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a_perennial_reader's review against another edition
3.0
This is a solid, wholesome fantasy book.
The plotline is really engaging.
We see the kingdom of Perin Faye under the strict rule of a magic crazed king. As per old tales, the current ruling family - Thungraves, stole the magic from the its rightful owners and rulers of Perin Faye - the Dallowyns. Ever since the Thungraves came into power, the magic has taken a dark turn and it now hangs like a cruel curse over the rulers, corrupting each king that comes into power.
We follow dual povs of our two MCs. Alac is the king's second son and the spare to the heir. Maralyth is the daughter of a skilled vintner whose family has been rendered poor because of the King's autocratic rule.
Both of them have ambitions that are different from what their families expect from them and are undermined by their families. They find their lives irrevocably interwoven by a twist of fate.
To me, both Alac and Maralyth felt like ordinary characters. Things were just happening to them and they were letting things happen to them. In many ways, they were shown as helpless. But both possessed a good heart and a desire to do better. Personally, I would have liked it if there would have been a little more fire, a little more spirit in these two. But that's my personal taste. On their own, these two MCs were very wholesome.
I liked the supporting characters as well, like Alac's friend Tucker or Maralyth's brother Nestar. I also liked the negative characters.
The plot was straightforward and did not deviate much. There were a few twists, but nothing too shocking or unexpected. The ending was surprisingly clean. Overall the story ties up all ends neatly.
There are few standalone fantasy books. And while this one was not excellent for me, it surely was a good book and provided good entertainment while reading.
The plotline is really engaging.
We see the kingdom of Perin Faye under the strict rule of a magic crazed king. As per old tales, the current ruling family - Thungraves, stole the magic from the its rightful owners and rulers of Perin Faye - the Dallowyns. Ever since the Thungraves came into power, the magic has taken a dark turn and it now hangs like a cruel curse over the rulers, corrupting each king that comes into power.
We follow dual povs of our two MCs. Alac is the king's second son and the spare to the heir. Maralyth is the daughter of a skilled vintner whose family has been rendered poor because of the King's autocratic rule.
Both of them have ambitions that are different from what their families expect from them and are undermined by their families. They find their lives irrevocably interwoven by a twist of fate.
To me, both Alac and Maralyth felt like ordinary characters. Things were just happening to them and they were letting things happen to them. In many ways, they were shown as helpless. But both possessed a good heart and a desire to do better. Personally, I would have liked it if there would have been a little more fire, a little more spirit in these two. But that's my personal taste. On their own, these two MCs were very wholesome.
I liked the supporting characters as well, like Alac's friend Tucker or Maralyth's brother Nestar. I also liked the negative characters.
The plot was straightforward and did not deviate much. There were a few twists, but nothing too shocking or unexpected. The ending was surprisingly clean. Overall the story ties up all ends neatly.
There are few standalone fantasy books. And while this one was not excellent for me, it surely was a good book and provided good entertainment while reading.
jlbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The stolen kingdom
The Stolen Kingdom is a lovely fantasy tale. Written in duel points of view between Maralyth, a vinter’s daughter that dabbles in a secret magic that mysteriously keep her father’s vines and grapes plump and hearty; and Alac, the second, mostly ignored, Thungrave prince, who dreams of wine and having the freedom to pursue a life outside of the castle and the cursed “stolen magic” that comes with his royal surname.
Maralyth is kidnapped and given information in regards to her lineage that sets her on a path she never would’ve imagined her life going towards. She accepts her fate and all is well until she meets the royal family, specifically, Prince Alac, and things begin to crumble…mostly the walls around her heart. Can she stand firm with her duties and she the plans through or will she fail, not only jeopardizing her life but the lives of her family members back at the vineyard?
This book is full of everything a fantasy tale should have: lies/deceit, kingdoms, magic, treasonous plots, love, hate, and wine - never enough wine!
The author’s ability to paint the characters so meticulously reminds me of authors like Sarah J Maas, Jennifer Armentrout, and Stephanie Garber, to name a few. This stand-alone tale leaves you longing for more of the story, the characters, and the overall feeling of being a part of this world.
The Stolen Kingdom is a lovely fantasy tale. Written in duel points of view between Maralyth, a vinter’s daughter that dabbles in a secret magic that mysteriously keep her father’s vines and grapes plump and hearty; and Alac, the second, mostly ignored, Thungrave prince, who dreams of wine and having the freedom to pursue a life outside of the castle and the cursed “stolen magic” that comes with his royal surname.
Maralyth is kidnapped and given information in regards to her lineage that sets her on a path she never would’ve imagined her life going towards. She accepts her fate and all is well until she meets the royal family, specifically, Prince Alac, and things begin to crumble…mostly the walls around her heart. Can she stand firm with her duties and she the plans through or will she fail, not only jeopardizing her life but the lives of her family members back at the vineyard?
This book is full of everything a fantasy tale should have: lies/deceit, kingdoms, magic, treasonous plots, love, hate, and wine - never enough wine!
The author’s ability to paint the characters so meticulously reminds me of authors like Sarah J Maas, Jennifer Armentrout, and Stephanie Garber, to name a few. This stand-alone tale leaves you longing for more of the story, the characters, and the overall feeling of being a part of this world.
seasonforreading's review against another edition
3.0
This is a standalone fantasy, which manages to tell a riviting and enthralling story in the one book. I often find myself needing more from a standalone fantasy, however I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
I liked the characters, although it was difficult to fully appreciate them in the short time frame.
I was happy enough with this book. There is definitely a great deal of room for improvement, but I would recommend it to fans of Sorcery of Thorns.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book.
I liked the characters, although it was difficult to fully appreciate them in the short time frame.
I was happy enough with this book. There is definitely a great deal of room for improvement, but I would recommend it to fans of Sorcery of Thorns.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book.
harrowhcrk's review against another edition
3.0
**Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Tor/Forge for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Mara leads a simple life as a vintner’s daughter until she finds herself caught up in a game of kings and queens. Alac is the forgotten second son of a hated king, full of hate for the dark magic that rules his bloodline. The two find their stories intertwined as they struggle to find and do what is best for their kingdom.
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, standalone YA fantasy, this book would definitely satisfy the urge. The magic system and world building is easy to understand, the quality of the story and the characters are consistent throughout, and there’s enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There are some beautiful quotes scattered throughout—something guaranteed to earn bonus points where I’m concerned.
The flip side of this, however, was that there wasn’t too much depth. It was an enjoyable read, but in a way that was very surface level; I wasn’t terribly invested in the plot or the characters. While the split POV was great and really added to the overall story, the choice to do so with both POVs in first person ended up being a bit confusing. Without spoiling anything, the ages of the characters made some scenes uncomfortable and jarring.
Overall, this book is great if you’re looking for a quick and easy YA fantasy standalone.
Mara leads a simple life as a vintner’s daughter until she finds herself caught up in a game of kings and queens. Alac is the forgotten second son of a hated king, full of hate for the dark magic that rules his bloodline. The two find their stories intertwined as they struggle to find and do what is best for their kingdom.
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, standalone YA fantasy, this book would definitely satisfy the urge. The magic system and world building is easy to understand, the quality of the story and the characters are consistent throughout, and there’s enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There are some beautiful quotes scattered throughout—something guaranteed to earn bonus points where I’m concerned.
The flip side of this, however, was that there wasn’t too much depth. It was an enjoyable read, but in a way that was very surface level; I wasn’t terribly invested in the plot or the characters. While the split POV was great and really added to the overall story, the choice to do so with both POVs in first person ended up being a bit confusing. Without spoiling anything, the ages of the characters made some scenes uncomfortable and jarring.
Overall, this book is great if you’re looking for a quick and easy YA fantasy standalone.
someonetookit's review against another edition
1.0
I found this so hard to get through. I have been trying for literally 2 1/2 years to do it. Its not inherently bad, just really clunky. Maybe its me? Maybe its not my sort of novel despite ticking all the boxes. My latest attempt got me to the 3/4 point without keeping me entertained so its a no from me :(
raven_66's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
relaxing
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? No
5.0
debrakelsey's review against another edition
4.0
I’m such a sucker for a stand-alone fantasy. I dropped my entire TBR to blow through this beauty. This felt like a marvelous journey of bits of nostalgia from The Vine Witch meets Anastasia to The Shadows Between Us, and it was thoroughly entertaining! If you enjoy a darker YA fantasy with a straightforward plot, magic system and world-building, this one is for you.
The story is a dual POV centered around a fabulously feisty heroine main character and the black-sheep son of a tyrannical king. Thus ensues the always enticing I’m-supposed-to-murder-you turned forbidden-love troupe. There’s a little romantic tension, but the plot isn’t centered around spice or romance. I could hardly put it down from the moment I started it and finished it in half a day because the storyline itself kept me interested.
I’d have loved more details about the magic system and surrounding lands. The writing and storyline were simple, but not necessarily in a bad way. The magic system and world-building were easy understand and keep up with. Overall this was a great, quick read.
The story is a dual POV centered around a fabulously feisty heroine main character and the black-sheep son of a tyrannical king. Thus ensues the always enticing I’m-supposed-to-murder-you turned forbidden-love troupe. There’s a little romantic tension, but the plot isn’t centered around spice or romance. I could hardly put it down from the moment I started it and finished it in half a day because the storyline itself kept me interested.
I’d have loved more details about the magic system and surrounding lands. The writing and storyline were simple, but not necessarily in a bad way. The magic system and world-building were easy understand and keep up with. Overall this was a great, quick read.
melaniejallmanx's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It had court politics, magic and a slow-burn romance and I loved it all. At the start I wasn't sure and I didn't expect to like it as much as I did by the end.
Sometimes with a stand-alone it can feel like the world building isn't enough but it was done well in this case and it was really interesting.
I loved Alac I found him to be such a comfort character and I was really rooting for him and Maralyth.
This was a good stand-alone and could easily be made into a great series, I think/hope, if the author wanted to
Sometimes with a stand-alone it can feel like the world building isn't enough but it was done well in this case and it was really interesting.
I loved Alac I found him to be such a comfort character and I was really rooting for him and Maralyth.
This was a good stand-alone and could easily be made into a great series, I think/hope, if the author wanted to
lisamparkin's review against another edition
I loved the whole premise of the story: an ancient king steals magic that isn't rightfully his and unleashes dark powers on the world.
However, I struggled with this story because while I felt very much invested in Maralyth and Alec's stories, most of the time I felt like the romance was distant. I just couldn't connect with it, and normally that's its own issue, but part of what happens in the story is hinged on believing their connection.
I'm ruling this as a "not a me" book, but I do think fantasy YA fans will enjoy it!
However, I struggled with this story because while I felt very much invested in Maralyth and Alec's stories, most of the time I felt like the romance was distant. I just couldn't connect with it, and normally that's its own issue, but part of what happens in the story is hinged on believing their connection.
I'm ruling this as a "not a me" book, but I do think fantasy YA fans will enjoy it!
nite0wl29's review against another edition
2.0
Hummm, well, this had such potential to be something amazing. The magic system was unique. Two wonderful main characters with point-of-views. A villain (or two) who could’ve been great. Lovable side characters.
Sadly, everything fell flat.
Several of the beginning chapters were nothing but politics and by the time I was 12 chapters in I just wanted the main characters Mara and Alac to meet. When they finally did the anticipation almost felt worth the build-up. Except the chemistry lacked sustenance. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they were adorable and their interactions were sweet. But I’m not much of a fan of insta-love romances and all that did was cheapen the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the storyline.
The climax...ugh. You can’t imagine how disappointed I was when the turning point of the book turned out to be anticlimatic. The villain’s death felt pointless and boring, as did the king’s death. After being absent for nearly 3/4 of the book I thought we would’ve gotten a chance to see just how horrible Alac’s father was since everyone feared him—nothing. Nada. Not even an epic battle of two sorcerers fighting over the throne. Even the romance felt weak as there was hardly any chapters left after the betrayal for Alac to rebuild his trust in Mara. I thought there was no way he could forgive her so easily after playing a hand in his family’s murder.
Welp, I was wrong again. By the time their romance rekindled in the end I didn’t care. I think this should’ve been a duology and would’ve benefited greatly with better fleshed-out characters and world building than as a standalone.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly, everything fell flat.
Several of the beginning chapters were nothing but politics and by the time I was 12 chapters in I just wanted the main characters Mara and Alac to meet. When they finally did the anticipation almost felt worth the build-up. Except the chemistry lacked sustenance. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they were adorable and their interactions were sweet. But I’m not much of a fan of insta-love romances and all that did was cheapen the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the storyline.
The climax...ugh. You can’t imagine how disappointed I was when the turning point of the book turned out to be anticlimatic. The villain’s death felt pointless and boring, as did the king’s death. After being absent for nearly 3/4 of the book I thought we would’ve gotten a chance to see just how horrible Alac’s father was since everyone feared him—nothing. Nada. Not even an epic battle of two sorcerers fighting over the throne. Even the romance felt weak as there was hardly any chapters left after the betrayal for Alac to rebuild his trust in Mara. I thought there was no way he could forgive her so easily after playing a hand in his family’s murder.
Welp, I was wrong again. By the time their romance rekindled in the end I didn’t care. I think this should’ve been a duology and would’ve benefited greatly with better fleshed-out characters and world building than as a standalone.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.