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A Daring Gambit: Queen of Thieves #0.75
224 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2025
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Andy Peloquin
93 books1,313 followersI am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 5, 2025
A Daring Gambit is a prequel novella in the Queen of Thieves universe, and while it’s technically “just” a side story, it packs more emotional punch than many full-length novels. The story follows Werrin, an 8-year-old pickpocket, and his ailing grandfather Gramps, who grifts and plays Nizaa (kinda like chess, which is also mentioned in other books by the author) in Ivory Square to make ends meet. When another boy—Willem, who could practically be Werrin’s twin—enters their lives, the little family starts to feel like something whole again. Until a greedy lord decides to steal Ivory Square from everyone who depends on it.
I fell completely in love with the characters. Werrin and Willem (Lem) may only be eight, but their cleverness, grit, and emotional depth make them feel way older. And Gramps? His storyline had me on the verge of tears more than once. The dementia scenes were especially powerful—achingly real and beautifully handled.
While this story is far more “cozy” than most of Andy Peloquin’s darker, grittier works, it still hits hard emotionally. There’s loss, fear, injustice—and also loyalty, clever schemes, and those little victories that make your heart soar. It’s a heist story, sure, but it’s also about chosen family, resilience, and fighting back even when you’re small.
Whether you’re new to the Queen of Thieves series or already a fan, this is a short but unforgettable read. Thanks for making me weep again, Andy! 😭
I fell completely in love with the characters. Werrin and Willem (Lem) may only be eight, but their cleverness, grit, and emotional depth make them feel way older. And Gramps? His storyline had me on the verge of tears more than once. The dementia scenes were especially powerful—achingly real and beautifully handled.
While this story is far more “cozy” than most of Andy Peloquin’s darker, grittier works, it still hits hard emotionally. There’s loss, fear, injustice—and also loyalty, clever schemes, and those little victories that make your heart soar. It’s a heist story, sure, but it’s also about chosen family, resilience, and fighting back even when you’re small.
Whether you’re new to the Queen of Thieves series or already a fan, this is a short but unforgettable read. Thanks for making me weep again, Andy! 😭
June 5, 2025
The ending! Nooo!
What a dark and emotional story. A prequel to the Queen of Thieves series, it's great to get the back story of the "twins" and they became what they are. This has elements of found family and loss. Morally grey, thieves but doing what is necessary to live and take care of his grandfather. Things take a turn that no one saw coming.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator's reading!
What a dark and emotional story. A prequel to the Queen of Thieves series, it's great to get the back story of the "twins" and they became what they are. This has elements of found family and loss. Morally grey, thieves but doing what is necessary to live and take care of his grandfather. Things take a turn that no one saw coming.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator's reading!
December 29, 2025
Wow! Yet another FANTASTIC book from Andy Peloquin. This is shaping up to be a 5 star series for me. Every single book I have read so far has been unbelievably great!
June 13, 2025
This is a prequel for the Queen of Thieves series (which I have not read but plan to listen to it this summer) and these are characters from those books.
Werrin is an 8 year boy who has lost his parents and lives with his aging grandfather. Gramps has some good days and some bad. The family business is grifting and picking pockets. It's all Werrin knows to do to make a living. His territory is Ivory Square where Gramps plays Nizaa (board game I liken to chess) all day. One night, they meet Willem, another 8 year old boy who looks strikingly similar to Werrin and take him into their family. Everything is going wonderfully until a greedy viscount and Lord decide they want the Ivory Square for themselves and try to kick all the merchants out. Werrin, Willem and the merchants must come together to save the square and their livelihoods.
All the characters in this book are wonderful. I would often forget that the boys were only 8. They are growing up in a place where you have to have street smarts to get by. Gramps was definitely a character that would tug on your heartstrings from time to time. When he was having his bad moments, you just couldn't help but feel the sadness from Werrin or any of the other
This book was a fun, easy read. It was didn’t let cozier than the rest of the books I’ve read by this author. But it was a great story and I’m looking forward to meeting these characters in the Queen of Thieves series when I listen to it this summer.
Werrin is an 8 year boy who has lost his parents and lives with his aging grandfather. Gramps has some good days and some bad. The family business is grifting and picking pockets. It's all Werrin knows to do to make a living. His territory is Ivory Square where Gramps plays Nizaa (board game I liken to chess) all day. One night, they meet Willem, another 8 year old boy who looks strikingly similar to Werrin and take him into their family. Everything is going wonderfully until a greedy viscount and Lord decide they want the Ivory Square for themselves and try to kick all the merchants out. Werrin, Willem and the merchants must come together to save the square and their livelihoods.
All the characters in this book are wonderful. I would often forget that the boys were only 8. They are growing up in a place where you have to have street smarts to get by. Gramps was definitely a character that would tug on your heartstrings from time to time. When he was having his bad moments, you just couldn't help but feel the sadness from Werrin or any of the other
This book was a fun, easy read. It was didn’t let cozier than the rest of the books I’ve read by this author. But it was a great story and I’m looking forward to meeting these characters in the Queen of Thieves series when I listen to it this summer.
August 18, 2025
It's been a while since I've read the Queen of Thieves series and this prequel reminded me that I am probably overdue for a re-read. It's the origin story of Werrin and Willem and is somehow both dark and cozy at the same time, which is quite an accomplishment.
Werrin as an eight year old boy is both quick and capable, pick-pocketing to keep him and his gramps going whilst his gramps plays Nizaa in the Ivory Square. The relationship between the two was beautifully written, as was the deterioration in gramps as his mind gets more clouded and the bad days become more frequent. It was heartfelt and heart-breaking, yet there are some really sweet moments between the two of them. This felt like a very real portrayal of the progression and nature of dementia and how it changes someone, takes away from their essence and personality. Yet even on the worst of the days, the love shared is impossible to miss.
When gramps mistakes Willem for his grandson, the two boys become fast friends and brothers. Despite the poverty and the struggle to survive, things are looking up. Until a Lord and a Viscount decide they want the Square at any cost. The boys and the locals need to find a way to save the Square and their livelihoods as well as giving gramps back the only thing he is living for. With a slow set-up this becomes a fast paced race to try to get one over on those so much more rich and powerful and keep the community hub. There's a cleverness and a feel-good element to the con, knowing that those thrown out of their lives and homes should never have been hit in this way. There's also action and nerve, loyalty and friendship, bonds forged that are tighter than blood.
I really enjoyed this from start to finish. I will admit, I kept forgetting how young the boys really were and repeatedly had to remind myself that they are under ten and not mid teenage. A lot of their speech and behaviour is possibly more suitable for the slightly older youngster, but this can easily be explained by the fact that both boys had to grow up far too fast. The way the con came together was brilliant and I'd have happily read several more chapters in that vein. And even though I knew the ending had to happen, it still broke my heart.
Werrin as an eight year old boy is both quick and capable, pick-pocketing to keep him and his gramps going whilst his gramps plays Nizaa in the Ivory Square. The relationship between the two was beautifully written, as was the deterioration in gramps as his mind gets more clouded and the bad days become more frequent. It was heartfelt and heart-breaking, yet there are some really sweet moments between the two of them. This felt like a very real portrayal of the progression and nature of dementia and how it changes someone, takes away from their essence and personality. Yet even on the worst of the days, the love shared is impossible to miss.
When gramps mistakes Willem for his grandson, the two boys become fast friends and brothers. Despite the poverty and the struggle to survive, things are looking up. Until a Lord and a Viscount decide they want the Square at any cost. The boys and the locals need to find a way to save the Square and their livelihoods as well as giving gramps back the only thing he is living for. With a slow set-up this becomes a fast paced race to try to get one over on those so much more rich and powerful and keep the community hub. There's a cleverness and a feel-good element to the con, knowing that those thrown out of their lives and homes should never have been hit in this way. There's also action and nerve, loyalty and friendship, bonds forged that are tighter than blood.
I really enjoyed this from start to finish. I will admit, I kept forgetting how young the boys really were and repeatedly had to remind myself that they are under ten and not mid teenage. A lot of their speech and behaviour is possibly more suitable for the slightly older youngster, but this can easily be explained by the fact that both boys had to grow up far too fast. The way the con came together was brilliant and I'd have happily read several more chapters in that vein. And even though I knew the ending had to happen, it still broke my heart.
August 10, 2025
This prequel to Night Guild series shows the story of Werrin, a barely teenage boy and a pickpocket, living with his Gramps and barely surviving. Gramps with his progressing dementia isn't able to take care of both of them fully, and only has moments of brilliance when playing Nizaa. One day, a boy named Willem who looks like Werrin's twin suddenly appear and by pure chance ends up with Gramps at home instead of Werrin. The boys come to a truce and eventually build a friendship - one they would need to overcome the threat to their living and a place to call home.
This adventurous and emotional story shows what true family means, how brothers do not necessarily share blood, and the strength of unity. I was quite sad at the end, really feeling emotional about Gramps. They had such a great relationship with Werrin, and it was equally great to watch the relationship between the boys form. Amazing insight into the backstory of these two boys.
This adventurous and emotional story shows what true family means, how brothers do not necessarily share blood, and the strength of unity. I was quite sad at the end, really feeling emotional about Gramps. They had such a great relationship with Werrin, and it was equally great to watch the relationship between the boys form. Amazing insight into the backstory of these two boys.
April 23, 2025
Great little story! I look forward to seeing where their story takes them in the Queen of Thieves books (having only read Brightest Star and now this book so far in the QoT series). It was refreshing to "be a part of" their community and see them stick together and succeed despite the circumstances and the generally grim and unforgiving world in which they live. The ending was definitely bittersweet but well done!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2025
Werrin and Willem!! This rivals to best friends to FAMILY origin story is both adorable and tragic...because Andy wrote it so of course. I say that with all the love I can muster for my favourite grimdark fantasy author. More pieces of backstory from our Night Guild is a treat. a tragic and sorrowful treat but a treat none the less. Gramps man....the poor old guy...my grandpa had Alzheimer's so seeing that play out was so hard to read...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2025
I don't understand why this author has to rip my heart out with his books man 😭😭✋🏻
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews