The battle against the human organization Deity continues in Stolen by V. M. Nelson. After Jelena’s betrayal, the coven is forced to move locations, only this time, there are new additions, including Tasi and Emily’s mother. Tasi is still looking for information on the final dhampyr transformation, but when things go awry, she can only think about saving her sister. Relationships become strained, and things are tense, but in the end, they all share the same goal; to save Emily and get rid of Deity once and for all.

I absolutely loved Stolen by V. M. Nelson! The second installment in the Dhampyr series did not disappoint. The new characters added levels to the existing relationships, leaving a lot of room for character growth. Tasi, in particular, seemed to get into many complicated relationships, which gave her space for self-reflection and growth. I also grew fond of Lizzie, and I liked that even though she retains her feisty attitude, we see much more of her personality. In terms of writing, the pacing is good, and every scene is described with just the right detail. The story is captivating, and although certain things were a bit predictable, I couldn’t stop reading. Stolen is a well-rounded book, and it’s one I would recommend.

Stolen: The Dhampyr Series Book 2 by V.M. Nelson is narrated by Tasi, a dhampyr. She opens the story by describing her life at a coven hidden in a majestic farmhouse. Tasi shared her home with vampires, humans, and her family members. She adored her Aunt Sonja, who helped raise her and her sister Emily until they discovered that their mother Lily was alive. Tasi harbored a grudge against her mother for abandoning them, while her sister tried to defend her. Tasi sneaked out of the house to spend the night with her vampire boyfriend, Ethan. However, a special operation to destroy the evil vampire Jelena went awry. The mission resulted in Emily being taken captive. Lily brought in Martika to lead the rescue mission. Tasi had planned to go solo to rescue her sister, but her best friend Devin refused to allow her to leave without him. The pair soon encountered trouble along the way. Would Tasi be able to rescue her sister?

V.M. Nelson brought the irrational thoughts and snarky remarks made by Tasi to the forefront of the story. Her need to rush and not plan her rescue makes the plot unpredictable. Devin was supportive of her, and I couldn’t grasp why she didn’t reciprocate his affection. He could offer her the normal life she wanted, whereas dating a vampire would not. Lizzie was funny with her witty remarks to everyone. The events were easy to envision and provoked emotions I could feel along with Tasi. The differences between the vampire and the dhampyr were intriguing. Tasi’s mother supported Martika's condescending remarks. There were moments of feeling guilt, jealousy, anger, fear, and sadness. Tasi’s feelings are relatable. The story was easy to follow, and Stolen can easily be read as a standalone novel.