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amylandranch's review
3.0
Owen is bored and wants an adventure, like his favorite character Kiel. Bethany is a half-fictional character that can go into books and be part of the story. Together, the two of them manage to cause a lot of fictional and real world problems and have to try and correct it. It is a fun idea and I think middle school students who like fantasy will enjoy the series. I felt parts moved a little slow, it was a little too long and I had a harder time investing in the characters. Kids who love to read will like seeing some of their favorite characters come to life. 5th grade and up.
literallyjane's review against another edition
4.0
Cute! Loved the voice. Super easy read. Love the characters. Got lots of vibes from Rick Riordan.
A little muddy at the end, but that's not something that killed my enjoyment.
A little muddy at the end, but that's not something that killed my enjoyment.
jennicajackson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dmcgorman7's review
1.0
This book was not good. The whole time I was reading it I was constantly thinking “when will the book be over.” Maybe this book is good for a younger audience as I am a person who is an older reader. Would definitely recommend reading land of stories over this series.
bibliophile421's review
5.0
it took a minute for it to actually grab hold of me, but once it did. O.M.G. so freakin wonderful i immediately got the sequel!
penwiper's review
1.0
Dnf 30% through. This book is a headache and the main characters are so dumb I can’t even. The plot is pulled along by stupid decision after stupid decision. I pretty much actively hate Owen and Kiel.
Bethany is.... she’d be okay if she used a bit of common sense. Her backstory is interesting enough. But also she keeps going back to rescue Owen and fix his moron mistakes.
I have no interest in the author’s side story either. Of course it’s a best selling series in that verse. These stories within books written by author self inserts are always best sellers.
Bethany is.... she’d be okay if she used a bit of common sense. Her backstory is interesting enough. But also she keeps going back to rescue Owen and fix his moron mistakes.
I have no interest in the author’s side story either. Of course it’s a best selling series in that verse. These stories within books written by author self inserts are always best sellers.
danihays's review
4.0
This was so much fun to read!! I’m so glad I found this at a Half Price Books, or else I don’t know if I ever would have read it otherwise.
This was really cool, both in the basic concept and the execution with the Magister as a villain. I loved the characters, especially Kiel.
I love the whole going-into-books idea and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one!
This was really cool, both in the basic concept and the execution with the Magister as a villain. I loved the characters, especially Kiel.
I love the whole going-into-books idea and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one!
unrulyheart's review
4.0
This was so much fun to read!! I’m so glad I found this at a Half Price Books, or else I don’t know if I ever would have read it otherwise.
This was really cool, both in the basic concept and the execution with the Magister as a villain. I loved the characters, especially Kiel.
I love the whole going-into-books idea and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one!
This was really cool, both in the basic concept and the execution with the Magister as a villain. I loved the characters, especially Kiel.
I love the whole going-into-books idea and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one!
missykaiti's review
4.0
*clutches my heart* I think my heart just might burst right now. Warning: I have only just finished reading the book, so I am loaded up on all the feels, so I have no idea if this review is going to make any sense at all.
Now. To attempt the review. This book is a book for booklovers, and it has a book within a book. James Riley practically had to write two books to get Story Thieves. Masterful job there, in my opinion!
First off, I'm so insanely in love with the last few chapters and with Kiel! I would totally give this book five stars, except it took me a while to get into it. I always loved the idea, but Owen drove me insane in the beginning. I mean, the kid is a regular bookworm but he doesn't know better than interfering with a good story? That's, like, Fantasy / Sci-Fi 101. And stop it with the fanboy stuff, already! Your arrogance ventures into stupidity! I wanted to strangle him for the entire first half of the book.
But somewhere in the second half, Owen grew up. He stopped trying to be someone he's not, and by the end of the book, I'd totally fallen in love with him. ♥ He influences the story within this story in the best possible way, with a little help from Charm, the cyborg partner of Kiel.
Speaking of Charm, I wasn't really sure what to make of her, at first. I kept guessing and second-guessing at her role in the book within the book and her relationship with Kiel and her fate by the end. To be honest, even though I watched her character develop wonderfully, I'm still second-guessing her role, but in the best possible way. She's an awesome character, and I crave seeing her again in the next book. Because she's totally going to be in the next book, right? Of course she is, because she has to be, or I might have to hunt James Riley down and blackmail him or something. Because that's a thing crazed fans do, I've heard.
I guess let's take this thing character-by-character and talk about Bethany next. She is as cautious as Owen is reckless, or at least she tries to be. Honestly, I wasn't the biggest fan of her, either, until further on in the book. Control freak pretty much describes her in the beginning. But like Owen, she gets some pretty awesome character development. Instead of growing up (which she had to do way too quickly before this book even began), she embraces a healthy amount of recklessness, making her more relatable and likable and balanced.
My English Literary Studies major is begging me to point out that last word as a theme in the book, but I'll resist. For now. You might be subjected to it at the end, but now I'll move on to Kiel.
Kiel. *clutches my heart again* Like with Charm, I wasn't sure what to make of him in the beginning. But somewhere between saving Bethany and getting swallowed whole, he completely captured my heart. He is, without a doubt, a hero. He has all the right ingredients mixed together in just the right amounts, and still somehow finds room to also show character development. Some of Owen's fanboying just might be understandable concerning Kiel. ♥♥♥♥♥♥ In the very last chapter, I thought I just might die from pleasure. I cannot wait until the next book!
While I'm discussing characters, I guess I'll go ahead and put in a quick word about Magister, Kiel's guardian and teacher. From the moment readers get to see him instead of listen to Owen's thoughts on him, I was able to see a plot twist coming. However, that twist was revealed early enough in the book that it wasn't like James Riley was banking on a shock factor at the very end, and it worked very well, I think.
And Nobody, aka potentially Bethany's father. Who is he, really? What is his purpose in the world of stories? And what does his potential appearance in the last chapter imply? Should I send this book to my English professors? I think I should. Or at the very least, I need to keep this book handy for the next time I'm allowed to use a book of my choice for a paper.
Anyways, by the end of this book, I was head over heels in love with all the protagonists. They grew so much in just one book! In James Riley's other series, it took me until the last book (granted, the beginning of the last book) before I reached the level of love for the characters that I already have for the characters of this series. I cannot wait until the second book gets released! ♥
Now. To attempt the review. This book is a book for booklovers, and it has a book within a book. James Riley practically had to write two books to get Story Thieves. Masterful job there, in my opinion!
First off, I'm so insanely in love with the last few chapters and with Kiel! I would totally give this book five stars, except it took me a while to get into it. I always loved the idea, but Owen drove me insane in the beginning. I mean, the kid is a regular bookworm but he doesn't know better than interfering with a good story? That's, like, Fantasy / Sci-Fi 101. And stop it with the fanboy stuff, already! Your arrogance ventures into stupidity! I wanted to strangle him for the entire first half of the book.
But somewhere in the second half, Owen grew up. He stopped trying to be someone he's not, and by the end of the book, I'd totally fallen in love with him. ♥ He influences the story within this story in the best possible way, with a little help from Charm, the cyborg partner of Kiel.
Speaking of Charm, I wasn't really sure what to make of her, at first. I kept guessing and second-guessing at her role in the book within the book and her relationship with Kiel and her fate by the end. To be honest, even though I watched her character develop wonderfully, I'm still second-guessing her role, but in the best possible way. She's an awesome character, and I crave seeing her again in the next book. Because she's totally going to be in the next book, right? Of course she is, because she has to be, or I might have to hunt James Riley down and blackmail him or something. Because that's a thing crazed fans do, I've heard.
I guess let's take this thing character-by-character and talk about Bethany next. She is as cautious as Owen is reckless, or at least she tries to be. Honestly, I wasn't the biggest fan of her, either, until further on in the book. Control freak pretty much describes her in the beginning. But like Owen, she gets some pretty awesome character development. Instead of growing up (which she had to do way too quickly before this book even began), she embraces a healthy amount of recklessness, making her more relatable and likable and balanced.
My English Literary Studies major is begging me to point out that last word as a theme in the book, but I'll resist. For now. You might be subjected to it at the end, but now I'll move on to Kiel.
Kiel. *clutches my heart again* Like with Charm, I wasn't sure what to make of him in the beginning. But somewhere between saving Bethany and getting swallowed whole, he completely captured my heart. He is, without a doubt, a hero. He has all the right ingredients mixed together in just the right amounts, and still somehow finds room to also show character development. Some of Owen's fanboying just might be understandable concerning Kiel. ♥♥♥♥♥♥ In the very last chapter, I thought I just might die from pleasure. I cannot wait until the next book!
While I'm discussing characters, I guess I'll go ahead and put in a quick word about Magister, Kiel's guardian and teacher. From the moment readers get to see him instead of listen to Owen's thoughts on him, I was able to see a plot twist coming. However, that twist was revealed early enough in the book that it wasn't like James Riley was banking on a shock factor at the very end, and it worked very well, I think.
And Nobody, aka potentially Bethany's father. Who is he, really? What is his purpose in the world of stories? And what does his potential appearance in the last chapter imply? Should I send this book to my English professors? I think I should. Or at the very least, I need to keep this book handy for the next time I'm allowed to use a book of my choice for a paper.
Anyways, by the end of this book, I was head over heels in love with all the protagonists. They grew so much in just one book! In James Riley's other series, it took me until the last book (granted, the beginning of the last book) before I reached the level of love for the characters that I already have for the characters of this series. I cannot wait until the second book gets released! ♥
sashe0163's review
2.0
slow going until the end. finishes with a bang. major plot hole about the main character's father. this issue is brought up more than once, but nothing is ever done about it.