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The Stolen Kingdom
Two teenage heirs play a deadly cat-and-mouse game to claim the throne in this exhilarating, standalone YA fantasy for fans of Victoria Aveyard.
Maralyth Graylaern lives a sheltered life on the family vineyard, wielding a forbidden magic that enables her to predict the harvest, peer into the past, and heal the vines from fatal blights. That is, until she's abducted and learns that she is a direct descendant to the throne of Perin Faye. In order to embrace her birthright and claim her throne, she must first destroy the remaining heir.
Alac Thungrave has lived his life as the “spare” prince, second in line to the throne of Perin Faye after his brother. When an attempted coup takes the life of the king and his heir, Alac is stunned to learn that the girl he recently befriended is the would-be usurper.
Duty forces Maralyth and Alac to engage in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, each determined to execute the other, despite their growing feelings of attraction. a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling.
When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love.
Maralyth Graylaern lives a sheltered life on the family vineyard, wielding a forbidden magic that enables her to predict the harvest, peer into the past, and heal the vines from fatal blights. That is, until she's abducted and learns that she is a direct descendant to the throne of Perin Faye. In order to embrace her birthright and claim her throne, she must first destroy the remaining heir.
Alac Thungrave has lived his life as the “spare” prince, second in line to the throne of Perin Faye after his brother. When an attempted coup takes the life of the king and his heir, Alac is stunned to learn that the girl he recently befriended is the would-be usurper.
Duty forces Maralyth and Alac to engage in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, each determined to execute the other, despite their growing feelings of attraction. a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling.
When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love.
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First published March 2, 2021
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About the author
Jillian Boehme
3 books184 followersJillian Boehme was known for many years to the online writing community as Authoress, hostess of Miss Snark’s First Victim, a now-retired blog. She is the author of Stormrise and The Stolen Kingdom; she is also a writing coach, a freelance editor, and a staunch defender of the Oxford comma.
You will also find Jill teaching writing classes both locally and online. She finds great joy in encouraging and inspiring writers.
You will also find Jill teaching writing classes both locally and online. She finds great joy in encouraging and inspiring writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
July 30, 2025
I didn’t expect to fall too hard for this book but the intriguing magical world building, secret identities, mixed bloodlines, witchery, forbidden love, whirlwind tension-twisty espionage theme blew my mind!
First of all I have to admit: both of the MCs are adorable and I enjoyed the chapters tell us how their characters evolve and how deeply their secret romance blooms.
Maralyth and Alac : narrators of the story, trying to discover their own powers, define their abilities to use magic. Both of them have strict daddy issues.
Maralyth has undeniably deep and powerful connection with barrels of fermenting wine. She can ripen grapes with a few whispered words! She inherited her powers from her mother’s side but she gave her word to her mother not to share her ability with anyone and keep it as a secret and now she thinks she deserves to be the woman in charge by getting full of vineyard.
But her father thinks otherwise by choosing her brother as his successor. So poor Maralyth stays as a talented cook, cursing to her faith as Alac also has problems about his own position. He’s king’s second son, not happy with his position as the spare heir, hating the guts of his brother and also having issues with his father who took control of the throne with help of stolen magic.
Both characters’ paths cross in the middle of coup which will bring them together to learn more about the secret bloodline who deserves to claim the throne.
It’s such an addictive, riveting, well developed, entertaining cat-mouse chase with mind bending intrigues, surprising revelations. The characters find themselves tangled with web of lies and enigmatic secrets. I love to see their blooming forbidden romance and the way how they test their endurance against the dark magic!
I’m giving my five cheers to tough, smart, powerful heroine, likable, honest, fair hero, magical, stunning world building, I couldn’t put it down stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan/ Tor-Forge / Tor Teen for sharing this magnificent digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
First of all I have to admit: both of the MCs are adorable and I enjoyed the chapters tell us how their characters evolve and how deeply their secret romance blooms.
Maralyth and Alac : narrators of the story, trying to discover their own powers, define their abilities to use magic. Both of them have strict daddy issues.
Maralyth has undeniably deep and powerful connection with barrels of fermenting wine. She can ripen grapes with a few whispered words! She inherited her powers from her mother’s side but she gave her word to her mother not to share her ability with anyone and keep it as a secret and now she thinks she deserves to be the woman in charge by getting full of vineyard.
But her father thinks otherwise by choosing her brother as his successor. So poor Maralyth stays as a talented cook, cursing to her faith as Alac also has problems about his own position. He’s king’s second son, not happy with his position as the spare heir, hating the guts of his brother and also having issues with his father who took control of the throne with help of stolen magic.
Both characters’ paths cross in the middle of coup which will bring them together to learn more about the secret bloodline who deserves to claim the throne.
It’s such an addictive, riveting, well developed, entertaining cat-mouse chase with mind bending intrigues, surprising revelations. The characters find themselves tangled with web of lies and enigmatic secrets. I love to see their blooming forbidden romance and the way how they test their endurance against the dark magic!
I’m giving my five cheers to tough, smart, powerful heroine, likable, honest, fair hero, magical, stunning world building, I couldn’t put it down stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan/ Tor-Forge / Tor Teen for sharing this magnificent digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
March 31, 2021
if you enjoyed ‘the shadows between us’ and/or ‘the guinevere deception,’ then you will want to read this.
in the same vein as the other books, this story promises intriguing court politics, magical powers, a root-worthy slowburn romance, and other enjoyable YA fantasy tropes, all wrapped up in writing that has good pacing and easy to devour language.
also, you should know by now how much i love a standalone. sometimes (aka most of the time) i dont want to commit to multiple books in a series, so i love an author who can take a fantasy world and create a well-developed and resolved standalone story with it.
overall, this is a fun, entertaining novel with some great highlights. its definitely turned me on to JB as an author and im looking forward to reading more of her books!
a massive thank you to macmillan-tor/forge for the ARC!
↠ 4.5 stars
in the same vein as the other books, this story promises intriguing court politics, magical powers, a root-worthy slowburn romance, and other enjoyable YA fantasy tropes, all wrapped up in writing that has good pacing and easy to devour language.
also, you should know by now how much i love a standalone. sometimes (aka most of the time) i dont want to commit to multiple books in a series, so i love an author who can take a fantasy world and create a well-developed and resolved standalone story with it.
overall, this is a fun, entertaining novel with some great highlights. its definitely turned me on to JB as an author and im looking forward to reading more of her books!
a massive thank you to macmillan-tor/forge for the ARC!
↠ 4.5 stars
April 27, 2021
2.5 stars
I love it when authors write standalone fantasies. I think these are rare gems. Some stories need a saga but more often than not, authors drag their books to become trilogies at the very least. This book easily managed to deliver an enjoyable story with likable characters in less than 350 pages.
The story is set in a world with magic, which was stolen from its rightful holders around 100 years ago. The Thungraves hold now the corrupted magic and rule the kingdom who has suffered ever since they usurped the crown. Mara, vintner’s daughter, discovered that she has magical abilities and was secretly using it not knowing that she’s the heir to a stolen throne. When one of the lords finds out about her, he manipulates her to get back the throne. On the other side of the story, we have Alac, the prince who doesn’t approve of his father’s policies. He was never interested in his position if anything, he’d like to have his own vineyard.
This book would appeal in particular to all wine lovers, who aren’t interested just in drinking wine, but also in the whole process of making it. It’s the first book I read that featured such sideline focus and I liked it.
The characters were likable and cute. This book in my opinion works best for young readers new to this genre but can also be enjoyed by any YA fan. Mara was level-headed, loyal, and smart. She didn’t back down but is also full of compassion. Alac is a good match for her. I couldn’t connect with the characters and their romance didn’t make me feel much, sadly.
The plot was fast, I finished it rather quickly. It’s been a while since I’ve had one of the “one more chapter” cases and suddenly it was 4 am and my eyes were watering... I finished the book first thing in the morning.
The downside of having this book short is that the world wasn’t developed well enough and the religion part was unnecessary because it wasn’t handled in depth. There was also talk of wars and other nations but it was only mentioned briefly, I would’ve liked it if they were more explored.
This is what you might call generic YA with romance but at least the author had the characters admit several times that they didn’t know each other for long how they can feel that much for the other person (admit to other people I mean). The plot was also simplistic, again it’s less than 350 pages, but maybe more pages to develop the story and the romance, would’ve benefited this book. It was nothing new sadly (except for the wine part for me but still not worth it). The story wasn’t what I’d call memorable but a fun book that can be read in one sitting without worrying about committing to yet another series.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I love it when authors write standalone fantasies. I think these are rare gems. Some stories need a saga but more often than not, authors drag their books to become trilogies at the very least. This book easily managed to deliver an enjoyable story with likable characters in less than 350 pages.
The story is set in a world with magic, which was stolen from its rightful holders around 100 years ago. The Thungraves hold now the corrupted magic and rule the kingdom who has suffered ever since they usurped the crown. Mara, vintner’s daughter, discovered that she has magical abilities and was secretly using it not knowing that she’s the heir to a stolen throne. When one of the lords finds out about her, he manipulates her to get back the throne. On the other side of the story, we have Alac, the prince who doesn’t approve of his father’s policies. He was never interested in his position if anything, he’d like to have his own vineyard.
This book would appeal in particular to all wine lovers, who aren’t interested just in drinking wine, but also in the whole process of making it. It’s the first book I read that featured such sideline focus and I liked it.
The characters were likable and cute. This book in my opinion works best for young readers new to this genre but can also be enjoyed by any YA fan. Mara was level-headed, loyal, and smart. She didn’t back down but is also full of compassion. Alac is a good match for her. I couldn’t connect with the characters and their romance didn’t make me feel much, sadly.
The plot was fast, I finished it rather quickly. It’s been a while since I’ve had one of the “one more chapter” cases and suddenly it was 4 am and my eyes were watering... I finished the book first thing in the morning.
The downside of having this book short is that the world wasn’t developed well enough and the religion part was unnecessary because it wasn’t handled in depth. There was also talk of wars and other nations but it was only mentioned briefly, I would’ve liked it if they were more explored.
This is what you might call generic YA with romance but at least the author had the characters admit several times that they didn’t know each other for long how they can feel that much for the other person (admit to other people I mean). The plot was also simplistic, again it’s less than 350 pages, but maybe more pages to develop the story and the romance, would’ve benefited this book. It was nothing new sadly (except for the wine part for me but still not worth it). The story wasn’t what I’d call memorable but a fun book that can be read in one sitting without worrying about committing to yet another series.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2021
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The beginning of this book had so much promise—an intriguing magic system, a spare to the throne who spent his free time tutoring children, and a peasant girl whose life as a vintner’s daughter had the potential for a unique spin on the secret royal trope. Unfortunately, after a few chapters, it all collapsed in on itself and warped into a typical YA Fantasy that did not really bring anything new to the table.
Maralyth or “Mara” seemed more controlled by the circumstance of the plot than her own agency. She was easily manipulated and naïve to a fault, and by the end of the story her powers were more boring than interesting. Prince Alac, on the other hand, went from the second prince more than happy to live his life without responsibility to… well, that would go into spoiler territory, but his character shift was too quick to make it believable, even with the circumstances surrounding it.
MCs aside, the most interesting characters were by far the scheming Lord Nelgareth, the broody heir-to-the-throne Prince Cannon, and starry-eyed noblewoman Lady Ellian. While the climax of the story took an unexpected turn involving these characters, that intensity quickly faded back into a comfortable mediocrity, and I found myself wishing these characters could have been explored further. Meanwhile, other side characters seemed like cardboard cutouts, especially Alac’s father, the dark King Selmar II, Alac’s best friend Tucker (their bro-ey conversations were so cringey), and Mara’s brother Nestar (I didn’t feel the sibling bond that Boehme was so clearly trying so establish).
The retaking-the-throne plot did not offer anything new, a lot of the dialogue came off as stilted, and the romance was just meh. The writing style is juvenile, which may appeal to younger readers of YA, but even then I would not recommend it based on the book as a whole. Also, the scene where Mara gets attacked by a wild dog was so over-the-top and unnecessary that I couldn’t believe it was how the author chose to make one of the biggest reveals in the book.
Lastly, I would like to draw attention to Mash's review on the portrayal of women in this book. I shared a lot of her thoughts regarding the internalized misogyny that was never addressed in the story, from girl hate to body shaming. Also, can we please stop writing Fantasy stories that oppress women for the sake of “worldbuilding”? Be intentional with your systems of oppression or don’t use them at all. It’s exhausting enough being a woman in the real world, and if you write magic and lore into your story and expect me to accept them you’d better believe I will find women’s equality equally as believable.
I hate leaving negative reviews, and after the beautiful cover and positive buzz for this book I was hoping to love it, but it sadly was a dud for me. If you have any other standalone Fantasy stories to recommend please send them my way!
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The beginning of this book had so much promise—an intriguing magic system, a spare to the throne who spent his free time tutoring children, and a peasant girl whose life as a vintner’s daughter had the potential for a unique spin on the secret royal trope. Unfortunately, after a few chapters, it all collapsed in on itself and warped into a typical YA Fantasy that did not really bring anything new to the table.
Maralyth or “Mara” seemed more controlled by the circumstance of the plot than her own agency. She was easily manipulated and naïve to a fault, and by the end of the story her powers were more boring than interesting. Prince Alac, on the other hand, went from the second prince more than happy to live his life without responsibility to… well, that would go into spoiler territory, but his character shift was too quick to make it believable, even with the circumstances surrounding it.
MCs aside, the most interesting characters were by far the scheming Lord Nelgareth, the broody heir-to-the-throne Prince Cannon, and starry-eyed noblewoman Lady Ellian. While the climax of the story took an unexpected turn involving these characters, that intensity quickly faded back into a comfortable mediocrity, and I found myself wishing these characters could have been explored further. Meanwhile, other side characters seemed like cardboard cutouts, especially Alac’s father, the dark King Selmar II, Alac’s best friend Tucker (their bro-ey conversations were so cringey), and Mara’s brother Nestar (I didn’t feel the sibling bond that Boehme was so clearly trying so establish).
The retaking-the-throne plot did not offer anything new, a lot of the dialogue came off as stilted, and the romance was just meh. The writing style is juvenile, which may appeal to younger readers of YA, but even then I would not recommend it based on the book as a whole. Also, the scene where Mara gets attacked by a wild dog was so over-the-top and unnecessary that I couldn’t believe it was how the author chose to make one of the biggest reveals in the book.
Lastly, I would like to draw attention to Mash's review on the portrayal of women in this book. I shared a lot of her thoughts regarding the internalized misogyny that was never addressed in the story, from girl hate to body shaming. Also, can we please stop writing Fantasy stories that oppress women for the sake of “worldbuilding”? Be intentional with your systems of oppression or don’t use them at all. It’s exhausting enough being a woman in the real world, and if you write magic and lore into your story and expect me to accept them you’d better believe I will find women’s equality equally as believable.
I hate leaving negative reviews, and after the beautiful cover and positive buzz for this book I was hoping to love it, but it sadly was a dud for me. If you have any other standalone Fantasy stories to recommend please send them my way!
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 15, 2021
↠ 3 stars
In a kingdom where magic is forbidden to all but the king, a young girl hides a terrible secret. Raised since she was a child on her father’s vineyard, Maralyth has always known she possessed magic, an act that could endanger herself and her family if discovered. Upon finding out that the very magic she’s been taught to hide is proof of an ancestry worthy of contending for the throne, she is immediately entangled in a cruel plot to supplant its current ruler. To do so means courting death, and the outcome far more deadly if she fails.
Now I’m all for court intrigue. Never has it been said that I am not a fan of drama. Mix all that together with ill intentions, and a sinister plot that threatens the current state of governance, and I’m sold. For the most part, The Stolen Kingdom hit the brief on what it was trying to accomplish. It’s a short and sweet standalone that packs quite a punch, all in under four hundred pages. The characters are likable, with the arc of the main character being perhaps my favorite thing in the novel. Just really here for stories about women reclaiming their power and then using it to serve their own interests. There is something about that that never fails to entertain me. Where this story inevitably falls short though, is in everything below the surface level of the novel. The world building was incredibly underdeveloped, and most of the supporting characters lacked the depth that was needed of them. This is clearly the outcome of an overambitious plot that tried to cater to so many different audiences. Not saying that a project like that is impossible to accomplish, but to execute something of that nature requires a steady hand. Each element felt that it either had too much attention paid to its exposition, or not enough. The romance for example, came so far out of the left field I could not enjoy it at all. Not only did the two love interests lack enough romantic chemistry, but the development of their relationship was devoid of any real substance. Altogether a let down seeing as the romance was what drew me into this in the first place. Generally speaking, this will probably be a hit or a miss for most people, a risk I think comes with reading any standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, murder, death of a main character, abduction, self harm
In a kingdom where magic is forbidden to all but the king, a young girl hides a terrible secret. Raised since she was a child on her father’s vineyard, Maralyth has always known she possessed magic, an act that could endanger herself and her family if discovered. Upon finding out that the very magic she’s been taught to hide is proof of an ancestry worthy of contending for the throne, she is immediately entangled in a cruel plot to supplant its current ruler. To do so means courting death, and the outcome far more deadly if she fails.
Now I’m all for court intrigue. Never has it been said that I am not a fan of drama. Mix all that together with ill intentions, and a sinister plot that threatens the current state of governance, and I’m sold. For the most part, The Stolen Kingdom hit the brief on what it was trying to accomplish. It’s a short and sweet standalone that packs quite a punch, all in under four hundred pages. The characters are likable, with the arc of the main character being perhaps my favorite thing in the novel. Just really here for stories about women reclaiming their power and then using it to serve their own interests. There is something about that that never fails to entertain me. Where this story inevitably falls short though, is in everything below the surface level of the novel. The world building was incredibly underdeveloped, and most of the supporting characters lacked the depth that was needed of them. This is clearly the outcome of an overambitious plot that tried to cater to so many different audiences. Not saying that a project like that is impossible to accomplish, but to execute something of that nature requires a steady hand. Each element felt that it either had too much attention paid to its exposition, or not enough. The romance for example, came so far out of the left field I could not enjoy it at all. Not only did the two love interests lack enough romantic chemistry, but the development of their relationship was devoid of any real substance. Altogether a let down seeing as the romance was what drew me into this in the first place. Generally speaking, this will probably be a hit or a miss for most people, a risk I think comes with reading any standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, murder, death of a main character, abduction, self harm
April 17, 2021
A forbidden Kingdom where Magic is not allowed. The kingdom of Perin Faye, has been ruled by the greedy Thungrave kings. Alac, the second son of the Thungrave king, is under constant fear of his position as spare heir to the throne and around him.
Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. She visits the kingdom and wishes to abduct the entire Thungrave line by killing the royal family.
No doubt the plot seems quite promising when read at the back of the book, but does the inside offer the same? I don't think so, the world building is very very wage and underdeveloped. If this would have been a duology rather than it being a standalone it would have been much better.
The side characters are very under developed and flat. The main characters are not likeable by me. They are very straightforward and I wanted more layers to this plot. The romance was so hurried it felt like a forceful match rather than one of a choice by the two.
___
Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC!
Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. She visits the kingdom and wishes to abduct the entire Thungrave line by killing the royal family.
No doubt the plot seems quite promising when read at the back of the book, but does the inside offer the same? I don't think so, the world building is very very wage and underdeveloped. If this would have been a duology rather than it being a standalone it would have been much better.
The side characters are very under developed and flat. The main characters are not likeable by me. They are very straightforward and I wanted more layers to this plot. The romance was so hurried it felt like a forceful match rather than one of a choice by the two.
___
Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC!
February 28, 2021
Thank you so much to Tor Teen for the digital ARC of The Stolen Kingdom via NetGalley! This is a great standalone YA fantasy, with everything from a king killer plot to just a twist of romance!
This book to me is exceptionally well done as a stand alone fantasy.
The Magic: My favorite magic systems are the ones tied to the land, tied to a Kingdom, because they not only make sense to me but add so much to the richness of the world building.
A pure, healing magic, was given to the original King of Perin Faye by the land’s deity. Corrupted into dark and destructive magic when it was stolen, it twisted a king killer into something terrifying. This is the legacy passed down through generations to the current king.
The plot/story: the plot ran at breakneck pace, again making it a great standalone. A rebel lord has decided to replace a true descendent of the first king on the throne to seize power. He finds a magic wielder and a plot to murder the ruling family is put into action. Will the corrupted magic even allow this? The current king is away while his sons entertain the heir’s wedding party. The first son/heir is incredibly important as the stolen magic requires a vessel at all times.
Maybe a better question is, will Maralyth play along with this scheme of murder or will she fall for the prince?
The Characters: I liked the characters! A vintner’s daughter, Maralyth, has hidden her magic but doesn’t really know why it is considered illicit. The second prince, Alac, who doesn’t want the throne OR the dark magic of his father, is the other point of view. They are both drawn unwillingly into this insane queen maker plot. There is instant attraction between them, but then it buds slowly over months. I liked this tiny bit of romance. Both characters had full arcs as they realized how tied to the kingdom they are, and the side characters were great too. Why not throw in an insane and terrifying king, and funny guard? There is banter for days between them all.
The World: so much magic and lore. I wish she had discussed the religion more, although it only played a side role it would have added to the lore. There was more than enough world building for a standalone for sure. Food, wealth distribution, bit of history, economy, political structure, plus two sides of the same magic. Betrayal and a tiny bit of intrigue too.
Very low content as well, just a FEW kisses and a bit of poison and swordfighting.
I just can’t get over how the magic was tied to everything in the plot, I kind of feel like this is how fantasy magic should be! Plus strong, brave, funny characters, and plenty of action, this book was a huge win for me!
This book to me is exceptionally well done as a stand alone fantasy.
The Magic: My favorite magic systems are the ones tied to the land, tied to a Kingdom, because they not only make sense to me but add so much to the richness of the world building.
A pure, healing magic, was given to the original King of Perin Faye by the land’s deity. Corrupted into dark and destructive magic when it was stolen, it twisted a king killer into something terrifying. This is the legacy passed down through generations to the current king.
The plot/story: the plot ran at breakneck pace, again making it a great standalone. A rebel lord has decided to replace a true descendent of the first king on the throne to seize power. He finds a magic wielder and a plot to murder the ruling family is put into action. Will the corrupted magic even allow this? The current king is away while his sons entertain the heir’s wedding party. The first son/heir is incredibly important as the stolen magic requires a vessel at all times.
Maybe a better question is, will Maralyth play along with this scheme of murder or will she fall for the prince?
The Characters: I liked the characters! A vintner’s daughter, Maralyth, has hidden her magic but doesn’t really know why it is considered illicit. The second prince, Alac, who doesn’t want the throne OR the dark magic of his father, is the other point of view. They are both drawn unwillingly into this insane queen maker plot. There is instant attraction between them, but then it buds slowly over months. I liked this tiny bit of romance. Both characters had full arcs as they realized how tied to the kingdom they are, and the side characters were great too. Why not throw in an insane and terrifying king, and funny guard? There is banter for days between them all.
The World: so much magic and lore. I wish she had discussed the religion more, although it only played a side role it would have added to the lore. There was more than enough world building for a standalone for sure. Food, wealth distribution, bit of history, economy, political structure, plus two sides of the same magic. Betrayal and a tiny bit of intrigue too.
Very low content as well, just a FEW kisses and a bit of poison and swordfighting.
I just can’t get over how the magic was tied to everything in the plot, I kind of feel like this is how fantasy magic should be! Plus strong, brave, funny characters, and plenty of action, this book was a huge win for me!
April 17, 2021
A forbidden Kingdom where Magic is not allowed. The kingdom of Perin Faye, has been ruled by the greedy Thungrave kings. Alac, the second son of the Thungrave king, is under constant fear of his position as spare heir to the throne and around him.
Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. She visits the kingdom and wishes to abduct the entire Thungrave line by killing the royal family.
No doubt the plot seems quite promising when read at the back of the book, but does the inside offer the same? I don't think so, the world building is very very wage and underdeveloped. If this would have been a duology rather than it being a standalone it would have been much better.
The side characters are very under developed and flat. The main characters are not likeable by me. They are very straightforward and I wanted more layers to this plot. The romance was so hurried it felt like a forceful match rather than one of a choice by the two.
___
Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC!
Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. She visits the kingdom and wishes to abduct the entire Thungrave line by killing the royal family.
No doubt the plot seems quite promising when read at the back of the book, but does the inside offer the same? I don't think so, the world building is very very wage and underdeveloped. If this would have been a duology rather than it being a standalone it would have been much better.
The side characters are very under developed and flat. The main characters are not likeable by me. They are very straightforward and I wanted more layers to this plot. The romance was so hurried it felt like a forceful match rather than one of a choice by the two.
___
Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC!
March 1, 2021
Hooray for a fun, magic filled read! I'm so glad I was able to get a copy of this audiobook, it was easy to dive into and I didn't want to stop listening. The narrators do a great job and I recognized the voice of Alac from other YA fantasy stories.
This is a chosen one type of story and I am here for it. Maralyn is the daughter of a wine maker and loves helping her dad. She'd love to take over the business someday, but unfortunately women aren't allowed in roles like that. Mara also has a secret, she can use magic, something only the king can do. When rebels tell Mara they want her on the throne, she goes to the palace to take the king down.
The king's youngest son is Alac. He's a sweet guy who has no interest in ruling and just wants to do his own thing. He and Mara bond right away over wine and I knew they would be a great couple.
There's plenty of action in the plot to keep things moving. I wish we had seen more of the magic and things it can do besides age people. I'm sure there are a lot of other possibilities for uses. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed and anti climactic, but I was happy with the results. This appears to be a stand alone and wraps up the story nicely.
While this isn't a unique plot, it's a fun story and I enjoyed the characters. I look forward to reading other books from this author!
I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This is a chosen one type of story and I am here for it. Maralyn is the daughter of a wine maker and loves helping her dad. She'd love to take over the business someday, but unfortunately women aren't allowed in roles like that. Mara also has a secret, she can use magic, something only the king can do. When rebels tell Mara they want her on the throne, she goes to the palace to take the king down.
The king's youngest son is Alac. He's a sweet guy who has no interest in ruling and just wants to do his own thing. He and Mara bond right away over wine and I knew they would be a great couple.
There's plenty of action in the plot to keep things moving. I wish we had seen more of the magic and things it can do besides age people. I'm sure there are a lot of other possibilities for uses. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed and anti climactic, but I was happy with the results. This appears to be a stand alone and wraps up the story nicely.
While this isn't a unique plot, it's a fun story and I enjoyed the characters. I look forward to reading other books from this author!
I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 21, 2021
You can also read my review here:
https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 3 Stars
I have to admit that this book grabbed my attention with its gorgeous cover and I requested an eARC. When I read the blurb I found it intriguing and figured I might pick it up at some point. But then I received a physical ARC on my doorstep and I couldn’t resist picking it up right away. The Stolen Kingdom grabbed my attention right away since Mara had the power to make plants grow. I have started spring cleaning my gardens, so I figured that this would be the perfect book to listen to while doing some early garden work. The Stolen Kingdom was an easy read that kept me absorbed, but overall I found it to be a rather unremarkable book.
Let’s start with where this book really shines. The Stolen Kingdom has a pretty great plot and the magic is really cool. I love books that take place at court and are filled with deception, betrayal and intrigue. The Stolen Kingdom focuses on Mara, the lost true heir to the throne, and Alac, who is the second prince. There is plenty of deception to be had and a plot to seize the throne. The plot was really compelling and the backbone of the story was really strong. The world was built well and the history of the magic and who it belonged to was explained well without excess detail. The book moved at a steady pace and was a really easy and light read.
While there were great ideas behind the novel, it all fell apart in the execution. The one major flaw was that the characters felt like cardboard cut outs. There was very little depth to any of the characters and the dialogue and banter felt forced. The characters’ motivations made very little sense and the romance was hard to believe. I had absolutely no emotional attachment to the characters and also felt like the lacked any emotions themselves. There are important deaths that are completely glossed over with no grief at all and the characters magically come together for a romance just to fit the plot.
The Stolen Kingdom was a fast read with a really cool world and a good plot, but it was hard to ignore some serious flaws. The characters were incredibly one dimensional and went along with things for the sake of the plot rather than their own motivations. It’s hard for me to review this one because it’s full of great ideas, but the execution of them didn’t work for me. The Stolen Kingdom was an easy read, but it isn’t one that I would recommend.
https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 3 Stars
I have to admit that this book grabbed my attention with its gorgeous cover and I requested an eARC. When I read the blurb I found it intriguing and figured I might pick it up at some point. But then I received a physical ARC on my doorstep and I couldn’t resist picking it up right away. The Stolen Kingdom grabbed my attention right away since Mara had the power to make plants grow. I have started spring cleaning my gardens, so I figured that this would be the perfect book to listen to while doing some early garden work. The Stolen Kingdom was an easy read that kept me absorbed, but overall I found it to be a rather unremarkable book.
Let’s start with where this book really shines. The Stolen Kingdom has a pretty great plot and the magic is really cool. I love books that take place at court and are filled with deception, betrayal and intrigue. The Stolen Kingdom focuses on Mara, the lost true heir to the throne, and Alac, who is the second prince. There is plenty of deception to be had and a plot to seize the throne. The plot was really compelling and the backbone of the story was really strong. The world was built well and the history of the magic and who it belonged to was explained well without excess detail. The book moved at a steady pace and was a really easy and light read.
While there were great ideas behind the novel, it all fell apart in the execution. The one major flaw was that the characters felt like cardboard cut outs. There was very little depth to any of the characters and the dialogue and banter felt forced. The characters’ motivations made very little sense and the romance was hard to believe. I had absolutely no emotional attachment to the characters and also felt like the lacked any emotions themselves. There are important deaths that are completely glossed over with no grief at all and the characters magically come together for a romance just to fit the plot.
The Stolen Kingdom was a fast read with a really cool world and a good plot, but it was hard to ignore some serious flaws. The characters were incredibly one dimensional and went along with things for the sake of the plot rather than their own motivations. It’s hard for me to review this one because it’s full of great ideas, but the execution of them didn’t work for me. The Stolen Kingdom was an easy read, but it isn’t one that I would recommend.
April 9, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
The Stolen Kingdom is a magically weaved, breathtaking new fantasy adventure.
In this book we meet Maralyth (Mara)and Alac who have very different lives but meet and connect on an adventure leading them to discover more about a secret bloodline that is deserving of the Throne and of claiming it.
Mara is a wine makers daughter who's magical ability there helps the winery to thrive, however her father doesn't agree to her running the winery and hands the position to her brother instead. Mara is hurt and angry about this decision.
Alac is second in line to the throne who hates being second in line to his brother and fosters resentment about this and his father's deceptive way of claiming the throne by using stolen magic to do so.
Mara and Alac are from two different walks of life but share the same hurt, fears and resentments. Both characters are very endearing and I loved the cat and mouse excitement of this book. The fact it was audio made it even more thrilling and the narrator did a fantastic job of telling the story.
If your looking for magic, forbidden romance, entertainment and surprise you really must give this book a listen.
I am hoping to get the physical copy of this book ASAP.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
The Stolen Kingdom is a magically weaved, breathtaking new fantasy adventure.
In this book we meet Maralyth (Mara)and Alac who have very different lives but meet and connect on an adventure leading them to discover more about a secret bloodline that is deserving of the Throne and of claiming it.
Mara is a wine makers daughter who's magical ability there helps the winery to thrive, however her father doesn't agree to her running the winery and hands the position to her brother instead. Mara is hurt and angry about this decision.
Alac is second in line to the throne who hates being second in line to his brother and fosters resentment about this and his father's deceptive way of claiming the throne by using stolen magic to do so.
Mara and Alac are from two different walks of life but share the same hurt, fears and resentments. Both characters are very endearing and I loved the cat and mouse excitement of this book. The fact it was audio made it even more thrilling and the narrator did a fantastic job of telling the story.
If your looking for magic, forbidden romance, entertainment and surprise you really must give this book a listen.
I am hoping to get the physical copy of this book ASAP.
September 27, 2023
ARC received from the publisher Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A charming light read perfect for anyone in search of a fun feel good tale.
The Stolen Kingdom is lovely YA fantasy with a great premise, unique magic system, wonderful MCs and a sweet romance.
In a world suffering under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings, Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, discovers her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Thrust smack down in the middle of a deadly plot to claim that throne, Maralyth is determined to do whatever it takes to free her kingdom.
Until she meets her sworn enemy, Alac Thungrave - the king’s second son, and heir to the throne.
Because Alac is not what Maralyth expected and she is now forced to acknowledge things may not be quite that black and white.
Plot-wise, this fantasy standalone has quite a lot going on for it's less than 350 pages and that makes it very fast paced, and nicely flowing. Especially because of the great writing style.
Unfortunately however, it felt rushed and a little underdeveloped. From worldbuilding to characters, magic and romance, everything could have done with a little more depth. Again, not something that can be done in such a short page count but still, I personally would have wished for more.
All in all, The Stolen Kingdom is a charming standalone that most fans of the YA genre will love.
It has strong characters, who are courageous, adorable and fun; plenty of action, great court intrigue, unique magic and a sweet romance.
I read it in one sitting and recommend it to everyone in search of a fast, light and highly entertaining read.
A charming light read perfect for anyone in search of a fun feel good tale.
The Stolen Kingdom is lovely YA fantasy with a great premise, unique magic system, wonderful MCs and a sweet romance.
In a world suffering under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings, Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, discovers her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Thrust smack down in the middle of a deadly plot to claim that throne, Maralyth is determined to do whatever it takes to free her kingdom.
Until she meets her sworn enemy, Alac Thungrave - the king’s second son, and heir to the throne.
Because Alac is not what Maralyth expected and she is now forced to acknowledge things may not be quite that black and white.
Plot-wise, this fantasy standalone has quite a lot going on for it's less than 350 pages and that makes it very fast paced, and nicely flowing. Especially because of the great writing style.
Unfortunately however, it felt rushed and a little underdeveloped. From worldbuilding to characters, magic and romance, everything could have done with a little more depth. Again, not something that can be done in such a short page count but still, I personally would have wished for more.
All in all, The Stolen Kingdom is a charming standalone that most fans of the YA genre will love.
It has strong characters, who are courageous, adorable and fun; plenty of action, great court intrigue, unique magic and a sweet romance.
I read it in one sitting and recommend it to everyone in search of a fast, light and highly entertaining read.
February 10, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Stolen Kingdom was such a fun and magical book to dive into. In it, you will meet Mara and Alac. The adventure that these two go on might make you dizzy. Mostly because this entire book is filled with so much. Magic, betrayal, and so much freaking tension that it might kill you. Just know that I ate it all up and I still wanted more.
From the very first moment, there was something special about Mara and Alac. She was in love with the winery that her family owned. So in other words, she basically had my dream job because I love wine. All things wine. If my family owned a winery? Well, goodbye world - I'm in wine heaven now.
While she's living my best life, he is a prince and wants to do anything else but become King. Luckily for him, he's second in line so he doesn't have to worry about that. The only thing he does worry about, though, is the magic. He hates it. Or maybe he just hates his dad's stolen magic. Either way, magic is a no go for him.
After they first met, sparks were there and started to fly (a bit). It was definitely cute and I couldn't help shipping them after this. They had a special connection and I was worried that the other shoe was going to drop and kill my ship. The shoe dropped hard but my ship was still thriving in my mind.
So much betrayal and magic kept me completely and utterly engaged with this book. I couldn't put it down (unless I had to eat or sleep). Now that it's over, I'm kind of sad. I don't know what to do with my thumbs right now.. unless twiddling seems proper? The moment that this book is published, I am going to buy it and dive back into these beautiful pages. Definitely enjoyed this book and I can't wait for Jillian to write another magical adventure!
The Stolen Kingdom was such a fun and magical book to dive into. In it, you will meet Mara and Alac. The adventure that these two go on might make you dizzy. Mostly because this entire book is filled with so much. Magic, betrayal, and so much freaking tension that it might kill you. Just know that I ate it all up and I still wanted more.
From the very first moment, there was something special about Mara and Alac. She was in love with the winery that her family owned. So in other words, she basically had my dream job because I love wine. All things wine. If my family owned a winery? Well, goodbye world - I'm in wine heaven now.
While she's living my best life, he is a prince and wants to do anything else but become King. Luckily for him, he's second in line so he doesn't have to worry about that. The only thing he does worry about, though, is the magic. He hates it. Or maybe he just hates his dad's stolen magic. Either way, magic is a no go for him.
After they first met, sparks were there and started to fly (a bit). It was definitely cute and I couldn't help shipping them after this. They had a special connection and I was worried that the other shoe was going to drop and kill my ship. The shoe dropped hard but my ship was still thriving in my mind.
So much betrayal and magic kept me completely and utterly engaged with this book. I couldn't put it down (unless I had to eat or sleep). Now that it's over, I'm kind of sad. I don't know what to do with my thumbs right now.. unless twiddling seems proper? The moment that this book is published, I am going to buy it and dive back into these beautiful pages. Definitely enjoyed this book and I can't wait for Jillian to write another magical adventure!
February 20, 2021
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor Forge for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
I'm so tired of being completely disappointed by books. This book had everything to be great - the cover is pretty, the plot sounded intriguing and the romance was supposed to be the best kind (*I have to kill you* enemies to lovers), but it wasn't.
Everything about this was lacking. The plot bored me, the characters had no depth and the romance lacked chemistry.
It wasn't super bad, but it wasn't good either, so overall 2.5 stars.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor Forge for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
I'm so tired of being completely disappointed by books. This book had everything to be great - the cover is pretty, the plot sounded intriguing and the romance was supposed to be the best kind (*I have to kill you* enemies to lovers), but it wasn't.
Everything about this was lacking. The plot bored me, the characters had no depth and the romance lacked chemistry.
It wasn't super bad, but it wasn't good either, so overall 2.5 stars.
February 21, 2021
Jillian Boehme delivers top-notch high fantasy with The Stolen Kingdom. Not since J. R. R. Tolkien or C. S. Lewis have I experienced such a perfect blending of faith and fantasy.
Stories of rightful heirs to a throne intrigue me, which is why I elected to read this novel in the first place. Maralyth comes from a line of rightful kings to the land of Perin Faye, a truth unknown to her until she is forced into a bid for the throne. Magic has always dwelt in the veins of the true kings and queens of Perin Faye, a gift from the Holy God given only to those leaders. When the magic was stolen by a usurper to the throne 100 years before Maralyth's time, it turned into something dark, evil, and twisted, the complete antithesis of its healing and merciful purpose.
Prince Alac, second-son of the usurper lineage, and not expecting to be in line for the throne, also ends up in a bid for the throne when the rebellion against his family becomes all too real. His affection for Maralyth deepens every day since the first moment he met her during the events leading up to his older brother's wedding. But when he discovers she is not what he believed her to be, even though he never desired the power of the magic, it begins to whisper dark things to him, turning him even against Maralyth.
There must be a way for the rightful rulers of Perin Faye to take the throne without bloodshed or without breaking the deepening bond between Maralyth and Alac.
Jillian Boehme's characters are richly developed, from Maralyth to Alac and even to Alac's best friend and loyal guard, Tucker. The story never flags, never wavers, never turns to the right or to the left. Common tropes are avoided, leaving nothing to distract me from the story. It is strong and cleanly thought out from start to finish. The prose is colorful without falling into the pit of purple prose. I felt by the end of the book that I knew and loved both Maralyth and Alac.
Maralyth especially is a solid example of what a YA heroine should be. She is strong without demeaning others. She avoids petty squabbles or fits of childishness. She is imaginative, gentle, and fun, a deeply authentic person who feels real, as if she could just walk off the page of the book and be someone I would enjoy calling a friend. She is a true ruler who puts the well-being of her people far ahead of herself.
As for Alac, I loved him from the beginning. A reluctant prince who ends up being enticed by magic that doesn't belong to his family. He yearns for it and is repulsed by it at the same time because he knows it is not meant to be his. Every emotion he undertakes feels natural, even down to his rage and hurt before he finds his way to forgiveness and love. It also helps to remember that Alac is being negatively affected by the stolen magic. It is changing him, little by little, and not in a good way. Ultimately, the true Alac that he is on the inside and who she finally frees from a burden that wasn't his to carry is a perfectly equal love interest to Maralyth and they are ideally suited.
Sexual content is kept to a minimum. A young woman is almost forced into a political marriage with a much older man against her will. Alac's brother and his fiance have been intimate before their marriage and Alac interrupts one of their intimate sessions, but nothing is seen. Alac's love for Maralyth is both intellectual and decidedly physical, so he suffers from all of the effects that go along with being a teenage boy in love for the first time. There are some kisses shared between them, but nothing else.
Finally, I love the religious aspect of the story. Jillian Boehme approached the idea of magic uniquely. It isn't something that can belong to everyone but is a gift from a Holy God who loves His children, to be used for good by the rulers of Perin Faye. When it is stolen, the world erupts into chaos and great damage is done.
Many, many congratulations to Jillian Boehme for her marvelous book. I hope to read many, many more from her in the future as she continues her writing career.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
Stories of rightful heirs to a throne intrigue me, which is why I elected to read this novel in the first place. Maralyth comes from a line of rightful kings to the land of Perin Faye, a truth unknown to her until she is forced into a bid for the throne. Magic has always dwelt in the veins of the true kings and queens of Perin Faye, a gift from the Holy God given only to those leaders. When the magic was stolen by a usurper to the throne 100 years before Maralyth's time, it turned into something dark, evil, and twisted, the complete antithesis of its healing and merciful purpose.
Prince Alac, second-son of the usurper lineage, and not expecting to be in line for the throne, also ends up in a bid for the throne when the rebellion against his family becomes all too real. His affection for Maralyth deepens every day since the first moment he met her during the events leading up to his older brother's wedding. But when he discovers she is not what he believed her to be, even though he never desired the power of the magic, it begins to whisper dark things to him, turning him even against Maralyth.
There must be a way for the rightful rulers of Perin Faye to take the throne without bloodshed or without breaking the deepening bond between Maralyth and Alac.
Jillian Boehme's characters are richly developed, from Maralyth to Alac and even to Alac's best friend and loyal guard, Tucker. The story never flags, never wavers, never turns to the right or to the left. Common tropes are avoided, leaving nothing to distract me from the story. It is strong and cleanly thought out from start to finish. The prose is colorful without falling into the pit of purple prose. I felt by the end of the book that I knew and loved both Maralyth and Alac.
Maralyth especially is a solid example of what a YA heroine should be. She is strong without demeaning others. She avoids petty squabbles or fits of childishness. She is imaginative, gentle, and fun, a deeply authentic person who feels real, as if she could just walk off the page of the book and be someone I would enjoy calling a friend. She is a true ruler who puts the well-being of her people far ahead of herself.
As for Alac, I loved him from the beginning. A reluctant prince who ends up being enticed by magic that doesn't belong to his family. He yearns for it and is repulsed by it at the same time because he knows it is not meant to be his. Every emotion he undertakes feels natural, even down to his rage and hurt before he finds his way to forgiveness and love. It also helps to remember that Alac is being negatively affected by the stolen magic. It is changing him, little by little, and not in a good way. Ultimately, the true Alac that he is on the inside and who she finally frees from a burden that wasn't his to carry is a perfectly equal love interest to Maralyth and they are ideally suited.
Sexual content is kept to a minimum. A young woman is almost forced into a political marriage with a much older man against her will. Alac's brother and his fiance have been intimate before their marriage and Alac interrupts one of their intimate sessions, but nothing is seen. Alac's love for Maralyth is both intellectual and decidedly physical, so he suffers from all of the effects that go along with being a teenage boy in love for the first time. There are some kisses shared between them, but nothing else.
Finally, I love the religious aspect of the story. Jillian Boehme approached the idea of magic uniquely. It isn't something that can belong to everyone but is a gift from a Holy God who loves His children, to be used for good by the rulers of Perin Faye. When it is stolen, the world erupts into chaos and great damage is done.
Many, many congratulations to Jillian Boehme for her marvelous book. I hope to read many, many more from her in the future as she continues her writing career.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
March 3, 2021
ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review
I am so glad I picked this book up on a whim. The Stolen Kingdom was such a fun and magical read I was really blown away. As someone who does not seek out Fantasy I thoroughly enjoyed this book even with a common type plot. The author did a great job creating her own kingdom and magical rules. I liked the main characters and the small bit of romance thrown in, it added another element to the story that made it much more interesting and enticing. I was worried at times things would be too predictable and I am so happy I was proven wrong. The first half of the book was a lot of plot building and character development and then all of a sudden life blows out of control and became very fast paced which kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm almost sad this is only a standalone because I would love to read on and see how both the MC's live on in the 'new' world. At the same time I'll keep this author on my radar because this book made for a really exciting read!
I am so glad I picked this book up on a whim. The Stolen Kingdom was such a fun and magical read I was really blown away. As someone who does not seek out Fantasy I thoroughly enjoyed this book even with a common type plot. The author did a great job creating her own kingdom and magical rules. I liked the main characters and the small bit of romance thrown in, it added another element to the story that made it much more interesting and enticing. I was worried at times things would be too predictable and I am so happy I was proven wrong. The first half of the book was a lot of plot building and character development and then all of a sudden life blows out of control and became very fast paced which kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm almost sad this is only a standalone because I would love to read on and see how both the MC's live on in the 'new' world. At the same time I'll keep this author on my radar because this book made for a really exciting read!
March 18, 2021
ARC received from the publisher Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
SYNOPSIS: For a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling. When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love.
At the time when I was at last approved for this title on Netgalley and eventually picked it up - I’ve forgotten what it was even about or my reasoning for requesting The Stolen Kingdom. For that reason, I went into it with zero expectations, being fascinated by unique magic Mara possessed and the fact that action takes place at the vineyard. Sadly, my amazement didn’t last long.
This book had two major problems: being blue-print of every other YA fantasy and being YA fantasy standalone. Once we reach 30% mark of this book, everything becomes so predictable to the point that it’s hard to make yourself pick up the book again. I constantly went back and forth from being engrossed to not caring at all. Need some proof? Someone will definitely have a very convenient copy of some documents or a whole book explaining what you should do step by step. You got captured? Don’t worry, that’s probably your secret ally. Some creepy dude poses a huge problem for your future? Don’t worry he’ll die in some accident, it’s fine, everything is fine. Whenever I thought something unique might happen, it would fall back into a trap called “popular YA tropes”. Those kids were not fit for a throne in any shape or form.
When I was reading about Alac and Maralyth first meeting I had flashbacks from Disney’s Descendants.
Don’t get me wrong, I like that film, songs are catchy and it’s colourful and hundred times better than any youtube video my sister would watch instead of it. But that’s it - that is a cheesy as hell film targeted at my younger sister who reads middle-grade.
One thing that I loved at first was Mara’s fear of dogs. After my accident years ago, I related to that enormously. I wished that they would go back to this in the end, address her fear or have this beautiful whole circle moment but, as happened with most of the plot-points, it was underwhelming and underdeveloped since it was only 300+ pages long fantasy standalone. Quite bummed about this book falling short for me.
SYNOPSIS: For a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling. When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love.
At the time when I was at last approved for this title on Netgalley and eventually picked it up - I’ve forgotten what it was even about or my reasoning for requesting The Stolen Kingdom. For that reason, I went into it with zero expectations, being fascinated by unique magic Mara possessed and the fact that action takes place at the vineyard. Sadly, my amazement didn’t last long.
This book had two major problems: being blue-print of every other YA fantasy and being YA fantasy standalone. Once we reach 30% mark of this book, everything becomes so predictable to the point that it’s hard to make yourself pick up the book again. I constantly went back and forth from being engrossed to not caring at all. Need some proof? Someone will definitely have a very convenient copy of some documents or a whole book explaining what you should do step by step. You got captured? Don’t worry, that’s probably your secret ally. Some creepy dude poses a huge problem for your future? Don’t worry he’ll die in some accident, it’s fine, everything is fine. Whenever I thought something unique might happen, it would fall back into a trap called “popular YA tropes”. Those kids were not fit for a throne in any shape or form.
When I was reading about Alac and Maralyth first meeting I had flashbacks from Disney’s Descendants.
Don’t get me wrong, I like that film, songs are catchy and it’s colourful and hundred times better than any youtube video my sister would watch instead of it. But that’s it - that is a cheesy as hell film targeted at my younger sister who reads middle-grade.
One thing that I loved at first was Mara’s fear of dogs. After my accident years ago, I related to that enormously. I wished that they would go back to this in the end, address her fear or have this beautiful whole circle moment but, as happened with most of the plot-points, it was underwhelming and underdeveloped since it was only 300+ pages long fantasy standalone. Quite bummed about this book falling short for me.
October 22, 2021
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Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for inviting me to read The Stolen Kingdom and for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A review is up on my blog for you guys to check out!
My review on The Stolen Kingdom is accessible using this link.
Here is a preview to what the review looks like:
❀❀❀❀
The Stolen Kingdom, about a girl who discovers her true potential, and a prince who discovers his true love for his kingdom. Maralyth discovers that her magic has much more potential than she originally imagined, however, when she's manipulated into a coup, she discovers that she can do more with her magic, including saving Prince Alac and his kingdom, she encounters the true difficulty of choosing between the... [ continue reading ]
February 26, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley I was able to get an arc for this beautiful fantasy standalone. I love a good and fun standalone. I always feel that they are hidden gems in the fantasy genre, since most books are a part of a series.
I really enjoyed my time with this book and I will dived this review in pros and cons.
Pros
- The writing style is very engaging and makes you want to continue reading. It’s very open and easy to read. It tells the story in a very fast pace and without a lot of details.
- The story itself is not complicated which I first though it would be, because it’s about corruption and setting up a take over from the crown. Even though there is a lot of scheming and plotting, the story itself is not that complicated and actually a little predictable. The predictable element of the story personally didn’t bother me, since it was just a very fun and enjoyable read.
- The book has a great concept and the story and characters have a great potential, which I felt was not completely reached in this book. I will talk more about that in my cons. But overall I really enjoyed the concept and idea of this book.
- The characters are not that amazing, but they do give a lot of humour to this book and their conversations and banter is really fun to read. I also like how strong and independent Maralyth (the female main characters) is. She is a great role model for teens. Loving, strong, put family first and has a mind of her own.
Cons
- Because there is not a lot of details in this book, I miss the dept in not only the world, but also in the story and character development. The story is very fast paced which is a good thing, but this also means that the story develops very fast. I would have preferred if it was a little slower at some points to allow more dept and development. Because the lack of it, which is also understanding since there is a lot of story to cover in just 320 pages, the book is not memorable. I really enjoyed reading it and it’s definitely a cute read between more heaver books or series, but it is not a book that will stay with me forever or a book that I would like to pick up again. I would have loved it a lot more if there was taken more time to give everything more dept and maybe also more pages. I rather have a log standalone of more then 400 or 500 pages and have an amazing which I would want to pick up again. Then a smaller book which feels like it good have been amazing if it had just more details and dept.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I am also really happy that I was able to read. I highly recommend this book if you link sort fantasy standalones. You can easily read this in one sitting! I actually did this, because the writing style is so compelling it keeps you going.
I really enjoyed my time with this book and I will dived this review in pros and cons.
Pros
- The writing style is very engaging and makes you want to continue reading. It’s very open and easy to read. It tells the story in a very fast pace and without a lot of details.
- The story itself is not complicated which I first though it would be, because it’s about corruption and setting up a take over from the crown. Even though there is a lot of scheming and plotting, the story itself is not that complicated and actually a little predictable. The predictable element of the story personally didn’t bother me, since it was just a very fun and enjoyable read.
- The book has a great concept and the story and characters have a great potential, which I felt was not completely reached in this book. I will talk more about that in my cons. But overall I really enjoyed the concept and idea of this book.
- The characters are not that amazing, but they do give a lot of humour to this book and their conversations and banter is really fun to read. I also like how strong and independent Maralyth (the female main characters) is. She is a great role model for teens. Loving, strong, put family first and has a mind of her own.
Cons
- Because there is not a lot of details in this book, I miss the dept in not only the world, but also in the story and character development. The story is very fast paced which is a good thing, but this also means that the story develops very fast. I would have preferred if it was a little slower at some points to allow more dept and development. Because the lack of it, which is also understanding since there is a lot of story to cover in just 320 pages, the book is not memorable. I really enjoyed reading it and it’s definitely a cute read between more heaver books or series, but it is not a book that will stay with me forever or a book that I would like to pick up again. I would have loved it a lot more if there was taken more time to give everything more dept and maybe also more pages. I rather have a log standalone of more then 400 or 500 pages and have an amazing which I would want to pick up again. Then a smaller book which feels like it good have been amazing if it had just more details and dept.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I am also really happy that I was able to read. I highly recommend this book if you link sort fantasy standalones. You can easily read this in one sitting! I actually did this, because the writing style is so compelling it keeps you going.
February 27, 2021
The Stolen Kingdom is a short YA Fantasy standalone that I really enjoyed reading. In it, we follow Maralyth, a girl that would love nothing more than to follow her father's footsteps in the vineyard. However, we quickly learn that she possess magic that no one but the Kings are allowed to have. But that said magic was stolen a century ago by the royal family, the Thungraves. Speaking of, we also get the point of view of Alac the second son of the Prince. He's a bit on the side of the royal family as he isn't the direct heir to the throne. He doesn't really want to do anything with the magic that has transformed his father and grandfather and not to the better. As soon as they took the magic, they became cruel rulers.
Now you add in a plot to overthrow the royal family to put Maralyth on the throne, a bit of romance and destructive magic and you have a fun, enjoyable and interesting read. Now I'm not giving it five stars because it wasn't perfect. I feel like the romance could have been a little bit better, I also didn't find the magic Maralyth had very epic sometimes and I wanted more of a magic system even though only a few people had access to magic. Perhaps I missed it but I feel like it wasn't explained or developed enough. I also found one particular decision at the end made by the Prince a bit anti-climatic and against what he did/said before which seemed weird but oh well, I still liked that ending. :)
But anyway, The Stolen Kingdom was a really good standalone and if you're in the mood for a quick YA fantasy, this one might be for you!
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
Now you add in a plot to overthrow the royal family to put Maralyth on the throne, a bit of romance and destructive magic and you have a fun, enjoyable and interesting read. Now I'm not giving it five stars because it wasn't perfect. I feel like the romance could have been a little bit better, I also didn't find the magic Maralyth had very epic sometimes and I wanted more of a magic system even though only a few people had access to magic. Perhaps I missed it but I feel like it wasn't explained or developed enough. I also found one particular decision at the end made by the Prince a bit anti-climatic and against what he did/said before which seemed weird but oh well, I still liked that ending. :)
But anyway, The Stolen Kingdom was a really good standalone and if you're in the mood for a quick YA fantasy, this one might be for you!
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
April 13, 2021
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/04/11/...
What I didn’t realize until after I finished The Stolen Kingdom, is that I’d actually read another book by Jillian Boehme, Stormrise. Looking back at my review of it, it appears I found the story enjoyable enough but…well, forgettable. Ultimately, I think this was the problem here as well.
In the kingdom of Perin Faye, magic belongs to the crown, and long ago the royal Thungrave Kings made a pact with dark powers that has now caused widespread suffering throughout the once prosperous land. The hard times have also led to unrest and murmurings of rebellion among the people. Maralyth Graylaern, the daughter of a humble vintner, has had to work longer and harder ever since the death of her mother, and even though their wines are famous for their quality, the family always seem to be struggling to make enough money to keep their business running. Of course, it also doesn’t help that most of their profits go towards paying the king’s exorbitant taxes.
However, Maralyth has a secret. As a child, she discovered she had a magical ability to control the growth of plants, which she has since used to ripen the vineyard’s grapes for years despite being warned by her mother never to reveal her powers. Eventually, she gets found out, precipitating her abduction by a nobleman who recognizes the significance of her magic. Apparently, it is a sign that Maralyth is descended from the Dallowyn bloodline, who are the legitimate rulers to the throne, making her the rightful heir. To install her as queen, they must help her infiltrate the court so that she can get close enough to assassinate the current royal family and seize power.
What Maralyth didn’t expect though, was Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son and reluctant prince. Unlike his father and older brother, he has no desire to rule, and does not much care for using magic. He is immediately drawn to Maralyth, who has disguised herself as the ward of a visiting noble. Not surprisingly, the feeling is mutual, though it does complicate Maralyth’s plans as the attraction between them deepens.
There are good ideas in this book. Readers who enjoy fantasy plots involving power struggles and court intrigue will feel right at home, and for extra drama, there’s also a hearty helping of forbidden romance. But for all that, the story feels rather bland, and I think one reason for this is the author’s reluctance to test the limits or push the envelope of YA fantasy. While the concepts present are solid, their execution left much to be desired. Nothing here really felt all that fresh or innovative, and I feel like I have read many books like it before.
The characterization was also mediocre, though I found both Maralyth and Alac likeable enough. However, they were also underdeveloped, and for me to feel invested in a romance, typically it would require a lot more personality and emotional depth. As such, while the conflicts driving each of them were intriguing and kept me reading, the chemistry between them just wasn’t there.
I felt similarly about the world-building. There were genuine flashes of awesomeness here and there, but it was very unbalanced. I liked the magic, the history, the political connections and the relationship ties, but it seemed Boehme would focus most of her attention on certain aspects and neglect to flesh out others, so the resulting experience was patchy and inconsistent.
Quite honestly, I don’t know what could have been done differently, though I often found myself wishing the author had gone further with her ideas. Perhaps that would have made the story more memorable, but as it is, The Stolen Kingdom will do in a pinch if you’re looking for a quick YA standalone fantasy. Still, even though the paint-by-numbers plot with its cursory romance was entertaining while it lasted, I have my doubts it will stay with me for very long.
What I didn’t realize until after I finished The Stolen Kingdom, is that I’d actually read another book by Jillian Boehme, Stormrise. Looking back at my review of it, it appears I found the story enjoyable enough but…well, forgettable. Ultimately, I think this was the problem here as well.
In the kingdom of Perin Faye, magic belongs to the crown, and long ago the royal Thungrave Kings made a pact with dark powers that has now caused widespread suffering throughout the once prosperous land. The hard times have also led to unrest and murmurings of rebellion among the people. Maralyth Graylaern, the daughter of a humble vintner, has had to work longer and harder ever since the death of her mother, and even though their wines are famous for their quality, the family always seem to be struggling to make enough money to keep their business running. Of course, it also doesn’t help that most of their profits go towards paying the king’s exorbitant taxes.
However, Maralyth has a secret. As a child, she discovered she had a magical ability to control the growth of plants, which she has since used to ripen the vineyard’s grapes for years despite being warned by her mother never to reveal her powers. Eventually, she gets found out, precipitating her abduction by a nobleman who recognizes the significance of her magic. Apparently, it is a sign that Maralyth is descended from the Dallowyn bloodline, who are the legitimate rulers to the throne, making her the rightful heir. To install her as queen, they must help her infiltrate the court so that she can get close enough to assassinate the current royal family and seize power.
What Maralyth didn’t expect though, was Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son and reluctant prince. Unlike his father and older brother, he has no desire to rule, and does not much care for using magic. He is immediately drawn to Maralyth, who has disguised herself as the ward of a visiting noble. Not surprisingly, the feeling is mutual, though it does complicate Maralyth’s plans as the attraction between them deepens.
There are good ideas in this book. Readers who enjoy fantasy plots involving power struggles and court intrigue will feel right at home, and for extra drama, there’s also a hearty helping of forbidden romance. But for all that, the story feels rather bland, and I think one reason for this is the author’s reluctance to test the limits or push the envelope of YA fantasy. While the concepts present are solid, their execution left much to be desired. Nothing here really felt all that fresh or innovative, and I feel like I have read many books like it before.
The characterization was also mediocre, though I found both Maralyth and Alac likeable enough. However, they were also underdeveloped, and for me to feel invested in a romance, typically it would require a lot more personality and emotional depth. As such, while the conflicts driving each of them were intriguing and kept me reading, the chemistry between them just wasn’t there.
I felt similarly about the world-building. There were genuine flashes of awesomeness here and there, but it was very unbalanced. I liked the magic, the history, the political connections and the relationship ties, but it seemed Boehme would focus most of her attention on certain aspects and neglect to flesh out others, so the resulting experience was patchy and inconsistent.
Quite honestly, I don’t know what could have been done differently, though I often found myself wishing the author had gone further with her ideas. Perhaps that would have made the story more memorable, but as it is, The Stolen Kingdom will do in a pinch if you’re looking for a quick YA standalone fantasy. Still, even though the paint-by-numbers plot with its cursory romance was entertaining while it lasted, I have my doubts it will stay with me for very long.
July 12, 2021
This book was a let down for me. It wasn't nearly as good as it sounded or as I had hoped it would be.
The kingdom/setting of Perin Faye was once prosperous prior to the greedy and power-hungry Thungraves kings, who stole their magic and crown from the previous rulers by killing their royal family. Maralyth Graylaern is a vintner's daughter and the MC. She has had magic forever and discovers that it is actually a sign that she has royal blood and a claim to the Perin Faye throne. Alac Thungrave, the current Thungrave king's second son, has hated being the spare heir to Perin Faye and hates all things to do with his father's magic and the throne. He'd much rather be working on his own vineyard than be the second prince. When Maralyth is forced to make her claim for the throne by killing the royal family and taking the throne, a chase occurs in an "adventure" of stolen magic, court schemes, and enemies to lovers romance.
This book was meh. The original setting of the vineyard was interesting, but once we got to the palace, it was pretty boring. There were no subplots to make the story better, though it was original as I've never read a book quite like this one. Though it was really predictable. The characters were the classic cookie cutter YA characters though and the magic system was dull. The female lead, Maralyth, was an innocent girl who was sucked into a court scheme about hidden magic and the love interest, Alac, was the usual prince. They didn't have any character, if you know what I mean. They weren't different from others and were flat characters. They had no character development either.
I did enjoy his and Tucker's (one of Alac's personal guards and best friend - you might call it a bromance lol) banter though. The magic system was not well thought-out and pretty one-way, if you know what I mean. And the amount of tropes used in The Stolen Kingdom were enough for several books . . . love at first sight/ instalove, enemies to lovers, characters pretending they don't like their crush, light and dark magic, hidden royalty . . .
Speaking of romance, the romance in "The Stolen Kingdom" was . . . bad. I almost would've preferred there wasn't a romance in it to begin with. I almost wish it had been more enemies to lovers, where they started out as enemies and then in a sequel, they became lovers. But this book, thank goodness, doesn't have a sequel.
Overall, pretty disappointed, but hope the next book I read will be better!
The kingdom/setting of Perin Faye was once prosperous prior to the greedy and power-hungry Thungraves kings, who stole their magic and crown from the previous rulers by killing their royal family. Maralyth Graylaern is a vintner's daughter and the MC. She has had magic forever and discovers that it is actually a sign that she has royal blood and a claim to the Perin Faye throne. Alac Thungrave, the current Thungrave king's second son, has hated being the spare heir to Perin Faye and hates all things to do with his father's magic and the throne. He'd much rather be working on his own vineyard than be the second prince. When Maralyth is forced to make her claim for the throne by killing the royal family and taking the throne, a chase occurs in an "adventure" of stolen magic, court schemes, and enemies to lovers romance.
This book was meh. The original setting of the vineyard was interesting, but once we got to the palace, it was pretty boring. There were no subplots to make the story better, though it was original as I've never read a book quite like this one. Though it was really predictable. The characters were the classic cookie cutter YA characters though and the magic system was dull. The female lead, Maralyth, was an innocent girl who was sucked into a court scheme about hidden magic and the love interest, Alac, was the usual prince. They didn't have any character, if you know what I mean. They weren't different from others and were flat characters. They had no character development either.
I did enjoy his and Tucker's (one of Alac's personal guards and best friend - you might call it a bromance lol) banter though. The magic system was not well thought-out and pretty one-way, if you know what I mean. And the amount of tropes used in The Stolen Kingdom were enough for several books . . . love at first sight/ instalove, enemies to lovers, characters pretending they don't like their crush, light and dark magic, hidden royalty . . .
Speaking of romance, the romance in "The Stolen Kingdom" was . . . bad. I almost would've preferred there wasn't a romance in it to begin with. I almost wish it had been more enemies to lovers, where they started out as enemies and then in a sequel, they became lovers. But this book, thank goodness, doesn't have a sequel.
Overall, pretty disappointed, but hope the next book I read will be better!
March 3, 2021
Huge thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the arc
So, this was a good stand-alone as far as stand-alone books go, but I had such a hard time jiving with the characters.
Although this is a very political book, I did enjoy the lighter aspects of the story-line and both characters. I do love me a good story where the girl (or boy) discovers their magic is more important than they ever thought possible, but for some reason, I could not connect to the characters the way I wanted to. Connecting is very important, especially to the world, that I imagined being a green screen in the background. It wasn't very fleshed out and believable. I know this might be a minor issue for most people, but for me, I need to be immersed somewhere. I need to know details about characters, about their surrounding, and I just wasn't getting that.
The romance...I wasn't feeling that either. I'm more of a slow burn type of girl, but I do like insta-love when presented in the right environment. As much as I did like both main characters, I did not see how the romance began; it felt very sudden and without reason. Was it lust? Was it love? Was it I'm-bored-and-you're-cute? All are fine, I just need to know
I can see I started with the cons, but there are some pros. The writing is very good; it's clear and concise and flows well with the fast pacing of the novel. The story is uncomplicated as far as YA novels go, so readers will understand it well. The plot is fairly predictable so no surprises there.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I think it would have benefited from some more world-building. Readers will enjoy it for the stand-alone aspect.
So, this was a good stand-alone as far as stand-alone books go, but I had such a hard time jiving with the characters.
Although this is a very political book, I did enjoy the lighter aspects of the story-line and both characters. I do love me a good story where the girl (or boy) discovers their magic is more important than they ever thought possible, but for some reason, I could not connect to the characters the way I wanted to. Connecting is very important, especially to the world, that I imagined being a green screen in the background. It wasn't very fleshed out and believable. I know this might be a minor issue for most people, but for me, I need to be immersed somewhere. I need to know details about characters, about their surrounding, and I just wasn't getting that.
The romance...I wasn't feeling that either. I'm more of a slow burn type of girl, but I do like insta-love when presented in the right environment. As much as I did like both main characters, I did not see how the romance began; it felt very sudden and without reason. Was it lust? Was it love? Was it I'm-bored-and-you're-cute? All are fine, I just need to know
I can see I started with the cons, but there are some pros. The writing is very good; it's clear and concise and flows well with the fast pacing of the novel. The story is uncomplicated as far as YA novels go, so readers will understand it well. The plot is fairly predictable so no surprises there.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I think it would have benefited from some more world-building. Readers will enjoy it for the stand-alone aspect.
March 1, 2021
honestly, i’m not totally sure how to feel about this book. it was a great plot and idea and almost reminiscent of Kingdom of the Wicked and City of Brass in terms of how vast and sprawling this standalone was. it was everything The Shadows Between Us was trying to be. but it was underdeveloped. there was so many scenes that were rushed — imagine you’re kidnapped and told you’re going to be queen after the king and two princes are murdered, when yesterday you were about to launch a small business. you’d probably be in utter shock and and would time to process and make a decision. the MC was like “oh... okay!” and decided to be queen. there was no true motivation to become queen besides a love for her father’s vineyard and a desire to make life better for him and an apparent birthright. there were a lot of rushed scenes like that that i wish had been fleshed out more because this easily could’ve been five stars. i was actually invested though and read to the end bc i enjoyed it. so 3 stars all around, sadly.
February 19, 2021
Hummm, well, this had such potential to be something amazing. The magic system was unique. Two wonderful main characters with point-of-views. A villain (or two) who could’ve been great. Lovable side characters.
Sadly, everything fell flat.
Several of the beginning chapters were nothing but politics and by the time I was 12 chapters in I just wanted the main characters Mara and Alac to meet. When they finally did the anticipation almost felt worth the build-up. Except the chemistry lacked sustenance. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they were adorable and their interactions were sweet. But I’m not much of a fan of insta-love romances and all that did was cheapen the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the storyline.
The climax...ugh. You can’t imagine how disappointed I was when the turning point of the book turned out to be anticlimatic. The villain’s death felt pointless and boring, as did the king’s death. After being absent for nearly 3/4 of the book I thought we would’ve gotten a chance to see just how horrible Alac’s father was since everyone feared him—nothing. Nada. Not even an epic battle of two sorcerers fighting over the throne. Even the romance felt weak as there was hardly any chapters left after the betrayal for Alac to rebuild his trust in Mara. I thought there was no way he could forgive her so easily after playing a hand in his family’s murder.
Welp, I was wrong again. By the time their romance rekindled in the end I didn’t care. I think this should’ve been a duology and would’ve benefited greatly with better fleshed-out characters and world building than as a standalone.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly, everything fell flat.
Several of the beginning chapters were nothing but politics and by the time I was 12 chapters in I just wanted the main characters Mara and Alac to meet. When they finally did the anticipation almost felt worth the build-up. Except the chemistry lacked sustenance. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they were adorable and their interactions were sweet. But I’m not much of a fan of insta-love romances and all that did was cheapen the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the storyline.
The climax...ugh. You can’t imagine how disappointed I was when the turning point of the book turned out to be anticlimatic. The villain’s death felt pointless and boring, as did the king’s death. After being absent for nearly 3/4 of the book I thought we would’ve gotten a chance to see just how horrible Alac’s father was since everyone feared him—nothing. Nada. Not even an epic battle of two sorcerers fighting over the throne. Even the romance felt weak as there was hardly any chapters left after the betrayal for Alac to rebuild his trust in Mara. I thought there was no way he could forgive her so easily after playing a hand in his family’s murder.
Welp, I was wrong again. By the time their romance rekindled in the end I didn’t care. I think this should’ve been a duology and would’ve benefited greatly with better fleshed-out characters and world building than as a standalone.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Stolen Kingdom in exchange for an honect review.
While I'm normally a huge advocate for more self-contained fantasy stories that don't require sequels/trilogies, this book needed to be two books. The Stolen Kingdom sets itself up to be a well written take on the "fantasy character ripped away from normal quiet life when they find out they have magical powers has to kill a leader but accidentally falls in love while acting as a spy" trope, but so many things are rushed. Normally I'm okay with a bit of instaromance in these kinds of books, but because Boehme has clearly come up with a more complex, dynamic relationship that the plot needs to function, we flip from hatred to love to hatred to love way too quickly way too many times because of the short page count. This should have been 2 books so we could actually get to know the character and world. It would have fixed every issue I had with it.
While I'm normally a huge advocate for more self-contained fantasy stories that don't require sequels/trilogies, this book needed to be two books. The Stolen Kingdom sets itself up to be a well written take on the "fantasy character ripped away from normal quiet life when they find out they have magical powers has to kill a leader but accidentally falls in love while acting as a spy" trope, but so many things are rushed. Normally I'm okay with a bit of instaromance in these kinds of books, but because Boehme has clearly come up with a more complex, dynamic relationship that the plot needs to function, we flip from hatred to love to hatred to love way too quickly way too many times because of the short page count. This should have been 2 books so we could actually get to know the character and world. It would have fixed every issue I had with it.
March 2, 2021
I received the ebook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Interested in a standalone fantasy with magic, kingdoms, and loveable characters that have great banter between them? Then, try out The Stolen Kingdom! I see a lot of other reviewers claiming it was predictable and not enough world-building but I found that a couple of my theories were wrong which means it surprised me. With the world-building, I didn't really think about that. I felt like I had enough information to go off of and to understand the magic system, kingdoms, etc. So, it just goes to show that everyone likes different things and I am a fan of The Stolen Kingdom. My favorite part was when the MCs were in the same room together or talking together. Their banter was full of laughable moments, heartwarming moments, and tension. I'll definitely keep the author, Jillian Boehme on my radar as I'd love to read more of her books.
Interested in a standalone fantasy with magic, kingdoms, and loveable characters that have great banter between them? Then, try out The Stolen Kingdom! I see a lot of other reviewers claiming it was predictable and not enough world-building but I found that a couple of my theories were wrong which means it surprised me. With the world-building, I didn't really think about that. I felt like I had enough information to go off of and to understand the magic system, kingdoms, etc. So, it just goes to show that everyone likes different things and I am a fan of The Stolen Kingdom. My favorite part was when the MCs were in the same room together or talking together. Their banter was full of laughable moments, heartwarming moments, and tension. I'll definitely keep the author, Jillian Boehme on my radar as I'd love to read more of her books.
September 30, 2020
ARC provided by Edelweiss:
This was such a pleasant surprise. Really had no expectations going in but loved it. Full of espionage, magic, secret identities and bit of romance. I also love a cat and mouse chase.
Both Maralyth and Alac aren’t happy with their current positions. One a cook on her dads vineyard and the other just the royal spare. Both find themselves in the midst of a coup that will change both their lives.
Clean read overall, just violent at times.
This was such a pleasant surprise. Really had no expectations going in but loved it. Full of espionage, magic, secret identities and bit of romance. I also love a cat and mouse chase.
Both Maralyth and Alac aren’t happy with their current positions. One a cook on her dads vineyard and the other just the royal spare. Both find themselves in the midst of a coup that will change both their lives.
Clean read overall, just violent at times.
March 3, 2021
Maralyth, a winemaker’s daughter, has a secret. Born with a magical power that most people believed was lost or stolen long ago, she uses it to help the vineyard. However, when others learn of this secret, Mara’s entire life turns upside down. A young woman who never wanted more than to be a successful winemaker has the throne thrust upon her when she is kidnapped and told that she is the rightful heir.
With her life and the lives of those she loves threatened, Mara has no choice but to take the throne and become a better ruler than the current greedy king. Her feelings change when faced with the harsh realities of the coup and she meets the handsome and kind prince. Will Mara reveal her secrets? Will she ignore her feelings and take the throne?
Written from dual perspectives, Alac and Mara’s, The Stolen Kingdom focuses on the thoughts and feelings of both characters. I like that you really get to understand both characters – their motivations, desires, concerns, and more. Mara is selfless, strong, and cares deeply about others. Alac is kind, sincere, and honorable. He cares about the people and doesn’t want to rule if it means taking on dark power. I think the dual perspectives allows for an in-depth and honest view of both Mara and Alac. It also shows how similar and well-suited they are.
The blossoming relationship between Alac and Mara is sweet and complicated. However, this enemies-to-lovers romance is easy to root for. Both Mara and Alac are smart, brave, and kind. They both have a love of and interest in winemaking. Mara, in particular, has a long and strong connection to the vineyards and winemaking. It’s in her blood, and her power responds to living things.
Both characters also seem trapped in their current situations. Alac is surrounded by darkness and people who thirst for power (and magic). Forced to be part of a coup attempt, Mara’s actions are controlled by those who want to usurp the throne. The fear, uncertainty, and feelings of entrapment draw the couple together, as do their similar good qualities. Mara and Alac feel like they can be themselves with each other, which is all but impossible in their world of political intrigue and manipulation.
The magical aspects of the story are really interesting and highlight the age-old battle between good and evil. Good magic and bad magic, as well as good people and bad people, contribute to the story’s action, excitement, and character development. Lies, political maneuverings, betrayals, and secrets from the past, all of which relate to magic, also enhance the plot. Alac and Mara reject the dark magic and all it entails, and they both want to find a way to rid their world of it. However, this proves almost impossible.
I also loved the vivid imagery throughout the book. I particularly liked the bird imagery, especially in relation to Mara, who frequently feels caged and longs for freedom. There is one scene where Mara is served dinner, a tray of delectable food with a beautiful bird in the center. This bird, served up on a shiny platter, is similar to Mara, who is being trained and presented (not on a shiny platter but in shiny and new clothing and baubles) as the perfect figurehead. Later in the same scene, Mara describes the bed in her kidnapper’s home as “a nest of comfort in the midst of a nightmare.” This evokes such strong bird imagery and feelings of entrapment, and it highlights Mara’s fear, helplessness, and desire for freedom.
I enjoyed this standalone fantasy and think it will appeal to readers who like young adult fantasies with a great enemies-to-lovers romance. I also think people who like books with cool magic systems and political drama will enjoy the book. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Tor Teen, and Jillian Boehme for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
With her life and the lives of those she loves threatened, Mara has no choice but to take the throne and become a better ruler than the current greedy king. Her feelings change when faced with the harsh realities of the coup and she meets the handsome and kind prince. Will Mara reveal her secrets? Will she ignore her feelings and take the throne?
Written from dual perspectives, Alac and Mara’s, The Stolen Kingdom focuses on the thoughts and feelings of both characters. I like that you really get to understand both characters – their motivations, desires, concerns, and more. Mara is selfless, strong, and cares deeply about others. Alac is kind, sincere, and honorable. He cares about the people and doesn’t want to rule if it means taking on dark power. I think the dual perspectives allows for an in-depth and honest view of both Mara and Alac. It also shows how similar and well-suited they are.
The blossoming relationship between Alac and Mara is sweet and complicated. However, this enemies-to-lovers romance is easy to root for. Both Mara and Alac are smart, brave, and kind. They both have a love of and interest in winemaking. Mara, in particular, has a long and strong connection to the vineyards and winemaking. It’s in her blood, and her power responds to living things.
Both characters also seem trapped in their current situations. Alac is surrounded by darkness and people who thirst for power (and magic). Forced to be part of a coup attempt, Mara’s actions are controlled by those who want to usurp the throne. The fear, uncertainty, and feelings of entrapment draw the couple together, as do their similar good qualities. Mara and Alac feel like they can be themselves with each other, which is all but impossible in their world of political intrigue and manipulation.
The magical aspects of the story are really interesting and highlight the age-old battle between good and evil. Good magic and bad magic, as well as good people and bad people, contribute to the story’s action, excitement, and character development. Lies, political maneuverings, betrayals, and secrets from the past, all of which relate to magic, also enhance the plot. Alac and Mara reject the dark magic and all it entails, and they both want to find a way to rid their world of it. However, this proves almost impossible.
I also loved the vivid imagery throughout the book. I particularly liked the bird imagery, especially in relation to Mara, who frequently feels caged and longs for freedom. There is one scene where Mara is served dinner, a tray of delectable food with a beautiful bird in the center. This bird, served up on a shiny platter, is similar to Mara, who is being trained and presented (not on a shiny platter but in shiny and new clothing and baubles) as the perfect figurehead. Later in the same scene, Mara describes the bed in her kidnapper’s home as “a nest of comfort in the midst of a nightmare.” This evokes such strong bird imagery and feelings of entrapment, and it highlights Mara’s fear, helplessness, and desire for freedom.
I enjoyed this standalone fantasy and think it will appeal to readers who like young adult fantasies with a great enemies-to-lovers romance. I also think people who like books with cool magic systems and political drama will enjoy the book. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Tor Teen, and Jillian Boehme for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
March 19, 2021
You can find my full review for this as well as other books on my blog here
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an ARC of the book for review purposes.
This was a real gem of a book to be honest. I don’t tend to find that standalone fantasies work that well as usually it takes more than one book to really set the scene and fully explore the world and magic systems in place so I found myself quite intrigued by this one.
I was very pleasantly surprised (which is always nice) to find that despite its short length that this story packed quite a punch and gave me quite a lot more than I was expecting.
Set in the Kingdom of Perin Faye we meet Maralyth Graylaern, daughter of a winemaker who just so happens to have a special kind of magic. Maralyth uses her magic on the vines to encourage the ripening of the grapes for the wine but has to do so in secret after her mother caught her as a child and told her that she mustn’t use it, that magic is dangerous.
In this Kingdom the only person who can use magic is the King himself and there is a lot of history when it comes to how the royal family came to have the magic in the first place. The Kings ancestors basically usurped the throne and stole the magic many years ago from the Dallowyns and since then the Kingdom has been at the mercy of the royal family who have grown greedy and hungry for more power.
One day a Dallowyn supporter who has witnessed Maralyth using her magic decides to put her on the throne and the whole story is basically about the coup to overthrow the monarchy and restore the magic and the throne to it’s rightful owner.
I absolutely loved the main character’s, they are really likeable. There is not really any romance so to speak but there is a forbidden friendship/love between Maralyth and the second son of the King, Prince Alac. I would have liked to see that developed more but given the shortness of the story I think that the author did a good enough job with their relationship and it was enjoyable to read about and see it unfold even though I can’t say that I really connected or felt that much about whether they ended up together or not.
There was nothing about this book that made it really stand out from other’s in this genre but despite that it works well as a standalone, has an enjoyable plot and is definitely the type of book you want to read in one sitting.
The plot is well wrapped up and doesn’t leave you with any unanswered questions. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA and stories about magic.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an ARC of the book for review purposes.
This was a real gem of a book to be honest. I don’t tend to find that standalone fantasies work that well as usually it takes more than one book to really set the scene and fully explore the world and magic systems in place so I found myself quite intrigued by this one.
I was very pleasantly surprised (which is always nice) to find that despite its short length that this story packed quite a punch and gave me quite a lot more than I was expecting.
Set in the Kingdom of Perin Faye we meet Maralyth Graylaern, daughter of a winemaker who just so happens to have a special kind of magic. Maralyth uses her magic on the vines to encourage the ripening of the grapes for the wine but has to do so in secret after her mother caught her as a child and told her that she mustn’t use it, that magic is dangerous.
In this Kingdom the only person who can use magic is the King himself and there is a lot of history when it comes to how the royal family came to have the magic in the first place. The Kings ancestors basically usurped the throne and stole the magic many years ago from the Dallowyns and since then the Kingdom has been at the mercy of the royal family who have grown greedy and hungry for more power.
One day a Dallowyn supporter who has witnessed Maralyth using her magic decides to put her on the throne and the whole story is basically about the coup to overthrow the monarchy and restore the magic and the throne to it’s rightful owner.
I absolutely loved the main character’s, they are really likeable. There is not really any romance so to speak but there is a forbidden friendship/love between Maralyth and the second son of the King, Prince Alac. I would have liked to see that developed more but given the shortness of the story I think that the author did a good enough job with their relationship and it was enjoyable to read about and see it unfold even though I can’t say that I really connected or felt that much about whether they ended up together or not.
There was nothing about this book that made it really stand out from other’s in this genre but despite that it works well as a standalone, has an enjoyable plot and is definitely the type of book you want to read in one sitting.
The plot is well wrapped up and doesn’t leave you with any unanswered questions. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA and stories about magic.
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