Thieves’ Gambit out now from Nancy Paulsen Books; 384 pages
About the Author: “Kayvion Lewis is a young adult author of all things escapist and high-octane. Her Thieves’ Gambit duology has been published in over 25 languages, and is being adapted for film by Lionsgate. A former youth services librarian, Kayvion’s been working with young readers and kidlit since she was sixteen. When she’s not writing, she’s breaking out of escape rooms, jumping out of airplanes, and occasionally running away to mountain retreats to study kung fu. Though she lives in Louisiana and often visits her family in The Bahamas, Kayvion never really knows when she’ll take off on her next adventure, which could take her anywhere in the world” (Bio from author’s website).
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Thieves’ Gambit follows a young girl named Ross who comes from the world-renowned thieving family, the Quests. Each member of her family is well immersed in their lifestyle; stealing is in their blood. However, Ross is not as enchanted by this life as her family is. So, in order to leave thieving behind, Ross does what she does best and makes an escape plan. Things don’t go to plan, though, and her mother ends up kidnapped. When she is offered a spot in the Thieves’ Gambit, a high stakes competition between teenage thieves, Ross might be able to get her mother back with the grand prize—a wish. But, to win, she must beat both her childhood nemesis and the charming boy who seems to give her just as much attention as he does the Gambit.
Kayvion Lewis’ novel surprised me in all the right ways. Thieves’ Gambit has witty, lovable characters and a high stakes plot that make this a compelling read. Each character has a unique and diverse background, which plays well into the different tactics and skills that they possess and bring into the Gambit. Ross is easy to like, and her thoughts are understandable and relatable, which makes her the perfect narrator. Each new task of the competition is more thrilling than the last, and the added tensions between Ross and her nemesis, Noelia, are an excellent source of conflict that add depth to the plot of the story. Noelia’s character is sneaky and is willing to do anything to make sure Ross doesn’t win, even to the point of sabotage. The budding relationship between Ross and Devroe, the charming competitor who has his eyes set on both Ross and the wish, will keep readers on their toes, unsure of what words are true or false from the mouth of the teenage con artist with hidden motives. I found this dynamic to be a fresh take, and it fit well into Lewis’ plot. I was completely engaged through the entire novel, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The ending was excellent, and the multiple twists left me excited to read the sequel. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for sending us a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hannah Goerndt, Pine Reads Review Writer