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Story Thieves #2
The Stolen Chapters
Owen, Kiel, and Bethany confront secrets, stolen memories, and some very familiar faces in the follow-up to The Story Thieves from the bestselling author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy.
Owen Conners would never jump into a mystery. There are too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Mysteries are just not Owen’s thing. So how exactly did he end up in one with his memory erased? And that’s far from the only question.
How did Kiel Gnomenfoot, boy magician, lose all of his magic? Where’s Bethany, their half-fictional friend? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger?
Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel?
Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved…
Owen Conners would never jump into a mystery. There are too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Mysteries are just not Owen’s thing. So how exactly did he end up in one with his memory erased? And that’s far from the only question.
How did Kiel Gnomenfoot, boy magician, lose all of his magic? Where’s Bethany, their half-fictional friend? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger?
Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel?
Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved…
354 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2016
373 people are currently reading
2680 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
January 13, 2021
4 Golden Stars
Story thieves continues.
this Episode:
Mystery-themed!
brilliant!
isn't it sweet Owen assumed himself as a sidekick, but he's actually the clever planner MC? Our overjoyed bookworm comic relief Sad Panda! (haha, get it!?)
quick read
I liked book 1 better, but this one was also so good, surprising & engaging.
new cool characters, good old characters with development, same problem with Owen again (real life is boring)
"Not again! it can't be all my fault again!"
different. haha, you'll see!
Owen actually had such a character development he turned to be my favourite character now. (I like Kiel too, who acts before thinks! still Sinus-like toward Bethany. though she's better too.)
I really liked Moira! she was a little light-headed & fooling around, but she was fun & genius when she needed to be.
I liked the villain here.
it started in a dark mysterious scene, we didn't know what had happened to lead us here, because of the Stolen Memories. so we've got a Missing Chapters once in a while & it's hilarious when the memory hit!
Owen, Kiel should solve the mystery with only several clues they had & they almost instantly fell into trouble after trouble!
I like Mystery as a sometime-escape genre, I've read Sherlock & a few more, but some of Owen's opinions toward the mystery was so funny & true about the genre. (I guess my dad also would agree with me on that! you just want to skip to the end to know who is behind the mask (pun intended!), yet you don't want to do so, it's so frustrating! Owen said so too!)
it was totally the case of "One More Chapter" after the half. each chapter ended with a bomb, you know the rest... until I finished it today. I hadn't thought I could!
the world is getting complicated. (in a good, appealing, making-sense way. it's fun!) I got the tiny hint before the MCs knew it & it felt so good to be right! (it was still unexpected when the truth unfolded completely.)
the Fictional World & the Nonfictional one & the crisscrossed connection between them.
as if more built over the idea I've told in my review of Story Thieves.
& I love how the characters actually talking/thinking about being written right now or the chapters ending. it's so unique I love this series for it!
& the ending (or like, everything after 75%) was just... wow.... *mind-blown*
Whoops! I did it again! I read the Acknowledgements! it was HILARIOUS!
Can't wait to read the rest! probably finish it in 2021!
& yay! my 600th rate!
I just loved to write this little review specifically about this book too, as I said you can find talking about general factors in details in my review of book 1, Story Thieves
Story thieves continues.
this Episode:
Mystery-themed!
brilliant!
isn't it sweet Owen assumed himself as a sidekick, but he's actually the clever planner MC? Our overjoyed bookworm comic relief Sad Panda! (haha, get it!?)
quick read
I liked book 1 better, but this one was also so good, surprising & engaging.
new cool characters, good old characters with development, same problem with Owen again (real life is boring)
"Not again! it can't be all my fault again!"
different. haha, you'll see!
Owen actually had such a character development he turned to be my favourite character now. (I like Kiel too, who acts before thinks! still Sinus-like toward Bethany. though she's better too.)
I really liked Moira! she was a little light-headed & fooling around, but she was fun & genius when she needed to be.
I liked the villain here.
it started in a dark mysterious scene, we didn't know what had happened to lead us here, because of the Stolen Memories. so we've got a Missing Chapters once in a while & it's hilarious when the memory hit!
Owen, Kiel should solve the mystery with only several clues they had & they almost instantly fell into trouble after trouble!
I like Mystery as a sometime-escape genre, I've read Sherlock & a few more, but some of Owen's opinions toward the mystery was so funny & true about the genre. (I guess my dad also would agree with me on that! you just want to skip to the end to know who is behind the mask (pun intended!), yet you don't want to do so, it's so frustrating! Owen said so too!)
it was totally the case of "One More Chapter" after the half. each chapter ended with a bomb, you know the rest... until I finished it today. I hadn't thought I could!
the world is getting complicated. (in a good, appealing, making-sense way. it's fun!) I got the tiny hint before the MCs knew it & it felt so good to be right! (it was still unexpected when the truth unfolded completely.)
the Fictional World & the Nonfictional one & the crisscrossed connection between them.
as if more built over the idea I've told in my review of Story Thieves.
& I love how the characters actually talking/thinking about being written right now or the chapters ending. it's so unique I love this series for it!
& the ending (or like, everything after 75%) was just... wow.... *mind-blown*
Whoops! I did it again! I read the Acknowledgements! it was HILARIOUS!
Can't wait to read the rest! probably finish it in 2021!
& yay! my 600th rate!
I just loved to write this little review specifically about this book too, as I said you can find talking about general factors in details in my review of book 1, Story Thieves
February 28, 2016
I got this book super early for some reason because I pre-ordered it, and yet I am the last person to read it. I am such a disappointing fan. I always looked at my bookshelf and wished I could read, while I was looking down at my math homework. UGH! Anyway, after I read this book, I wanted to see how my review was for the first book in this series. It was the first book that I reviewed on Goodreads and it was SO BAD! All I said was the parts I liked about the book, so I think I might re-do that review. Now, onto the review!
"Let's go. Don't fall behind, MK."
This book WAS SO AWESOME, EPIC, ADVENTUROUS AND FUN! I was so happy to have finally read this book. I was mind-blown at how much went on in this book. I can't wait for more people to read this! This book is by my favorite author and it is one of the books that I will come back to and re-read. I already read the first series by James Riley called Half Upon A Time and it was so amazing, I re-read it like 10 times!
Me when I am reading:
"Oh, totally," the girl said, and winked. "Magic. Of course."
This is the second book to the Story Thieves series and if you have not heard about this series, I'll tell you what it's about. Owen was bored of reality, (I don't blame him). One day, he saw a girl from his class climb into a book. This girl was Bethany, and she was half-fictional. And she is looking for someone and she won't give up. Owen, on the other hand, is ready to reveal Bethany's secrets, unless he gets to go into his favorite series. (Again, I wouldn't blame him.) Owen and Bethany start their own friendship and huge adventure, with robots, magic and much more!
THIS BOOK IS JUST TOO AMAZING!
Did I get your attention with the summary? Well, if I didn't, hopefully I can convince you to read this series.
"My arm's taller than I am"
The characters were all so easy to like, I love all of them! Owen is the character that I relate to the most because of the fact that I would do the same things he would've done. I am clumsy and Owen is clumsy too. Bethany is awesome and so strong. Kiel is hilarious, I love when he winks at everyone. He is the person who can help with simmering down the sad moments with his winks. Moira, the new character in this book was so funny and I hope to see her more. And I love Charm and I want to see more of her in this series. I wish we saw more of Charm in this book.
"I'll come back for you, my love!"she said. "Don't forget me, or our all-too-short time together. You'll always be in my heart!"
I loved the whole idea with the stolen chapters and how the book was formatted. The chapters were crazy because of the fact that there were missing chapters but I loved it. It was like we had a chance to guess what we thought would have happened and we find out. It was so much fun! And I loved the writing style! The plot was solid and went perfectly. And the pace was perfect, it was fast but not too fast.
This book is just so perfect:
I highly recommend this book to everyone who has read Story Thieves! It gets even better, I can't wait for Story Thieves, Secret Origins! If you haven't read Story Thieves, I highly highly recommend you read it!
"Books," Bethany whispered. "He wants books."
"Let's go. Don't fall behind, MK."
This book WAS SO AWESOME, EPIC, ADVENTUROUS AND FUN! I was so happy to have finally read this book. I was mind-blown at how much went on in this book. I can't wait for more people to read this! This book is by my favorite author and it is one of the books that I will come back to and re-read. I already read the first series by James Riley called Half Upon A Time and it was so amazing, I re-read it like 10 times!
Me when I am reading:
"Oh, totally," the girl said, and winked. "Magic. Of course."
This is the second book to the Story Thieves series and if you have not heard about this series, I'll tell you what it's about. Owen was bored of reality, (I don't blame him). One day, he saw a girl from his class climb into a book. This girl was Bethany, and she was half-fictional. And she is looking for someone and she won't give up. Owen, on the other hand, is ready to reveal Bethany's secrets, unless he gets to go into his favorite series. (Again, I wouldn't blame him.) Owen and Bethany start their own friendship and huge adventure, with robots, magic and much more!
THIS BOOK IS JUST TOO AMAZING!
Did I get your attention with the summary? Well, if I didn't, hopefully I can convince you to read this series.
"My arm's taller than I am"
The characters were all so easy to like, I love all of them! Owen is the character that I relate to the most because of the fact that I would do the same things he would've done. I am clumsy and Owen is clumsy too. Bethany is awesome and so strong. Kiel is hilarious, I love when he winks at everyone. He is the person who can help with simmering down the sad moments with his winks. Moira, the new character in this book was so funny and I hope to see her more. And I love Charm and I want to see more of her in this series. I wish we saw more of Charm in this book.
"I'll come back for you, my love!"she said. "Don't forget me, or our all-too-short time together. You'll always be in my heart!"
I loved the whole idea with the stolen chapters and how the book was formatted. The chapters were crazy because of the fact that there were missing chapters but I loved it. It was like we had a chance to guess what we thought would have happened and we find out. It was so much fun! And I loved the writing style! The plot was solid and went perfectly. And the pace was perfect, it was fast but not too fast.
This book is just so perfect:
I highly recommend this book to everyone who has read Story Thieves! It gets even better, I can't wait for Story Thieves, Secret Origins! If you haven't read Story Thieves, I highly highly recommend you read it!
"Books," Bethany whispered. "He wants books."
May 15, 2025
An incredible continuation of the Story Thieves series that brings further complexity, mystery, world building, and drama to this book-themed adventure.
✏️ Review ✏️
Woah!!! 😯 Y'all, The Stolen Chapters is an amazing, shocking, exciting, dramatic, and fun ride! You need (yes, neeeed) to add this book to your TBR immediately! The plot twists are so crazy insane. Man, the revelations in this book are almost too much to take in — I feel so unnerved and shocked. And all the mystery??? How do I even explain? 🙃 I'm at a complete loss of words — the plot is soooooo multilayered. I was totally immersed in the storyline. Trust me when I say this book will keep your full attention from the "Dedication" to the "Acknowledgements" section.
I loved the characters in this second book. Owen, Bethany, and Kiel make such a great, dynamic team, and I liked seeing all their quirks and personalities shine through. They get a welcome amount of development in this story (as compared to the previous book, Story Thieves). Not to mention that I was thrilled to see some new characters make an appearance, especially Moira. She can be almost weird in a way, yet so very witty and funny 🤣; she definitely adds a great dimension to the cast of characters.
And the world building? Yes! There's finally a complex foundation of world building being laid — so intriguing. It's layer after layer of endless and unimaginable possibilities being added to this world of book traveling (*throws confetti all over the place* who doesn't enjoy a book-themed adventure!?). Love it, love it, love it! I felt very much a part of this exciting tale and don't know how what else to say, so I'm gonna end it here.... *sneaks off to go read the next book, Secret Origins*
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The multilayered plot — it's full of mystery, excitement, suspense, and fun.
• The plot twists — so shocking!
• The characters — they're diverse and compliment each other well.
• The continued character development.
• The world building — really immersive and complex.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Just a few minor portions of the magic content — not my style (see Random Comments).
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yesss!*
— To whom? To those who have read the previous book — Story Thieves. Even if you didn't enjoy that book, this second book The Stolen Chapters is waaaay better.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4.5/5 [rounded down to 4 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 4/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Just a few scenes of mild action-adventure violence, including sequences of brief peril.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Magic content: Unlike the previous book of the Story Thieves series, The Stolen Chapters does not have a heavy focus on magic. There are just a couple things to mention: (1) in the latter half of the book, the characters cast about three spells (not very many details given); and (2) several times there are just some brief mentions of casting spells and other elements of magic.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• "Truth is a sword with no hilt. We grab for it at our own peril, at times." (p. 48)
✏️ Review ✏️
Woah!!! 😯 Y'all, The Stolen Chapters is an amazing, shocking, exciting, dramatic, and fun ride! You need (yes, neeeed) to add this book to your TBR immediately! The plot twists are so crazy insane. Man, the revelations in this book are almost too much to take in — I feel so unnerved and shocked. And all the mystery??? How do I even explain? 🙃 I'm at a complete loss of words — the plot is soooooo multilayered. I was totally immersed in the storyline. Trust me when I say this book will keep your full attention from the "Dedication" to the "Acknowledgements" section.
"Get out of here! [Bethany's] whole body tensed, but she couldn't. 'This isn't a mystery.... This is my life!'
[The man] waved a hand around. 'What's the difference? All of our lives are mysteries.... What will we do at any given moment? How far will we go to get what we want? Who will we sacrifice to save ourselves? All mysteries, and I, for one, am excited to see their solutions.'
Bethany glanced up at the water flowing in. 'You're insane. This is a death trap! You're acting like some kind of villain —'
[The man] leaped forward, his mask stopping within inches of her face. 'Some kind? I'm the greatest villain,' he hissed almost too softly to hear."
I loved the characters in this second book. Owen, Bethany, and Kiel make such a great, dynamic team, and I liked seeing all their quirks and personalities shine through. They get a welcome amount of development in this story (as compared to the previous book, Story Thieves). Not to mention that I was thrilled to see some new characters make an appearance, especially Moira. She can be almost weird in a way, yet so very witty and funny 🤣; she definitely adds a great dimension to the cast of characters.
And the world building? Yes! There's finally a complex foundation of world building being laid — so intriguing. It's layer after layer of endless and unimaginable possibilities being added to this world of book traveling (*throws confetti all over the place* who doesn't enjoy a book-themed adventure!?). Love it, love it, love it! I felt very much a part of this exciting tale and don't know how what else to say, so I'm gonna end it here.... *sneaks off to go read the next book, Secret Origins*
"'You all think you won. But I'm the one telling this story. And I say that if it doesn't end how I want it to, then we start all over.'"
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The multilayered plot — it's full of mystery, excitement, suspense, and fun.
• The plot twists — so shocking!
• The characters — they're diverse and compliment each other well.
• The continued character development.
• The world building — really immersive and complex.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Just a few minor portions of the magic content — not my style (see Random Comments).
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yesss!*
— To whom? To those who have read the previous book — Story Thieves. Even if you didn't enjoy that book, this second book The Stolen Chapters is waaaay better.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4.5/5 [rounded down to 4 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4.5/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 4/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Just a few scenes of mild action-adventure violence, including sequences of brief peril.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Magic content: Unlike the previous book of the Story Thieves series, The Stolen Chapters does not have a heavy focus on magic. There are just a couple things to mention: (1) in the latter half of the book, the characters cast about three spells (not very many details given); and (2) several times there are just some brief mentions of casting spells and other elements of magic.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• "Truth is a sword with no hilt. We grab for it at our own peril, at times." (p. 48)
August 12, 2015
(4.5 stars)
This sequel to Story Thieves cleverly starts on chapter 11 because Owen and Kiel have just had their memories wiped and don't know what happened earlier in the book. Like the first one, it has books within books within books, with characters moving between worlds and stories. Bethany, Owen, and Kiel have had fun in a variety of worlds but are unsuccessful in their search for Bethany's father. In desperation and against her own rules, Bethany turns to Doyle Holmes, the many times great grandson of Sherlock Holmes, for help. This unleashes a chain of events she could not have predicted and threatens both the fictional and non-fictional worlds. This fast paced adventure will keep readers on their toes keeping track of all the different layers of story. It contains the same snarky humor and hilarious commentary as the first. It is important to read Story Thieves in order. Highly recommended for grades 4-7.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
This sequel to Story Thieves cleverly starts on chapter 11 because Owen and Kiel have just had their memories wiped and don't know what happened earlier in the book. Like the first one, it has books within books within books, with characters moving between worlds and stories. Bethany, Owen, and Kiel have had fun in a variety of worlds but are unsuccessful in their search for Bethany's father. In desperation and against her own rules, Bethany turns to Doyle Holmes, the many times great grandson of Sherlock Holmes, for help. This unleashes a chain of events she could not have predicted and threatens both the fictional and non-fictional worlds. This fast paced adventure will keep readers on their toes keeping track of all the different layers of story. It contains the same snarky humor and hilarious commentary as the first. It is important to read Story Thieves in order. Highly recommended for grades 4-7.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
July 1, 2016
Bit confusing but good book
April 30, 2020
These books are just SO fun.
There's twists, awesome characters, hilarious jokes...I am such a a Story Thieves fan.
There's twists, awesome characters, hilarious jokes...I am such a a Story Thieves fan.
December 30, 2025
Wow! The twists at the end were very surprising. My kids and I loved the audio book read by Kirby Heybourne. We cannot wait to listen to the next one!
January 23, 2016
Reading the Story Thieves books is like reading Six Characters in Search of an Author, or Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, but for kids. The books are mind-bendingly meta, and just so darn FUN! The first book introduces you to a character who has the power to jump into any book or story--and what reader hasn't at one point wanted to do THAT? The second book, The Stolen Chapters, takes the mind-bendiness one step further and suggests that perhaps the "real life" characters jumping into the stories are storybook characters themselves. This comes as no surprise to the reader, who is, after all, reading a story called The Stolen Chapters. But any kid or adult with half an imagination is going to follow the line of thought and wonder... What if WE are characters in a grand story as well??
If all of this sounds a bit too high-falutin' and philosophical for young readers, relax. The books themselves are so adventurous, so full of magic, mystery, mythical creatures, evil villains, robots, and favorite characters from classic books that all that "meta" stuff is woven seamlessly into the adventure. The story moves at breakneck pace, and I was always dying to turn the page and find out what happened next! And if you're wondering about a kid's thoughts on the book, I should tell you that it was my 11 year old who found the first book and loved it so much she shoved it into my hands, and when The Stolen Chapters arrived on our doorstep she literally dropped what she was doing to start reading it. (No joke, I had to pick up her dolls off the floor for her.)
The first Story Thieves I would say was an adventure, The Stolen Chapters leans a tiny bit into the mystery genre, and I'm eager to find out which genre the next book (because there will certainly be a next book) leans toward: Science Fiction? Fairy Tale? ...Romance?? Whatever James Riley (if James Riley really exists) does with the next book, I am certain it will be an adventure and a half. I already can't wait to read it!
(Review by Reading Rainbow Mom Jenni Buchanan)
If all of this sounds a bit too high-falutin' and philosophical for young readers, relax. The books themselves are so adventurous, so full of magic, mystery, mythical creatures, evil villains, robots, and favorite characters from classic books that all that "meta" stuff is woven seamlessly into the adventure. The story moves at breakneck pace, and I was always dying to turn the page and find out what happened next! And if you're wondering about a kid's thoughts on the book, I should tell you that it was my 11 year old who found the first book and loved it so much she shoved it into my hands, and when The Stolen Chapters arrived on our doorstep she literally dropped what she was doing to start reading it. (No joke, I had to pick up her dolls off the floor for her.)
The first Story Thieves I would say was an adventure, The Stolen Chapters leans a tiny bit into the mystery genre, and I'm eager to find out which genre the next book (because there will certainly be a next book) leans toward: Science Fiction? Fairy Tale? ...Romance?? Whatever James Riley (if James Riley really exists) does with the next book, I am certain it will be an adventure and a half. I already can't wait to read it!
(Review by Reading Rainbow Mom Jenni Buchanan)
December 31, 2018
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
CONS OF THE STOLEN CHAPTERS
I can't think of any, actually.
PROS OF THE STOLEN CHAPTERS
More Kiel awesomeness!
Moria is such a great character. "Sad Panda"
The plot twists in this book were great!
Owen is soooo greaaaaaaat!
THAT ENDING
OVERALL
I love James Riley and his writing. It's so hilarious, and fun to read. This book literally gripped me and dragged me along for the ride. It was much better than book 1, actually, and left me screaming.
CONS OF THE STOLEN CHAPTERS
I can't think of any, actually.
PROS OF THE STOLEN CHAPTERS
More Kiel awesomeness!
Moria is such a great character. "Sad Panda"
The plot twists in this book were great!
Owen is soooo greaaaaaaat!
THAT ENDING
OVERALL
I love James Riley and his writing. It's so hilarious, and fun to read. This book literally gripped me and dragged me along for the ride. It was much better than book 1, actually, and left me screaming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2020
This one might be a bit more confusing for a kid to completely follow. But it was fun for me!
October 19, 2016
Another hilarious and original addition to the Story Thieves series!
This book was highly enjoyable to read, and kept me laughing the whole time. Definitely delivered on the twisty plot and hilarious voice that I love in all of the James Riley books. Especially the acknowledgements. Those were SO funny. (Yes, I'm one of the weird people who actually reads them) Even better than the ones in the LAST book, which I didn't think could be topped.
This book was highly enjoyable to read, and kept me laughing the whole time. Definitely delivered on the twisty plot and hilarious voice that I love in all of the James Riley books. Especially the acknowledgements. Those were SO funny. (Yes, I'm one of the weird people who actually reads them) Even better than the ones in the LAST book, which I didn't think could be topped.
July 7, 2021
So good!!!!!! Even better than the first one and so clever!!!! I love the his author. He’s just hilarious. From making his books humorously ironic, and referencing his own books IN HIS OWN BOOKS, to putting a fake thank you to J. K. Rowling in his acknowledgments saying “that’s legal right?” and telling in his “about the author” section that he uses an actor for his photos and didn’t actually exist before writing his first series. Seriously, I need to meet this guy (if he does exist at all...).
February 26, 2017
Ironic
Unique
And Quirky
Unique
And Quirky
January 3, 2019
The world building and plot is weak. The characters are not as well developed as in book one. The author breaks through the 4th wall but it is confusing and needed more focus.
June 13, 2020
Round up to 2.5 stars. I see what the author did, but I'm not a fan of authors writing themselves into a book. Also, I got annoyed with Owen quite a bit… Not one of my favorite kid heroes.
August 13, 2022
Ovenas mėgsta visų žanrų knygas, išskyrus detektyvus - jie per daug mįslingi, painūs ir, berniuko akimis, ne tokie įspūdingi kaip, pavyzdžiui, fantastinės istorijos. Deja, kartais gyvenime ne viskas būna taip, kaip mes norime. Ovenui ir jo draugams - Betani ir Kyliui - teks stoti į akistatą su iki šių dienų gerai žinomo Š. Holmso palikuonimi Doiliu.
Jeigu pirmoji knygų serijos dalis ir autoriaus J. Rilley idėja, sukurti fantastinio žanro istoriją apie du vaikus, keliaujančius iš vienos žymios ir visiems gerai pažįstamos istorijos į kitą, patiriančius nepamirštamus nuotykius ir įsiveliančius į pačias netikėčiausias bei nepavydėtinas bėdas, mane sužavėjo, tai antroji pateikė bene dešimt kartų daugiau staigmenų ir sukėlė tikrą emocijų sprogimą. Užvertusi paskutinį puslapį pagalvojau tik vieną: „kada bus tęsinys?!“ Įsivaizduokite, kiek stipriai originalus yra rašytojas yra J. Rilley, jei net knygos pabaigoje esantį padėkos žodį jis sukurpė taip įtaigiai, kad jo neįmanoma palikti neperskaityto, kadangi pastarasis yra lyg nedidelis istorijos tęsinys, lyg užuomina į tai, kas laukia netolimoje ateityje.
Praėjusį rudenį skaityta pirmoji dalis mane pakerėjo ne tik niekur kitur negirdėta istorijos idėja, bet ir kvapą gniaužiančiais nuotykiais, pagrindinių personažų asmenybėmis ir akcentuojamomis moralinėmis vertybėmis, kurias galima pajusti įdėmiai skaitant tarp siužeto eilučių. Omenyje turiu itin išraiškingą draugystės tematiką, pasiaukojimą vardan kitų, šiuo atveju - dėl draugų, sukauptos drąsos parodymą tuomet, kai to labiausiai reikia, šeimos vertybių puoselėjimą, meilę, paprasčiausią ilgesį tų, kurie tau brangūs, tiesos triumfo troškimą ir išsilaisvinimą iš nežinomybės bei melo pinklių. Visos šios tarpeilutinės temos yra pabrėžiamos abiejose knygų serijos dalyse.
Kalbant būtent apie šią dalį, rašytojas kūrybingai maišė kortas, pažėrė dar daugiau stulbinančių siužeto posūkių (lyginant su pirmąja), ne kartą vertusių pamąstyti, kurie veikėjai yra geriečiai, o kurie - blogiečiai; kur realus veikėjų, o kur - išgalvotas, knygose slypinčių istorijų, pasaulis. J. Rilley knygoje „Istorijų vagys: dingę skyriai“ mane nustebino dar ir tuo, kad siužetas pateiktas ne tik kaip fantastikos elementų nestokojantis kūrinys, bet taip lyg jis būtų lengvesnio turinio detektyvas.
Veikėjai, kerų dėka, nepamena to, kas buvo vakar, o tai itin svarbu dabartyje. Knygoje nėra vientisos siužeto linijos, pasakojama ir iš dabarties, ir, kai veikėjai pradeda pamažu sklaidyti kerus ir prisiminti trūkstamas detektyvinės dėlionės dalis, grįžtama į praeitį. Norint išgelbėti vieniems kitus, jiems reikia tapti tikrais detektyvais - įminti ne vieną mįslę ir net pergudrauti garsiojo detektyvo palikuonį. Iš tiesų įdomi mintis įterpti čia šiek tiek detalių apie patį Š. Holmsą, o plačiau kalbėti apie jo kažkelintos eilės proanūkį. Kaip ir minima knygoje, šiuolaikiniam jaunimui nebėra aktualūs senesni kūriniai, net ir pelnę literatūrinių nuopelnų, tad J. Rilley įterpimo dėka, galima paskatinti jaunimą pabandyti žvilgtelėti į „senienas“ kitomis akimis, pamatyti jose esantį vertingą kabliuką.
Knygų serija „Istorijų vagys“ užburia ne tik nuotykiais, bet ir išraiškingais, savitais veikėjų charakteriais, kuriems neįmanoma atsispirti: norisi ir žavėtis, ir pykti, ir juoktis. Ovenas iš pažiūros yra paprastas moksleivis, tačiau pažintis su keistuole, stebuklingų galių turinčia Betani atvėrė jam užburiančius knygų pasaulius, kuriuose berniukas išpildė savo didžiausią svajonę, negana to, tapo tikrų tikriausiu didvyriu. Tačiau Ovenas liko Ovenu - jis nerangus ir neretai priverdantis košės, kurią taisyti tenka visiems kartu. Na, o Kylis - tai garsusis (Oveno pasaulio) knygos veikėjas, kurį iš arti pamatyti kiekvieno jaunuolio svajonė, ką jau kalbėti apie draugystę su juo...
Rekomenduoju, jeigu pasiilgote kvapą gniaužiančių ir smalsumą keliančių nuotykių, jeigu norite drauge su knygų serijos „Istorijų vagys“ herojais patirti įstabias fantastines keliones, bet ne laiku, kaip dažnai būna kituose kūriniuose, o įvairių literatūrinių kūrinių puslapiais, perrašant jų siužetus. Ši knyga patiks visiems jauniesiems (ir ne tik) skaitytojams, kurie nebijo patirti pačių keisčiausių ir netikėčiausių nuotykių, kurie pasiilgo fantastikos, bet tuo pačiu ir lengvo adrenalino turinčio kūrinio, kurie nori pabandyti įminti visas paslaptis greičiau, nei tą pavyks padaryti trims draugams. Mano nuomone, vaikams ir paaugliams ši knygų serija tikrai patiks bei įtrauks, tačiau neabejoju, kad ir vyresnieji skaitytojai ras dėmesio vertų momentų, minčių ir smalsumą žadinančių epizodų.
5/5⭐
Jeigu pirmoji knygų serijos dalis ir autoriaus J. Rilley idėja, sukurti fantastinio žanro istoriją apie du vaikus, keliaujančius iš vienos žymios ir visiems gerai pažįstamos istorijos į kitą, patiriančius nepamirštamus nuotykius ir įsiveliančius į pačias netikėčiausias bei nepavydėtinas bėdas, mane sužavėjo, tai antroji pateikė bene dešimt kartų daugiau staigmenų ir sukėlė tikrą emocijų sprogimą. Užvertusi paskutinį puslapį pagalvojau tik vieną: „kada bus tęsinys?!“ Įsivaizduokite, kiek stipriai originalus yra rašytojas yra J. Rilley, jei net knygos pabaigoje esantį padėkos žodį jis sukurpė taip įtaigiai, kad jo neįmanoma palikti neperskaityto, kadangi pastarasis yra lyg nedidelis istorijos tęsinys, lyg užuomina į tai, kas laukia netolimoje ateityje.
Praėjusį rudenį skaityta pirmoji dalis mane pakerėjo ne tik niekur kitur negirdėta istorijos idėja, bet ir kvapą gniaužiančiais nuotykiais, pagrindinių personažų asmenybėmis ir akcentuojamomis moralinėmis vertybėmis, kurias galima pajusti įdėmiai skaitant tarp siužeto eilučių. Omenyje turiu itin išraiškingą draugystės tematiką, pasiaukojimą vardan kitų, šiuo atveju - dėl draugų, sukauptos drąsos parodymą tuomet, kai to labiausiai reikia, šeimos vertybių puoselėjimą, meilę, paprasčiausią ilgesį tų, kurie tau brangūs, tiesos triumfo troškimą ir išsilaisvinimą iš nežinomybės bei melo pinklių. Visos šios tarpeilutinės temos yra pabrėžiamos abiejose knygų serijos dalyse.
Kalbant būtent apie šią dalį, rašytojas kūrybingai maišė kortas, pažėrė dar daugiau stulbinančių siužeto posūkių (lyginant su pirmąja), ne kartą vertusių pamąstyti, kurie veikėjai yra geriečiai, o kurie - blogiečiai; kur realus veikėjų, o kur - išgalvotas, knygose slypinčių istorijų, pasaulis. J. Rilley knygoje „Istorijų vagys: dingę skyriai“ mane nustebino dar ir tuo, kad siužetas pateiktas ne tik kaip fantastikos elementų nestokojantis kūrinys, bet taip lyg jis būtų lengvesnio turinio detektyvas.
Veikėjai, kerų dėka, nepamena to, kas buvo vakar, o tai itin svarbu dabartyje. Knygoje nėra vientisos siužeto linijos, pasakojama ir iš dabarties, ir, kai veikėjai pradeda pamažu sklaidyti kerus ir prisiminti trūkstamas detektyvinės dėlionės dalis, grįžtama į praeitį. Norint išgelbėti vieniems kitus, jiems reikia tapti tikrais detektyvais - įminti ne vieną mįslę ir net pergudrauti garsiojo detektyvo palikuonį. Iš tiesų įdomi mintis įterpti čia šiek tiek detalių apie patį Š. Holmsą, o plačiau kalbėti apie jo kažkelintos eilės proanūkį. Kaip ir minima knygoje, šiuolaikiniam jaunimui nebėra aktualūs senesni kūriniai, net ir pelnę literatūrinių nuopelnų, tad J. Rilley įterpimo dėka, galima paskatinti jaunimą pabandyti žvilgtelėti į „senienas“ kitomis akimis, pamatyti jose esantį vertingą kabliuką.
Knygų serija „Istorijų vagys“ užburia ne tik nuotykiais, bet ir išraiškingais, savitais veikėjų charakteriais, kuriems neįmanoma atsispirti: norisi ir žavėtis, ir pykti, ir juoktis. Ovenas iš pažiūros yra paprastas moksleivis, tačiau pažintis su keistuole, stebuklingų galių turinčia Betani atvėrė jam užburiančius knygų pasaulius, kuriuose berniukas išpildė savo didžiausią svajonę, negana to, tapo tikrų tikriausiu didvyriu. Tačiau Ovenas liko Ovenu - jis nerangus ir neretai priverdantis košės, kurią taisyti tenka visiems kartu. Na, o Kylis - tai garsusis (Oveno pasaulio) knygos veikėjas, kurį iš arti pamatyti kiekvieno jaunuolio svajonė, ką jau kalbėti apie draugystę su juo...
Rekomenduoju, jeigu pasiilgote kvapą gniaužiančių ir smalsumą keliančių nuotykių, jeigu norite drauge su knygų serijos „Istorijų vagys“ herojais patirti įstabias fantastines keliones, bet ne laiku, kaip dažnai būna kituose kūriniuose, o įvairių literatūrinių kūrinių puslapiais, perrašant jų siužetus. Ši knyga patiks visiems jauniesiems (ir ne tik) skaitytojams, kurie nebijo patirti pačių keisčiausių ir netikėčiausių nuotykių, kurie pasiilgo fantastikos, bet tuo pačiu ir lengvo adrenalino turinčio kūrinio, kurie nori pabandyti įminti visas paslaptis greičiau, nei tą pavyks padaryti trims draugams. Mano nuomone, vaikams ir paaugliams ši knygų serija tikrai patiks bei įtrauks, tačiau neabejoju, kad ir vyresnieji skaitytojai ras dėmesio vertų momentų, minčių ir smalsumą žadinančių epizodų.
5/5⭐
November 7, 2022
Pirmas sakinys: Kažkas kėsinosi pavogti Oveno gyvenimą, o jis nieko negalėjo padaryti.
Antra dalis. Nieko nuostabaus, nes iš pirmosios dalies pabaigos buvo akivaizdu, kad istorija turės tęsinį. Nustebino kita – jau antrojoje dalyje taip viskas supinama: Ovenas ne tik šokinėja į išgalvotus pasaulius – knygas, – tačiau keliama idėja, kad ir paties Oveno pasaulis kažkieno išgalvotas. Tad kad kyla klausimas, kas bus kitose. O jų jau dabar yra dar trys (iš viso – penkios)! Stipru, žinant, kad knyga orientuota į dešimtmečius.
Šioje dalyje šiek tiek silpnesnė Betani elgesio motyvacija: visiems aišku, kad jos veiksmai neprives prie gero, tačiau ilgai tempiama, kol leidžiama jai pačiai tą suprasti. Iš kitos pusės, toks sprendimas leidžia kurti intensyvų ir susuktą siužetą.
Antra dalis. Nieko nuostabaus, nes iš pirmosios dalies pabaigos buvo akivaizdu, kad istorija turės tęsinį. Nustebino kita – jau antrojoje dalyje taip viskas supinama: Ovenas ne tik šokinėja į išgalvotus pasaulius – knygas, – tačiau keliama idėja, kad ir paties Oveno pasaulis kažkieno išgalvotas. Tad kad kyla klausimas, kas bus kitose. O jų jau dabar yra dar trys (iš viso – penkios)! Stipru, žinant, kad knyga orientuota į dešimtmečius.
Šioje dalyje šiek tiek silpnesnė Betani elgesio motyvacija: visiems aišku, kad jos veiksmai neprives prie gero, tačiau ilgai tempiama, kol leidžiama jai pačiai tą suprasti. Iš kitos pusės, toks sprendimas leidžia kurti intensyvų ir susuktą siužetą.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2021
..weird
March 6, 2023
Wow! I wasn't expecting that 😳
January 15, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
What a contradiction Jame's Riley's writing is: so juvenile and plastic one minute, and so clever and heartwarming the next. I alternately think he's one of the most over-rated authors I've read, and one of the most under-rated. The Stolen Chapters provokes this unique frustration most of any of his books yet, and I am still struggling to come to grips with how I feel about it.
Because at first, I kind of hated The Stolen Chapters. It felt dry and contrived and forced, chock-full of overused tropes and uninteresting dilemmas. I didn't care very much about the characters, and everything seemed somehow less lovable than it had in the first book.
But then, in the second half, I found myself falling back in love. And the really irritating thing is that I can't even say why or how, or just how clever everything really was and how Riley tricked me and I love it so much - and you know why I can't talk about any of that? Because it's all a spoiler! His books are so clever and awesome, so that one minute I can be positive I've figured the story out and the next he turns everything on its head. Authors are lauded all the time for "keeping things fresh" and writing a story with "unexpected turns," but Riley's books are some of the genuinely twistiest books I have ever read.
I still don't absolutely love Stolen Chapters to pieces, though, certainly not the way I love Riley's amazing Half Upon a Time trilogy. I forgive Stolen Chapters for not engaging me in the beginning, because it was for a good reason, but I'm not sure other readers will be able to make it to the point where everything goes from cliche to great. And I love all the amazing twists and turns, but - okay, no downside to that; I genuinely loved the twists. I haven't fallen completely in love with the characters in Story Thieves, but they've definitely grown on me since the first book. I've even come to like Bethany pretty well, after finding her so annoying in Story Thieves, and I really like the new characters added in this book (especially the villain - who I really wish I could discuss without spoiling the ending!).
The writing is by no means complex, but it's very humorous and both books were a big hit with my fourteen-year-old brother. I recommend these books to middle schoolers, and to older kids/adults like me who still enjoy a good middle-grade read that's deeper than it appears at first glance.
And don't you dare skip the acknowledgements section - it's honestly even more hilarious than the book itself!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What a contradiction Jame's Riley's writing is: so juvenile and plastic one minute, and so clever and heartwarming the next. I alternately think he's one of the most over-rated authors I've read, and one of the most under-rated. The Stolen Chapters provokes this unique frustration most of any of his books yet, and I am still struggling to come to grips with how I feel about it.
Because at first, I kind of hated The Stolen Chapters. It felt dry and contrived and forced, chock-full of overused tropes and uninteresting dilemmas. I didn't care very much about the characters, and everything seemed somehow less lovable than it had in the first book.
But then, in the second half, I found myself falling back in love. And the really irritating thing is that I can't even say why or how, or just how clever everything really was and how Riley tricked me and I love it so much - and you know why I can't talk about any of that? Because it's all a spoiler! His books are so clever and awesome, so that one minute I can be positive I've figured the story out and the next he turns everything on its head. Authors are lauded all the time for "keeping things fresh" and writing a story with "unexpected turns," but Riley's books are some of the genuinely twistiest books I have ever read.
I still don't absolutely love Stolen Chapters to pieces, though, certainly not the way I love Riley's amazing Half Upon a Time trilogy. I forgive Stolen Chapters for not engaging me in the beginning, because it was for a good reason, but I'm not sure other readers will be able to make it to the point where everything goes from cliche to great. And I love all the amazing twists and turns, but - okay, no downside to that; I genuinely loved the twists. I haven't fallen completely in love with the characters in Story Thieves, but they've definitely grown on me since the first book. I've even come to like Bethany pretty well, after finding her so annoying in Story Thieves, and I really like the new characters added in this book (especially the villain - who I really wish I could discuss without spoiling the ending!).
The writing is by no means complex, but it's very humorous and both books were a big hit with my fourteen-year-old brother. I recommend these books to middle schoolers, and to older kids/adults like me who still enjoy a good middle-grade read that's deeper than it appears at first glance.
And don't you dare skip the acknowledgements section - it's honestly even more hilarious than the book itself!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2016
WARNING! Excessive use of exclamation points ahead!
Title: The Stolen Chapters
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publication date: 2016
Page count: 354 (Hardback)
Owen, Kiel, and Bethany confront secrets, stolen memories, and some very familiar faces in the follow-up to The Story Thieves—which was called a “fast-paced, action-packed tale” by School Library Journal—from the bestselling author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy.
Owen Conners would never jump into a mystery. There are too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Mysteries are just not Owen’s thing. So how exactly did he end up in one with his memory erased? And that’s far from the only question.
How did Kiel Gnomenfoot, boy magician, lose all of his magic? Where’s Bethany, their half-fictional friend? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger?
Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel?
Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved… ~ Goodreads
I was FULLY prepared to be disappointed in this book, after all how could it be as awesome as Story Thieves? Wrong! This book was TEN TIMES BETTER than the Story Thieves! HUGE plot twists! Awesome characters! And it was funny! And just, like, AMAZING!!!!! I loved every part part of it! It had tons of action. And I loved the mystery! If you can't tell from the picture of the cover, the cover of the first one is in it! How cool is that? I just LOVE how the title was incorporated into the book! And the ending was amazing awful! Talk about cliff hangers....
You can see my full review (there are cat pictures!!!) on my blog Kitty Cat at the Library
Title: The Stolen Chapters
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publication date: 2016
Page count: 354 (Hardback)
Owen, Kiel, and Bethany confront secrets, stolen memories, and some very familiar faces in the follow-up to The Story Thieves—which was called a “fast-paced, action-packed tale” by School Library Journal—from the bestselling author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy.
Owen Conners would never jump into a mystery. There are too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Mysteries are just not Owen’s thing. So how exactly did he end up in one with his memory erased? And that’s far from the only question.
How did Kiel Gnomenfoot, boy magician, lose all of his magic? Where’s Bethany, their half-fictional friend? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger?
Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel?
Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved… ~ Goodreads
I was FULLY prepared to be disappointed in this book, after all how could it be as awesome as Story Thieves? Wrong! This book was TEN TIMES BETTER than the Story Thieves! HUGE plot twists! Awesome characters! And it was funny! And just, like, AMAZING!!!!! I loved every part part of it! It had tons of action. And I loved the mystery! If you can't tell from the picture of the cover, the cover of the first one is in it! How cool is that? I just LOVE how the title was incorporated into the book! And the ending was amazing awful! Talk about cliff hangers....
You can see my full review (there are cat pictures!!!) on my blog Kitty Cat at the Library
March 24, 2016
This book was... confusing. Maybe more so because I read it aloud with my kids over the course of a month, but it didn't help matters that the time line jumped back and forth almost with every chapter, and there were multiples of characters. And the characters themselves were a bit hard to get a handle on. Kiel was great for comic relief the first go around, but this time he seemed almost pointless; just along for the ride without adding anything to the story. Moira seemed like her only role was to come up with word nicknames for people.
The story line was literally all over the place, and perhaps rereading it linearly would lend more clarification. I wanted to like this book, I think we all did, but I don't think it lived up to its predecessor. I give it three stars because there were a few good twists and plot points that helped keep up interest, but in the end, I was glad to be done.
The story line was literally all over the place, and perhaps rereading it linearly would lend more clarification. I wanted to like this book, I think we all did, but I don't think it lived up to its predecessor. I give it three stars because there were a few good twists and plot points that helped keep up interest, but in the end, I was glad to be done.
August 10, 2016
I really feel like this book should have three and a half stars, but that's not an option, unfortunately. The beginning was rather slow, especially compared to the last book. And the author did try to be a little too cute a few times when he was poking fun at himself (it was funny the first time, but then it got annoying). But the last ten chapters or so were amazing.
I did miss Charm quite a bit and hope she'll turn up again in the next book (even if it's only for a bit), but Moira was the perfect addition to the book. She has officially joined my favorite characters group. She REALLY reminded me of what my little sister would be if she became a criminal mastermind--which she would be quite capable of, given the right motivation. I'd read the book again right now just for Moira.
I will eventually read the next one, but I'll probably wait awhile, as I have lots of other books on my list right now.
I did miss Charm quite a bit and hope she'll turn up again in the next book (even if it's only for a bit), but Moira was the perfect addition to the book. She has officially joined my favorite characters group. She REALLY reminded me of what my little sister would be if she became a criminal mastermind--which she would be quite capable of, given the right motivation. I'd read the book again right now just for Moira.
I will eventually read the next one, but I'll probably wait awhile, as I have lots of other books on my list right now.
May 30, 2016
LPDL | Well, that sucked. I will never understand why some authors think it's cute to break the fourth wall by saying "isn't it awful when authors do this thing that the author of this book is doing right now?" and "when authors do this exact thing you're currently reading, it's just bad writing". Yes, it is awful, and yes, it is bad writing, and acknowledging those things doesn't change them. So don't do it.
April 9, 2016
END, PLOT TWIST #3.
The Meta is wayyyyyy Meta in this book. Trippy little sucker. But I'm a sucker for breaking the fourth wall.
The Meta is wayyyyyy Meta in this book. Trippy little sucker. But I'm a sucker for breaking the fourth wall.
May 13, 2017
I really liked the first book in this series but this one fell flat. Too confusing and plot line was boring at times. Not sure if it is worth reading another in the series. Disappointed.
January 16, 2019
I love this book better than the first one. I like that James Riley deleted some chapters and name it the Stolen Chapters. I would highly recommend it.
January 3, 2022
I really liked it. It was a really good mystery, and also there was a big twist at the end.
October 13, 2017
Little late in my review for this story, but I couldn't be lazy and only give it stars without an explination. :)
This series is a fun read. And I loved how this one was able to be so completely different from the first book. I've read sequels before that were basically the same plot line as the book before and therefore kinda boring. THIS ONE however was not. Like not at all.
The first book has a fantasy setting the characters are jumping back and forth between, this one? MYSTERY.
I have to point out now that I am not a huge fan of mystery...but this one I liked. :) The tension. The countdown. The near-death. The extraordinary plot twists. Just GAAAAH.
Warning: YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT THIS BOOK. (So do yourself a favor and don't start it when you first go to bed...take it from me, you might be up into the early hours of morning. ;)
I loved the characters, even though a couple gave me some frustration, and the plot was amazing. The entire book was set up in a way that was just short of pure genius, and I can't wait to start the next book!
This series is a fun read. And I loved how this one was able to be so completely different from the first book. I've read sequels before that were basically the same plot line as the book before and therefore kinda boring. THIS ONE however was not. Like not at all.
The first book has a fantasy setting the characters are jumping back and forth between, this one? MYSTERY.
I have to point out now that I am not a huge fan of mystery...but this one I liked. :) The tension. The countdown. The near-death. The extraordinary plot twists. Just GAAAAH.
Warning: YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT THIS BOOK. (So do yourself a favor and don't start it when you first go to bed...take it from me, you might be up into the early hours of morning. ;)
I loved the characters, even though a couple gave me some frustration, and the plot was amazing. The entire book was set up in a way that was just short of pure genius, and I can't wait to start the next book!
March 10, 2019
The first nine chapters of this book were hilariously entertaining--about 97% of those chapters were redacted, which was amusing, and it took like 1 minute to read all of them. The rest of the book was spent with the characters trying to piece together the details of what happened in those chapters. I don't think I enjoyed this installment as much as the first one, but it wasn't bad, and with how it ends I am definitely intrigued to see how the series will continue from here.
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