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!

Links:
https://onereadingnurse.com/2021/02/28/arc-review-the-stolen-kingdom-by-jillian-boehme/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLr-nOygHKU/

I honestly couldn't wait for this book to be over. At one point I thought I was almost done, but was actually only at 37%. I couldn't believe there was more left. It was slow, boring and just couldn't keep my attention.

Rating: 3.5!

What I loved:

I really appreciated that this book was a stand-alone, it helped it stand out on my shelf amidst a slew of long fantasy series. The world building was top-notch; it felt real and well-lived in, but kept me curious and wanting to learn more throughout. Mara is a great strong heroine with understandable motivations and convictions, and I definitely felt connected to her and her journey! The plot in the first half ran fast paced and kept me engaged (I love a good royalty story!), and there’s lots of juicy twists and turns throughout.

What I needed more of:

The romance! Romance is a major draw for me in YA books, and this one needed to be pushed way more. It had enemies to lovers, but there just wasn’t enough emotional investment and angst to match up to other books in this genre. I really just wanted more, because the foundation of the love story was great! The plot seemed to drag, for me, in the latter half of the book and at times was rough to get through, though I really enjoyed the ending.

I really had no expectations for this book going in but I genuinely enjoyed this book. Finding good standalone books that wrap up a story nicely is really hard to find and one of the main reasons I recommend this book.
It is not a very fast paced book by my standard but I love that it was a lot more character driven and focused on characters development instead of just pages and pages of world building.

TW - Violence

The banter, magic system and king killer and forbidden romance kept the story interesting throughout.

This was one of my most anticipated reads and I loved the chance to get it early and i see a reread very soon in the future.

Rating : 3.75 Stars

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

3.5 rounded up.
So this was a really cute standalone.
Two MC's who are able to put ego aside and do what is best for others, rather than themselves.
Both are likable characters.
Blood magic, conspiracy, dark family secrets, a second prince dreaming of being something else, a vintners daughter with a hidden power, romance.

Enemies to lovers romance? Check. A fantasy world with magic? Double check. A girl with magic abilities and a mysterious, possibly royal background? Triple check. A handsome boy with a charming personality? What are you still waiting for then?

The Stolen Kingdom establishes a world of magic and royalty, a once prosperous kingdom withered under power hungry usurpers, the Thungrave Kings. When there’s suffering amongst the people, there will be uprising and plots to overthrow the king. Maralyth Graylaern has spent her whole life believing herself to be just a vintner’s daughter, her father runs the most famous winery, Graylaern Vineyards, in Perin Faye. However, Maralyth is not an ordinary girl. Magical powers run within her that whenever she says ‘Swell, be sweet’ to the grapes in the vineyard, they would grow large and sweet. After her mother accidentally found out about her powers, she forbade Maralyth to use it ever again, speaking in cryptic messages insisting that this power is a curse and will carry more danger than one can imagine.

The next paragraph might contain some minor spoilers of the first few chapters, so you've been warned!

Unbeknownst to Maralyth, her magic is a representation of the once great royal family she descended from, the Dallowyn family AKA the rightful family to the throne, making her the sole and true heir to the crown. A Queen, in other words. Upon spotting Maralyth using her powers one day, Nelgareth Keele, a supporter of the Dallowyn family, kidnaps her and persuades her to use her magic to overthrow the Thungrave family. Disguised as Nelgareth Keele’s ward Maralyth Keele, she follows Nelgareth into the dens of her enemy, all the while trying to maintain a low profile to lower their defence. However, she did not imagine she would capture the attention of the second son of the prince.

Alac Thungrave, the second son to the throne of Perin Faye, is always the one frequently overlooked. Being the second son has its disadvantages as he is not favoured by either his older brother or his father. Unlike them though, he is not one to crave powers, he believes the roaming magic his family possess should belong to the original kings and queens, yet none exists now. He hates the magic, so perhaps this is also an advantage he’s the second to the throne. But what happens if his father left a small vial of magic sustenance in his possession? Would he change his mind about magic being bad?

This review won’t say any more in case of spoiling the story, but the book is relatively fast-paced and there’s a lot of action within it. Our brave protagonist is not a damsel-in-distress, instead, she is more than capable of taking care of herself and others and fighting back. Unlike the Thungrave King, she definitely makes for a better queen as it is in her nature to be compassionate and caring for her people. As the story progresses, we can see that Maralyth’s magic is more powerful than we actually imagined (including turning an elderly man back into the age of youth *gasp*). What’s extremely intriguing (or at least in my opinion) is this book is written from both Maralyth and Alac’s perspective so we can catch glimpses of both of their thoughts and it definitely is a breath of fresh air to perceive the male character’s thoughts as he gradually falls in love with Maralyth.

In regard to Maralyth and Alac’s relationship, sparks were flying around them when they first set eyes upon each other (*play Taylor Swift’s Sparks Fly*). The meeting was described from Maralyth’s perspective and here is the quote of her thoughts upon seeing him, ‘In the single heartbeat in which our eyes met, something nameless shifted inside me, as though it were making room for him’ (sensing some tension here aren’t we? *giggles*)

Surprisingly, things do not go as planned. After a whirlwind of events, plots were unveiled, blood was shed and once the hint of a love blossoming was snuffed out by betrayal and lies. So much action and events happen within the book, continuously keeping us on edge the whole time and wondering what would happen next. The dynamic between Maralyth and Alac is so interesting, unlike any enemies to lovers I’ve read before, it was slow burn but also the romance was always present at the same time. The ending was indeed quite satisfying but also left us in the aftermath of wanting more between the cute couple (DESPERATELY HOPING THERE IS A SEQUEL *heart eyes*)

The Stolen Kingdom is a short YA Fantasy standalone that totally captivated me and was a very fun book to dive into. The Heroine Mara, possess secret magic that she employs stealthily in her father's vineyard to make grapes ripen. In this world only the king and his ancestry are allowed to use magic., but it is a dark magic with sinister affects. Alac the King's second son is leery of that magic, and would like nothing more than to escape his responsibilities as a royal.. A plot to overthrow the king brings these two together, but can also tear them apart as Mara is forced to aid the rebels.

I really enjoyed this book a great deal. The plot was a little too predictable, but the world building and the charming characters made up for everything, and also there is something rather comforting about knowing where some parts of the story are going. I usually read several books simultaneously but here I became so engrossed un the writing that I read it almost exclusively.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review an ARC.

Solid 3.5 star book!

The overall concept of this novel was really interesting and what drew me in right away. The magic, the journey...it held my attention throughout the entire story. I like the twists and turns and bits of substories that were woven into the tale and it was easy to follow the lineage of families. There was a hint of romance, but definitely was not a main focal point of the book, which I have no complaint about because I feel as though that could come in a sequel or novella if the author ever decided to write one.

Where the lower rating comes from was the continuous repetition of phrases and comparisons. It definitely felt as though altering word choice was a bit brushed over as it was filled with a lot of flat, basic language. In my opinion, it didn't help me draw connections or emotional attachments to anyone in particular or feel anything regarding events because it just wasn't really as eloquent as I would have expected, but nevertheless, it was still an entertaining book!

I loved this story. I have read a lot of Fantasy and been lucky to read some of the best. Now I have been gifted with this marvelous tale of a sweet girl who lives with her father and brother taking care of their vineyard. While Alac, the second son of the king, does not want to be king. His father seems almost possessed since he took the Dark Magic in. They say that the magic must stay with the Dallowyn but the Thungraves murdered the last Dallowyn sitting as King and stole the magic. The book was very well written, entertaining, and a little scary. The characters were amazing and kind to each other. I loved that it held my attention and was so engaging. It is an easy read. They went through some adventures together but did their best to try to stay calm.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Standalone YA fantasy books aren't easy to come by, but they are such a joy when done well. And The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme is just that. This was a joy to read.

The Stolen Kingdom brings us to the kingdom of Perin Faye, which has suffered for the past century under the rule of kings who stole magic from the rightful rulers. Alac is the second son of the current king. He's never wanted the throne, or the dark magic that comes with it. Maralyth is the daughter of a vintner who had no idea her ability to ripen grapes and protect the vines is actually just the beginning of her magic, descended from the rightful rulers of Perin Faye. As she learns who she truly is and that there are those that support her lineage, she becomes caught between a plot to overthrow a king and the prince she was never meant to care for.

This book captivated me from very early on. It is a fairly easy read, making it perfect for YA readers of all ages. The romance is clean and sweet, also excellent for young YA readers. This book would be perfect for fans of A Curse So Dark and Lonely and Tricia Levenseller's books. It's the kind of book you can easily lose yourself in and finish before you know it.

I know there are readers that come down on overly predictable storylines, but I am not one of them. I find a certain sense of comfort in being able to see where the story will end up. Maybe not exactly how it will get there, but what the general path will be. And that's what I felt from The Stolen Kingdom. I won't lie. The general story arc is predictable. But that did not stop my heart from racing for large portions, from gasping in shock as certain pieces finally fell into place, and from smiling contentedly at the end. Just remember, even when you think you can guess the ending, there can always be some surprises along the way. And that is what makes this book so enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mara is a reluctant heroine you will find yourself rooting for throughout the whole book. I loved how her feelings about the possibility of becoming royalty changes as the storyline progresses. Her love of her family and her countrypeople made her easy to cheer on as she navigated the challenges of her situation. I also really like Alac's character, and the ending couldn't be more perfect. Although I was happy to read a stand alone novel in a genre that is so often filled with long sagas, I think I would also enjoy reading more about how Perin Faye changes due to the plot of The Stolen Kingdom.

*I received a complimentary copy of The Stolen Kingdom through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I was quickly swept up into this tale of an ordinary girl with an extraordinary gifts.

I loved that the premise was of a vintner's daughter working to help with the family business in every way she was able. Until a series of unfortunate events leads her on a path she never saw coming. A path of self-discovery, of love and a chance to do more for her family, for others' families, for her country.

Diving in was so easy, and for the first half of this book, I sailed through it. I felt like Mara was guarded and even a little hard to get in touch with. Stiff. But with the chosen plot, it made a bit of sense. However, for the second half of the book, she really stays that way, not unleashing herself and personality more. Which made the second half a bit of a crawl through.

Prince Alac is charming and intriguing, and him and Mara's encounters were so entertaining. Until the plot unfurls and his emotions and actions fall flat, even as the author depicts him having an internal battle of wills.

Overall, something about the second half of this story seemed to really drag. I'm usually a big fan of getting to see what happens AFTER the world falls apart and gets put back together, and after that, a little more closure. A glimpse of life when everything is peaceful. However, the characters just disconnected and the story felt like forcefully tearing at and untangling all these threads that seemed to have been naturally woven.

At the end of the day, I'm happy with how the story concludes, I was just looking for a stronger and less convoluted finish.

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme is set in a fantasy world where magic is forbidden to the common people and the current king is addicted to a powerful dark magic. Maralyth (Mara) has the magical ability to make grapes grow and ripen, which is fortunate in that her father is a famous vintner. And unfortunate--because affecting and protecting nature with her magic will result in her being kidnapped and suborned into a plot to overthrow the king. A threat to her father makes certain she will comply.
It turns out that Mara is a descendant of the rightful royal family, and she is trained in court manners, dressed appropriately, and becomes a pawn in the attempt to overthrow the current king and his sons.

Then she meets the younger prince and likes him. Mara's situation becomes more difficult as the coup will result in the death of the king, the older brother, and the young prince. Whew! That's a lot of responsibility on Mara's head.

A YA fantasy that I enjoyed while reading, but within a week couldn't remember much about it.

Read in January; blog review scheduled for March 7.

NetGalley/Macmillan Tor/Forge

YA Fantasy. March 2, 2021. Print length: 320 pages.

<b> "Regardless of my attempts at guarding my heart, he'd wormed his way in." </b>

3.5 stars

The kingdom of Perin Faye is suffering under the rule of the Thungraves- a line of despotic kings that used their power to intimidate and manipulate. Cannon Thungrave is set to inherit the throne along with stolen magic and the dark secrets the come with it. Alac Thungrave, the kings second son, wants nothing to do with the throne or the magic that comes with ruling. Alac= the spare heir. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, also has a secret: a hidden magical power. Mara finds herself in quite the predicament. Save her beloved family and their vineyard or engage in a plot to murder the Thungrave boys so she can take the throne.

The Stolen Kingdom the story of a lost heir and the fight for the throne. There are two shocking twists that are like
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6oznmQohEoTMz6bS/giphy.gif"/>

and the FOOD. Salivating over goat cheese and delectable herbs, golden mushrooms stuffed with minced shellfish and cheeses, vanilla mousse, cinnamon biscuits, steaming tomato soup and thickly seeded bread with butter. Don't forget the wine! Red or white. I'm not picky.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3o752gZdDHjObx309W/giphy.gif"/>

#IsThisAKissingBook- Let's just say the kiss is sweet as wine. The romance felt like the subplot and my preference is for romance as the main plot. The food makes up for it!

READ IF YOU LIKE:
-standalone YA fantasy
-court intrigue
-hidden identity
-magic (dark & stolen, pure & good)
-forbidden love
-enemies 2 more

Song: Cherry Wine by Hozier

Thank you Tor Teen for an advanced copy!!

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 (view spoiler) 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)

When I first started reading this story it was unattractive it has for me a little slow uninteresting start. But that was all the foundation for the things that come along. So the story sucked me in and I must say a did enjoy reading it. It was just a tiny thing that I miss and that was Marac and Alac lack of expressing love toward eachother.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

**Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Tor/Forge for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mara leads a simple life as a vintner’s daughter until she finds herself caught up in a game of kings and queens. Alac is the forgotten second son of a hated king, full of hate for the dark magic that rules his bloodline. The two find their stories intertwined as they struggle to find and do what is best for their kingdom.

If you’re looking for a quick, easy, standalone YA fantasy, this book would definitely satisfy the urge. The magic system and world building is easy to understand, the quality of the story and the characters are consistent throughout, and there’s enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There are some beautiful quotes scattered throughout—something guaranteed to earn bonus points where I’m concerned.

The flip side of this, however, was that there wasn’t too much depth. It was an enjoyable read, but in a way that was very surface level; I wasn’t terribly invested in the plot or the characters. While the split POV was great and really added to the overall story, the choice to do so with both POVs in first person ended up being a bit confusing. Without spoiling anything, the ages of the characters made some scenes uncomfortable and jarring.

Overall, this book is great if you’re looking for a quick and easy YA fantasy standalone.

The Stolen Kingdom was an enjoyable YA fantasy read. I enjoyed the premise and for the most part the world building was nicely handled. Some aspects of the world were mentioned but never expanded on, which was a shame, but none of them majorly impacted the story. Mara is a relatable heroine and I enjoyed her interactions with Alac. The dual POV between them worked well in allowing us to see the different sides of the story. Perhaps the ending felt a little sudden, but that's a minor gripe. Otherwise this was a book I had great fun reading and I would certainly pick up future works by this author.

I was very happy to receive an e-ARC of The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme from Netgalley and MacMillan Tor/Forge in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I really enjoyed that this book was a standalone. I like series, but I think it’s refreshing to read a story that can stand on its own. The book hooked me from the first few pages. Perin Faye is a captivating world with an intriguing magic system. The ruling King stole and keeps power by controlling the magic in the land. One of our main characters Maralyth however, has a secret. She has magic and can convince plants to grow. I thought that her power was really neat. I also really enjoyed the vineyard setting and that wine making was a focal point.

Maralyth is also loyal and devoted to her family. Our other main character Alac is the kind, honorable, second son of the King, and he is wary of his father’s evil ways. I enjoyed reading from Alac’s point of view as well. He also has to deal with magic and how it impacts him.

I don’t want to give too much away but our two protagonists get swept up in a lot intrigue, involving hidden identities, power scheming plots and betrayal. Along the way they also begin to develop feelings for each other. The romance was sweet and not too steamy.

My only note would be that sometimes the plot seemed almost too fast-paced. I enjoyed the world and the characters and I sometimes found myself wishing that there was a bit more world-building and development.

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it for fans of YA Fantasy. Especially if you’re looking for a fast-paced, standalone tale with lots of intrigue, plot twists, strong characters and a dash of romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Tor/Forge for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this book. The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme will be available on March 2, 2021.

Wow what an excellent book! I feel like so often with fantasy it's a series, these sweeping epic tales, that take multiple books to truly flesh out the whole story, but Jillian managed to create a wonderful tale full of magic and more that stands on its own. This work is a great tale of power at its heart but of family and history too.