The Stolen Kingdom

Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Maralyth has grown up assisting her poppa and older brother on the family vineyard, keeping secret the magic she uses to grow the grapes to perfection. When she was young her mother found her using magic and forbade her to use it. Maralyth doesn’t know where the magic comes from, and after her mother’s passing no one knows of her gift. This proves to be untrue when she’s kidnapped by a vineyard worker and spy for Lord Ogden Nelgareth who wants to use her to take back the kingdom of Perin Faye. Alac, second son of the King, has always feared the stolen magic that passes through the kings in his family and turns them cruel. He can’t help being drawn to the magic as he learns his father’s life is coming to an end, and Alac wonders if magic can be used for good instead of fear. Told in a dual narrative, this fantasy depicts different aspects of society and delves into what it means to be a good ruler. The plot takes off once the two protagonists meet and wonder what they can reveal as they slowly fall for one another. Well-drawn characters will have readers rooting for them both, even as they come into conflict. Meticulous world-building and a fleshed-out history produce a rich world that will be hard to leave behind. Characters’ skin tones aren’t described.