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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Stolen by Lucy Christopher, though widely acclaimed, didn't quite meet my expectations. It promised an intriguing premise: a young girl, Gemma, kidnapped while on a trip to Vietnam with her parents, is taken from the Bangkok airport to the Australian outback by her abductor, Ty. The tension that builds in the beginning, along with the unsettling but fascinating psychology behind Gemma's complex relationship with her kidnapper, is what initially drew me in. However, as the story progressed, I found myself losing interest and struggling to stay engaged.
The opening chapters did an excellent job of capturing the raw and emotional turmoil of Gemma's abduction. The reader is immediately thrust into her desperation and fear, which sets the stage for a story full of danger, suspense, and survival. The sense of isolation in the Australian desert is vivid, and the landscape almost becomes a character in itself—immense, harsh, and unforgiving. One of the more gripping early moments comes when Gemma realizes she has been taken far away from everything she knows. The author paints a vivid picture of her inner conflict as she begins to reconcile with her terrifying new reality, all while being held captive by a man who, while deeply unsettling, is oddly sympathetic at times. The psychological complexity of Ty’s character—who seems both loving and threatening in his actions—keeps you questioning his true motivations and whether Gemma might actually start to understand him.
However, once the initial tension began to wear off, the book started to feel like it was dragging. By the middle of the story, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The relationship between Gemma and Ty becomes more repetitive, and the once-pulsing tension between them starts to fade. I couldn’t help but feel that some of the dramatic potential had fizzled out, and the plot seemed to stall. This is where I almost DNF’d (Did Not Finish) the book, as the novelty of their back-and-forth dialogue seemed to lose its sharp edge, leaving me disinterested in the emotional developments. While there are occasional moments of emotional depth, such as when Gemma reflects on her life back home, these moments feel few and far between in comparison to the repetitive nature of the plot. The pacing slows considerably in the middle, and by the time the story starts to regain momentum, I found I was no longer invested in Gemma’s journey.
When it comes to the climax and resolution, Stolen doesn’t quite deliver the catharsis I was hoping for. While Gemma’s escape and ultimate return to safety offer a sense of closure, the resolution felt rushed and didn’t pack the emotional punch that the novel's early chapters promised. There’s a disconnect between the emotional buildup and the final payoff, which left me feeling unsatisfied.
One of the things that truly hindered my enjoyment of Stolen was the lack of growth in its characters. Gemma’s character, while initially interesting, doesn’t evolve as much as I would have liked. Her internal struggle and sense of captivity are explored in depth, but there isn’t enough growth or change in her character throughout the story to make her arc compelling. Ty, too, is a character full of contradictions, but I didn’t feel like I gained enough insight into his psyche for me to truly empathize with him or understand his motivations.
That said, Stolen does have its shining moments. The setting is absolutely immersive, and Lucy Christopher's writing skillfully conveys the vastness and the terror of the outback. One moment that stands out is when Gemma realizes the extent of Ty’s obsession and her own emotional conflict. The tension during these moments of self-reflection and realization is palpable, and it does give a glimpse of what could have been an emotionally charged narrative. Additionally, there’s a scene where Gemma begins to bond with the land and the wild animals, which was both beautiful and symbolic. It gave her some agency in her situation, even if it wasn’t enough to sustain my interest for the long haul.
Unfortunately, Stolen didn’t live up to its potential for me. While the first few chapters offered an exciting start and some moments of emotional depth, the book quickly became monotonous, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. While it has a few poignant moments and strong writing in parts, the story as a whole lacks the emotional resonance and character development I was hoping for. For those who enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers, there might be something here, but for me, Stolen ended up being a rather forgettable read. I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a tightly-paced, emotionally gripping narrative.
I had some mixed emotions about this book (which I think is kind of intentional) but over all it was really enjoyable.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not for me.
I was interested in this for the premise and the format, but the way it was written wasn't particularly original. It is described as a 'letter' but it really is just recounting the ENTIRE story, mundane details and all, to the kidnapper. Because it's being written to him, I expected the story to be told in a somewhat non-linear way that would be more exciting to read.
After finishing the book, I can't say I'm comfortable with how Ty is romanticized and made out to be someone who is a victim of circumstance. In some ways he is, and that sucks, but he stalked, drugged, and abducted Gemma. If there had been a better handling of what it's like to develop Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with an abuser, that kind of a thing, I would be more okay with it. As it is, her parents and any doctors are villainized for calling him a monster, etc etc. And it's not really delved into - Gemma brushes it off.
I also had a hard time believing the abduction scene in the beginning. If this was written in the late 90's, it would have been more believable. Admittedly, I have never abducted anyone, or even contemplated it, so I'm no expert. It just seemed that drugging Gemma in public and then changing her clothes and dragging her onto another flight (while her parents waited for her at their gate) wouldn't have worked so easily.
I was interested in this for the premise and the format, but the way it was written wasn't particularly original. It is described as a 'letter' but it really is just recounting the ENTIRE story, mundane details and all, to the kidnapper. Because it's being written to him, I expected the story to be told in a somewhat non-linear way that would be more exciting to read.
After finishing the book, I can't say I'm comfortable with how Ty is romanticized and made out to be someone who is a victim of circumstance. In some ways he is, and that sucks, but he stalked, drugged, and abducted Gemma. If there had been a better handling of what it's like to develop Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with an abuser, that kind of a thing, I would be more okay with it. As it is, her parents and any doctors are villainized for calling him a monster, etc etc. And it's not really delved into - Gemma brushes it off.
I also had a hard time believing the abduction scene in the beginning. If this was written in the late 90's, it would have been more believable. Admittedly, I have never abducted anyone, or even contemplated it, so I'm no expert. It just seemed that drugging Gemma in public and then changing her clothes and dragging her onto another flight (while her parents waited for her at their gate) wouldn't have worked so easily.
Giving this book a 5 because I've been drawn to reread so many times.
I think it's well written and hauntingly beautiful. Each time I've read it has been such a different experience. I definitely see how a first read, especially at a young age, may miss the point of the book.
Reading it for the third time in my 30s, I have so much pity and anger for Ty. I am rooting for Gemma the whole way through. I see now so much in a different light, from what he tells her to how he acts.
I also read and reviewed the sequel. I don't fully recommend it, but some people loved it.
I think it's well written and hauntingly beautiful. Each time I've read it has been such a different experience. I definitely see how a first read, especially at a young age, may miss the point of the book.
Reading it for the third time in my 30s, I have so much pity and anger for Ty. I am rooting for Gemma the whole way through. I see now so much in a different light, from what he tells her to how he acts.
I also read and reviewed the sequel. I don't fully recommend it, but some people loved it.
Gemma is abducted by a crazy guy while in an airport with her parents, and taken into the Australian outback. Was she chosen or could it have been any other girl ?
This book is written as her letter to her captor, Ty. She recalls her time with him in the desert.
I found it slow at times, but kept wondering "what is going to happen next ? will she live with Ty forever ? if not, how will she escape ?". It took me about half of the book to truly get into the story and to enjoy it. I loved the characters, though, and how the author shows the progression of Gemma's feelings.
PS: kuddos to the camel and the chickens.
This book is written as her letter to her captor, Ty. She recalls her time with him in the desert.
I found it slow at times, but kept wondering "what is going to happen next ? will she live with Ty forever ? if not, how will she escape ?". It took me about half of the book to truly get into the story and to enjoy it. I loved the characters, though, and how the author shows the progression of Gemma's feelings.
PS: kuddos to the camel and the chickens.
I had a hard time at first with this book because I never really felt like Ty was the bad guy - even when Gemma was describing him, she commented on things like his body or his eyes or complimented him in some way. But the more I read I realized the reason for this was because of how she ended up feeling about him by the end of the book...had she wrote this letter while everything was happening, it wound have sounded much different.
I knew I should be hating him for what he had done, but I just couldn't feel it because my feelings matched Gemma's as she wrote the letter, and I was instead eager to see how their relationship progressed.
I loved the mutliple options Gemma provided at the end for how she could present the entire kidnapping; it really made me see the various ways the situation could be described - all of which were accurate. This book really makes you think!!
I knew I should be hating him for what he had done, but I just couldn't feel it because my feelings matched Gemma's as she wrote the letter, and I was instead eager to see how their relationship progressed.
I loved the mutliple options Gemma provided at the end for how she could present the entire kidnapping; it really made me see the various ways the situation could be described - all of which were accurate. This book really makes you think!!
This was a fun YA read. Written as a letter it's the story that tells of a teenage girl who is captured and taken to the Australian desert.
The relationship between the two developed nicely and there wasn't the usual trope of "I've fallen in love with my kidnapper and he's such a good guy now!" I found that quite refreshing. Christopher did a nice job of painting a very complex kidnapper who believed his actions were all for the best. She also did a wonderful job juxtaposing the co flicking feelings of a teenager who hates her kidnapper but also finds him interesting as time wears on.
Overall it was a fun read and written in letter form like it was gave the book a nice twist I feel it would have lacked otherwise.
The relationship between the two developed nicely and there wasn't the usual trope of "I've fallen in love with my kidnapper and he's such a good guy now!" I found that quite refreshing. Christopher did a nice job of painting a very complex kidnapper who believed his actions were all for the best. She also did a wonderful job juxtaposing the co flicking feelings of a teenager who hates her kidnapper but also finds him interesting as time wears on.
Overall it was a fun read and written in letter form like it was gave the book a nice twist I feel it would have lacked otherwise.