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A review by branwen
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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 is absolutely perfect for anyone who prefers reading about clever yet villainous characters, all set in a fairytale world.
This book is so intricately planned and written, full of politics, mysteries, deception and compelling character development. Even though the book is 500 pages, I was constantly kept on my toes and interested throughout the whole thing.
In particular, the characters are loveable yet complicated. The main character, Vanja, is the best MC I have read in a while, with her wit, brilliance and charisma, paired with her desire for survival and to rise to power. But, she develops in a completely authentic way throughout the book too, as her ideologues are questioned, and you understand why she acts the way she does and how her worldview has been shaped as you go on the journey with her. She is so compelling because as clever and charming as she is, she also makes mistakes and creates false assumptions, and she can be kind yet deceitful and cunning - and it is all of this, put together, that makes her so fascinating to read.
Amongst all of this, the book can be very lighthearted too, and the fairytale folklore and magic setting was utterly captivating. There were plenty of different elements that drew my attention, like Vanja being the daughter of Death and Fortune, as well as the many folklore figures used to add a rich sense of world building. That lightheartedness also comes from the found family that emerges, especially as Vanja allows herself to see the world differently, with a diverse and interesting group that hold just as much sense of character as Vanja does.
The whole book is also so beautifully created, from the stunning cover, to the illustrations in the book, and the smaller tales that are interwoven throughout the main story.
This book feels so unique and has become a new standard for other books that I read now. The characters are so memorable that I know they'll be staying with me for a long time.
This book is so intricately planned and written, full of politics, mysteries, deception and compelling character development. Even though the book is 500 pages, I was constantly kept on my toes and interested throughout the whole thing.
In particular, the characters are loveable yet complicated. The main character, Vanja, is the best MC I have read in a while, with her wit, brilliance and charisma, paired with her desire for survival and to rise to power. But, she develops in a completely authentic way throughout the book too, as her ideologues are questioned, and you understand why she acts the way she does and how her worldview has been shaped as you go on the journey with her. She is so compelling because as clever and charming as she is, she also makes mistakes and creates false assumptions, and she can be kind yet deceitful and cunning - and it is all of this, put together, that makes her so fascinating to read.
Amongst all of this, the book can be very lighthearted too, and the fairytale folklore and magic setting was utterly captivating. There were plenty of different elements that drew my attention, like Vanja being the daughter of Death and Fortune, as well as the many folklore figures used to add a rich sense of world building. That lightheartedness also comes from the found family that emerges, especially as Vanja allows herself to see the world differently, with a diverse and interesting group that hold just as much sense of character as Vanja does.
The whole book is also so beautifully created, from the stunning cover, to the illustrations in the book, and the smaller tales that are interwoven throughout the main story.
This book feels so unique and has become a new standard for other books that I read now. The characters are so memorable that I know they'll be staying with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Sexual assault