<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

The Stolen Kingdom was a quick, enjoyable if slightly predictable read. I'm here for forbidden romances and secret magic, you know me. What I hadn't expected was the turn the main characters' relationship would take and how tragic that storyline would be. While I think that that particular storyline was a little heavy for a stand-alone, I really liked how she finished with their romance. Will definitely purchase for the collection.

this is everything people hate about YA
#notlikeothergirls
Maralyth has no personality, alac, tucker, even Nestar have personalities but the main character is blander than a sheet of paper.
Both her and alac comment that the company of women is boring.
she very easily gives into nelgareths plan - ‘oh you've hired people to attack and kidnap me, and are threatening to murder my family if I don't do as you say, no worries this is great!”’
Alac - self-pitying
Insta love
She murdered his family and he still loves her coz she's pretty?! he literally says ‘how can I be angry at her when her hair is so nice’ WTF
Magic inconsistent - why didn't ellian die she wasn't protected, her baby is a bastard so has no right to the throne anyway
Right of the widow - absolutely ridiculous that the court would recognise a fiancé of a dead prince as queen over the actual king
She can bring animals and plants back to life but not people, why?
Overall extremely badly written, full of overdone and tired cliches and conveniences

Well this book was a breath of fresh air! I am usually very skeptical when it comes to fantasy standalones but this one was executed so well!

This book follows our two protagonists Alac and Mara
Mara has a secret that could potentially doom her if anyone ever found out- she possesses unique and forbidden magic that only the king is supposed to have. Unbeknownst to Mara, these magical abilities are proof that she is the rightful heir to the throne. When the rebellion takes hold of her and plans to seize the throne take place, Mara meets Alac the second-born son to the king and a prince who has more to him than meets the eye.
Alac has feared the stolen magic that has destroyed his family. He swears he would never take the throne and luckily he doesn’t need to as second born. Once he meets Mara an instant connection leaves him wanting more. But her secrets could destroy them all.

Things that I loved:
- the unique magic system! Our MC Mara is able to manipulate vines and nature which was so cool! Also her development with her magic was phenomenal I loved seeing her powers expand and watching her confidence grow
- A dual POV!! This book follows both of our MCs (Mara and Alec); Mara is a vineyards daughter with a secret and Alec is the second-born prince who has never wanted the throne, basically a recipe for a forbidden love
- The worldbuilding! I am all about royal intrigue and being in a vineyard and castle was amazing! The descriptions were phenomenal and I could just feel like I was a lady in court
- The pacing!! I thought it was fast paced yet super informative where I didn’t feel like I was missing details! The author is able to keep you guessing with twists and turns along the way while at the same time educating you on the magic system/history
All in all, I enjoyed this book and was immediately hooked from the beginning!
3.5/5 stars from me!
Thank you to netgalley for providing an earc in exchange for an honest review 💛

What an intense ride!
Mara works at her father's vineyard but instead of spending all her time amongst the vines and land, she is often found cooking meals for all the male workers. Definitely not what she longs for in life. However, Mara has a secret. A magic that gives life and helps those grapes in the vineyard grow to their full potential.
Alac is the second born son to the king of the Thungrave line. The king is consumed by a stolen magic that has turned dark. Like Mara, Alac is also under restrictions and his ultimate dream is to learn how to make wine starting with the first steps, working in a vineyard.
Mara is kidnapped by the horrible Nelgareth who explains his plans to put her on the throne as the rightful heir because of her magic. He really is ultimately an evil, despicable character though.
When plans are made and steps are taken, this book turns into a whirlwind of surprises and sometimes, heartfelt moments. Battling magic and evil, not to mention a budding romance, makes this book a good read.

I think this was a pretty average read for me. I liked Mara's chapters, but Alec's were a little boring. Also I feel like the ending wrapped up to nicely. Like everything fell into place instead of having to work for their goal. I was hoping for more romance, but there really wasn't any. I felt like there was a lot of filler in this book at the beginning.

I loved this book! It was such a fun quick read with a lot of action and adventure. The plot kept you guessing towards the end and there was also some romance as well.

Thanks to Macmillan -Tor/Forge and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book is a standalone fantasy done right. Most authors like to drag their storylines out to be three or four books. This was done well in less than 400 pages!

This story is set in a world where there is magic and focused on a Kingdom. The ruling family has a dark magic that has been passed down, generation to generation, son to son. This magic is supposedly stolen from the rightful family whose magic is good, pure magic. A girl named Mara soon discovers she is one of the last in the line of this rightful family and her magic is the true magic of the realm. The book follows her journey to reclaim the throne and the mishaps, adventures, friendships, and enemies made along the way.

Overall, the book was a quick and good read. I believe that the Mara had it a little too easy for most of the book. Any hardships or battles that came her way were quickly dissipated and handled within a couple of paragraphs. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more struggle for Mara in all that she had to do and what she had to deal with trying to reclaim her stolen throne. I would recommend this book to those that like magic, strong-headed women main characters, and a fight for the throne.

It has been awhile since I"ve read this type of book (YA fantasy) I mostly read romance, but I was drawn to the cover and I really needed a break- and when I really need a break fantasy is my go-to book genre.

I thought this story was brilliant. It drew me in quickly and was a quick read. I enjoyed Maralyth and Alec's story. I like the obstacles they face and I like the story behind the Kingdom's magic.

This is a stand alone fantasy- which for this type of story is a rarity. I can't decide if I"m happy about that or if I wish this had been fleshed out more. I agree with other reviews that we didn't get a good feel for a lot of the secondary characters. And I would have liked to. Very few of the characters behaved like I thought they would- and none were purely good or bad. And I found this very interesting. Also there were several story lines that were very easily resolved- and I do think the tension could have been more with a story line that was allowed to be developed a little more over other books. However, there is a possibility for future books so maybe we will get more at a later date.

In the meantime, this was exactly the escape I wanted. It might not have been "light" reading but it was quick reading- and that was due to simply an interesting storyline and characters you are drawn to and want to root for. This was the first book I've read by this author but I will definitely be looking for future books from her.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

When I started reading this book I was struggling with another high fantasy series that still hasn't gotten my attention at all. I was so happy I started this book. It was a welcoming breath of fresh air.

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It's a stand alone, so the story advances fairly quick. It switches between the MC points of view. The trope is forbidden (but not) forbidden love, if that makes sense. The magic system is easy to understand and the world building is entwined through the story, major points for this. Also Major points to this book is that it keeps you on your toes at all times. The author clearly has no issues getting rid of characters which adds to the plot twists.
Finally, the intrigue, the teasing, love at first sight, the banter, the cute down to earth handsome prince and the smart sassy young lady....
The book checks all the boxes for a good YA story.
If a parent is reading this, there is no smut. I would let my teen girl read this book.

====== SPOILERS AHEAD =======

Maralyth and Alac spill good chemistry throughout the book. One has good magic, the other is supposed to never inherit the bad magic (stolen kingdom, get it?). You can tell that obviously they will save the kingdom. He was never supposed to be king, and his personality reflects that as being laid back.
The only thing that bothered me a little is how fast Maralyth became refined and ready for court. I just couldn't place it with the timeline.
Alac gives me Cal (from Red Queen) vibes, and to add more to this point, the way the story ends also reminded me of how Red Queen ended.
Don't hate me, this is why:
The main character is young and with a bright future ahead of her and finally he has the freedom he always wanted, SO they leave their relationship as a toss up to the universe. Which I get, is the era we are in, getting rid of "the happily ever after" but I think the ending still works.

Overall I gave it 5 stars because it captured my attention right away. I was always looking forward for more and, did I mentioned there is lots of wine? I might have finished a couple of bottles while reading it.

Give it a try!

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley, and I am very happy I did. I'll look forward to more work from Jillian Boehme

I really enjoyed this book, but it did start off super slow in the beginning. As soon as the made it to the castle things began to speed up. Normally I am a fan of books that come in more than one book. Though this book was not a bad stand alone book.

WOW.

I can’t even provide words for how much I enjoyed this novel.

I was a little wary of beginning a fantasy novel, not because I don’t like them, but because what if I am to be disappointed? Well, let’s suffice to say that I found myself delving deep into the world of Perin Faye following the stories of Alac, the second-born to the Thungrave king; and Maralyth, a vintner’s daughter with a secret even she does not know.

I was hooked and hooked fast, wanting to know more. I’d have read it in one sitting if time permitted.

I could definitely see this as a series or at least with a companion novel...as I’d like to see how the story of Maralyth and Alac continues. But from what I know currently, this is a sole novel.

The plot was very interesting to me, with many twists and turns, a good amount of suspense, a dusting of magic, and a touch of a potential love story. I found the characters to be relatable and I found myself easily attached to them. I didn’t expect the aspects about wine-making and vineyards to be so appealing to me, but it was so well-written I can’t imagine the story without it.

All in all, I adored this book! Possibly one of my favorites of the year thus far!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own. Upon publishing of this novel, I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada.</i>

I thought this book was really charming and delivered exactly what was promised. I was intrigued by the magic system and was rooting for Mara the entire time. The plot was slightly predictable if you consider yourself a seasoned fantasy reader but that aside it's an adorable stand-alone, perfect for wine lovers!

Plus that COVER though! Amazing.

3.5/5

This will definitely be a hit for many of my students at school. I found it to be engaging and I know that it will keep them hooked too!

Stand-alone fantasies seem to be rare gems in a sea of series with multiple books and multiple spins offs. I like that you get an epic tale and a satisfying ending all in one read. This book will appeal to wine lovers who are interested in more than just drinking it. It will also appeal to those who love a fascinating world all wrapped up in one story. I found both Mara and Alac to be very likable characters. In a world where magic is forbidden by anyone who is not a thurgrave, we discover that the thurgrave magic they wield was stolen over 100 years ago. Mara is a descendant of the original family gifted the magic, while Alac is from the family that stole it. Alac has no interest in what his father has planned for his future as he is fortunate enough to be the second prince; as soon as his brother assumes the throne, he wants to open a vineyard.

The story stands out uniquely with its world-building, secret identities, mixed bloodlines, witchery, forbidden love and magic, and tension building coups to take over a kingdom. The story is told between our two main characters in alternating chapters and sets the tone for this building romance/friendship that develops. The ending was satisfying, making this the perfect novel to curl up with as you wait for spring to arrive.

I enjoyed the set up of this novel and the plot and action drives the story at a good pace. Mara is a great protangonist. The story read a little young for my personal tastes, but I bet younger would love it.

This was just an okay book for me. The writing felt very stilted and I found myself losing interest in the middle of the book.

This book was okay. It re used alot of the same descriptions throughout the books which felt redundant and unnecessary. The story was good and the characters were good. Overall, It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either.

The Stolen Kingdom is a standalone young adult fantasy. It follows dual POVs between Mara, the daughter of a vintner who discovers she has magic, and Alac, the 'spare' son of the king. Mara wants nothing more than to run her father's vineyard, using the magic she's told to hide to help nurture the grapes - until the day she is kidnapped by the lord of her region who is trying to overthrow the king. Alac has been secretly studying winemaking in an effort to start his own vineyard and leave the castle where he is constantly overlooked - until he gets a taste of the stolen magic his father possesses.

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did - but I couldn't put it down. I found both of the narrators intriguing and likable. When inevitably they were pitted against one another, I felt myself torn as to who I wanted to 'win.' The Stolen Kingdom gave me Ember Queen vibes but with less on page violence. (As the plot involves a coup, some violence is inevitable but I found it very tame.) Most of the violence happens off the page or is mentioned by a character. I loved the banter between Alac and his guard, Tucker. Even when things were serious, it brought a smile to my face.

The author did a great job of portraying Alac's indecision between his duty and his wants. And, equally, the reader could feel Mara's tension between what she was pulled into and what she wanted for herself. The plot wrapped up nicely and there weren't any glaring open endings. Both characters showed growth and some surprise characters were revealed. The biggest 'problem' I had was how smoothly things actually ended. (I don't want to give away any spoilers - some I'm going to leave this vague.) And that isn't necessarily a bad thing - especially right now!

If you're a fan of other young adult fantasies revolving around royalty and who's right it is to rule (I know I am), I encourage you to pick this book up. It's a very enjoyable, fun read!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the book.

This book is very much jugded by its cover. It screams YA fantasy! Gorgeous.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Teen I got the chance to read an e-ARC of The Stolen Kingdom in exchange for my honest review.

This adventure takes place in Perin Faye, with our main characters Maralyth and Alac.
Maralyth, a hardworking girl on her fathers vineyard, with a secret bloodline. She is taken on an adventure to discover her history and reclaim what is rightfully hers.
Alac, a second born prince and spare heir. He has a distaste against the dark magic that is not rightfully the crowns to use.

A fast-paced standalone with a lovely forbidden romance and good world building for the amount of pages the book has.
I enjoyed reading both main characters, seeing their stories slowly intertwine more with each chapter.

This is the book to read if you're up for a quick good fantasy adventure!

With so many series on the market, trying to keep up with when the next books release while simultaneously lamenting the length of time between the heart-stopping cliffhanger and the next novel, the thought of reading a standalone really appealed to me and was one of the reasons I requested this book.

I’m a reader that enjoys a fairly consistent pace. Description is necessary in a story to give a sense of place and imagery, but several pages of details will bog down my reading experience, and I tend to skip over them. That wasn’t the case with this novel. This author manages to give vivid descriptions and provide character depth with a minimal amount of words – it’s a real talent and a high priority if you’re writing a standalone fantasy novel.

Mara is a young woman ahead of her time who speaks her mind, possesses a strong moral compass, and doesn’t shy away from hard truths. She’s able to set aside her own wants and needs to see the big picture. If you’re trying to seize the throne, these qualities check off some important boxes. Alac is the second son of a king – the spare heir. He doesn’t feel loved or seen by his father, and his relationship with his brother, the heir to the throne, isn’t oozing brotherly love. Having other dreams for himself, Alac has no interest in taking the throne or getting caught up in the dark magic that comes along with it. When Mara and Alac meet up, it’s a bit of insta-love at first, but they’re not immediately caught up in the throes of passion – which is a relief. They enjoy a tentative friendship while harboring deeper feelings for each other, but then run into some serious roadblocks in their relationship. There’s some major conflict here.

As a wine lover, I enjoyed the mention of the vineyards and Mara’s and Alac’s interest in growing grapes and possibly forming a cooperative for smaller vineyards in the area. It also provided them common ground and something to bond over. It’s not a topic I’ve come across in other YA books.

Plenty of YA books featuring the lost-king/queen-seeking-to- reclaim-the-throne trope are out there, and I was hoping this novel wouldn’t follow a familiar path – it didn’t. Instead, I met two level-headed, mature MCs who are thrown into life and death circumstances, but put the needs of others ahead of their own. I honestly didn’t know how they’d manage to get out of some of their situations, so expect some twists and surprises. Forgiveness in many forms is a prominent theme, as well as doing what truly makes you happy in life (and it’s not always sitting on a throne). The Stolen Kingdom is a novel I enjoyed and would recommend to fantasy fans looking for a standalone, well-paced story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.