To Steal from Thieves

Thieves & Kings #1

by M.K. Lobb, Frankie Porter (Narrator), Nico Evers-Swindell (Narrator)

In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming con man Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked so hard for.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy

Audible Audio

First published March 25, 2025

About the author

M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Canada and now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence.

Her debut novel, SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS, releases Feb 7, 2023 from Little, Brown. The sequel, DISCIPLES OF CHAOS, is to follow in 2024.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

my feelings, summarized: came for the heist but stayed for the setting and characters.

the backdrop alternating between londons slums and the great exhibition gives the story a feel of opulent grandeur mixed with illicit alchemy. its a great combination for bribery, blackmail, and other crimes against the upper class. i also enjoyed the characters and their place within this world. especially kane - i appreciate that MKL didnt water him down. i love a ruthless character who actually feels dangerous.

however, the main downside is the pacing. there is so much build up for a heist that only lasts one chapter! because the main event is so short and basically at the end of the book, it makes everything leading up to that point feel slow and drawn out by comparison. so i did feel a bit bored at times.

but, i do think with the good characterization and world building, i could be persuaded to continue the series!

↠ 3.5 stars

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

two reluctant allies set to double cross each other but you don’t find out who actually pulls it off until the very end… plus an ending that will have you screaming for the next book!!!

this book was addicting and i had such a fun time reading!!! each character was so complex and well written, i love them all. the magic was so unique and like nothing i’ve seen before, the heist had me on the edge of my seat, and the ending has me wanting more! i’m beyond excited and looking forward to the sequel!!!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced readers copy!

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

« For anyone who has ever been willing to risk it all. » ❤️‍🔥

💎 Sky high stakes
💎 Heist
💎 Reluctant allies to lovers
💎 Tension/banter
💎 Unique & complex alchemy system

« She tended to approach people the same way she did alcohol : she kept them around while they were fun and shoved them out of sight when they gave her a headache. »

This was a really unique story. I honestly didn’t know how it would end and was surprised by it. I loved the writing and the characters. We follow 4 characters (2 MCs and 2 secondary characters) and they were all well fleshed out and had depth. Personally, Fletcher (despite being a secondary character) was my absolute favourite. He was the definition of dandelion child and that just resonated with me a lot. I hope he becomes a MC in the next instalment!

I don’t think the heist is the main focus of this story… it’s our main plot, but not the sole focus. There’s a big story set up before the heist and I think it was beneficial, considering everything that happened afterwards.

I’d actually really love a spin-off or stand-alone from the Kingpin’s past.

It ends on a cliffhanger and if the next book was already out, I’d definitely pick it up right away!

[Noi (in & out)]

I'm slumping, and this book deserves better. So it's on pause for now.
-----------
I love a good heist

[Sava (Fang Runin’s version)]

"girl but you said no romantasies anymore"
I KNOW but...this is like returning to your toxic ex
you think next time it will be different

[Sarah (berriesandbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took just shy of three months for me to drag myself through this book😭

Kane, a gang member, recruits Zaria, a black-market dealer, to steal a necklace at The Great Exhibition, one of the most celebrated events in London. They both have secret agendas, which become harder to hide as they start to fall for each other.

There's nothing about this book that would make it recommendable. Every trope, concept, and plot point it contains has been done extremely well in other YA books. It's just so poorly executed.

I have no choice but to mention Six of Crows to make a comparison. Kane Durante was Kaz Brekker, if you took away Brekker’s emotional trauma, swapped it with some father-figure issues, and doubled the edge-lord act. Kane sure isn’t a saint, but he’s not the evil monster Zaria tirelessly accuses him of being, either. He goes out of his way for the most part to make sure people don’t get hurt. A line in the advance copy (subject to change in the final print): “...his past so slick with blood he wore it like a victory shroud.” I had to take a second and laugh. It’s just so edgy for a character that feels lukewarm, morally gray. It’s a shame, because Kane showed flickers of emotional depth when he interacted with the Kingpin, his boss, and an abusive father figure. If that had been explored more, he had the potential to be more than a shallow, smirking con-man.

Zaria could have been interesting if she had been given any depth. She is “tell-not-show” done spectacularly. She notices the most basic things, registers the most base-level shift in environments, and hardened criminals will start singing her praises. “Wow, you’re so perceptive, clever, and sharp.” From the beginning, the plot begs to differ. After Kane gets her agreement to help steal the jewels, there’s a scene where she wonders what he wants with the necklace. She’s rightfully confused, since he’s promised in exchange for one necklace, he will steal the rest of the jewels at the display and give them to her. Why would he do that, when all the other jewels would outweigh the worth of one necklace? But she dismisses this thought and decides to take Kane at his word, despite knowing only his criminal past. She doesn’t demand answers or even collateral from Kane. It’s so maddening. So many times, I was begging her to think critically about the dangerous situations she’s in, but she never does. There’s no way she’s survived a criminal underworld for even a day when she doesn’t follow through on the most simple survival instincts, or question anyone’s motives thoroughly.

If the main characters aren’t fleshed out, their romance won’t be either. There are lots of moments of forced tension, when they are arguing in each other’s faces or required to be in close proximity, and then they notice each other’s lips, or hair, and wonder why they feel like they are in love. I wish it had been purely a physical attraction between them. They know each other for all of a week in the book, and everything they share is superficial bits to force trust. The idea that they could feel anything beyond a shallow like/lust is unbelievable.

As for the heist, is it really worth mentioning? All of the vital intel they need to break into the place (the patrols, the necklace’s worth, the lock that protects the necklace) is dropped in their laps. It’s lazy to have a random side character that never appears again overhear Kane talking about the lock, and for the character to just happen to have a niche interest in locks and explain in excruciating detail the type of lock, how to open it, etc. It’s even lazier to have almost all crucial intel relayed this way. All that lack of work, it’s no wonder the heist was only a chapter or two long.

I will not be continuing this series; I have no interest. It’s a shame, I wanted to like this one, since I’m always down for a good heist. The only audience that comes to mind are readers who are newbies to YA books; any reader who already occupies YA space would find this disappointing.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown Books, for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[✮demi✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
This is exactly what the blurb says it is and i ate it up. That ENDING?? Give me a sequel now. 🙏

(I have no complaints aside from the romance bc that kiss was really sudden imo)

[Eva B.]

You had me at "charming con man"

[ੈ✩‧₊˚ faithreads *ೃ༄ (inactive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually really good! The first like half was pretty slow (why I took the star off) but I actually loved the ending! I wish we got a lil more banter and actual romance tho😒 and the ending was suchhhh a cliffhanger!! I also felt like it was a lil weird how much they were talking abt God, it was like the author had an agenda or smth lol😭 lowkey feel like just discussing religion the way they did is so misleading! Just my personal opinion tho. Other than that, I thought this was a solid fantasy that I would recommend! It almost reminded me of Powerless, so if you liked that book you’ll probably like this one!

[°.*• Evangeline •*.° · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Steal from Thieves has a lot going for it—a gritty, magic-filled world, a pair of snarky, morally gray characters, and some solid tension throughout. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the leads, and the heist element gave the story a fun edge.

That said, it didn’t fully grab me. The pacing felt uneven (the beginning dragged a bit), and while the world-building was interesting, it sometimes got bogged down in too much detail. A few plot points were easy to see coming, which took some of the punch out of the reveals.

It’s not a bad read—just not a standout for me. But if you like dark fantasy with flawed characters and some slow-burn intrigue, it’s worth checking out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book prior to its publication.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 reads: 72/300

2025 tbr: 29/111

i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.

kane durante likes to work alone, but when his boss gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the great exhibition, he knows he’ll need help to pull off this heist. he teams up with zaria mendoza, the daughter of one of london’s greatest alchemologists, who has been struggling to keep her underground business afloat following her father’s death. robbing such a public and well-guarded building will be nearly impossible, especially when feelings of love and betrayal are thrown into the mix, but the two are determined to pull this off.

i loved m.k. lobb’s seven faceless saints duology, so i was very excited when i heard she had another book releasing this year! i love heist novels, as well, so i was very interested in seeing how this one played out. sure enough, i really enjoyed this book! the plot was interesting enough, but i also loved the characters. kane and zaria were such a great duo, and there were some secondary characters i enjoyed, as well. i’m so excited to see where the story goes in book two!

[LadyAReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you enjoy a heist? Fancy jewels? What about magic? How about a girl and a mobster combining forces to double cross each other and heist the object? If you said yes to any of those you will enjoy this.

[Brend]

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked so hard for.
Ain't that just how it always is...

[norah · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3 | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=4 | ⚔️=3.5 | 14/15+

summary: there's a magical heist at the Great Exhibition and she has these magic powers and he's like the adopted son of a crime lord and they're stealing this necklace??

thoughts: if you like heists and angsty morally gray teenagers being toxic and committing crimes together AND you also do not care one (1) iota about the Victorian era, you’ll like this. I, however, DO care about the Victorian era. I have read and studied its contemporary literature and also read about it and I also in general am very fond of clever, deliberate interpretations of history that are appropriate for the genre and context.

for example, I don’t fault a Victorian bodice ripper for not going into the horrors of mid-to-late nineteenth century British imperialism. that’s not the point of a romance novel! I get it! however, in a book centered around the Great Exhibition, imperialism is intrinsically entwined with everything in this novel, but the author didn’t really follow through on that? like it would be unrealistic for these scrappy kids to pause their lives and have a grave conversation about colonialism, because that does not directly affect the (white) main character’s lives, but it’s hardly mentioned when they’re actually inside the Great Exhibition. like they’re not making observations about what they see around them and even though in heist books/movies seeing the entire plan before the execution of the plan ruins the tension, I think it would have been helpful to describe the map that they’re basing this heist on and maybe they could mention all of the imperialism stuff in the process of doing that?

the author seems unable or unwilling to truly commit to anything that concretely places her novel in 1856? like anachronisms are fine! this is historical fiction. but it seems like M. K. Lobb only wanted The Great Exhibition and nothing else about the Victorian Era in her book, and I think she would have been better off creating a fictional world with a Great Exhibition-inspired situation. like she could have had more control that way and I think would’ve created something… better?
and AGAIN I don’t think it’s reasonable for these characters, who are dealing with their own Very Understandable Troubles to suddenly sit down and have a deep discussion about colonialism, but it’s got to be present in your book ABOUT THE GREAT EXHIBITION aside from like two “isn’t the British Empire evil” mentions that don’t feel earned because those evils haven’t been established by the text. YA books shouldn’t treat their audience like they’re stupid, because teenagers aren’t stupid, but also I don’t know if the average 14 year old has enough cultural context to understand “Kane wanted like the British Empire wanted” and the one (1) overheard comment at the Exhibition from someone who is critiquing it??

also idk how on earth Kane would have remembered a complicated piano piece if he hadn’t played for years?? I play the piano, I’ve played those complicated pieces, and I don’t remember them perfectly after not having touched them for a decade! that’s not how muscle memory works! sorry!!
but AGAIN! if you don’t care about that, then this is fine!

also for the record, the ARC is missing any author's note/acknowledgements, and I don't know if the final copy has more details on the author's research process et cetera, so having that might change my mind on that element of the book.

[Lastblossom]

tl;dr
Reluctant partners pulling a heist while backstabbing each other make for some high drama stakes. Big cliffhanger promises more to come.

Thoughts
A quick peek at my recent reading shows I've been in the mood for adversarial relationships lately. Rivals? Absolutely! Enemies? Let's go! Thankfully, this book serves up a heaping helping of conflict in the leads Zaria and Kane, so it hit my mood perfectly. You've probably heard this setup before: Boy is a criminal who needs specialized skills to steal something important. Girl is a specialist down on luck and in need of money. They'd be a perfect match if they didn't hate each other so much. But in a town as rough as this, who can afford to love? Certainly not these two! And this is where the story takes a turn from the expected. While there are definitely hints of slow burn romance, don't expect this to be about them falling in love. Rather, it's a story about two desperate people trying to extract as much use as they can out of the other while the clock ticks down. It's messy, and ugly, and very human. Our leads aren't necessarily likable, but you can't help but want to see what happens next. (Also, two extremely likable supporting cast members really help keep the leads from getting too frustrating.)

This books is ostensibly historical fiction, based on The Crystal Palace, but with alchemy in the forefront (and the author's own admission), historical accuracy is minimal at best. I would recommend approaching it as the fantasy that it is. Also, this books ends on a cliffhanger, and dang if it didn't make everything leading up to it feel even more satisfying. I look forward to the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I sit here slow blinking, jaw agape after just finishing this book, let me try and gather some thoughts.

If you like a heist ridden story that kind of reminds me of a combination of: Mr & Mrs Smith, Knives Out/Glass Onion, and The Mummy series...check this book out.

This is a fast-paced story! Honestly, it's 400 pages and yet I basically read it in one sitting because I had to figure out what was going to happen.

Even if you are able to make the correct predictions, it's a wild ride getting there and I'm confident that you won't be able to predict EVERYTHING that occurs.

Even though I felt that this whole novel was fast-paced, that final quarter?! Rapid fire. My eyes couldn't read the pages fast enough!

I feel like the Sheldon gif from Big Bang Theory because at this point: I NEED ANSWERS. But I guess I will wait impatiently for them *eye twitch*.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calling all heist enthusiasts!

When I heard about a new historical fantasy that features reluctant allies and a high-stakes heist, I knew I had to get my hands on the book. And I'm glad I did! There's so much I liked about To Steal from Thieves.

For starters, I think the author does an incredible job combining different genres. This book has history, fantasy, and the smallest sprinkle of romance. There's something for almost everyone! I also like how the genres complement each other. Each genre adds something to the story.

And then there's the characters. This book follows Kane (a charming con man) and Zaria (a talented alchemist) as they work together to steal a necklace. I feel like Kane and Zaria are the definition of reluctant allies. Their skill sets complement each other, but their personalities? Zaria says it best when she states, They were too similar—perhaps that was the problem. They would break each other into unrecognizable pieces. They would set the world on fire purely by accident and watch as it burned down around them.

I definitely think this book is fantasy-forward, but I lived for the romance crumbs. The few scenes we get are worth the wait.

I also appreciate how unapologetic Kane and Zaria are. They don't try to hide their sharp edges, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top. If you enjoy morally gray characters, you're in for a treat! That said, I think there's a fine line between writing morally gray characters that seem unlikable versus ones you can't help but root for. Personally, I found it hard to care about Kane and Zaria.

I also struggled with Kane and Zaria's dialogue. I think their conversations are supposed to make them seem cool and dangerous, but instead, I felt like I was reading about hormonal teenagers who were trying to sound edgy. I cringed during several of their conversations, which is never a good sign.

Moving back to what I like, I think the heist is well written! I went into this book expecting a high-stakes robbery, and it delivers. I also like how the heist comes with a healthy dose of backstabbing and betrayal. That's my kind of fantasy!

Overall, I definitely recommend this book. I think it's a great fit for readers who prefer morally gray characters and high-stakes heists. 3.5 stars—it's a fun read!

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher; all opinions are my own.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half was better than the second. I wish there was more meat on its bones. I feel like the characters never really grew...and I hated how whatever growth they did have depended on the "romance." idk. I feel like this book would have improved 1000 times more if there was just more to give to your characters instead of sucking the life out of one another. it felt so one dimensional at the end.

but also...I like really wanted to like it. it was written well enough and has an interesting world. and Lobb made her Victorian England very gritty and full of strife. I just wish we met more people.

[Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Do you like heists? What about reluctant partners, both plotting to betray the other? Oh, and what about platonic soulmates? And some explosives? Then boy, do i have the book for you.

Zaria Mendoza has been struggling to fulfill her father’s remaining alchemology commissions since his passing. The illegal trade takes pieces of you each and every time you create, and if she doesn’t find a magic source soon, she knows she’s going to follow in her father’s footsteps. She and her best friend Jules have been dreaming of escaping London’s Slums, and so after unsatisfied clients start hunting her, Zaria is more desperate than ever.

Kane Durante wants out. He’s been serving the kingpin Alexander Ward since he was a small child, and lately Ward has been threatening his friend Fletcher’s life. His one and only chance at saving Fletcher arrives with The Great Exhibition, and the mysterious necklace Ward wants brought to him at any cost. But he and Fletcher can’t do this alone- and so Kane recruits Zaria, plotting to betray her at the Exhibition and flee with the necklace as soon as possible.

I loved the high stakes in this book, but i do wish that Zaria and Kane’s feelings for each other were developed a little better! I also struggled with the pacing- the plot felt like it moved a little slow. The ending left me with more questions than answers, so hopefully a sequel is in the works soon!

Thank you to Netgalley and Brown Books! To Steal from Thieves debuts on March 25!

[ShannonXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once wrote a single paper on the Crystal Palace and the Great Exhibition so yes, I was in fact fully prepared for this heist.

I think the day MK Lobb writes a book I don't like will be the day I give up reading for good. Because this is her third book and the third I have absolutely adored. The Seven Faceless Saints duo was good but this is already shaping up to be even better. I mean, a historical fantasy with magical weapons, a unique and clever heist, a cruel and shady villain, and two main characters who are always fighting but you're begging them to kiss mid-argument anyway? It's everything I wanted. And that ENDING?! I am hurt, wounded, in eternal agony. How I am supposed to wait so long to see what happens next, I do not know. Just pray for me that I survive until then.

A million thanks to the author for the early copy!

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 


I'm sorry to say that this book and I did not mesh well. The characters felt underdeveloped; I was never invested in either perspective, nor their friendships. I enjoyed the taste of alchemology/the magic system we got but found Zaria to be incredibly detached and unrelatable. Kane's little bit of a Kaz Brekker vibe was fun at first but lacked a sense of depth. The smidge of romance felt forced and fueled by anger. The overall planning and execution of the heist was like 10 pages total and the pacing of the end was super rushed. This book was just not for me.

[Lilibet Bombshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the many things I love about MK Lobb is that she knows how to do enemies to lovers right. Her main characters are most assuredly fierce enemies at the beginning of these stories–the kind that will screw you over without blinking. They fight things like caring tooth and nail. The romance? It burns slow. Very slow. The attraction burns faster, but sometimes you can’t help who makes you hot.

Anger is at the center of every interaction and every page of To Steal From Thieves, which may be a very fun read but is also a book that seethes with injustice. A fantastical story set in an alternative history surrounding the 1851 Great Exhibition that took place in London, its root plot is a jewel heist. I’m a sucker for heist plots, especially those involving jewels. It reminds me of gentleman thieves and slick female cat burglars who can navigate complex traps to get their prize. The jewel heist in TSFT is more about survival and less about pretty shiny stones, though, in a time when so many Londoners were unhoused, starving, and in debt to gangsters. Our two main characters, Kane and Zaria, each have something to live for and something worth dying for. This heist is the key to a freedom of sorts.

Lobb never scrimps on worldbuilding, and with so many real-world details to get exactly right to match up with the overlaid fantasy world, I was so happy to see just how intensive and accurate it got (if you can spot the Karl Marx cameo, you deserve a cookie!). The magic system seems to be some sort of fictional cousin to alchemy but is no less fascinating, and is explained rather well without dumping information on the reader.

I’m glad I knew going in this was going to be a duology, because as I approached 80% I felt the pressure of a turn coming, and I wasn’t ready. I can’t wait for the sequel. 4⭐️



I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Action Adventure/Duology/Disability Rep/Fantasy/Romantasy/YA Fiction/YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy

[helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ebook!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

A fav quote: “Just because you have not done something doesn’t mean you are incapable of it.”

Book 1 in Thieves and Kings involves Kane and Zaria working together to steal a necklace. With their best friends Fletcher and Jules also joining the heist. The synopsis was what made me request this book and i was not disappointed. I enjoyed reading it so much that i needed my physical copy. Two things i loved the most was the friendship between the main characters with their best friends. To see what each main character was willing to do for their loved ones. I also loved the build up between Kane and Zaria. With the dual POV i was able to see how each one felt. The “Miss Mendoza” got me every time! The build up between them felt realistic to me and i can’t wait to see more of that in book two. It took me a little to understand how the magic worked but i understood it later. I also wish to see more continuing the duology. The story finished in a cliffhanger and was a surprise. Will be waiting for the next book! Overall loved it and i definitely recommend!

[Marlana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my new favorite heist book?

Reluctant partners-to-situationship? ✔️
Gaslamp & steampunk vibes? ✔️
Cons on cons & double-crosses? ✔️
Alchemy-based magic mixed with machinery? ✔️
Morally grey found-family? ✔️
Breaking into The Crystal Palace for some jewelry? ✔️✔️

Between a fast-paced plot that's twisting and turning page-by-page, to the desperation of all parties involved, to the insane shenanigans these characters get up to in their thieving & inventing... I'm FULLY convinced anyone (and everyone) will enjoy this book about a boy with no heart & a girl with nothing to lose.

Also... the cliffhanger, THE CLIFFHANGER!? AGH!!??

I acquired this ARC from my local library at a fantasy event. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG).

[Dario Pacheco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely a surprise of a book that I throughly enjoyed. Engaging characters that had you relating and rooting for them while nail biting action that was amazing.
Zaria & Kane’s Chemistry was chefs kiss with the perfect amount of a build up that had me shipping them so hard.
That ending had me ready for book 2. Bring it on!

[Kara DeLorey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, fast-paced read! To Steal from Thieves has all the things I love—heists, found family, and just the right amount of tension between characters. The worldbuilding was interesting, and the twists kept me hooked, though I wished for a bit more depth in some areas. Still, M.K. Lobb delivered an entertaining story, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Little, Brown Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

𝘛𝘰 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘴 is an atmospheric historical YA fantasy featuring a heist of an alchemical necklace displayed at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in Victorian London. Full of banter, deception, and betrayal, this dual-POV novel is sure to entertain until the last page!

Kane Durante, a crafty con man, has been tasked with stealing a priceless necklace to save his best friend from an early grave. His attempts to complete the heist become more complicated when he is unsuccessful in nabbing the artifact in transit, forcing him to involve clever alchemologist Zaria Mendoza in the scheme. Zaria, drowning in orders and debt from her late father's black market business, reluctantly agrees to the partnership. As the pair prepare for the ultimate heist, complicated feelings begin to emerge, causing them both to doubt their early plans to betray each other.

I was quickly immersed in the story, eating up the historical setting and beautiful prose. The characters have complex emotions and motivations, leading to a web of decisions and betrayals. I really enjoyed the rather complicated reluctant allies to lovers to enemies relationship between Kane and Zaria. I'm left wounded from the ending and desperate for the next book!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

TO STEAL FROM THIEVES is M. K. Lobb's third published book, and I am here for all of it. It is an ambitious novel, not only in what the characters experience but in who they are. Ms. Lobb takes familiar tropes and skews them ever so slightly. In doing so, she creates two characters who seem familiar at a surface level but are so different underneath as to be new and fresh. The heist, the characters, the chemistry, the magic - each element of the story is stellar in its own right. Together, they combine to make an explosive story that lingers in your memory.

There is maturity to the writing that makes the novel feel more like a new adult or adult novel rather than a young adult one. Zaria and Kane may be young, but they are so very old in experience, loss, and jadedness. You feel the tiredness of their souls through the pages, and it becomes very easy to forget that these two are still in their teens. Ms. Lobb reminds you of their true ages from time to time, but such reminders serve to drive home the sense of heartache you, as the reader, feel at everything they have and must still endure.

Zaria and Kane are the perfect foils, and Ms. Lobb pits them against each other with skill. The chemistry between them smolders quietly but steadily, exploding out in one scene that had me mentally standing in applause, before dying back down to hide underneath the surface once more. This heightens the tension of the entire novel, which is saying something since the story already has built-in tension from the planned heist and the threat that hangs over Kane regarding the heist's success.

Ms. Lobb excels at highlighting the duality of any society, and in TO STEAL FROM THIEVES does so with a clarity that is disturbing in its honesty. From the slums of Devil's Acre to the gated luxury of Hyde Park, Ms. Lobb presents one of the most vivid portraits of the poor in Victorian England I've ever read. Life in the slum was one of abject misery and hopelessness, made worse by the fact that the upper class lived only a few blocks away. Zaria's struggles to adjust to the dichotomy of the two areas, so close in geography but so far apart in every other aspect that matters, and no wonder. Her reaction is not just a point of empathy between the character and the reader; it also feels like a pointed nod to the ever-increasing disparity between the haves and the have-nots in modern society. This is just one of the many ways in which TO STEAL FROM THIEVES is historically accurate and yet very much in tune with the lived experiences of today's reader.

TO STEAL FROM THIEVES ended way too quickly for me, and yet I wouldn't have it end any other way. I love a story where the idea of good and bad doesn't exist, and by the time you turn the last page, there is nothing but moral greyness over every aspect of the story. The ending is something of a cliffhanger, but it doesn't leave you in shock so much as in despair - at what could have been and what is. All you can do now is cheer Ms. Lobb on as she works to finish the second book as quickly as possible. Thankfully, Zaria and Kane and their shared and individual stories are going to stick with me for a long time to come and should hold me until that second book hits its release date.

[Alisha M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader's copy of To Steal From Thieves (Thieves & Kings #1) from Net Galley. I hadn't read anything by M.K. Lobb before but the description caught my attention. It seemed like a young adult romantic fantasy with a mix of Six of Crows and Heartless Hunter. Also, I attended an In Conversation at Indigo last year with M.K. Lobb and other Canadian authors, which I enjoyed, so I wanted to read some of her work.

The story follows two characters' points of view: Zaria, an alchemologist, living in the slums operating her late father's business of selling dark market magic weapons, and Kane, a con man, working for the infamous Kingpin of London as his right-hand man. It's a high-stakes heist story, where the two main characters agree to work together to steal a necklace for the Kingpin, which happens to be located at the most public, heavily-guarded Crystal Palace in London. Although the scheme comes together nicely, love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked towards.

**SPOILERS**

The story hooks your attention quickly. At about 25% into the novel, I was invested to see how it ended. The world-building and magic system was well executed. The magic system was creative; I have yet to read something similar. Alchemologists trained in blood magic create "primateria", a red crystal material, to power objects for various purposes. Usually, dark market materials, such as guns, bombs, etc. The setting was very descriptive, especially the slums and Crystal Palace.

I liked the friendship dynamics between Zaria and Jules as well as Kane and Fletcher. I'm glad the author didn't make Jules secretly in love with Zaria as I'm not a huge fan of that jealousy trope. The romantic relationship between Zaria and Kane, I felt had just the right amount of "reluctant coworkers to lovers to enemies" tension for their interest in each other to be believable. I'm interested in how their storyline pans out, especially since the novel ends with multiple cliffhanger betrayals.

Overall, several themes include loyalty, trust, friendship, violence, love/lust, sacrifice, and betrayal. I would love for this story to continue, so I hope it ends up being a duology at least. I will be buying a copy myself on March 25, 2025. Ultimately, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to others to read.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stephanie Leonardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I read a book that hit all the boxes of things I love to find in a book, and this one didn’t disappoint!

Kane. My angry, sad boy Kane. *sigh* he made this book so dang good. Mr. Con man who didn’t want to drown in emotions..

“Perhaps he would have asked if she regretted it, that kiss.
Perhaps he would have told her that he didn’t.
Perhaps he would have apologized in advance.
He might have told her something that surprised them both if she hadn’t said merely, “Good night, Kane.”
By then, it was too late.”

Ugh, my heart! He was such a great character!

Zaria. I almost don’t want to admit how much I can relate to her 😩

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m careless, but also very particular. I’m too easily frustrated. I’m terrible at connecting with people, so everyone assumes I don’t like them, and I don’t bother to change their minds. I don’t want to change their minds because I’m terrified they’ll decide I’m not good enough, and then I’ll look like a fool. I’m constantly thinking fifteen thoughts at once, and yet I can’t remember a single one of them. I say all the wrong things at the wrong times, …”

I wanted to tell her to stop a thousand times and yet I also couldn’t help but agree or find myself believing her choices were right… and yet.

And yet.

The ending was deliciously perfect and I really really need to know where this all goes from here!!!

*if you loved What the River knows, you would love this!