The Dominions Trilogy's second book is this one. When The Liar's Crown originally came out, I read it and immediately fell in love with the story, characters, and world-building. The Liar's Crown leaves off where The Stolen Throne picks up. Meren and Reven are traversing the entire realm in an effort to thwart our adversary Eiodolon and his evil schemes. The worldbuilding and imagery in this novel were some of my favourites.The story's main focus for me is this element, although the surrounding events are also interesting and compelling. In book 2, there is a lot more action and adventure, and the significance of bigger themes is emphasised more so than the emotions of these star-crossed lovers. Just when you think the two of them have fully solidified their love, something happens to drive them away, leaving us hanging on the edge of a cliff in typical romantic fantasy adventure flair. The wait for book three has already been too lengthy; I'm not sure how much longer it will be.

#NETGALLEY #arcreader

Thank you so much Entangled Publishing, Abigail Owen, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book #2 in the Dominions Trilogy. I read The Liar’s Crown (book #1) when it was first released and fell in love with the world building, plot, and characters. The Stolen Throne picks up right where we left off in the Liar’s Crown. Meren and Reven are traveling all over the realm to stop our villain Eiodolon and his nefarious plans. One of my favourite parts about this book was the worldbuilding and visuals. Abigail continues to create this masterful world where her descriptions are vivid and make it easy for readers to visualize what’s going on. I always appreciate this attention to detail when characters are traveling, because sometimes it can be confusing when there's a lot going on at once and it's hard to keep track of what's going on. While I did enjoy the book, I just didn’t enjoy it was much as the first book. First, I didn’t like the love triangle and thought it was unnecessary because it’s obvious that Meren was in love with Reven. Then, the whole introduction of mates felt like it was out of nowhere. At times the book was going between Young Adult and New Adult, and I wished the book would pick one or the other. Honestly, this felt more like a filler book until we get to the finale in the third book. Either way, I still really enjoyed the book and will happily wait for the third book and find out what happens.

a fantasy novel about a swapped queen

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

I purchased for our collection. This was requested to share with high schoolers during book talks. I love having options in the "new adult" category!

It took me a little longer to read this one than I would have liked. I really did end up enjoying the book, but there was a lull in the middle that I didn’t get with the first book in the series. So, for me, this book did suffer a bit from ‘middle book syndrome’. I think the thing that set me off was the almost on-off again/push her away to protect her stuff between Meren and Reven.
All this being said, most of the plot was engaging. There is a bit of a going around in circles feeling, but it fits with the story and isn’t for nothing. With how much is happening, it makes sense there’s another book coming - which I will be reading, because that ending 😮!
The chemistry between Meren and Reven continues to be good, when he’s not trying to ignore her. Eidolon is a great villain and I really need to know more… There were some more revelations in this book, but not enough.
There were also some rather surprising twists.
All in all, I recommend picking up this series. I can’t wait for the sequel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital arc of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

As much as I loved the first book, this one was so much better. Mainly because we got to delve much deeper into the world and the characters, while also getting to know some new or side characters better. Cain for one and his sister Pella became much more of a feature in this instalment. I also loved that Omma made a reappearance and we got to read about her feelings. Meren and Reven’s relationship becomes more complicated and there is much for them both to work through. While it is this aspect for me that is the crux of this story, the events happening around them are exciting and gripping. There is so much more action and adventure in book 2, and more focus on the importance of the wider issues, rather than the feelings of these star crossed lovers. In true romantic fantasy adventure style, just when you think the two of them have finally cemented their relationship, something happens to tear them apart, leaving us hanging on the edge of a cliff. I don’t know how long I have to wait for book 3 but it’s already too long!

If I thought the first book was good, then this book was amazing. Holy Goddess was this such a great sequel. It was fast paced and the plot kept moving. Sometimes I find it really hard to put my thoughts in words and I find it in this case as well. Meren is rescued almost immediately but that is the least of their problems. There is so much that happens but it all worked. It never felt overwhelming and I never felt lost. There was more world building and history in this book which just made it richer. If all that information was given in the first book, it would have been an info dump. I'm glad that it was more expanded though in this book. And then the ending. 2024 for book three is so far. I definitely thought this was a duology but clearly this is a trilogy.

Along with more world and plot, so much character growth. While Meren and Reven's relationship seemed to have stepped backwards for the majority of the book - everyone else was able to be focused on. I'm so glad we got more of the side characters that make up this family. I really enjoy them all and am glad they got more time. The development of Meren's character was amazing as well. Learning her powers more and trusting her decisions and even her importance.

Overall, The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen was such a great installment. I loved this book so much and thought it was so well done. The pacing was fast and the plot kept moving as well. More of the world was developed and I'm glad that it was introduced into this book. Along with learning the world and history, the characters were developed more as well. Meren is our main character but the other characters had a lot of time as well. I'm glad the other characters got more time in this book to develop even though their point of view wasn't provided. I highly recommend continuing this series if you enjoyed the first one. This book built very well upon the first one and I cannot wait for the conclusion.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was on par with the first one, which I think is a difficult feat for a second book. There was a portion that suffered from a mild case of Second Book Syndrome, but it recovered quite nicely and moved on with the story after that. And honestly, it wasn't completely illogical that things went the way they did. I felt immersed in the story whenever I read it and looked forward to reading it when I wasn't. (So why did it take almost two weeks? I'm a mom: I can't devote all of my time to reading, as much as I love doing it.) I know I said this about the first book, but Owens really is very skilled in creating an interesting story, lifelike characters, and writing about it all in a way that enhances everything rather than detracting.

I really look forward to the third book's release next year and hope I get an ARC of it, too. So far, these are books I would be very interested in buying if it weren't for some of the content.

Note: A little bit of swearing with a handful of f words. A sex scene that middles somewhere between vague and mildly descriptive.

DNF at 44%
I've picked this up and put it down to switch to something else multiple times. I'm sad that it's not working for me because I really enjoyed the first book. I'm not opposed to trying again later, but I can't bring myself to finish over the last two months of attemption to push through.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

3.75 stars. This book has way more world building than the first book and it threw me off a bit. I’m not a love triangle fan even when it’s pretty obvious one side isn’t going to work out and most of the book I wasn’t even convinced the other arm would work. The love felt more forbidden love but more forced on themselves than any of outside forces. The action was great and the last half of the book was great! I loved seeing all the magic and powers of the crew come together and shine! I will be anxiously awaiting book 3!

I would like to express my gratitude to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Initially, I was drawn to this book solely because of its beautiful cover. When I received confirmation that my request had been accepted, I realized it was actually the second installment in a trilogy. This compelled me to read the first book, which I absolutely adored. Consequently, I am now even more thrilled to have had the opportunity to read this ARC.

Although this book slightly fell short of my expectations, it remains an incredibly enjoyable read!

Meren continues to be a delightful character, and the world-building and writing are as breathtaking as ever. I cannot contain my excitement for the forthcoming installment.

As this is the sequel to the first book the Liars Crown, I bought the first, read it and loved it and moved to this ARC. The pace was a bit slower in this book, and there were some gaps that needed filling. Eidolon could have been more involved (I would expect that) and this made me lose some connection. The love interest was a bit cold, and despite Meren and Reven were supposed to be endgame, I could not feel the depth of it. Hope in the next book (which I will absolutely read), things wrap up satisfactorily

I really enjoyed the first half of The Liar's Crown, but I also found it to drag. I couldn't get myself through it. The captive-captor dynamic didn't work for me and the world building could've been better. I couldn't get to The Stolen Throne.

First and foremost, The Stolen Throne is NOT a standalone read. You are going to need to read the first book, The Liar's Crown to understand what’s happening and who all the characters are.

The Stolen Throne picks up several months, after the events of The Liar’s Crown. Meren, the second born, the twin who has always been looked at as despicable is living with King Eidolon, pretending to be her sister, Tabra, who is actually married to the king. As Meren awaits for her Shadowraith, Reven, to return and rescue her, she plays the part of the dutiful wife, the wife Eidolon thinks he has control over. Never realizing that though her sister is away from Eidolon, she is anything but safe.

I thought The Liar’s Crown was crazy insane. But Abigail Owen upped everything in this book. Deceit is the theme in this cat-and-mouse chess game, where alliances are formed and broken. Where a person you once trusted is a heartbeat away from ending your life. Prepare yourself for twists and turns. All might seem lost…But is it?

The Stolen Throne was at times an intense, page-turning read. Abigail gave a history on the dominions via a surprising character. I loved every moment of this book. The Shadow’s Rule, the third and final book can’t get here soon enough. I’m expecting a magnitude of twists, turns, and surprises.

~ Favorite Quotes ~


“You are worth it.”

“No one decides my fate but me.”

“Knowing the truth will help you make the right decisions.”

“Not everything is as it seems.”

“Books are rare and precious.”

“Promises should be kept.”

“You’re worth it.”

“I’m not used to mattering.”

“You matter more than you think.”

“The gateway to the soul is the eyes.”

“No one person is only one thing.”

Abigail Owen, What have you done to my feelings!!!

The story begins where The Liar's Crown left off. It had been a few months since I read The Liar's Crown, and Owens did a great job of reminding you of important details and events without it being a retelling of the first book. I don't want to give away the story, but this was an emotional rollercoaster. The world building gets more in depth as their world history unfolds and plots are uncovered. The thought and detail put into this story is incredible. Meren really comes into her powers and is such a force to be reckoned with. So long to that girl who just existed to die for her twin. I am looking forward to how this wraps up in the third book, The Shadows Rule All.

Thank you to Abigail Owen, Entangled Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley for a digital copy of The Stolen Throne.

Rating: ⭐⭐💫 (2.5)
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥 (one mildly descriptive open door scene)
Trigger Warning: murder

Meren and Reven have been separated, but their love for one another remains. And Tabra, Meren's sister and the true queen, is not herself. Can Reven save Meren from the clutches of the evil king Eidolon? And even if they're reunited, can Meren and Reven be together without putting the lives of others in danger? A dangerous journey will lead them around the dominions in an attempt to save the ones they love and find the key to defeating Eidolon.

Oh boy. Just writing a synopsis for this book was a struggle, and reading it was even harder. I honestly wanted to DNF this by the halfway point but pushed through simply because I felt like I needed to see this through and give the author a chance to redeem herself and give this series a satisfying conclusion. While I really enjoyed book 1, this installment was confusing and dragged on forever. Meren and Reven had absolutely no chemistry until the very end. I actually was okay with there being a love triangle with Meren's friend Cain, but even that lacked tension. The storyline got more complicated as the book went on, and the characters were dragged on what seemed like a wild goose chase. Not to mention the fact that there were so many side characters, I honestly couldn't even keep them straight or be invested in whether they lived or died. There was definitely potential with the plot, but unfortunately it just wasn't executed in a way that worked for me. I really hope book 3 is better🤞

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC! The Stolen Throne was another fun read, but I was annoyed by the lack of smut overall. After book one, I thought Meren and Reven would have more of a relationship but it felt like another New-Moon-situation, like I'm not good for you so I'm going to make both of us be in pain while we stare longingly at each other from across the room. I did enjoy it but I was wanting more romance. I am excited to see how the plot progresses in book three.

I loved Book 1 so much. The twists and turns were completely fresh and it felt fresh.

This book was good but also meandered a bit in the middle. We really leaned into a love triangle where one arm clearly had no chance and knew it but we kept circling back. I wish very much that Reven had not pulled back so much and that this book wasn't so hard for him.

I thought the last hour or so of the audiobook was excellent. Action packed and progress was made in leaps in the plot. It wasn't quite enough to drag me back up to the enthusiasm I had for book 1 but that's the nature of the second book in a series sometimes. I know Abigail Owen is capable of excellent endings and I trust her to end this one strong.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Better than the first book!

This book starts right where Liars Crown ends, the world building was fantastic and the fast pacing of the story kept me enthralled every page.

Abigail is just slowly killing me! The suspense, the agony… I just can’t take it anymore! And now I have to wait until April next year to read the final part: The Shadows Rule All.

OMG, I don’t know how to get over this. After The Liar’s Crown, I wondered how Abigail would spin Meren and Raven’s story in this new part. But she did it. She not only spun this story, she just took out your insides as well!

Meren and her band of misfits just can’t take a break: around every corner there is something happening and creating a setback in some way. There was a point where I even started to get depressed: they would never be able to defeat Eidolon.

And then Abigail got me real confused: was Eidolon the real enemy? Surely, Abigail will come up with some answers in the last part, because I’m dying out here. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.