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The Diamond Thief #1
The Diamond Thief
No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.
Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?
Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?
276 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
48 people are currently reading
1263 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Gosling
54 books114 followersSharon Gosling began her career in entertainment journalism, writing for magazines in the science fiction and fantasy genre, before moving on to write tie-in books for TV shows such as "Stargate" and the 'reimagined' "Battlestar Galactica."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
August 14, 2014
Rating - 1.5 stars.
Today it's a CinemaSins style review, only for a book. I recommend you see this video before reading if you don't know what CinemaSins is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYVZjK...
Everything wrong with The Diamond Thief in 700 words or less. Spoilers. (Duh!)
The name Cirque de la Lune. +1 sin.
Ding! From here on, please imagine the noise for every sin added.
The mysterious-circus-in-town-cliche. +1 sin.
The hero with heterochromatic eyes. +5 sins.
The spelling error here: "Claudette smiled, taking Dominique's reigns...". +30 sins.
The exposition-by-angry-thoughts-cliche here: "How dare he talk about Amelie like that? Just because she was different, just because she didn't speak.". +1 sin.
The violinist named Dorffman who exists only for eerie sound effects and ringmaster Gustave's entertainment. +1 sin.
The hero's name - Thaddeus Rec. +10 sins.
The hero-is-a-ditzy-genius-cliche. +1 sin.
The hero-has-a-dark-parental-past-cliche. +5 sins.
The hero-is-a-noble-guy-making-up-for-the-sins-of-his-fathers-cliche. +2 sins.
The existence of the eccentric genius professor character. +5 sins.
The name of the aforementioned character: "...his friend the Professor agreed with him." +15 sins.
The reference to Queen Victoria and the Shah of Persia in the same sentence. +2 sins.
A plot revolving around the Koh-i-noor and Darya-ye-Noor. +10 sins.
The heroine-dresses-up-for-a-party-cliche. +20 sins.
The anything-long-and-metal-will-open-a-door-cliche. +1 sin.
The idea that the heroine is unrecognisable without makeup. +1 sin.
The Chief Inspector gives a priceless diamond to the least experienced detective in the room. Despite it being an unexpected manoeuvre, it is still stupid. +2 sins.
This detective, Thaddeus, keeps the priceless diamond in his coat pocket. +5 sins.
The aforementioned diamond turns out to be a fake. +10 sins.
The attachment of the question tag ",yes?" to every sentence to make Remy seem French. +5 sins.
The cursed-diamond-from-India-cliche. +15 sins.
Thaddeus believing Remy's name is Moineau Volant. *facepalm* +2 sins.
J, the dirty London orphan with a heart of gold. +1 sin.
The scene where Thaddeus goes to the police station after questioning Gustave and is accused of stealing the diamond. First, he can't comprehend how they can accuse him of stealing it. Hint: your dad was a thief. +2 sins.
Second, he makes no attempt to defend himself using logic. He could point out that if he were intelligent enough to steal it, he wouldn't promptly fence it at the circus and return to the police station of all places. Instead he blubbers on about how he can't believe they don't trust him. +5 sins.
Third, when Collins offers him a chance to escape, he stands there like an idiot. I am now calling you Thaddeusaurus Rex for your highly evolved brain. +12 sins.
The sleeping gas gun. +5 sins.
Sleeping gas is purple and does not have side-effects. +2 sins.
Wanted fugitive, Thaddeusaurus, draws attention to himself by nodding to a couple on the street. +1 sin.
This sentence: "...if he built a cylinder that produced a vacuum at one end and propulsion at the other, the force and motion could lift a grown man off the ground." No. Just no. +7 sins.
Professor conveniently invades Thaddeus' privacy by planting a steampunk version of a bug on him. +5 sins.
Wanted fugitive, Thaddeusaurus, decides to question a lord of the realm during his breakfast about a circus performer he may know nothing about. +7 sins.
The dog chase scene with Remy where she only gets nipped in the heel. And doesn't need a rabies injection. +1 sin.
Thaddeus says a person who steals "has something wrong with their soul." He has obviously never read Les Miserables. +2 sins.
Thaddeusaurus falls in love in with a thief - Remy. So much for that. +5 sins.
The villain's insidious laugh and monologuing. +5 sins.
The villain's plan is essentially world domination. +20 sins.
The villain invites Remy to join him in said world domination. Because gymnasts are very useful in colonial takeovers involving steampunk submarines. +10 sins.
The henchman is called Jonesy. His modus operandi? Strangling. +5 sins.
The mysterious super-light, super strong, silvery metal that Abernathy uses to make his Hazmat(?) suits and submarines is - wait for it - titanium. The same WMDs are powered by - wait for it - the gemstones. +30 sins.
Remy playing hard to get. Attributed to the curse, but her POV does nothing to prove this. She rejects Thaddeus for purely non-emotional reasons. +1 sin.
The old bookcase-swings-open-to-reveal-something cliche. +1 sin.
The dying-come-back-from-death cliche. Repeated around 5 times. +10 sins.
Magical medicine from India that cures bullet holes in the chest. Apparently it's a concentrated dose. +20 sins.
The last two to three chapters, which have a series of overused tropes one after the other, including a heel face turn by the Professor, a life-and-death flooding situation underground, a dramatic love confession on the verge of death, Romeo-and-Juliet-style misunderstandings, sacrifices for the sake of true love, a time jump, mysterious stone activates mind powers and a happy dramatic reunion. +50 sins.
Ambiguity as to whether book is YA or middle grade. +6 sins.
Requisite kiss scene at the end. Oh, it is YA. +4 sins.
A sensible, skilled heroine capable of self-deprecating humour and quick thinking. -15 sins.
The opening tightrope walking scene. -15 sins.
A heavy book almost kills a thug. The pen is mightier than the sword. As illustrated in this gif that my wonderful friend Kagama found. -5 sins.
Bonus Round: Flushes and Blushes
I'm not even going to try.
Sin Tally: 332
Punishment: Death by man-eating Indian tigers.
Today it's a CinemaSins style review, only for a book. I recommend you see this video before reading if you don't know what CinemaSins is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYVZjK...
Everything wrong with The Diamond Thief in 700 words or less. Spoilers. (Duh!)
The name Cirque de la Lune. +1 sin.
Ding! From here on, please imagine the noise for every sin added.
The mysterious-circus-in-town-cliche. +1 sin.
The hero with heterochromatic eyes. +5 sins.
The spelling error here: "Claudette smiled, taking Dominique's reigns...". +30 sins.
The exposition-by-angry-thoughts-cliche here: "How dare he talk about Amelie like that? Just because she was different, just because she didn't speak.". +1 sin.
The violinist named Dorffman who exists only for eerie sound effects and ringmaster Gustave's entertainment. +1 sin.
The hero's name - Thaddeus Rec. +10 sins.
The hero-is-a-ditzy-genius-cliche. +1 sin.
The hero-has-a-dark-parental-past-cliche. +5 sins.
The hero-is-a-noble-guy-making-up-for-the-sins-of-his-fathers-cliche. +2 sins.
The existence of the eccentric genius professor character. +5 sins.
The name of the aforementioned character: "...his friend the Professor agreed with him." +15 sins.
The reference to Queen Victoria and the Shah of Persia in the same sentence. +2 sins.
A plot revolving around the Koh-i-noor and Darya-ye-Noor. +10 sins.
The heroine-dresses-up-for-a-party-cliche. +20 sins.
The anything-long-and-metal-will-open-a-door-cliche. +1 sin.
The idea that the heroine is unrecognisable without makeup. +1 sin.
The Chief Inspector gives a priceless diamond to the least experienced detective in the room. Despite it being an unexpected manoeuvre, it is still stupid. +2 sins.
This detective, Thaddeus, keeps the priceless diamond in his coat pocket. +5 sins.
The aforementioned diamond turns out to be a fake. +10 sins.
The attachment of the question tag ",yes?" to every sentence to make Remy seem French. +5 sins.
The cursed-diamond-from-India-cliche. +15 sins.
Thaddeus believing Remy's name is Moineau Volant. *facepalm* +2 sins.
J, the dirty London orphan with a heart of gold. +1 sin.
The scene where Thaddeus goes to the police station after questioning Gustave and is accused of stealing the diamond. First, he can't comprehend how they can accuse him of stealing it. Hint: your dad was a thief. +2 sins.
Second, he makes no attempt to defend himself using logic. He could point out that if he were intelligent enough to steal it, he wouldn't promptly fence it at the circus and return to the police station of all places. Instead he blubbers on about how he can't believe they don't trust him. +5 sins.
Third, when Collins offers him a chance to escape, he stands there like an idiot. I am now calling you Thaddeusaurus Rex for your highly evolved brain. +12 sins.
The sleeping gas gun. +5 sins.
Sleeping gas is purple and does not have side-effects. +2 sins.
Wanted fugitive, Thaddeusaurus, draws attention to himself by nodding to a couple on the street. +1 sin.
This sentence: "...if he built a cylinder that produced a vacuum at one end and propulsion at the other, the force and motion could lift a grown man off the ground." No. Just no. +7 sins.
Professor conveniently invades Thaddeus' privacy by planting a steampunk version of a bug on him. +5 sins.
Wanted fugitive, Thaddeusaurus, decides to question a lord of the realm during his breakfast about a circus performer he may know nothing about. +7 sins.
The dog chase scene with Remy where she only gets nipped in the heel. And doesn't need a rabies injection. +1 sin.
Thaddeus says a person who steals "has something wrong with their soul." He has obviously never read Les Miserables. +2 sins.
Thaddeusaurus falls in love in with a thief - Remy. So much for that. +5 sins.
The villain's insidious laugh and monologuing. +5 sins.
The villain's plan is essentially world domination. +20 sins.
The villain invites Remy to join him in said world domination. Because gymnasts are very useful in colonial takeovers involving steampunk submarines. +10 sins.
The henchman is called Jonesy. His modus operandi? Strangling. +5 sins.
The mysterious super-light, super strong, silvery metal that Abernathy uses to make his Hazmat(?) suits and submarines is - wait for it - titanium. The same WMDs are powered by - wait for it - the gemstones. +30 sins.
Remy playing hard to get. Attributed to the curse, but her POV does nothing to prove this. She rejects Thaddeus for purely non-emotional reasons. +1 sin.
The old bookcase-swings-open-to-reveal-something cliche. +1 sin.
The dying-come-back-from-death cliche. Repeated around 5 times. +10 sins.
Magical medicine from India that cures bullet holes in the chest. Apparently it's a concentrated dose. +20 sins.
The last two to three chapters, which have a series of overused tropes one after the other, including a heel face turn by the Professor, a life-and-death flooding situation underground, a dramatic love confession on the verge of death, Romeo-and-Juliet-style misunderstandings, sacrifices for the sake of true love, a time jump, mysterious stone activates mind powers and a happy dramatic reunion. +50 sins.
Ambiguity as to whether book is YA or middle grade. +6 sins.
Requisite kiss scene at the end. Oh, it is YA. +4 sins.
A sensible, skilled heroine capable of self-deprecating humour and quick thinking. -15 sins.
The opening tightrope walking scene. -15 sins.
A heavy book almost kills a thug. The pen is mightier than the sword. As illustrated in this gif that my wonderful friend Kagama found. -5 sins.
make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif
Bonus Round: Flushes and Blushes
I'm not even going to try.
Sin Tally: 332
Punishment: Death by man-eating Indian tigers.
January 11, 2015
More blindingly brilliant than any jewel, The Diamond Thief is a unique steampunk mystery that is sure to impress!
I loved every single page of this book. From start to finish it delivered - Sharon Gosling's winsome writing style painting vivid images of the colourful world she's created. There just aren't words to express how amazing this book is!
I am so, so happy I picked this up and I cannot wait to get started on Book #2 :)
I loved every single page of this book. From start to finish it delivered - Sharon Gosling's winsome writing style painting vivid images of the colourful world she's created. There just aren't words to express how amazing this book is!
I am so, so happy I picked this up and I cannot wait to get started on Book #2 :)
September 25, 2014
Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
How can someone include so much awesomeness in one book really goes beyond my imagination. But not having read steam-punk stories in a while I was hoping to be thrown in Victorian era again, but the problem is that I am still captured there and I don't want to get out.
Circus has always been a fascinating thing to me. Ever since I was a child and seeing the glimpse of magic I believed in left strong impression on me. Not surprisingly, Little Bird's acrobatic abilities returned those feelings to me. She is a girl with though past which thought her to take care of herself, same as Thaddeus Rec, a boy who despite everything has all the manners and qualities of a perfect man and who easily captured my attention.
What I especially loved about this book was that the author gave different voice to the different characters which made them more realistic. With Remy's French words, to the J's street language and Professor's academic speech which defined characters better. Then the magical elements which I didn't expect to find in book as this one.
One thing that I though would bother me was the age of the characters, but then again seeing that the book was set in Victorian era where child labor was a very common thing and when children grew up faster than we could imagine. I liked that both Remy and Rec give adult vibe which fits the seriousness of their actions better.
You can only imagine my joy when I saw that the sequel to this novel, The Ruby Airship is out, as I'm going to jump into this world again.
How can someone include so much awesomeness in one book really goes beyond my imagination. But not having read steam-punk stories in a while I was hoping to be thrown in Victorian era again, but the problem is that I am still captured there and I don't want to get out.
Circus has always been a fascinating thing to me. Ever since I was a child and seeing the glimpse of magic I believed in left strong impression on me. Not surprisingly, Little Bird's acrobatic abilities returned those feelings to me. She is a girl with though past which thought her to take care of herself, same as Thaddeus Rec, a boy who despite everything has all the manners and qualities of a perfect man and who easily captured my attention.
What I especially loved about this book was that the author gave different voice to the different characters which made them more realistic. With Remy's French words, to the J's street language and Professor's academic speech which defined characters better. Then the magical elements which I didn't expect to find in book as this one.
One thing that I though would bother me was the age of the characters, but then again seeing that the book was set in Victorian era where child labor was a very common thing and when children grew up faster than we could imagine. I liked that both Remy and Rec give adult vibe which fits the seriousness of their actions better.
You can only imagine my joy when I saw that the sequel to this novel, The Ruby Airship is out, as I'm going to jump into this world again.
October 24, 2019
Unofficial review:
Official review:
*Um, nothing? I can’t think of anything, no matter how microscopic, that I liked about this book.
-
*Rémy Brunel. We’ll start off with the Queen of this disaster. Rémy is a trapeze artist who works for a circus troupe, while also stealing valuable gems and diamonds wherever she goes for her manager. She is apparently very gifted, and she’s never been caught, nor has she ever been wrong. We are told that she is VERY gifted, but I really doubt that.
*Thaddeus Rec. Now for the King. Thaddeus is a young detective who is trying to prove to his fellow Scotland Yard colleagues that he is just as good as them, even with his criminal parents and childhood. Oh, he’s also very very very naive, and so inexperienced, I was ahead of him in solving this “mystery” the entire book.
*Instalove. Guys. These two lovebirds have literally known each other for TWO days, and they have decided that they can’t live without each other because their love is so strong. And it’s supposed to be enemies-to-lovers kind of thing, but I was rolling my eyes so hard, because as soon as they were introduced, Thaddeus fell head over heels (duh) for cold and uncaring Rémy (double duh) and was stupid enough to just trust her, and believe she is worthy of no wrongdoing. And when she does confess, oh, our poor knight is horribly wounded and shocked**
*Plot. Let’s talk about the plot. This probably should have been a rather simple, but still fun and a bit twisty story about a chase for one of the most important diamonds in Rémy’s time. Right from the get go, I was very skeptical of Thaddeus’s detective skills, and Rémy’s superb abilities at stealing. And the fact that she fell for Lord Abernathy’s trick made me roll my eyes. And then Thaddeus, who had recognized Rémy from the circus (she has different colored eyes), goes there to talk to her manager, and the guy gives him a fake name, and what does Thaddeus do? He believes it wholeheartedly, because such a beauty and such a captivating woman can’t possibly be guilty of such a crime. And then the chase and the whole mine or whatever that is under the city etc, and the cruel bad guy who wants to take over the world-I just could not believe any of it. It wasn’t realistic to me, and I couldn’t say okay, it might have been possible. Oh, and the traitor/plot twist? I guessed who they were as soon as they were introduced.
*Detective skills. Thaddeus and Rémy positively suck at being detectives. They just can’t do it. Everything is explained to them, and given to them with a huge red bow, and they don’t do any detecting. They just happen to be in the right place at the right time, or they just have this character who knows everything they need to know/can guide them to wherever they need to go.
*Paranormal. Where did this come from??? Somebody please tell me? Some things were just left as magic, or some sort of magical energy from some diamond is the reason why xyz happened. There was no proper explanation, just magic. And I’m supposed to believe that? Also, the whole talk of curses was just completely not my thing. I was really upset about that because there is no mention of such a thing in the summary of the book.
*Dialogue. Guess what? I didn’t like it.
*Unanswered questions. There were many things that weren’t properly or completely explained, such as how J knows Thaddeus (and why is he called J??), or what happened at the circus after Rémy left, or what happened to Thaddeus’s family and what is his story (we are told his parents were criminals? and then nothing more). Also, is Thaddeus French? Because his name doesn’t sound English? And how inept can Scotland Yard be??? Like really??? There were other questions I had, I just don’t remember them right now.
*The Ending. I don’t really remember what happened, but in my notes, I mentioned that I really did not like it. And the few parts that I am remembering, they were cringey and made me roll my eyes.
**P.S. Yes, I know, I like this trope sometimes, the enemies-to-lovers, or the cold uncaring guy and annoyed caring girl, and then they become friends and yada yada yada, but it didn’t work here at all. AT ALL. The only reason these two were in love was because they were in the same book. That’s my only explanation for it.
-
In the end, I really didn’t like this, I will not recommend it, but I hope you enjoy it, if you do read it. The characters were flat, the plot was unbelievable, and there were many unanswered questions. The use of magic, and curses, and nothing that is logical to explain certain things was annoying, and I was not here for it. However, here are two much nicer reviews that could help you decide whether to read this or not. (Review #1, and Review #2)
One sentence summary: A very disappointing story with flat and annoying characters.
Overall, 1 really disappointed and angry star.
★☆☆☆☆
Blog | Goodreads | Reedsy
Official review:
*Um, nothing? I can’t think of anything, no matter how microscopic, that I liked about this book.
-
*Rémy Brunel. We’ll start off with the Queen of this disaster. Rémy is a trapeze artist who works for a circus troupe, while also stealing valuable gems and diamonds wherever she goes for her manager. She is apparently very gifted, and she’s never been caught, nor has she ever been wrong. We are told that she is VERY gifted, but I really doubt that.
*Thaddeus Rec. Now for the King. Thaddeus is a young detective who is trying to prove to his fellow Scotland Yard colleagues that he is just as good as them, even with his criminal parents and childhood. Oh, he’s also very very very naive, and so inexperienced, I was ahead of him in solving this “mystery” the entire book.
*Instalove. Guys. These two lovebirds have literally known each other for TWO days, and they have decided that they can’t live without each other because their love is so strong. And it’s supposed to be enemies-to-lovers kind of thing, but I was rolling my eyes so hard, because as soon as they were introduced, Thaddeus fell head over heels (duh) for cold and uncaring Rémy (double duh) and was stupid enough to just trust her, and believe she is worthy of no wrongdoing. And when she does confess, oh, our poor knight is horribly wounded and shocked**
*Plot. Let’s talk about the plot. This probably should have been a rather simple, but still fun and a bit twisty story about a chase for one of the most important diamonds in Rémy’s time. Right from the get go, I was very skeptical of Thaddeus’s detective skills, and Rémy’s superb abilities at stealing. And the fact that she fell for Lord Abernathy’s trick made me roll my eyes. And then Thaddeus, who had recognized Rémy from the circus (she has different colored eyes), goes there to talk to her manager, and the guy gives him a fake name, and what does Thaddeus do? He believes it wholeheartedly, because such a beauty and such a captivating woman can’t possibly be guilty of such a crime. And then the chase and the whole mine or whatever that is under the city etc, and the cruel bad guy who wants to take over the world-I just could not believe any of it. It wasn’t realistic to me, and I couldn’t say okay, it might have been possible. Oh, and the traitor/plot twist? I guessed who they were as soon as they were introduced.
*Detective skills. Thaddeus and Rémy positively suck at being detectives. They just can’t do it. Everything is explained to them, and given to them with a huge red bow, and they don’t do any detecting. They just happen to be in the right place at the right time, or they just have this character who knows everything they need to know/can guide them to wherever they need to go.
*Paranormal. Where did this come from??? Somebody please tell me? Some things were just left as magic, or some sort of magical energy from some diamond is the reason why xyz happened. There was no proper explanation, just magic. And I’m supposed to believe that? Also, the whole talk of curses was just completely not my thing. I was really upset about that because there is no mention of such a thing in the summary of the book.
*Dialogue. Guess what? I didn’t like it.
*Unanswered questions. There were many things that weren’t properly or completely explained, such as how J knows Thaddeus (and why is he called J??), or what happened at the circus after Rémy left, or what happened to Thaddeus’s family and what is his story (we are told his parents were criminals? and then nothing more). Also, is Thaddeus French? Because his name doesn’t sound English? And how inept can Scotland Yard be??? Like really??? There were other questions I had, I just don’t remember them right now.
*The Ending. I don’t really remember what happened, but in my notes, I mentioned that I really did not like it. And the few parts that I am remembering, they were cringey and made me roll my eyes.
**P.S. Yes, I know, I like this trope sometimes, the enemies-to-lovers, or the cold uncaring guy and annoyed caring girl, and then they become friends and yada yada yada, but it didn’t work here at all. AT ALL. The only reason these two were in love was because they were in the same book. That’s my only explanation for it.
-
In the end, I really didn’t like this, I will not recommend it, but I hope you enjoy it, if you do read it. The characters were flat, the plot was unbelievable, and there were many unanswered questions. The use of magic, and curses, and nothing that is logical to explain certain things was annoying, and I was not here for it. However, here are two much nicer reviews that could help you decide whether to read this or not. (Review #1, and Review #2)
One sentence summary: A very disappointing story with flat and annoying characters.
Overall, 1 really disappointed and angry star.
★☆☆☆☆
Blog | Goodreads | Reedsy
October 1, 2014
**Thanks to Capstone for granting me access to this ARC via Netgalley.
3.5 stars
The Diamond Thief is probably the most fun, whimsical novel I've read in quite a while. Its slightly simple plot, almost reading like a middle grade novel, was unique in its own right. I was a bit critical of the book at first; however, I did begin to lighten up as I became increasingly immersed in the story.
The lovable characters, the lovely writing, the British setting - all these contributed to the pure joy that is The Diamond Thief. I was completely enamored by the adventure and the historical intrigue. While I do wish the beginning had done the book justice, the rest of the book makes up for the initial suspension of interest. Gosling's writing did such an admirable job of painting Victorian London and staying true to historical accuracy, while at the same time juggling the steampunk plot line.
This is most likely the only time I will ever be able to oversee the insta-love that occurs between the two main protagonists - Remy succeeds in redeeming herself by consistently proving she is a fierce, tough girl. But, I did not like how easily some conflicts were solved for her, making the novel seem more juvenile than it actually is.
A highly satisfying blend of historical and fantastical themes, The Diamond Thief truly is an entertaining read with minor flaws that can easily be overlooked.
3.5 stars
The Diamond Thief is probably the most fun, whimsical novel I've read in quite a while. Its slightly simple plot, almost reading like a middle grade novel, was unique in its own right. I was a bit critical of the book at first; however, I did begin to lighten up as I became increasingly immersed in the story.
The lovable characters, the lovely writing, the British setting - all these contributed to the pure joy that is The Diamond Thief. I was completely enamored by the adventure and the historical intrigue. While I do wish the beginning had done the book justice, the rest of the book makes up for the initial suspension of interest. Gosling's writing did such an admirable job of painting Victorian London and staying true to historical accuracy, while at the same time juggling the steampunk plot line.
This is most likely the only time I will ever be able to oversee the insta-love that occurs between the two main protagonists - Remy succeeds in redeeming herself by consistently proving she is a fierce, tough girl. But, I did not like how easily some conflicts were solved for her, making the novel seem more juvenile than it actually is.
A highly satisfying blend of historical and fantastical themes, The Diamond Thief truly is an entertaining read with minor flaws that can easily be overlooked.
March 26, 2018
Trigger warnings: Violence, assault.
2.5 stars.
The blurb sounded great, and it WAS a fast paced read. But unfortunately, I found this trite and...juvenile? Not in a written-for-teenagers way. More in a written-for-middle-graders-but-trying-to-pass-itself-off-as-written-for-teenagers way.
It was too much plot and not enough character depth. Too much action and not enough explanation for anything. Too much reliance on weird spellings to indicate that someone had an accent. Add a dose of insta-love and I was rolling my eyes almost constantly.
Sigh.
2.5 stars.
The blurb sounded great, and it WAS a fast paced read. But unfortunately, I found this trite and...juvenile? Not in a written-for-teenagers way. More in a written-for-middle-graders-but-trying-to-pass-itself-off-as-written-for-teenagers way.
It was too much plot and not enough character depth. Too much action and not enough explanation for anything. Too much reliance on weird spellings to indicate that someone had an accent. Add a dose of insta-love and I was rolling my eyes almost constantly.
Sigh.
April 3, 2014
I got this ARC from Netgalley and this is my honest review of it.
Remy Brunel is a trapeze artist but she also has a secret profession wich is not considered exactly respectable namely that of jewel thief,wich she steals on order from her master Gustave.
Thaddeus Rec is our other viewpoint character a young detective at Scotland Yard and his next assignment is also her next target- the Darya Noor a splendid diamondwich is currenlty exhibitied at the Tower.
During her reconnaise of the exhibit there is a chaotic event when diamond briefly vanishes but Thaddeus retrieves but lose it again when but Remy manages to swipe it from him and bring it back to the leader of the Circus Gustave only to be told that its a fake and to realize she was duped.
Thaddeus ends up accused to have been in on the heist by his superiors and taken away to a cell. He is lucklu rescued by his friend the Professor and manages to meet up with Remy again. The professor convinces them that they need to work together to recover the real Darya Noor from the man he believe have it. They grudgingly accept.
Reading this gave me the same feeling as when I was reading Y.S Lee "The Agency" it might be set in the Victorian era but its mainly superficial with the barest requisites. Its essentially a wallpaper historical.
He seemed only to just have noticed her change of clothes
"What not smart enough for you"
He looked away "Just surprised youd chose to wear that thing.I thought most women hated them"
She grinned glancing down at her corset. "Well" she said "I am not most women Besides I think it suits me "
Thaddeus dropped back into his chair "I never said it didnt" he muttered almost too low for her to hear
Good grief
I just felt very disinterested in the story it doesnt slowly unveil itself by Thaddeus and Remy investigating,they just fall into situations and then have the whole explained to them. The writing and actions of the characters feels childish and predictable
Here is what I learnt about Remy,shes french,shes a trapeze artist/jewel thief but these are only superficial qualities. I never felt like I got to know her personality or what her motivations were.
Also I think I lost it a little bit when its declared that Remy is considered the best jewel thief in all of Europe. She is 15 years old.
Are you trying to sell me the idea that a 15 year old managed to build up a reputation like that,so when did she start? Age 10? 12?
And then when Remy first encounters Thaddeus she thinks of him as a boy (its stated hes 2 years older than her) but later he is described as a young man. But from what we comes to know of his character those two years doesnt add much to make him more mature than Remy. I felt like these two had been shoehorned into roles that would have been more believable if they were in their 20s.
Things just come so conveniently to them. For some reason a street urchin knows about secret tunnels under a lords house.The professor has a big trunk of womens clothing when Remy needs something to wear. That sort of thing.
Then the author introduces a curse into the story a curse that will keep from Remy holding on to love. So not only is the burgeoning romance very forced the author tries to add drama to it to make it an impossible love.
But honestly I never felt this connection between Remy and Thaddeus it just came on too fast from not trusting each other to her embracing him.
The steampunk element in the setting is not prevalent throughout the storys setting much if you dont count the Professors inventions and featuring in the plans of the villain.
And he has a villainous laugh and a predictable plan.
Remy Brunel is a trapeze artist but she also has a secret profession wich is not considered exactly respectable namely that of jewel thief,wich she steals on order from her master Gustave.
Thaddeus Rec is our other viewpoint character a young detective at Scotland Yard and his next assignment is also her next target- the Darya Noor a splendid diamondwich is currenlty exhibitied at the Tower.
During her reconnaise of the exhibit there is a chaotic event when diamond briefly vanishes but Thaddeus retrieves but lose it again when but Remy manages to swipe it from him and bring it back to the leader of the Circus Gustave only to be told that its a fake and to realize she was duped.
Thaddeus ends up accused to have been in on the heist by his superiors and taken away to a cell. He is lucklu rescued by his friend the Professor and manages to meet up with Remy again. The professor convinces them that they need to work together to recover the real Darya Noor from the man he believe have it. They grudgingly accept.
Reading this gave me the same feeling as when I was reading Y.S Lee "The Agency" it might be set in the Victorian era but its mainly superficial with the barest requisites. Its essentially a wallpaper historical.
He seemed only to just have noticed her change of clothes
"What not smart enough for you"
He looked away "Just surprised youd chose to wear that thing.I thought most women hated them"
She grinned glancing down at her corset. "Well" she said "I am not most women Besides I think it suits me "
Thaddeus dropped back into his chair "I never said it didnt" he muttered almost too low for her to hear
Good grief
I just felt very disinterested in the story it doesnt slowly unveil itself by Thaddeus and Remy investigating,they just fall into situations and then have the whole explained to them. The writing and actions of the characters feels childish and predictable
Here is what I learnt about Remy,shes french,shes a trapeze artist/jewel thief but these are only superficial qualities. I never felt like I got to know her personality or what her motivations were.
Also I think I lost it a little bit when its declared that Remy is considered the best jewel thief in all of Europe. She is 15 years old.
Are you trying to sell me the idea that a 15 year old managed to build up a reputation like that,so when did she start? Age 10? 12?
And then when Remy first encounters Thaddeus she thinks of him as a boy (its stated hes 2 years older than her) but later he is described as a young man. But from what we comes to know of his character those two years doesnt add much to make him more mature than Remy. I felt like these two had been shoehorned into roles that would have been more believable if they were in their 20s.
Things just come so conveniently to them. For some reason a street urchin knows about secret tunnels under a lords house.The professor has a big trunk of womens clothing when Remy needs something to wear. That sort of thing.
Then the author introduces a curse into the story a curse that will keep from Remy holding on to love. So not only is the burgeoning romance very forced the author tries to add drama to it to make it an impossible love.
But honestly I never felt this connection between Remy and Thaddeus it just came on too fast from not trusting each other to her embracing him.
The steampunk element in the setting is not prevalent throughout the storys setting much if you dont count the Professors inventions and featuring in the plans of the villain.
And he has a villainous laugh and a predictable plan.
February 19, 2013
Today for review is one of the first books to be published by Curious Fox. This is a new imprint offering young readers, of all ages, creative and jaw-droppingly enjoyable books. These books promise to take readers on a journey of new adventures and experiences. Therefore, with this statement in mind, can these books deliver that promise or not?
With curiosity stated as a focus of the publishing company, The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling is my first opportunity to test the waters. Overall, the production of the book sparkles to match the title. It shines out to the potential reader through the very attractive book cover. However, is the content equivalent to a shiny gem or a bit of rusty old copper in need of a polish?
The start of the book is particularly good - it wastes no time in setting up the murky waters of the Thames and the smoky hard times of Victorian London. Sharon has the great ability to paint a picture for you to visualise.
Remy is the main protagonist in the book; she is fantastically written and very likeable. Plucky in spirit, she is portrayed very well by making the reader want the best for her. As a result, we are treated to some interesting twists and turns, and some fantastic reading moments.
At points in the book you are hit with little steampunk elements. Whilst the great action scenes will have you lapping up the pages. The introduction of the mysterious Professor and his amazing lab certainly starts to get the ball rolling. In fact one of my favourite scenes involves the Professor and his gas pistol. The idea of the micro transmitting/tracking device that he uses not only creates a great effect, but is also really cool!
From this point on the book goes into overdrive - making for a more gripping and imaginative read. Abernathy's plotted scheme comes to light. The underground chambers and an array of crazy metal monsters are well thought out. Although they could have perhaps had a little bit more focus at times. Nevertheless, the story still weaves its magic on the reader and will leave you wanting more.
Sadly, I have encountered just a couple of issues with the story. Firstly, I felt that in some places the author took a slightly safe route. For example one of the characters is trapped and suddenly develops a magical and mysterious ability out of nowhere. Interestingly, the character is able to help them escape in the nick of time. Finally, the relationship between Rémy and another leading character, Thaddeus Rec, was also an issue for me. I think the author managed to focus on this too much at the end of the book, and it just became too overpowering for me. I felt that it stole, what could have been, a really brilliant ending.
I really enjoyed reading this book and actually didn't want to stop reading it in order to go to work. It has shiny amounts of storyline and a sparkle of creative ideas which are full of promise. The ending perhaps needs a little bit of polish. However, this author is certainly one to watch in the future.
With curiosity stated as a focus of the publishing company, The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling is my first opportunity to test the waters. Overall, the production of the book sparkles to match the title. It shines out to the potential reader through the very attractive book cover. However, is the content equivalent to a shiny gem or a bit of rusty old copper in need of a polish?
The start of the book is particularly good - it wastes no time in setting up the murky waters of the Thames and the smoky hard times of Victorian London. Sharon has the great ability to paint a picture for you to visualise.
Remy is the main protagonist in the book; she is fantastically written and very likeable. Plucky in spirit, she is portrayed very well by making the reader want the best for her. As a result, we are treated to some interesting twists and turns, and some fantastic reading moments.
At points in the book you are hit with little steampunk elements. Whilst the great action scenes will have you lapping up the pages. The introduction of the mysterious Professor and his amazing lab certainly starts to get the ball rolling. In fact one of my favourite scenes involves the Professor and his gas pistol. The idea of the micro transmitting/tracking device that he uses not only creates a great effect, but is also really cool!
From this point on the book goes into overdrive - making for a more gripping and imaginative read. Abernathy's plotted scheme comes to light. The underground chambers and an array of crazy metal monsters are well thought out. Although they could have perhaps had a little bit more focus at times. Nevertheless, the story still weaves its magic on the reader and will leave you wanting more.
Sadly, I have encountered just a couple of issues with the story. Firstly, I felt that in some places the author took a slightly safe route. For example one of the characters is trapped and suddenly develops a magical and mysterious ability out of nowhere. Interestingly, the character is able to help them escape in the nick of time. Finally, the relationship between Rémy and another leading character, Thaddeus Rec, was also an issue for me. I think the author managed to focus on this too much at the end of the book, and it just became too overpowering for me. I felt that it stole, what could have been, a really brilliant ending.
I really enjoyed reading this book and actually didn't want to stop reading it in order to go to work. It has shiny amounts of storyline and a sparkle of creative ideas which are full of promise. The ending perhaps needs a little bit of polish. However, this author is certainly one to watch in the future.
July 14, 2014
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
If you liked The Friday Society, then you'll like this book. Or if you like books with clever thieves, honourable men and adventurous girls, then give this book a try.
Remy is a trapeze artist by day and a jewel thief by night. She is sent by her boss to steal a prized gem from the Tower of London, but is thwarted by another aiming to snatch the gem for himself. In her haste, she accidentally swipes a copy-cat diamond from the coat of a new detective.
The detective, Thaddeus Rec, is subsequently accused of stealing the gem himself, loses his job but manages to escape. He reluctantly teams up with Remy to find the real culprit and clear his name.
Gosling wrote a lovely tale. We have our plucky heroine, Remy, who has a heart of gold but was raised in bad circumstances. We also have our uprising police officer Thad, who insists on sticking to the moral code and is determined to prove his worthiness despite him being born in the worst neighbourhood of Victorian England.
Victorian England! The churning of the Thames and smoke of factories and the beggars in the streets. Of course, no modern adaptation is complete without fashionable steampunk inventions for the ladies and gents. Despite the lady not being a lady and is actually using these tools to break into a highly secure mansion and not, you know, entertaining house guests. But no matter!
What I like about The Diamond Thief is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a fun book, readers know it's a fun book, Gosling clearly wrote it as a fun book, basically, you get what you expect. It's straightforward and an absolute enjoyment to read.
If you liked The Friday Society, then you'll like this book. Or if you like books with clever thieves, honourable men and adventurous girls, then give this book a try.
Remy is a trapeze artist by day and a jewel thief by night. She is sent by her boss to steal a prized gem from the Tower of London, but is thwarted by another aiming to snatch the gem for himself. In her haste, she accidentally swipes a copy-cat diamond from the coat of a new detective.
The detective, Thaddeus Rec, is subsequently accused of stealing the gem himself, loses his job but manages to escape. He reluctantly teams up with Remy to find the real culprit and clear his name.
Gosling wrote a lovely tale. We have our plucky heroine, Remy, who has a heart of gold but was raised in bad circumstances. We also have our uprising police officer Thad, who insists on sticking to the moral code and is determined to prove his worthiness despite him being born in the worst neighbourhood of Victorian England.
Victorian England! The churning of the Thames and smoke of factories and the beggars in the streets. Of course, no modern adaptation is complete without fashionable steampunk inventions for the ladies and gents. Despite the lady not being a lady and is actually using these tools to break into a highly secure mansion and not, you know, entertaining house guests. But no matter!
What I like about The Diamond Thief is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a fun book, readers know it's a fun book, Gosling clearly wrote it as a fun book, basically, you get what you expect. It's straightforward and an absolute enjoyment to read.
December 31, 2017
It wasn't bad. It was just so incredibly average that it wouldn't shine...
August 3, 2016
(I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
A fast read, and one of those books I wish I had liked more (Victorian London + circus + thief + mechanical inventions: what's not to like in there, really?), but also one that didn't convince me in the end, unfortunately.
Things I liked: the steampunk side, light enough to be understandable by basically everyone, younger readers included. It has a touch of Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (in that stones/jewels play an important part), though it doesn't go further than that, and makes use of machinery whose concepts are easy to grasp, such as experimental night-vision goggles. Not the most creative I've ever seen, but a nice introduction nonetheless.
On the other hand, I found the backdrop fairly light, too—not a good thing. I never really got the feeling of a real circus, nor of Victorian mores. I think this could apply to several other aspects of the novel, in fact: it brushed against them, without ever diving deep enough for me to feel immersed. I could sense this most specifically with the characters. At first, I found them interesting, but they were never developed enough to hold my attention until the end, nor make me care about them. (And there definitely were interesting ideas in here, such as the unlikely trapeze artist/thief + young cop duo, the Professor with his inventions, the mysterious Lord...) Also, I didn't like the romance at all. I couldn't feel any chemistry within this couple, it seemed like a plot device to add some drama, and there were a few very melodramatic scenes that made me roll my eyes and want to slap those characters. Somehow, it moved too quickly, too superficially.
The plot itself seemed to rest on a lof of deus ex machina, predictable twists, and events inserted for convenience. I would've been more enthralled if Rémy and Thaddeus had had to really investigate, which in turn would have given them time to talk, get to know each other better; I guess this would have made the romance more palatable for me, as well as enhanced the strong points of their pairing, in terms of skills. Another thing I had a hard time with were a couple of plot points. First, the opal's role. One of the characters says that , yet I never got the purpose of that specific thread. Is there a second book in the writing? If there isn't, then I don't see the point. Same with : couldn't Gustave tell Rémy about it way earlier than that, considering how involved she was, and how she was the one tasked with stealing the stone?
I suppose it could work as a very light read, or for really young readers (things never go further than a brief kiss in the romance department), but for me it didn't.
A fast read, and one of those books I wish I had liked more (Victorian London + circus + thief + mechanical inventions: what's not to like in there, really?), but also one that didn't convince me in the end, unfortunately.
Things I liked: the steampunk side, light enough to be understandable by basically everyone, younger readers included. It has a touch of Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (in that stones/jewels play an important part), though it doesn't go further than that, and makes use of machinery whose concepts are easy to grasp, such as experimental night-vision goggles. Not the most creative I've ever seen, but a nice introduction nonetheless.
On the other hand, I found the backdrop fairly light, too—not a good thing. I never really got the feeling of a real circus, nor of Victorian mores. I think this could apply to several other aspects of the novel, in fact: it brushed against them, without ever diving deep enough for me to feel immersed. I could sense this most specifically with the characters. At first, I found them interesting, but they were never developed enough to hold my attention until the end, nor make me care about them. (And there definitely were interesting ideas in here, such as the unlikely trapeze artist/thief + young cop duo, the Professor with his inventions, the mysterious Lord...) Also, I didn't like the romance at all. I couldn't feel any chemistry within this couple, it seemed like a plot device to add some drama, and there were a few very melodramatic scenes that made me roll my eyes and want to slap those characters. Somehow, it moved too quickly, too superficially.
The plot itself seemed to rest on a lof of deus ex machina, predictable twists, and events inserted for convenience. I would've been more enthralled if Rémy and Thaddeus had had to really investigate, which in turn would have given them time to talk, get to know each other better; I guess this would have made the romance more palatable for me, as well as enhanced the strong points of their pairing, in terms of skills. Another thing I had a hard time with were a couple of plot points. First, the opal's role. One of the characters says that , yet I never got the purpose of that specific thread. Is there a second book in the writing? If there isn't, then I don't see the point. Same with : couldn't Gustave tell Rémy about it way earlier than that, considering how involved she was, and how she was the one tasked with stealing the stone?
I suppose it could work as a very light read, or for really young readers (things never go further than a brief kiss in the romance department), but for me it didn't.
June 21, 2019
I did not have high hopes for this book; mostly because of the cover. Mine was NOT the same cover featured on the Goodreads profile, but a female model dominating the cover in a full-length pose to show off her dress of bygone eras, a coy look in her eye, slapped onto fuzzy background with nothing to catch my interest. Typical YA clickbait cover. I may be the odd one out, but I'm not attracted to that style.
Trash, my brain said.
I was pleasantly surprised.
This book reads like something I would have been assigned for literature in middle school — which is a compliment, since my school curriculum was generally the quality pick of the crop. I would have loved it then, and I love it now.
The Diamond Thief is a steampunk novel set in Victorian London. I found the historical aspect charming and reasonably accurate, and the steampunk element subtle but interesting. Quite honestly, this is my first experience with steampunk, but if they’re all like this book, give me more.
We kick off with Rémy Brunel, a French trapeze artist, and Thaddeus Rec, a young officer of Scotland Yard. At first glance, the lives of these two seem like they should barely touch, much less impact one another. And then you realize that Rémy is the Diamond Thief… and Thaddeus is the Law.
I was in by this point. So in. I wanted to see how Rémy’s survival, street-smart mindset played off Thaddeus’ admirable sense of honor and morality, and how on earth they were going to get a reconciliation, but oh, I was not expecting the next twist.
Two words: false accusation
And it’s not what you think.
I love the characters. Rémy is tough and sweet and genuine, still a girl for all her experience and hard knocks. Her pertness and adorable accent won me over, but her motivations — she wants to do all the wrong things for the right reasons — made me root for her. Thaddeus is precious and I want to hug him. The growing attraction between them starts off a little fast-paced, but it’s balanced out by their personal growth and a few more wrenches thrown in later. Besides, by the end it felt more like platonic affection, with a tinge of uncertain romance, which was fine by me.
Glancing over other reviews, I found people complained about The Diamond Thief being juvenile. But that’s just the appeal of it. It’s not a heavy book — nobody could call it that. It is a fun, adventuresome book where the stakes are clear but not insultingly simple, and the characters are memorable, dynamic people with proper growth arcs. It’s a book you’d pick up if you were feeling like something fast-paced and cozy.
Besides, the ending left me wanting the sequel. Now that’s what I call a good book. I haven’t had the chance to check back at the library yet, but mark my words, it’s going to happen soon.
Trash, my brain said.
I was pleasantly surprised.
This book reads like something I would have been assigned for literature in middle school — which is a compliment, since my school curriculum was generally the quality pick of the crop. I would have loved it then, and I love it now.
The Diamond Thief is a steampunk novel set in Victorian London. I found the historical aspect charming and reasonably accurate, and the steampunk element subtle but interesting. Quite honestly, this is my first experience with steampunk, but if they’re all like this book, give me more.
We kick off with Rémy Brunel, a French trapeze artist, and Thaddeus Rec, a young officer of Scotland Yard. At first glance, the lives of these two seem like they should barely touch, much less impact one another. And then you realize that Rémy is the Diamond Thief… and Thaddeus is the Law.
I was in by this point. So in. I wanted to see how Rémy’s survival, street-smart mindset played off Thaddeus’ admirable sense of honor and morality, and how on earth they were going to get a reconciliation, but oh, I was not expecting the next twist.
Two words: false accusation
And it’s not what you think.
I love the characters. Rémy is tough and sweet and genuine, still a girl for all her experience and hard knocks. Her pertness and adorable accent won me over, but her motivations — she wants to do all the wrong things for the right reasons — made me root for her. Thaddeus is precious and I want to hug him. The growing attraction between them starts off a little fast-paced, but it’s balanced out by their personal growth and a few more wrenches thrown in later. Besides, by the end it felt more like platonic affection, with a tinge of uncertain romance, which was fine by me.
Glancing over other reviews, I found people complained about The Diamond Thief being juvenile. But that’s just the appeal of it. It’s not a heavy book — nobody could call it that. It is a fun, adventuresome book where the stakes are clear but not insultingly simple, and the characters are memorable, dynamic people with proper growth arcs. It’s a book you’d pick up if you were feeling like something fast-paced and cozy.
Besides, the ending left me wanting the sequel. Now that’s what I call a good book. I haven’t had the chance to check back at the library yet, but mark my words, it’s going to happen soon.
did-not-finish
April 27, 2014No rating.
DNF at page 26, with a migraine from trying to read such tiny text.
This was an ARC provided by Capstone Press via Net Galley. The format it was provided in made it unreadable, the text size could not be changed and I couldn't even read it on my laptop never-mind my phone (which is what I usually read non-mobi files on).
I'll probably give this a go in future but until then... Nada.
DNF at page 26, with a migraine from trying to read such tiny text.
This was an ARC provided by Capstone Press via Net Galley. The format it was provided in made it unreadable, the text size could not be changed and I couldn't even read it on my laptop never-mind my phone (which is what I usually read non-mobi files on).
I'll probably give this a go in future but until then... Nada.
June 12, 2017
Honestly, I love this book. It is a quick and easy read, and the writing flows together easily with the right amount of action. This book is about a trapeze artist, a detective, and a small, homeless orphan boy searching for a stolen gem. The start may be a little slow, but if you keep reading you're in for a treat! The development of the characters and the romance flows together nicely and doesn't just have slow parts with sudden action filled parts. I am DEFINITELY going to read the second and third books of the series :)
October 8, 2014
THE DIAMOND THIEF is a British import and one of the first books from Switch Press, a new YA imprint from Capstone. It switches between the points of view of Rémy Brunel, a trapeze artist and thief, and Thaddeus Rec, a policeman. Both of them are after a diamond - Rémy to steal it and Thaddeus to recover it.
I loved the premise of THE DIAMOND THIEF and was very fond of the characters, although I think the whole book could've been from Rémy's point of view. My favorite character was probably J, a younger urchin who befriends both protagonists. But I thought that the book was a little lacking. It is historical fiction with a bit of steampunk and of fantasy, with no real limits on what was possible in the world. There was magic and impossibly advanced science with little explanation of how either worked.
Going back to the characters, I love the idea of two basically good people working at cross purposes with each other. Thaddeus is almost impossibly good, a truly honest cop who will sacrifice himself to save others. Rémy is a bit more complicated. She steals to survive and understands that there are shades of grey in the world, but at the same time she, too, will sacrifice herself to save others. She understands that there are more important things in the world than her individual happiness.
I don't know. I liked these characters so much, yet there world lacked a snap to pull me in. I felt like the plot was a pretty basic progression from point A to point B, and the romance a touch tepid. I liked Rémy and Thaddeus individually, but they were pretty quickly passionately in love with each other for little reason. It's hard for me to remember the specifics of THE DIAMOND THIEF already, because there weren't many memorable details (aside from J).
I think THE DIAMOND THIEF will appeal to younger YA readers who like circuses, thieves, and curses. Older YA readers who think that sounds interesting would do well to look into PANTOMIME by Laura Lam.
I loved the premise of THE DIAMOND THIEF and was very fond of the characters, although I think the whole book could've been from Rémy's point of view. My favorite character was probably J, a younger urchin who befriends both protagonists. But I thought that the book was a little lacking. It is historical fiction with a bit of steampunk and of fantasy, with no real limits on what was possible in the world. There was magic and impossibly advanced science with little explanation of how either worked.
Going back to the characters, I love the idea of two basically good people working at cross purposes with each other. Thaddeus is almost impossibly good, a truly honest cop who will sacrifice himself to save others. Rémy is a bit more complicated. She steals to survive and understands that there are shades of grey in the world, but at the same time she, too, will sacrifice herself to save others. She understands that there are more important things in the world than her individual happiness.
I don't know. I liked these characters so much, yet there world lacked a snap to pull me in. I felt like the plot was a pretty basic progression from point A to point B, and the romance a touch tepid. I liked Rémy and Thaddeus individually, but they were pretty quickly passionately in love with each other for little reason. It's hard for me to remember the specifics of THE DIAMOND THIEF already, because there weren't many memorable details (aside from J).
I think THE DIAMOND THIEF will appeal to younger YA readers who like circuses, thieves, and curses. Older YA readers who think that sounds interesting would do well to look into PANTOMIME by Laura Lam.
August 5, 2014
Remy Brunel is a very talented young trapeze artist who performs with a traveling circus. Her daring escapades enthrall audiences wherever she performs. Gustave, her employer, also requires her to use her skills to steal jewels.
When he assigns her the job of stealing the world’s most valuable jewel, Remy doesn’t hesitate to take on the assignment. But things go very wrong, and Remy finds herself on the run. She escapes into London’s dark underworld where treachery and mysterious plots abound.
This fast paced, enjoyable novel will appeal to middle schoolers.
Thank you to Net Galley and Capstone Press for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy!
When he assigns her the job of stealing the world’s most valuable jewel, Remy doesn’t hesitate to take on the assignment. But things go very wrong, and Remy finds herself on the run. She escapes into London’s dark underworld where treachery and mysterious plots abound.
This fast paced, enjoyable novel will appeal to middle schoolers.
Thank you to Net Galley and Capstone Press for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy!
November 19, 2023
This book had an amazing plot and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!
January 28, 2024
This has been sat on my shelf for 8 years! Glad to have finally read it. The main reasons I still read children and young teen books are 1) because they can be fun 2) I’m a teacher and like to keep updated with books to recommend to my children.
So I would this is a fairly good Victorian mystery (with a slight hint of steampunk and fantasy) for children. I would say it’s on the older side of 9-12 so unfortunately a bit older than the children I teach. So not one that I can recommend to my class. It is a bit cliche with some of the plot but on the whole, a fun little mystery book involving some crazy acrobatics and inventions.
So I would this is a fairly good Victorian mystery (with a slight hint of steampunk and fantasy) for children. I would say it’s on the older side of 9-12 so unfortunately a bit older than the children I teach. So not one that I can recommend to my class. It is a bit cliche with some of the plot but on the whole, a fun little mystery book involving some crazy acrobatics and inventions.
January 8, 2018
l wanted more circus from this book. Won’t be continuing the series, but it was fun to read. It involves stealing diamonds and then things go awry and the characters have to look for the diamond they wanted to steal in the first place.
February 10, 2022
This is the best YA book that I've read in a long time. I loved this book and everything about it! It takes place in Victorian London where Remy, a French teen known as "Little Bird", flies on a trapeze in a circus but also is a jewel thief at the behest of her master. Meet Thaddeus Rec, a young policeman with high ideals. When a precious diamond, belonging to the Shah of Persia, is stolen from the Tower of London both Remy and Thaddeus go after the thief but they find that a much more sinister plot is afoot- one that will crash a country and kill many innocent people. I loved the fantastic inventions of the Professor. I loved the unique plot.
This is the first book in this series and I'm ecstatic that I already own #2 and #3.
This is the first book in this series and I'm ecstatic that I already own #2 and #3.
July 21, 2016
..The two thieves.. it was said they were very much in love with each other. And so their curse was to lose that love and to drive each other away with enmity. The curse continued that their offspring would do the same to those who loved them.
This book that I called so-so type, the story is consist of the usual formulaic story, predictable, not working well chemistry for the instalove or if it’s not instalove a subtle without chemistry love story, the consolation of because I know bad stories than this and it's not a frustrating read but a long read for me (T.T).
What interest me in this, is that there's some French word in it and sometimes I just disregard it because excusez-moi I don't know French. Why interesting? Because it's just. It was like 재미있지만 모르겠어요. I love the diversity of language, I like listening to people talking in different language, other than what I know and what I can understand, it was fun, they could cuss at you but you don't know they were because you don't know, or unless your instinct told you so. Oh well, anyways...
The story is told in third person
And I can’t let this escape, the cover, it’s like omg maganda, 아름다워, hermosa and belle.
Characters/Story:
Remy - (I like her name because she had the same name with my Abuela) the greatest thief, at least that's what she thought of.
They were all vagabonds and thieves at Le Cirque de la Lune - and Remy... well, Remy was queen of them all. She'd been stealing since she was old enough to walk and a jewel thief since she'd learn how to work the wire at age 8. Now, she was the best gem snatcher in Europe, probably in the whole world.
Full-time circus performer and part-time jewel thief. Remy has a job to do, steal the Darya-ye Noor or the Ocean of Light, owned by the Shah of Persia, mined in India with its sister-stone the Koh-i-Noor or the Mountain of Light which is owned by Queen Victoria.
Will she succeed? She needs to plan; she needs to be cautious because we're talking about a priced jewel in here.
Thaddeus Rec - a policeman, his eyes were different colors.
...one as blue as the sky over Paris on a bright day in May, one as deep brown as good chocolate. And they twinkled.
One of the policemen in charge of the jewel, a good policeman but he's going to entangled himself with Remy, because the jewel has been stolen.
J - The kid's that going to help both Remy and Thaddeus on finding the jewel thief.
Professor - Of course, a professor is a must, just because.
Settings:
Queen Victoria’s era, I don't know much about history of what's what on English era but I don't have problem with the world building in here, it was not splendid but it has a vibe of an old era.
The Plot:
The plot is a massive bomb that turns out to be a firecrackers. No. It is predictable, if you are a story-guesser type like everybody else well just grab the free sample and you are good to go. But if the reader is pre-teens or teens why not, if I read this in my teens-day, I might appreciate it and might write that it's one of the most adorable book I have read, but it was not. It did work somehow, cause I was thinking that maybe it was just light read but the freshness was not there, so it was not a light read then I was looking for that something and I always felt like in our own language that it was Kulang or what's the translation for that lol I wanted more from it.
After all the Diamond Thief's target audience is middle grade so, it just keeps me from hoping that it's more than meets the blurb.
I therefore conclude, because we won on the last night FIBA, at least one game that doesn't have anything to do with this rate this 2.5, because I'm not in a foul mood, it's Friday and I'm down to my last net galley arc that really need to be finished and I don't know, I'm just saying gibberish, nothing affects nothing..
So overall, this book that was set on Victorian Era and a vibe of that era, why not give this a chance? It's not on my recommended list but for a light read, for a predictive one, or for killing time it's as good as reading a children’s book.
Overall rating: 2.5/5
September 8, 2016
Of course, crime, when the world it takes place in is all gadgets, has been explored before. But not so much... steampunk. Technology hasn't advanced yet. Entertainment is found in circus'... One in particular has travelled to London; yet all is not as it seems. The circus didn't come just to entertain wealthy Victorians. Not all are wealthy, there is a gap in the development of London. We explore much of London, rich and poor. Advancements and declines.
But first: we want to know what is happening in the circus. Transported to the circus', we realize that Rémy is totally awesome. She deals with the downfalls mentioned and comes across the advancements- both in the mystery and the development of technology. Both these elements I loved.
Discovering the inventions of a certain Professor is a delight, night-glasses and electronic means of communication... It's all very different and part of the Industrial Revolution. I've never seen this specifically explored, especially not in this way. I wasn't just in awe of Rémy, I was in awe of the way technology was thought about, experimented with & would come to be a real invention.
Simply, it was fairly realistic in most parts. You know what? It's a weird thought: this could’ve been contemporary a few hundred years ago (maybe if we took some of Desai's powers away it would be completely!?).. Am I saying it’s a historical or a classic? Hehe! It’s too much of a ‘mysterious Steampunk’ to properly count (incase you're wondering what I'm jabbering on about go here*) for the SRSChallenge but I can almost imagine it being penned hundreds of years ago as an account of a young, amazing circus girl finding herself and her place in this world... Will Rémy think of France as her home still?
I can see why she had to be distanced from the Circus and am glad that emphasis was put on why she was determined and why she had to, and why Thaddeus had to, get the gem. They both have good intentions & I always felt they were genuine and realistic. Sure, they may not have been totally like what they had seemed but Rémy is clearly fiesty, with a circus upbringing which makes her so unique from other characters.
I even understood those tiny moments when the 'little policeman' would be rash & Rémy's annoyance with him amused me... probably more than it should've. I just loved the characters and how even though they were unpredictable it all slotted together & made for an amazing journey... I can't believe the standard of this debut. Or many debuts. But what specifically stands out is this: Diamond Thief was published this year, traditionally. I have heard how this year in YA is a bit like marmite. The books are either loved or hated...
Gosling's Diamond Thief? Most definitely not hated. Surprisingly, although Gosling has written more about Rémy and the sequel is set to be published by Curious Fox later on, this ends with no cliffhanger. However, this is so promising I can almost guarantee her second adventure shall be met with a great response.
*Note*
*I don't think I'm being mad with this... I mean, I said the book didn't feel like it was the best book ever, just a really lovely book. I can't put my finger on why... But anyway, in contemporaries often characters seem so realistic & the same for this- characterization was such a strength. Diamond Thief was, and characters with one exception especially were, realistic. They just took us back more than a century...
So, for the sequel...
There could be a slight improvement for the sequel- dare I say I expect it to be mind-blowing & more risky- I don't want any characters suddenly appearing as plot devices *cough* Desai *cough*?
But first: we want to know what is happening in the circus. Transported to the circus', we realize that Rémy is totally awesome. She deals with the downfalls mentioned and comes across the advancements- both in the mystery and the development of technology. Both these elements I loved.
Discovering the inventions of a certain Professor is a delight, night-glasses and electronic means of communication... It's all very different and part of the Industrial Revolution. I've never seen this specifically explored, especially not in this way. I wasn't just in awe of Rémy, I was in awe of the way technology was thought about, experimented with & would come to be a real invention.
Simply, it was fairly realistic in most parts. You know what? It's a weird thought: this could’ve been contemporary a few hundred years ago (maybe if we took some of Desai's powers away it would be completely!?).. Am I saying it’s a historical or a classic? Hehe! It’s too much of a ‘mysterious Steampunk’ to properly count (incase you're wondering what I'm jabbering on about go here*) for the SRSChallenge but I can almost imagine it being penned hundreds of years ago as an account of a young, amazing circus girl finding herself and her place in this world... Will Rémy think of France as her home still?
I can see why she had to be distanced from the Circus and am glad that emphasis was put on why she was determined and why she had to, and why Thaddeus had to, get the gem. They both have good intentions & I always felt they were genuine and realistic. Sure, they may not have been totally like what they had seemed but Rémy is clearly fiesty, with a circus upbringing which makes her so unique from other characters.
I even understood those tiny moments when the 'little policeman' would be rash & Rémy's annoyance with him amused me... probably more than it should've. I just loved the characters and how even though they were unpredictable it all slotted together & made for an amazing journey... I can't believe the standard of this debut. Or many debuts. But what specifically stands out is this: Diamond Thief was published this year, traditionally. I have heard how this year in YA is a bit like marmite. The books are either loved or hated...
Gosling's Diamond Thief? Most definitely not hated. Surprisingly, although Gosling has written more about Rémy and the sequel is set to be published by Curious Fox later on, this ends with no cliffhanger. However, this is so promising I can almost guarantee her second adventure shall be met with a great response.
*Note*
*I don't think I'm being mad with this... I mean, I said the book didn't feel like it was the best book ever, just a really lovely book. I can't put my finger on why... But anyway, in contemporaries often characters seem so realistic & the same for this- characterization was such a strength. Diamond Thief was, and characters with one exception especially were, realistic. They just took us back more than a century...
So, for the sequel...
There could be a slight improvement for the sequel- dare I say I expect it to be mind-blowing & more risky- I don't want any characters suddenly appearing as plot devices *cough* Desai *cough*?
September 8, 2016
The Diamond Thief sounded so up my alley that I had to moderate my expectations lest I was disappointed, but it surprised me by delivering on all counts. A great setting that's vividly illustrated? Tick. Engaging hero/heroine? Tick. Steampunk aspects that are actually incorporated well in the story and not a mere afterthought? Tick. It's not easy to find good YA steampunk fiction, but I can happily say that this is good.
The smoky Victorian London at the start of the story is quickly established and the picture only becomes more vividly fleshed out as we follow Remy's adventures - the Tower of London, the gritty backstreets where London's poorest reside, Abernathy's residence, the Professor's abode and underground canals. The steampunk elements were fun and reminded me a little of Jules Verne's stories with underground labs, cave systems, submarines and diving suits.
Remy, like her stage name "Little Bird," is a gutsy high-flying trapeze artist at the circus and part-time thief for her circus master. She's every bit the reluctant heroine whose desperate lot in life has resulted in her moral compass being a little on the rusty side. I loved her independence, strength of will and willingess to use her talents whenever she could - she's absolutely confident in her acrobatic skills (even a touch arrogant, but deservedly so) and she really makes maximum use out of it. It's a nice change from heroines who we're told are skilled in various arenas, but never demonstrate it.
Thaddeus Rec, our straight-as-an-arrow hero, is rather less interesting than Remy, but his sense of justice acted as a great counter to her moral flexibility. Their romance was a sweet one (if a little under-developed in the first half), because you can clearly see how each of them affected the other. Thaddeus inspired Remy to want to do the right thing, while Remy taught Thaddeus to think out of the box and see past his prejudices. Sharon Gosling's characterization is
Sharon Gosling's skillful characterization extends to the supporting characters, most of whom I liked as much as Remy and Thaddeus: spirited young J, the Professor, perceptive Desai and Remy's loyal friend Claudette. We do spend all our time with our two heroes and their companions and thus know very little about the villain, but personally it didn't detract from the novel at all.
That said, The Diamond Thief is not without aspects that could be improved upon. The beginning was rather slow and it wasn't until the theft occurred that the pace picked up. We also moved very quickly past Remy's time with the circus and never really learnt much about her past, so as sympathetic a character as she was, I never quite understood what made her so desperate to escape from Gustave (other than being told to steal, that is). The real motivator for her to find the diamond was also conveniently forgotten at the end, despite it driving Remy's actions right up to that point. How did she solve it? Did I miss something?
The ending was a satisfying one, regardless, and I finished the book wishing there was just another chapter with more Remy and Thaddeus. An enjoyable read and recommended for readers of all ages.
I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Capstone!
The smoky Victorian London at the start of the story is quickly established and the picture only becomes more vividly fleshed out as we follow Remy's adventures - the Tower of London, the gritty backstreets where London's poorest reside, Abernathy's residence, the Professor's abode and underground canals. The steampunk elements were fun and reminded me a little of Jules Verne's stories with underground labs, cave systems, submarines and diving suits.
Remy, like her stage name "Little Bird," is a gutsy high-flying trapeze artist at the circus and part-time thief for her circus master. She's every bit the reluctant heroine whose desperate lot in life has resulted in her moral compass being a little on the rusty side. I loved her independence, strength of will and willingess to use her talents whenever she could - she's absolutely confident in her acrobatic skills (even a touch arrogant, but deservedly so) and she really makes maximum use out of it. It's a nice change from heroines who we're told are skilled in various arenas, but never demonstrate it.
Thaddeus Rec, our straight-as-an-arrow hero, is rather less interesting than Remy, but his sense of justice acted as a great counter to her moral flexibility. Their romance was a sweet one (if a little under-developed in the first half), because you can clearly see how each of them affected the other. Thaddeus inspired Remy to want to do the right thing, while Remy taught Thaddeus to think out of the box and see past his prejudices. Sharon Gosling's characterization is
Sharon Gosling's skillful characterization extends to the supporting characters, most of whom I liked as much as Remy and Thaddeus: spirited young J, the Professor, perceptive Desai and Remy's loyal friend Claudette. We do spend all our time with our two heroes and their companions and thus know very little about the villain, but personally it didn't detract from the novel at all.
That said, The Diamond Thief is not without aspects that could be improved upon. The beginning was rather slow and it wasn't until the theft occurred that the pace picked up. We also moved very quickly past Remy's time with the circus and never really learnt much about her past, so as sympathetic a character as she was, I never quite understood what made her so desperate to escape from Gustave (other than being told to steal, that is). The real motivator for her to find the diamond was also conveniently forgotten at the end, despite it driving Remy's actions right up to that point. How did she solve it? Did I miss something?
The ending was a satisfying one, regardless, and I finished the book wishing there was just another chapter with more Remy and Thaddeus. An enjoyable read and recommended for readers of all ages.
I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Capstone!
February 16, 2013
Fabulous steampunk mystery adventure for 9+
Amazing contraptions, an intriguing mystery, Victorian London, the circus, a hint of romance between a detective and a cat burglar - this book combines so many elements brilliantly. The result is a riproaring adventure that will appeal to a wide range of readers in (and above) the target age range. I've already had to bat my 14 yr old away so that I could read it in time for this review!
Remy is a circus performer. She is a skilled acrobat, working on the trapeze and also as a jewel thief. Fiercely independent, she seems to be an orphan, but does have close relationships with some of the other circus workers. I love her pride in her work and her stubbornness, as well as her admirable loyalty to her beloved Claudette and Amelie. She is clearly beholden to the circus owner, Gustave, who sends her on a mission to steal a precious diamond on display in the Tower of London - and here the adventure begins.
Thaddeus is a young detective. Clearly from a lower class background, he is not always taken seriously as a detective due to this and his age. Nonetheless, he is a very serious young man with a strong sense of morality and a desire to do the right thing. As the blurb tells us, he finds himself implicated in the theft of the diamond and sets out to find Remy and clear his name. The speed with which his colleagues turn against him and believe him to have broken the law is shocking and ensures that our sympathies lie with him.
Sharon Gosling skilfully plays with our sympathies, making sure that we cannot possibly 'take sides' between Remy and Thaddeus. We see the best aspects of both of them, and (at least for the first half of the book) understand each far better than the other can. Characterisation is definitely a strength of this book. There isn't space here to delineate each of the fascinating supporting roles here, but trust me, you'll also love the Professor, and young J and the noble Desai.
Another strength is the setting. We get to see a range of Victorian London which is relatively unusual - often books are confined to a particular social milieu - as we follow Remy to the showing of the diamonds in the Tower, as well as getting views of London's poorer aspects. The circus and the creepy below-London network are also sharply drawn and younger readers will have no problem keeping up with the scene changes due to the detailed (but not excessive) description.
And finally, the plot is strong too - pacey but not confusing for the target audience; twisty enough to reward reading; and satisfying in the end.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this. With its dual protagonists, its blend of mystery, adventure and character development, it's definitely a book that will be enjoyed by readers of either gender and fans of many genres.
Amazing contraptions, an intriguing mystery, Victorian London, the circus, a hint of romance between a detective and a cat burglar - this book combines so many elements brilliantly. The result is a riproaring adventure that will appeal to a wide range of readers in (and above) the target age range. I've already had to bat my 14 yr old away so that I could read it in time for this review!
Remy is a circus performer. She is a skilled acrobat, working on the trapeze and also as a jewel thief. Fiercely independent, she seems to be an orphan, but does have close relationships with some of the other circus workers. I love her pride in her work and her stubbornness, as well as her admirable loyalty to her beloved Claudette and Amelie. She is clearly beholden to the circus owner, Gustave, who sends her on a mission to steal a precious diamond on display in the Tower of London - and here the adventure begins.
Thaddeus is a young detective. Clearly from a lower class background, he is not always taken seriously as a detective due to this and his age. Nonetheless, he is a very serious young man with a strong sense of morality and a desire to do the right thing. As the blurb tells us, he finds himself implicated in the theft of the diamond and sets out to find Remy and clear his name. The speed with which his colleagues turn against him and believe him to have broken the law is shocking and ensures that our sympathies lie with him.
Sharon Gosling skilfully plays with our sympathies, making sure that we cannot possibly 'take sides' between Remy and Thaddeus. We see the best aspects of both of them, and (at least for the first half of the book) understand each far better than the other can. Characterisation is definitely a strength of this book. There isn't space here to delineate each of the fascinating supporting roles here, but trust me, you'll also love the Professor, and young J and the noble Desai.
Another strength is the setting. We get to see a range of Victorian London which is relatively unusual - often books are confined to a particular social milieu - as we follow Remy to the showing of the diamonds in the Tower, as well as getting views of London's poorer aspects. The circus and the creepy below-London network are also sharply drawn and younger readers will have no problem keeping up with the scene changes due to the detailed (but not excessive) description.
And finally, the plot is strong too - pacey but not confusing for the target audience; twisty enough to reward reading; and satisfying in the end.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this. With its dual protagonists, its blend of mystery, adventure and character development, it's definitely a book that will be enjoyed by readers of either gender and fans of many genres.
May 31, 2014
I received this ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Remy Brunel is a trapeze artist in the circus; and a popular n at that. Unbeknownst to others, she is secretly a professional thief. Her master, Gustave, sends her on her next assignment: steal the Darya-ye Noor.
Thaddeus Rec, an officer at Scotland Yard, is assigned to guard two famous diamonds at the Tower of London; one being the diamond Remy is supposed to steal.
On the night of the exhibition, things go awry and the Darya-ye Noor diamond vanishes. However neither Thaddeus nor Remy have it in their possession. After both face the consequences of losing the diamond, the unlikely duo team up to get it back. It soon becomes more than they bargained for when they uncover many secrets during their quest.
I give it 3 stars. I wanted to like this book, and I mean REALLY like it, but I just think it was okay. The beginning was good and it captured my attention. I was eager to see where the story would take me, but it was just a bit of a let down. The story seemed a bit to much in the fact that:
1) It started off as stealing a jewel, but then went into slavery, then a curse, and finally a fantastical war. It was way too much in one book. I felt that random things were being thrown into the story to entice the reader but it really just turned me off.
2) The transitioning was all over the place for me. I just didn't like how each random plot twists had to do with one another. I'm still scratching my head now.
3) Remy is 15 maybe 16, yet she's this renowned jewel thief and stole so many diamonds all over the world. It is possible since shes from the circus, but a bit of a stretch.
4) Thaddeus and Remy are supposed to have some "romance", I just didn't see any chemistry between the two. They just randomly started to fall in love with each other, without any real significant interaction. It was definitely a watered down, cookie cutter, rushed romance.
I will say that I rather enjoyed the character "J". He probably saved the book for me. I really could picture this boy, and what life was probably was like for him. He was a very refreshing character.
Overall, its an average read. If you have time to kill, I suppose you could read this. Interesting concept, but poorly executed.
Remy Brunel is a trapeze artist in the circus; and a popular n at that. Unbeknownst to others, she is secretly a professional thief. Her master, Gustave, sends her on her next assignment: steal the Darya-ye Noor.
Thaddeus Rec, an officer at Scotland Yard, is assigned to guard two famous diamonds at the Tower of London; one being the diamond Remy is supposed to steal.
On the night of the exhibition, things go awry and the Darya-ye Noor diamond vanishes. However neither Thaddeus nor Remy have it in their possession. After both face the consequences of losing the diamond, the unlikely duo team up to get it back. It soon becomes more than they bargained for when they uncover many secrets during their quest.
I give it 3 stars. I wanted to like this book, and I mean REALLY like it, but I just think it was okay. The beginning was good and it captured my attention. I was eager to see where the story would take me, but it was just a bit of a let down. The story seemed a bit to much in the fact that:
1) It started off as stealing a jewel, but then went into slavery, then a curse, and finally a fantastical war. It was way too much in one book. I felt that random things were being thrown into the story to entice the reader but it really just turned me off.
2) The transitioning was all over the place for me. I just didn't like how each random plot twists had to do with one another. I'm still scratching my head now.
3) Remy is 15 maybe 16, yet she's this renowned jewel thief and stole so many diamonds all over the world. It is possible since shes from the circus, but a bit of a stretch.
4) Thaddeus and Remy are supposed to have some "romance", I just didn't see any chemistry between the two. They just randomly started to fall in love with each other, without any real significant interaction. It was definitely a watered down, cookie cutter, rushed romance.
I will say that I rather enjoyed the character "J". He probably saved the book for me. I really could picture this boy, and what life was probably was like for him. He was a very refreshing character.
Overall, its an average read. If you have time to kill, I suppose you could read this. Interesting concept, but poorly executed.
February 19, 2013
Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
I was lucky enough to get my hands a copy of The Diamond Thief, which is the first publication from Curious Fox. I remember the story originally coming out in an online chapter format through Fiction Express and I missed the opportunity to read it then. I‘m so glad I waited for the final publication through Curious Fox who eagerly picked it up.
From the first few paragraphs you are instantly transported to the circus, set in a dirty Victorian London. Remy literally flies into the scene, stealing the hearts of the audience and instantly grabbing the reader’s attention. One member of the audience is quite entranced by her, however it does appear that Remy isn’t what she seems.
As the book progresses you see her regularly coming up against Thaddeus Rec, the complete opposite of Remy. By night she is a jewel thief, while he pounds the streets as a very honest policeman. He is determined to capture her for a crime, not once ever thinking that she would capture a part of him.
The characters are enigmatic and some are slightly bigger than life. The Professor has glimpses of Doc from the Back To the Future films. Desai reminded me of The Indian In The Cupboard. Remy, is a gutsy girl who thinks nothing of risking her life to get what she wants. Only Thaddeus is going out of his way to stop her putting herself at risk.
The book quickly embarks on an Indiana Jones style adventure as the thrown together group rush to find the diamond and stop the evil, loathsome Lord Abernathy, a master of disguise.
I loved the version of Victorian London created by the author. The thrill of running with the characters in the tunnels underground and discovering the inventions lurking to be discovered put me in the mind of Jules Verne. It had a steam punk feel to it, but I wouldn’t say it necessarily fitted into that category.
This is a very promising start for Sharon Gosling, a book filled with wonder and adventure, thrilling and exciting, with a delicate love story blossoming at the heart of the story. I really enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. Well done Curious Fox and Sharon Gosling for bursting onto the publishing scene with such a magnificent debut!
I was lucky enough to get my hands a copy of The Diamond Thief, which is the first publication from Curious Fox. I remember the story originally coming out in an online chapter format through Fiction Express and I missed the opportunity to read it then. I‘m so glad I waited for the final publication through Curious Fox who eagerly picked it up.
From the first few paragraphs you are instantly transported to the circus, set in a dirty Victorian London. Remy literally flies into the scene, stealing the hearts of the audience and instantly grabbing the reader’s attention. One member of the audience is quite entranced by her, however it does appear that Remy isn’t what she seems.
As the book progresses you see her regularly coming up against Thaddeus Rec, the complete opposite of Remy. By night she is a jewel thief, while he pounds the streets as a very honest policeman. He is determined to capture her for a crime, not once ever thinking that she would capture a part of him.
The characters are enigmatic and some are slightly bigger than life. The Professor has glimpses of Doc from the Back To the Future films. Desai reminded me of The Indian In The Cupboard. Remy, is a gutsy girl who thinks nothing of risking her life to get what she wants. Only Thaddeus is going out of his way to stop her putting herself at risk.
The book quickly embarks on an Indiana Jones style adventure as the thrown together group rush to find the diamond and stop the evil, loathsome Lord Abernathy, a master of disguise.
I loved the version of Victorian London created by the author. The thrill of running with the characters in the tunnels underground and discovering the inventions lurking to be discovered put me in the mind of Jules Verne. It had a steam punk feel to it, but I wouldn’t say it necessarily fitted into that category.
This is a very promising start for Sharon Gosling, a book filled with wonder and adventure, thrilling and exciting, with a delicate love story blossoming at the heart of the story. I really enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. Well done Curious Fox and Sharon Gosling for bursting onto the publishing scene with such a magnificent debut!
September 11, 2014
Received an ARC from NetGalley.
Mild spoilers
This was a very interesting take on circus carnies. I definitely enjoyed reading this story.
Remy was a sweet girl put into a rough situation. No family, no friends and poor. She joined the circus to feel that kind of "safety". The circus however was simply a group of hidden thieves. Remy was the best thief that circus had. One night she is called by the Master to go and survey the Ocean Light Diamond to steal it. Why? The Diamond has a curse placed on him and her lineage. Without the diamond the curse cannot be broken. When she goes to survey the diamond she is thrown into an opportunity of luck, or so she thought and things take a quick turn.
Thaddeus was a young copper who grew up on the streets. When he is left responsible for the diamond and it goes missing he is blamed for it and wanted to for theft. He searches out for Remy, but when they meet up he learns that not only did Remy not have the diamond but an unlikely Lord stole the diamond. Now they must retrieve and work together.
I love the romance the built up between Thaddeus and Remy. It was slow and patient. The perfect pace for this story.
I love that this takes place in London and the writing went extremely well with the setting. I felt apart of the story every turn of the page. I love how the Indian culture is intertwined along with the Indian characters. Amazing combination.
I totally loved the Professor and J. They seemed to be very essential secondary characters to this story and helped it move a bit faster. Lord Abernathy is a cruel man. I totally dislike him! He seemed sweet until the truth of the stolen diamond is discovered and then missing people -- he is a heartless man.
That ending was amazing! I'm trying to figure out how she was able to do it without leaving a trace behind.
I definitely enjoyed this novel and plan to read the sequel soon.
Mild spoilers
This was a very interesting take on circus carnies. I definitely enjoyed reading this story.
Remy was a sweet girl put into a rough situation. No family, no friends and poor. She joined the circus to feel that kind of "safety". The circus however was simply a group of hidden thieves. Remy was the best thief that circus had. One night she is called by the Master to go and survey the Ocean Light Diamond to steal it. Why? The Diamond has a curse placed on him and her lineage. Without the diamond the curse cannot be broken. When she goes to survey the diamond she is thrown into an opportunity of luck, or so she thought and things take a quick turn.
Thaddeus was a young copper who grew up on the streets. When he is left responsible for the diamond and it goes missing he is blamed for it and wanted to for theft. He searches out for Remy, but when they meet up he learns that not only did Remy not have the diamond but an unlikely Lord stole the diamond. Now they must retrieve and work together.
I love the romance the built up between Thaddeus and Remy. It was slow and patient. The perfect pace for this story.
I love that this takes place in London and the writing went extremely well with the setting. I felt apart of the story every turn of the page. I love how the Indian culture is intertwined along with the Indian characters. Amazing combination.
I totally loved the Professor and J. They seemed to be very essential secondary characters to this story and helped it move a bit faster. Lord Abernathy is a cruel man. I totally dislike him! He seemed sweet until the truth of the stolen diamond is discovered and then missing people -- he is a heartless man.
That ending was amazing! I'm trying to figure out how she was able to do it without leaving a trace behind.
I definitely enjoyed this novel and plan to read the sequel soon.
May 2, 2014
Remy Brunel is a sixteen-year-old trapeze artist who is also a jewel thief. But now her master Gustave has ordered her to steal one of the most valuable diamonds in the world. But she's not the only one that wants that jewel...
I really expected to enjoy this book. And, despite some flaws, I actually did at the beginning. But the more I read the worse it got. About halfway through, I lost interest and I had to force myself to finish it.
Remy is supposed to be the best jewel thief in Europe... but that's quite difficult to believe because she's only 16 and she's actually not all that smart. She's also very, very poor - so poor that she's been wearing the same pair of boots for six years. But people grow a lot between 10 and 16. If she's such an amazing thief, why not simply steal a new pair of shoes?
The diamond that she needs to steal now is the most important one yet - because she needs it to break the curse. The curse that her master tells her about only after she fails to get the diamond. I don't understand why he didn't tell her about it earlier. Maybe she would have been more careful if she knew about it. The curse is pretty pathetic - she's cursed to drive away the person she's in love with.
And that person would be Thaddeus Rec, a young policeman that's also looking for the diamond. They end up working together and falling in love. During the whole story I felt zero chemistry between them. She keeps calling him 'little policeman', which is incredibly annoying.
There were too many melodramatic moments and by the end of the book, I didn't care about any of the characters anymore. The book gets two stars for being interesting at first. I think younger readers would enjoy it more than I did.
I really expected to enjoy this book. And, despite some flaws, I actually did at the beginning. But the more I read the worse it got. About halfway through, I lost interest and I had to force myself to finish it.
Remy is supposed to be the best jewel thief in Europe... but that's quite difficult to believe because she's only 16 and she's actually not all that smart. She's also very, very poor - so poor that she's been wearing the same pair of boots for six years. But people grow a lot between 10 and 16. If she's such an amazing thief, why not simply steal a new pair of shoes?
The diamond that she needs to steal now is the most important one yet - because she needs it to break the curse. The curse that her master tells her about only after she fails to get the diamond. I don't understand why he didn't tell her about it earlier. Maybe she would have been more careful if she knew about it. The curse is pretty pathetic - she's cursed to drive away the person she's in love with.
And that person would be Thaddeus Rec, a young policeman that's also looking for the diamond. They end up working together and falling in love. During the whole story I felt zero chemistry between them. She keeps calling him 'little policeman', which is incredibly annoying.
There were too many melodramatic moments and by the end of the book, I didn't care about any of the characters anymore. The book gets two stars for being interesting at first. I think younger readers would enjoy it more than I did.
February 9, 2013
Daisy (11) for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Provided by publisher in exchange for n honest review.
Remy Brunel is a trapeze artist for a French Circus. Known at the circus as ‘little bird’ no-one knows her real name. When doing an act Remy flies towards the trapeze and as she reaches towards the trapeze and her fingers brush the bar she plummets towards the ground and as she does so a man called Thaddeus Rec runs out to save her. He is a skinny, policeman with one brown eye and one blue eye. Remy has a secret identity prowling the back streets of London as the world’s best jewel thief! How cool is that? Well it turns out it isn’t for Remy, when she gets found out trying to steal the worlds second largest diamond at a party run by queen Victoria where a very suspicious man accuses her of stealing the jewel!
With her identity revealed she runs away and in the streets of London meets a friend. His name is J and together they plot to find the jewel in the suspicious man’s house. But their eyes are opened up to a whole new world, people getting kidnapped and used as slaves, death traps and secret underground mines which, depending on the tide, could get flooded with water at any given second. No-one is safe. But Remy finds out a curse has been put on her only to realise the only way to awaken it is when she falls in love and it turns out it’s been awake for some time now…
Verdict: This book was an amazing mystery book and whenever you turned a new page, well something completely unexpected happens. It’s very realistic and well-written and I think I’d give it about 8.5 out of 10. Very, very good book!
Provided by publisher in exchange for n honest review.
Remy Brunel is a trapeze artist for a French Circus. Known at the circus as ‘little bird’ no-one knows her real name. When doing an act Remy flies towards the trapeze and as she reaches towards the trapeze and her fingers brush the bar she plummets towards the ground and as she does so a man called Thaddeus Rec runs out to save her. He is a skinny, policeman with one brown eye and one blue eye. Remy has a secret identity prowling the back streets of London as the world’s best jewel thief! How cool is that? Well it turns out it isn’t for Remy, when she gets found out trying to steal the worlds second largest diamond at a party run by queen Victoria where a very suspicious man accuses her of stealing the jewel!
With her identity revealed she runs away and in the streets of London meets a friend. His name is J and together they plot to find the jewel in the suspicious man’s house. But their eyes are opened up to a whole new world, people getting kidnapped and used as slaves, death traps and secret underground mines which, depending on the tide, could get flooded with water at any given second. No-one is safe. But Remy finds out a curse has been put on her only to realise the only way to awaken it is when she falls in love and it turns out it’s been awake for some time now…
Verdict: This book was an amazing mystery book and whenever you turned a new page, well something completely unexpected happens. It’s very realistic and well-written and I think I’d give it about 8.5 out of 10. Very, very good book!
April 25, 2015
Oh, THE DIAMOND THIEF. I had really high expectations for you. How can you go wrong with with a main character acrobat in Victorian London with a circus setting and a near forbidden romance? Turns out it can go plenty wrong. This one started out great, but quickly went downhill.
Towards the middle of the book I just lost the ability to really get into the story because I didn’t care about the characters or the plot. I read most of the remaining pages without really registering the words.
And I really did try to care. When a character said a really cheesy line or some really out of the box things happened I cringed, but I moved on, hoping this was just a minor mishap. But it got worse. The romance got cheesier (falling in love within two days-woohoo!) and even weirder things happened. I’m all for adding twists in the plot but is no one really going to question why a guy can just bust out some blue flames from his body if he concentrates enough? And random mind reading? Isn’t this historical fiction?
But the huge downfall of this book was the believability. Everything was so convenient. Dying? Take some of this mystical super rare potion that I just happened to have on me although I never mentioned it before. Stuck in an impenetrable jail cell with rising water, bound to be in a Titanic-esque situation? Allow me to magically have superpowers. And on, and on.
Anyway, I can’t really recommend this one but a lot of people have loved it so THE DIAMOND THIEF is probably a book you will need to read to decide for yourself.
Towards the middle of the book I just lost the ability to really get into the story because I didn’t care about the characters or the plot. I read most of the remaining pages without really registering the words.
And I really did try to care. When a character said a really cheesy line or some really out of the box things happened I cringed, but I moved on, hoping this was just a minor mishap. But it got worse. The romance got cheesier (falling in love within two days-woohoo!) and even weirder things happened. I’m all for adding twists in the plot but is no one really going to question why a guy can just bust out some blue flames from his body if he concentrates enough? And random mind reading? Isn’t this historical fiction?
But the huge downfall of this book was the believability. Everything was so convenient. Dying? Take some of this mystical super rare potion that I just happened to have on me although I never mentioned it before. Stuck in an impenetrable jail cell with rising water, bound to be in a Titanic-esque situation? Allow me to magically have superpowers. And on, and on.
Anyway, I can’t really recommend this one but a lot of people have loved it so THE DIAMOND THIEF is probably a book you will need to read to decide for yourself.
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