I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

I really enjoyed reading A Stolen Kiss! I was definitely in the mood for a feel-good, funny read when I started this, and it was exactly what I got. A light-hearted fairy tale, filled with unforgettable characters and lessons on accepting yourself and realising your true worth, A Stolen Kiss is definitely a book I'd recommend you curl up with on a rainy afternoon.

I fell in love with the characters immediately. Each of them is unique in his or her personality, fears, hopes and dreams, and they are all sooo well drawn that I couldn't pick a favourite if I tried! I adored the tone of this book, too. I tend to love books that make fun of themselves and the genre, and this was no exception. I really enjoyed all the references to classical fairy tales, and how this book never took itself too seriously. Sure, there were some tense moments that added momentum to the story, but in general it was fairly light and in that it precisely met my expectations.

One thing that really made this book stand out, for me, were the messages spread out throughout. Given that the intended target is definitely younger than me, I applaud the fact that all the characters in this book learn to grow though the difficulties they are faced with. From accepting one's origin and talents to learning to fight for their dreams or their family, each and every one of the main characters learns to go beyond their assigned role in society to realise their full potential and achieve happiness. In particular, I was very glad to see a princess learn to save herself for once!

Overall, this is a very light and enjoyable read, perfect for getting you in a good mood and relaxing in a stressful period, without having to give up on quality character development, powerful messages and the unmissable happy ending! ( )

I love fantasy novels which are inspired by fairy tales, but aren't straight-out retellings. Do you know how hard those are to find? (Hint: very.) So I was very glad to see A STOLEN KISS and knew I had to read it. I'm really glad I did because it was a fun ride which spoke much on the importance of being true to yourself, no matter what your station in life is, as well as the importance of good friends -- possibly even more important than romantic love.

There is a lack of YA novels that depict friendship in such as strong, positive way and that was one of the real strengths of this book that I appreciated. It also showed a strong female friendship, which is even rarer in YA fantasy. There's always some love triangle that gets between the two girls. There is a love triangle in this book but it's not nearly as endless love, eternal flame, pining and angst that I've seen in other books. In fact, it's pretty damn inconsequential now that I think more about it, and the friendship between Derric and Humphrey is stronger. So, hooray, again, positive depiction of friendship.

I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed it. There's a curse, an epic quest complete with mysterious yet helpful creature, dangerous beasts, and an evil sorcerer. I loved the characters and cheered for them to succeed. The plot was twisty and very satisfying.

My one quibble is that the language read as too modern for me. Maybe I'm used to other high fantasy books where authors take great pains to remove modern slang from the dialogue, but it was jarring for me to hear the characters say, "okay," or other modern sayings. The dialogue was also less formal than I would have expected in a fantasy novel, particularly as two of the main characters are royalty. This probably won't be an issue for most readers but I found myself getting thrown out of the story, particularly in the beginning of the book. Once the plot advanced and Derric et al were on the road, it was less of an issue as I got sucked into the story.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this series. Despite the bit of a rocky start, I liked it a lot, and want to see more of these characters and this world.

3.5 stars, rounded down.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley ( )

A light, sweet, romp through a fairytale-inspired milieu. Kingdoms, princesses, curses, sorcery, foreboding forests, treacherous waters, and a journey that reveals the true hero/heroine...this book checks off a lot of the elements of standard fairytale fare. But it feels less derivative than it does like an homage to the genre. And the creative elements -- some new creatures, a web of magic that certain sorcerers can "borrow" from, a long-running war between centaurs and giant spiders -- help the story feel original despite the cliches.

If you're looking for a fast, engaging read that will pull you out of the real world for a couple of hours, with an undercurrent of girl-power inspirationalism, this one won't disappoint.


Note: I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. ( )