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Antonello Brothers #0.1
A Stolen Heart
When he rescues a half-human orphan, a glorified space pirate turned entrepreneur sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to topple the powerful Thieves' Guild he once led.
Multiple layers of conspiracy unfold, reaching all the way to Luc's immortal ex--the king. Behind each solved mystery looms an unseen foe, undoing the good Luc accomplishes. For the sake of this child, Luc must postpone his own freedom and master his desire for revenge or he will violate an ancient vow. Worse, he'll put the toddler at risk.At war with his compassion for the vulnerable child, loyalty to the king, duty to the Guild, and the bright lure of freedom he's coveted for centuries, Luc seeks the right path. Will he choose liberty and unparalleled success, or restore the Thieves' Guild to its former glory while overseeing the child's training?
A hard choice for any man.
For an immortal whose inner monster can destroy on sight? Impossible.
A pirate with a monstrous past can never be trusted with an innocent child. Luc must ensure the child is protected, safe, nowhere near danger. Nowhere near him. Even if this little boy has already stolen his heart...
475 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2020
65 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Kayelle Allen
41 books279 followersKayelle Allen creates MM sci-fi romance featuring mythic heroes, immortal gamers, and fierce warriors who purr. Explore the Empire and embrace your immortality. With eternity on your side, romance lives forever.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 8, 2020
Luc Saint-Cyr is an immortal warrior, a master thief, a savvy businessman, and the loyal supporter of Pietas, king of the Ultras. He plays the role of dedicated Sen’dai – teacher and guide – to his Deshai, young apprentices in the Thieves’ Guild. One thing he’s never been, though – has never considered being – is a father.
When he rescues a kidnapped half-human, half-alien three year old from the clutches of corrupt officials within the Guild, however, he can’t resist the desire to protect and nurture the brave, clever and endearing child. For centuries, Pietas has been promising Luc a lifetime he can live for himself alone. Gradually he comes to realize that he wants that life to include being “Senthys’ Daddy”.
The Half-Kin child, spurned by the feline mistresses of his native planet, turns out to be a pawn in a desperate intergalactic plot that involves Luc’s oldest enemy. Immortals know that loving a Mundane will only bring eventual pain when the human’s short life is over. If his ambitious nemesis Phrei has her way, though, Senthys might not live beyond his childhood.
Kayelle Allen has been writing tales of the Tarthian empire for at least fifteen years. One of her earliest novels in this universe, At the Mercy of Her Pleasure, featured Senth as a young man, an exceptionally adept thief practicing his craft in the service of a sexually enhanced “Better”. In her recent work, Ms. Allen has been filling in the back stories of Senth, his half brother Khyff, and Luc Saint-Cyr himself. She has woven a complex set of relationships with Pietas, the “Bringer of Chaos” and his domineering sister Destroiya. I don’t know this for sure, but I have a sense that the author is continually discovering, or creating, these connections as she explores her own fictional worlds.
The results are sometimes fascinating, but equally often struck me as confusing and distracting. The core conflict in this book is the disconnect between who Luc is and the feelings he has for Senthys. Ms. Allen does a wonderful job depicting the child’s remarkable abilities and winning ways, and exposing Luc’s softer side as he falls in love with the boy. Obviously she needed an external threat as well, and Phrei’s attempts to obtain the technology for teleportation fills the bill. However, I found many of the scenes between Pietas and Luc seemed gratuitous. Their centuries-old relationship and the ambiguous feelings they have for one another are interesting in their own right, but did not seem to belong in this book. Even more aggravating were the repeated references to Six and Mahikos (characters from the Bringer of Chaos series). I haven’t read those books, though I’ve followed Ms. Allen for a long time and indulged in many excerpts. The relevance to this novel seemed tenuous.
Balanced against these annoyances is the author’s skill at developing complex and satisfying characters. I particularly enjoyed Shohn Lexius, the full Kin security agent who has left Felidae because she doesn’t agree with its gender politics. Flea and Gnat, two senior, veteran human members of the Guild whom Luc enlists in the fight against Phrei, are equally delightful. Ms. Fasra, Senth’s beloved teacher from Felidae makes a late but memorable appearance. Even the androids have surprisingly well-defined personalities.
Overall, I enjoyed A Stolen Heart. However, I think I would have liked it even better if the author had been more selective about dragging in references to other tales of the Tarthian empire. The richness of her fictional world is impressive. An attempt at tying all the historical threads together in a single book is bound to fall short.
[I received a free ARC of this book in return for an honest review.]
When he rescues a kidnapped half-human, half-alien three year old from the clutches of corrupt officials within the Guild, however, he can’t resist the desire to protect and nurture the brave, clever and endearing child. For centuries, Pietas has been promising Luc a lifetime he can live for himself alone. Gradually he comes to realize that he wants that life to include being “Senthys’ Daddy”.
The Half-Kin child, spurned by the feline mistresses of his native planet, turns out to be a pawn in a desperate intergalactic plot that involves Luc’s oldest enemy. Immortals know that loving a Mundane will only bring eventual pain when the human’s short life is over. If his ambitious nemesis Phrei has her way, though, Senthys might not live beyond his childhood.
Kayelle Allen has been writing tales of the Tarthian empire for at least fifteen years. One of her earliest novels in this universe, At the Mercy of Her Pleasure, featured Senth as a young man, an exceptionally adept thief practicing his craft in the service of a sexually enhanced “Better”. In her recent work, Ms. Allen has been filling in the back stories of Senth, his half brother Khyff, and Luc Saint-Cyr himself. She has woven a complex set of relationships with Pietas, the “Bringer of Chaos” and his domineering sister Destroiya. I don’t know this for sure, but I have a sense that the author is continually discovering, or creating, these connections as she explores her own fictional worlds.
The results are sometimes fascinating, but equally often struck me as confusing and distracting. The core conflict in this book is the disconnect between who Luc is and the feelings he has for Senthys. Ms. Allen does a wonderful job depicting the child’s remarkable abilities and winning ways, and exposing Luc’s softer side as he falls in love with the boy. Obviously she needed an external threat as well, and Phrei’s attempts to obtain the technology for teleportation fills the bill. However, I found many of the scenes between Pietas and Luc seemed gratuitous. Their centuries-old relationship and the ambiguous feelings they have for one another are interesting in their own right, but did not seem to belong in this book. Even more aggravating were the repeated references to Six and Mahikos (characters from the Bringer of Chaos series). I haven’t read those books, though I’ve followed Ms. Allen for a long time and indulged in many excerpts. The relevance to this novel seemed tenuous.
Balanced against these annoyances is the author’s skill at developing complex and satisfying characters. I particularly enjoyed Shohn Lexius, the full Kin security agent who has left Felidae because she doesn’t agree with its gender politics. Flea and Gnat, two senior, veteran human members of the Guild whom Luc enlists in the fight against Phrei, are equally delightful. Ms. Fasra, Senth’s beloved teacher from Felidae makes a late but memorable appearance. Even the androids have surprisingly well-defined personalities.
Overall, I enjoyed A Stolen Heart. However, I think I would have liked it even better if the author had been more selective about dragging in references to other tales of the Tarthian empire. The richness of her fictional world is impressive. An attempt at tying all the historical threads together in a single book is bound to fall short.
[I received a free ARC of this book in return for an honest review.]
September 12, 2020
Thank you Booktasters and Kayelle Allen for letting me read this book for an exchange of my honest review.
I don't normally read sci-fi. And as soon as I saw the title, "A Stolen Heart," I assumed it was a romantic novel, which I wasn't really in the mood for at the time, but as I was just about to find a different title, I thought "maybe I should just check what the book is I about before I decide." I gave it a chance, and I'm glad I did. Reading this book was an extremely wonderful experience. Kayelle Allen did a wonderful job with the character development that left me loving some and hating others (for all the right reasons). I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, from Luc and Senthys, all the way to the deshai and even Tik!
I loved how almost every single character cares so much that children be treated well and that they would get FURIOUS at even the mention of slight wronging/ abuse to a child. I felt that in a world where child abuse is becoming more and more common, we all needed a reminder on how children must be treated.
as I reached the end of the book, I did think a major "wait, is that IT?!!!" The ending was quite anticlimactic for my taste. I felt that Kayelle built the plot really well but the way Pheri was brought down at the end left me unsatisfied. with the way the story was going, I was expecting something bigger, like a battle-of-Hogwarts moment.
Also, while I enjoyed Luc's relation with every single character, I couldn't help but feel that his "romance" with the store manager was written more as an afterthought just to add that romantic element to his character. I felt that it was not needed because that element was well provided by his interaction with Pietas. It also didn't add anything to or show a different aspect of his personality.
These two points are the reason for my 3/5 star rating, but overall, Kayelle Allen did an amazing job writing this book and paid attention to details, which is evident throughout the storyline. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book (twice, actually) and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I don't normally read sci-fi. And as soon as I saw the title, "A Stolen Heart," I assumed it was a romantic novel, which I wasn't really in the mood for at the time, but as I was just about to find a different title, I thought "maybe I should just check what the book is I about before I decide." I gave it a chance, and I'm glad I did. Reading this book was an extremely wonderful experience. Kayelle Allen did a wonderful job with the character development that left me loving some and hating others (for all the right reasons). I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, from Luc and Senthys, all the way to the deshai and even Tik!
I loved how almost every single character cares so much that children be treated well and that they would get FURIOUS at even the mention of slight wronging/ abuse to a child. I felt that in a world where child abuse is becoming more and more common, we all needed a reminder on how children must be treated.
as I reached the end of the book, I did think a major "wait, is that IT?!!!" The ending was quite anticlimactic for my taste. I felt that Kayelle built the plot really well but the way Pheri was brought down at the end left me unsatisfied. with the way the story was going, I was expecting something bigger, like a battle-of-Hogwarts moment.
Also, while I enjoyed Luc's relation with every single character, I couldn't help but feel that his "romance" with the store manager was written more as an afterthought just to add that romantic element to his character. I felt that it was not needed because that element was well provided by his interaction with Pietas. It also didn't add anything to or show a different aspect of his personality.
These two points are the reason for my 3/5 star rating, but overall, Kayelle Allen did an amazing job writing this book and paid attention to details, which is evident throughout the storyline. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book (twice, actually) and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 7, 2020
*Huge thanks to the author and @Booktaste for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book….. That did not affect my opinions.
When I started reading A Stolen Heart, I didn’t really know what to expect, I must admit that I was a bit confused at the beginning. It has some terms that I’ve never really seen before, and it was quite a lot of information for me to take in at once. I mean, I liked that it has its unique touch, I like when authors invent things and such, it was just quite a LOT of things to take in(for me at least), especially the first chapters. Though, once you grasp the general idea(s), it became a lot easier to follow along.
This story’s main characters are Luc Saint-Cyr; (in this particular story) an immortal who’s the former Grand Master the thieves’ Guild, and Senthys Antonello; the three-year-old Halfkin rescued by Luc. There are also Pietas ap Lorectic; the king of immortals along with his twin sister Dessy ap Lorectic who is Known in this life as the Conqueror, Rheyn Destoiya, she is the Empress of the Tarthian Empire.
The Thieves’ Guild Academy exists to train future thieves. Two main positions within the Guild are Sen'dai(the teacher) and Deshai(the student).
Those are (I think) the things you should understand to understand what’s going on. There are a lot more things to add, but those are the “main/important stuff”. If you want to know more details, there’s a “Behind The scenes of A Stolen Heart” booklet that has all the information you’ll need!!
When I started reading A Stolen Heart, I didn’t really know what to expect, I must admit that I was a bit confused at the beginning. It has some terms that I’ve never really seen before, and it was quite a lot of information for me to take in at once. I mean, I liked that it has its unique touch, I like when authors invent things and such, it was just quite a LOT of things to take in(for me at least), especially the first chapters. Though, once you grasp the general idea(s), it became a lot easier to follow along.
This story’s main characters are Luc Saint-Cyr; (in this particular story) an immortal who’s the former Grand Master the thieves’ Guild, and Senthys Antonello; the three-year-old Halfkin rescued by Luc. There are also Pietas ap Lorectic; the king of immortals along with his twin sister Dessy ap Lorectic who is Known in this life as the Conqueror, Rheyn Destoiya, she is the Empress of the Tarthian Empire.
The Thieves’ Guild Academy exists to train future thieves. Two main positions within the Guild are Sen'dai(the teacher) and Deshai(the student).
Those are (I think) the things you should understand to understand what’s going on. There are a lot more things to add, but those are the “main/important stuff”. If you want to know more details, there’s a “Behind The scenes of A Stolen Heart” booklet that has all the information you’ll need!!
November 7, 2020
First off, I'd like to thank Booktasters and Kayelle Allen for the opportunity to read this book! I am sorry it took so long, and I hope it was worth the late.
I generally adore science fiction, but found families are one of many themes that really pull me into a book the moment I hear about it. Luc is a man who serves under the immortal King Pietas, who just so happens to be a previous lover of his. When traveling to take on a mission, he encouneters Senthys--a child that changes his life for what looks to be the better!
Kayelle's choice of words, description, and shifts in tone and pacing make this story all the more sweeter. I found myself blazing through many parts just because I enjoyed the story so much, and by the time that I got to the end I was sad that it was over! I even went back to reread it a second time, just so I could experience the same joys and warmth that I felt the first time.
I would definitely recommend this work if you need a glimmer of light in the dark of the world. I sure did.
I generally adore science fiction, but found families are one of many themes that really pull me into a book the moment I hear about it. Luc is a man who serves under the immortal King Pietas, who just so happens to be a previous lover of his. When traveling to take on a mission, he encouneters Senthys--a child that changes his life for what looks to be the better!
Kayelle's choice of words, description, and shifts in tone and pacing make this story all the more sweeter. I found myself blazing through many parts just because I enjoyed the story so much, and by the time that I got to the end I was sad that it was over! I even went back to reread it a second time, just so I could experience the same joys and warmth that I felt the first time.
I would definitely recommend this work if you need a glimmer of light in the dark of the world. I sure did.
May 10, 2020
Luc has many secrets – being immortal is just one. His entire life is wrapped up with complications: keeping his previous incarnations from spilling over into his current life, maintaining his unswerving loyalty to the king – his ex – no matter how difficult he makes it, and now trying to sort out corruption at the Thieves Guild, even though Luc’s no longer officially in charge there.
When a strange, half-human toddler barrels into him at the Guild while trying to escape his terrifying teacher, Luc has no idea what he’s taking on when he decides to save the child.
This is an exciting and emotional roller-coaster of a read, with massive complexity in the background and world building, yet it reads easily and I never found myself too confused. Perplexed, at first, as to how the two story threads fitted together, but that does resolve in a very satisfying manner.
Luc is a likeable guy, even after you delve into some of the terrible events of his past. His attempts to make up for that reprehensible origin are laudable, and at the same time, it’s great to watch him learn about the meaning of family from the humans around him. Pietas, the king, is a quixotic character, annoying at times, but even he became more understandable as the story progressed.
This is the first of this author’s books I have read, though I now discover there are many more set in the same universe, written over an extensive period, which would explain the depth of world building and existing, complex, relationships. There are some tiny fillers (like mini-chapters of 4 lines or so) here and there, that even now, having finished the book, had no relevance I could see, which I found a mite annoying. And for me, although the villain of this book was well set up as menacing and unscrupulously dangerous, in the final climax she was overcome far too easily for my taste. These two points are my reason for the 4 stars, rather than 5.
Although I haven’t really read much SF in recent years, overall I enjoyed this book a lot, and will be reading more of the series.
When a strange, half-human toddler barrels into him at the Guild while trying to escape his terrifying teacher, Luc has no idea what he’s taking on when he decides to save the child.
This is an exciting and emotional roller-coaster of a read, with massive complexity in the background and world building, yet it reads easily and I never found myself too confused. Perplexed, at first, as to how the two story threads fitted together, but that does resolve in a very satisfying manner.
Luc is a likeable guy, even after you delve into some of the terrible events of his past. His attempts to make up for that reprehensible origin are laudable, and at the same time, it’s great to watch him learn about the meaning of family from the humans around him. Pietas, the king, is a quixotic character, annoying at times, but even he became more understandable as the story progressed.
This is the first of this author’s books I have read, though I now discover there are many more set in the same universe, written over an extensive period, which would explain the depth of world building and existing, complex, relationships. There are some tiny fillers (like mini-chapters of 4 lines or so) here and there, that even now, having finished the book, had no relevance I could see, which I found a mite annoying. And for me, although the villain of this book was well set up as menacing and unscrupulously dangerous, in the final climax she was overcome far too easily for my taste. These two points are my reason for the 4 stars, rather than 5.
Although I haven’t really read much SF in recent years, overall I enjoyed this book a lot, and will be reading more of the series.
April 12, 2023
There is a lot to take in with this story. I wasn't sure how I was feeling about this at first. I had to put it down and come back to it. Once I did that, I found myself very interested in the story and enjoyed reading it.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
May 15, 2020
A Stolen Heart is a fascinating story. Luc is sent on a mission by Pietas, the king. He finds the request simple enough but he didn't anticipate Senthys, the boy that would change his world. Senthys, a HalfKin, took over Luc's heart from their first encounter and didn't let go. This was an enjoyable story with well developed characters and lots of world building, which I like in science fiction stories.
I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 12, 2020
There's more than one heart stolen in this remarkable book!
At last we get to see Luc Saint-Cyr as the man he really is, and I loved it! When he meets Senthys the shock he feels as love first enters his heart for the kid is heartwarming. And then we see it grow and grow until he realizes that he loves the boy more than anything—more than his love for Pietas, even, which is saying a great deal. This primary story is so wonderful. But the secondary story, regarding how children are being treating in the Thieves’ Guild and what Luc and Pietas want to do about it, is just as compelling. I loved every bit of this story! Highly recommended.
At last we get to see Luc Saint-Cyr as the man he really is, and I loved it! When he meets Senthys the shock he feels as love first enters his heart for the kid is heartwarming. And then we see it grow and grow until he realizes that he loves the boy more than anything—more than his love for Pietas, even, which is saying a great deal. This primary story is so wonderful. But the secondary story, regarding how children are being treating in the Thieves’ Guild and what Luc and Pietas want to do about it, is just as compelling. I loved every bit of this story! Highly recommended.
June 22, 2020
Excellent story, moved along nicely, loved getting to know the characters and interaction with each other.
June 9, 2020
This is part of a series but can stand alone just fine though if you read in this order you understand the characters better. A Stolen Heart, Bro, At the Mercy of Her Pleasure, For Women Only.
I did read this out of order ad read At the Mercy of Her Pleasure which was Senth’s story and this one helps you understand his and Luc’s relationship much better. It also shows the softness in this hard, monster of a man and I absolutely loved it.
Everything about this story is great. The characters are amazing, and you can’t help but fall in love with all of them. The storyline is compelling and keeps you pulled in, (because little baby Senthys is so adorable) There are some twists and lots of action. The world-building is amazing. (I am not a sci-fi buff and these books have me absolutely hooked! I bought all of them and joined Kayelle’s newsletter and group to get the freebies. That is how good this book is) I can’t decide if I am going to read Bro next which is suggested for best enjoyment or Bringer of Chaos ( Pietas story)Again for me to be so excited over a sci-fi book its good!
Now I had two tiny issues. One there were a few unanswered questions, but I didn’t take off since I am sure this is Pieta’s story. The other is the language of the Kin and other words and some of the names BUT that is my personal issues since I don’t lie hard to pronounce names and stuff which is one reason I seldom read sci-fi since that is integral to the worldbuilding so again my personal problem and I don’t take off for that.
I did read this out of order ad read At the Mercy of Her Pleasure which was Senth’s story and this one helps you understand his and Luc’s relationship much better. It also shows the softness in this hard, monster of a man and I absolutely loved it.
Everything about this story is great. The characters are amazing, and you can’t help but fall in love with all of them. The storyline is compelling and keeps you pulled in, (because little baby Senthys is so adorable) There are some twists and lots of action. The world-building is amazing. (I am not a sci-fi buff and these books have me absolutely hooked! I bought all of them and joined Kayelle’s newsletter and group to get the freebies. That is how good this book is) I can’t decide if I am going to read Bro next which is suggested for best enjoyment or Bringer of Chaos ( Pietas story)Again for me to be so excited over a sci-fi book its good!
Now I had two tiny issues. One there were a few unanswered questions, but I didn’t take off since I am sure this is Pieta’s story. The other is the language of the Kin and other words and some of the names BUT that is my personal issues since I don’t lie hard to pronounce names and stuff which is one reason I seldom read sci-fi since that is integral to the worldbuilding so again my personal problem and I don’t take off for that.
September 1, 2020
“He who lives forever creates the future by manipulating the present”
- A Stolen Heart
A meeting between a King and his subject is imminent, and as it progresses the youth and playfulness of an immortal King contrasts against the experience and maturity of an age worn subject. A Stolen Heart by Kayelle Allen draws back the curtains into the life of Luc Saint-Cyr, Arcane Master of the Thieves Guild, set in an entirely different section of Space somewhere in a very distant future. A covert investigation into the kidnapping of a scientist pairs’ daughter leads to the uncovering of a much elaborate and superficially imperceptible network of a corrupt system that has spanned to threaten the credibility of what lifetimes of dedication took Luc to set up. Amidst the din an bustle of his grueling daily responsibility now it rests on him to carefully unwind the mess others have made, while battling with his recently discovered paternal affections spiking up towards the little halfkin boy he had rescued from the ill treatment at the Thieves Guild.
The book when opens into the paranoia of Luc Saint-Cyr as he prepares to present himself before his King who has asked for an audience with his most trusted friend and “shadow”, it seemed to be throwing the reader right amidst a trap as if watching a movie that begins with a battle that we have no idea of. The thoughts of the character unsettles the reader as the reader levitates on the idea of whom to identify with and who is on the right side of things. The more we know of Luc, the more unsure the reader is. The absence of conventional explanations or tour of the character or setting sort of teases the reader into picking up bits and traces of the vast world the writer has designed in her head. Not an easy task to grasp the vastness of the realm, as everything, right from the very first chapter spans to gargantuan immensity and diversity of something akin to what the fictional world of Starwars or Startreck could muster. The story as it develops brings out a depth of its characters and the magic of falling head over heals for them begins with the entry of the Little halfkin Senthys. The characters bloom into something more fun and relatable from there on and are determined to steal hearts no matter how we try! The strength of characterization and plot thickens as the story brews and this galactic mystery is sure to hold true on the what the title claims; the readers are sure to end up with "A Stolen Heart"!
- A Stolen Heart
A meeting between a King and his subject is imminent, and as it progresses the youth and playfulness of an immortal King contrasts against the experience and maturity of an age worn subject. A Stolen Heart by Kayelle Allen draws back the curtains into the life of Luc Saint-Cyr, Arcane Master of the Thieves Guild, set in an entirely different section of Space somewhere in a very distant future. A covert investigation into the kidnapping of a scientist pairs’ daughter leads to the uncovering of a much elaborate and superficially imperceptible network of a corrupt system that has spanned to threaten the credibility of what lifetimes of dedication took Luc to set up. Amidst the din an bustle of his grueling daily responsibility now it rests on him to carefully unwind the mess others have made, while battling with his recently discovered paternal affections spiking up towards the little halfkin boy he had rescued from the ill treatment at the Thieves Guild.
The book when opens into the paranoia of Luc Saint-Cyr as he prepares to present himself before his King who has asked for an audience with his most trusted friend and “shadow”, it seemed to be throwing the reader right amidst a trap as if watching a movie that begins with a battle that we have no idea of. The thoughts of the character unsettles the reader as the reader levitates on the idea of whom to identify with and who is on the right side of things. The more we know of Luc, the more unsure the reader is. The absence of conventional explanations or tour of the character or setting sort of teases the reader into picking up bits and traces of the vast world the writer has designed in her head. Not an easy task to grasp the vastness of the realm, as everything, right from the very first chapter spans to gargantuan immensity and diversity of something akin to what the fictional world of Starwars or Startreck could muster. The story as it develops brings out a depth of its characters and the magic of falling head over heals for them begins with the entry of the Little halfkin Senthys. The characters bloom into something more fun and relatable from there on and are determined to steal hearts no matter how we try! The strength of characterization and plot thickens as the story brews and this galactic mystery is sure to hold true on the what the title claims; the readers are sure to end up with "A Stolen Heart"!
October 8, 2020
I received
in exchange for an honest review.
Kayelle Allen's 'A Stolen Heart' is a good dose of mystifying science fiction. Perhaps you are still on the fence about it, with the cover image pulling at your heartstrings. I know that I sure was. If you're into science fiction with hefty servings of cuteness; then I think this is going to be your next read. For some, a family is everything. Even if no one they think of as a family member is related. In a nutshell, this is a statement on how far a person would go to protect the ones they love. How far would that person go to save children that he barely knows? And, what does it take to keep the mortal public safe from itself? Inside of that is a past that some Ultras can't forget and the regrets that won't leave.
Luc Saint-Cyr wears a slew of different hats. He has lived multiple lives and did more things than the average person. The immortal warrior hides his truest self from mortals. The mortals in this series' installment are human and other types of beings. He allows them to see him as a master thief, a dedicated Sen'dai to his Deshais, and a calculatingly savvy businessman. Underneath that, his warrior self is an ongoing supporter of Pietas; the immortal king of the Ultras. Saint-Cyr was created by a villain to do horrendous things. Those acts of war haunt him. Loyal to Pietas with a moral need to only do what will protect mortals and do good things overall. When Pietas formally summons him, the warrior is nerve-racked. Why would Pietas call for him in this way?
The assignment seems simple, but nothing about Pietas and his requests are simple. There is always something that stymies the situation and or mission. Saint-Cyr learned that lesson long ago. Taking precautions and doing what his king and the king's sister Dessy asked of him, is all he needs to do. This matter will get solved, and his Deshai will all graduate and move out. Then he can move to a different planet and live the life that he wants. What falls into his lap is more than he ever imagined. In this first installment of the Antonello Brothers series, Luc Saint-Cyr discovers parts of himself that he never considered and a life that he never thought he would want.
The Thieves Guild is not what it used to be. The corruption behind the once gleaming walls runs deeper than he knows. It is not about corners that were cut out of laziness, and, neglected maintenance details. How could a school full of children not care about a specific group of children? Little ones hardly ever have a choice where they grow up. Maybe it is the currents times, but this feels like there are some strong political undertones. I appreciate that aspect of science fiction. It does not appear in every sci-fi work. It is, for the most part, refreshing when it does. The parallels between reality and the injustices are pretty obvious.
I have loads of respect for writers that give their readers powerful women. Shohn becomes Saint-Cyr's assistant or information liaison. Dessy, Pietas' twin sister is the other female major character. They both stood out to me. Allen wrote quite a few strong characters. I enjoyed her plot twists and turns. This story is very detailed and descriptive, which, I appreciated. It was so easy for me to imagine everything right from the pages. 'A Stolen Heart' is something that I would reread for fun. Also, I would not mind reading the rest of the series. If you are looking for a wholesome read, this could be for you. There is a little cursing in this book. I don't think it is overbearing or out of context, however. Even better for people who aren't into sexual content, there isn't any. Light mentions of past relationships with nothing explicit is pretty much it.
Some minor proofreading wouldn't hurt, just like with any piece of literature. I recommend this to fans of family-themed stories, personal discoveries, and science fiction.
I hope this review was useful. Have a great day.
**** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT*** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT ***
There is a lot that I could mention about the major and supporting characters in this book. The complexities of the way some of them relate to others. Or, the simplicities of the adoration or hate that exists with others. I like most of the leading characters, yet, the child who grabbed Luc Saint-Cyr's attention then heartstrings, heavily yanked on mine. Senthys is an adorable half-kin that is abused by his teacher and her boss. The facility that hardly takes care of him and several other non-human young ones; Saint-Cyr knows. If not for what Senthys goes through, he would think better of it. The attitude that human adults have towards the children in their care is appalling. Early in life, I was mortified at how low and inhumane humanity could be. It's painful to note that the world has not changed much ten years later. Senthys' friends Wili and Hahlibeth are siblings. The older brother Wili and his sister Hahlibeth are Tyran twins. Luc Saint-Cyr and his trusty friends go out of their way to save these children from abuse and the auction block. Non-human children are not respected, as if they are less than their human counterparts. And worth a lot less than the adult humans that should be teaching them. So they are treated horribly and sold as slaves to boost profits within the Guild.
Flea and Gnat, are childhood friends Saint-Cyr went to school with. The aging couple knows more about him than any other mortals. They are loyal, caring, and intellectuals. The sort of friends everyone needs to have in their corner. The moment that the pair get wind of shady dealings and children in need they are all in. When the idea of adopting one of the children comes up, the sweet duo is on board.
While Senthys is a young half-kin, half-human, and half-kin, Shohn is full kin from a royal family. The young woman left it all behind because of the injustice done to her brother. As I mentioned above, there is quite a bit of injustice in this. Allen wrote those details very well. Her literary spin on past or present cultural/social norms is tasteful. It is also not too much. Just enough to make a person think. Shohn is a strong female character. I always appreciate an author that can portray strong women in their stories.
Pietas' sister Dessy is an interesting person. The twins had a dreadful childhood. Their father was a monster. He raised them under horrible situations. I can, in some ways relate. So my interest in how well Allen could portray that abuse is piqued. The fact that the siblings can work with Saint-Cyr for the good of the mortal worlds they oversee is a tell of how strong they are.
There is more than one villain in this story. I consider child abusers to be villains. However, a part of Saint-Cyr's dark past, Phrei is the strongest villain of the bunch. She is not at all a team player and plays dirty for her means. In lengthy books, I enjoy having more than one bad apple to dislike. The roles with Phrei as the villainous Ultra and Luc Saint-Cyr as the Ultra who thinks he is a monster for his past; was interesting. There isn't a lot of them interacting with each other. Yet, the dynamics between the enemies are not worth missing.
Tiklaus is a loyal sentient panther who guards Pietas. I love cats. Tiklaus' small parts in this story are entertaining. What the powerful animal does for Saint-Cyr towards the end was very nice too.
in exchange for an honest review.Kayelle Allen's 'A Stolen Heart' is a good dose of mystifying science fiction. Perhaps you are still on the fence about it, with the cover image pulling at your heartstrings. I know that I sure was. If you're into science fiction with hefty servings of cuteness; then I think this is going to be your next read. For some, a family is everything. Even if no one they think of as a family member is related. In a nutshell, this is a statement on how far a person would go to protect the ones they love. How far would that person go to save children that he barely knows? And, what does it take to keep the mortal public safe from itself? Inside of that is a past that some Ultras can't forget and the regrets that won't leave.
Luc Saint-Cyr wears a slew of different hats. He has lived multiple lives and did more things than the average person. The immortal warrior hides his truest self from mortals. The mortals in this series' installment are human and other types of beings. He allows them to see him as a master thief, a dedicated Sen'dai to his Deshais, and a calculatingly savvy businessman. Underneath that, his warrior self is an ongoing supporter of Pietas; the immortal king of the Ultras. Saint-Cyr was created by a villain to do horrendous things. Those acts of war haunt him. Loyal to Pietas with a moral need to only do what will protect mortals and do good things overall. When Pietas formally summons him, the warrior is nerve-racked. Why would Pietas call for him in this way?
The assignment seems simple, but nothing about Pietas and his requests are simple. There is always something that stymies the situation and or mission. Saint-Cyr learned that lesson long ago. Taking precautions and doing what his king and the king's sister Dessy asked of him, is all he needs to do. This matter will get solved, and his Deshai will all graduate and move out. Then he can move to a different planet and live the life that he wants. What falls into his lap is more than he ever imagined. In this first installment of the Antonello Brothers series, Luc Saint-Cyr discovers parts of himself that he never considered and a life that he never thought he would want.
The Thieves Guild is not what it used to be. The corruption behind the once gleaming walls runs deeper than he knows. It is not about corners that were cut out of laziness, and, neglected maintenance details. How could a school full of children not care about a specific group of children? Little ones hardly ever have a choice where they grow up. Maybe it is the currents times, but this feels like there are some strong political undertones. I appreciate that aspect of science fiction. It does not appear in every sci-fi work. It is, for the most part, refreshing when it does. The parallels between reality and the injustices are pretty obvious.
I have loads of respect for writers that give their readers powerful women. Shohn becomes Saint-Cyr's assistant or information liaison. Dessy, Pietas' twin sister is the other female major character. They both stood out to me. Allen wrote quite a few strong characters. I enjoyed her plot twists and turns. This story is very detailed and descriptive, which, I appreciated. It was so easy for me to imagine everything right from the pages. 'A Stolen Heart' is something that I would reread for fun. Also, I would not mind reading the rest of the series. If you are looking for a wholesome read, this could be for you. There is a little cursing in this book. I don't think it is overbearing or out of context, however. Even better for people who aren't into sexual content, there isn't any. Light mentions of past relationships with nothing explicit is pretty much it.
Some minor proofreading wouldn't hurt, just like with any piece of literature. I recommend this to fans of family-themed stories, personal discoveries, and science fiction.
I hope this review was useful. Have a great day.
**** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT*** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT ***
There is a lot that I could mention about the major and supporting characters in this book. The complexities of the way some of them relate to others. Or, the simplicities of the adoration or hate that exists with others. I like most of the leading characters, yet, the child who grabbed Luc Saint-Cyr's attention then heartstrings, heavily yanked on mine. Senthys is an adorable half-kin that is abused by his teacher and her boss. The facility that hardly takes care of him and several other non-human young ones; Saint-Cyr knows. If not for what Senthys goes through, he would think better of it. The attitude that human adults have towards the children in their care is appalling. Early in life, I was mortified at how low and inhumane humanity could be. It's painful to note that the world has not changed much ten years later. Senthys' friends Wili and Hahlibeth are siblings. The older brother Wili and his sister Hahlibeth are Tyran twins. Luc Saint-Cyr and his trusty friends go out of their way to save these children from abuse and the auction block. Non-human children are not respected, as if they are less than their human counterparts. And worth a lot less than the adult humans that should be teaching them. So they are treated horribly and sold as slaves to boost profits within the Guild.
Flea and Gnat, are childhood friends Saint-Cyr went to school with. The aging couple knows more about him than any other mortals. They are loyal, caring, and intellectuals. The sort of friends everyone needs to have in their corner. The moment that the pair get wind of shady dealings and children in need they are all in. When the idea of adopting one of the children comes up, the sweet duo is on board.
While Senthys is a young half-kin, half-human, and half-kin, Shohn is full kin from a royal family. The young woman left it all behind because of the injustice done to her brother. As I mentioned above, there is quite a bit of injustice in this. Allen wrote those details very well. Her literary spin on past or present cultural/social norms is tasteful. It is also not too much. Just enough to make a person think. Shohn is a strong female character. I always appreciate an author that can portray strong women in their stories.
Pietas' sister Dessy is an interesting person. The twins had a dreadful childhood. Their father was a monster. He raised them under horrible situations. I can, in some ways relate. So my interest in how well Allen could portray that abuse is piqued. The fact that the siblings can work with Saint-Cyr for the good of the mortal worlds they oversee is a tell of how strong they are.
There is more than one villain in this story. I consider child abusers to be villains. However, a part of Saint-Cyr's dark past, Phrei is the strongest villain of the bunch. She is not at all a team player and plays dirty for her means. In lengthy books, I enjoy having more than one bad apple to dislike. The roles with Phrei as the villainous Ultra and Luc Saint-Cyr as the Ultra who thinks he is a monster for his past; was interesting. There isn't a lot of them interacting with each other. Yet, the dynamics between the enemies are not worth missing.
Tiklaus is a loyal sentient panther who guards Pietas. I love cats. Tiklaus' small parts in this story are entertaining. What the powerful animal does for Saint-Cyr towards the end was very nice too.
August 22, 2020
Senthys to me is the main topic of this book, He keeps me wanting more of the tale.
Although Luc is the main cast and an interesting one at that, senthys just makes him a different man.
If your looking for a book to take your mind places and make you smile? Try this and thank me later
Enjoy
Although Luc is the main cast and an interesting one at that, senthys just makes him a different man.
If your looking for a book to take your mind places and make you smile? Try this and thank me later
Enjoy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2020
I have to confess that this is the first of this author’s books I have read, though I know there are many more set in the same universe. A Stolen Heart is about the life of Luc Saint-Cyr, Arcane Master of the Thieves Guild, set in a section of Space in a very distant future.
A covert investigation into the kidnapping of a scientist pairs’ daughter leads to the uncovering of a much elaborate network of a corrupt system that has spanned to threaten the credibility of what lifetimes of dedication took Luc to set up. Now responsibility rests on him to carefully unwind the mess others have made, while battling with his recently discovered paternal affections spiking up towards the little halfkin boy he had rescued from the ill treatment at the Thieves Guild.
This story is awesome! The characters are amazing, and you can’t help but fall in love with them. The storyline is compelling and keeps you pulled in, (little baby Senthys is so cute) There are some twists and lots of action. Is a roller-coaster of a read. Luc....I love him! Even after know some of the terrible events of his past. And it’s amazing to watch him learn about from the humans around him. Pietas is annoying at first but, as the story progressed, you will understand him more.
I had two tiny issues. One there were a few unanswered questions and I needed more answers. I also needed something else from the ending. The villain is very dangerous and seems almost invincible but, at the end of the day, they finished her too soon and too easily.
Although I haven’t really read much SF because it's not my favorite genre, I enjoyed this book! I will definitely keep track of this author and read the rest of the saga.
A covert investigation into the kidnapping of a scientist pairs’ daughter leads to the uncovering of a much elaborate network of a corrupt system that has spanned to threaten the credibility of what lifetimes of dedication took Luc to set up. Now responsibility rests on him to carefully unwind the mess others have made, while battling with his recently discovered paternal affections spiking up towards the little halfkin boy he had rescued from the ill treatment at the Thieves Guild.
This story is awesome! The characters are amazing, and you can’t help but fall in love with them. The storyline is compelling and keeps you pulled in, (little baby Senthys is so cute) There are some twists and lots of action. Is a roller-coaster of a read. Luc....I love him! Even after know some of the terrible events of his past. And it’s amazing to watch him learn about from the humans around him. Pietas is annoying at first but, as the story progressed, you will understand him more.
I had two tiny issues. One there were a few unanswered questions and I needed more answers. I also needed something else from the ending. The villain is very dangerous and seems almost invincible but, at the end of the day, they finished her too soon and too easily.
Although I haven’t really read much SF because it's not my favorite genre, I enjoyed this book! I will definitely keep track of this author and read the rest of the saga.
May 14, 2021
Thank you so much to GoodReads and Kayelle Allen for giving me a free copy of this book and the opportunity to review it.
"A Stolen Heart" is an impressive feat. It balances a space opera, fully developed characters, and a heart-warming story at its center without fail.
Luc Saint-Cyr is an immortal warrior, who seems to do his job but also has questions about the ethics of what he does. Going through centuries killing for a empire while also training young warriors, Luc seems to be looking for something more to his existence. When he meets a young boy who is an half kin, which is a cat like alien, the deeper meaning to his existence is found.
The writing is very well done, and I enjoyed the ability of the author to go back and fourth between warm interactions with the heroes of this book and this child, and the darker corners of the science fiction universe the book takes place in. Kayelle Allen does a great job juggling a ton of characters and the different tones of the book depending on where we are in the story. It's often hard for a author to do this, but Allen does so wonderfully. She also poses some interesting questions about gender, justified killing and what it means to be a parent.
I recommend the book. It's a solid space opera and heart warmer. Four stars.
"A Stolen Heart" is an impressive feat. It balances a space opera, fully developed characters, and a heart-warming story at its center without fail.
Luc Saint-Cyr is an immortal warrior, who seems to do his job but also has questions about the ethics of what he does. Going through centuries killing for a empire while also training young warriors, Luc seems to be looking for something more to his existence. When he meets a young boy who is an half kin, which is a cat like alien, the deeper meaning to his existence is found.
The writing is very well done, and I enjoyed the ability of the author to go back and fourth between warm interactions with the heroes of this book and this child, and the darker corners of the science fiction universe the book takes place in. Kayelle Allen does a great job juggling a ton of characters and the different tones of the book depending on where we are in the story. It's often hard for a author to do this, but Allen does so wonderfully. She also poses some interesting questions about gender, justified killing and what it means to be a parent.
I recommend the book. It's a solid space opera and heart warmer. Four stars.
October 31, 2022
This is a great story that teaches a man how to love a child and protect that child and others from abuse. Senthys is an adorable 3-year-old and very smart but is half-human. Tiklaus or Tik is a wonderful panther who instills fear in many people. I loved all the scenes of interaction between these two characters.
Even in futuristic sci-fi, human nature has not changed with their hatred toward those who are different. Luc uncovers the selling of non-human children or half-human children as slaves. He is immortal but from his past, and the horrible things he did in a previous life, he feels he is not worthy of being a father. Senthys is so lovable that Luc adopts him to keep him safe and to teach him to be one of the best thieves in the Guild.
What Luc has to encounter to save not only Senthys, but Willi and Halibeth, tests his mettle as a person who wants to save humanity.
This is the first story in a series and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Even in futuristic sci-fi, human nature has not changed with their hatred toward those who are different. Luc uncovers the selling of non-human children or half-human children as slaves. He is immortal but from his past, and the horrible things he did in a previous life, he feels he is not worthy of being a father. Senthys is so lovable that Luc adopts him to keep him safe and to teach him to be one of the best thieves in the Guild.
What Luc has to encounter to save not only Senthys, but Willi and Halibeth, tests his mettle as a person who wants to save humanity.
This is the first story in a series and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
August 13, 2020
Firstly, I would like to thank Booktasters and the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Luc is an immortal. He serves under King Pietas, also an immortal, who is his ex. He is sent on a mission where he encounters Senthys, a young boy that would change his life forever. Luc also heads a group of young apprentices at the Thieves Guild. He also tries to make up for things that he had done with his now-nemesis Phrei.
This story was quite a fascinating read. We get to see amazing characters as well as the sci-fi world the author had thought of.
Luc is an immortal. He serves under King Pietas, also an immortal, who is his ex. He is sent on a mission where he encounters Senthys, a young boy that would change his life forever. Luc also heads a group of young apprentices at the Thieves Guild. He also tries to make up for things that he had done with his now-nemesis Phrei.
This story was quite a fascinating read. We get to see amazing characters as well as the sci-fi world the author had thought of.
June 30, 2022
Pode um monstro ter uma família para amar? Luc Saint-Cyr acha que não, até encontrar uma criança meio humana, meio kin, em vias de ser escravizada. Este livro me lembrou a história de Frankenstein, no que concerne à definição de "monstro" e "monstruosidade", o que nos leva também questão do que é, afinal, ser humano. Uma narrativa de muita fantasia e ficção científica capaz de emocionar o leitor, e levá-lo a refletir sobre questões tão sérias. Muito bom.
September 23, 2020
Luc's life was that of a single mature man,orderly,clean,etc.He goes to the Guild on an errand for the King.Was it a coincidence that he met Senthys or was it fate?His life took a very exciting turn after that .Meeting Senthys made Luc reach within him and be a peculiar Warrior,one he'd never imagined himself to be.
What does Senthys have that moves Luc like that?
What does Senthys have that moves Luc like that?
May 30, 2023
hard to rate
I read about 3/4 of the book and gave up. I just couldn’t get into it. The very lengthy conversations were supposed to be cute but I just found them distracting. I would not recommend.
I read about 3/4 of the book and gave up. I just couldn’t get into it. The very lengthy conversations were supposed to be cute but I just found them distracting. I would not recommend.
April 21, 2024
A most unusual story
This story pulled me in immediately. The characters are so well developed and the plot is interesting. I don't think I would have called it a romance. There were romantic aspects but for me this was a sci-fi story.
This story pulled me in immediately. The characters are so well developed and the plot is interesting. I don't think I would have called it a romance. There were romantic aspects but for me this was a sci-fi story.
September 6, 2020
The character building is on point and the story line is beautiful Lucy is the star. I like how catching the book is. The more you read the more you want. My was was stolen by the author.
January 3, 2022
Had to read this after having read "Wulf", as I love the character of Senthys!
April 8, 2021
I love this kid!
Senthys is just too adorable! In this book the characters are well developed and quite likeable. The story does tug at your heart strings. Easy to read and quite entertaining. Close knit family with good old family problems but they all follow the house rules (mostly) and still take our the bad monsters. Good book!
Senthys is just too adorable! In this book the characters are well developed and quite likeable. The story does tug at your heart strings. Easy to read and quite entertaining. Close knit family with good old family problems but they all follow the house rules (mostly) and still take our the bad monsters. Good book!
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