Review by Helene CW -- The Stolen Heir by Tayma Tameem
2 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Stolen Heir" by Tayma Tameem.]
Imagine that a prophecy is written about you before you are even born. Imagine that your birth was the cause of a brutal war across kingdoms. Better yet, imagine being told that you are next in line for the royal throne and extremely wealthy after suffering from poverty and near death for so many years. Tayma Tameem brought these imaginations to life in her book, A Stolen Heir. The story is full of surprises, enchanting magic, and vicious action worth page-turning. It all begins with two royal families bound by marriage. Then, the prophecy of a son to be, an heir prince, who is said to possess supernatural, magical abilities which are powerful enough to reign over the two kingdoms in peace.
Powerful mages who are hiding under their cloaks plan to abduct the child and place him into civilian life until he is old enough to rule and carry the prophecy. They hope that the experience of peasant life will make the child more empathetic, as opposed to the royals who strive in wealth, magic, and outrageous hunts. The plan is perverted when the child's parents blame one another for taking their child and engage in war. The war lasts for years as the poor little prince struggles for survival, alone, unaware of his true identity, and confused about the special powers he possesses. The child soon realizes that people are out to kill him in the brutal war. As he makes his way closer to his birth kingdom, he learns and witnesses more and more.
What I liked most about the book were the narrative changes. Tameem takes us inside the heads of the royal characters, the mages, and the lost boy. Through them, we discover their identities and their feelings. We are witnesses to their innocence and their guiltiness. We become concerned for the missing prince and his well-being along with the characters. We follow his every move, hoping he'll make it home in time to put an end to the cruelty of the war before the war takes him.
It is hard to say what I disliked because there was far too much to enjoy. Tameem created such impressive characters, villains included. The irony of love shared by the king and queen is enthusing, being the same love for their child that led them to war in the first place. The child who grows up by the name Erik loves the family he grew up to believe are his before and after they are separated. Erik shares this love with a smart friend he meets while striving to live on his own. There is endless love despite all the evils of war in the book, and it is the love that is infectious to the reader.
I suggest that readers who enjoy fantasy fiction with a lot of action should definitely pick up this beautiful novel. I rate this book four out of four stars because the plot is well structured, the characters are intriguing, and when you reach the end your mind will be begging for the next book.
******
The Stolen Heir
View: on Bookshelves
Imagine that a prophecy is written about you before you are even born. Imagine that your birth was the cause of a brutal war across kingdoms. Better yet, imagine being told that you are next in line for the royal throne and extremely wealthy after suffering from poverty and near death for so many years. Tayma Tameem brought these imaginations to life in her book, A Stolen Heir. The story is full of surprises, enchanting magic, and vicious action worth page-turning. It all begins with two royal families bound by marriage. Then, the prophecy of a son to be, an heir prince, who is said to possess supernatural, magical abilities which are powerful enough to reign over the two kingdoms in peace.
Powerful mages who are hiding under their cloaks plan to abduct the child and place him into civilian life until he is old enough to rule and carry the prophecy. They hope that the experience of peasant life will make the child more empathetic, as opposed to the royals who strive in wealth, magic, and outrageous hunts. The plan is perverted when the child's parents blame one another for taking their child and engage in war. The war lasts for years as the poor little prince struggles for survival, alone, unaware of his true identity, and confused about the special powers he possesses. The child soon realizes that people are out to kill him in the brutal war. As he makes his way closer to his birth kingdom, he learns and witnesses more and more.
What I liked most about the book were the narrative changes. Tameem takes us inside the heads of the royal characters, the mages, and the lost boy. Through them, we discover their identities and their feelings. We are witnesses to their innocence and their guiltiness. We become concerned for the missing prince and his well-being along with the characters. We follow his every move, hoping he'll make it home in time to put an end to the cruelty of the war before the war takes him.
It is hard to say what I disliked because there was far too much to enjoy. Tameem created such impressive characters, villains included. The irony of love shared by the king and queen is enthusing, being the same love for their child that led them to war in the first place. The child who grows up by the name Erik loves the family he grew up to believe are his before and after they are separated. Erik shares this love with a smart friend he meets while striving to live on his own. There is endless love despite all the evils of war in the book, and it is the love that is infectious to the reader.
I suggest that readers who enjoy fantasy fiction with a lot of action should definitely pick up this beautiful novel. I rate this book four out of four stars because the plot is well structured, the characters are intriguing, and when you reach the end your mind will be begging for the next book.
******
The Stolen Heir
View: on Bookshelves
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