A review by thenovelmaura
Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

Thanks so much to Penguin Teen for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!  This was another top pick from my roster of thrilling summer reads that will be just as fun for fall.

If you're aware of my obsession with Six of Crows, then you won't be surprised to hear that I love a good heist novel. It's so entertaining to be outsmarted by an author and their cunning characters! I loved the concept of a teen who was raised by a legendary family of Bahamian thieves and Lewis did a great job with the opening scenes of Ross and the legacy of training and heists she was born into. The competition aspect of the story was equally well done and the pacing of the various challenges kept me turning pages nonstop. 

Ross' competitors were highly skilled, cutthroat, and gave you no hint as to who she should trust. And when she did (reluctantly) let her guard down, it was so sweet to see her form her first real friendships outside the bounds of her overprotective family. The only relationship aspect that I wasn't as invested in was the one between Ross and her love interest, where their interactions felt kind of forced and predictable.

If the rest of my review doesn't convince you, I read this book in a single day and there's already a movie adaptation on the way. I recommend grabbing this one soon!

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