If you’ve been keeping up with my recent posts, you’ll know that I’ve been reading through All That Glitters, a collection of twelve books with tales of treasure and true love. Each book is written by a different author and can be read in any order. So far, I’ve already reviewed one book in this collection (Rapunzel’s Gambit) and I have two more coming… but one thing is clear to me.
Stolen Magic is by far my favorite!
In a world where magic once reigned, Lysandra must decide how much she is willing to lose to fulfill her vengeful plans…or if her heart will undo her carefully laid schemes.
Revenge burns in the heart of Lysandra, the daughter of a slain witch, whose life is forever changed when her village is raided and her family’s magic stolen by the ruthless kingdom of Eldoria. Sworn to reclaim her birthright and make the enemy pay, Lysandra embarks on a perilous journey of deception and vengeance. Disguising herself within the very walls of her foes, she becomes a handmaiden who secretly takes the place of the princess planning to marry the unsuspecting Prince Callan and ascend to the throne that should have been her destruction.
But as Lysandra weaves her way through the treacherous webs of court politics in search of her lost power, her quest for revenge is complicated by the unexpected: a burgeoning affection for the prince she is meant to deceive. Lysandra must navigate a dangerous path between her desire for retribution and the pull of a love that could be her salvation—or her ultimate undoing.
World, Character, and Plot
Recently I’ve really been enjoying standalones. They have compact stories with satisfying endings that don’t leave me stranded at 2am with a need to drive to Barnes and Noble and pick up the next one. Stolen Magic delivered exactly what I always look for in these books. There was a creative world, a sweet romance, and an intriguing plot that kept me hooked.
The opening line immediately caught my attention.
“Magic took on a different quality when it burned.”
Right?!? The magic system in this story was unique and I loved seeing it play out as the story progressed. I wrote a note while reading that it reminded me of the magic in Tinker Bell: The Pirate Fairy, where there are different kinds of magic that can be collected and stored (like the different kinds of pixie dust!).
Lysandra is certainly a compelling, morally grey heroine. She has valid motivations to fight for justice, and in turn justify her own questionable actions. That said, she does spend a fair amount of time in her own head. She had multiple internal monologues that, while deep, seem a little misplaced in some of the action-driven scenes. They built her character, but they also slowed down the pacing. Her cat familiar, Myst, had a similar struggle (the cat served as a way for Lysandra to speak her thoughts without really adding to the story).
Prince Callan was definitely one of my favorites here. I loved how respectful and caring he was. Even when he struggled to trust Lysandra, his love for her went beyond that. They had a really cute scene in the kitchens that I particularly liked. 🙂 The conflict with his father added layers of intrigue, and I always got excited when I saw his POV pop up on my Kindle.
I also want to mention Gwen, the princess Lysandra pretends to be. I loved her sweet nature and forgiving heart; she radiated a quiet strength that really resonated with me. Her presence brought so much depth to the story’s themes of forgiveness and healing, and I found myself just as invested in her journey as I was in Lysandra’s. So imagine my happiness when I found out that, even though Stolen Magic is a standalone, Gwen’s full story is in the works!
The real draw to Stolen Magic is the plot. It has plenty of deception, magic, and court intrigue. Lysandra’s struggle to maintain her relationships, her secret identity, and her goal of justice kept the stakes high and added plenty of tension. The quieter moments, like those sweet scenes with Callan, were earned and well-placed within the story.
PAGED IN: Stolen Magic is clean fantasy romance, so there is no profanity and mild fantasy violence.
Conclusion
While Identity still holds the trophy for my favorite Camille Peters book, Stolen Magic is certainly a close second. The tense plot, lovable characters, and intriguing magic system kept me turning the page all night. If this book has taught me anything, it’s shown me that I love a good pretend princess (a Goose Girl-inspired) story. If you love fairy tale retelling rich with tension and magic, go pick this standalone up! It’s one I’d happily read again; betrayals, cat familiars, and all.
Special thanks to Camille Peters for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own. You can buy Stolen Magic here.
Marie