popthebutterfly's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from Parliament House. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Stolen #1
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (mental illness, some scary moments, kidnapping, forced servitude)
Publisher: Parliament House
Pages: 258
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It’s difficult taking care of a delusional father by yourself. Sixteen-year-old Shaleigh Mallet would rather explore and photograph dilapidated buildings than cater to her father’s dark episodes. But when she’s kidnapped by a creature who carries her atop a flying bicycle into another world, she realizes this wasn’t the escape she wanted.
In a kingdom known as the Garden, where minotaurs pull carriages and parties are held in hot air balloons, Madam Cloom and her faerie servant, Teagan, rule over the land with incredible but terrifying magic. Shaleigh must prove that she is the reincarnation of a long-dead ruler, not because she believes it, but because it’s her only chance to survive. With the help of a trespassing faerie, a stoatling, and a living statue, Shaleigh hopes to outwit everyone. She aims to break the bonds of servitude and finally make her way home. What she doesn’t realize, however, is that she’s playing right into the hands of a far worse enemy...
Review: Holy cow this book was magical! The characters were so well written and I just loved Shaleigh. I really connected with them and the book just drug me in! The world building was fantastic, the plot was amazingly well done, and the writing was magnificent.
However, I did feel that there were some slow, pace breaking moments but they were few and far between. I feel like realistically someone would have stepped in to help Shaleigh with her father, especially since it was known, but it seemed like it feel into the realm of “the system failed”, which is sadly becoming a cliché in the YA community.
Verdict: Beautiful and unique. Definite must buy.
Book Series: Stolen #1
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (mental illness, some scary moments, kidnapping, forced servitude)
Publisher: Parliament House
Pages: 258
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It’s difficult taking care of a delusional father by yourself. Sixteen-year-old Shaleigh Mallet would rather explore and photograph dilapidated buildings than cater to her father’s dark episodes. But when she’s kidnapped by a creature who carries her atop a flying bicycle into another world, she realizes this wasn’t the escape she wanted.
In a kingdom known as the Garden, where minotaurs pull carriages and parties are held in hot air balloons, Madam Cloom and her faerie servant, Teagan, rule over the land with incredible but terrifying magic. Shaleigh must prove that she is the reincarnation of a long-dead ruler, not because she believes it, but because it’s her only chance to survive. With the help of a trespassing faerie, a stoatling, and a living statue, Shaleigh hopes to outwit everyone. She aims to break the bonds of servitude and finally make her way home. What she doesn’t realize, however, is that she’s playing right into the hands of a far worse enemy...
Review: Holy cow this book was magical! The characters were so well written and I just loved Shaleigh. I really connected with them and the book just drug me in! The world building was fantastic, the plot was amazingly well done, and the writing was magnificent.
However, I did feel that there were some slow, pace breaking moments but they were few and far between. I feel like realistically someone would have stepped in to help Shaleigh with her father, especially since it was known, but it seemed like it feel into the realm of “the system failed”, which is sadly becoming a cliché in the YA community.
Verdict: Beautiful and unique. Definite must buy.
myindieauthorbookreviews's review
5.0
Sixteen-year-old Shaleigh longs to escape the burden of caring for her ailing father. His delusions have her seeking respite in her photography of old abandon buildings. When she is kidnapped by a creature on a flying bicycle it is not the kind of escape she had longed for. She is taken off to a world where Madam Cloom rules with terrifying magic.
katiexmm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lrauert's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I've read something that even remotely resembled an 80s movie -- which had pretty much been my whole childhood. This felt like a throwback with a kick. A spicy throwback? Maybe?
Anywho, I love odd fantasy, fantasy that stays true to its heart and is twisty and full of darkness. Stolen was just like that and so much more. From shady faeries to weird creatures to oddly normal items being used in fantastical ways, this book had it all.
I cannot wait for the second book!
Anywho, I love odd fantasy, fantasy that stays true to its heart and is twisty and full of darkness. Stolen was just like that and so much more. From shady faeries to weird creatures to oddly normal items being used in fantastical ways, this book had it all.
I cannot wait for the second book!
apagetoturn's review against another edition
4.0
First off, I loved Shaleigh as our MC, I trusted her voice and her story as we followed along her journey. She finds herself in a brand new world, and she didn't let that fact throw her off in the least - she was a strong voice throughout the story. Her goals never waivered, and the love for her delusional father never faltered. I really enjoyed all the characters we met along the way as well. There were so many different and unique personalities present, and it was very dialogue driven when I liked. This is the first in a series, so it's a happy for now ending/cliffhanger instead of an HEA... just a heads up.
I really enjoyed the narrator as well, the techniques used to make voices and parts of the story stand out were well done. Her voice was very easy to listen to. I got sucked in because the story telling was just as good as the story I was being told!
Thanks to the author Marlena Frank and Audiobookworm Productions for the review copy.
I really enjoyed the narrator as well, the techniques used to make voices and parts of the story stand out were well done. Her voice was very easy to listen to. I got sucked in because the story telling was just as good as the story I was being told!
Thanks to the author Marlena Frank and Audiobookworm Productions for the review copy.
bookishtiffany's review against another edition
1.0
Hated this book. Needs so much work. Couldn't get past the first couple chapters.
a_potter_nerd's review against another edition
4.0
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to The Parliament House and NetGalley for giving me access.
This one had a slow build for me. We begin with one story and then are diving into a completely different story. I was left with major questions and wondering if they would get answered. Spoiler alert, they didn't.
Although, I had some issues with Stolen, the 'second' story is where it picks up. I love this alternate world that they were in and the creatures.
I'm hoping the next book will answer the questions I have.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book.
This one had a slow build for me. We begin with one story and then are diving into a completely different story. I was left with major questions and wondering if they would get answered. Spoiler alert, they didn't.
Although, I had some issues with Stolen, the 'second' story is where it picks up. I love this alternate world that they were in and the creatures.
I'm hoping the next book will answer the questions I have.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book.
maggiespages's review against another edition
4.0
I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review
Note: SPOILERS
When I was first reading the synopsis of this story, I was intrigued but also hesitant. I was worried that there would be too much happening for me to follow along.
Boy was I wrong!
The novel opens with Shaleigh having to defend her father, who suffers from a severe form of mental illness that causes delusions. Her father is convinced her mother, who left when Shaleigh was a toddler, will return home even though to everyone else around him it is clear that she won’t. Shaleigh just wants an escape from her reality, but she wasn’t expecting to be kidnapped and taken to a different world entirely! I am curious to know if we will be seeing more of Shaleigh’s parents in the next novel, due in Spring 2020 according to Goodreads.
The land where Shaleigh ends up is a strong mix of Oz and Wonderland, a crossover I didn’t know I wanted until I got to this part in the novel. Mawr, a stone lion, is absolutely adorable and is so kind. He became my favorite character from his first line of dialogue and strongly reminded me of Aslan from Narnia! Right away I connected these characters to the beloved characters of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, etc. The world building was incredible with this novel and I was able to picture the settings along with following the characters. I would have liked to see a little more development with a few of the characters we meet later in the novel, but overall it was a truly great read for me! I’ll definitely be looking out for the second novel in 2020!
Note: SPOILERS
When I was first reading the synopsis of this story, I was intrigued but also hesitant. I was worried that there would be too much happening for me to follow along.
Boy was I wrong!
The novel opens with Shaleigh having to defend her father, who suffers from a severe form of mental illness that causes delusions. Her father is convinced her mother, who left when Shaleigh was a toddler, will return home even though to everyone else around him it is clear that she won’t. Shaleigh just wants an escape from her reality, but she wasn’t expecting to be kidnapped and taken to a different world entirely! I am curious to know if we will be seeing more of Shaleigh’s parents in the next novel, due in Spring 2020 according to Goodreads.
The land where Shaleigh ends up is a strong mix of Oz and Wonderland, a crossover I didn’t know I wanted until I got to this part in the novel. Mawr, a stone lion, is absolutely adorable and is so kind. He became my favorite character from his first line of dialogue and strongly reminded me of Aslan from Narnia! Right away I connected these characters to the beloved characters of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, etc. The world building was incredible with this novel and I was able to picture the settings along with following the characters. I would have liked to see a little more development with a few of the characters we meet later in the novel, but overall it was a truly great read for me! I’ll definitely be looking out for the second novel in 2020!
ylmpastmidnight's review against another edition
3.0
*2.5 Stars*
Thank you to Parliament House and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this eArc.
This book review is way overdue but I finally finished the book. It took me awhile to finish this book which is unfortunate because I thought it started off pretty good. But it just couldn’t seem to hold my interest.
Shaleigh and her friend Kaeja, have an interesting hobby. They go to decrepit locations around town to photograph them. It helps her escape issues she’s dealing with at home. Shaleigh’s father is having problems at work and his mental state is called into question. Then one day Shaleigh and Kaeja are on location when something totally unexpected occurs.
Shaleigh gets kidnapped and taken to the Land of the Fae where she must convince them she is the reincarnation of a long dead ruler. The story reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, with Madam Cloom resembling the Queen of Hearts.
The world-building in the land of Faerie is great but something about the book wasn’t holding my interest, it might have been the slow pacing of the story. I wasn’t attached to any characters in faerie but I did like that there was diversity in the love story being represented between two fae, Teagan and Talek. Other than the world-building I felt like there was a lull in the middle of the story and most of the action comes in the end, with a cliff-hanger ending.
This may have been a case of needing to be in the mood to read this book but Stolen just wasn’t for me. Despite it not working for me, I think a lot of young adult fantasy readers would enjoy the world-building and story of Shaleigh trying to find her way home.
Thank you to Parliament House and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this eArc.
This book review is way overdue but I finally finished the book. It took me awhile to finish this book which is unfortunate because I thought it started off pretty good. But it just couldn’t seem to hold my interest.
Shaleigh and her friend Kaeja, have an interesting hobby. They go to decrepit locations around town to photograph them. It helps her escape issues she’s dealing with at home. Shaleigh’s father is having problems at work and his mental state is called into question. Then one day Shaleigh and Kaeja are on location when something totally unexpected occurs.
Shaleigh gets kidnapped and taken to the Land of the Fae where she must convince them she is the reincarnation of a long dead ruler. The story reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, with Madam Cloom resembling the Queen of Hearts.
The world-building in the land of Faerie is great but something about the book wasn’t holding my interest, it might have been the slow pacing of the story. I wasn’t attached to any characters in faerie but I did like that there was diversity in the love story being represented between two fae, Teagan and Talek. Other than the world-building I felt like there was a lull in the middle of the story and most of the action comes in the end, with a cliff-hanger ending.
This may have been a case of needing to be in the mood to read this book but Stolen just wasn’t for me. Despite it not working for me, I think a lot of young adult fantasy readers would enjoy the world-building and story of Shaleigh trying to find her way home.