The Stolen One

I loved Suzanne Crowley's THE STOLEN ONE, a coming of age tale of a young girl, Kat, trying to find the truth of who she really is, set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Is Kat who her "adopted mom" tells her she is or could she be somehow connected to the very Queen she has always dreamed of meeting? Filled with intrigue, adventure, mystery, deception, romance and more, The Stolen One immerses you into the world of one of history's most romantic eras. I couldn't put it down. Teens and moms alike will love this tale. I devoured every minute I spent immersed in its pages. The author dives into a world of her very own ancestors. Could this fiction novel actually be true? You just never know....

I actually really liked this book, but I'm not sure I know why so my review is kind of not very articulate. In the beginning I was afraid it would be full of back stabbing and cruelty but while it is a sad story in many ways it isn't all because of the things people do to each other, a lot of it is just brought on by situations and people's stations in life.

Kat has no idea who she is. All she knows is that Grace has raised her along with her own daughter Anna. When Grace dies Kat leaves everything behind and goes to London to try and find out her past. It's an interesting take on what could have happened to Katherine Parr's daughter.

The author beautifully captures just how both the low born and the high born have very little say in show more their lives. It's interesting to see how Kat's life, which changes when she becomes one of Elizabeth's ladies in waiting, doesn't really chane at all in certain ways. She still has no say in who she marries, she still must do as she is told.

I really wish we had found out what Rafael came home for and whether he really wanted Kat or not, or whether his desires were more sinister then that.

The discriptions of clothing are gorgeous and I can imagine the beautiful embroidery that Kat does. show less

Set in the early years of Elizabeth's reign, The Stolen One is the story of a young girl - Kat (or Katherine) Bab. She had grown up in a small village just under the looming Sudeley castle, earning money with her needle and dreaming of her real parents who she had never met.

When Grace that had been a mother for Kat dies, Kat decides that she had had enough from the small village and her boring life and that she will go to London, dragging her sister with her (Grace's daughter - who as it turns out has a few secrets on her own). But when they reach London, it is not the dream city they always thought it to be - London is ugly and dirty and dangerous. But this is also the city where the two girls find some unexpected friends and Kat show more manages to get invited to the court of the queen - and to the Wardrobe and the people behind it. And the dream for both girls begin... except is it really a dream?

The parts of the book in Elizabeth's court are deliciously written and even if there are enough fiction elements in it, it sounds almost authentic. As does the portrayal of the people in that court.

One of the strongest part of the book is that it plays on one of the historical mysteries of the period - it never contradicts any of the historical facts (except Kat's appearance in the court but that's needed for the story) -- it just builds a story that can easily fill one of the cracks of history.

A few issue with the book:

1. The end - not the way the story ended but the way the author decided to confirm the whole heritage story. By the time Mrs Eglionby showed up, everything was clear; a one page letter from her would have been much better way to finish that part of the story (if the author really wanted it there - it was unneeded...) -- instead it dragged through what amounted to a summary of half of one of the story-lines in the book. On the other hand the actual end of Kat's story is amusing (and borderline hilarious at some parts if you consider everything that happened before)

2. Rafael's explanations the last time he talked with Kat - something just does not add up if you consider when Elizabeth had become a queen, his own answer to his mother about the reason not to return earlier and when he had left home. My first thought was "It is the wrong queen, this had happened under Mary, not Elizabeth". So why he is back is never answered... but it is not that important anyway

3. Every time when Kat was faced with a hard decision or needed to actually live with the consequences of her own actions, someone either died or she got a letter or something like that happened that pretty much forced her hand and made her decision for her. Even the last one was forced by what happened to her.

A side note: If you do the math and know enough about the Tudors, you should be able to decipher within the first few pages who the father of Kat most likely is. It does not matter for the understanding of the novel though.

It's an enjoyable novel -- not too serious (but you cannot expect that from an young adult novel) but at the same time managing to tell a coherent and quite lively story. 4 stars for the novel and honestly if the author had decided to handle the while confirmation part at the end differently, it would have added half a star. show less

The Stolen One is the story of Katherine "Kat" Bab. The identity of her own parents a mystery, Kat was raised by Grace Bab in a quiet country village. Kat, however, is sure that she's destined for greater things, and is determined to resolve the mystery of her parentage.

When Grace dies, Kat takes the opportunity to strike out for London, along with her sister Anna. Once there, Kat has the good fortune to be included in Queen Elizabeth II's court, continuing to ply her embroidery needle while investigating both the truth of her origins and the nature of true love.

Crowley does a great job of immersing the reader in the history of the time, and making Elizabethan England accessible and intriguing. This is truly an engaging and delightful read.

I was extremely nervous to read this. I get a bit squeamish about historical fiction, and I usually try to avoid it because I always lose interest so quickly. I’m very pleased to say that was definitely not the case with The Stolen One.

It was kind of hard to get a grip on it at first, simply because the dialogue and slang fits so perfectly with that era. But once you get used to it, deciphering it was really easy and only added to how genuine this story was.

Suzanne Crowley wrote this story very beautifully, and she created characters who do nothing but constantly pull you in. Kat, the bold and outspoken lead character, was very enjoyable to read. She went against normalcy in this book, and those are my favorite kinds of characters. I show more was also entertained by the sheer scandal that surrounded Queen Elizabeth and her court, Kat included. Any preconceived notion I had about this being even the slightest bit boring went right out the window.

I wish I could elaborate, but in the end, everything ties together and will make you gasp really loudly. I read the ending in a car and my poor mother nearly drove off of the road because of my reaction. There’s so much to talk about wit these characters, but I know I’d end up spoiling it, so take my word for it!

If you’re iffy about novels like this, I recommend taking this one off of that list and picking it up! It was so entertaining and enthralling, you’ll have a hard time putting it down! show less

It is sixteenth-century England. Henry and his tyrannical ways have been disposed of, and a new queen, Elizabeth, sits on the throne. Meanwhile, in the countryside, a redheaded teenage girl named Kat Bab dreams of life beyond her simple country lifestyle. When her adoptive mother, Grace, dies, Kat considers it her opportunity to go to London and discover the identities of her biological parents.

Along with her half-deaf sister, Anna, Kat enters the queen’s court and soon becomes Elizabeth’s favorite. Jealous rumors arise, whispers that say that Kat is actually Elizabeth’s daughter. Kat, on the other hand, thinks that she was born for life in the court. Surrounded by riches and attractive men vying for her attention, however, Kat show more can’t help but occasionally think of the young farmer boy at home who is perhaps still waiting for her.

Will Kat learn the truth about her history, and how will she define her own future?

I haven’t read such a delightful historical fiction read since probably Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy. The sixteenth-century England that Suzanne Crowley writes is colorful, alluring (like how Kat is often described by others), and not at all stilted. It’s easy to get lost in either the rowdy, rudimentary backcountry or the deceptive yet attractive London court.

I enjoyed how the chapters with Kat’s first-person narration were divided by snippets of Grace’s old diary entries. This added even more mystery and urgency to Kat’s quest, as we readers begin to piece together what Kat herself does not yet know.

Above all, Kat’s character really made THE STOLEN ONE come alive for me. She works for me as the protagonist because of the subtle yet completely justified way she changes from countryside to courtside. She is not afraid to speak her mind, which makes for interesting conversations between headstrong or ambitious characters. I found her attractive yet normal, aspiring yet innocent.

I couldn’t get as much into the romance(s) of the story, however, partially because most of the tête-à-têtes occurred almost randomly and inexplicably. It’s okay when the main character attracts attention because of her allure; when the attraction seems ambitious and is left unexplained, however, I get worried. I also have mixed feelings about the ending of this book. Perhaps, after reading so much about Kat speaking her mind and not simply going along with what everyone expects of her, I was disappointed in her decision.

Even so, THE STOLEN ONE is a strong book with a marvelous protagonist. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a splash of magic and romance should read this book: it’s made for you. show less

For as long as she can remember, sixteen-year-old Katherine Bab has lived in the English countryside with her adoptive mother, Grace, and Grace's daughter, Anna. Kat has always longed to know the identities of her birth parents, but Grace has always refused to tell her who they are, or give her any more information than frequent comments about how she inherited the worst qualities of her parents. And despite the love of a young farmer named Christian, who is the son of her adoptive mother's brother, Kat longs for something more than marriage to a farmer, though she does have feelings for him. When Grace dies, refusing even on her deathbed to reveal the secret, Kat decides she and Anna will travel to London in search of the answer to the show more mystery of her past.

But London is not what Kat expected - it is a busy, dirty, noisy place. Shy Anna, who is deaf, longs to return to the country. When Kat and Anna are taken in by a noblewoman, Kat's talent with embroidery and stitching gets her invited to the court of Queen Elizabeth, to make dresses for the queen and instruct the Queen's ladies. At court, Kat draws the attention of two handsome young gentlemen, but she cannot forget Christian, no matter how hard she tries. And she is troubled by rumors that she could be related to the Queen, perhaps even be her secret, long-lost daughter. Will she ever discover her true identity? And if she does discover who her parents were, how will she choose between her two worlds?

The Stolen One was one of the best historical novels I've read in a long time. Katherine is a wonderfully developed character - she seemed so real, sometimes I would even become frustrated at her actions! The author did a wonderful job at bringing to life the setting of Elizabethan England, and the very different ways of life in the countryside, the city, and at court. Although this book is written for teen readers, I think adults who love historical fiction will enjoy it is as well - it is a wonderful blend of history, romance, and the classic story of a young woman's search for her identity and where she belongs in the world. show less