Hello book nerds! Happy September! Spooky season is almost upon us, can you believe? But before we tackle our own Spooky TBRs, I’m here to talk about a recent release (and one that I thoroughly enjoyed), Stolen City!
Stolen City is truly more than a heist story. It’s a story of magic, of family, of choices that make or break your identity, and ultimately a story of revolution.
My thoughts on Stolen City
I must say, Stolen City is kind of a slow build. There are multiple characters to know, places to take note of, world-building to follow… But then the story gets going, and suddenly you can’t look away from the page. Reading this book was like that for me, and I loved it!
Stolen City presents itself as a heist story in its early parts, but as you get to know the characters and as you recognize the subplots and see the bigger picture, you realize it’s so much more.
With four different perspectives, talks of imperial occupation and rebellion, forbidden magic, and family secrets, it’s a story that will catch and hold your attention. The writing style seems straightforward, but also poetic at times that you feel the character’s emotions right off the page.
Speaking of the characters, I also quite love the characterizations in this story. We have four characters here with different backstories, different aspirations and fears, motivations, and more. And yet they make the story seem so alive. I loved getting to know them and diving deep into their thoughts and actions. Arian, Liam, Cavar, and Zephyr were all compelling in their own ways and you can’t help but anticipate how they will change the story, how they will reach the end.
As for the political intrigue in this story, I think the author did a wonderful job painting a picture and changing the sceneries for the readers. You think one thing one moment, but you’re hit with a twist the next. You’re rooting for this character one moment, and then you’re not. That’s what it felt like reading this. And I think this is another reason why I got so invested in this story.
The world-building and the magic being mixed with politics also make the story even more riveting. The idea of a place rich in magic but is now forbidden due to the imperial occupation, of an organization of mages, spells, and clans— it was all a great addition to the allure of the book.
Overall, this was a riveting read that thoroughly surprised me. If you’re looking for a book with politics, and family secrets, and magic, give Stolen City a try now!
A big thank you to Xpresso Tours, as well as to Swoon Reads, for including me in this blog tour! Click the banner for the tour schedule and see other reviews, creative posts, interviews, and more!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Stolen City
Author: Elisa A. Bonnin
My rating:
Genre/s and tags: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication date: September 20, 2022
Content warnings: imperial occupation, graphic violence/brutality, murder, death
Goodreads synopsis:
Twin thieves attempt to pull off a daring heist in Stolen City, the sophomore fantasy novel from Dauntless author Elisa A. Bonnin.
The city of Leithon is under Imperial occupation and Arian Athensor has made it her playground.
In stealing magical artifacts for the Resistance, bounding over rooftops to evade Imperial soldiers, and establishing herself as the darling thief of the underground, Arian lives a life wrapped in danger and trained towards survival. She’ll steal anything for the right price, and if she runs fast enough, she can almost escape the fact that her mother is dead, her father is missing, and her brother, Liam, is tamping down a wealth of power in a city that has outlawed magic.
But then the mysterious Cavar comes to town with a job for the twins: to steal an artifact capable of ripping the souls from the living–the same artifact that used to hang around the neck of Arian’s mother. Suddenly, her past is no longer buried under adrenaline but intimately tied to the mission at hand, and Arian must face her guilt and pain head-on in order to pull off the heist.
As Arian and Cavar infiltrate the strongest fortress in Leithon and Liam joins the Resistance as their resident mage, the twins find themselves embroiled in court politics and family secrets, and the mission becomes more than just another artifact theft. The target is now the Imperial rule, and Arian will go to any length necessary to steal her city back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elisa A. Bonnin was born and raised in the Philippines, after which she moved to the United States to study chemistry and later oceanography. After completing her doctorate, she moved to Germany to work as a postdoctoral scientist. A lifelong learner, Elisa is always convinced that she should “maybe take a class in something” and as a result, has amassed an eclectic collection of hobbies. But writing will always be her true love. Publishing a book has been her dream since she was eight years old, and she is thrilled to finally be able to share her stories. Dauntless is her first novel.
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GIVEAWAY
One lucky bookworm will win a print copy of Stolen City by Elisa A. Bonnin. This giveaway will end September 29th and is open to international bookworms! Enter by clicking the link below!
Enthralled Bookworm 
Thanks for being on the tour! Lovely review! 🙂
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