J. L. Willow

Title: The Stolen Kingdom: An Aladdin Retelling

Author: Bethany Atazadeh

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Retelling

Review: When I heard that The Stolen Kingdom was a retelling on the classic Aladdin, I was interested to see how Atazadeh would approach it. Some of the retellings I’ve read recently are less “retell” and more “rehash,” and I find that I enjoy the story more when authors take a risk with the original story rather than playing it safe. But I had nothing to worry about. The Stolen Kingdom takes a completely new direction to the classic fairy tale, one that is familiar, refreshing, and unlike anything in the current YA genre.

The Stolen Kingdom follows princess Arie, who is struggling with both protecting her kingdom and protecting the secret of her Jinni’s gift which, if it gets out, could mean certain death. When a king from a nearby kingdom attempts to force her into marriage, she realizes the only way out is to leave the safety of the castle she’s known all her life and escape into the surrounding lands. it’s there that she stumbles across a group of mischievous and (surprisingly) heartfelt thieves that may be her key to removing her gift — and, perhaps, finding true companionship along the way.

Atazadeh’s writing is clean and smooth, telling the story so effortlessly that there’s no effort on the reader’s part to keep the pages turning. There’s a collection of great quippy moments among the characters which contrast against some of the genuinely darker parts of the book. It’s clear from the carefully crafted balance maintained throughout that Atazadeh is seasoned in the art of storytelling.

A story that captures both the essence of a timeless classic and the intrigue of a new tale, The Stolen Kingdom is sure to wonder and inspire as it pushes the boundaries of how we define the fairy tales of our childhoods.

The Stolen Kingdom: An Aladdin Retelling will be released on August 20th, 2019. Pre-order it HERE.

Good Choice if You Liked: A Curse so Dark and Lonely, Cinder, Dorothy Must Die

Rating: 10/10