Book Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: January 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury / Walker
Pages: 288
Series: ?
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.  (from Goodreads)

I was: caught up in the pace of the story but felt like a lot was missing.

My thoughts:
I don't know if this will make any sense but reading Stolen Away, for me, was like reading a really long short story. All the pieces where there - beginning, middle, end - but after reading the last page I felt like the story itself wasn't complete.

I don’t want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy this book, because I very much did. I'm a huge fan of Alyxandra Harvey's writing and I can't say I've ever really been disappointed with her books. But maybe I was just a little disappointed with this one.

I think the main reason this was a lukewarm read for me was the fact that I never really felt connected to the characters. Everything happens rather quickly - the entire book is only a few days worth of time - so I never really felt like I got to know any particular character very well. Jo, Eloise's best friend, made an impact, but only because she got on my nerves a little. Her British slang just for the heck of it and her insta-love infatuation didn't win her any points with me.

Eloise was a pretty interesting character - or at least her family was pretty interesting. Eloise herself I didn't feel very invested in. Her insta-love relationship got to me as well. It wasn't the relationship itself it was how very fast these characters were thrown together, fought together, saved the world, had time to make dinner and became the bestest omg I can't live without you friends forever - in about 3 days.

Now, the story itself. The fairy lore and the interplay between the different 'families' of fae - this I really loved. There were a lot of characters and a lot of information but I loved it all! I would love to read another book about this world. There were some common fairy themes going on but a lot was new (at leas to me) and there seems to be a lot more to this story that can be told.

Final verdict:
Not my favorite Harvey book but still one that I'm glad I read. If you like faery stories with some suspense and action thrown in, you'll enjoy Stolen Away. I read an e-galley but this is one that I intend to purchase.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Linkage Love:
Author's webstie
Goodreads
IndieBound