Although not all my reviews are spoilery, which I do not consider this one to be, here is a little warning just in case.

Review Written: 3rd October 2012

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Alyxandra Harvey pretty much has the supernatural covered.

Vampires? Check.

Ghosts? Check.

Fairies? Check

All we need now is a werewolf book to complete the set. While this may sound like a moan, I reassure you that it is not. Although Harvey does write about a range of supernatural creatures, she does it all rather well. Her vampire books about the Drake family are refreshing, and the one off Haunting Violet made use of the mystery genre too. Once again, with Stolen Away, we have a slightly different use of fairies. Okay, it’s not completely different because the whole point of evil fairies is to at least be taken, which happens to one of the main characters Eloise Hart.

The book doesn’t have one main character like most teen books. While the blurb focuses on Eloise, the other main voice we hear is from best friend Jo. [Harvey does this often in her books – use different character POV.] The two are rather different. Eloise appears to be the quieter of the two, although she get’s grouchy without food, and Jo is the confident one who makes flirting with guys seem like a breeze rather than the nerve wracking thing it is to most people. Two girls means two different guys. Lucas is a Prince, and clearly on the good side whereas Eldric is the son of evil Lord Strahan and the line between good and evil is less clear cut. Of course Eloise is attracted to good Lucas and Jo is attracted to mysterious, brooding Eldric – both men are almost personifications of the conflicting personalities of the best friends.

We also have Devin. I’m not quite sure why he is in the book. You never get his point of view and he isn’t there for romantic attachment, he’s not even the ‘best friend who is in love with the main character’. He just kind of the tag-along boy. However, I did want him to end up with fairy ally Isadora. I didn’t want him to be the only character who failed to end up with a fairy lover.

The main plotline of the book is stopping evil Lord Strahan and Eloise finds out home truths about her mysterious disappearing aunt Antonia. The book is only small and can be read in one sitting so there is no waiting around within the pages of the book – the action is fast paced, to the point, from beginning to end.

My only moan of this book was the use of the ‘I love you’ phrase after roughly three days. I do not believe in the ‘love at first sight’ existence. The only time it is acceptable to use is when you have children and therefore, that unconditional love at first sight is acceptable. However, this isn’t a fault that Harvey has. It happens in every teen book. It is just the done thing.

A thoroughly recommended book  for those who want a novel to read in one sitting.

NEXT REVIEW:  JOSS STIRLING'S STEALING PHOENIX