A review by oneanjana
The Queen of Thieves by Johan Rundberg

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious fast-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

4.5

It's always a delight to read a sequel that follows up better than the first book. Just like how I read The Night Raven in one sitting, it goes the same with The Queen of Thieves. I enjoyed this a lot. There is more character development and emotional involvement involved. 

This second book of the Moonwind Mysteries series reveals a darker plot. There were numerous reports of theft, and it was suspected that children from the orphanage were involved. Then, the disappearance of one of her orphan friends, Ossian, just before he was going to be adopted, slowly opens up the mystery of the person behind the theft cases.

Why did I say it's getting darker? It's because in this book, Mika mostly does the 'investigation' by herself. Valdemar, the constable who became her partner in the first book, is not prominently featured. Despite this, they are still a great, dynamic pair here. 

There has been a lot of development in Mika's character. She develops bravery to take bold steps, cleverness with her plans and resources, and she learns to accept things she can't control. Some of Mika's fellow orphan characters also have interesting roles here. I was drawn to the sweetness and hopefulness of their friendships. 

This sequel also got better due to more emotion involved. There is a betrayal involved, and I admit it caught me off guard. I suffered from that as well. 

The Dark Angel from the first book remains unanswered, and there are plot holes everywhere. But, I believe the journey still has a long way to go. While there are some plot holes, I still consider it to be a perfect read for middle grade. I hope the next sequels will be available sooner.