler is a kingmaker.
She pulls the strings from the shadows, dictating policies and writing speeches. She is the real power behind the throne. Everyday she schemes and plans, and everyday she must prove useful, or find her hidden powers outed and herself conscripted.
“You’re either useful to me, or you’re nothing.”
Her brother, Luc, is her 'Manchurian Candidate', a figurehead and her mouthpiece. The new election cycle brings new challenges, but Mira plans to get Luc relocated without a hitch. Enter - Kaidren Vale, the new councillor and now challenger for the throne. To earn the throne, you must win the Tournament of Thrones, three deadly trials testing candidates cunning and prowess.
Mira realises Luc cannot not win the trials. She must use all her cunning to crown her fraud of a brother. What these men don’t realise is she is tired of being in the shadows. She wants the power for herself. Mira will do whatever it takes to win Luc the crown, so she can seize it from him.
“This world never made space for me. So, I carved room for myself into the mountain.”
Rimera is cunning, conniving, and cruel. She cannot afford to be soft or sweet, nor is it in her nature. She is exhausted. Everyone demands pieces of her while she suffers everyday, with little rights, no respect and under threat of it all being taken away from her. She has no power until she steals it, in the shadows, with deceit and lies.
“Before, I had nothing, but here, I’m invisible. When I’m not invisible, I’m scorned. And I’m tired. All the time. I have to think for Luc, for Ophera, for the Honorate, for myself. I’m shredding myself into a million pieces, and still, no one sees me.”
Rimera is a secrets broker. She has a closet full of information, some secrets used for blackmail while others are exposed in her anonymous column (à la Lady Whistledown from Bridgerton). Her workload is quite extensive, and with also writing policies and speeches, I think The Shadow Queen business should be a full operation with others helping her. It could have been a great !feminism! moment when it’s a little club full of woman who work as maids or aids from important houses.
Power is hoarded, coveted and stolen. Positions are inherited and the people have no say in their leaders. Rimera does what she can from the shadows, writing policy and exploiting secrets to gain resources and help the underprivileged, but she knows to enact real change she must be on the throne.
To Steal a Throne is a commentary on the current US political landscape, the kinghood and nobility residing in a democratic republic and how the system doesn’t work for the population. Themes of class, corruption, power, perception, privilege, prejudice, political systems, marginalisation, colonisation, the elite, the weaponisation of the truth (and lies) and the impossibility of social mobility are present and intersect. Presence and power is a form resistance, and all her conniving and scheming are needed to combat against all these forms of oppression.
“Revenge is a multistep process. It requires careful planning, attention to detail, and enough fury to set the world alight. I have all of the above.”
The romance was fiery in the beginning but once they truly saw each other, in their darkest moments, the heat and tension evaporated. I loved the verbal sparring, the rivalry and ruthlessness in their dynamic. Once the plot needed them to be together and work as a team, the tension and spark fizzled out for me.
The trials ended up being somewhat underwhelming. Mira manipulating and cheating were fun to read but it didn’t distract me from how fast trials were. I am used to trials taking the majority of a book, so when each trial was a chapter or two each, I was shocked each time. I wanted more, I wanted them to be harder and I wanted higher stakes. Not once did I think there was danger for the three main characters nor the threat of discovery, or fear that Mira won’t find a way out and cheat her way to winning. The trials were simple and I wanted tense and heart-racing.
Ultimately, Rimera wants to matter, and to make a mark on the world for the better. She will outsmart and outfight her way to the top and her legacy will be cemented. They cannot silence or ignore you when you are in charge.
“I want to feel like I matter. I’ve earned the right to matter. Men with power take and take, and they give nothing back. I want to be so powerful that no one can take it from me, no one can threaten me, or ignore me, or discard me. People like Luc have unassailable power. Is it so wrong for me to want the same?”
I think it was a mistake to advertise and market this as a standalone, and not advise readers this is the start of a series. I went into it thinking this was a standalone, that fmc would successfully steal the throne and we would read her sitting on it at the end.
I recommend this book to people who love politics in their fantasy books.
For fans of The Fixer, The Cruel Prince, The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid.
-------
the dedication:
For Black girls who smile when they want to scream
oh im sat
Thank you to Oneworld Publications / Rock the Boat for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To Steal a Throne series:
#1 To Steal a Throne - ★★★★☆
#2 To Burn a Kingdom - 2027 release date - tbr
I also posted my review on my blog ✿
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April 24, 2026
Excuse me but what do you mean I have to wait a year+ for the next book? After that ending, I need answers now please and thank you. I am stressed over here.
This was fabulous but after falling head over heels in love with Gabi Burton's 'Sing Me To Sleep' duology, I'm not at all surprised. While I didn't love it quite as much as her debut, I still had a great time with this.
Filled with secrets, betrayal and magic, this is a wonderfully fun and dark YA fantasy. I really liked Mira and Kaidren's characters and although I enjoyed the side characters, I wish there had been a little more development there, as I'd have liked to get to know them on a deeper level.
With its mountainous, snowy backdrop and strong politics, the worldbuilding was great and I loved surprise Lady Whistledown air from the Shadow Queen articles.
All in all, this was a great series opener and I'll be eagerly awaiting finding out what happens next.
what to expect:
- rivals-to-lovers
- political intrigue
- feminine rage
- lie driven power
- deadly trials
- discussions of privilege, class and sexism
This was fabulous but after falling head over heels in love with Gabi Burton's 'Sing Me To Sleep' duology, I'm not at all surprised. While I didn't love it quite as much as her debut, I still had a great time with this.
Filled with secrets, betrayal and magic, this is a wonderfully fun and dark YA fantasy. I really liked Mira and Kaidren's characters and although I enjoyed the side characters, I wish there had been a little more development there, as I'd have liked to get to know them on a deeper level.
With its mountainous, snowy backdrop and strong politics, the worldbuilding was great and I loved surprise Lady Whistledown air from the Shadow Queen articles.
All in all, this was a great series opener and I'll be eagerly awaiting finding out what happens next.
what to expect:
- rivals-to-lovers
- political intrigue
- feminine rage
- lie driven power
- deadly trials
- discussions of privilege, class and sexism
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.
March 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Oneworld Publications, for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this fantasy. It’s about a girl called Mira who ends up living with her awful dad and even more awful stepmother. At least there’s a half brother, called Luc, too but even tho they get along well, he is kind of a coward and uses her. For her dad not to throw her out, Mira needs to be useful. She basically does all the work for Luc who is the leader of the Republic of Virdei. She’s also secretly someone called the infamous Shadow Queen who collects secrets from powerful men. She is willing to keep those secrets, for a price. And that’s how Luc stays the leader of Virdei. Until… And that’s where our enemy to lover comes in! Done very well by the way! The fact this guy called Kaidren can sense (which is very rare) by touching someone, if that person has magic and he wants to become the leader or praeceptor too and causes there to be a tournament to decide who will be the next one, made this very interesting!!
Mira has magic and it’s fueled by lies! So she actually feels when someone lies and no one can know she has magic or she will have to serve in some kind of army which she really doesn’t want. So she can’t let Kaidren touch her, she has to hide she’s the Shadow Queen and stop him from becoming the Praeceptor. That she comes from Ophera, a people looked down upon and treated badly, makes things harder for her too and the strained relationship between Virdei and Petruvia doesn’t help either.
I loved how what Mira thought was so different from what she said and how different, fascinating and great she was as a main character! And she had an amazing best friend, they were so fun together and inseparable.
There were a few lesser bits like the fact that her mom lied a lot was repeated too many times in chapter one and the way too complex explanation of magic, its source and what it can do in chapter two, which became clear along the way so that just wasn’t necessary. I was also a bit disappointed by the ending and the actions leading up to it.
This was my first book by this author but I will be reading more books by her!
I really enjoyed reading this fantasy. It’s about a girl called Mira who ends up living with her awful dad and even more awful stepmother. At least there’s a half brother, called Luc, too but even tho they get along well, he is kind of a coward and uses her. For her dad not to throw her out, Mira needs to be useful. She basically does all the work for Luc who is the leader of the Republic of Virdei. She’s also secretly someone called the infamous Shadow Queen who collects secrets from powerful men. She is willing to keep those secrets, for a price. And that’s how Luc stays the leader of Virdei. Until… And that’s where our enemy to lover comes in! Done very well by the way! The fact this guy called Kaidren can sense (which is very rare) by touching someone, if that person has magic and he wants to become the leader or praeceptor too and causes there to be a tournament to decide who will be the next one, made this very interesting!!
Mira has magic and it’s fueled by lies! So she actually feels when someone lies and no one can know she has magic or she will have to serve in some kind of army which she really doesn’t want. So she can’t let Kaidren touch her, she has to hide she’s the Shadow Queen and stop him from becoming the Praeceptor. That she comes from Ophera, a people looked down upon and treated badly, makes things harder for her too and the strained relationship between Virdei and Petruvia doesn’t help either.
I loved how what Mira thought was so different from what she said and how different, fascinating and great she was as a main character! And she had an amazing best friend, they were so fun together and inseparable.
There were a few lesser bits like the fact that her mom lied a lot was repeated too many times in chapter one and the way too complex explanation of magic, its source and what it can do in chapter two, which became clear along the way so that just wasn’t necessary. I was also a bit disappointed by the ending and the actions leading up to it.
This was my first book by this author but I will be reading more books by her!
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!
April 8, 2026
3.5
This book had a strong start. I listened to it the entire 9-hour drive home because I was captivated by the politics and scheming. However, the last part of the book fell flat for me. Many plot points were abruptly wrapped up, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness.
Mira Kyler, the half-sister of Virdei’s leader, Preceptor Luc, is an outcast due to her Opheran heritage. She possesses magical abilities (Aikkari) and is the mysterious Shadow Queen. She is a bastard and her father rejected her when she came to him as a lay alternative after her mother died. He told her that he had no use for her because she was of no use for him. He only saw her as a tool for his own gain. Mira’s sole purpose for the last 5-years was to ensure Luc’s continued leadership. Unbeknownst to everyone, she was the mastermind behind Luc’s decisions and the reason he was keeping his position.
Under the guise of the Shadow Queen, Mira meticulously gathers secrets and blackmails members of the Honorate, the ruling council.
Just as Luc is about to be reelected, a newcomer named Kaidren Vale arrives. He challenges Luc’s leadership by proposing The Trials, a competition to select new leaders for Virdei. Kaidren poses a threat, and Mira is determined to ensure Luc’s victory. However, she soon realizes that she desires power for herself rather than continue hiding in the shadows.
Mira may not be a likable character, but you can understand her predicament. As the true power, she is marginalized because of her gender. She witnessed her mother and friend die of starvation and was deemed insignificant due to her birth.
I had expected the trials would be a significant part of the book, but they were not. Kaidren was just as ruthless as Mira, yet he did nothing after all the things she did to him and is still so enamored by her? The murder plot was resolved quickly; Mira and Kaidren are accused, we discovered the killer, we are told he’s put in prison, and they were released. There were no consequences for Mira’s actions (except for the ending?), and everything she did was successful, leaving no room for questioning. The ending felt like the end of a chapter rather than the conclusion of the book.
I’ll likely read the next book, hoping for more explanations about some of these characters, as we didn’t get any in the first book.
This book had a strong start. I listened to it the entire 9-hour drive home because I was captivated by the politics and scheming. However, the last part of the book fell flat for me. Many plot points were abruptly wrapped up, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness.
Mira Kyler, the half-sister of Virdei’s leader, Preceptor Luc, is an outcast due to her Opheran heritage. She possesses magical abilities (Aikkari) and is the mysterious Shadow Queen. She is a bastard and her father rejected her when she came to him as a lay alternative after her mother died. He told her that he had no use for her because she was of no use for him. He only saw her as a tool for his own gain. Mira’s sole purpose for the last 5-years was to ensure Luc’s continued leadership. Unbeknownst to everyone, she was the mastermind behind Luc’s decisions and the reason he was keeping his position.
Under the guise of the Shadow Queen, Mira meticulously gathers secrets and blackmails members of the Honorate, the ruling council.
Just as Luc is about to be reelected, a newcomer named Kaidren Vale arrives. He challenges Luc’s leadership by proposing The Trials, a competition to select new leaders for Virdei. Kaidren poses a threat, and Mira is determined to ensure Luc’s victory. However, she soon realizes that she desires power for herself rather than continue hiding in the shadows.
Mira may not be a likable character, but you can understand her predicament. As the true power, she is marginalized because of her gender. She witnessed her mother and friend die of starvation and was deemed insignificant due to her birth.
I had expected the trials would be a significant part of the book, but they were not. Kaidren was just as ruthless as Mira, yet he did nothing after all the things she did to him and is still so enamored by her? The murder plot was resolved quickly; Mira and Kaidren are accused, we discovered the killer, we are told he’s put in prison, and they were released. There were no consequences for Mira’s actions (except for the ending?), and everything she did was successful, leaving no room for questioning. The ending felt like the end of a chapter rather than the conclusion of the book.
I’ll likely read the next book, hoping for more explanations about some of these characters, as we didn’t get any in the first book.
April 16, 2026
TO STEAL A THRONE BY GABI BURTON.
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This isn't my normal genre but there was just something about this book that grabbed my attention and I'm so glad It did.
I throughly enjoyed it and I can recommend this book to anyone who loves a dark seductive YA fantasy
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This isn't my normal genre but there was just something about this book that grabbed my attention and I'm so glad It did.
I throughly enjoyed it and I can recommend this book to anyone who loves a dark seductive YA fantasy
Did Not Finish
April 12, 2026DNF'd @25%
I had really high hopes for this one, but I found myself unable to get into it. I struggled to find interest in the main character. The story seemed like it had potential, but I just couldn't lock into the plot. Also the magic system had me a little puzzled as well.
This was definitely a me problem and not the book. I think I might try and revisit it someday, but for now it's a DNF for me. I think this book will find its audience though.
I would like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: DNF'd @25%
I had really high hopes for this one, but I found myself unable to get into it. I struggled to find interest in the main character. The story seemed like it had potential, but I just couldn't lock into the plot. Also the magic system had me a little puzzled as well.
This was definitely a me problem and not the book. I think I might try and revisit it someday, but for now it's a DNF for me. I think this book will find its audience though.
I would like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: DNF'd @25%
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.
Read
November 25, 2025DNF. Not for me.
April 7, 2026
*Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, for the free copy for review.*
Review: A stunning dark fantasy with shocking twists and a fascinating magic system!
“To Steal a Throne” follows Remira “Mira” Kyler, a girl with lie-powered magic, after she decides to take power for herself. To get it, she’ll have to steal the kingdom’s throne from her own brother and betray Kaidren Vale—her brother’s challenger. 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.
Burton masterfully crafts an alluring battle of wits between Mira and Kaidren, their unexpected attraction slowly deepening against the backdrop of a deadly tournament for the throne. The brutal, mountainous snowscape and corrupt high society politics further contribute to the novel’s tense, high stakes environment. With each new page, I found it more difficult to put this book down.
Mira is a clever, conniving heroine I couldn’t help but root for. Her rage is palpable and rightly so with the way her family has confined her to the shadows. And yet, she uses her circumstances to her advantage, drawing upon her intriguing lie-based magic to blackmail and sabotage those who have wronged her under the moniker “Shadow Queen.” She finds a worthy opponent in Kaidren, who is equally cunning and determined to step into power. I really enjoyed watching him get under Mira’s skin and coax her into opening up, thereby blurring the lines between rivalry and friendship.
The compelling plot and captivating twists kept me on the edge of my seat. There is so much more to come and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment when it hits shelves!
➤ 4.5 stars
Review cross-posted to: Book Blog | Bookstagram | Amazon
Review: A stunning dark fantasy with shocking twists and a fascinating magic system!
“To Steal a Throne” follows Remira “Mira” Kyler, a girl with lie-powered magic, after she decides to take power for herself. To get it, she’ll have to steal the kingdom’s throne from her own brother and betray Kaidren Vale—her brother’s challenger. 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.
Burton masterfully crafts an alluring battle of wits between Mira and Kaidren, their unexpected attraction slowly deepening against the backdrop of a deadly tournament for the throne. The brutal, mountainous snowscape and corrupt high society politics further contribute to the novel’s tense, high stakes environment. With each new page, I found it more difficult to put this book down.
Mira is a clever, conniving heroine I couldn’t help but root for. Her rage is palpable and rightly so with the way her family has confined her to the shadows. And yet, she uses her circumstances to her advantage, drawing upon her intriguing lie-based magic to blackmail and sabotage those who have wronged her under the moniker “Shadow Queen.” She finds a worthy opponent in Kaidren, who is equally cunning and determined to step into power. I really enjoyed watching him get under Mira’s skin and coax her into opening up, thereby blurring the lines between rivalry and friendship.
The compelling plot and captivating twists kept me on the edge of my seat. There is so much more to come and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment when it hits shelves!
➤ 4.5 stars
Review cross-posted to: Book Blog | Bookstagram | Amazon
April 6, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
Thank you Bloomsbury and Gabi Burton for the gifted copy!
This is the first book I’ve EVER tabbed and it’s for good reason! Page 122 hit me right in the chest. If you’ve ever felt under appreciated, taken advantage of or discriminated against- you’ll have an emotional response to this book. The emotions on page hit me right in the chest.
I will never pretend to know what black women experience every single day … but the author (a black woman) definitely knows how to make readers feel the emotions and rage that black women specifically experience in the world today. It was palpable through the text on page.
I loved Mira (the FMC). She has been through so much but still perseveres through the trials standing beside her brother. Until she meets Kaidren (the MMC) and determines that he may have her best interest in mind- even over her own brother.
I loved the push and pull between Kaidren and Mira. For a YA novel, this has great banter. Very similar to the popular YA series, Heartless Hunter and Powerless.
Note: This is a YA fantasy with zero spice (kissing only), enemies to lovers, trials and yearning. Political intrigue, discrimination and twists/turns.
Thank you Bloomsbury and Gabi Burton for the gifted copy!
This is the first book I’ve EVER tabbed and it’s for good reason! Page 122 hit me right in the chest. If you’ve ever felt under appreciated, taken advantage of or discriminated against- you’ll have an emotional response to this book. The emotions on page hit me right in the chest.
I will never pretend to know what black women experience every single day … but the author (a black woman) definitely knows how to make readers feel the emotions and rage that black women specifically experience in the world today. It was palpable through the text on page.
I loved Mira (the FMC). She has been through so much but still perseveres through the trials standing beside her brother. Until she meets Kaidren (the MMC) and determines that he may have her best interest in mind- even over her own brother.
I loved the push and pull between Kaidren and Mira. For a YA novel, this has great banter. Very similar to the popular YA series, Heartless Hunter and Powerless.
Note: This is a YA fantasy with zero spice (kissing only), enemies to lovers, trials and yearning. Political intrigue, discrimination and twists/turns.
April 13, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.25 stars.
Yeah I loved this, it had a very captivating plot with it’s many layered secrets, enemies to lovers style romance that felt authentic with a slow build up, and last but not least the scheming was elite.
Mira is a girl caught up in the centre of politics where lying is currency for her and scheming is second nature. Mira seems to struggle with the many parts she plays in this book, trying to support her brother, dealing with her dysfunctional family and a new face at court starts unravelling everything she’s worked so hard for. I enjoyed the magic and tense interactions through out, there’s a lot that slowly reveals itself and you have to pay attention to whats really being said without being uttered here, everyones playing each other to get what they want. There is a mystery unravelling with the newcomer, an imposter and murder, it all has many consequences you couldn’t predict.
I’m quite excited to see where the story goes next!
Yeah I loved this, it had a very captivating plot with it’s many layered secrets, enemies to lovers style romance that felt authentic with a slow build up, and last but not least the scheming was elite.
Mira is a girl caught up in the centre of politics where lying is currency for her and scheming is second nature. Mira seems to struggle with the many parts she plays in this book, trying to support her brother, dealing with her dysfunctional family and a new face at court starts unravelling everything she’s worked so hard for. I enjoyed the magic and tense interactions through out, there’s a lot that slowly reveals itself and you have to pay attention to whats really being said without being uttered here, everyones playing each other to get what they want. There is a mystery unravelling with the newcomer, an imposter and murder, it all has many consequences you couldn’t predict.
I’m quite excited to see where the story goes next!
April 14, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and Bloomsbury YA for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
WE HAVE A WINNER! And by winner, I mean run to your nearest bookstore, library, or online store and grab a copy of this book right now because it is a masterpiece!
I was in the biggest book slump of my life before picking this book up, and that first line grabbed me immediately. Hello! I never wanted to set this book down. It was so good.
We got magic, deception, trials, a secret scathing letter writer, and romance too!!
I adore a book with a strong FMC, and Gabi Burton excels in creating the most amazing ones!
Every little twist had me flipping the page, trying to see what happened next. It was so original and wildly entertaining. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book!
A huge thanks again for sending me an arc copy.
WE HAVE A WINNER! And by winner, I mean run to your nearest bookstore, library, or online store and grab a copy of this book right now because it is a masterpiece!
I was in the biggest book slump of my life before picking this book up, and that first line grabbed me immediately. Hello! I never wanted to set this book down. It was so good.
We got magic, deception, trials, a secret scathing letter writer, and romance too!!
I adore a book with a strong FMC, and Gabi Burton excels in creating the most amazing ones!
Every little twist had me flipping the page, trying to see what happened next. It was so original and wildly entertaining. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book!
A huge thanks again for sending me an arc copy.
May 2, 2026
I must confess, I did prefer the 2nd half of this book. Maybe because I came from an ♾️⭐️ read before picking To steal a Throne, the story telling on the 1st part felt a bit off! Or maybe it was just Mira…? I got to know her and she did charm her way into my heart but I do think she was a bit of a hard cookie to crack at first and that made it harder for me to both connect and like her.
The magic system was quite interesting and Mira’s feeling her magic with people’s lies is such a cool way of giving her power - because people lie all the time and it was very interesting to follow her and see those lies! But at the same time, it was also interesting to see there was a flaw to her own magic as in, Mira could also assume which the part of whatever was being said was a lie (even when there was a truth and a lie mixed together!) - so it didn’t feel she was perfectly powerful!
The magic system was quite interesting and Mira’s feeling her magic with people’s lies is such a cool way of giving her power - because people lie all the time and it was very interesting to follow her and see those lies! But at the same time, it was also interesting to see there was a flaw to her own magic as in, Mira could also assume which the part of whatever was being said was a lie (even when there was a truth and a lie mixed together!) - so it didn’t feel she was perfectly powerful!
March 9, 2026
Thank you for the gifted copy
👑YA fantasy
👑Secret magic
🔥Sabotage
👑Rivals to lovers
🔥Blackmail
Uggh why are men 🙄
Mira Kyler works from the shadows helping her brother maintain his position of power but when Kaidren Vale arrives to compete for his spot her plans go awry
‘Neither of us says it, but we both know there’s more: I don’t hate you. But if that’s what it takes to win, I’ll fight you as if I do.’
Okay with the Lady Whistledown vibes! I just know them people hate to see a letter coming 😆
Yall Mira was effing stuff up behind the scenes. A spy one minute and a fighter the next. We love a multi talented fmc 😌her loser of a brother needs to be worshipping the ground she walks on. Every time he came on the pages my pressure went up
Listen, the secrets, the scandals, the girl boss moments with Mira and Sef, there was so much I enjoyed about this book and I absolutely cannot wait for what’s to come
Please let my girl become queen in book 2 🙏🏾 I just know those men are gonna sick when she starts making changes 😛 got me over smiling just thinking about it
And to basically everyone but Mira, Sef and Kaidren on a good day I got something for you 🥾💥
This is a definite preorder
👑YA fantasy
👑Secret magic
🔥Sabotage
👑Rivals to lovers
🔥Blackmail
Uggh why are men 🙄
Mira Kyler works from the shadows helping her brother maintain his position of power but when Kaidren Vale arrives to compete for his spot her plans go awry
‘Neither of us says it, but we both know there’s more: I don’t hate you. But if that’s what it takes to win, I’ll fight you as if I do.’
Okay with the Lady Whistledown vibes! I just know them people hate to see a letter coming 😆
Yall Mira was effing stuff up behind the scenes. A spy one minute and a fighter the next. We love a multi talented fmc 😌her loser of a brother needs to be worshipping the ground she walks on. Every time he came on the pages my pressure went up
Listen, the secrets, the scandals, the girl boss moments with Mira and Sef, there was so much I enjoyed about this book and I absolutely cannot wait for what’s to come
Please let my girl become queen in book 2 🙏🏾 I just know those men are gonna sick when she starts making changes 😛 got me over smiling just thinking about it
And to basically everyone but Mira, Sef and Kaidren on a good day I got something for you 🥾💥
This is a definite preorder
April 24, 2026
If you’re looking for a fresh take on magic, trials, and title inheritance with the ole’ reliables of feminine rage, rivals to…?, and friendship- READDDDD THISSSS BOOOOOK. You won’t regret it!
I truly loved this book. It was a quick read, with the perfect amount of world building and lore. I became attached to these characters SO quickly, and I found myself wanting to return to them constantly during my work day! It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, which makes me want book 2 sooo badly!
Thank you SO MUCH to Bloomsbury and Gabi Burton for my gifted early finished copy of this book. I had so much fun reading it!
I truly loved this book. It was a quick read, with the perfect amount of world building and lore. I became attached to these characters SO quickly, and I found myself wanting to return to them constantly during my work day! It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, which makes me want book 2 sooo badly!
Thank you SO MUCH to Bloomsbury and Gabi Burton for my gifted early finished copy of this book. I had so much fun reading it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Overall, I did enjoy To Steal a Throne. I wish there was more from the trials as they didn't seem as grand as I think they were made out to be. I feel like the MMC's emotions were all over the place and inconsistent with the events/what was happening at the time. I really like Mira and hope she is able to achieve her goal.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Overall, I did enjoy To Steal a Throne. I wish there was more from the trials as they didn't seem as grand as I think they were made out to be. I feel like the MMC's emotions were all over the place and inconsistent with the events/what was happening at the time. I really like Mira and hope she is able to achieve her goal.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
April 19, 2026
the relief of it not turning out to be an americanised version of ya fantasy
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