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The Stolen One
The Stolen One
The Stolen One
Audiobook8 hours

The Stolen One

Written by Suzanne Crowley

Narrated by Sarah Coomes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

No one wanted you. But I did.

Kat's true identity is a secret, even from her. All she has ever known are Grace and Anna and their small village. Kat wants more—more than hours spent embroidering finery for wealthy ladies and more than Christian, the gentle young farmer courting her.

But there are wolves outside, Grace warns. Waiting, with their eyes glowing in the dark . . . and Grace has given Kat safety and a home when no one else would.

Then a stranger appears in their cottage, bringing the mystery of Kat's birth with her. In one night, Kat's destiny finds her: She will leave. She will journey to London, and her skill with the needle will attract the notice of the magnificent Queen Elizabeth—and of the wolves of the court. She will discover what Grace would never tell her.

Everything will unravel.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateJun 30, 2009
ISBN9780061809545
Author

Suzanne Crowley

Suzanne Crowley is the author of two acclaimed novels for young readers, The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous and The Stolen One. The author, who is also a miniaturist and dollhouse collector whose work has graced the covers of magazines worldwide, was born in a small town in Texas and lives in Southlake, Texas. suzaannecrowley.com    twitter:  suzannecrowley_writes Instagram:  @suzannecrowleyofficial facebook - suzannecrowley-author goodreads - Suzanne Crowley bookbub - Suzanne Crowley

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Reviews for The Stolen One

Rating: 3.9285714285714284 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Always a dependable genre -- feisty and independent orphan girl from the country finds herself as a lady-in-waiting to one of the Tudors, in this case, Elizabeth. In addition to being fascinated by life at court, especially the fashions and the intrigue, Kat is also trying to find answers about her mysterious past. That part is based on Thomas Seymour and Catherine Parr.This is one of those extremely solid three star books. It was an enjoyable read while it was happening, but after the fact I have some quibbles. Several of the plot points fizzle out, and I was looking forward to seeing how they would be resolved (I really felt that this might have been better served with a more traditional adult historical fiction treatment, so we could get long, rambling, and gratifying wrap-ups for all the minor characters). The big reveal for the man with the dramatic dark secret was a "wait, what? that's the secret? it's not even a mystery, let alone satisfying." moment. Not a quibble, but more of an amuse-bouche, was the parade of charming, romantic and beautiful men who throw themselves at Kat, only to be quickly dispatched in various ways all in a rush at the end to free her up for True Love.Grade: B-Recommended: to fans of YA Tudor court storiesI should also note that I somehow got the impression from reviews that this book was in the style that takes this genre one better -- faerie Tudor court stories -- however, there are just a few ethereal moments, but it's not like Perilous Gard or anything like that. It's always funny when a misunderstanding like that happens, because I end up waiting for it for almost the entire book
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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 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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love historical fiction, and The Stolen One did not disappoint. Kat was a lively and engaging character was was very likable, despite being far from perfect. Her search for the truth about her mother was fascinating, and though the mystery was easy to figure out from the diary entries that prefaced each chapter, I still loved reading as Kat put it together piece by piece for herself. This book is pretty light on the romance- though it does have a sweet ending- rather it is a glimpse into the life of those who revolve around a queen, and all the uncertainties that came with it. The beginning moves a bit slowly, but once the setting is moved to London, The Stolen One becomes impossible to put down. It would be a great book for teens interested in this time period, but I know several adults who would love it just as much.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    For such a great story, a lot of audience must read your book. You can join in the NovelStar writing contest happening right now till the end of May with a theme werewolf. You can also publish your stories in NovelStar, just email our editors hardy@novelstar.top, joye@novelstar.top, or lena@novelstar.top.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley tells the story of a young girl in sixteenth century England. Adopted as a small child, Katherine’s mother always tells her “No one wanted you. But I did.” After a series of tragic events befall her, Katherine takes her stepsister and heads to London to find out where she came from. As she attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding her birth she comes across secrets that she could never have imagined. Based on both legend and fact Crowley has created a story full of mystery and intrigue. Through the progression of the story and by mixing in sections from Katherine’s mother’s diary the author gives the reader pieces to the puzzle she has created. The Stolen One is both interesting and entertaining as Crowley mixes details of life in 16th century England with her version of the legends told from a young girl’s perspective.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    (from my goodreads review):This book was a bit slow at first, but was well worth it. The characters, set in England at the English Court (during the reign of Elizabeth I) were well evolved, and believable. The author had great skill to immerse me in the smells, sights, and sounds of 16th century England. You can imagine yourself in Katherine's shoes, and the agonising choices she has to make, and that universal need to know who and what you are, that wanting to belong. Reminiscent of Neal Stephenson, and his Baroque Cycle(by immersing the fate of the common people with those of history), Ms. Crowley has shown us the human side of Queen Elizabeth I(though she is but a somewhat minor character, though her influence on Katherine is major), and her court, and even the life of the common person, and to see that they were once alive, with love and dreams, and passions. That Elizabeth I was more than those cold lifeless form that is portrayed in so many portraits, and gives a picture, vivid and vibrant to those whose lives are not often recorded in the dusty pages of history. If you like the show"The Tudors"(now on BBC America) and/or books by Mary Stewart, you will love this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Stolen One was one of the best young adult historical novels I've read in a long time The main character. Katherine is a wonderfully developed character - she seemed so real I could almost feel her thoughts and emotions as I was immeshed in her worlds at court as well as on the farm, 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
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Stolen One was intended to be a cure for my Tudor England Historical Fiction withdrawal, one of my favorite genres (started by Carlyn Meyers Young Royals series in middle school), but it disappointed me. I had expected more drama, more intrigue, more romance, more than there was in this book. The first third is devoted to her life in the country with Grace, the woman who's always taken care of her, and Anna, who's deaf but like a sister. I found that to be boring.The rest is about her time in Queen Elizabeth's court, where she tries to unravel the mystery of her birth and who she really is. It was dramatic and intriguing, but I wanted more. There were quite a few instances where characters were introduced and then...nothing. They didn't have a role, or if they did it was small. Or she would build something up and then nothing would come of it. It was frustrating.I didn't like Kat much either. I guess it's because she is so much different from myself. Instead of staying in her nice little country house she runs away to London and brings poor Anna with her, and when she's there she doesn't do what Grace told her, she does whatever she likes. It frustrated me, the way she wouldn't listen. The historical facts in this novel were very interesting though. She must have done quite a bit of research to get the gown's and the hair and the jewelry correct.It wasn't a terrible book, just not as good as I expected.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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 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!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I didn't read up on this at all before my copy came from the Library, I saw it was getting good reviews but I went to start it I realized I had no idea what it was about, with a cover and title like that I was thinking I might have grabbed me a Fairy Changeling story, but what I had was more of a true changeling story (a what if this happened in history...) which is my favorite kind of historical fiction, the type that takes a historical mystery (in this case, what did happen to Mary, infant child of the late queen Katherine Parr) and reimagines history to fit with the author's what if... I'm between marking this as 4 or 5 stars, it wasn't my favorite book in the world and the 5 stars is usually reserved for that, but the quality of characterization and historical details in this book were amazing. It was a bright, almost dizzying read when Kat gets to court and she has to try and decide who people really are under their court faces. The romance in the story was both sweet and dangerous, with court members sneaking off with one another (or with kitchen boys) right and left. Kat's own romances seemed to be the part that fell short, people were there and then suddenly she was kissing them, and it didn't seem to be too much about emotion with her, more like she was trying the court life, and the dangerous court maiden out for size, not sure if she really wanted to commit to the role...which actually fits in with Kat's character, and her major conflict well, but didn't help make that part of the story as juicy as it could have been.I seriously want a pear now
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The beautiful, rich cover suits this book perfectly. While I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, I found things to enjoy in this story. I think my favorite parts were the gorgeous descriptions of the gowns and embroidery, the food and the jewelry; they were so lovely and vivid. Plus there was a very satisfying ending, and the epilogue was my favorite chapter. Definitely a good suggestion for teens looking for something historical and dramatic.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Title: The Stolen One Author: Suzanne Crowley Publisher: Harper Teen Number Of Pages: 412 Publication Date: June 30th, 2009Synopsis from back of book: No one wanted you. But I did.When her adoptive mother dies, Katherine Bab takes the chance she has been waiting for her whole life: she flees from her country village to London, to uncover the secret of who she really is. Before long, Kat has become the favorite of Queen Elizabeth herself, and rumors are swirling—could fiery-haired Kat be the secret daughter of the Virgin Queen? Kat’s got plenty of other things to figure put, as well…such as how to choose between her childhood love and the two handsome men at court vying for her affections.This sensual novel drips with intrigue, period detail, and drama, and it will resonate with anyone who has ever longed to find his or her place in the world.Review: Honestly I didn’t know what to expect from The Stolen One. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it or not. When I started reading it, it was interesting and different. As it progressed I was shocked at how fantastic it was. At the end of this great novel, I was so sad that it ended and didn’t want it to end. I loved all the characters, and thought they all fit into the story well. The plot was also great, the whole idea worked very well. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed this.Even for people who don’t usually like historical fiction, I would definitely recommend you check this out. Again, I cannot express how deeply I enjoyed this book. Overall, I highly recommend this book. (To anyone!)I recommend this book if you like romance, historical fiction, and young adult novels.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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 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 anyway3. 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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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 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.