"Fear is like sand.⠀
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It's impossible to get rid of once it touches you. The tiny grains in small amounts might only chafe, but if it's left to build, to collect more and more, those grains turn into massive dunes that are exhausting to scale, or worse, become quicksand that will swallow a person whole."⠀
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Abigail Owen, The Stolen Throne⠀
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The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen is the sequel to The Liar's Crown and keeps up the pace of the first book by throwing us into Meren's Queen's Day celebration. Eidolon is evil and brooding and starts up his trying to take over the world nonsense right away. Reven is able to rescue Meren but they're being pursued on all angles by Eidolon's darkness. This fantasy romance is action-packed and fun to read but a little two-dimensional for me. I liked the sequel better than the first book cover and I feel like some of the characters got a bit more backstory and development in this book. I really love Cain and the way the book ends was exhilarating and terrible. all the same time. The author sure knows how to keep you on your toes.

"𝙸'𝚖 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗. 𝙰 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚖𝚢 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝."

In the second book of the Dominions series, the stakes are higher, the danger has increased and it's more important than ever to know who your enemies and your allies are. This YA fantasy has everything the reader needs in a sequel - action, adventure, danger and romance. Meren is now married to Eidolon and must pretend to be under the king's charm, all the while rebellion bubbles in her veins.
Reven and Cain are determined to rescue Meren, but with the threat of being caught and Reven dealing with the shadows that are growing more frantic by the second, their rescue mission takes an unexpected turn. I will keep it spoiler free, but buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a wild ride.

Sometimes a sequel doesn't always live up to expectations, but this is not the case with The Stolen Throne. There are plot twists and reveals, pieces falling into place and characters that embrace their new situations and use them to their advantage. The entire story builds towards an epic ending that will have you wanting the third book immediately. I can't wait for the third book since this ending had my mind running in different directions. Once again, the world-building was done well and the hint of a love triangle surfaced. I loved Reven since the first book and in the second book, I loved him even more. The majority of the story is told from Meren's POV and we get to see more internal battles as well as difficult choices she needs to make. The mood of the story is tense, emotional and adventurous, at times I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happens next.

This series is perfect for fans of fantasy and readers who like a fearless FMC and a morally grey character with shadows ;)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

“You know for a pampered princess, you have a certain gift for violence.” ~Abigail Owen, The Stolen Throne

What’s better than a YA fantasy series that involves magic, fated soul mates and a secret royal twin? Nothing that’s what. I blame the movie Parent Trap for my love of twins which makes The Dominions series super fun so far! If you haven’t picked up the first book please be aware there may be SPOILERS in my review below!

The Stolen Throne does not miss a beat from the first book and opens up with a bang. I do enjoy the magic system and the world that the author created. Having the story weave through the different territories as the plot plays out is a good move by the author. As for the characters…I kind of wanted to strangle Meren and Reven. I know that with being the main characters they will struggle through things, but my gosh they were thick headed at times lol. Meren is this incredibly strong and selfless soul but when it comes to the MMC she becomes a little teeny bopper in lurve ((yes I know YA…)) BUT still some of her reasoning has me rolling my eyes at times. Also the…SPOILER…fated mates thing wasn’t a surprise. Saw that from a mile away lol. Also there is a 24hr zombie rage sickness in this book and it’s wild y’all.

I feel like I should warn you that the ending has a cliffhanger and it made me want to throw my kindle! BE WARNED. And in that same breath I’m going to yell at you to go pick up this series so you can wait on book 3 right along with me.

☑️ evil king
☑️ touch her you die
☑️ soul mates
☑️ twin sisters
☑️ wanna be love triangle
☑️found family
☑️elemental magic system

4 1/2 stars

The Stolen Throne is the second in The Dominion trilogy. I don't usually say this about a second book in a series, but I might have enjoyed this one more than the first....at least a little. I believe that since so much of the world building was done in book one (The Liar's Crown), there was more opportunity for character development in this book. To clarify, with fantasy novels, world building never ends but it does lessen in subsequent books.

This book continues the story of Meren and her goal to defeat Eidolon. At her side and trying to help her are Reven and Cain - - as well as others. Reven contains all of Eidolon's shadows and is struggling more to contain them and his darkness than in the prior book. In addition, he's determined that he's too dangerous to be close to Meren no matter how much he cares about her. Then there's Cain who is her childhood love and the man who will protect her no matter what even if he's not the man she will ultimately choose. This book revolved around trying to find a way to take Eidolon on in battle and survive him because he's so much stronger than the rest of them. Along the way, Meren discovers a great deal about herself and those around her. Some of it's good but some definitely isn't.

This book contains more plot twists, more monsters and some angst. It moved along at a fast clip and kept me glued to the pages. It was a strong fantasy story with romance blended in. Now I just need book three to see how this trilogy wraps up.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Wow. I loved this book. Fantastic second instalment.

(I am sorry, but my account isn't working very well at the moment. I will be giving a better review on Goodreads and TikTok in a bit.)

But wow, so good. :)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'll start with the positive parts such as how amazing the world building continues to be and that is a major plus for me. I love the little details that just add a bit extra to the world.

Of course the cover is amazing and it is what caught my attention in the first place.

Now, the characters continue to develop and mature. I did enjoy the additions and I can safely say that I loked Pella more than I expected to. Now a certain betrayal left me so shocked that I needed a couole moments to think and then just reread that part just to be sure.

On to the negative ones.

Even though I do like the small and manageable chapters at some point it still felt a bit long.

But my main issue is with Meren. I found her amazing, confident, funny and witty at rhe first book. In this one she is almost nothing without Reven. As if her entire happiness and mood is only connected to him being with her. For me the worse was that she seemed to completely forget about her sister at a very critical time.

Overall I did enjoy the book and I can't wait to read them next and see how things come together.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing LLC, Abigail Owen and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Oh. My. Goddess.
I’ve been waiting for this book since I read the first one last year - and I will absolutely wait for the third one with even more anxiety and trepidation! - and it did not disappoint. What’s more, it made me want to never finish it - was it because I knew there’d be another cliffhanger? Yes, but I also did not want to leave those characters.
Meren’s growth is even more noticeable in this second book, she really has turned into the queen she was meant to be. One thing I’ve loved so much is how Meren stayed true to herself as well as her country. In a way, she was altruistic, in others, she was selfish, not wanting to choose the right way out of a problem. I love her courage, and how she doesn’t back down in front of a challenge, or heartbreak. This book is truly a test of Meren’s strengths, it’s like the sand that shapes her and boy, is it rough.
Since the book is told from Meren’s perspective, there’s not much insight into Reven’s thoughts, which would be absolutely interesting, especially given the recent developments with the shadows. I love him. Will love him with all my heart. Always. He’s both straightforward and complex at the same time, and a bit of a stubborn idiot, but we do love a self-sacrificial type, don’t we? Reven fits the description oh so perfectly. And he’s also intense, yes, so, so much. It involves a temple. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you will!
I loved reconnecting with all the other characters, some more of others - I mean, some are bound to be annoying, especially if their name starts with the letter C… Aehm. Well, what is not annoying or boring at all, is the plot itself and the twists that unfold along the way. My jaw dropped so many times (the revelations, the shocks, the intriguing lore regarding a certain kingdom and its rituals), and almost as many times I wanted to throw my phone across the room for various reasons (the temple, y’all, the temple!!!).
I loved this book, and really, I would legit go reread it… But then I’d be even more hungry for the sequel. And desperate. Yeah. Hungry and desperate for more, that’s how this book left me. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Myth: 3.5/5

This book covers a lot of ground, which makes it action packed, but doesn’t always let you sink into the moments with the characters. From fleeing the castle to parading around the kingdom looking for a way to stop Eidolen, Meren is always on the move. This book starts to dive into some history of the world that will be key to stopping Eidolen, but the meatiest moments are still hidden from us.

Magic: 3/5

Reven was the most interesting magic evolution, his powers are less in his control as tensions escalate, but their tie to Meren can help or hurt….

Overall: 3.5/5

I like that Meren got to be front and center as herself, as queen (since her sister is still unable). I just didn’t love the way that this book moved through plot points. The first book was near flawless. And while this one was still good, it lacked the compelling storytelling of book one.

4.5 stars

Just like in the last book, Reven swept me off my feet. The angst and pining was powerful, even if it's self-imposed.

After the ending of the last book, Meren has been stuck pretending to be under Eidolon's spell as she waits for rescue. Once reunited with Reven and her sister, Meren needs to balance relations with the Wanderers and figure out how to defeat Eidolon while also trying to heal her sister. The book is pretty fast paced as Meren and company travel between countries, facing different threats in each dominion.

This book was much more companion-based than the first; the side characters were much more present as there is a rift between our two main characters. Meren's reliance on these characters was refreshing in a sea of main characters who Don't Need Anybody. To be honest, a refresher on each of these characters would've been helpful as there's a good sized group that I didn't fully remember from the first book.

Also, that ending leaves an interesting setup for book 3, which I'm 100% looking forward to reading!!

I loved the cover and the characters and the storyline. I don't want this series to end and I want to read them again. The book drew me in and I was like whoa.

I was lucky to be able to read this as an arc from Net Gally my thoughts and opinions are my own.

The sequel was so much more than I expected! I loved the character development of Meren & Reven and I cannot wait for the third book to see where their story goes from here. There wasn't a dull moment through out the book and I need to know what happens next and how everything is going to play out.

I do hope that the next one carries on in the same fashion as The Stolen Crown does and picks up where it was left off to continue to the action of the story.

Thank you NetGalley & Abigail Owen for giving me the chance to read this book because it was amazing!

4 stars

Ms. Owen is keeping this story intriguing and well paced. I can't wait to see the next book.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

This is the second book in the Author's Dominion series and In my opinion reading the first book is essential to fully understand the characters and worldbuilding

This book picks up right after the end of Liar's Crown - Meren is back in the hands of Eidolon and Reven and Tabra healing with Cain's family .
Rescued once more Meren must deal not just with Reven's hot-and-cold feelings but with a Zariphate determined to marry her off to to her best friend . With a possible traitor in their party Meren is torn between who to trust ...... is it her best fiends sister ? or is it a long time friend ?
Too many people have their own idea of what Meren should do next ...... will she survive the betrayals ? All she knows is that Eidolon's reign must come to an end if she is to free not only Reven and his people but also her own and Tabra's lineage .

The action is fast paced , full of twists and turns - the world building superb ......... I look forward to the next in the series

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Vivid world-building collides with action and intrigue to create the second book in an adventure, which is dark, rich, and sinister.

This is the second book in the series and needs to be read as such, since the tale takes off where the last one ended and continues. So only read as a series.

Meren has taken the place of her sister at the dread king's side and does her best to keep her identity hidden until Reven can free her. But when he does, it's only the beginning of the battle. Meren's twin sister and actual destined ruler is only a skeleton of her earlier self and in no condition to handle anything. Reven barely keeps his shadows at bay and is as much a threat as friend. The king is hunting them down with power and evil, which seems impossible to stop. And somewhere in between is a traitor, who will ruin any last chance Meren might have to succeed.

Book one, The Liar's Throne, was an exciting read, which is hard to follow, but this second book does a nice job. The world building is even more stellular as Meren heads to the desert and comes up against more challenges and magic. It's enjoyable just to dive into these moments. There's a tighter weave of intrigue as the background behind the king's power and the world seeps into clarity...a tale within a tale. There's more danger as the king threatens to destroy everything, and especially Reven borders on destruction himself. And there's family. The characters are knit and true as ever with sub-plots and individual personalities to draw in. To say that this book sags as book two is simply not true. It continues the story well.

There is less romance in this book, which I do prefer. However, there is a sex scene more toward the later end. This read is more about closing all those information holes, letting the characters shine, and adding more tension and action to the mix. Reven, Meren's heart's desire, loses quite a bit of his allure in this one, but he does have his own shadows (literally) to deal with (in the worst way). Meren has, obviously, tons on her plate and grows quite a bit in this read. She's a heroine to root for, and it will be exciting to see where the third book goes because it promises to end the series with power pure.
I received a DRC through the publisher and found this to be a rich read.

The Stolen Throne is the second installment in Abigail Owen's captivating Dominions series. As a devoted fan of the first book, I was eagerly anticipating diving into this sequel, and it did not disappoint. An exceptional YA fantasy novel that left me spellbound from start to finish. This captivating storyline took me on a journey through heartache and brilliance, never stopping to ask if I could handle the emotional rollercoaster. The characters are so well-crafted that I felt as though I was walking through fire and devastation alongside them, enduring every tragedy imaginable to see them come out the other side unscathed. The opulence of this otherworldly tale is truly breathtaking, and the perseverance of the characters is nothing short of inspiring. From the first page to the last, you will be transported to a world of magic, intrigue, and danger. The Stolen Throne is a wickedly sizzling masterpiece that left me wanting more. I eagerly await the release of the next book in the series, as I am sure it will be just as enthralling as its predecessors. If you are a fan of YA fantasy, then this book is an absolute must-read.

The plot started right after the ending of the first book, there’s a bit of a recap about what happen last time on the first book and I can follow the plot very easily after that.

This sequel has a lot more actions scenes and also allows the reader to get to know more about the side characters story and feelings, such as Cain, Pella, Vos, Horus, etc.
The world building is expanding even bigger as they travelled to different areas on a quest to defeat the villain, the places are well described and easy to envision as well.

I really like seeing how Meren’s character grow in this story and I like the determination and changes she had by the end of the book.
Meren and the love interest – Reven, are also facing a lot of problems which seems to make them drift apart and causes a lot of angsty moments. Although, I have to say Reven’s character changes a bit in here and he doesn’t appear as much in this sequel, I hope it changes on the next book.

As for the ending, it ended with a CLIFF-HANGER. AGAIN.
When I think the protagonists finally have the chance, everything blows away and now we have to wait for book 3….

Overall, this is a great addition to the series. I found this book to be a lot more enjoyable compare to the first book.
I’m really looking forward to read the finale book and see the epic battle with the villain and I hope it released soon!

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

Such an addicting and riveting storyline. This is the 2nd book in this trilogy, and let me tell you it sucks you in just as quick as the first book. It starts at a fast pace from the first chapter, clear to the very end. We find out so much in this book, and with more knowledge, there are more unanswered questions in our journey. I cannot wait until the next book, it’s gonna be epic, just like the first two books. It’s like an addicting fantasy movie playing in my head.

Safe read, with my favorite young adult couple. With all the feels that come with your first true love. Addicting and riveting storyline, that will leave you saying what the…and I need more now-ish, please and thank you. We get to see all of our favorites, and gain some new favorites in unlikely allies. This is a fantastic read.

This is the second book in a series, and as far as I'm concerned it definitely did not fall into the 2nd book slump. If you ask me for my deeply honest opinion it may actually be better than The Liar's Crown.

This book follows Meren and the rest of the group as they face off with Eidolon in a race to figure out what is going on with the dominions and make new friends and enemies.

Highly recommend, and mark down when the next book is suppose to release - January 2024!
4.5 out of 5 stars for the overall rating, with 1.5 out of 5 for the spice level.

Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the eARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Ah! So thankful to get the ARC of this book. I read the first and wanted more, so definitely was excited to get the sequel.

It's been a couple months since the end of the first book and the start of this one, but so quickly we get caught up on what everyone has been doing. And then we get more of the dominions and rulers as the story progresses.

I really love the world building for this series. It's a magical place that I want to keep reading about. The characters are also really fun and interesting. We are introduced to some new people in this book, but they fit in perfectly with the rest of the gang. I do wish, though, that a few were more fleshed out. They seemed to get lost among the crowd.

I also really loved the relationship between Meren and Reven in book one, but that almost is pushed back in this one. We get sort of a love triangle that isn't really a love triangle. ( Personally, I think it's pretty obvious which one Meren loves ) I won't spoil anything, but those last few chapters were... a lot. I cried. I need answers for all of that.

I do think this was a good sequel for the series. We learn more about the dominions, the goddesses, more about the past, but we also have more questions and need more answers. And I'm positive that the conclusion will get those. I can hardly wait for that one.

I really liked the first one but this one is so very slow and nothing is happening. It's overly descriptive and I'm just bored.