Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Little Thieves

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

13 reviews

kiwij96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Good, solid worldbuilding alongside character development. From the first page, you know exactly who the main character is and why she does the things she does. Sometimes heavy on the symbolism, but I cannot fault the pacing, the twists, the characters, the romance and friendships that seemingly blossom naturally. Nothing in this story feels forced. Poldi and Ragne honestly have my whole heard, and Barthl is on track to be up there as one of my favourites if he appears in the next book. It was genuinely such a delight to read, but it was also so genuinely heartbreaking at the same time.

Content Warnings

blewballoon's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Normally I struggle with books where the main character, especially if you're in their perspective, is unlikable. I found Vanja compelling despite her severe flaws, and I had a feeling I'd enjoy following her character journey. I was right. I also found myself getting very immersed in the setting and growing mystery. I loved the group of characters that came along for the ride and pushed Vanja to grow. I felt like the ending was rewarding as it brought different plot points together. I enjoyed the portrayal of the gods. I found myself giddy to read more, and it's that excitement to get back to the book that made me rate it 5 stars. I listened on audiobook and the narrator was great. I was a little worried because the only other book I had listened to narrated by Saskia Maarleveld was one I didn't enjoy, but the problem clearly wasn't the narration. This book is technically the start of a series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone in my opinion.

Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

To read my original review of this book (a different edition to this one), go to the following link https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7aec891b-d918-40c4-b380-27dd080dbbcc

For this reread, my original opinion of this book still largely stands - this is an incredibly good read chock-full of excellent character development, diversity, plotting, and worldbuilding. And Vanja's snarky, irreverent narration is just GOLD.

I did pick up on a couple of things that I appear to have missed the first time I read this. The theme of privilege, more specifically around the privilege enabled by wealth, influence, and good looks. What choices do you have to make if you don't possess these things?

The other thing that niggled at me (and caused me to drop my rating by 0.5 for this reread)was that

no one picked up Vanja's ruse/disguises earlier.

But that was only a minor irritation and did not affect my overall enjoyment.

Onto Painted Devils!

Content Warnings

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This boon was absolutely AMAZING! I had such a blast reading and while their was a small lull at the beginning it very quickly pulled me in once it picked back up.

The characters were easily the most interesting part for me. Each one felt so well-rounded and alive, I could so easily fall into their point of view and understand their choices. Even when they were doing stupid things, it completely made sense to their perspective and character that I wasn’t frustrated or felt like it was a contrivance.

This depth of character also benefitted the romances in the book well. Having characters that feel so rounded and play off each other so well really invested me in their love stories. Every time there was a development in the romance I was giggling and freaking out because I was so invested.

The plot itself was also riveting. Once it started to pick back up I was pulled into the story and didn’t want to put it down. Every twist felt properly built up to and the mystery had me trying to solve it with the main characters without knowing all the answers myself. The book itself was on a tight timeline with only two weeks for our protagonist Vanya to live, which added a sense of urgency to things. The only thing the two week timeline weakened was the romances, as it felt like things were moving rather quickly and unrealistically. Especially with the implied asexuality of one of the characters.

Overall it was an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series.

Content Warnings

gwynnfox's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Vaya is an amazing main character. You understand her pain and plight, know why she made the choices she did, while also knowing that you can't justify her actions. The romance is subtle but not understated. All around, it's a very cute story.

Content Warnings

jasperdotpdf's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"I cannot tell you how many principles of knife safety you are violating right now.""Where's your sense of adventure?"
"When it comes to stab wounds? On indefinite sabbatical."

I don't know what it is about the year of our lord 2023 but I keep reading books that completely rip my heart out with how seen they make me feel.

Little Thieves was so incredibly good and it had me hooked from the very first page. This book truly delivered on everything I could wish for. It had a compelling, slightly unhinged main character acompannied by a delightful cast (I would like it to be known that I would die for Ragne), an incredible romance, so many absolutely hilarious lines as well as moments that absolutely broke my heart.

“For all my schemes and façades and artifice, I am not prepared in the slightest for the simple, devastating intimacy of being believed.”

This book has one of the best depictions of trauma I have ever read about, and I cried real tears at multiple times throughout reading this because it struck such a chord in me. Vanja is such an amazing protagonist, she's witty and competent, and it's just so fun to read about her. But she's also traumatized, and it is just as organically woven into her characterization as any other part of her. The way hear fears bubbled up, the way her internal monologue is so clearly influenced by her trauma and not what she actually wants to be thinking, the fact that she can't help but listen sometimes and self-sabotages, the way people keep showing up for her regardles... No one talk to me I'm not okay.

"There's something bitter about parting with someone who had a hand in who you are now; it's even bitterer when that hand left scars."

I also thought her relationship with Giselle was incredibly compelling. Their relationship is so complicated in so many ways. They grew up together, they were friends, they were also servant and lady and they failed and betrayed each other. Seeing these two characters whose wounds are so intrinsically tied to each other learn how to get close again, to try and forgive each other was so interesting. Yes, they both hurt each other so much, but that's not the end of their story. It was just really nice to see characters who are linked through trauma and pain attempt to heal a part of that together, because it is rarely that simple.

“I want him to stay like this. Close to me, touching my face feather-light, like I am something precious, I am worth taking care. Like I deserve to live without wounds, not despite them. I want this moment trapped in amber, so I can hold it tight when I need it most.“

Onto more cheery matters, I'm absolutely obsessed with Emeric and his dynamic with Vanja. He is such a nerd and they are so stupid for each other and I adore them. I love how their relationship develops from Vanja severely underestimating Emeric, to them becoming adversaries, to them being in love. Vanja's love language being pickpocketing Emeric is probably one of my favourite parts of the novel, as well as her very endearing descriptions of him.

"All in all, he gives the impression of a collection of billiard cues that unionized to solve crimes."

In conclusion, this has quickly become one of my new favourite books. I fell in love with the characters, the humour, the magic and the heartbreak in Little Thieves, and the time it'll take for me to get over how good this was should probably be measured on a geological scale.

Content Warnings

mpbookreviews's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

stone_stupas's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

~~Full review to come - but for now, let me just say I adored this!~~

I don't say this often about a book, but I'll say it for Little Thieves - I bow down to Margaret Owen, because this is a work of genius in just about every way.

First of all, let me heap praise on the way this novel has been constructed, because oh, wow. The only way I can describe it is like one of those Russian matryoshka (or nesting) dolls. The overall novel is divided into three parts. Within each part are "tales" - initially told in the third person in a fairy-tale style to illuminate a past event, before switching back to the present day in first person, our narrator and (somewhat anti) heroine, Vanja. And that isn't even the end of it, because each tale is further divided by chapters. Confused? Don't worry, it makes sense once you read it. Oh, and one more thing - the beginning of each "tale" is accompanied by stunning black-and-white illustrations, which I have just discovered that Owen created herself. Seriously, it isn't fair how one person can have THIS much talent.

The world-building is brilliantly intricate and comprehensive, which isn't something I say a lot when it comes to fantasy novels. But this one was *chef's kiss*.

Diversity in characters is spot-on, too. Even though this world is clearly inspired by central Europe, within that Owen has taken care to include people of other ethnicities and religions, briefly sketched but still vivid. LGBTQIA+ rep is also pretty solid, with various minor (and major, although I won't spoil who) characters who identify as being somewhere on that spectrum.

And the characters, I could go on and on (except for Adalbrecht, he's evil and nasty, and Irmgard barely rates a mention for the same reasons). First up, Vanja. I really appreciate how Owen wrote her character. Almost straight away I admired her cleverness and ingenuity, although she wasn't the most likeable at first. But Owen dropped subtle hints as to why Vanja behaves the way she does before it is explicitly revealed later on in the novel. I figured it out pretty early, and it was nice to be proven (mostly) right.

Emeric is an absolute cinnamon roll, and I loved the way he

turned the tables on Vanja

and their eventual

romance was developed subtly and beautifully

.

Ragne is hilarious and I adore her cluelessness, humour, spark, and honesty. The character of Gisele was well done too, and I loved the

development and backstory of her relationship with Vanja

. I also enjoyed the minor characters, like Joniza, and Ummaya - and who could forget Death, Fortune, and the formidable Eiswald (

Ragne's mother

).

The plotting was excellent too, and that final climactic twist had me gaping.

I'm pleased to hear that there is a sequel coming, and I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out. Brava, Margaret Owen!

Content Warnings

clarinet's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Holy shit, I loved this book. It's a Goose Girl retelling that absolutely dismantles the premise of the evil maid from the fairy tale, and talks about how both the princess and the maid are trapped. ON TOP OF THAT, you have the enchanting magic system/religious lore of the Low Gods, who interfere in the lives of humans. Emeric, the love interest, is basically a magical cop so that does suck but he gets his authority from the Low Gods and convenes them to pass judgement on people which is soooo cool. A god's daughter, Ragna, becomes Vanja (maid from Goose Girl/MC)'s companion and she was hilarious and a clever mechanism to make Vanja actually tell the truth for once in her life/explain things to the audience/kickstart character growth. I love Vanja, I LOVE Emeric, and I love Ragne. I am preordering the next book.

The narration does get a little maudlin/heavy-handed occasionally and you gotta deal with a book in first person. But this is my favorite book so far this year <3

Content Warnings

More...