---
product_id: 21662684
title: "Story Thieves"
price: "€ 16.89"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/21662684-story-thieves
store_origin: AT
region: Austria
---

# Story Thieves

**Price:** € 16.89
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Story Thieves
- **How much does it cost?** € 16.89 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/21662684-story-thieves)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

This “clever opener likely to leave readers breathless both with laughter and anticipation” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) is the first in the New York Times bestselling series from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy. Life is boring when you live in the real world, instead of starring in your own book series. Owen knows that better than anyone, what with the real world’s homework and chores. But everything changes the day Owen sees the impossible happen—his classmate Bethany climb out of a book in the library. It turns out Bethany’s half-fictional and has been searching every book she can find for her missing father, a fictional character. Bethany can’t let anyone else learn her secret, so Owen makes her a deal: All she has to do is take him into a book in Owen’s favorite Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and he’ll never say a word. Besides, visiting the book might help Bethany find her father… …Or it might just destroy the Kiel Gnomenfoot series, reveal Bethany’s secret to the entire world, and force Owen to live out Kiel Gnomenfoot’s final ( very final) adventure.

Review: Buy or Borrow (but Don’t Steal) This Story - Real life is boring. That’s what Owen has decided, and he much prefers to live in the world of his favorite books, at least in his day dreams. And then he meets Bethany when he finds her crawling out of a book. Wait, what? Turns out she is half fictional and can jump into books. She’s spent years looking for her father, who disappeared into a book, and works very hard to stay out of the stories so no one learns about her abilities. But Owen has a plan. He wants to trick Bethany into jumping them into the climax of the sixth Kiel Gnomenfoot book, just in time to alter the cliffhanger, meet Kiel himself, and become a hero to the series legion of fans the world over. What could possibly go wrong? Turns out plenty, and as things spiral out of control, will Owen and Bethany be able to return things to normal? For a lifelong reader, this book was a delight since many books I read and enjoyed as a kid were mentioned during the set up part of the book. The main story revolves around characters and set up from the completely made up Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and that felt like the weakest part of this book. Still, that is a very minor complaint. The story moved forward at breakneck speed with Owen and Bethany separated for much of the book. We’d flash between them quite frequently and we were always left with cliffhangers. These two characters are strong and fun, and we meet some other great characters along the way. Olus there is some fun humor as well that just added to the enjoyment of the book. Having read the author’s previous trilogy, I was expecting humor, fun, and a great story. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. I’ll already looking forward to the next entry in what promises to be a great series.
Review: Fantasy Adventure for Book Lovers - STORY THIEVES by James Riley is an action-packed fantasy that blurs the line between real life and fictional worlds. What if you could literally dive into a good book? Bethany can. As the child of a real mother and fictional father, she’s able to disappear into any paper book. Bethany has spent years carefully exploring library books for her lost father. When Owen discovers her secret, they begin an adventure that breaks the “fourth wall” mixing the real world with fantasy universes. This clever new fantasy series will be a hit with a wide range of book lovers including those who enjoy fairy tales, magic stories, and science fiction. With many references to popular works of fiction, youth will be drawn into the premise and easily imagine themselves in the shoes of the main characters. Known for his fractured fairy tales, James Riley provides just the right balance of action and suspense to keep readers engaged in the story. He skillfully weaves together silly subplots, humorous dialogue, and witty references into a storyline perfect for middle grade readers. Youth will easily empathize with the well-developed characters who have dreams and desires that sometimes get in the way of making good choices. Fans of books like Fablehaven and Inkheart will enjoy the book’s premise, while science fiction and steampunk fans will love the characters from Owen’s favorite fictional series. Like Bethany and Owen, your children will want to dive into this exciting fantasy adventure.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #102,013 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #378 in Children’s Books about Libraries & Reading #2,055 in Fantasy for Children #2,076 in Children's Friendship Books |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,067 Reviews |

## Images

![Story Thieves - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71k5-EgvADL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buy or Borrow (but Don’t Steal) This Story
*by M***S on February 16, 2015*

Real life is boring. That’s what Owen has decided, and he much prefers to live in the world of his favorite books, at least in his day dreams. And then he meets Bethany when he finds her crawling out of a book. Wait, what? Turns out she is half fictional and can jump into books. She’s spent years looking for her father, who disappeared into a book, and works very hard to stay out of the stories so no one learns about her abilities. But Owen has a plan. He wants to trick Bethany into jumping them into the climax of the sixth Kiel Gnomenfoot book, just in time to alter the cliffhanger, meet Kiel himself, and become a hero to the series legion of fans the world over. What could possibly go wrong? Turns out plenty, and as things spiral out of control, will Owen and Bethany be able to return things to normal? For a lifelong reader, this book was a delight since many books I read and enjoyed as a kid were mentioned during the set up part of the book. The main story revolves around characters and set up from the completely made up Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and that felt like the weakest part of this book. Still, that is a very minor complaint. The story moved forward at breakneck speed with Owen and Bethany separated for much of the book. We’d flash between them quite frequently and we were always left with cliffhangers. These two characters are strong and fun, and we meet some other great characters along the way. Olus there is some fun humor as well that just added to the enjoyment of the book. Having read the author’s previous trilogy, I was expecting humor, fun, and a great story. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. I’ll already looking forward to the next entry in what promises to be a great series.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantasy Adventure for Book Lovers
*by A***B on January 21, 2015*

STORY THIEVES by James Riley is an action-packed fantasy that blurs the line between real life and fictional worlds. What if you could literally dive into a good book? Bethany can. As the child of a real mother and fictional father, she’s able to disappear into any paper book. Bethany has spent years carefully exploring library books for her lost father. When Owen discovers her secret, they begin an adventure that breaks the “fourth wall” mixing the real world with fantasy universes. This clever new fantasy series will be a hit with a wide range of book lovers including those who enjoy fairy tales, magic stories, and science fiction. With many references to popular works of fiction, youth will be drawn into the premise and easily imagine themselves in the shoes of the main characters. Known for his fractured fairy tales, James Riley provides just the right balance of action and suspense to keep readers engaged in the story. He skillfully weaves together silly subplots, humorous dialogue, and witty references into a storyline perfect for middle grade readers. Youth will easily empathize with the well-developed characters who have dreams and desires that sometimes get in the way of making good choices. Fans of books like Fablehaven and Inkheart will enjoy the book’s premise, while science fiction and steampunk fans will love the characters from Owen’s favorite fictional series. Like Bethany and Owen, your children will want to dive into this exciting fantasy adventure.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ It was really good...
*by J***N on January 10, 2023*

It was one of my favorite books I've read but it wasn't as good as Gregor the Overlander. Would definitely recommend it. Age - 10

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/21662684-story-thieves](https://www.desertcart.at/products/21662684-story-thieves)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Austria*
*Store origin: AT*
*Last updated: 2026-08-12*