Thank you so much to Tor Teen for the digital ARC of The Stolen Kingdom via NetGalley! This is a great standalone YA fantasy, with everything from a king killer plot to just a twist of romance!
Quick Facts:
- Title: The Stolen Kingdom
- Series: N/A
- Author: Jillian Boehme
- Publisher & Release: Tor Teen, March 2nd 2021
- Length: 332
- Rate & Recommend: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 sure for fans of YA fantasy!
Here is the description from GoodReads:
For a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner’s daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling.
When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love
This book to me is exceptionally well done as a stand alone fantasy.
The Magic: My favorite magic systems are the ones tied to the land, tied to a Kingdom, because they not only make sense to me but add so much to the richness of the world building.
A pure, healing magic, was given to the original King of Perin Faye by the land’s deity. Corrupted into dark and destructive magic when it was stolen, it twisted a king killer into something terrifying. This is the legacy passed down through generations to the current king.
The plot/story: the plot ran at breakneck pace, again making it a great standalone. A rebel lord has decided to replace a true descendent of the first king on the throne to seize power. He finds a magic wielder and a plot to murder the ruling family is put into action. Will the corrupted magic even allow this? The current king is away while his sons entertain the heir’s wedding party. The first son/heir is incredibly important as the stolen magic requires a vessel at all times.
Maybe a better question is, will Maralyth play along with this scheme of murder or will she fall for the prince?
The Characters: I liked the characters! A vintner’s daughter, Maralyth, has hidden her magic but doesn’t really know why it is considered illicit. The second prince, Alac, who doesn’t want the throne OR the dark magic of his father, is the other point of view. They are both drawn unwillingly into this insane queen maker plot. There is instant attraction between them, but then it buds slowly over months. I liked this tiny bit of romance. Both characters had full arcs as they realized how tied to the kingdom they are, and the side characters were great too. Why not throw in an insane and terrifying king, and funny guard? There is banter for days between them all.
The World: so much magic and lore. I wish she had discussed the religion more, although it only played a side role it would have added to the lore. There was more than enough world building for a standalone for sure. Food, wealth distribution, bit of history, economy, political structure, plus two sides of the same magic. Betrayal and a tiny bit of intrigue too.
Very low content as well, just a FEW kisses and a bit of poison and swordfighting.
I just can’t get over how the magic was tied to everything in the plot, I kind of feel like this is how fantasy magic should be! Plus strong, brave, funny characters, and plenty of action, this book was a huge win for me!
Check it out, again it publishes March 2nd!
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