Review of The Stolen Heart:

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Stolen Heart:" by Jack Haligo.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Gemotroplis: The Stolen Heart by Jack Haligo is a fantasy novel that follows two characters who have found something precious, and they journey across the country to give it to the emperor. As young boys, these two characters don’t know better. In their minds, they are convinced they are doing a patriotic thing—a right thing—by taking this to an emperor. But they are not aware that things aren’t cut and dry like that. The author is described as an Australian sixteen-year-old who started writing this series at the tender age of twelve. He also wants to inspire other children living with autism. This book is adventurous, moving, and gripping.

Gemotroplis is a land comprising different peoples, art, and culture. It is divided into nations, each named after a certain jewel. The wisest of them all is called Sapphire Nation, the richest Topaz Nation, the spiteful Ruby Nation, and the strongest Emerald Nation. Amongst these nations, it is the Ruby Nation that's trusted the least because it once invaded other nations under the reign of Emperor Cranium. What was later known as the Ruby War left thousands dead. After the death of Emperor Cranium, his son Maroon inherited the poor nation. The bitterness of defeat still resides in his heart; that’s why he operates the mines in his nation with an iron fist.

Lustre and Rusty work in the mines in the Ruby Nation. The conditions in the mines are poor. Safety is not a priority, and the hours are long and excruciating. You’re not allowed to exit if you didn’t find any rubies, so you have to keep on digging and digging until you find something. While they are doing so, they find this jewel that isn’t like anything they have ever seen. They instantly know it is something worthwhile, so they come up with ways to smuggle it out of the mine. As inexperienced boys, the journey to the palace isn’t as easy. Who should they trust along the way? What is this jewel? Is it something special? Is it a good idea to give it to Emperor Maroon, or should they keep it to themselves? Will Emperor Maroon know what to do with it should they arrive at him?

You don’t have a choice but to read this book to find the answers. I enjoyed reading this book. I just realised when writing the summary above that I could just go on and on and tell you what happens next, but that would spoil it for you. That’s how interesting it was. The plot was enough to last until the end of the book. I didn’t feel like the author was dragging the story needlessly. The trope wasn’t that different from most fantasy books, but what made it different was what happened during the journey. Lustre and Rusty’s journey ended up taking a route I never saw coming. It ended up testing them individually, especially Lustre.

This brings me to my second thing I loved about the book. The characters. They were developed in a way that wasn’t typical. When the characters first appear, you’re not told about their backstory from the start. First, you meet them as they get on with their business, and then, after being familiar with them, you’re told their backstory down the line. This, as a result, made everything make sense. It evoked that aha moment. You understood Lustre’s behaviour and learnt more about his relationship with Rusty. The third thing I loved was the writing. It was straightforward and didn’t beat about the bush. This isn’t typical for fantasy books, as they tend to be long. This one was fairly short. The language used is easily understandable. The dialogue and narration complemented each other. I didn’t feel excluded from the action.

What I disliked was the incorporated magic system. It wasn’t convincing enough. This was because I felt like the descriptions didn’t go into details about how the magic worked exactly but described it in passing or in a generic manner. There were multiple spells performed throughout the book, but I couldn’t tell them apart. If hand gestures were properly described in detail, that could have made it easier for me to familiarise myself with the spells because I would know how they were performed. The punctuation errors affected the quality of the book.

That’s why I rate this book four out of five stars. It could do with another round of editing to make it perfect. I recommend it to people who love the fantasy genre. The book would be suitable for all age groups, especially early teenagers. The glossary at the end would come in handy for unfamiliar words. It’s the first book in the Gemotroplis series, so the story will continue in another instalment.

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The Stolen Heart:
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[Chinazo Anozie]

I enjoy fantasies, so my interest is piqued by the plot of The Stolen Heart by Jack Haligo. Lustre and Rusty’s journey sounds enchanting. Thanks for the review!

[Mary Daurio]

Kutlosno, your review makes me want "The Stolen Heart" on my to-read list. It is amazing that such an interesting and involved book was written by a teenager. You did well to resist the temptation to go on and instead left it to the new reader to find out for themselves what happens to Lustre and Rusty.

[David Alabi]

This review really makes The Stolen Heart sound like a fun and heartfelt read. I’m especially drawn to Lustre and Rusty’s journey—it sounds like a great mix of adventure and personal growth. The fantasy world seems creative and rich, even if the magic system needs work. I’m always up for a story that surprises me, so I’m definitely adding this one to my list!