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Turning Curse #2

Royal Theft

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After Prince Alan learns his first love, Riona, is to marry his brother, Liam, Alan flees his home to seek sanctuary with his relatives. When his carriage is attacked by a band of thieves, Alan loses the last thing Riona gave him—a memento of her mother.

Determined to get the gift back, Alan hunts down the thieves only to become a pawn in a machination devised by the criminal, Robin—the most infuriating girl Alan has ever met. Surrounded by dozens of people who want him beaten or dead, Alan must outsmart his captors to retrieve Riona’s memento and return home, or aid in the downfall of one of his fellow noblemen.

321 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

253 people want to read

About the author

A.C. Harrah

18 books65 followers
A.C. Harrah is the author of the Match*Make Me a Vigilante series, a series of short stories inspired by the magical girl trope.

Due to her love of writing, A.C. tends to chain herself to her computer, but when she does sneak out it's usually to see the latest super hero movie or travel. She would happily live out of a backpack if it meant exploring the world.

One of her favorite authors is Lewis Carroll.

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Savannah.
65 reviews15 followers
September 30, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. In no way does this affect either my rating or my review.

The synopsis of the first book in the series, Turning Curse, automatically made me think of Beauty and the Beast; the synopsis of this book automatically made me think of Robin Hood. Prince Alan leaves his home to live with some relatives after learning that his first love, Riona, is set to marry his brother, Prince Liam. On his way, he is attacked and robbed of the very last thing Riona gave to him, which was a memento of her mother. In his determination to get it back, he soon runs into the thieves and is promptly captured by their leader, Robin, a feisty, witty young woman whom I personally adore. Again, just like in Turning Curse, Royal Theft is filled with all the things that you need to make a fairy tale retelling worth reading; danger, adventure, romance and just a dash of magic. If you love fairy tales and fairy tale retellings this book is definitely worth your time. I, for one, am very much looking forward to reading the third book in A.C. Harrah's fantastic series,Turning Curse, and, because of her fun, smooth and just plain clever and witty writing style, I will also be picking up the books in her other series, Witness of the Fey. Kudos, Ms. Harrah!
Profile Image for Marla.
1,285 reviews244 followers
March 26, 2015
This is the second book in the series and it really could be a stand alone as I haven't read the first one and I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. Prince Alan decides to leave the castle for a little while since his fiancee Riona breaks off the engagement and decides to marry Alan's brother Liam. While traveling Alan is kidnapped by a bunch of thieves. The female in the group needs him to get her brother back who has been taken by Lord Gavin. She wants Alan to teach her how to be a noble. The other thieves don't want him around. Alan soon finds that Robin, the girl in the group, doesn't really belong with the thieves and that she has a little more integrity.

I found this very enjoyable. It progressed nicely and the it was entertaining. I received this from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Dominique .
172 reviews80 followers
December 4, 2014
Royal Theft

This is the sequel to Turning curse. It`s not really a sequel since this one can be read as a stand-alone book since the author the major parts of the first one in this book.

Prince Alan still feels the humiliation and anger from his near wedding to Riona, decides to leave the castle and be a witness to the preparations of his brother Liam's wedding to Riona. She gives him a magic ball that he dead mother gave her and asks him to protect until his return to the wedding.

On his way, his carriage is highjacked by some thieves, lead by a manacing man named Brandon and includes Caden, a female named Robin. They rough up his guards, takes his clothes but takes the one important thing: the magic ball. Robin one of the thieves, needs his help, outnumbered he has no choice, he`ll do anything to get the ball back but has to fight his way to it.

There is some humour and action in this book. There wasn`t much romance which is surprising since it`s a fairy tale like book. The characters were well detailed, the story well developed. I like the fact that it was in some ways a continuation from the first book instead on continuing with Liam this was all about Alan. We got to see a softer side to him that wasn`t there in Turning Curse.
Good book, there are many unanswered questions about some characters like Jordan, Caden, Brandon and what happens to Alan and Robin? I’m pretty sure a third will be coming soon that will explore more about them.

Entertaining, action-packed book

3.5/5 stars
Profile Image for Caru.
124 reviews171 followers
September 19, 2014
**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**


Rating: ★★★★★


My Opinion Of This Book: LOVED IT. One of my absolute faves.


__________________________________________________________



The Good.
The Characters: All the characters, good and bad, were well developed. And there was great character development shown throughout this novel, the characters grew so much by the end of the book, especially Alan and Robin. The characters were realistic and relatable.

Alan: Prince Alan is fan-freaking-tastic. Seriously, he is exactly how I like my YA male characters. Strong. Cute. Gentleman. Has a sense of humor. Is caring. Learns from his mistakes. And would do anything for those he loves/to save others. To put things simply, he's one of the best male characters in YA. He's my book boyfriend too (just a little BTW) ;)

Robin: Loved her from the beginning. She's totally badass, doesn't give a damn about what others think about her, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to get her brother back. She's got a rough past, but she doesn't let that ruin her. She's also got a sense of humor. She's just incredible!

Alan & Robin: I ship them so freaking hard, seriously I love them!

The Side Characters: Caden, Joshua, Liam, etc: I loved all the side characters as well. They've all got different personalities and are unique in their own ways. I especially loved Caden. He is badass! Badass as in do not mess with him EVER. Plus, his humor is just so fantastic! Freaking love him! Another one of my favorites was Joshua. Oh god, how I love his humor and how he kinda embarrasses his sister (Robin) with the whole topic about Alan- it was just so freaking funny. Liam & Riona (the MCs from the amazing first book, Turning Curse) also make appearances in this book. I loveeeee them!! So glad that we got to read a bit more about them.

The Writing: I adore A.C. Harrah's writing style! It's so beautiful and amazing. Like it just totally goes well with the setting and time period this book is set in. The writing just makes the book that more enchanting. Plus, this book has a bit of everything. Action? Check! Humor? Check! Romance? Check! Drama? Check! Fantasy? Check!!

The Romance: The romance was beautifully developed. No insta-love in this one -*cheers*! Like I said before, I totally ship Robin & Alan! They are adorable! Now, I just need to come up with a shipper name for them...hmmm, Ralan, maybe?

The Plot/Storyline: Loved it. From the very first page to the last. Loved all the twists and turns, and the humor, and the action - ALL OF IT.

The Ending: Two words: So adorable.....
.........
And so amazing!!!!!!!!! Where's the next book????!!

OVERALL
Loved every single word of this book. I do think that it was better than the first book, Turning Curse, but that one was amazing as well. So what are you waiting for? Go read this series!!
Profile Image for Zoë Ann Book Queen.
998 reviews55 followers
May 26, 2020
Read #2 - The first time I read this I hadn't read book one and this time I have so my opinion has changed. I did not like book 1 much, none of the characters were likeable including Alan so I was surprised that I still found him a decent guy this book. Riona is not evil like I first thought (not as much anyway but she does lead him on and manipulate him sooo…) Still a 3 star read, I enjoyed it, its an easy read. The romance was barely there though and so frustrating which is such a shame.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Alan is an extraordinarily admirable character. Throughout the book he was my favourite thing/character and he was a constant in the way he acted; I would’ve maybe liked a little more development to him aside from realising that Riona is evil. Thank you Robin for pointing that out to him. I loved how loyal a character he was; trying to impress his father and stay friends with Riona and Liam although it killed him – my heart hurt for him.

I was reminded a little of Robin Hood by this, with the thief that had real moral; she refused to steal from families etc. I think this had really good messages about people compared to their appearances, the way it affected some of Alan’s opinions on his people – subjects - was very interesting.

I’m actually a little disappointed in the actual happening of the story. The concept, world building and characters were all very good and well done however one thing it was very much lacking in was romance and that which it did have made me want to tear my hair out and really affected the rest of the book I think.

The majority of the book follows Alan having to deal with a band of thieves to gain back a gift from Riona that they stole from him. Riona and Liam are engaged now and Alan still loves her so has a fierce want to get it back, yet he supposedly gains feelings for Robin so when he gets his ball back, he leaves it behind! This annoyed me to no end especially as he appeared magically over Riona and wouldn’t even acknowledge his liking for Robin. (Anyone else find it ironic the girls have such similar names?)

I’m in a sort of love hate relationship with this book but overall it was a fun and adventurous read.

I’m rather confused as at the end of chapter 20 (I think it’s this chapter anyway...) Alan was hugging his father and on the next page it repeated a scene from a few pages before. I’m not sure if this is just some glitch on my kindle or if Alan was imagining it... It was really confusing so I hope this can help it be sorted out.
Profile Image for Gabs .
487 reviews78 followers
October 25, 2014
When I finished Turning Curse and saw there was a sequel, I was excited because it was about Alan, who didn't get much of a happy ending in the first book. At all. Royal Theft ended up being the cure for that.

I liked, obviously, the fact that this was from Alan's POV. I actually prefer him over his brother; he's more relatable to me and I thought that his story--wanting to please his father, losing his love to his brother--was actually a bit more interesting than Liam's.

We were introduced to a new character in this book; Robin. While I was quite excited when she first came into the book, because she seemed like she was witty and could stick up for herself, my excitement did kind of die after a bit. She got a little more bubbly and less smart-mouthed as the book went on, and I don't mind bubbly characters, but it seemed like her personality shifted a bit.

The story was entertaining. I couldn't really think of any fairy tales that it was based on (aside from the fact that it was about thieves and the character's name was Robin), but in a way that helped the storyline because I didn't know any plot twists. However, near the middle, I felt like the story began to drag while Alan was in captivity. It was a while before it began to pick on up again, and that is the main reason for the three stars.

I liked that it was addressed in here that Liam and Riona kind of crushed Alan's feelings, because it how Alan felt about that whole debacle never got mentioned very much in the first book. It made me feel really bad for him; we got to see more of his feelings about the matter in this story than in Turning Curse.

I would like to say that I am pretty sure one scene actually got repeated? It was near the end, and

This is a great story for fans of the first book, especially those who (like me) were interested to learn about what happened to Alan.
Profile Image for Nay Denise.
1,715 reviews89 followers
November 21, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.

I read Turning Curse by A.C. Harrah and absolutely loved it! When I heard there was a sequel I definitely wanted to read it. I'm not really a fan of Prince Alan because he was a total douche bag in Turning Curse, but his story was pretty good.

Prince Alan is a very strong, caring gentleman and can be surprisingly humorous. Unlike Prince Liam, Alan learns from his mistakes and tries to constantly better himself. He respects people and his position as a prince.

Robin was a very interesting character. She was of course a kickass character who cared only for herself and her brother. Her past was a bit rough around the edges, but it didn't ruin who she is and just made her stronger.

The romance developed so well between these two. It wasn't your normal insta-love between them. They had to grow on one another and build some type of friendship even through their hate.

I enjoyed the action and adventure in this book. I loved when Liam and Riona were mentioned in this book because I absolutely love them.

As much as I didn't like Prince Alan at the beginning, I must admit that I feel in love with his character in this book. I still love Turning Curse much better, but this definitely is an awesome sequel!
Profile Image for Kitlina.
2,005 reviews23 followers
November 16, 2014
This book was so full of adventure. I loved the plot. I loved the characters. And most of all I loved that it wasn't an insta love at first sight kind of story.
Alan's character stayed true to form and I am glad to see that he wants to improve and think outside the box for once. During his experience with Robin he grew so much as a man. He learned things that being stuck in between walls would never even have entered his mind.
I am also sure his story is not over yet because there was no conclusive ending for their love story.
I would have loved this book even more if it had more romance in it, at least in the end.
I felt kind of sorry for Robin, exposing herself that way and not getting it in return. It shows how much I love her character that she didn't turn bitter but found a way to be near him. I really hope that Alan grows some and acknowledges his feelings for Robin otherwise this wouldn't be a fairy tale but such a common occurrence.
So my hope for the books to come is that we have a HEA for Robin and Alan.
Also there are so many loose ends that left this book open for a sequel (Gavin, Brandon, that Arcadian representative, Joshua, Cordelia etc.)
There is so much to choose from, I can't wait.
Profile Image for Vanessa Haley.
108 reviews28 followers
June 30, 2015
I am so pleased that I had been given the opportunity to review the 1st and 2nd books in the Turning Curse Series by A.C. Hannah. I love the idea of giveaways, as it has opened my reading span to now include the YA Genre, with magic and fantasy. I am also pleased that I was able to read multiple books by A.C. Hannah, who has the greatest ability to take you out of your world, and experience the characters and the storylines, as if you are part of the story. This 2nd book in the Turning Curse series - "Royal Theft" started out with a broken hearted Prince Alan not being so "prince charming" in any respect, as his true first love was in fact to marry his brother. Taking it to heart, he fled, and unfortunately got caught up in a lot of trouble, even being hijacked. He was beaten, bruised and would have been killed if not for a sexy young thief, who instantly protected him. The story was filled with adventure, magic, thiefs, brawls, and finally some romance for Prince Alan. A.C Hannah's books are so well written, that the story flows easily, and before you know it, your embraced in a story way passed bed time. Thanks again A.C Hannah for another great story. I look forward to reading the 3rd.
Profile Image for  Marla.
2,353 reviews140 followers
December 31, 2015
I have no patience for whining, so I didn't like Alan in this book.

I would like to see how this series is going to end, so I'll read the next book. But thus far, I've yet to find a character that I truly like.

Received a free review copy from the author.
520 reviews14 followers
December 5, 2014
Alan just amazed me in this sequel. I kind of hated his character in Turning Curse but I actually felt sorry for him when his love for Riona wasn't returned. When I learned that this was his story I thought maybe the author would give him his own HEA. I don't want to spoil how it ended but I thought that there should have bee more. Not quite satisfied about it.

The relationship between Robin and Alan wasn't fast pace but I was hoping to see some more romance between those two. At some point the goal of Alan about getting the memento of Riona's mother seemed a moot point.

I liked Robin. Despite her past her character turned out to be a better one. Actually, both the development of the characters were good. I loved the secondary characters as well. Plus, loved the adventure in this story except like I said I wished there was more romance between Robin and Alan.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Victoria Zigler.
Author 62 books235 followers
September 15, 2014
This book was an enjoyable read, with an interesting plot, and a great - though sometimes frustrating - cast of characters.

I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending, but it's more because after everything that had happened in the story I wasn't entirely pleased with the decision made by the characters than anything else, and I suspect it was done in preporation for the events that will happen in the next book in the series (though I don't know this for sure; I'm just guessing). Besides, though I wasn't happy with their choice, I can understand it. I'm sorry, but I can't say more without giving spoilers, and I never give spoilers in my reviews!

Anyway, despite my thoughts on the ending, I'm still going to give the book 5 stars, since the ending wasn't a bad one, just not the one I would have liked to have had happen, if you know what I mean.
Profile Image for Cat.
1,495 reviews14 followers
September 29, 2014
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was definitely looking forward to reading this. This book felt a lot longer than the previous one, which was cool, but I also felt like I didn't get to know Alan as well as I got to know Liam. I also didn't recognize the fairytales this story was built upon either (or maybe there just aren't any?).

Overall, I found this story enjoyable. I think Alan grows a lot. The female lead was interesting, capable, and intelligent. There are a lot more characters in this book, which made it a little more difficult to follow along - especially since I took big breaks from reading - but not too bad. I feel like there could be more follow up, so maybe in the next book (if there is one).
Profile Image for Alisha Torres.
139 reviews21 followers
June 25, 2014
Wonderfully done!! My 14 year old daughter and I both went through book 2 much more quickly than book one. We both found it difficult to put down and often argued about who would get to read first.

Another well choreographed blend of fantasy and fairytale. Sweet and exciting storytelling. The author has a firm grasp of the genre and that comes across clearly in her crisp writing.

Can we hope for a book 3? Well, I am!

Cover art could've been just a little better, but that's just me. I'm really into cover art.
Profile Image for Eva.
662 reviews
November 2, 2014

Great story with some unexpected events - - -including finding out the truth about about Robin's brother. Great character development with regards to Alan and Robin. We sympathize and understand the dilemma she faces as she stays with the group. Based on how the story ends, we anxiously await the continuation of the story by A. C. Harrah. Thank you GoodReads for both this book and the first one.
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