Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.!

Jillian Boehme is a great writer. The world building in The Stolen Kingdom was fantastic and I really felt that we knew how the main characters really came to be where they are. Maralyth is a strong protagonist that you are rooting for the entire time! For a standalone novel, I think Jillian Boehme set up a world that I would be willing to read a second novel from. I really love the duel perspectives as well. It made the story seem more well rounded and complete. I also feel like the magic aspect was new and refreshing and honestly trying to figure it out kept me engaged.

However, all of that said, I think this book should have been longer. I feel like some aspects of the plot needed to be expanded upon and that the plot seemed rushed because of how short it is. I would have liked to hear more about Maralyth's training and how she became ready to take over her throne. I would have loved to read more about Cannon and Maralyth's family. I feel like characters were introduced just to be introduced so it felt random and unsatisfying. It took me a really long time to get into the story, and overall, it was interesting but not captivating, unfortunately.

I received an e-arc of this from netgalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one was a struggle at the start unfortunately and even as I continued I found my mind wandering from the story. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and some parts of the plot were just too unbelievable for me to get invested. Like when Lord Nelgarath said he'd pay her family in silver for her cooperation and she suddenly was all agreeable? To me that was too easy and she agreed to quickly, even with the threat to her family, there was no sense of danger for me personally.

Though I was so excited to read this, I has to DNF. This is in no way the book or authors fault. I couldn't get attached to the characters or the world. I think that a lot of people will like this and enjoy this book 🥰🥰

This book took me a little while to get into. Honestly the first few pages didn't really draw me into the story, so I had a little trouble staying focused on the book and put it down several times. I had to really make myself read this. Towards the middle part it got a lot better. I really enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters in the middle of the novel, however once Mara gets away from the castle, I feel like the author kind of rushed towards the ending and also ignored one of the plot tensions?? The ending was nice, but felt a little too nicely wrapped up, especially because of all of the tension and loss that Alec was feeling. Just overall I feel like this was decent, but the beginning felt a little slow, then the ending felt a little too fast.

The Stolen Kingdom had just enough adventure, fantasy, and romance. For a story with passion, it wasn't sexual (kissing in the last quarter of the book). The characters were well developed enough, even though there were a handful of them, I could keep them separated in my head.
I enjoyed this single book story more than I thought I would.

This took a while for me to get into. Honestly, I probably didn't care much until 50% in. But luckily after that, it seemed fast paced and more cohesive.

I'm always a sucker for a girl taking back her throne so of course I had to give this a try. Mara was likable enough and I thought it was a fresh take on the trope to have the girl kidnapped and convinced to take her birth right.

I also really liked the part where the magic got loose and wreaked havoc around town. I thought it was a cool characteristic of the magic to search for its heir instead of dispersing into whoever was closest or into nothing. It gave the magic personality, which just added a little something extra.

I'm not sure I totally understood the king's and Cannon's roles in all this. Maybe the Thungraves as a whole. I just didn't fully get how they were able to keep the magic in their bloodlines for the past century without the magic seeking its true heir. It may have been explained, but not enough for me to wrap my head around it. I also didn't get Ellian's quick change of character. That seemed a bit extreme.

Overall, I did enjoy this, but it took me way too long to get into to be anything more than 3 stars.

This book follows Maralyth, a vintner's daughter, in the corrupt kingdom of Perin Faye. This kingdom has been ruled by a family possessing stolen, dark magic for a century, and they claim to be the only ones gifted magic. Maralyth possess magic of a different kind, but she has to keep her magic secret in order to stay safe. She gets swept up in a plot for the throne as she finds out that it is her birthright. She meets Alac, the King's second son, who does not seem to corrupted by this evil, and they form an unexpected connection.

I really liked the magic system. I read a lot of fantasy, so I like to think that I can grasp complex magic and political systems pretty well, but it was really great to read about a magic system that was fairly simple to grasp. It was still just as magical despite its simplicity. I loved the symmetry in the two different kinds of magic. I liked both Mara and Alac as main characters. They were both level headed, and not at all annoying as leads, but I think there could have been more characterization. I feel like I did not get to know either of them as well as I could have.

The romance was not developed as much as I was expecting. I was really hoping for more romance in this book, but the book was more focused on other aspects. I also wish there had been more of a true villain. I always find villains to be one of the most interesting parts of books, but in this book there was more of an evil instead. I'm such a sucker for a good villain.

I enjoyed this book, but there were aspects that could have been developed more. It had some slow moments, but it held my interest the whole time I was reading. I think a lot of aspects fell flat because this is a standalone. However, because it is YA, it is not going to have the length that a lot of fantasy books have to develop the world, so I cannot really fault the book for that.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A fun romp in a world of double sided magic, secret destiny and wine!

The characters were endearing but a bit simple, both quickly changing to their surroundings but not developing much over the course of the story.

The world was well built with immersive descriptions, you could easily get caught in the sights and sounds of horses galloping, vines growing and mystical forces beyond our world whispering dark secrets.

The plot moved quite quickly, but a fun read all together.

I don't like all that half-star business, but this was, like, 2.5. It was flat but okay-ish.

This story about stolen magic begins and ends with a vineyard.
Mara is a girl with a rare gift of magic and she has no idea where it comes from as only two families have it - the family on the throne who stole the gift of magic, and the family from whom the magic was stolen about a century ago.
Then, a certain lord discovers of Mara's gift and its origins and decides that the throne is hers to take, so he kidnaps her and, under the threat of killing his family, organizes a coup.
On the other side, we have the younger son of the dark king - Alac, who wants nothing more but to have his own vineyard.

However nice it was to have characters have some interests besides the main story line, this wine-making and vineyards had <i>no</i> importance for the story, and I found them a little overdone.

The characters were okay, I guess, but I didn't feel anything for them.
Alac kinda reminded me of Nathaniel from [book:Sorcery of Thorns|42201395], but further than that, I felt nothing towards them.

Of course, there had to be a love story somewhere there, but I didn't feel it either. It might be because I didn't fall for the characters, but it seemed unnatural and pushed. Some liking was there between the two, but not <i>romance</i>.

Then, there is the kind who was mostly gone, but there was a lot of word about him, how horrible he is, how dark his stolen magic is and all that. But when he finally shows up, he just...dies. Not very amusing.

The plot didn't have a steady pace and this often threw me off the balance. At one moment, the things will be happening supper fast, and in the other, they will be walking through a garden for pages and paaages.
I don't like this in books, and I didn't appreciate that the book just zoomed through the most important "battle". If anything should be slower, it's definitely it, and not fig-ripening or whatever.

This is a standalone, and I appreciate that. It is really good not having to be tied to a series, especially if it isn't all that good. And the horrors I've been through for not bailing on ACOTAR after the first book!!!

Overall, it had a lot of potential, but it came out flat with both characters and their relations, and with the plot. It is a book of about 350 pages, so the world building isn't ideal, but it can be a fine quick read.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I expected! I love that it's a standalone - I find it difficult to find good standalones these days. Everything is always getting dragged into trilogies or more, even when those that probably shouldn't lol!

I found this book to be fast-paced, exciting, and it had some great, unique aspects to the storyline! I love any story with magic, and this one did not disappoint. I have read reviews saying that the book seemed too rushed, but honestly I found it to be a breath of fresh air in a genre that often drags storylines on longer than they should. Could this book have been a duology? I mean yes, it could have but honestly I don't think it needed to be. The quick pace made for a fun, easy read with no room for boring. There was always something happening, and it gave off a good "can't put it down" kinda vibe.

The book was written from the perspective of both Maralyth and Alac, and I enjoyed reading from both points of view. I really loved watching Mara grow into the role of Queen. She started the book as a bit of a subdued, quiet character but with a fiery mind and over the course of the book, became a selfless leader who's courageous attitude made for a great role model. Alac was a great character right from the start. He was sweet and curious, and eager to have a life of his own outside of the influence of his powerful father and the stolen magic. He was instantly taken by Mara and it was great seeing their relationship grow as they got to know one another.

While the ending was not what I was hoping for, I think it fit the story perfectly. Any other ending would have been cliché (not that I mind cliché lol). Overall, I am really impressed with what the author came up with, and I look forward to trying anything she releases in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to like this book so much more. The beginning was boring. and I thought after Maralyth's kidnapping that I would like it more and it would get more interesting, but sadly it didn't really pick up for me. I appreciate that this is a stand alone fantasy as there aren't that many of them, but this could definitely have the potential for multiple books where the characters and story could develop more.

I do like the magic and the winery aspects of the story, and while this wasn't for me, I know others will like it.

Thank you Net Galley for a free ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book gripped my interest from the very beginning and held it until the last page. Mara was helping her father and brother run the greatest winery in the kingdom. When she learned that her powers were linked to her being the heir to the throne. She was forced to participate in a plan to over throw the current King, which also included the murder of the two princes as well.
The POV switched between Mara and Alac, which I really enjoyed. It was nice the constantly be able to understand what they were both thinking. I also loved the attention to detail in this book. The character description was very well written and the characters were all very relatable. Mara was a great lead character because she was bold and constantly wanted the best for the kingdom and knew her powers would be a.huge aid in that gaol. Alac also wanted what was best for the kingdom. Since he was second in line for the thrown he never really was interested in pulling, until he realized he too could also make his kingdom a better place for its people.
Overall I really enjoyed this read and read it in two days. I'd be excited for another book in this series, but if not it was a great standalone book and one that I would reread!

2.5\5 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC of The Stolen Kingdom.

A stand-alone fantasy! LOVED THAT. It is rare to find stand-alone’ s in this genre. However, this one unfortunately didn’t grasp me for a few reasons.

I found it was filled with tropes, including the MC’s, who are whisked into a political due to their magic. Classic rags-to-royalty type of trope where they become pawns and players in the game for the throne. Maralyth and Alac’s relationship is more Insta-love than enemies-to-lovers. The overall plot is straightforward and doesn’t really add any excitement for me, and romance’s can really make or break a story for me. While the MC’s had sweet moments, I just wasn’t invested in them together.

Because of the simplicity of the story, I wasn’t grasped. The writing also frustrated me at times. The worldbuilding was more telling than showing, and I felt it lacked for this fantasy possibly due to the constrained length. I liked the idea of it, but it may have been more impactful through a duology.

On the other hand, someone younger may really enjoy this, especially if they are new to fantasy. Also, if you like wine, this might be really fun for you. I certainly enjoyed the focus on winemaking and Mara’s magic helping the vineyard be successful. While The Stolen Kingdom didn’t work for me, I encourage others to give it a chance if you are newer to the genre.

I’ve started this book not expecting much but found myself pleasantly surprised at the way the author developed the story and characters.

Maralyth is confined to a girl’s duty with her family's but has bigger dreams. Unbeknownst to her she has magic that will change her world and the kingdom. Alan, second prince, gets entangled with the magic and attraction he feels for Maralyth.

I really enjoyed the way Alac and Maralyth interacted with each other. Somehow you envision the plot going one way but the author manages to end the book on a good note without the “they live happily forever”. Good page turner with few moments that were “O come on” but would recommend the book.

The Stolen Kingdom follows two teenagers, each with a birthright and each finding themselves pulled into a dangerous magical ploy.
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I loved how this was a standalone fantasy! I feel like there should be more of them, and this was a fun short read! However, the length did cause some world building and character development to be underdeveloped.
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The characters unfortunately fell into the same old YA tropes that we always see. Maralyth was “unlike other girls” and Alac was just annoying sometimes.
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I loved the plot though, and I thought it was interesting how it had a secondary focus on wine making!
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Stolen Kingdom was a fast and exciting read for a snowy Saturday morning. I needed a little magic and Mara and Alac's fight for good over evil was exactly right. The story started a little slow for me, with trying to figure out the ins and outs of the world. But when the action started, it didn't stop. I liked thread of romance. I enjoyed the families and their history. But I do wish that I had FELT more for the characters and their relationship. This is one that I definitely think my teens would enjoy. Rounding up from 3.5

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor Forge for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
I'm so tired of being completely disappointed by books. This book had everything to be great - the cover is pretty, the plot sounded intriguing and the romance was supposed to be the best kind (*I have to kill you* enemies to lovers), but it wasn't.
Everything about this was lacking. The plot bored me, the characters had no depth and the romance lacked chemistry.
It wasn't super bad, but it wasn't good either, so overall 2.5 stars.

This book started off a bit slow for me (mainly because I was in a massive reading slump), but once it picked up, I tore through it. The characters are super lovable and the plot includes lots of fan favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, star crossed lovers, betrayal, and more). All in all this book was really enjoyable and fun to read!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book would have worked better as a duology or a trilogy rather than a standalone - there is so much potential for the story to be really fleshed out, but in the standalone it just falls flat.

Mara is a winemaker's daughter with magic in her blood - magic that was stolen by the current king's ancestors. In the king, it's dark magic, but in Mara it brings life. Mara is kidnapped and used as a pawn to restore her bloodline to the throne. There's a love story between Mara and the prince Alac, a flight, a fight, and then the ending. I would have really enjoyed a story that spent more time on the magic, both the dark and the light. I would have liked to delve deeper into Mara's life and personality and the same with Alac. There are some secondary characters who are interesting and have a lot to offer to the story, but they are not developed.

This book was ok, but it could have been so much more.

This was a well written and developed book! I really liked the dual POV and the characters. Both were very likable and I cared about both of their stories. Maralyth’s magic was really intriguing. The idea of her having to hide this aspect of herself and not explore what she could do was well done. She was a loyal and strong hero.

I really enjoyed the book’s idea of stolen magic and the effect that would take. Alac was really likable too. I felt he was really well developed and realistic of a spare to the heir. I loved that the both of them had an interest in wines. I really enjoyed this book!

*I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Maralyth Graylaern grew up hiding the one thing that made her different; her magic. Mara realized at a young age she had the power to help the vines at her family's vineyard grow, but her mother forbid her from ever using her magic. In the Kingdom of Perin Faye, they believe that only the King's magic is genuine, and everyone else has stolen magic. This is a lie. Years ago, the Thungraves stole magic from the Dallowyn's, and stolen magic comes with a price. This dark magic enthralls each king in it's grip, making them want more. Alac Thungrave sees the hold this magic has on his father, and even his brother Cannon who is next in line to the throne. Alac wants nothing to do with the throne or the sinister magic that comes with it.

Mara is taken from the home she has known her whole life and brought to Nelgareth's manor. Nelgareth explains to her that her magic is only possible because of her secret bloodline, as a Dallowyn. Which means, she has a claim to the throne. Mara is forced into a plot to overtake the Thungrave's and place her on the throne. But Mara soon realizes Alac is nothing like the other Thungrave's. How can she possibly be okay with him being collateral damage?

I was not expecting this book to be so good. I had been in a bit of a fantasy slump and this definitely brought me out of it. The writing was amazing and the plot never dragged. I have never read a fantasy standalone prior to this one, and I was pleasantly surprised! I would definitely recommend this magical book to anyone. Also, I was happy to see another pair of starcrossed lovers. I never can get enough of this trope.