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Member Reviews
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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.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the follow up to The Liar's Crown - it picks up right where it left off, Meren and Reven are racing against the clock to stop Eiodolon from continuing his plans to take over Aryd as well as the other dominions.
I loved seeing other parts of the world and the characters dynamics change and grow throughout Meren's journey.
It's not quite a 5 star read for me due to some minor things, but if you are a fantasy romance lover, this is the book for you. Also it rides that line between new adult and young adult!
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🍷🍷🍷🍷.5 ARC #Review of The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen
Crystal’s Thoughts:
“The taste of him, the feel of him, is like coming home.”
The Stolen Throne is the continuation of the spellbinding tale of twin sisters, one meant to rule, and one meant to stand in, a nefarious king set on destruction, and a shadow who was never meant to love. Following the events of The Lair’s Crown, Meren finds herself the captive of King Eidolon and once again posing as the Queen of Aryd. How much longer can she pull it off though before her sister’s husband demands more than she is willing to give? Eidolon is no fool. Meren knows that she just needs to bide her time until her Shadowraith finds her, or until she can find a way out herself. Escape turns out to be the least of her problems though when histories are rewritten, truths are revealed, treachery abounds, and lives are at stake. Meren must reach deep to find the power and the will inside her if she hopes to stop Eidolon and save those she loves, including her Shadowraith.
What a sensational continuation of this series! The Liar’s Crown was one of my top reads of 2022, and The Stolen Throne is right up there for 2023. The story begins just a few months following the events from the first book and it is nonstop action and danger to the very end. The complex, immersive world-building that Abigail Owen’s weaved together expands from the first book as Meren’s group of rebels travel from one dominion to the next, searching for answers and a way to defeat King Eidolon. The stakes are higher, and time is running out. Not just to stop Eidolon but also to save the ones Meren calls her own. The storyline is compelling as ever, with revelations and betrayals, and a plethora of action and intrigue sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. There was a moment when Meren reunited with her sister Tabra that was so startling, my heart just about stopped.
I honestly can’t get enough of these characters in the Dominions world, they’re multifaceted and whether I love or hate them, I empathize with them all. The growth of Meren alone from the first book to now is exponential and I can’t help but adore her all the more for it. The tension and snark between Cain and Reven were quite entertaining, though there were also some heart wrenching moments when it comes to the love both these men share for Meren. The Stolen Throne was even more angst filled than The Lair’s Crown when it comes to Meren and Reven if that’s possible. Because this is a YA, intimate scenes between Reven and Meren are not fade to black, but they are not wholly graphic either. The chapters are short, which I always appreciate.
While The Stolen Throne had an engaging plot, it did take a little longer than usual to finish. Maybe it was the disconnect between Meren and Reven for much of the story. I love these two so much and just want to see them happy, though a certain scene in the temple had me crying happy tears. However, there was of course a question that was left unanswered there that has me on pins and needles for the next book! All in all, this was an exceptional continuation of Meren’s story, and I only see it getting better from here. I can’t wait for the conclusion, though closing the cover on a story filled with characters that have become your own friends is always difficult, I know Abigail Owen will do them justice and next April can’t come soon enough! A highly recommended read for upper young adult fantasy romance fans who enjoy mystery and magic, sensation and suspense, rue, and romance.
“You’re mine, Mereneith Evangeline, written in the stars to be mine.”
✔️ Morally Gray Anti-Hero
✔️ Coming into Powers
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Royal Politics
✔️ Goddesses and Monsters
✔️ Strong FMC
✔️ Loveable Side Characters
✔️ Forbidden Love
✔️ Not Good Enough for Her
🚫 Slow Moving Plot
🌶️ 0.5/5
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3.5 stars
I'll tell you why I'm docking a half star here, and they're lucky it wasn't a whole one. I absolutely loathe love triangles and I went into this book positive that there wouldn't be one because it was abundantly clear who Meren loved. And while, technically, there wasn't one, I can't even put into words how incredibly annoyed with Cain I got for always trying to be the one by Meren's side and needling Reven every single chance he got. Honestly, I absolutely hated him for it. For some reason I thought he would be more mature about it and accept Meren's feelings...not be such an ass.
I was kind of surprised how little time in the beginning we actually get Meren as a "prisoner" and by the fact that Cain and his people took Reven in as he healed. When Reven was better enough, those two go off on their own to try and rescue Meren. I know many people were entertained by the interactions of Reven and Cain, but I wasn't because, like I said already, Cain was an ass. These two are constantly going at it, but I guess at least they don't get violent. Anyway. They make it there and even manage to find Meren. But after that things go badly very quickly.
Now Meren is also finding sanctuary with Wanderers and trying to figure out their next moves. There's quite a bit going on this time around. Meren is finding out she might have new powers either because of the curse placed on her or because of the shadows Reven put in her, there is more to Meren's necklace than anyone knew, something is definitely wrong with Tabra after her stay with the king (Reven does manage to help her but can't save her completely), we learn more about the Goddesses and their consorts, Meren gets a strong new ally, and we meet a couple other rulers and learn more about their cultures as well. Meren does more or less have a goal here that she fumbles along trying to accomplish, with both good and bad outcomes each time. And the whole time she is constantly warned away from Reven. After their big battle, Reven has been having a harder time controlling his shadows and pretty much everyone in the camp fears his next lapse of control. Even Reven does. He's actually the one trying to push Meren away from himself the hardest. Which was super frustrating. So I was very happy when these two finally make a huge decision...even though it too came with a surprise.
At the end, things go horribly wrong....again. I can't say that I really saw it coming this way either. But boy do I want to find out how this all will end. I'm just mad I have to wait a freaking year to find out.
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3 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an e-ARC copy. All thoughts are my own.
Initial Thoughts
After loving the concept of The Liar's Crown, I came into this second book with high hopes. Whilst I still enjoy the concept and the world setting Abigail Owen has created in the Dominions series, this one didn't quite match up to my anticipation.
What's great about this book?
- I loved the concept of Meren being a hidden princess to the kingdom of Aryd in book one, and that role becomes deadlier and layered with high stakes as she steps up into the acting role of the queen in her twin sister's stead. I think Meren has the tenacity to be a great leader, and perhaps has even more reason to want to lead her people after living with the common folk before this series is set. Whilst Tabra is still alive, Meren fills the role and continues to sacrifice herself for the crown, and what she was born to do. I also liked that she had moments of thoughtful processing of why she should sacrifice herself so much. It made her role in this world feel more realistic.
- The world-building continues to be a strong point. I love the deadliness of each sector and the additional information about the old Goddess and their consorts and how that affects the people now. The new task of finding the amulets to gain the power to stop King Eidolon was a fantastic way to inject new world surroundings into their travels, and I enjoyed how each kingdom was represented.
-I really wished Reven's POV wasn't just for the start of the book. It was exciting to have a fresh point of view, and I would have appreciated being told the story through his eyes too, especially when he grew quite angst-driven and exasperating. I feel having his POV might have also helped me understand more of his struggles with the shadows inside him too.
- The side characters offer a lot to this world still. I enjoyed the found-family aspects of this novel and the plots and twists that came from specific characters that affected what Meren chose to do after.
- I appreciated the ending to this novel and the great setup it has given for book three's direction.
Things I didn't quite enjoy
- I found a lot of Meren's actions to be hastily made when it wasn't affecting the crown. She also spends a great deal of time internalising her feelings when she is needed to focus on the task at hand. Whilst a lot of her hurt is valid, I found myself not liking her progression as a character this time around.
- The love triangle was so unnecessary. I had hoped it would be addressed early on in the read, especially given the obvious feelings Meren had. Yet it dragged out to the point that I found all three characters tediously boring.
- When the storyline isn't suffocated by the long-suffering love triangle and convenience tropes/plot devices, I found myself still interested in the happenings of this world a great deal. Unfortunately, these moments aren't long enough, and I often grew bored, subsequently making it take longer for me to read this book.
- A small few characters have unnecessary page time and added very little to the overall progression. I had especially hoped for more established with Tabra in this novel, but she feels very insignificant to the plot.
Final thoughts
I really wish I had enjoyed this more. It's still a decent read, and I appreciate the effort the author has gone to in building this intricate story. I feel that attention was placed in the wrong spots of the storyline and that let down the complexity of this world's concept.
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When shadow and glass come together, it might produce a power strong enough to take down the evil King Eidolon. Now Meren and Reven just need to figure out how to control it before darkness overtakes them all.
The first book in this series blew me away with its introduction to the landscape of this world, and I relished how the sequel allows us a more up-close exploration of the idiosyncrasies of various dominions. We venture outside of the palace and village walls to see the rugged desert sands of Aryd and jagged ice sheets of Tyndra become characters in their own right. Beyond the diverse settings of the dominions, this second book also allows us to become fully entrenched in the history and mythology of this world. I once described book one as providing us with an info dump of fantastical details that were somewhat challenging to keep straight at times. The Stolen Throne fleshes out these details to the point where we are just as surprised as the characters to learn the truth behind what happened to the dominion goddesses of days gone by, and how their downfall interplays with the evil rising up to threaten our main characters. It's a constant battle of good against evil, but somedays its hard to tell where the evil might be lurking.
A standout feature of book one was seeing Meren come into her power over sand. Growing up in the shadows of her twin, Meren was only ever meant to serve as a stand-in for Tabra should anything tragic happen. Her ability to mold and control sand was never something that was deemed worthy of further study by her Omma. However, when Meren was pulled into the war against the shadow King Eidolon, Shadowraith Reven helped her realize that there was so much more to her power than transforming sand into colorful glass flowers. From glass weapon shards to portals which could transport them across dominions, Meren's power was something she spent time practicing and manipulating, as it also gave her a strength and power to stand up and fight back.
Unfortunately, we see the focus on Meren's power sort of take a back seat in this sequel. While Tabra suffers in the background from a ghostly poisoning of her soul for the majority of the book, Meren has to step into her shoes as the Queen of Aryd in an attempt to forge alliances with other rulers in their fight to take down Eidolon. It's another side to Meren that she admittedly doesn't feel comfortable in, as it forces her to take on an almost benevolent and submissive persona in the hopes of winning more allies to her side. I missed the spitfire that we met back in book one who was never afraid to speak her mind, even when kidnapped by her Shadowraith. We see hints that the curse which binds Meren to Eidolon might also provide her with some of his power over shadows, but again we never see Meren provided with the opportunity to train and explore this new skill with Reven. Hopefully it's something we'll see brought to the forefront in the next book!
The growing fight between Meren's ragtag team of outsiders and King Eidolon continues to escalate in this book, and we're constantly left wondering who will come out on top in the battle between good and evil. Shadows seem to lurk everywhere, even amongst friends. There is a need to come together as one unit, while also questioning who might be spying for the other side. This perpetual tug-of-war between trust and uncertainty finds its way into Reven and Meren's relationship to result in one of the more frustrating aspects of this sequel. In book one there was an instant chemistry between Reven and Meren, even when considering that their relationship began from a case of mistaken kidnapping. The slow build of their connection was absolutely delicious to witness, and I was sorely disappointed that this aspect was fairly absent from this second installment.
Soon after rescuing Meren from the clutches of Eidolon, Reven & Co. escape away to the desert to gather forces while plotting out their next step. It's during this time when Reven declares that even though he wants to be with Meren, he fears he won't be able to control his shadows if they're too close or spend too much time together. For a majority of the rest of the book we see Reven try to keep his distance from Meren, just as she spends her time pining after him with longing glances and declarations of the closeness she wishes they could share. Their bond was such a critical component of the first novel, so their physical and emotional distance from one another made the absence of this bond even more apparent with this read. The frustration continued to grow when we see Reven and Meren repeatedly ignore the instances when their physical proximity resulted in flashes of power for them both. While they eventually acknowledge that they're stronger together than apart, it was too little too late when compared to their beautiful connection we saw in book one.
Even though I can't say this sequel stood up to the expectations created by the first installment, this series has been an absolute wonder of world and character building. We get to further explore the dominions and different personalities of characters that we were introduced to in book one, and I can't wait to see how everything will come together in book three. The romantic element was definitely lacking for me here, and it was kind of disappointing that we still didn't have the chance to shine a light on Meren's sister, Tabra, and the evil King Eidolon. They spend so much of their time in the background, and I was hoping for more of the deep-dive we witnessed for the other secondary characters. Consider yourself warned that you'll struggle to put this book down once you pick it up. It's quite a tome at 559 pages, but the end of each chapter immediately draws you into the next. This is the kind of book that makes you stay up hours after your bedtime!
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I was super excited to start The Stolen Throne after reading and loving The Liar’s Crown last year. It was such an entertaining and suspenseful story, and the cliffhanger ending made me extremely eager to get the second book. The story picks with Meren posing as her sister under the scrutinous watch of Eidolon and Reven desperately trying to get to her and save her.
Right from the start, this story is intense as Reven works with Cain to rescue Meren from Eidolon. Meren has been playing the part of her twin sister Tabra, and when she escapes, she finally reconnects with her twin. It’s heartbreaking to see what has happened to Tabra, and her situation fuels Meren’s determination even more. When she learns of Eidolon’s plan, she goes on a perilous and adventure-filled quest to find the stones he’s searching for. It’s suspenseful and exciting, and with possible traitors in their midst, no one can be trusted.
I was kind of surprised, especially after the first book, how Meren and Reven’s relationship changes in this one. Reven decides it would be safer if he distances himself from Meren. I understand Reven’s intentions and fears, but his moody, brooding demeanor is surprising. He was so determined to get to Meren, and I thought there would be more communication and connection between them. Some of his and Meren’s decisions confused me, but their chemistry and feelings for each other are still palpable. I so want these two to be end game. They’re the kind of couple that shouldn’t work, but for some reason, they do, and after all each has been through, I need them to find some peace and happiness together.
Like the first book, this one has a lot of intrigue, suspense, and twists and turns. It also continues with amazing world-building, which I loved. The found family aspect of the story is also fantastic. So, overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was a good addition to the series, and that ending!! Owen sure knows how to leave readers hanging in the best way possible, and I have a feeling Meren is going to throw down in the next book. I’m definitely eager to read more of this unique series, and I’m thankful to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
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This book is everything I needed right now, it is breathtaking, thought-provoking, heart-stopping and that's just the first few chapters.
Action-packed with characters we love and some we love to hate this story takes you through such an emotional roller coaster and had me glued to it, I couldn't put it down once I started, i just kept thinking ohh no she didn't, it's so hard to write this review because I don't want to give anything away.
I've been thinking about it since I finished and still find myself picking it up over and over again thinking there's no way it ended where it did, can I just say I had chills, literal chills?
Reven, Cain, Meren, Eidolon, Tabra, these characters feel so much like people I know at this point, and I can't help but think about who will be where in the third book, I know I'm getting ahead of myself I just have so many questions.
For anyone debating this book or this series in general, it is fantastic and will leave you at a loss for words while somehow ending at just the right point.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for providing an advance reader copy, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4 stars!
🌶 - half a spicy pepper!
Wow, can Meren catch a break at some point? This was intense!
I'd also read the eARC for the first book in the series, so I was very excited to get to read the sequel. It's one if those second parts where our lovely band of misfits has to go through obstacle after obstacle, making it a very anxiety-inducing read.
Meren is back in this book and, together with Reven and her found family, she's still looking for a way to end King Eidolon. The amulet around her neck is more than just a piece of glass and it might be the key than unlocks everything. And her curse? Well, it may be more than that too.
I will always be here for Meren's sass and her witty comments. Her comedic timing is pretty impecable 😂 If you've read the first ome, this sequel doesn't disappoint at all. Go read it!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 STARS
Similar Books:
Six of Crows
Shadow & Bone
This is book 2 in the Dominions YA fantasy trilogy.
Synopsis:
Book 2 picks up with Meren captured by Eidolon(evil shadow king) and Reven (controlled by the shadows) trying to rescue her. They go on the run trying to find freedom on an epic adventure!
I love this series! I may even like this one better than the first which I rarely say. This book has more adventure and character development than The Liar’s Crown. It sucks you right it and you won’t be able to put it down!
Abigail Owen has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat in a spell binding fantasy world filled with all the tropes you could want. I can’t wait for the next book from her!
Thank you Entangled Teen for the ARC! 💜👑 If you are a fantasy lover and have not discovered Entangled Publishing, their books are always so good.
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Abigail Owen has done it again. I was thrilled when I received this arc after the cliff hangover of The Liars Crown. I adore these characters and this world. This series has been such a fun story so far and I cannot wait to see how it all ends.
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This book is the continuation of the Dominions series and picks up directly where the first book left off. Meren, Reven, and the rest of the cast of characters we met in the first books continue on their journey to try and defeat Eidolon. The Vanished have been taken in by the Wanderers after the destruction of the Shadowood and find their place among the Zariphate. The intrigue and adventure that Meren is forced into by both internal and external influences sends her across the different Dominions where she flexes her powers and make some new interesting allies.
While the plot moves forward and kept me interested and on the edge of my seat to keen to know what would happen next, the character development wasn’t quite at the same level. Meren seemed to be surprised and baffled when the half-cobbled together plans or complete lack of plans didn’t go her way. Reven’s character hardly had any page time compared to the first book and when he was on the page with Meren it was a lot of disgruntled, non-conversation.
The cliffhanger ending was very surprising left me wanting so much more. I can’t wait for the thrilling conclusion of this trilogy!
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So I didn’t realise this was book 2 in a series as I saw the cover and fell in love. It is absolutely stunning.
Not to say I didn’t enjoy the book, I very much did. I’m going to go back and read book 1 to have a better understanding of the world. I’m intrigued to read more by this author.
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Abigail Owen’s THE STOLEN THRONE picks up where THE LIAR’S CROWN left off — with the two twin queens’ fate still hanging in the balance. Maren is caught directly in the snare of King Eidolon, all while hiding her longing for Reven. Much is on the line as this tale unravels … least of which being one queen’s lovesick heart.
I adored THE LIAR’S CROWN, but THE STOLEN THRONE just didn’t do it for me. The pacing, particularly at the beginning of the book, is very sluggish, which throws off any sense of engagement with the plot. Maren and Reven also become hard to ship, which has more to do with a lack of character and relationship development than anything else.
Needless to say, I really battled with finishing this one. (And I don’t plan on continuing with the series.)
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*
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Just like "The Liar's Crown", this book quickly swept me away. I loved going back to learn more about Reven and Meren, and getting to travel to the different dominions was an added bonus. There were so many twists I didn't expect, and I loved watching Meren grow into a badass queen.
I can't wait for another book in the series!
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One of the best examples of world building in all of fantasy, this universe continues to suck me in. Complex emotions and politics for a YA novel which also makes it even more enjoyable to read. I continue to be obsessed with Meren! My only wish is that she could find her voice more WITHOUT looking to *everyone* else for approval first. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
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I devoured this. Thank you Riki at Entangled Publishing for getting me access. I bought the first book like the second it hit shelves. I've been dying to get my hands on this.
** It's probably my own fault but there is another book series about magical twin sisters and it can be hard for me to remember what happened where **
So, this book mostly follows Meren, right. What I want, is the dual POV and to hear what on earth was happening in Tabra. Like did she know? What happened all those months she was betrothed/married/whatever to Eidolon? I think it was a huge missed opportunity. Reven, I love you. I love a character who doesn't believe themselves to be good but might be the purest of them all. I am hoping that the next book will reveal how he and Meren were bonded before. I feel like that's a great story. I'm kinda mad that Meren has been using shadows in life or death situations and then in this final battle, nothing. Like that seems kind of off to me. Omma, wow. I feel like she added to the book, but also it would have happened exactly the same without her... I'm stuck on how to feel for Cain. They have loved each other their whole lives and you're telling me she turns it off for Reven? I feel like Cain deserves the world and no one would meet me standards for him if he can't be with Meren. I liked how Pella opened up about her and Meren's relationship. It made so much sense that she was angry because she was just a little girl. At the same time though, why did she not mature and get over it? I think Pella would make a badass series too. She's fierce and unseen, the book basically says they're one in the same. I think her wandering stories could be really cool with her fierce fighting and obviously she is going to fall in love because we are getting some pieces here in book 2. Honestly, Tabra isn't giving me enough... Like I think she might have an important part in book 3, but she might as well not have existed up until this point. I think you could remove her character and easily rewrite the first two books without losing the story. And to me that says her character isn't developed enough. Especially, if she is supposed to help Meren save the world in book 3. Overall, I don't know how to feel about Meren's love life because I love both boys. I love the rag tag group that has formed in book 2. I want to see Meren develop her shadow powers. Tabra needs substantial character development in book 3 if she is going to help save the world. I think it would be cool if Meren went back to the spirit realm place a year from now and got to talk to Omma, that'd be dope. And honestly, I think I want to see more Pella in book 3 and like a real friendship develop. If I'm being honest, a lot of the reason I want Meren to develop a new friendship is because the Vida thing hurt. I wasn't a big fan, I wasn't seeing her as the mole. Honestly, it made me sense to me for the ghost in Tabra to be relaying stuff to Eidolon than Vida, but what do I know.
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Wow! So much happened in this second book that once it got started, I was enthralled. This whole storyline is very creative and the action is exciting. The characters are unique and you can't help but fall in love with all of them. I can not wait for the final book because I just need to know what happens next. I highly recommend this series and definitely start with book one.
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The second book in this series has us starting where the last book left us hanging…..
Meren is still pretending to be her twin sister Tabra, and her life is still in peril, trying to evade the evil clutches of King Eidolon. (Who is still trying to find the power source he needs to rule supreme, he’s killed off almost all of Meren and Tabra’s bloodline!)
Our shadowwraith (Reven) who is totally into Meren and needs to save Meren again. But as he fights to both save the girl and stay away from her, it’s becoming a real emotional battle.
Meren in the mean time is having to deal with the emotional upheaval that comes with loving Reven, (shadowwraith) evading King Eidolon, dodging a marriage proposal, and finding out who the traitors are in her camp! (And one of those traitors will have you shouting NO, at the book!)
You can always rely on this author to grab you by the throat and not let go till the last page! Her descriptions of this world and all those who live here are flawless, you can easily put yourself in this world and into the shoes of all the characters.
We read with bated breath as the characters swing into action time and again to save Meren from Eiodolon, read as her sister Tabra has her own worries to deal with, and hold out hope that Reven can control the shadows that are slowly consuming him and are trying to take control! And let’s not forget they are all trying to free this realm from the evil clutches of King Eiodolon! It’s a fast paced read that doesn’t take its foot off the gas until the (cliffhanger ending?)
And when finally Reven can no longer stay away from Meren, it’s all systems go on the “I’m done with staying away from you” vibes 😉
An absolutely amazing read. I couldn’t put it down, and I can’t wait to see where book three takes us. It’s full of adventure, twists/turns and betrayal that you won’t see coming. And finding a few new friends/allies that are needed in this quest of good triumphing over evil (and it goes either way in this book!)
So if you enjoy an adventure that will tug on your emotions, then I highly recommend this book.
🦋
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I had no idea what to expect when I began The Stolen Throne but was soon transported into a magical kingdom with life-like characters I quickly fell in love with. The premise of this book is original. A fresh idea, full of characters and quests that give a new spin on Fantasy. Meren, the main character in this book, is a second-born twin, she's the stand-in for her sister the princess. Content with her role, she's determined to protect her sister at all costs, even if it means being stolen away by a neighboring country. Which leads to Meren actually discovering a bit more about herself. The twist and turns in this story were unexpected, taking me on a wild adventure I couldn't put down.