Quirky Cat
The Stolen Kingdom is the latest novel to come from Jillian Boehme's mind, and it has a little bit of something for everyone. Magic, romance, action, politics, you name it!
Maralyth Graylaern has spent her entire life on her family's vineyard. She loves it there, even if it pains her to see other vineyards suffering from the crown's greed. For you see, while her family manages to survive, many others have been torn asunder by the blight that plagues this land.
A blight that the king has done nothing to aid. Maralyth would have been content to continue her life the way it was, had she not been involuntarily pulled into the politics of her kingdom. Now she won't turn her back on it, not after what she has seen.
"A famous vinter who provided drink for the tables of a king ought to have been well off. We were left each year with barely enough to live on."
The Stolen Kingdom was a fun and thrilling read, one that was rich in detail and intrigue, which is something that I can never complain about. Maralyth's story was a fascinating one, bringing in magic and politics in ways that I wouldn't have expected.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, though there were times when this story felt a little lighter to me. Despite everything that was at stake (the health and safety of an entire kingdom!), it never felt quite real.
On the bright side, I adored the magical system and the overall vineyard aesthetic. Many fantasy fans will surely enjoy those elements, as it puts a unique take on the world. The romantic subplot is sweet and helps to humanize the characters even further.
The Stolen Kingdom is a pretty quick read. It didn't feel like a 300 plus page book. It didn't read like it either. While it had its ups and downs, it did do a solid job of constantly moving the plot forward.
One of the things I loved about The Stolen Kingdom is that this could easily be a standalone novel, or Jillian Boehme could easily pick up where the plot left off and continue off on another adventure.
Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks (of Books)