A review by nguyenkristine
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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.