I really liked the premise of this book, and the cover like oh my god can we take a minute? You follow Camilla, an 18 year old girl with vibrant blue eyes and Extine, a queen who’s magical blue eyes keep her kingdom hidden - until the power starts to fail.

It took me so long to get through this book. The Girl Who Stole The Queens Eyes is marketed as a YA novel, but honestly it really insanely middle grade. I’m really sorry to say it, but everything felt extremely juvenile and lack lustre.

The closest comparison I could come to for the writing style of this book, was a Wattpad book that got picked up like a publisher. It just unfortunately didn’t feel or read like a developed final draft of a novel.

This book is Dual POV, between Camilla who’s newly 18 and Extine who I can guess is in the ballpark of her late 30s. I really didn’t understand the voices in this book, all the children (I say that lightly as they’re all 17/18) and the adults read exactly the same. The adult voices read extremely childish, and I felt that the author sometimes focused on the completely wrong thing during certain scenes.

When reading you can tell what the author was going for but the character development and the plot building just wasn’t there. There are multiple plot twists at the end of the book but they were predictable and didn’t evoke any emotion at all.

I really wanted to like this book but I honestly think that only someone considerably younger than me could enjoy it. I just couldn’t read it smoothly, I was constantly tripping over the weak plot development, or the cringe/uncharacteristic things the MCs and side characters were saying/doing.

I really didn’t mean for this review to be so negative, but, if I’m being completely honest with everyone - the only thing I enjoyed about this book was the premise and the fact I actually finished it.

I would definitely recommend this for a middle grade reader. Actually I don’t know, proceed with caution. There are some YA themes re: Romance so I don’t even know where this book falls honestly. Maybe 13-15?

Thank you to Zenith Publishing for providing me with a eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

If you would like to check out The Girl Who Stole The Queen’s Eyes, it’s being published on July 13, 2021!

The Girl Who Stole the Queen's Eyes is a fun read! It is about revenge and forbidden love and also about family. It was easy and smooth and is portrayed in the present time but still has an old, a medival vibe to it! It was a good read! not the most complex sort, but I still enjoyed it

im giving this book a solid 2.5 stars. while the plot and characters were intriguing, the follow through did not at all live up to its potential. the resolution was rushed and sloppy, as well as the character progressions of remy and extine. the worldbuilding was incomplete and too abstract as well. though the central idea and themes were intriguing, this book ultimately disappointed me in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

DISCLAIMER: I did not finish this book so the review is only based on the first 50%

This book tells the story of a young girl, Camilla, who after turning 18, starts to develop certain abilities using her eyes. There is also another plot taking place in a hidden territory named Escana where the queen, Extine, starts losing her powers and starts investing how and why. I don't want to say much more for the sake of those who do not want to be spoiled.

Now unfortunately, I did dnf this book at 50%

I know that I was halfway through and I should have powered through but I just was not enjoying the book anymore. It started out really well and pulled me into the story pretty quickly but also very quickly made me uninterested.

I thought that the plot had so much potential that was wasted on cliche high school crushes and annoying characters. The high school crush was pretty irrelevant and was not interesting to me. The male love interest was pretty bland and didn't have much depth to his character. Not only that but the other characters were pretty annoying to read about for different reasons. Remy came across as really bratty and selfish, her brother was pretty much irrelevant, and the sorceress-in-training (daughter of the sorceress? I can't remember) was pretty dull and just came across as Remy's tail. Extine was very superficial and her actions were a little chaotic but also came across as annoying and unnecessary and I did not enjoy her POV. Finn had potential but I wasn't interested to keep on reading about him. Camilla's mother (already forgot her name) was probably the most annoying character because she continued not to inform Camilla of their past even though Camilla already was picking up on this "secret."

The plot had so much potential but instead of focusing on this interesting hidden kingdom and Camilla's journey of the truth of her heritage, we spent way too much time in the high school setting. Not only that but the plot kind of stopped moving and was more about random, unnecessary actions on all of the character's parts. I had no interest in the love interest and Camilla's little crush on him. Camilla herself was pretty uninteresting as well.

I pretty much lost all interest in the story and the characters. There was no motivation for me to learn what happens. The main reason for that was the lack of interest for the characters. They all fell flat and I personally can't read a book when I don't like any of the characters. Also the plot was not written to its fullest potential

The girl who stole the queen's eyes is a really fun read. It takes place in the present, but it also has a medieval vibe. This book is about family and revenge but also about forbidden love. The writing style was smooth, and the story read easy, which made it a enjoyable read.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

1.5 stars

Unfortunately I didn't like this story, I thought it has a lot of a 2014 book vibes, with annoying characters and with a plot that is based on romance and rivalry in high school.
The author tries to put on a little fantasy but it doesn't develop well.
So the fact that I didn't like any of the characters didn't help me to like the story, as I need to connect with the characters to care about what happening to them in the story.
I don't think it's a bad book, it's just not the kind of book that works for me anymore.
I found the tone of the book very youthful and attitude of the characters something I don't like more in books.
I think I recommend it to younger readers or those that are just starting out in the reading world.

I found this book to be a fun, quick read. The plot is interesting and the characters are nice though nothing new. I think we get the most character development and character insight from the villain of the story and possibly the least from the protagonist. The characters could be fleshed out more, but I think it works for the authors intended audience. It did feel like the main character should be younger based on the story and the writing. If the character had been 16 instead of 18, I feel like the teenage angst, the puppy love, the constant push back with the mother would have fit in a lot better. The concept is not new, just a little different. The writing style is good, though at times it did seem forced, particularly when attempting to add humor near the end. Overall, the story was cute. I read it in one sitting, I think that it would be good for younger readers. <spoiler>The ending itself is very much a fairytale ending, with the exception of the love interest. I feel like they made that aspect less of a happy ending simply to add some surprise. It's an ending that is very much wishful thinking, though it is unexpected, it also doesn't entirely fit with what we have seen from the antagonist.</spoiler>

"The Girl Who Stole The Queen's Eyes": 3⭐

(Unpaid Review: thanks to @netgalley, @marilizeloxton and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review).

The premise of this book could have been much more appreciated than it was. I'm not saying the book was bad, it was enjoyable but not the best read. The world-building could have been much more developed and the characters weren't very good, because they weren't very likable.

The premise of this book had me so excited and the prologue was fantastic. Unfortunately for me the book started to go downhill from there. I found the writing to be regularly quite jarring and it really pulled me out of the story. The main character felt like a very cliche YA girl who thinks she's terrible at everything and not as pretty as the other girls. This book just didn't work for me unfortunately but I can see that this author has some excellent ideas and with time and practice will definitely improve.

I received an e-arc of this from netgalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While I wanted to adore this book, as the premise is so so intriguing and unique. I just couldn't get into this.

The characters weren't relatable and made stupid decisions. Camilla was very whiny and even with things explained to her seemed to be very clueless. While the ending was tied together nicely and everything was resolved I found it very underwhelming.

I think this would be more enjoyable to a younger audience rather than the higher audience of YA.

First, thank you to NetGalley and GenZ Publishing/Zenith Publishing for allowing me to read this eARC. This is my first eARC through NetGalley and I am absolutely thrilled to say I enjoy the shizznit out of this book!

I read The Girl Who Stole the Queen's Eyes in one sitting and knew I was going to be hooked by the end of the second chapter, which for me doesn't usually happen. I'm typically a needs-to-be-4-to-5-chapters-in to be hooked kind of reader, but this book delivered a punch with the dual POVs that I couldn't put it down after dipping my toes into the magical lake of a story. Plot wise, the story is well fleshed out and has fantastic build up, the pacing is beautiful and the premise is unique to anything I have read before (which in 2021 to date is 78 books and counting). The main character and supporting characters are all well fleshed out and have their own desires, needs, and flaws which makes the world feel more real. While the ending is wrapped up in a bow that is a little too neat for my personal tastes, it also definitely leaves you wanting to know what happens next. I need to know if certain characters have truly changed - for better or for worse after so much has changed for all of them, I need to know if promises will be kept, and I need to know if love truly is blind.

I thoroughly would recommend this book to anyone who loves an underdog heroine, unique hereditary magic systems, a mix of "old world" and "modern day" in one, and those who love slow burn shipping. Solid 4-Star book, which I sincerely hope has a sequel!

I really wanted to like this book! I mean, look at the cover! Gorgeous!! But I just couldn’t get into the book. I. Tried. So. Hard. It just wasn’t for me.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It's said that the first born of a new generation will inherit the power of the Allesian eyes and rule the kingdom. The Girl Who Stole The Queen's Eyes by Marilize Loxon follows the POV of Camilla, an 18 year-old with striking blue eyes, and Extine, current queen of a hidden kingdom called Escana. Suddenly, Extine becomes blind. But that only happens when the next heir turns 18, but her daughter isn't 18 yet. So what is happening?

As the story progress, we come to find twists and turns and I did find myself not wanted to put the book down. Sadly, the ending starting become predictable and I felt like it dragged (I do not want to spoil the ending for those of you that want to read it). There is a "cliff-hanger" at the end and I do find myself hoping that there will be a sequel.

Overall I enjoyed this book and was a quick read. If you like modern day with a hint of fantasy, I recommend reading this book.

Thankyoj to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC.

This book started off so strong, but it quickly lost its appeal to me. The world building was incredible, and the characters were unique and interesting, but the writing style was average, for me.

Overall, this book has a lot of potential, but fell flat for me.

What a wonderful prologue! I honestly think this was one of the most intriguing prologues at have ever read. Unfortunately, the rest of the writing throughout the book fell a little short of my expectations based on the prologue. This is not to say that the writing was bad. It was just not amazing. I feel like some of the author’s ideas were not as fully fleshed out as they could be. I do think the idea for the story is very unique and different!

I found Camilla’s character to be a little annoying. Whiny characters are very frustrating and unenjoyable to read. Also, Pearl’s actions were VERY annoying and especially her decision to keep Camilla in the dark. The author clearly has potential and I will definitely seek out more books by them.

The Girl Who Stole The Queen's Eyes by follws the story of Camilla who's just turn 18. She supposes her blue orbs are the only thing everyone ever sees. It seems to her that her identity is her blue eyes.

But one day, in a kayak competition, only she is the one who can see a castle on the lake. Was her eyes playing tricks? Perhaps no, when she again sees the castle, visible only to her. And more people follow her, as if she has a control over them. Her mother seems to have some idea, but it's a secret kept from Camilla.

Extine, queen of Escana, hides her kingdom with the power of her eyes. Suddenly, she has gone blind. But that only happens when the next heir turns 18, and her daughter, Remy isn't 18.

The kingdom is slowly visible to rest of the world. And to regain her eyes, she must turn to dark magic. She needs to get her stolen eyes back.

The story has two pov's - Camilla and Extine. Both explain their actions and show their emotions. Extine's character change due to dark magic was clearly shown. And the twist with Finn got me cracking. Camilla felt stupid at the end of the novel, but thankfully she put it behind her.  The author somewhere didn't want the novel to have bloodbath, but I craved to see Camilla and Extine fight over the throne. The end was good but wasn't amusing. The sudden change in Extine was not that good.

This book is recommended to those that love low fantasy with hint of kingdoms and magic. And to those who want a quick read.

The Girl Who Stole the Queen's Eyes had me hooked right away with the prologue, but from there it kind of lost me. It felt weirdly like two different authors, like something was missing, but I'm not sure what. The premise was pretty interesting, but I did find the plot to be a little bit predictable. The one thing I loved the most was that the POVs featured a villain POV and I am here for all the villain drama!

The Girl Who Stole the Queen’s Eyes is a very interesting novel with so much potential. I loved the idea of a secret kingdom that is protected by the power of the Queen’s magic eyes. This was such a unique idea and I was intrigued.

Overall, I am giving this book 2.5 stars, mainly because I genuinely think it should have been longer. The book is an easy read and I finished it in one sitting, but I felt like a lot of the concepts were underdeveloped. There was so much potential there behind the ideas, but just not enough time spent exploring them.

I also felt like the resolution was a bit rushed for my taste. Everything was resolved in like 10 pages it felt like, and that just isn’t enough for me to feel like I am getting a solid solution.

So while I did enjoy the book, I was often left wanting more from it. There is such a solid and unique concept here, but it just needed more to really reach its potential.

A lovely new look into the fantasy world. Where a strong fmc tries to find her way into the world after being lied.to for 18 years. It had a good plot and lovely charcters

Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this book. It was pretty okay but the characters were fairly irritating. Camilla and her mother were incredibly annoying mostly because Camilla was very whiney about being a loner but did nothing to actually step out of her comfort zone. And then Pearl? She was frustrating because she straight up refused to share ANY information even when it put her daughter in danger. I will also say that the love interest was written fairly poorly. The book itself came across as though it was the second book in a series, like we were already supposed to know a bunch of information. It just confused me a lot and I kind of struggle finding much that I liked about it.