To Steal from Thieves coming March 25th, 2025 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 400 pages
Content Warning: Murder, violence, death, abuse, alcoholism, self-harm
About the Author: “M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humor, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Ontario and studied political science at both the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa. She now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence. Her debut novel Seven Faceless Saints (Little, Brown) released in early 2023. It was a Kids’ Indie Next Pick and was shortlisted for the Barnes & Noble Children’s & YA Book Awards. The sequel, Disciples of Chaos, followed in 2024. Her third novel, To Steal from Thieves, comes out March 25th, 2025” (Bio from author’s website).
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To Steal from Thieves is a historical fantasy set in an alternative version of London where magical weapons run the streets of the poor. Zaria Mendoza is running herself ragged trying to fulfill the commissions her father left to her when he passed. Her clients are getting increasingly impatient with her, but alchemology is dangerous work, and she has no money to keep the magical dark market from banging on her door. Kane Durante has been set up by his adopted father, the Kingpin, to steal a necklace from The Great Exhibition, where artists and inventors from every corner of the world showcase their crafts. When the two form a rather treacherous partnership, they must watch their every move, or they will lose everything trying to steal from the most heavily guarded building in the middle of London—which just happens to be made of glass.
There is a lot to like about To Steal from Thieves. The characters are dynamic and strong. Zaria knows her worth, and she is determined to hold her own, but her habit of taking all the pressure on herself is the perfect flaw. In a similar way, Kane is cunning, and his past hangs over his shoulders, but his desperation to protect his closest friend made me like his character.
I found the magic to be the most intriguing aspect of this book. Alchemology requires the creator to give up a bit of their soul to make a physical manifestation of magic, making it dangerous for anyone who practices it; a perfect example of power having a price. But, while M.K. Lobb’s novel has many things that I enjoyed, there were other things that I thought could have been more developed. I really liked Kane and Zaria individually, but their short-lived romance left me wishing for a bit more progress. I also found the pacing of the plot to be rather slow. Heist books tend to keep readers at the edge of their seats, but the majority of the book was a slow build-up to a short heist that, as much as I enjoyed the ending, left me wanting more. However, the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, so I hope there will be a sequel to tie up the aftermath of the heist. While To Steal From Thieves had good moments, I felt underwhelmed by the evolution of various elements.
To Steal from Thieves releases on March 25th, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Hannah Goerndt, Pine Reads Review Writer