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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
This is the ultimate “let’s throw these characters in a situation and see what happens” in a way, and I kind of love it. I’d read the summary of this book multiple times and I’m still not entirely sure I knew what I was getting into. I’d say it was fairly easy to almost immediately suspend my disbelief about a competition of teen spies, but where this book really shines is the human connections that happen between all the thefts and heist plotlines (which in all honesty were the least interesting part of the story in the end). There were so many twists and turns and even though I managed to guess most of what happened, I was never completely sure. If you’re looking for hardcore heist material, this might not be the book, but if you’re looking for complex and twisty characters and relationships, this might be just the book for you!
First of all, I cannot wait for the sequel because this book absolutely did not end up going the way that I expected. Second of all, this book is wild. Although the teen spy thing is not something I’ve personally read, the various aspects of the plot and gambit-related things aren’t the most original, but more of a callback to the classics of the spy genre in general. I think what sets this book is the characters, but more specifically the interactions that they have. Ross’ desire for community outside of her family is a thread that winds throughout the entire book and what works so well about this is that even though her specific circumstances are very unique, it’s the kind of feeling that you can relate to, especially at 17 (at least for me). Getting to watch the characters interact, building and breaking relationships is both a little cathartic and fun, bridging all the less-satisfying details.
All in all, I think this book pretty well lives up to my expectations and sets up the storyline continuing in a way I could have never fully guessed. Some of the plotlines and portrayals of characters are a little elementary, but I’ll chalk that up to the spy genre in general. If that’s your kind of thing, then I’d definitely recommend this book!
This is the ultimate “let’s throw these characters in a situation and see what happens” in a way, and I kind of love it. I’d read the summary of this book multiple times and I’m still not entirely sure I knew what I was getting into. I’d say it was fairly easy to almost immediately suspend my disbelief about a competition of teen spies, but where this book really shines is the human connections that happen between all the thefts and heist plotlines (which in all honesty were the least interesting part of the story in the end). There were so many twists and turns and even though I managed to guess most of what happened, I was never completely sure. If you’re looking for hardcore heist material, this might not be the book, but if you’re looking for complex and twisty characters and relationships, this might be just the book for you!
First of all, I cannot wait for the sequel because this book absolutely did not end up going the way that I expected. Second of all, this book is wild. Although the teen spy thing is not something I’ve personally read, the various aspects of the plot and gambit-related things aren’t the most original, but more of a callback to the classics of the spy genre in general. I think what sets this book is the characters, but more specifically the interactions that they have. Ross’ desire for community outside of her family is a thread that winds throughout the entire book and what works so well about this is that even though her specific circumstances are very unique, it’s the kind of feeling that you can relate to, especially at 17 (at least for me). Getting to watch the characters interact, building and breaking relationships is both a little cathartic and fun, bridging all the less-satisfying details.
All in all, I think this book pretty well lives up to my expectations and sets up the storyline continuing in a way I could have never fully guessed. Some of the plotlines and portrayals of characters are a little elementary, but I’ll chalk that up to the spy genre in general. If that’s your kind of thing, then I’d definitely recommend this book!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes I know exactly the type of book I want to read and it is a young-adult, Ocean's Eleven-inspired, fast-paced romp around the world where teenagers have millions to spend and heists are aplenty.
Book Two, I'm ready for you!
Book Two, I'm ready for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Death of parent
Minor: Racism
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
adventurous
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
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am a heist enthusiast when it comes to the media. Give me books, movies, or TV shows—I'm happy camper watching them unfold and seeing if I can figure it out. THIEVES' GAMBIT is described as a mix of THE INHERITANCE GAMES and Ocean's Eleven, which is a pretty fun description. I was constantly on my toes, wondering what would happen next or if someone would be betrayed. I also loved that it had multiple tropes, including an excellent enemies-to-lovers between the FMC and another character! I guessed some things right and others very wrong, but the ending ultimately surprised me, and I am still thinking about it! I can't wait for book two!
Thanks, Penguin Teen, for the gifted book!
Thanks, Penguin Teen, for the gifted book!
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated