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Thick as Thieves: Book One
The path to becoming the fairest is riddled with danger, treachery, and insufferable shenanigans in this steampunk Snow White retelling.
Vera Valenledge learned early on that your closest friends are the most likely to stab you in the back. Or to stab your father. Since that tragic day that shattered a friendship and a kingdom, Vera has been hunting down the boy she knew as Jasper Haddin—the man now known as Nox the Kingkiller. After five long years of ridicule, this is the night she finally takes him down.
Jasper Haddin isn’t after forgiveness. He knows he’s too far gone to be saved. But he has a comforting stash of nostalgia, an old promise to keep, and a reliable team behind him. Together, the thieves will stop at nothing to impart their own sense of justice, even if it means a death sentence for all of them. And if the Mirror is right, death is much closer than either Vera or Jasper think.
Technology and magic clash when the heir to the throne is thrown together with her father’s killer and his eccentric gang to fight a greater evil than she could have imagined. The streets of Caddelinn will quake as they race against the clock to save the very heart of the capital. No one said it would be easy to become the fairest. Or to make new friends.
Vera Valenledge learned early on that your closest friends are the most likely to stab you in the back. Or to stab your father. Since that tragic day that shattered a friendship and a kingdom, Vera has been hunting down the boy she knew as Jasper Haddin—the man now known as Nox the Kingkiller. After five long years of ridicule, this is the night she finally takes him down.
Jasper Haddin isn’t after forgiveness. He knows he’s too far gone to be saved. But he has a comforting stash of nostalgia, an old promise to keep, and a reliable team behind him. Together, the thieves will stop at nothing to impart their own sense of justice, even if it means a death sentence for all of them. And if the Mirror is right, death is much closer than either Vera or Jasper think.
Technology and magic clash when the heir to the throne is thrown together with her father’s killer and his eccentric gang to fight a greater evil than she could have imagined. The streets of Caddelinn will quake as they race against the clock to save the very heart of the capital. No one said it would be easy to become the fairest. Or to make new friends.
388 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2024
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 19, 2024
I remember reading this story on Episode in 2020, and I throughly enjoyed reading the book version. I love a good fairy tale retelling. I really enjoyed Spiegel’s writing style. This should be made into a Netflix series. I’m so excited for the next book in the series to come out.
December 21, 2024
THIS IS WHAT I CALL AN ABSOLUTE SERVE OF A BOOK! I played it on Episode until early in the wee hours of the morning because of how addicted I was. All of the characters served a purpose and I actually liked how the story focused on the world-building and I could see that the lore was written and thought of well. I also liked the romance subplot and how the story wasn't completely built on romance alone. Overall, this book is my roman empire and I think about it once in a while. Highly recommend!
September 9, 2024
This book truly has it all! A stunning steampunk fantasy with twists and turns you'd never expect, a squad that's impossible not to love, and plenty of witty dialogue and ingenious world-building to go around. I had the absolute pleasure of beta-reading for this book in its early stages, and it's so incredible to see how far it's come. Can't wait for Bed of Roses, the sequel, to come out!!
April 4, 2024
i loved this and i desperately need bed of roses right now 🫶🏼
March 21, 2025
This book is a masterpiece (and also my favorite fairytale retelling of all time). I read the Episode story back in 2023, and it changed my entire world. I will admit that I put it off at first because I had never read anything with a steampunk setting, but I actually loved everything about this! I was really excited when I got the book, and reading it made me love it even more. The way that Speigel writes makes you want to keep going and never put the book down until you're on the last part.
I loved every one of the thieves. Hunter and Archer were such a delight. It's great that Archer likes Robin Hood and mentions it every now and then. Blade, it was funny watching him rage. Shadow and Shade are cute, and their expressions are great. Hood was a character I really related to. He's an introvert, loves books, is shy, and when he has an anxiety attack in an uncomfortable situation, I really understood him as I have been there too and have that kind of personality. Jasper, he really got a lot of laughs of me. His lines in combat where he's just absolutely throwing jokes out there is amazing. He really is an amazing character, and I love this take that he killed Cerasos and has to protect Vera from Nylora. My heart melted every time Jasper sat beside Vera, waiting for her to wake up after she kept dying. It was nice to see Blade assuring Jasper that she'd be fine.
The Mirror, was absolutely one of my favorites. I loved how cryptic and full of r iddles it is and its sarcasm and humor. It really shocked me when it was revealed that all those things the Mirror said, about Vera being heartless was literal.
And Vera, I loved her development from going to absolutely hating all of them to giving them Castle positions. It was really interesting to see the story play out from her point of view, and it just made everything so much more shocking when you find out about Cerasos's death, Nylora, the Fair Maidens, and the truth about her heart. I loved it so much.
The scene with Vera poisoning Archer's soup and making everyone pass out and Blade trying to kill her. That scene is hilarious.
The twists in this story is everything. It's so creative and just absolutely genius. I can see all the elements of the original tale and it's great when it's all woven into this new take.
There were some differences in the book from the episode story, and I really liked the differences. I could also be wrong about that, if these scenes were in the choices of the episode story that I did not see, but some scenes in the book were different for me. I love how Jasper turned himself in and tried to get Vera to kill him and Vera blurts out "Then live with me!" It was such a good moment. I also love that Vera admits that she loves Jasper and offers him the role of King Consort. And when Jasper and Vera use the zipliner to escape the Scarlet Antechamber and she passes out with her head on his shoulder from her wound. My heart was melting so much during this book.
I loved every one of the thieves. Hunter and Archer were such a delight. It's great that Archer likes Robin Hood and mentions it every now and then. Blade, it was funny watching him rage. Shadow and Shade are cute, and their expressions are great. Hood was a character I really related to. He's an introvert, loves books, is shy, and when he has an anxiety attack in an uncomfortable situation, I really understood him as I have been there too and have that kind of personality. Jasper, he really got a lot of laughs of me. His lines in combat where he's just absolutely throwing jokes out there is amazing. He really is an amazing character, and I love this take that he killed Cerasos and has to protect Vera from Nylora. My heart melted every time Jasper sat beside Vera, waiting for her to wake up after she kept dying. It was nice to see Blade assuring Jasper that she'd be fine.
The Mirror, was absolutely one of my favorites. I loved how cryptic and full of r iddles it is and its sarcasm and humor. It really shocked me when it was revealed that all those things the Mirror said, about Vera being heartless was literal.
And Vera, I loved her development from going to absolutely hating all of them to giving them Castle positions. It was really interesting to see the story play out from her point of view, and it just made everything so much more shocking when you find out about Cerasos's death, Nylora, the Fair Maidens, and the truth about her heart. I loved it so much.
The scene with Vera poisoning Archer's soup and making everyone pass out and Blade trying to kill her. That scene is hilarious.
The twists in this story is everything. It's so creative and just absolutely genius. I can see all the elements of the original tale and it's great when it's all woven into this new take.
There were some differences in the book from the episode story, and I really liked the differences. I could also be wrong about that, if these scenes were in the choices of the episode story that I did not see, but some scenes in the book were different for me. I love how Jasper turned himself in and tried to get Vera to kill him and Vera blurts out "Then live with me!" It was such a good moment. I also love that Vera admits that she loves Jasper and offers him the role of King Consort. And when Jasper and Vera use the zipliner to escape the Scarlet Antechamber and she passes out with her head on his shoulder from her wound. My heart was melting so much during this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2025
Despite having read this back in its Episode days, the story stays timeless. Spiegel does a fantastic job in emphasizing their characters' most recognizable trait all while not painting them as strictly just that. They made it so hard to NOT love all the characters, even with our local grump Basil.. Ugh, I've always loved him, who am I kidding!
You keep doing what you do, Spiegel, can't wait for Bed of Roses in this format! You've encapsulated Thick of Thieves great, if not, greater than its Episode format!
You keep doing what you do, Spiegel, can't wait for Bed of Roses in this format! You've encapsulated Thick of Thieves great, if not, greater than its Episode format!
April 28, 2025
Even if I'm still procrastinating the ending because I just don't want this book to end, I'm leaving a review.
As a few others I read this story on episode first and fell in love with it so much, I just had to get the book once it came out.
I love love love love the steampunk setting and the overall plot (I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings). The characters are lovable, relatable and well written.
Idk what else to say. It's great. Go read it :)
As a few others I read this story on episode first and fell in love with it so much, I just had to get the book once it came out.
I love love love love the steampunk setting and the overall plot (I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings). The characters are lovable, relatable and well written.
Idk what else to say. It's great. Go read it :)
March 27, 2025
I was obsessed when i read it on episode and so hyped when i saw it was available as a book .I literally could not stop reading it . Also loved the cover of the book so big extra points from me .:)
May 15, 2024
Please please please read this book or play the story on Episode, it is such an excellent piece of fiction. The characters are charming and loveable, the world buliding is immersive and beyond interesting. It's an amazing twist on a beloved tale. It leaves you wanting for more. I can't wait for Bed of Roses! A must buy!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews