The Stolen Kingdom
By. Jillian Boehme
P. 320
Format: eArc
Rating: ***
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I received an e-arc from @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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The Stolen Kingdom is Young Adult full of YA tropes. I read YA, and I enjoy YA books that go against the formalistic approach to YA books. The Stolen Kingdom is not this. This book embraces all that it means to be YA overdone tropes and all. I know that many readers are all for this. If that is you then you will most likely love The Stolen Kingdom.

The writing of The Stolen Kingdom starts rough, but after the first 10% it smooths out and becomes enjoyable. The plot is eh. It has good bones but couldk have used a bit more dynamics and flushing out. The characters felt a little flat to me. I am not sure how to explain it without spoilers. Basically. . . one of the main characters has their life completely changed and they and they automatically accept this change, even more they embraced it and consider it their due. There wasn’t a growth process to get from one point to another - it just happened. The second main character felt flat from beginning to end. The only thing real about them is how inconsistent their desires were.

The Stolen Kingdom is not a bad book. It was just not for me. I know that there are going to be quite a few people who enjoy this story. I think the book deserves that. However, I am not one of them.

This is more of a 3.5 star read, it seems. The premise of this book was intriguing, and I was super excited to read a love story set in a corrupt kingdom, with magic integrated throughout. Though I'm sure that was the goal, I was disappointed to see that none of these categories left me fully satisfied. I found the characters to be somewhat 2-D, and I couldn't find myself relating to them or empathizing with their struggles. There didn't seem to be much development over the course of the story for anyone, and that was disappointing. Their romance also had the potential to be exciting and tense. However, we did not get many of the high-stakes moments I was looking for, and our protagonists had few scenes together that suggested anything romantic. Additionally, much of this book was centered around vineyards and wine. Because this is marketed as YA, I was a bit confused as to why wine would be included in something written for teenagers- most cannot drink it (unless they're in other parts of the world other than America), and many do not enjoy it. This all being said, I did enjoy the world and the magic system- the author managed to pack a century of history into 300-something pages, and I thought that was very impressive and interesting. I really wish we got to see more of the romance between Mara and Alac- that is my main complaint. Other than that, it was enjoyable! There is a side character, Tucker, that I wish we got to see more of- he was funny, sarcastic, and charismatic, and to be honest, I would've loved to see him have his own book! I also wish there was more diversity- that was severely lacking in this story. If you're looking for a wine-centered political fantasy, this is for you.

Maralyth has a secret - she can make things grow when she touches them. It’s a good skill to have since her family owns a vineyard, except she’s always in the kitchen making meals for her father’s workers. Everything changes when she’s kidnapped and forced to be an unwilling accomplice to overthrow the current rulers...and become the new queen.

Prince Alac Thungrave, second in line to the throne, doesn’t want the king since he has seen what the kingdom’s black magic has done to his father. When he meets the mysterious Mara, he is captivated. Alac and Mara grow closer to each other, and at the last minute Mara saves him from assassination. Soon Mara is on the run and dangerous black magic has been released on the kingdom. How can they save each other and the kingdom?

If you YA fantasy like adventures from Tamora Pierce or Rae Carson, you’ll love THE STOLEN KINGDOM! I enjoyed the way the story developed and always kept me guessing. The alternating perspective between Mara and Alac really enhanced the tale. Here’s hoping there is a sequel because I want MORE of their story. :-)

An enjoyable read involving magic, adventure, secrets, romance and more! Stolen magic has disastrous consequences, for the people of Perin Faye have suffered greatly because of it. The ones who took control of the kingdom through blood and deceit took a once prosperous land and turned into poor ones. Mara uses her magic to help her father's vineyard, not understanding the magic but drawn to it until it draws the wrong attention. Involved in a plot to reclaim the kingdom, Mara comes face to face with Alac, the spare heir, and sees him as a kind person who truly wants to help his people. Alac knows of the dark deeds his family has done and now bares a terrible weight that he fights with daily. The darkness is spreading, and Alac knows what he must do to save his people, even though he knows the taint the magic has. But, nothing goes the way it is supposed to. Mara and Alac find themselves interested in each other, but Mara knows nothing can come it, but cannot help her feelings. As the darkness grows and begins to spread, Alac and Mara will have to set aside their issues with each other to stop the spread and save the kingdom.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a standalone fantasy, this book did a lot of things right - great writing, a quick pace, and an enchanting love story. I would have loved for the secondary characters to shine a little more and for the plot to be further developed, but other than that it was quick and definitely worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this! The action and plot kept me engaged throughout, I really enjoyed the characters and how they understood their own strengths and weaknesses, and I just overall really enjoyed reading this. As much as a I love a long, descriptive fantasy series it was really nice to read a shorter stand-alone that moved the story along.

It's been a long while since I've read a fantasy standalone, I'm glad I broke this streak with this book! The Stolen Kingdom works very well this way. It set's up a world that hint's at its complex nature and thought through history, without loosing itself in explanations and distractions. This book is slightly obsessed with vineyards and I've got to be honest, that alone would've sold me. More vineyards in (fantasy) books please!

The two main characters, Mara and Alac, were two very likeable characters from the get-go and we followed them not only getting to know each other but also themselves and growing throughout the story. I found some of their decisions rather questionable but I gotta admit I imagined them around the age of 25. Later on the fiancée of Alac's older brother was revealed to be just 16-years-old and I derived from that that Mara and Alac would be around the same age so these choices made a lot more sense coming from teenagers.
I enjoyed the romance these two had, the instant attraction but afterwards it did not develop too fast or without care for the plot. I know I said I loved this as a standalone ..but I really wanna see more of them?

I didn't like how most of the twist were handled, mostly because they cheapened the impact the previous scenes had and erased consequences of character growth or actions taken. It ended up feeling like an unwillingness to commit.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, especially the magic system and the discussions about how good and bad rulers effect the lives of the people living under their rule!

Three and a half
This for me is hard to rate. A very interesting idea with characters that shine . Sadly I just kept wanting the pages to turn quicker so clearly not a,story that enthralled me and held my attention
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

This book was kindly provided by Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Before I get into the full review, I need to say that this book blew me away. I did not expect to enjoy this book so thoroughly, and to devour it like I did. And now, on to the review.

The Stolen Kingdom follows the story of Maralyth, a vintners daughter with a royal history unknown to her, and Alac, the “spare” prince of the kingdom of Perin Faye. Through a serious of unexpected events, they develop a tentative friendship turned foeship, which eventually leads to them working together to save the kingdom from dark magic.

It’s not often that you see such a well developed stand alone fantasy book. In the span of a few hundred pages, Boehme developed a world, a plot, and a well thought out magic system, that many popular fantasy series take two or three books to develop. And her world building did not retract from her character development either. I think she did a wonderful job of fully developing Alac and Mara, giving them both stories you loved and understood, leaving you rooting for them both.

Her unique magic system, the connection of a persons magic to blood, time, and life, was extremely fascinating to me. Additionally, I thought the way she exposed the reader to different aspects of the magic system was well timed and thought out. She also didn’t skimp on the history of the kingdom, letting you see glimpses of a past that helped to enlighten reader on the reasons why some things were happening.

I am not lying when I say I really can’t find much wrong with this book. For me, it was an intriguing read, and the only reason it wasn’t five stars is that it didn’t lend me to feeling a span of emotions. It was pleasant, but not moving.

Truthfully, I would suggest that anyone who likes fantasy and has a spare day to sit down and devour a book, should pick up this book on March 2nd. They will not be disappointed.

“I opened myself to the magic, and it came to me. It was a matter of trusting it. Knowing that it was mine.” —Jillian Boehme

I’m really not sure how to feel about this book. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it.

My favorite part of this book was Maralyth and Alec. Though they are from vastly different backgrounds, Maralyth growing up working in a vineyard, and Alec in the palace, these two characters are actually very similar and their relationship was so cute! I loved the simplicity of how they interacted. Each of them keeping secrets from the other and both of them desiring to make their own way, following their own destiny.

There is something enticing about a romance that takes place in a historical setting at a royal court. I really enjoy a historical setting and the behaviors that come along with it. Alec is everything a gentleman should be and Maralyth is the perfect lady. Without giving too much away, they have an innocent relationship that I really enjoyed reading about.

Despite the strength of Maralyth and Alec’s relationship and the premise of the story, there were still a few aspects that knocked this book down a few stars for me.

I felt that the story moved too fast. Conclusions were reached without providing the reader and the characters a chance to process the events and course of action. I missed not being able to have the opportunity to learn more through the character’s engaging exploration of the situation. Certain topics like other existing nations and wars were touched on but were not explained in depth.

I think that the plot could have been more developed, which would have led to a more detailed and expanded world. I would have loved the opportunity to hear more about the other nations and wars that were mentioned and learn more about the resistance of magic. This might have helped me to become more invested in the story.

Overall this was a good book. I would probably recommend this book to someone who is just starting to dive into the genre of fantasy. It’s fast pace and the not too detailed world would be great for someone just starting out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted to like this one. I really did. Like, I love the idea of a woman stealing back her kingdom and being kick ass.

This book wasn't that read.

Instead, it was a predictable read that kind of plodded along. I pretty much called the plot from the first 50 pages and pretty much everything unfolded exactly as one would expect in a novel like this. I do enjoy a good formulaic novel, but the characters in this novel aren't the least bit sympathetic. They're two whiny ass kids who can't figure out what they want and after they change their minds for the 50th time, it get a little old.

Besides the two main protagonists being whiny children, the minor characters were kind of useless. They never had a chance to shine and were literally there to prop up the main characters and to give those characters directions. Call me crazy, but I like it when my minor characters at least have a personality.

I do commend the author for keeping this a standalone (at least for now). A current trend in YA lit seems to be the ever popular love triangle or (and sometimes "and") dragging a story out over many books. Boehme managed to avoid both of those, so good for you!

Others seem to have enjoyed this one, but it just didn't really work for me. Between the lack of character development and the predictability of the plot, i kind of wish I had given this one a pass.

I did enjoy the book enough to give a rating if 4 stars. It was not a perfect book for me, but the plot with some twists and turns was really enjoyable. Good character development. I would not reread it, but I would recommended this book for sure.

A girl with a secret claim to the throne? A prince you can’t help falling for? A destiny people will fight for? Yes please. This is my favourite thing about fantasy romances and I thought this book was a well told version.

- Mara and Alac were both likeable characters. I found Mara to be irritating at first but she grew on me throughout the book and in the end, I really liked her. Alac had a sense of mystery about him and I really liked how he genuinely wasn’t interested in the throne and was supportive of his brother, despite their differences. I really liked Tucker too and I wish we got more from him.
- The world building was what I felt lacked in this book. Although I could picture the world, it was vague and I also felt like a lot wasn’t explained when it came to the origins of the magic.
- The plot and pacing was well done and I flew through this book. The writing was great and I would definitely read from this author again.

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful YA fantasy novel!

I really loved Jillian Boehme's previousYA fantasy, Stormrise, and I was super excited when I found out she had a new book coming out. The Stolen Kingdom is also amazing, and definitely lived up to my expectations. Just like Stormrise, it takes some typical fantasy tropes and does them in a beautiful way. The Stolen Kingdom seems at face value like just another "lost heir discovers her true bloodline" story, but what makes it great is the way the story is told and especially the character development. I especially loved that the story is told in alternating perspectives: Mara, who is the aforementioned lost heir who discovers her true bloodline, and Alac, the second-born "spare" prince from the current ruling family. Their two storylines intertwine throughout the book and I love the way both characters are developed. Their relationships with each other and with other members of their families and friends feel very real and the plot unfolds in a satisfying way. There aren't any major plot twists, but I really appreciate the way that Jillian Boehme tells a straightforward story in a way that feels new and authentic.

Highly recommend!

*Review will be posted on my blog on 2/25/21*
Likes:
*World Building ~ Mara lives on a vineyard that produces the best wine in Perin Faye. That all changes when she discovers she is from a royal bloodline, and she is maybe the true heir to the throne. The Thungraves have ruled Perin Faye since they stole the magic and throne from the Dallowyn line. There is dark magic, good magic and politics at play here which makes it an intriguing story.

*Characters ~ I thought Mara was pretty level headed even if she was thrust into a high pressure situation. She also knew she didn’t want to just be a winemaker all her life and I liked that she accepted her role as Queen. There were two sides to this story, and two perspectives being told which I appreciated. Prince Alac didn’t want to be royal but he is tied to this dark magic his father has entrusted upon him. What will he do when someone comes to take the crown from them? Will he fight or surrender? I think he was the perfect spare, kind of aloof, didn’t care for the royal duties and out of sync with his father and brother.

*Romance ~ slow burn, enemies to lovers – I think it was perfect. Mara had her goals and really did good sticking to them until she came to care for Alac. Alac had his own dreams too until something major comes between them. I was fascinated to see how it would work out for them after the major scene that took place to throw all Mara’s plans off but in the end it worked out well. And this story is very PG rated, basically only kissing happens and not a lot of it.

*The story is written well. I read it in one sitting which was unexpected but I was drawn to Mara and Alac’s story.

Random Notes:
*Triggers: death

*A little bit of insta love? Maybe – Mara and Alac only knew each other for like…2 weeks? I didn’t mind it and this is a standalone so I think it fit because they did fight their feelings for one another and the ending left me satisfied.

Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed The Stolen Kingdom. I found Mara to be a strong main character and Alac equally intriguing, they made an interesting pair who in the end had a common goal to save their kingdom. I think this is more for teen readers than young adult but can be enjoyed by both.

The first chapters introduce the story simply but effective. Due to the changing of perspectives, you get to know both main characters in their own environment. Their thoughts and daily activities are not described too extensively, but with enough detail to understand the world in which the story takes place and the roles of these two characters. As a reader, you soon also get a glimpse of the magical power Maralyth possesses. It’s nothing fancy at first, just simple yet beautifully described. As the story progresses, the magic changes and makes the whole story more interesting.

The writingstyle is fairyly simple, but with enough potency. Events alternate quickly enough so that the story has a nice pace to it. Because the two perspectives are alternated, you get to know both characters a lot more personally. On the one hand, it’s a big plus, but on the other hand, it makes the story a lot more predictable. Yet the author knows how to add tension and keep the reader’s attention on the story. You get to know the characters in the timeline of the story as it is told, but they don’t have many specific habits or quirks that pass through the course of the story. This makes them a little bit superficial, but nevertheless it’s still very nice to read about them and see what choices they make.

Despite the fact you might have a strong suspicion about how the story might end, there are still a lot of surprises. For example the real origin of the magic an it’s users and also friends or family that turn out to be unreliable or untrue. Most of these happenings happen pretty unexpected and unsures the story having a different outcome than predicted. In addition to a number of well-known elements in YA-Fantasy books, this story also has a few surprising elements to it.

A wonderful YA-Fantasy book that takes you into a new, magical world with wonderful characters and a really nice plot.

The Stolen Kingdom started as a look into the lives of two seemingly unrelated characters from different parts of the world, but quickly became a book filled with secrets, magic, and an enemies-to-lovers romance!

The best world-building is swift and effective, and that is just what readers will get in The Stolen Kingdom. The author gives enough information for you to understand the world and how it works, without spending too long on that element of the story.

The story is told from the points of view of Maralyth and Alac. Maralyth is a vintner's daughter who finds herself forced to participate in a coup, while Alac is the second son of the king who wants nothing to do with the royal life or the royal magic. The two slowly learn there is more at play than their own plans and desires.

This book was very fun to read! I enjoyed the characters, the plot line, and the rules of magic in the world of The Stolen Kingdom. At the end of the book, I found myself satisfied by the ending, but wishing it weren't a standalone.

I will say that I wish there was more about vintners and wineries spread throughout the novel. It was present at the start, for a few moments in the middle, and then right at the end, but I found myself constantly looking for the reason why it was important that one of the main characters be a vintner's daughter. I just wish it were a more constant thread throughout the book, rather than what felt like a way to introduce the story and then wrap the story up.

Ultimately, I'd give this 3.8/5 stars, rounded up to 4. It was fun, fast-paced, and a great stand alone book!


What makes this book different from all others? And why should anyone care?

Whenever possible, put the good things about a book or author up front.

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 them 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 would appeal to younger 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 deeply enough. 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 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.

Maralyth has always known that she possessed a dangerous secret: she can perform magic, an act forbidden to all but the king of the land. What Maralyth doesn't know is that her ancestry, the source of her magic, will thrust her headfirst into the very centre of a deadly plot to claim the throne from an a cruel ruler. Maralyth soon finds herself plucked from her ordinary life on her father's vineyard and forced to make life-and-death decisions which will affect not only herself and her family, but reverberate throughout the entirety of the kingdom. Despite the palace intrigue, Maralyth's path seems clear-cut enough until she meets her sworn enemy, Prince Alac, and realizes that restoring fair rule to the kingdom might not be as black-and-white as it appears.

Right from the start, I appreciated that Maralyth was headstrong and determined character. Lord Nelgareth's plan hinged on using Maralyth as a pawn, and while she didn't initially have the full luxury of full autonomy while also keeping her family safe, she refused to be complacent and accept every cruel act as necessary. Maralyth's unwillingness to allow needless brutality and death gave her the tools to seize her power back, and carve out a new destiny for herself and her kingdom.

Alac felt less well-developed, although the character was still an interesting one. I would have appreciated a further exploration of his motives and inner turmoil - even though he was a point-of-view character, I didn't feel like I fully grasped his thought process, and sometimes meaningful changes in his actions and emotions felt rushed and unearned. Alac was a character faced with a plethora of difficult decisions and I think the book would have been improved by giving more of a voice to his difficulties.

The supporting cast didn't have much of a chance to shine, and seemed a bit one-note to me - for example, Tucker existed only to serve his prince and Nestar existed only to help his sister, with no further explanation provided. I would have appreciated it if the author had spent more time fleshing out the secondary characters and allowing them to shine.

I was also disappointed to find that some plot elements were mentioned almost in passing but failed to receive much scrutiny and had little effect on the overall plot. I think the world-building of The Stolen Kingdom would have benefitted if further attention had been given to the consequences of the Thungrave rule, the unpopularity of a potential war, or the other reasons that led to unrest in the populace and set the story in motion.

Ultimately The Stolen Kingdom was an enjoyable book, but I guess I just wanted more out of it - more exploration of Maralyth and Alac's characters, more three-dimensional secondary characters, more world-building. If the book had been longer and spent more time broadening its plot, I think it could have been a truly fantastic book.

4/5 stars

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mara lives an ordinary life, helping tend to her father's vineyard. She's always had a magic in her, a magic that her mother forced her to hide. Mara thought she had done a good job until she was kidnapped. Her captor explains that she's a descendant of the old royal line who had been murdered. He fully intends on putting her on the throne. Meanwhile, the throne is held by the Thungrave family who stole the magic from the previous royal family. However, the stolen magic is dark and dangerous. Alac is the second-born son and he hates the magic. He's seen what it has done to his family and he wants nothing to do with it. As Mara is forced into a plan that involves killing the entire royal family and taking back the throne, she begins to wonder if she's really doing the right thing after all.

This book really surprised me! The beginning felt a bit slow, but it eventually picked up and just kept going! I liked how the magic worked in this book; it was definitely interesting. Alac and Mara were both interesting characters. I liked that the story was told from both of their POVs. I was really worried about how this book was going to end, but it was wrapped up well! The girl who was meant to be queen and the boy who never wanted to be king...they each had their own role to play in this story and I enjoyed it!

Readers looking for a YA fantasy with forbidden romance, political intrigue, and magic should give this a shot!