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asparagusisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Before we get started I just want to say this review is a mess. I'm hurrying to type this while this book is fresh in my mind. I plan to come back to this review to rewrite it soon or after a give it a reread.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., and the author, Margaret Owen, and theFierceReads' team for sending an e-arc copy of this book to read and review.
TW + CW: abuse, violence, sexual assault, abandonment/neglect
LITTLE THIEVES by MARGARET OWEN is the first book in a young adult fantasy series that retells the fairy tale, The Goose Girl. LITTLE THIEVES follows Vanja Schmidt, a maidservant that takes the opportunity to switch lives with a princess. As princess, she's charming everyone in the castle while sneaking a few of the riches for herself. but when she crosses the wrong god, she is cursed. This curse forces her to make up for everything she has done and taken or she will be turned into the same jewels she has stolen.
Somebody needs to tell me to stop procrastinating on my ARCs and physical TBR because here I am, once again, wowed by how much I enjoyed a book that I kept putting off. Like if I read this when I got it, I could have been raving about this with everyone else. I was missing out! With that being said, I will say that I found myself easily getting distracted which typically happens when I'm feeling bored or like a scene or conversation is dragged out. However, Margaret Owen does well with bringing in something new to the story that would draw me back in.
For the retelling lovers, I recommend that you check this book out because this is amazing! I admit that I am not familiar with the original Goose Girl story but I am did not find it necessary to know while reading. I'm now intrigued to devour anything related to Goose Girl and dive into other fairy tales that may not be as well known. I am still undecided about what to rate this book (I am between a 3.75 and 4) because I think this could have had a little bit more oomph, something that would have tipped me close to a higher rating. This also could be an issue of this book being a part of a series. Some books need a little bit more and that 'more' doesn't come in until a later installment in the series. The next book comes out next year so I'm excited to see what's to come. I have heard they Margaret's second books in series tend to be explosive and emotional if you're attached to the characters. I think this could be an exciting introduction to an author I may come to love and read annually.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., and the author, Margaret Owen, and theFierceReads' team for sending an e-arc copy of this book to read and review.
TW + CW: abuse, violence, sexual assault, abandonment/neglect
LITTLE THIEVES by MARGARET OWEN is the first book in a young adult fantasy series that retells the fairy tale, The Goose Girl. LITTLE THIEVES follows Vanja Schmidt, a maidservant that takes the opportunity to switch lives with a princess. As princess, she's charming everyone in the castle while sneaking a few of the riches for herself. but when she crosses the wrong god, she is cursed. This curse forces her to make up for everything she has done and taken or she will be turned into the same jewels she has stolen.
Somebody needs to tell me to stop procrastinating on my ARCs and physical TBR because here I am, once again, wowed by how much I enjoyed a book that I kept putting off. Like if I read this when I got it, I could have been raving about this with everyone else. I was missing out! With that being said, I will say that I found myself easily getting distracted which typically happens when I'm feeling bored or like a scene or conversation is dragged out. However, Margaret Owen does well with bringing in something new to the story that would draw me back in.
For the retelling lovers, I recommend that you check this book out because this is amazing! I admit that I am not familiar with the original Goose Girl story but I am did not find it necessary to know while reading. I'm now intrigued to devour anything related to Goose Girl and dive into other fairy tales that may not be as well known. I am still undecided about what to rate this book (I am between a 3.75 and 4) because I think this could have had a little bit more oomph, something that would have tipped me close to a higher rating. This also could be an issue of this book being a part of a series. Some books need a little bit more and that 'more' doesn't come in until a later installment in the series. The next book comes out next year so I'm excited to see what's to come. I have heard they Margaret's second books in series tend to be explosive and emotional if you're attached to the characters. I think this could be an exciting introduction to an author I may come to love and read annually.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
All of you who told me I would love this book? YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! I blazed through the audio in about 3 days and loved every minute. The stakes!! The cute banter!! The sassy, irreverent protagonist (think Lou or Nina, but ace/demi and absolutely perfect). The worldbuilding and system of gods, presented brilliantly through Vanya’s voice. And Emeric!!! Where do they make him and how do I get one? Rounded out by a diverse supporting cast and a bone-chilling villain, Little Thieves is going on my 2022 favorites list for sure. (The author has kindly and thoughtfully provided a content notes warning in the beginning of the book. Please refer there and feel free to ask me any questions you may have!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Body shaming and Death
oddduck's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
I like stories that are assembled with the precision of a watchmaker. Every detail matters. Each tiny piece works together to move forward. If one thing is even slightly off, the story doesn’t work the way it should.
This is one of those stories.
500 pages is getting to be on the long side for me, so I was expecting a little bit of drag. There was none. Every single scene in this book is there for a reason and 500 pages practically flies by. Yet it also didn’t feel like we were moving too fast at any point.
The plot came at just the right pace and with just the right amount of detail that it all came together perfectly in my head, without me figuring out the end too soon/easily and without me feeling frustrated because I didn’t have enough information until the very last second. I figured out part of Adalbrecht’s plan shortly before Vanja and Emeric did, which was ideal timing for me. And everything I hadn’t figured out fell into place as it was spelled out. This plot was like a carefully conducted symphony and it went off without a hitch.
I also loved all the characters, even when some of them weren’t particularly likeable. There’s such a clear motive for their actions that though I may not agree with them, I understand and feel sympathetic for them (except Adalbrecht and Irmgard, they’re both just terrible – that’s a compliment though). They were all so beautifully written, but Vanja and Emeric were the standouts for me.
Vanja’s character arc was incredible. I, admittedly, have a soft spot for characters who have been so hurt they think the only way to protect themselves is to close themselves off and harden their heart, and Vanja is no exception. I love this type of character because it’s moving to see them learn to love and be loved again (even if they’re dragged into it kicking and screaming, like Vanja). The way she grows over the course of the story - going from hating/resenting Emeric, Ragne, and Gisele to calling them her friends and making peace with her past and wanting Emeric to catch her - is brilliantly done. It feels natural and inevitable.
I fell for Emeric in exactly the way Vanja did (er, that is his façade, not the kissing part). It was absolutely delightful to find out how wrong my impression of him was. Like, I actually laughed out loud at the reveal and I’m gleeful just thinking about it. I liked the façade, but the real Emeric was even better. He’s smart and flawed and eager to prove himself and he cares so deeply. He’s just such a great character and Vanja’s many descriptions of him are both correct and hilarious.
There’s also the obligatory shout out for the art, which was done by Margaret Owen as well. She’s talked about a lot of the symbolism and composition of each piece on her twitter, and it’s definitely worth a read through. The art on its own is beautiful, but her explanations of it make it even better.
There is so much else to talk about in the book - the structure, the fairy tale, the casual queer rep, the demi rep (!), the magic system, the rest of the world building, the creatures (Poldi!) - and it’s all so, so good. Honestly, I loved every single thing about this book and I could talk about it for hours. The highest praise I can give it is this: I want to take this book apart like it’s a clock to see how it works. What an absolutely phenomenal book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
bearish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
Stolen Identities, Heists!!, Lovable Monsters, Attack Kobalds, Gods being Dicks, Found Family, Enemies to Lovers
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual violence and Emotional abuse
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
I truly enjoyed every moment of reading this book! Honestly, sometimes, that's all I want to say in a review. Sometimes, it's not because a book has great emotional depth or because the characters are super relatable. Sometimes, friends, it's just because the story was entertaining and I liked it.
That's how I felt about Little Thieves. It was incredibly creative - truly, I've never read anything quite like it. Though I will say that if you're a fan of Six of Crows, you may enjoy this one. It's really not similar at all, but it gives off some of the same vibes? I hope that makes sense.
I picked this up because everyone was raving about it on bookstagram at the end of 2021 and I can see why. The magic was incredibly unique (though never really explained beyond the gods having some hand in it, I believe), there was fantastic diversity, and the twists were excellent - nothing totally mind-blowing, just really fun!
There were definitely some triggering elements to it, but you know what? THE AUTHOR INCLUDED TRIGGER WARNINGS. Like, hello! Thank you! That should be at the beginning of every book ever. And guess what else? That actually made it easier for me to read the book, because I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, and when those moments arose, I wasn't put out by it.
Despite giving it 4.5 stars immediately following reading it, I've already forgotten a great deal. That could just be because my mind is elsewhere lately. Okay, actually, yeah, I'm gonna just blame it on that, because honestly, I think if I were totally focused right now, I'd be able to tell you every single detail. At least I can remember most of the character names (that's a new one for me).
Anyyyyways, it immediately went on my wishlist because I'd really like to read it again. I feel as though I could gain more from it with a reread in the future!
That's how I felt about Little Thieves. It was incredibly creative - truly, I've never read anything quite like it. Though I will say that if you're a fan of Six of Crows, you may enjoy this one. It's really not similar at all, but it gives off some of the same vibes? I hope that makes sense.
I picked this up because everyone was raving about it on bookstagram at the end of 2021 and I can see why. The magic was incredibly unique (though never really explained beyond the gods having some hand in it, I believe), there was fantastic diversity, and the twists were excellent - nothing totally mind-blowing, just really fun!
There were definitely some triggering elements to it, but you know what? THE AUTHOR INCLUDED TRIGGER WARNINGS. Like, hello! Thank you! That should be at the beginning of every book ever. And guess what else? That actually made it easier for me to read the book, because I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, and when those moments arose, I wasn't put out by it.
Despite giving it 4.5 stars immediately following reading it, I've already forgotten a great deal. That could just be because my mind is elsewhere lately. Okay, actually, yeah, I'm gonna just blame it on that, because honestly, I think if I were totally focused right now, I'd be able to tell you every single detail. At least I can remember most of the character names (that's a new one for me).
Anyyyyways, it immediately went on my wishlist because I'd really like to read it again. I feel as though I could gain more from it with a reread in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
faerietalebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.75
I absolutely love Margaret Owen’s writing of grey and flawed characters. She does an amazing job of fleshing out all of the characters and making them distinctive from each other. They are all so fascinating to read and see how their desires clash and build upon each other. What I love most about this Goose Girl retelling is the incorporation of German mythical creatures into the world building.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body horror
tieflingreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death, Animal death, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia, Drug use, and Alcohol
campisforever's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
This book should also be classified as LGBTQIA+ because there are queer characters, mentions of trans characters, and the leads are on the Ace spectrum.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I have no words. Please read it.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I have no words. Please read it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Classism, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Murder, Gaslighting, and Grief
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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 love Vanya sfm.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
sarah_the_reviewroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really thought I'd love Little Thieves, the synopsis and all the 5 star reviews just really sounded like something I'd enjoy. Unfortunately, I didn't!
I found the pace very slow, the back and forth storytelling didn't help because things would just start picking up and then the section would end and it'd start with another "Once upon a time" section.
There seemed to be a lot of things going on but it was so all over the place that it was just confusing!
There's also no explanation for the magic system so everything felt very convenient - particularly the ending. As events happen, more and more crazy things go on and I was just left with a sense of "oh well, literally anything can happen so there's no risk".
And the thing was, even if the characters looked to be in danger, I didn't really care! I found it very hard to connect to them, there are a lot of characters and none of them is particularly likeable.
There's a whole romantic plotline added in late in the book which didn't have any build up so it was an odd mix of enemies to lovers and insta-love.
The world-building was nice, I liked the descriptions of people and places - I could easily picture Death and Fortune for example. But there's a really odd mix of German words just added in, and again it just made things more confusing because several German words were used for the same English word.
I started this book on the 16th December 2021 and finished it on 2nd January 2022 - which is just way too long for me. I almost DNFd twice but I'd come too far to give up and not have it count towards my reading!
I found the pace very slow, the back and forth storytelling didn't help because things would just start picking up and then the section would end and it'd start with another "Once upon a time" section.
There seemed to be a lot of things going on but it was so all over the place that it was just confusing!
There's also no explanation for the magic system so everything felt very convenient - particularly the ending. As events happen, more and more crazy things go on and I was just left with a sense of "oh well, literally anything can happen so there's no risk".
And the thing was, even if the characters looked to be in danger, I didn't really care! I found it very hard to connect to them, there are a lot of characters and none of them is particularly likeable.
There's a whole romantic plotline added in late in the book which didn't have any build up so it was an odd mix of enemies to lovers and insta-love.
The world-building was nice, I liked the descriptions of people and places - I could easily picture Death and Fortune for example. But there's a really odd mix of German words just added in, and again it just made things more confusing because several German words were used for the same English word.
I started this book on the 16th December 2021 and finished it on 2nd January 2022 - which is just way too long for me. I almost DNFd twice but I'd come too far to give up and not have it count towards my reading!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment and Body horror