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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Thieves' Gambit Author: Kayvion Lewis Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Mystery/Thriller
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: No Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I am of fan of the Ally Carter books about crime families and thought this would be similar to that genre, but with more diverse characters. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: Who do you trust when lives are on the line?
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Review:
This mystery/thriller centers around Rosalyn (Ross) Quest, the teen-aged member of the Quest family, a family of thieves whose “work” is international, but their home base is an island in the Bahamas. Ross is beginning to question her loyalty to the family business. She wants a “normal” life, she wants to have friends, go to school, head off to college, and find out who she is really meant to be. However, her mother believes that family, and the family business is everything, and family are the only people you can trust. Ross is set to sneak off to a gymnastics school for a summer session. She has planned her “escape” immediately after a heist she and her mother are pulling off. Things go awry, and her mother is captured. Ross needs to rescue her and come to terms with the guilt that her actions, her plan to escape, may have led to her mother’s capture. Not having any way to raise the astronomical amount of money demanded for her mother’s release, Ross does the only thing possible, she joins the Thieves’ Gambit. This is an invitation-only contest/opportunity to compete against other thieves in a series of heists….winner gets ANY wish granted. Ross feels this wish is the only opportunity she has to save her mother. She is up against other young thieves from competing families of thieves. Ross struggles with who to trust! Can she trust any of them? Should she form any alliances? This begins a rollercoaster ride of action and suspense. The events/contests take place all over the globe, these exotic settings give the novel an exotic tone. Truthfully, I found the plot a bit confusing to follow as things wrapped up at the end. This is a bit of a romance that starts between Ross and another contestant, Devroe, but both characters struggle with allegiance to family versus their feelings for each other. The ending was not satisfying, at least for me. I think the author leaves things somewhat vague and questionable in preparation for a sequel, possibly a series?
This would be a fun book to feature in a display of other "heist" novels. I think there could be some fun here...maybe for Valentine's Day- These books will Steal your Heart???
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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, Middle School Librarian Title: Thieves' Gambit: Winner Takes All
Author: Kayvion Lewis
Series: Book 1; Book 2, Heist Royale, will be released November 2024
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 7-11 Genre/Type of Book: YA mystery, action/adventure, thriller, romance
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: some language that may be inappropriate for middle school, some violence
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I liked The Inheritance Games and this book looked like a similar read.
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
"Thieves', plural possessive? It was an oxymoron. Thieves don't just get together." - Ross, page 16
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Review:
I liked this book even more than I thought I would, and fans of The Inheritance Games will like it too. It had some fun twists and action and lots of "who should I trust" scenarios. Thankfully, the sequel is out soon!
Rosalyn "Ross" Quest is in the thieving business. Her family has been in this profession, a family-run thieving empire, for three generations. Ross is invited to play a game in which, as Auntie describes it, is like a private, illegal game show in which somebody always leaves bloody, if they leave at all. However, Ross is feeling lonely in her current life of thievery, where mom believes that "other families cannot be trusted," and Ross just wants a normal life. She decides to leave the family business, knowing her mother will never forgive her. But things happen and Ross needs one billion dollars within one month. The game is looking like a way to help Ross get what she needs, and she decides to play. The prize for the winner is one granted wish.
The Thieves Gambit is divided into three phases with various tests in each phase. Injuries can get you disqualified. There is an interesting and competitive array of characters from all over the world. The challenges are seemingly impossible, and it is fun to see how the cast of characters tackle each one. Ross becomes close to Devroe Kenzie, and they bond over the loss of their fathers, and become romantically involved. But, who can you really trust in this business? Their banter is a lot of fun!
I think upper middle grades to high school will like this book, especially fans of thrillers and puzzles. While I don't see a lot of ways it ties into curriculum, sometimes it is fun just to read to have fun! It kept me on my toes, and I am looking forward to the sequel!
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For more information about this book, see the author's website.
Find resources for Thieves' Gambit on TeachingBooks.