Thieves’ Gambit
Written by: Kayvion Lewis
Nancy Paulsen Books
2023
Thieves’ Gambit puts teen thieves in a competition to discover who the best thief is…but not without some incredibly high stakes.
Thieves’ Gambit is an absolutely unputdownable book, perfect for anyone who loves books about heists and fast-paced again.
Perfect for Leverage Fans
I’m a huge fan of Leverage, but I’m going to be honest, I wasn’t sure when I received Thieves’ Gambit that I would love it as much as I did. This isn’t a book I would typically pick up for myself.
I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone because when I tell you I loved this book, I absolutely freaking loved this book.
Ross Quest gets invited to join the Thieves Gambit. This competition picks a select number of young thieves and pits them against one another for a prize of their choosing. When a heist goes wrong and Ross’s mother, and thief, gets caught and held hostage, Ross accepts the invitation to join so that she can win and get her mother home safely.
The plot hooks the reader from beginning to end. Ross wants an everyday life; she wants to be done with theft and heists, but that is easier said than done. Her family is renowned across the globe; other thieves may not know her face, but they know her name.
There are a lot of high stakes in this novel, and the pacing is incredible. From beginning to end, I was hooked, adrenaline rushing as Ross and her fellow thieves raced to beat other thieves on their heists.
Excellent Characterization
Another reason I loved Thieves’ Gambit was because the characterization, character dynamic, and growth were spot on. These are thieves, but they are also teenagers. They begin the competition from different tracks of life and different backgrounds and begin looking out only for themselves. But Ross pulls them together, and they all grow toward learning to rely on each other, becoming actual friends.
Not to mention the slow-burn romance that forms between Ross and Devroe. It’s a subtle subplot that keeps you engaged because while you’re spending the novel questioning everyone’s motives, you must question his motives. Can Ross trust Devroe? Should she trust Devroe? Their chemistry is so spot on that you want to trust him. But, again, he’s a thief, so can we really.
Final Thoughts
Nocturne is somewhat tiresome to read, but when you look at it and read it as though it is a ballet being performed, it is quite beautiful.
High Stakes & Fast Paced | Thieves' Gambit Review
Thieves’ Gambit puts teen thieves in a competition to discover who the best thief is…but not without some incredibly high stakes.
Cynthia Ayala
Cynthia Ayala-Bujnicki majored in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. Editor-in-chief of Cyn's Workshop, she loves to read and write while tending to her pepper plants. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids Dante and Selene and two furbabies Mr. J the Kitten who Thinks He's Batman (yes, that is his full name) and Nyx.
