Stolen, Heart of Dread by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: Stolen, Heart of Dread by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston.

In Stolen, Heart of Dread by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston, we continue the saga of Nat And Wes begun in the first of the series, Frozen.  Nat and Wes had parted and Nat has gone on to harness her powers. Having learned that the fire within is a part of who she is, at the same time she finds she is also the last of her kind. With the help of her friend Faix she learns to release the dragon and to use him in her fight of all that is wrong and those guilty of holding her planet in its frozen state.

Wes has gone on to find his sister, Eliza, rumored to be held in the golden domes of the Eldorado. Being back in New Vegas has its own dangers and what happens if Eliza doesn’t want to be found. 


When Nat loses her dragon she and Wes reunite as it soon becomes obvious that both their quests are leading them in the same direction, directly into the dangerous cauldron of what has created their frozen world from the beginning. Where does Wes’s sister fit in, and why was she kidnapped from her family so long ago.

If you enjoy fantasy and danger, threaded with mystery and adventure you will love the characters in this tale. The second of a series it still reads well on its own, and you will find that Wes and his erstwhile friends are a mix of fear and courage. It is when they are all together the courage becomes fierce, and when one of their friends comes into trouble, you see what makes them who they are.

Nat is heartbroken for she fears she has lost her inner dragon, but finding Wes again sooths her being for her love is strong.  Yet can she really overcome losing the primary part of her that has been her steady source of courage from the beginning?

Eliza is the question mark. Who is she really, is she a woman needing rescue or is she behind the plots to keep the world as it has become––frozen.  Can Wes and Nat along with their friends find the answers before it is too late for them all?


If you enjoy romance, danger, fun and mystery you are sure to enjoy this work. A young Adult fantasy that reads a bit like a fairytale and holds you captive, it is also a tale for the young at heart.
While is reads well on its own, you will want to find Frozen to find out how it all comes together.

This is a wonderful find for your young adult reader, and a work that you will enjoy as an adult as well. It has just enough mystery and danger to keep all levels entertained.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.