<i>The Stolen Kingdom</i> feels like the most generic of lost royalty returns to overthrow the kingdom—but also there’s magic!—kind of story. The plot points feel like they could have been pulled out of just about any story that features this and there was nothing enticing or engaging enough to be unique. And this was pretty unfortunate, ultimately, because it results in the reader feeling genuinely bored throughout the vast majority of it.

And then there’s just all of the added, unnecessary violence. Like, did we really need the description of how the brother died? Did it have to be that graphic? Does the romantic lead need to regularly be imagining all the violent acts he’s going to commit against this girl after she was part of the plot to murder his family? Ugh.

You can’t help the feeling of ick, to be honest. I understand why this guy is angry, why he would want to kill her. Of course I do…but damn. It’s just at a level that makes it incredibly hard to root for them as a couple. The resolution of this wasn’t really great, either. There’s this secondary plot relating to something she has to do that makes it so he can’t kill her right away, therefore allowing him “time” to forgive her, but the execution is flimsy at best. I just don’t really buy that this guy who was wishing to violently smash her head in is going to get over it so quickly because of some other crazy side plot that requires they team up.

…speaking of which, my goodness, the plot is a mess.

So, there you have it, I guess. I just don’t think I could reasonably say that this was well written or that it left me with any modicum of positive feelings. It was…okay. And that’s about it.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I expected! I love that it's a standalone - I find it difficult to find good standalones these days. Everything is always getting dragged into trilogies or more, even when those that probably shouldn't lol!

I found this book to be fast-paced, exciting, and it had some great, unique aspects to the storyline! I love any story with magic, and this one did not disappoint. I have read reviews saying that the book seemed too rushed, but honestly I found it to be a breath of fresh air in a genre that often drags storylines on longer than they should. Could this book have been a duology? I mean yes, it could have but honestly I don't think it needed to be. The quick pace made for a fun, easy read with no room for boring. There was always something happening, and it gave off a good "can't put it down" kinda vibe.

The book was written from the perspective of both Maralyth and Alac, and I enjoyed reading from both points of view. I really loved watching Mara grow into the role of Queen. She started the book as a bit of a subdued, quiet character but with a fiery mind and over the course of the book, became a selfless leader who's courageous attitude made for a great role model. Alac was a great character right from the start. He was sweet and curious, and eager to have a life of his own outside of the influence of his powerful father and the stolen magic. He was instantly taken by Mara and it was great seeing their relationship grow as they got to know one another.

While the ending was not what I was hoping for, I think it fit the story perfectly. Any other ending would have been cliché (not that I mind cliché!). Overall, I am really impressed with what the author came up with, and I look forward to trying anything she releases in the future!

I had to dnf this book. It started out strong but I found the exciting beginning quickly fizzled out around the 50%

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't able to listen to The Stolen Kingdom before the title was archived.

I sadly didn't get a chance to download this before it was archived. I would like to read it in the future though.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audiobook.

I thought this was quite enjoyable, almost refreshing- detailed but not too complicated with some very likable characters. The narrator was great as well.

Free the Magic, Free the Kingdom
The land of Perin Faye was once prosperous and idyllic, under the reign on the magic- wielding Dallowyn kings. As one would expect, eventually jealous stirred in the hearts of men over the Dallowyn family’s exclusive claim to magic, and therefore to the throne. Through treachery, some of the magic was stolen by the Thungraves, who then began to rule Perin Faye with an iron fist, exacting heavy tithes, and leaving most outside the palace walls and lord’s manors, to barely scrape Image result for earth magic gifby. If we see magic as simply a source of power, The Stolen Kingdom gives credence to the old saying, absolute power corrupts absolutely; as the Thungrave heirs successively find out as they claim their stolen birthright of magic, and it places its heavy yoke of power upon their hearts. Alac Thungrave is the first of his family to be suspicious of the magic, and its hold over the Thungrave kings. He begins to wonder if his family could be better rulers without the rot of the magic upon their souls. At the same time, Maralyth Graylaern is embarking on a quest to regain the throne, and restore the Dallowyn line. There’s just one problem: she can’t bear the thought of Alac being killed alongside his father and brother, to pave the way for her own ascendency.

The Stolen Kingdom explores the themes of political corruption, and the dark side of men, through the lens of stolen magic. Ultimately, readers see that the hallmark of a great ruler is that they must care more for their people than they do for themselves, and more for the land then they do for their own See the source economic gain. The arc of the relationship between Alac and Marylyth is done with skill, never seeming unlikely or overly sappy. They are two strong characters, with stubborn streaks, who find common ground in caring for their people and country, while also being unable to ignore the spark of passion and soul recognition that exists between them. Overall the book is well paced, and well detailed, with a few plot twists meant to keep readers guessing about who will survive and under what conditions that survival will be, until almost the very end. While there are a few bloody scenes, the violence is kept at a minimum, focusing more on political pressures than warfare. And while some sections seemed to stretch out for a few too many pages, it is still an entertaining and fast read. YA Fantasy lovers will find plenty to be enamored with in this book

The audio version of The Stolen Kingdom was a great story to listen to. I loved it and am giving it five stars.

This audiobook was jsut ok for me. The story was fairly good. It was a pretty normal YA trope with slow burn romance and magic and world building that you would find in most YA stories. I dont know that there was much in the way of anything new or intriguing that stuck out to me that I havent been able to find In the 428192 books that already exist. It was ok. I wasnt in a rush to finish it.. but I didnt hate it.

That being said, the audiobook could have been done better. I wasnt a huge fan of the narrator. That probably lead to my not being as into the book as I could have been had I just been reading it or there were a different narration.

Mara is a vintners daughter who possesses the ability to do magic. When she is kidnapped and coerced to take the throne from the current rulers, she meets Alac, the second in line for the throne. As she is forced into a world of lies and make believe, she finds that she cannot let Alac die, and he is inexorably drawn to her as well. Can the find a way to save the kingdom from the dark magic that roams upon it and still find their way to each other?

I really liked this fairy tale. I felt the main female character was was strong and not willing to accept the plan for her life. The narrators of this audio book were fantastic. This book was full of magic and was quite fun. It is marketed as young adult, but adults will like it too. The characters are will developed and very likeable.

This was so much fun!

I loved the story, characters, and setting. Although the magic system was simple, it was still fun to read.

I also enjoyed both narrators. Their voices were strong and I could comprehend everything they said.

This is a good one for fans of The Princess Will Save You, Twin Daggers, or fairytale-style books.

Not at all what I was expecting but so much better! I really liked the fantasy aspect of this and being able to follow the main characters through this world. I deff recommend

Great fairy tale: strained romance, secret magical abilities, armies, wicked queen-to-be's- I very much enjoyed this story.!

I’d like to take a minute and thank the publishers and netgalley for an audio arc in exchange of an honest review.

I wanted to love this. I really did. I sped through it in about a day and I was sucked in, that’s true. But the story somehow fell kind of flat.

Our main characters spent a lot of time thinking and lot a lot of time doing things, and really there was no reason. Their personalities changed from one scene to the next and I couldn’t understand why they would even like one another. Also is there a rule where bad kings always have to have one not evil son?

There were definitely some twists but I felt like I never got to full enter the world and the fact it was a standalone was both good and bad.

Thank you NetGalley, publishers, and author for a copy of this audiobook. Sometimes with fantasy it is hard to imagine the world that the author is building when listening to an audiobook. The narrator did a great job of putting emphasis on certain details when reading the magical world building. Overall great book!

Loved the audiobook! The narrator was great! I loved the plot, and the character development was on par! Definitely adding this author to my must read list. Such a fun story!

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and Recorded Books for providing me the free audiobook copy of The Stolen Kingdom.
I was attracted to this book for a couple of reasons, mainly that it was a standalone fantasy, which is a refreshing change in the Fantasy genre. The cover and blurb are brilliantly done and definitely piqued my interest. I love books with magic, darkness, witchcraft, characters with special powers, and the likes. In that aspect, The Stolen Kingdom did not disappoint. I enjoyed reading about the magical system and the pacts with dark forces.
The story is set in a world where magic belongs only to the royal family. However, It did not always belong to these royals. About a hundred years or so ago the Thungrave Kings made a pact with Dark Forces and stole the Kingdom of Perin Faye from their powers were stolen from the rightful owners.
The female protagonist Mara happens to discover she has magical abilities. When her mother urges her to keep it a secret for fear of her safety, Mara tries to go back to her old life and only uses her magic sparingly for simple tasks in the kitchen. She is an ambitious girl and wishes to do something with her life "unlike other girls who settled into a married life at the age of 17." What Mara does not know is that she is the rightful heir to the throne. When a Lord stumbles upon Mara and learns of her hidden powers, she is tasked with overthrowing the current rulers and killing the entire royal family.
The male protagonist, Alac, is your typical Prince who is not interested in anything even remotely related to the Kingdom. He is also not a fan of his father's policies and rule. All he wants is to own his own Vineyard and spend time sipping wine. He is a bully and does not particularly care about anyone else (think Cardan from Cruel Prince) until he meets Mara.
The story is told from both Mara and Alac's POV, which I really liked. Multiple POVs tend to keep my attention longer in fantasy books. While the plot began with a lot of political intrigues, it soon turned into a romantic fantasy tale between Mara and Alac. I would've liked it better if the author had spent some more time showing the socio-economic and political culture of this kingdom. Worldbuilding in the fantasy genre is not just about an imagined place but about everything that goes on with the people of the kingdom and their neighbors. Unfortunately, The Stolen Kingdom lacked in worldbuilding aspect. I enjoyed the elaborate descriptions of the wine-making process, though. The plot and climax were predictable, but overall the book was enjoyable.
My only concern is in the way the author tried to portray the female protagonist as "different" and "not like other girls" - it was cliched and came across as trying too hard, and in trying to achieve this "different" approach, the author unintentionally (I hope) made the female protagonist put down other females over and over again. This was done multiple times using the male protagonists too. I wish authors stopped doing that!
Overall, this was a good read for a YA Standalone Fantasy. I give it 4 stars.

3.25 stars

I don't read many standalone fantasy books so it was a nice change of pace knowing from the beginning that everything would be resolved. Which brings me to my least favorite part of a standalone fantasy book, how much has to be fit into a single book, usually at the expense of character and plot development. This was no exception and regrettably made it a forgettable book.

That being said, the romance was sweet and the magic was interesting. I'm not at all mad that I read it and it made for a nice change from the longer series I've been reading.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme
Narrated by Kirby Heyborne and Suzy Jackson
Publisher: RB Media, Recorded Books
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Publication Date: March 2, 2021

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme is a standalone magical, fantasy, adventure, romance, YA novel and I loved it!!!!

There is so much packed into this book! Wonderful characters and a great story filled with suspense and excitement! I truly fell in love with the characters and this world! This is fast paced and exciting and I couldn't get enough!

The narration by Kirby Heyborne and Suzy Jackson was incredible! They did such an incredible job bringing the story life! Thank you!!!

I didn't want this story to end! I could not get enough of it! If the author decided to revisit this world, I would be 100% on board with that! If you enjoy magic, romance, and intrigue this book is for you!

I'm so grateful to Jillian Boehme, RB Media, Recorded Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Honestly, at first I really struggled with this one. But not at all because of the writing or the story. It was all because of the audiobook narration. The male narrator sounded as if he was speaking in slow motion. Seriously, it was almost painful to listen to him. I finally had to start speeding up his sections, and then slowing back down for the female narrator. She often sounded like she was in fast forward!! It was tricky having to do this since I listen to audiobooks while driving...

Once I got past that, I ended up really enjoying the story. I thought for the most part characters behaved believeably and I enjoyed the romance. I honestly don’t think “instalove” is the problem many reviewers make it out to be...I mean, I was a teenager once, and so I know well what it feels like to immediately become completely besotted with someone. I loved the magic, especially Mara’s version of it, and felt like everything came together well. I also love a stand-alone fantasy and wish there were more! I would recommend this to anyone who likes books about magic and royalty and coups and romance. I won’t be recommending it to any of my seventh grade students due to some violence content, but perhaps older students!