Painted Devils

Little Thieves #2

by Margaret Owen

Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.

After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now, that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate, and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.

For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud, or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—are genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that may be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Audiobook, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Retellings

Paperback

First published May 16, 2023

About the author

Born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, Margaret Owen spent her childhood haunting the halls of Powell’s Books. After earning her degree in Japanese, her love of espresso called her north to Seattle, where she worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned.

She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)

Reviews

[Sobbin’ Scenes]

in which the con artist goddaughter of Death and Fortune accidentally starts a cult

I think she may have girlbossed a little too close to the sun guys

[EmmaSkies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally gave this book 4.75 stars, but given how much I've continued to think about it for months after and how deeply this book touched me, it's a 5. This continues to be a masterpiece of a series.

The entire time I was reading Painted Devils, I couldn't stop thinking about how I wish this was the kind of YA book I'd had when I was that age. I'm jealous of and so very happy for the young people who get to experience this as a formative book in their lives.

There's such a deep respect for teenagers and relationships and sexuality embedded in the heart of this book that was so unlike so much of the media we were exposed to when I was a teen. Something about this just felt very healing.

But on to the book itself! While Little Thieves definitely leaves off in a place where it can be read as a standalone, Painted Devils picks up nicely and starts the new conflict in a way that doesn't feel contrived. The character studies in this book of both Vanja and Emeric are deeply heartfelt and believable, authentic and true to the characters we grew to love in LT.

Vanja accidentally starting a cult? That checks out, but it's not a backslide from the growth she experienced in LT back to purely selfish thieving ways. I won't say anything about the motivations, but just know that if you're worried this book has to throw out some amount of development we got in the first one in order to facilitate a second, that's not an issue here. (WRITING REVEIEWS FOR SEQUELS IS HARD. I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING.)

We continue to explore gods and magic in this book and expand the world built up in Little Thieves. There are still heists and schemes and even ghost-possessed dolls, a new roster of characters and some old familiar faces, and do you remember that shipping barge that got stuck in the suez canal a few years ago because it drifted sideways? Yeah that's in here too. Don't ask. It works.

Painted Devils is, at its core, a story of two young people navigating love and sexuality and the idea of virginity as a social construct in a way that feels right to them, and recognizes that their comfort and their desire and the way they feel about each other is all that matters. As I mentioned above, it holds a deep resepect for teenagers. It never makes their wants and needs out to be frivolous or silly and this has to be the healthiest depiction of burgeoning sexuality I've ever seen. I really can't stress how much I wish we'd had media like this when I was that age.

It's also the individual stories of both of them as their own separate people each with their own hangups and issues of self-esteem and self-worth. Don't get me started on the emotional journey of this book. I'll cry. Again.

The only thing initally keeping this from the elusive Five Star itch in my brain I think was that the main plot isn't quite on the level of the jewels curse from Little Thieves. The cult plot is GOOD and interesting, but it did feel like there could have been just a bit more something to it (so helpful, I know. I never claimed to be good at this review writing thing), but the interpersonal storyline was so good it balanced it out for me.


This also continues the streak of Margaret Owen being one of my favorite authors. I cannot get enough of her writing style, she's one of the few authors who can consistently get me to laugh out loud again and again in the same book that she has me sobbing over.

So that's that. Someday I'll figure out how to transition into a closing for a review but for now...that's all folks.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this was a rollercoaster, and not necessarily in a good way.

I loved Little Thieves. It took me completely by surprise, so I was RABID with excitement for this one to finally come out.

The plot is as advertised: Vanja, for absolutely zero necessary reason, starts a cult. Did she awaken a dormant Low God? Did she create one for profit? Or is it, in fact, a secret third thing? Emeric is assigned to find out, and possibly arrest her if she's committed whatever the crime name of Option #2 is.

At first, I was having a great time. Vanja is as snotty and as enterprising as usual. Emeric is awkward, smart, and caring. They get sent on a quest where they have to accomplish certain tasks in a certain time frame. Predictably, it turns into a Legend of Zelda dynamic where every quest item involves completing a further seven other quest items.

Things that were good:

• Vanja's Ocean's Eleven thievery and plots. There were at least 2 really fun plots with thievery, dressing up in costumes, etc.

• The lore mysteries. The big lore mystery had me fascinated from the beginning. Along the way, there were several other smaller ones that I enjoyed being solved.

Unfortunately, there were a few other things that jumped out as not quite as good.

Vanja and Emeric's having or not having of sex becomes a plot point. I HATE this trope.

Regardless of the plot-importance of their having or not having sex, Vanja and Emeric spent SO MUCH OF THIS BOOK romancing, kissing, mooning, almost-but-not-quite having sex, anxiously discussing the fact that they are almost-but-not-quite having sex, or silently worrying about the fact that they are almost-but-not-quite having sex.

It was insufferable. Not even the self-aware jokes about it made by other characters could take the edge off how truly frustrating this was to experience as a reader. I get that it's probably realistic for youths of their age, background, and situations. But oh my WORD I do not want to have to see it. So irritating.

Vanja's issues were also extremely overpowering here. A big part of what I loved about Little Thieves was her issues, the way they affected the story, and how they were handled. And some of them here (the family-oriented ones) I was absolutely onboard to experience and go through with her. The ones where she repeatedly and with zero justification jumps to assuming the worst about Emeric over and over and over and over and over, though? When SHE is in fact the one who is usually treating HIM poorly? It became somewhat grating.

The combination of these two things killed me for the first two thirds of the book. Emeric was doing most of the research into the lore mystery, which I WAS actually interested in, offscreen, leaving me to wallow in Vanja's perspective of them wasting their (extremely limited!!!) time getting handsy/not getting handsy/thinking about getting handsy.

The finale almost saved the whole thing for me, though. I ADORED seeing Vanja get to meet her family members. The whole dynamic created between them as individuals and then all together at the farm was great. I could have done with even more of that, exploring the complicated associations they all had with their mother, honestly. Ragne was there!! Finally! Death and Fortune were back! And then when they finally go to confront the Scarlet Maiden, it was full of as many heart-stopping risks, sudden lore revelations, and daring choices as I could hope for. The whole thing was exciting and satisfying, and I was willing to forgive and forget.

But then, the WAY IT ENDED???

Yes, it's the middle book of a trilogy. No, that's not an excuse.

I feel like we just reset all the (painful, excruciating, terrible, unpleasant, way-too-long) emotional work we did throughout this book to get Vanja and Emeric to the place they were at. Now it seems like book three will begin ALL OVER AGAIN. From scratch. And have to rework the whole thing.

There are only so many times I can sit through them stumbling through their interpersonal incompetence, and I frankly think twice in two books is already plenty.

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: verbal & physical abuse, abandonment & bad family dynamics, mentioned animal death, cult, body image issues
4.5

Ah, Margaret Owen. There's a reason I preordered this book as soon as it hit the market- and it's because Margaret Owen lives in my brain and can rarely, if ever, let me down.
Now, this book was kind of a mixed bag for me, and not the instant obsession I had expected- but that is 99% for one very specific reason, so for now let's ignore it.

This book was FUN. The energy in this is unparalleled. Margaret Owen managed to make so many meme references so flawlessly that I wasn't even bothered. I got more than my necessary dose of Vanja, I may be in danger of too much Vanja.
And, actually, this book is even more Vanja-centric than the first one, and that's because you get to see far more of Vanja than you even knew was there for the majority of Little Thieves. This book is either a massive therapy session or the prelude to one. And that means plenty of character growth and also plenty of the snark, moral ambiguity, and hidden wounds of our favorite girl.

I also really appreciated the additions of the lore! I feel like I know so much more of the world, and I'm even more enamored with it now. And the cultish energy in this just doubled that. The atmosphere of this is top tier.

Here's my issue- all of that is great, but it wasn't the act ending sequel I was gearing up for. I wanted weight and adventure and answers and magic- all things that would bookend a great first book. But that's not this book- literally! Had I known from the start that this was a middle book I think I would've gone into it with much different expectations. It is a textbook second book in a trilogy, and it nails the ups and downs of one.

That aside, it did mean it took me a lot longer to get into the story and the misunderstanding of the scope of story and the stakes at play made it difficult to get invested.
I was also hoping for more Death and Fortune and general low god magic, and having that more or less replaced with a lot of relationship drama did feel disappointing.

I also hate that ending. But, yeah, second book. So that's not a bad thing.

This is a fantastic continuation of Little Thieves, planting us firmly in the middle of the story. I really can't wait to see where the final book brings us!

Pre-review comments below
EXCUSE ME WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE GET A SEQUEL

Dear God, thank you for listening to my prayers I just want more Vanja!! (and everyone else too, let's be real)

Update 12/6 THIS IS IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD ON EDELWEISS RIGHT NOW AND I'M LOSING IT

Update 5/16 COVER REVEAL???? I love 😭

Update 3/28 WELL. Guess I'll be expecting a book three!! (what the hell just happened)

[Elle]

“Let me state one thing up front: I wasn’t trying to start a cult.”

ugh I’m already obsessed again 😩

[winotka.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanja założyła PRZEZ PRZYPADEK sektę 🫡 kocham te dziewczynę XDD

Emeric the man you are 😭 cała ich relacja jest tak ważna dla czytelniczek takich jak ja, dosłownie czuję że moja wewnętrzna nastolatka jest uleczona.
Oni są cudowi, ale nie jacyś przesłodzeni czy coś, są PRAWDZIWI!
Nie no płakałam, na niektórych fragmentach BARDZO (zwłaszcza na tych rodzinnych).

Nie będę się tu rozwijać na każdy temat tej książki bo bym sama musiała napisać książkę o tym co było dobre (wszystko), ale świat w którym jest osadzona ta historia jest świetnyyy! Ten klimat baśni/legend, nietypowa magia, bóstwa, dziwne stwory. A składając to w całość z bohaterami i fabułą? 11/10 🩷

A płakałam jeszcze bardziej jak zorientowałam się co się dzieje na końcówce, a ja nie mam trzeciego tomu, a jeszcze gorzej było jak przeczytałam opis trzeciego 🥲 niech ktoś mnie uśpi i obudzi jak ta książka znajdzie się w moich rękach.

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painted Devils
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟳𝟱

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❝ You started a cult?”

“No! I mean … a little?” My hands ball up in my billowing sleeves. “It’s cult-adjacent? Cult-ish? ❞

𐔌 After the events of Little Thieves, con artist Vanja Schmidt finds herself in the small village of Hagendorf, where she accidentally starts a cult centered around the fictional low god, the Scarlet Maiden. In this newfound role, she is regarded as the prophet of the Scarlet Maiden and worshipped by its devotees, the Red Blessed.

However, things take a dramatic turn when the god manifests and claims the investigating Prefect Aspirant Emeric Conrad, as her chosen servant and virgin sacrifice. ⟢

── .✦ I won't explain much more about the series, but you can check out my review for Little Thieves. As I mentioned, you could definitely stop at the first book and think of it as a standalone. But I was hooked and wanted more of this world and its characters, so I bought the whole series and moved on to the second book.

❝ If every star were a reason I care for him—that’s how I feel, like I carry too many stars in me to count, like my skin might burst with the enormity of it all, like if I gather them all up, the only name I could give this is love. ❞

I didn't know much about this book beyond its premise, but to be fair, there is a disclaimer saying this was going to be a romance. And it definitely was. Another exceptional story by Margaret Owen, featuring characters I loved in the first book. But the magical feeling that first drew me into this series, along with the dry humor I enjoyed, was overshadowed by the heavy romance plotline.

“You,” he says blearily, “are an unparalleled devil from hell in your sleep.”

“What?”

Emeric rubs his eyes. “You stole all the blankets. And then you rolled up in them, like a, a crêpe, so they were stuck on your side. And then, when I tried to take one off the top, you turned over, looked me straight in the eye, and said—and I quote—‘I’ll kill you.’”

“I never.”

“You followed it up with ‘It’ll look like an accident.’” ⋆˚࿔

I love Vanja and Emeric with all my heart, but the tropes felt a bit heavy-handed for my taste. I missed their banter and comic relief, as this book mainly focused on their relationship while the storyline took a back seat. It talks a lot about virginity and sex education, which I didn't mind, but the miscommunication was quite frustrating, especially since our characters were physically together from start to finish. Once they do get into a conversation, I liked how they set their boundaries without Emeric overstepping or pressuring Vanja to let him in.

❝ If more prefects were like you … I think the empire would make fewer girls like me.” 𝜗ৎ

“Well, I think that would be a terrible loss. The … fewer-people-like-you part. Not the reduction of gross societal injustice. ❞

Vanja tries to avoid trouble, but trouble and mischief always seem to find her. Struggling with the trauma of abandonment and feelings of unworthiness, she often keeps herself at a distance from the people she cares about. Then comes Emeric, who overcomes all obstacles to help her lower her defenses and see her perspective.

❝ For once I hear his words instead of Irmgard's: I know bravery is real because I see you choose it every day. ❞

While I appreciate how it highlights sensitive topics, the constant back-and-forth felt a bit overdone for my taste. We've seen this pattern in the first book, so I was at least glad to see some character growth in Vanja. Still, after that ending, she might just need some time alone to get herself straight.

“So you have mated,” Ragne says plainly. “Is that not a claim?”

Now I’m definitely squirming. “We think the Scarlet Maiden will only count it as a claim if—if it could make a child.”

“She counts it only if there is a penis and a womb?” Ragne tilts her head, considering, as I try and fail not to spit out a swig of water. “I could grow a penis. I do not think the Gisele would like it if we made a child so soon, though. She has not asked me to grow a penis.”

“Please stop saying ‘penis,’” I wheeze.

Still, it definitely had its moments, and we got to spend some time with our beloved characters from the first book. Ragne's scenes were my favorites. I wished she had popped up earlier because she was the missing piece of the puzzle, and I truly missed her and Vanja's bickering.

I'm taking my time to process that ending but will keep going with the series!

❝ I know bravery is real because I see you choose it every day. ❞

┆ Little Thieves: ⋆.˚🩸⋆
✶ Little Thieves
✶ Painted Devils
✶ The Fallow Year *
✶ Holy Terrors *

ꫂ❁

post-read : finally finished after a month!! need a breather before jumping to the novella, The Fallow Year ⋆.˚

pre-read : i needed to get back to reading, so what better way than to continue the series about my favorite mischievous thief 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯

[Elizabeth Aguilar]

Publisher's Marketplace announcement: "the con artist goddaughter of Death and Fortune accidently starts a cult, only to face off the deity she made up when it manifests and claims her ex as a virgin sacrifice."

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

(in the best way) WTAF WAS THAT ENDING?? ARE U KIDDING ME?!?! AND [REDACTED] COMING IN AT THE END?!?! WTF!!!

i am RUNNING to ao3 for fallow year and then SPRINTING to book 3!

Let me state one thing up front: I wasn’t trying to start a cult.”

[Morgan]

I LOVED Little Thieves, but is a sequel necessary? I thought it was prefect as a stand-alone…

[NAT.orious reads ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

D...did.... DID MARGARET EASTER EGG THE FUCKING BACKSTREET BOYS???? YOU ARE MY QUEEEEN.

[julkahap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Po rereadzie: kocham ten tom całym sercem, dla mnie to jest więcej niż 5 ⭐️

Moja pookie założyła sektę przez przypadek 😩🧡

[🌸 Tana 🌸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

10/08/2023

2023 reads book 62

“Let me state one thing up front: I wasn’t trying to start a cult.”

To say that I am upset would be an understatement. Let's start this off by saying that Little Thieves didn't need a sequel and was perfect as a standalone. Anything that got build up in Little Thieves between the characters got ripped to shreds in between the two books. The whole book you had to deal with these two angsty and horny teenagers, and while it was funny or cute in the beginning, it got old very fast. These two do. not. communicate. When I finally started to enjoy myself again, after we got past the horny and angsty teenagers, the book ends awfully. The whole travel part that they have together with the Ros' and the hilarity that comes with it was great. Any character build- up that happened during the story gets ripped to shreds AGAIN at the end. Why did we go through all this if the next book will start off EXACTLY THE FUCKING SAME AS THIS ONE?? What was all that growth for?? I'm going to act like this book doesn't exist, and see Little Thieves as a standalone, as it should have been from the beginning.

[Deeksha Bhardwaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝑨 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅’𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉.”

𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃
Painted Devils follow Vanja Schmidt, who is on the journey to find her long-lost birth family. But when she invented a god to scam her way out of the trouble she made, everything turns into chaos. And when that god actually manifests and claims her Emeric as a virgin sacrifice, Vanja must find an alternative to save him…

𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
I was really looking forward to this because I loved the first book and look at that gorgeous cover!!

With a captivating fast-paced plot, things spiralled into a series of adventures.. pretty soon. The number of tasks to be solved was insane🤯 and I loved how every time a new problem emerged to solve the previous one.. total 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 of adventures🤌🏼

The 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 was pouring in from the moment the MCs met🤭 It was intimate and naive as they tried to understand each other’s needs, be they emotional or physical!

The relationship between the MCs was beautiful🥰 They were more than lovers, they were friends. The way both of them 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱, and stood up for each other was incredible! Even though they knew their imperfections, they still accepted each other..

“𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒅𝒐, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑽𝒂𝒏𝒋𝒂. 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.”

But, soon the writing became reallly uninteresting🫤 Idk how to explain this.. maybe it’s the weird names people had or maybe the number of characters there were, but something about the 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 of the plot..

It was on & off situation for me. One moment, I am having an exciting time reading about some heist Vanja is doing and the next, the plot doesn’t make any sense. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁.. I have no idea what “The Wild Hunt” really was🙄

Plus, I am 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 😔 that the amazing side characters from the first book didn’t have prominent roles in this one! And the new characters in this didn’t have that much depth to leave an impact🤷🏻‍♀️

However, I enjoyed the 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 so much. And did not see that unpredictable twist that came towards the end, jaw-dropping😳. With a cliffhanger ending, this was an exciting read nonetheless.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
Overall, it was an amazing YA fantasy, full of adventures, magical moments, and a rollercoaster plot. With a sweet romance, this will give you humour-filled writing, profound characters, and an unpredictable ending (if you can get past the complicated writing😅).

P.S. “Where do you usually find evidence of math crimes? In a graph. They’re always used for plotting.”😆

Follow For More: Blog • Bookstagram • Goodreads

[bri]

i need more ragne now please

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 3 out of 5]

⤅ Nowadays I'm noticing that certain otherwise enjoyable books are being undermined by a strange... preachiness.

Like when I read Alicia Thompson's Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Everything was going well, and then BAM - JK Rowling got bitched about for absolutely no reason. To quote myself from that review, there was 'a sentence that basically goes 'we spent ages talking about the Harry Potter books and how the author's such a TERF'. Dude, how unnecessary was that? It SMACKED of 'author speaking through character's mouth for no good reason'. There was no external connection to the plot or characters, it had no relevance to the story, and overall it felt included just so the character, and the author by extension, could demonstrate 'right-think' credentials.'

Something similar happens here. I'll get to that in a bit...

So, we pick up almost exactly where we left off in the first book; 17-year-old Vanja Schmidt was planning to follow her sort-of-boyfriend, 18-year-old Emeric Conrad,, back home to be with him when she suddenly decides she's not good enough for him. Instead she stands him up and ends up accidentally starting a cult in a village called Hagendorn, complete with herself as prophet. Only, things suddenly spin out of control when the Scarlet Maiden - Vanja's god, who is supposed to be entirely made up - manifests herself and demands a newly reappeared Emeric as her virgin sacrifice. There's only one way to avert this (beyond the obvious): Vanya and Emeric have to get the blood of seven brothers in order to appease the Scarlet Maid.

A promising set up, and Owen's technical writing is as readable as ever. However, to come back to what I was talking about at the start of my review, the author's personal politics played a far more prominent role than was really needed. Her books have always been peppered with 'nonbinary' characters - which is one thing, a fantasy world can accommodate a concept equally as fantastical as that. But here, there's a whole spiel about Vanja meeting a female character who discovered her 'true self' was as a boy (seemingly because she didn't like playing with dresses as a child? Way to stereotype). This character says that she didn't take off her chest binder for two days. A chest binder isn't a bra, it's not there to support but to flatten; I don't even want to think about the horrific long-term health consequences something like this could have, and the fact that this remark was brushed off as totally normal, even good, is not great.

To be clear, I believe in free speech, so I'm not arguing with the author's right to write this. It's just that I also have the right to point out that - especially since this is a YA book - there ought to have been more consideration of what exactly the benefit would be in framing chest binding as a healthy or natural thing to do. Also, it's never enjoyable when an author's views infiltrate a book so much it starts to feel polemic.

Even this aside, the plot was unnecessarily confusing. It's a long book, probably too long, and starts to get heavily bogged down around the 70% mark. Then it ends with a literal deus ex machina, which wasn't exciting when the ancient Greeks did it and isn't exciting now.

⤅ Overall

I'll read the sequel, but I do hope this trend I noticed isn't one that continues.

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I tell you that Owen has some kind of magic touch? I am not kidding. I pulled out the big guns by starting this ARC when I feared I was slipping into a reading slump and ka-pow, slump say who? Not I! This was exactly what I needed. Everything I needed. Or, conversely, it proved I just wasn't picking up good quality reads -- or, maybe more fairly, I wasn't picking up reads that were for me.

But PAINTED DEVILS? Pretty much a chefs. fucking. kiss.

Admittedly, it's not getting rounded up to a five like the series opener did but I think that's fair. Measuring up to that perfection would be hard, even for this much-beloved-by-me author, even with these utterly-adored-by-me characters.

"You are an unparalleled devil from hell in your sleep."
" What? "
"You stole all the blankets. And then you rolled up in them, like a-- a crêpe, so they were stuck on your side. And then when I tried to take one off the top, you turned over, looked me straight in the eye, and said -- and I quote -- 'I'll kill you.'"
"I never."
"You followed it up with 'It'll look like an accident.'"

Honestly, it's going to be a hard sell to convince you to pick this up if you haven't already read book one so maybe go read that one and then come back to this. Not that I'll be spoiling anything but honestly your investment will be low until you unlock the initial achievement. But everything Owen did with book one -- the laughs, the fun, the emotes, the glee, the shock -- she's come back to sock you in the teeth with all over again. Because I laughed like a little girl (I was | | close to kicking my feet in the air). I cried like a little girl (maybe only once but I got teary/choked up a whole bunch of times). And I got mad like.. okay, I'll stop saying little girl, but hoo boy. I got mad.

[..] it's almost a bit unnerving how quickly everyone joined Team Blood Sacrifices Are Great, Actually.

I had totally forgot about much (most?) of the trauma that Vanja had endured throughout her life. And this book has her facing a lot of it. The conflict, in fact, is woven up with some of the origins of it all. But it was done so beautifully. It broke my heart, too, because much of this book is about learning to love yourself. And that's a painful process. Especially when your formative years have done everything to destroy the potential and even now you're faced with constant reminders that you are unworthy. That there's no reason to be good, to be better, to be anything but what you've been ground down to believe you are -- which, in Vanja's case, is worthless. Which is why she struggles with Emeric because how can she trust the love of another when she's always been unworthy of it? How can she trust that love when she's never been made to see it in herself? There was so much tenderness in how Owen handled this. And that tenderness carried over in how they approached the intimacy of their romance.

The cold truth is, some part of me is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it's for no good reason other than the truth beneath, colder still : [..] I cannot believe someone would want me, without agenda, as I am.

Also, Emeric being Vanja's number one stan? We love to see it. It wasn't always smooth sailing but I loved how they handled the rougher moments, the misunderstandings, and how in-tune to each other they were.

"If more prefects were like you.. I think the empire would make fewer girls like me."
"Well, I think that would be a terrible loss. The.. fewer-people-like-you part. Not the reduction of gross societal injustice."

I want to be able talk about the little (big) realizations they have about their society, their ability to influence it, and how the struggle to use the laws to help those who need it is.. well, a struggle. And whether it's better to work outside the system then in it, with it, and all that, but honestly I don't feel eloquent enough to tackle that. Just know that I saw it, I see it, and I love it. And I hope we get more of in in book three.

This book is also about family. The ones we find, the ones we make, and the ones we're born to. And oh boy getting misty again. Ahem, but yes, the ties that bind play a big part and I absolutely loved how this played out. Even the parts that hurt.

And you know what else hurt? That ending. Aaaa it was bad enough knowing we had two years to wait after book one but at least that resolution felt, well. Resolved. It almost felt like a standalone. This one is anything but that and I am quietly dying inside. But GR says book three is out in January.. which feels improbable. But I am not going to look a gift horse (hahaha the horses) in the mouth.

It turns out there are few things that kill the mood faster than realizing you have a haunted doll for a voyeur.

Also, shoutout, because I don't know if I remember there being as many references or memes in book one but we had a few in this one and a few had me howling. The Backstreet Boys bit? I legit cried. More of this please!

As you can probably guess, I highly recommend not only this series but also this author. She's one of the few releasing YA that I'm guaranteed to pick up these days -- but honestly, at this rate, I'll pick up literally anything she releases and always be desperate for more. Like I am now.

4.5 stars

** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Sherwood Smith]

This author is fast becoming a favorite, she's so good at combining great fantasy elements, a delightful variety of characters, a fun world, and snorting-tea-up-your-nose hilarity.

I don't think the reader needs to have read the first in this series--though by the end I suspect they'll want to! It's a fast catch-up as our protagonist, ex-thief Vanja, accidentally starts a cult, which to her surprise and dismay manifests a low god into existence, called the Scarlet Maiden.

Her boyfriend from the first book, a straight-arrow named Emeric, is sent to investigate. He's appalled that she might be reverting to her old ways. They have no time to resolve this relationship-oopsie because this new Scarlet Maiden wants Emeric as her virgin blood sacrifice.

And the fun takes off like a rocket from there. Amid the crazy, the hilarity, a surprising number of issues that will resonate with young adult readers especially occur, like family, first times and first loves. But a special tip of the hat to the fact that these two TALK TO EACH OTHER. The plot is not built on misunderstandings that would take thirty seconds to clear up.

Such vivid, fun world-building and a terrific voice make this book a stay-up-all-night read!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. This was not quite what I was expecting out of this book.

I still really like our MCs but, this kind of felt like a completely different series next to the first book? I loved the thievery and the curses and the cheekiness of book one. I felt a lot of that was lacking here. Primarily this book was about Vanja and Emeric’s relationship and them trying to become comfortable with each other.

Am I glad to see some good talk about consent and it being okay to not want to have sex with someone even though you love them? Sure. Do I want my fantasy book to have the plot based entirely around that? No. The first one wasn’t really a romantasy so why did this one turn into one? Again, it’s good character development and there’s great moments between them. I was just hoping for some fun thieving!

I do love the plot with Vanja looking for her family—that’s fun, but I just can’t help but look back and think…what really happened in this book? It all feels a bit blurry for me.

[Gabe Novoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

well this was incredible and also

MARGARET HOW DARE YOU END IT LIKE THAT OMG 😭

[carolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I understand, now, why they say you fall in love, because I don't think I could climb out of this feeling even if I wanted to. What a beautiful trap I've built for myself.
What a horror, what a delight, to find I've been caught.

₊˚❤️ 💎🌹・₊✧

I loved Little Thieves, I found it so refreshing and captivating, so I was really looking forward to reading the sequel. Unfortunately, I'm a bit disappointed with Painted Devils. I have so many mixed feelings about this book, it's not bad and there were a lot of things I loved, but overall it just felt underwhelming and not as exciting as the first book.

I won't go into detail about the plot because I don't want to give away any spoilers, but at first I was interested to see what new mess Vanja had created this time. However, it soon stopped being exciting to read about. I don't know when I felt this, but the writing became so confusing. There were so many names (and I have no idea how to pronounce them, so they sounded like gibberish in my head) and so much happening, that it got messy. I can't even explain the plot of this book beyond the basics, because I'm pretty sure I didn't understand most of it 🤡

Vanja and Emeric are without a doubt the best characters in this book. Everyone else lacked depth and I struggled to connect with or care about them. There were too many side characters and I could not differentiate between them (sometimes a character would be mentioned and I had no idea who they were talking about). The side characters from book one were so much better and I wish they'd had more of a presence in this book.

✮⋆˙"I want you to see yourself the way I do, because there is beauty in every inch of you, Vanja. Just as you are. Whatever your back looks like, when you're ready, I'll find it there too.”

Vanja's backstory is so heartbreaking, she has suffered so much in the past and it's no wonder she doesn't believe that people care about her and love her for who she is. She sees herself as a failure and thinks she'll never be good enough. I understand her need to run away before she's abandoned, because it's less painful that way, but I didn't like the way she was so quick to judge Emeric and assume the worst, because this boy has always been so respectful and caring towards her. I was glad when she finally opened up to him and exposed her fears and insecurities.

✮⋆˙ Some part of me has always held back, clinging to the fear that I cannot be both known and wanted, that I will always have to surrender to one. But he he has found beauty, somehow, in the worst of me. This isn't a surrender; it's a release.

I didn't expect the romance to have such a big focus in this book, because it was just a subplot in the first one, but it's what I liked most about this sequel. It was so pure and innocent. I loved the way Emeric and Vanja communicated with each other. The conversations about physical intimacy were handled with care and it was so sweet to see these two characters discover a new side to their relationship. However, I have to say that sometimes the plot was pushed aside so the romance could take centre stage (and this is not a romantasy) and it felt like they were going around in circles, having the same conversations over and over again.

I HATE the ending. I can't believe the author decided to end the book this way. It's like all the emotional and painful work the characters had to go through to get to a better place has been completely erased and we're back to square one. I thought this was going to be a duology, but now we're going to have a third book and I honestly have no idea what plot the author is going to come up with this time.

I feel like I've said so much, but at the same time there's so much left to say. As much as I loved certain things in this book, they're not enough for me to give it a higher rating. And I know I'm just going to hate the ending more and more the longer I think about it. I'm sad that this wasn't as good as the first book and I'm even sadder that I don't care that much about it 💀

✮⋆˙ There are moments when, as divergent as our lives are, I still see something in him so familiar, it might be cut from my own heart. I know this unease in him because it took root in me years ago, and I may never burn it out. It's defiance and humiliation in one: I haven't bedded anyone yet because I haven't desired it, and for much of the world, that means there must be something wrong with me. That the older I get, the more it becomes something to get over with instead of something to want for myself. That the reason can't be because I rarely desire people that way; it must be that I'm undesirable. - I had to share this, because it’s such a true statement and it makes me sad that our society thinks like this

[Ashley Catelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 21%

I loved Little Thieves, but this was very disappointing and lackluster in comparison and completely failed to keep my interest. After struggling to read as much as I already have, I will not be reading further.

[Kalena ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆.˚✮ 4.5 stars ✮˚.⋆

this book was so so much fun! i didn't know going in how much i would actually remember from the last book, as it's been a while since i read Little Thieves, but this book does an excellent job of explaining in little ways what's happened in the past. essentially, after the events of the last book, Vanja decides to join Prefect Emeric in the capital where the Prefects work, but on her way there she realizes she doesn't feel good enough for him. in a low moment, she accidentally starts a cult of The Scarlet Maiden and everything escalates when Emeric shows up to investigate and the goddess claims him as her sacrifice. Emeric must figure out if she has committed fraud or if The Scarlet Maiden is a real low god, and Vanja is still determined to find out what she can about her birth family.

if you look at the trigger warnings at the bottom of this review you may see a lot of them listed, i firstly just want to thank the author and publisher for including them at the start of the book. this simultaneously makes my life easier as a reviewer, and is so helpful for individuals who may be sensitive to these subjects going into this book. while the story can be pretty heavy at times with some of the content, Margaret Owen just has a way with her writing that makes the story so vibrant and funny. there were many times where i found myself laughing at something the characters said, a situation they got themselves in, or something of the story. there was always a bit of levity underpinning the story, but also a perfect amount of care taken to the trigger warning content too. it was a beautiful blend in making a story that was heartfelt, and treated the content well, but also spun some joy through the story too.

reading this book went by so fast, i was consistently entertained by how fast things were moving and the characters themselves. Vanja and Emeric were fantastic characters in the last book, but it was even more rewarding seeing them grow in this book. i do wish a little bit that the plot had felt more centralized, as we were moving around a lot, but at times the conflict with The Scarlet Maiden felt pushed to the backburner. i usually really enjoy character-driven stories, so i didn't mind this too much, i was just really enjoying that conflict and wish it had been focused just a little more.

the growth on the part of Vanja and Emeric was one of my favorite parts of this, both in terms of their own characters and between them. they are both people who are so different from one another, but also i just love them together and see how well they compliment one another. through this book, Vanja tries to deal with not feeling good enough (since her mother abandoned her to Death and Fortune), and Emeric tries to deal with being a Prefect and it not cracking up to all he wants it to be. seeing them connect on a new level in this story was also really sweet, it was very teenager in a fantasy world coded- as in it was very funny and made me realize how much we need this in other ya books. Margaret Owen did an excellent job of not including "smut" which i don't feel should be the main focus of young adult romances, but instead focused on recognizing sexual exploration is something that is common for older adolescents, and shouldn't be ostracized. i loved how she handled Vanja and Emeric explored this slowly, in their own way, even in the midst of the things they were experiencing. i thought it was a very healthy depiction.

all that being said, i'm feeling a little conflicted on the ending. it seems to throw out some of the growth and events that happened in this book, but at the same time, i think it makes sense for Vanja. just because she connected with Emeric and some new characters doesn't mean her trauma is gone, that doesn't magically fix everything. the drama is also, interesting, i will say i am on the edge of my seat to read the next book and see what happens. i'm just feeling a little conflicted, but this was such a good story it matters much less to me than the entirety of the book!

↬ trigger warnings: child abuse and domestic abuse, bullying depictions, violence and murder, depiction of grief, depiction of panic attacks, death of loved ones, abandonment, sexual assault, physical and verbal abuse, fire injury

[Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot slowed down a bit in the middle, but the book as a whole is still great. Margaret Owen's writing is impressive as ever, these characters are incredibly written, and I really enjoyed the themes of self-image and accepting love. Can't wait to see how the series concludes!

[Jennifer]

DNF 17% Little Thieves was one of a few books keeping my faith in YA alive. I still like the sharp humor and cynical heroine, but it feels like the plot of Painted Devils (which, as it involves human sacrifice, should be quite interesting) has been sideline by teenage lust and sex ed. I would personally prefer to scrub my shower than read a book with a primary plot of will-they-won't-they. But that's just me.

[Brend · Rating 4 out of 5]

the rating will tell you how much I liked it; let's move on to the important part:

Quotes from this book that could be Panic! At the Disco song titles


“Lying might be the most-legal thing I’m good at.”

“Saints and martyrs, this is going to be hard, isn’t it”

“it’s almost a bit unnerving how quickly everyone joined Team Blood Sacrifices Are Great, Actually.”

“Apologies, there was a slight issue with a small fire the size of, well, a large fire”

“drawing a pair of gleaming buttocks under Please list any specialized or relevant skills”

“Handle the grimling while I search for your records”

“Nice,” I say, making a mental note to steal as much soap as possible”

“It might actually all be technically legal. How embarrassing.”

“It’s time for the final step before my victory twirl.”

“they could put me back in jail—real jail, not sexy jail”

“I would not care particularly about her ex-husband’s affairs”

“locking someone in a closet with an angry wolverine and calling it “a bonding exercise.”

“On a different note, I need to ask you about tax law.”

“I like solving problems for good people by causing problems for bad people”

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painted Devils was one of those ARCS I grabbed from C2E2. And, I had to buy / read Book 1 before jumping into this.

Now finally reading this book, I feel like it was a dull dishwater-y mess of ideas, characters, and tone. Everything I enjoyed about Book 1 and everything I hoped about Book 2 ... well, lets just say I won't be continuing my journey with Book 3. The horse stops here.

While I love soft-hearted boys with intelligence and cunning, paired alongside this mess of a FL? God, why does he put up with her? She absolutely 100% a dreg of existence. There comes a time in a book that the character's 'oh, sorry, it's my issue of trusting / loving / accepting / friendship-ing people' became annoying and her choices of leaving him, or frankly peacing-out, becomes too much. By now, in Book 2, you should start to see seeds of character growth. There was none. At all. And honestly I wanted the ML to leave her ass and stop chasing her because clearly she has issues. But, it all comes down to it: he is horny.

The two stars for this book come with her creating this cult, this demon / ghost that is after her, and the outcome / reveal of that all. But everything else? Yeah. No. Not fun.

If you're a fan of characters who lack growth, common sense, and are bitchy selfish brats, this is your book.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 reads: 39/350

thank you to the publisher for granting me an early review copy in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.

buddy read with aaku!

this is the sequel to little thieves.

in vanja’s search for an honest trade, she kinda accidentally invented a god and started a cult. oops. the lie grows even more out of control when emeric arrives to investigate and the “god,” known as the scarlet maiden, claims him as a virgin sacrifice. the clock is ticking for them to prove vanja’s innocence and release emeric from the hold the scarlet maiden has over him.

when i found out about a little thieves sequel, i was so excited to read it and i’m very grateful i was granted an early digital copy because waiting till may was going to be HARD. anyway, i can’t really say this book lived up to my expectations since i had no idea what to expect and was still shocked at every point. a lot of people are saying they thought little thieves worked well as a standalone, but let me tell you, this sequel was 100% needed and you’ll love it. i loved reading about the shenanigans vanja and emeric got up to and vanja’s journey to try to find where she comes from. i’m still in shock because of how the book ended and i need book three asap!!!

[kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread april 2025: perfection.


“Let me state one thing up front: I wasn’t trying to start a cult.”

It was at that moment, dear reader, the first line of chapter one, that I knew the this book was going to be worth the two years of waiting.

There aren’t many things in life more terrifying and exciting than starting a sequel to a favourite book. The fear of disappointment is all consuming. The terror of knowing whether it will live up to the hype you’ve created in your mind. The joy of being reunited with its characters and finally getting some answers to the questions book one left you with. It’s a stressful time. Thankfully, Painted Devils, one my most anticipated reads from the past few years, was in no way a disappointment and 100% lived up to the expectations in my head. It was just as funny, heartwarming, stressful, exciting, kickass and readable as book one. There were a few elements I missed from book one (mainly a few characters and the dynamics that came with them) and a few new elements that totally made up for it (I do love an accidental cult). From the moment I found myself outwardly laughing at chapter one’s opening line, my enjoyment of this book never wavered now all I have to do in endure the next however many years until book three. A wait I’m more than happy to make.

[Emily Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen was not the follow up to Little Thieves that I was hoping for. The premise of this novel was so strong, accidentally creating a cult and having to reconnect while dealing with the low gods again? I'm in! Unfortunately, this YA fantasy leaned on the YA tropes.
In general I find books that rely so heavily on virginity, single beds, and miscommunication to be extremely frustrating. The main characters were 17 but acting like 15 and 25 simultaneously.

Overall it wasn't the middle book that it could have been and I am not sure I will be continuing the series.

(Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the audio book - all thoughts are my own)