The Stolen Throne ♥ Abigail Owen ♥ Dominions #2

Published May, 2023 ♥ Published by Entangled Teen

If my tenuous control slips, the Shadows will gleefully bury my consciousness down deep in a tomb made of my own body and take over. There’s no telling what they’d do after that. – Reven

My Thoughts on The Stolen Throne – Dominions #2

The Stolen Throne is the second installment in Abigail Owen’s Dominions trilogy. I have read book one, The Liar’s Crown but I did not review it. I know I enjoyed it enough to request an arc copy of The Stolen Throne on Netgalley. Big shoutout to them, Entangled, and of course author, Abigail Owen for sending me a copy to review.

I wish I remembered more about specific characters but I don’t. I know that our MFC is a twin and she had been set aside at birth to be a decoy for her sister the future Queen. A grave mistake or blessing was made at birth. Our MFC was cursed as a babe instead of her sister, the true future Queen.

Our MMC is a Shadowraith and Princess-napper. He was born from the shadows shed by King Eidolon. Shadow shedding is how the King has become “immortal”. 

I don’t remember much about the magic system but the world itself is in danger. Something about sinking islands. The danger of the realm is why Reven, our Shadowraith, feels the need to get into the princess-napping business. Unfortunately for Reven, he princess-napped the decoy Princess and not the real one. 

Part One : The Isolated Pawns

1. So thankful for clever recaps. 
2. I don’t remember if The Liar’s Crown was multi pov or not. 
3. So King Eidolon’s first lover betrayed him. I wonder who she was and what it has to do with his Queen killing mission. 
4. This rescue mission is going pretty smoothly so far. Too smoothly. 
5. I forgot about the shadow binding business. 

Part Two : A Waiting Move

1. Meren got an upgrade. 
2. A signal. Poor Reven. I really don’t know how this whole tale is going to fair out for him. 
3. What is going on with this amulet?
4. Seven hells in a handbasket. 
5. Tabra is not doing so hot. Poor girl. 
6. Oh Meren. I forget if it’s canon or not, but in my head Tabra and Achlys are lovers. 
7. Cainis really wants Meren and Cain to get hitched. 
8. Cain should be the zariph.
9. Oh boys. Cain has a point though.
10. You tell ‘em Meren. 
11. Reven is not doing well. I wish there was more from his pov. To this point, we have only had one chapter at the beginning.
12. There’s another !
13. Finally an answer to the amulet question. 
14. I wonder if one of the first twins was Eidolon’s lover? 
15. Poor Reven. Him and Meren both deserve happiness. 

Part Three : Critical Position

1. Reven is a ticking shadow bomb. 
2. I mean, you are looking to destroy one of their lovers. Can’t blame a goddess for not helping.
3. I’m going to imagine Reven’s transformation like Venom. We are Reven. Although if we want to get technical, I suppose it would be ‘We are Eidolon’.
4. Why all of a sudden can The Devourers sense the amulet? Or is it just that Meren has been out and about and the protections are failing around the Dominions? 
5. I’m negotiating. 
6. Meren, you don’t own the Elimination. 
7. Kinda like Bene though. Smite away!
8. I thought there were just two amulets. It must be an amulet per goddess.
9. Back to the Shadowood we go. Nice mini battle recap. 
10. Something is definitely creeping around these woods. 
11. Meren and Pella sound like they may finally at least be friendly with each other. 
12. This goddess doesn’t stay “awake” very long. 
13. I knew there was something sinking. 
14. If all this is correct, is Eidolon even the bad guy?
15. So that’s what’s creeping in the woods. 
16. Istrella knows some things. 
17. So what is Meren’s amulet doing to her? Or better yet, why is it not doing anything to her?
18. I think perhaps we are still missing a vital piece of information, Meren. 
19. I feel like there are going to be ppl upset that Reven and Meren are not bang happy in this book. 
20. Meren and Pella are more alike than either of them will ever admit. 
21. No Meren, you do not know what you are dealing with. 
22. Of course Cain has been in love with you forever Meren. Don’t be so foolish.
23. I feel bad for Cain. 
24. I thought Omma actually died in The Liars Crown too.
25. Yes Meren, you stopped the Shadow Souls. But, Reven’s shadows are just cool now because Meren and Eidolon locked eyes? 
26. On the plus side, these two can go back to bang town. 
27. Or not.

Part Four : Sham Sacrifice 

1. If Trysolde and Eidolon were friends shouldn’t he see straight through this charade? The man has got to know what’s up.
2. Poor Reven, disguised as a sack of supplies. 
3. It’s definitely canon now. Whoop.
4. Wow indeed. 
5. Ghosts and Shadows everywhere.
6. Found the traitor.
7. Goddess-knows I’d like to know how many of these ghosts there are.
8. I knew the Grandmother Twins couldn’t be as stone cold as Meren goes on. It’s like she forgets that they too had to deal with Eidolon’s shenanigans.
9. Good thing for Bene right now. 
10. So that’s how Eidolon possessed Tabra & Trysolde with his ghosts. 
11. Honestly I think Tabra has been dead for awhile. 
12. “That he can love you means all of us could” – If Reven survives he’s going to be some blended version of all the shadows. 
13. Ngl I’m big mad we are skipping over the actual question and answer part of our time in The Land of Eternal Death. 
14. Ngl also getting tired of the constant reminder that only Meren or the amulet wearer can hear Bene. 

Part Five : Draw Death

1. One hundred percent your curse. 
2. Smart move on the question. 
3. The girl talk between Pella and Meren right now. 
4. The Reverie doesn’t seem that insane.
5. Enough proof for you now Meren?
6. Excuse me Meren, you don’t even want to be with Cain. 
7. Alright, four amulets down. 
8. Get over it Meren.
9. Something bad is going to happen during these Rites. 
10. I’m back to thinking about the lover that betrayed Eidolon again.
11. Way to go Tziah. 
12. Zombies!
13. Oh Vos. 
14. Yay Hakan & Pella.
15. Mother !!
16. Reven was right, mistakes were made. 
17. Bene is gonna be big mad. 
18. Meren the Shadowraith. 
19. Not the wrong girl at all, Meren. 

The Stolen Throne Review

The second installment in Owen’s Dominions trilogy was just as exciting as the first book in the series. The Stolen Throne picks up shortly after The Liar’s Crown ends. A few months have passed, and Reven and Cain have broken into the palace to rescue Meren. With the exception of a chapter at the beginning, The Stolen Throne is told from Meren’s point of view. I had hoped for more from Reven this time around, especially after that tease of the first chapter.

I understand why the story is told from Meren’s point of view, we don’t actually need another viewpoint. That being said, boy oh boy I got tired of Meren at various points throughout the story. Her constant reminder that only she could hear Bene was irksome. Just about every single time Bene opened his mouth, Meren reminded us that only she could hear him and had to translate for the others. I got it the first time.

In some instances, loved the reminders and mini-recaps throughout the book. For example, our crew goes back to The Shadowoods, a location from The Liars Crown and I needed the reminder about the battle that took place there. It was helpful, whereas the whole Bene thing was frustrating.

All that being said, I enjoyed the ride that was The Stolen Throne. It was consistent with The Liar’s Crown and the story progressed. I’m looking forward to reading The Shadows Rule All.

Their screams are like ragged blades shredding my insides as they try to claw their way out.

I will do anything, kill anyone, sacrifice everyone – including myself – to get to her.

She makes a gagging sound, and more shadow pours out of her mouth, like a black silk swath.

Her face is contorted with rage, teeth bared as she growls a sound that has to come from the very pits of the damned.

You have to keep fighting until it’s over. That’s your fate. And I will burn down the world if I have to, just to keep you safe while you do it. That’s mine.

Even a Shadowraith deserves some happiness, Reven.

Secrets are dangerous. I’ve learned this the hard way, but at least I learned it.

The taste of him, the feel of him, is like coming home.

Every step feels like another piece of my cracked heart crumbles to dust inside me…

Not with my mind spinning in a dust demon made up of my feelings.

We are stronger together. Because we both need each other for the kind of faith in ourselves that we can’t find anywhere else.

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