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stone_stupas's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chronicallybookish's review against another edition
4.0
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
The first few chapters of this book focus on a futuristic world built in towering skyscrapers. That, paired with the cover, made me assume it was going to be scifi—but it was definitely high fantasy. The magic system, yes, but also just the vibes.
Think: magic, rag tag team, heist plot, revenge, political subterfuge.
And yes, it is as good as it sounds.
Stolen City is narrated through four (third person) POVs, Arian, Liam, Cavar, and Zephyr. I’m always hesitant when books go over two POV characters, because I often find it confusing or generally less engaging, but I enjoyed every POV and they were different enough that I never got their voices muddled. Each character gave their own unique and necessary viewpoint to the story.
The plot was equally engaging—fast paced and twisty. There were a few reveals that I saw coming from early on, but others completely caught me off guard in the best way. I do wish the heist aspect had been played into a little more, mostly because I’m a sucker for that trope, but I think there was room for more building of tension in that regard.
My only other complaint was in the world building. The Leithonian magic system was well developed, as was the political climate of the world and its relations to the other nations. The tribal clans of the Weavers were also well developed, but I am still highly confused on what, exactly, the Weavers themselves are. They’re…spies? Who think the fate of the world is there responsibility? What are their motives? Do they or do they not have magic of their own? Every mention of the Weavers just confused me more.
In the start of the book, alongside the cover, there is a lot of emphasis of a world based on towering skyscrapers (think Rebel by Marie Lu), but after those first few chapters, the skyscraper and similar layout of the city is almost never mentioned, nor is it relevant. On occasion there would be a throwaway mention, and I’d get confused as I remembered this city is set up very very oddly. Due to the lack of explanation to how these skyscrapers interacted with the story itself, I often found myself trying and failing to picture any sort of landscape, terrain, or map of the world.
I enjoyed the book as a whole. It was fast, sweeping, and intriguing. It was open-ended, and while the ending was satisfying, I’d love to return to the world of Stolen City and see what everyone—especially Liam—are up to. I enjoyed Elisa A. Bonnin’s writing and I’m excited to pick up her debut next!
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
The first few chapters of this book focus on a futuristic world built in towering skyscrapers. That, paired with the cover, made me assume it was going to be scifi—but it was definitely high fantasy. The magic system, yes, but also just the vibes.
Think: magic, rag tag team, heist plot, revenge, political subterfuge.
And yes, it is as good as it sounds.
Stolen City is narrated through four (third person) POVs, Arian, Liam, Cavar, and Zephyr. I’m always hesitant when books go over two POV characters, because I often find it confusing or generally less engaging, but I enjoyed every POV and they were different enough that I never got their voices muddled. Each character gave their own unique and necessary viewpoint to the story.
The plot was equally engaging—fast paced and twisty. There were a few reveals that I saw coming from early on, but others completely caught me off guard in the best way. I do wish the heist aspect had been played into a little more, mostly because I’m a sucker for that trope, but I think there was room for more building of tension in that regard.
My only other complaint was in the world building. The Leithonian magic system was well developed, as was the political climate of the world and its relations to the other nations. The tribal clans of the Weavers were also well developed, but I am still highly confused on what, exactly, the Weavers themselves are. They’re…spies? Who think the fate of the world is there responsibility? What are their motives? Do they or do they not have magic of their own? Every mention of the Weavers just confused me more.
In the start of the book, alongside the cover, there is a lot of emphasis of a world based on towering skyscrapers (think Rebel by Marie Lu), but after those first few chapters, the skyscraper and similar layout of the city is almost never mentioned, nor is it relevant. On occasion there would be a throwaway mention, and I’d get confused as I remembered this city is set up very very oddly. Due to the lack of explanation to how these skyscrapers interacted with the story itself, I often found myself trying and failing to picture any sort of landscape, terrain, or map of the world.
I enjoyed the book as a whole. It was fast, sweeping, and intriguing. It was open-ended, and while the ending was satisfying, I’d love to return to the world of Stolen City and see what everyone—especially Liam—are up to. I enjoyed Elisa A. Bonnin’s writing and I’m excited to pick up her debut next!
julieannasbooks's review against another edition
4.0
⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you to Fierce Reads and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I love a good heist novel. Who doesn’t? There’s so much potential when it comes to meeting the characters involved, the planning, and holding out for that great execution at the end. Stolen City is one of those novels, artfully combining its story with a unique urban fantasy setting.
A big element of heist novels is plotting out the heist itself, and the pace of this novel definitely reflects that. I’d tend to recommend this book more to those who would prefer a slower-paced novel, as this one does take some time to set things up. But as a result, you have a rich story and world to become immersed in.
The characters’ motivations and interactions with each other were really well-done as well. But this book also included a lot of perspectives, which I personally thought made the book a little more complicated than it needed to be in terms of telling the story and character development. This tends to be a preference for me, however – other readers may not mind this.
Overall, Stolen City was a solid sophomore novel. This is not only a good pick for readers who enjoy Grishaverse, but also urban fantasy series like Renegades.
CW:
Thank you to Fierce Reads and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I love a good heist novel. Who doesn’t? There’s so much potential when it comes to meeting the characters involved, the planning, and holding out for that great execution at the end. Stolen City is one of those novels, artfully combining its story with a unique urban fantasy setting.
A big element of heist novels is plotting out the heist itself, and the pace of this novel definitely reflects that. I’d tend to recommend this book more to those who would prefer a slower-paced novel, as this one does take some time to set things up. But as a result, you have a rich story and world to become immersed in.
The characters’ motivations and interactions with each other were really well-done as well. But this book also included a lot of perspectives, which I personally thought made the book a little more complicated than it needed to be in terms of telling the story and character development. This tends to be a preference for me, however – other readers may not mind this.
Overall, Stolen City was a solid sophomore novel. This is not only a good pick for readers who enjoy Grishaverse, but also urban fantasy series like Renegades.
CW:
Spoiler
Death, Death of a parent, murder, violence/gorepuzzle_ad's review against another edition
2.5
This is honestly much more it's not the book it's me thing I suppose. I had some shit happen this week and had to go to the ER so after that it was pretty hard for me to focus on the audiobook, which I was already midway through. I feel like I couldn't really connect to any part of the story or characters. I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it either. Also, I feel like the cover gives much more of a sci-fi vibe and I kinda expected it to be more sci-fi when in fact it's straight-up fantasy. This is not a problem for me but it does kind of feel like false advertising. I forced myself to finish it yesterday so that I can be done.
lisbethwhite's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nclcaitlin's review
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A heist book filled with magic.
We have a brother and sister relationship filled with building tension, a romance which seems to have no future and a city overtaken.
I liked the morally grey characters but the underpinning sense of duty and loyalty.
<blockquote> "But you are helping the cause. You and your brother both. You're taking magical artifacts out of the hands of Imperials."
Arian raised one hand, making a vague gesture. "It's good money. And sticking it to the Empire's a bonus, sure. But I'm not in this to be a hero." </blockquote>
A heist book filled with magic.
We have a brother and sister relationship filled with building tension, a romance which seems to have no future and a city overtaken.
I liked the morally grey characters but the underpinning sense of duty and loyalty.
<blockquote> "But you are helping the cause. You and your brother both. You're taking magical artifacts out of the hands of Imperials."
Arian raised one hand, making a vague gesture. "It's good money. And sticking it to the Empire's a bonus, sure. But I'm not in this to be a hero." </blockquote>
lyctors's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tessa_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readingwitherin's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you to netgalley and swoon reads for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Stolen City is told in four different points of view.
Cavar – Who is a weaver that has come to Leithon to find a star that is important to his group. Cavar hires Arian and Liam to help him get the star back to his people and into safe hands before someone else figures out how to use it and cause harm to the entire city.
Arian – Who is a thief who lives in Leithon and who know how to get around the city undetected. She has a twin and together they have pulled off some of the cities most well known heists. She ends up working with Cavar to attempt to steal the star his group wants before it falls into the wrong hands.
Liam – Arian’s twin brother who has magical abilities and is able to help the heists go off perfectly. With his magical abilities Liam realizes that he can do far more for the revolution thats happening and possible help protect others.
Zephyr – Liam’s ex-girlfriend, has betrayed they city supposedly in order to protect those she loves. Is now one of the people in charge of protecting the Bastion (castle like structure for the city.
Together these four different points of view help put together what has happened in the past in Leithon and what is currently happening now as the city is about to burst with revolution. Not only is a revolution about to happen, but there is also a heist planned that could have multiple of the characters we are following dead, or worse imprisoned.
Overall I couldn’t read this book fast enough. I had to know what was going to happen next. If Arian and Cavar were going to be able to convince them to work together in the tense situations they ended up getting involved in. They had to keep up appearances and play a part that wasn’t easy, especially as time went on and they got closer to the time to pull off the heist in one of the most secure places that Arian had ever tried to get into. Not only that though, they were also dealing with women else who they didn’t even know existed and had to stay safe from the revolution. All of this at once made for an extremely action-packed story that had so many moving parts that all came together to help make an amazing ending.
I’m not going to spoil anything or say how the heist ends up going. But what I will say is that I would love to see more of this world with either a book two, or with some companion novels showing what everyone else gets up to after that ending.
Stolen City is told in four different points of view.
Cavar – Who is a weaver that has come to Leithon to find a star that is important to his group. Cavar hires Arian and Liam to help him get the star back to his people and into safe hands before someone else figures out how to use it and cause harm to the entire city.
Arian – Who is a thief who lives in Leithon and who know how to get around the city undetected. She has a twin and together they have pulled off some of the cities most well known heists. She ends up working with Cavar to attempt to steal the star his group wants before it falls into the wrong hands.
Liam – Arian’s twin brother who has magical abilities and is able to help the heists go off perfectly. With his magical abilities Liam realizes that he can do far more for the revolution thats happening and possible help protect others.
Zephyr – Liam’s ex-girlfriend, has betrayed they city supposedly in order to protect those she loves. Is now one of the people in charge of protecting the Bastion (castle like structure for the city.
Together these four different points of view help put together what has happened in the past in Leithon and what is currently happening now as the city is about to burst with revolution. Not only is a revolution about to happen, but there is also a heist planned that could have multiple of the characters we are following dead, or worse imprisoned.
Overall I couldn’t read this book fast enough. I had to know what was going to happen next. If Arian and Cavar were going to be able to convince them to work together in the tense situations they ended up getting involved in. They had to keep up appearances and play a part that wasn’t easy, especially as time went on and they got closer to the time to pull off the heist in one of the most secure places that Arian had ever tried to get into. Not only that though, they were also dealing with women else who they didn’t even know existed and had to stay safe from the revolution. All of this at once made for an extremely action-packed story that had so many moving parts that all came together to help make an amazing ending.
I’m not going to spoil anything or say how the heist ends up going. But what I will say is that I would love to see more of this world with either a book two, or with some companion novels showing what everyone else gets up to after that ending.
celticteddy's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Disclaimer: I was given an eARC as part of a street team for this book to give my honest review.
"Luck in the face of danger"
I loved it. Over and over again, I thought I had figured out what was happening and every time I ended up being taken by surprise.
It did have a couple gut punch moments. One that just always gets me is siblings being part of something bigger and how that all effects them.
I loved the unwilling chosen one, it's not used enough.
For her sophomore novel, I honestly am hooked on Elisa's writing and desperately want more both in this world, and other worlds she creates.
I started this last night and finished it tonight so it was hard to put down. Once the ball got rolling, I didn't want to stop.
"We'd rather die in the fire than live without facing it."
"Luck in the face of danger"
I loved it. Over and over again, I thought I had figured out what was happening and every time I ended up being taken by surprise.
It did have a couple gut punch moments. One that just always gets me is siblings being part of something bigger and how that all effects them.
I loved the unwilling chosen one, it's not used enough.
For her sophomore novel, I honestly am hooked on Elisa's writing and desperately want more both in this world, and other worlds she creates.
I started this last night and finished it tonight so it was hard to put down. Once the ball got rolling, I didn't want to stop.
"We'd rather die in the fire than live without facing it."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent