A Heist for Filthy Rivals

by Rebecca F. Kenney

A rollicking enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance in which two rival thieves, each the leader of their own crew, battle each other in an attempt to steal priceless treasure from a magical fortress. Prepare for mayhem, monsters, wicked banter, traps, and taunts as a cunning young thief competes against her cocky yet charming nemesis for the prize they both crave. This novel is a spicy, adult romantasy with nods to Die Hard, Home Alone, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fae, Dark Romance, Romantasy, Magic

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2025

About the author

Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney

Reviews

[Kimmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heist for Filthy Rivals was the perfect short, fun, spicy, and action-packed story. If you love a true enemies-to-lovers trope, this book absolutely delivers. Devilry and Ravager’s banter was fantastic, just the right mix of flirty and “I’ll kill you if you get too close.” I especially loved how they managed to have some "fun" time while robbing a fortress. LIKE THIS ISNT THE TIME AND PLACE but I am not complaining, I love it!

I won’t spoil anything, but I laughed out loud so many times while reading this.

Thank you to MTMC Tours and Rebecca F. Kenney for the gifted ARC!

[greta · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5⭐️

this was my first time reading this author's book and at first i thought this was gonna be an easy 5 star, but the more i read, the more the rating waned unfortunately. 😭

what disappointed me the most about the characters was that devilry and ravager weren't truly rivals... they just didn't really trust each other at first, going in this book i expected true rivals to lovers with lots of yearning, but found none of these things. they both fell for each other way too quickly.
i did enjoy how funny in the beginning the characters were, i giggled out loud quite a few times, especially at ravager!
i also wanted to see more of the side characters, we barely got to know any of the devilry's group.

the writing style was also a bit too simplistic from the middle towards the end of the book. i really loved the beginning, but soon as the heist hit, something shifted in the writing that made the story stop having that unputdownable feeling to it.
also the amount of sweetheart and love nicknames were mentioned 😭 it was way too much.
the double pov also felt lowkey one dimensional. devilry and ravager didn't read quite as different as they should have. i don't know if that makes sense.

the heist itself was underwhelming too... i love heist stories, so i thought there was gonna be way more to this story than there actually was... i thought it was gonna be complicated, really high stakes, calculated, all the betrayals, lies, danger, faeries and we got barely any of that. i unfortunately wasn't a huge fan. 😭
i did like the ending, but again, quite mediocre.

i'm not sure i can really recommend this, if you want a brilliant heist story and for some reason you haven't read six of crows by leigh bardugo, i recommend that!

[alltheprettypages Jennifer Garifo · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the fun and spicy vibes I expect from a Rebecca F. Kenney read! I love that this is a holiday novella, 😂 my family considers Die Hard a Christmas movie so I am totally into the fact that this absolutely unhinged violent heist book is holiday themed. It’s a nice break from all the cozy hallmark themed Xmas books that come out around this time of year!
Okay so this book is unhinged, hysterical, TRUE enemies to lovers (they literally try and kill each other) very spicy, very dark and twisted and full of action packed violence! I VERY much get the Home Alone, Mr. & Mrs. Smith & Die Hard vibes! This book was incredibly entertaining and like all Rebecca’s books I loved it! It’s short, fun, fast paced, and spicy!
Favorite line: “You’ll have to kill me to keep me away from you, so go ahead and do it. If you don’t end it now, I swear I’m going to haunt you for the rest of your fucking life. I’m no mediocre thief, Devilry- I’m an exceptional one, and I will rob you of every peaceful moment until I finally manage to steal your heart. So do it. Stop me.” Unhinged MMC indeed. 🤣
It’s under 300 pages, highly recommend! Thank you to the author for my copy, all thoughts & opinions are my own!

[Ryann Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas retelling with Home alone meets Die hard vibes?? SAY LESS!!!!

This book had
❤️enemies to lovers
🖤rival treasure hunting gangs
♥️ spicy 🥵
🖤he falls first
♥️ hilarious banter
🖤magical heist


If Rebecca F Kenney has no fans I’m 💀

[Magdalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

RFK has done it again! I love her writing, especially her holiday books.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4 ⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶
Dual POV

Romance with fantasy elements
Home alone/Die hard/ Mr Mrs Smith inspiration retelling
Magic, Monsters, & Mayhem
Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
Morally grey MCs
He came in his pants
Good boy
CNC
He loves eating her 🐱
HEA

A Heist for Filthy Rivals comes in fast with high-energy pacing, sharp banter, and a fun blend of heist-meets-fantasy elements that immediately raise the stakes. I really enjoyed the author’s playful nods to Die Hard, Home Alone, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith as those pop-culture references absolutely added to the entertainment factor. For me, though, it occasionally felt like the book leaned a little too heavily on those inspirations, to the point where it pulled attention away from what should have been the heart of the story: the rivalry, and the tension that naturally comes with a high-risk heist.

One of the strongest elements of the book is its characters. I genuinely liked both Devilry and Ravager. Devilry is surprisingly relatable since she's sharp, stubborn, competent, and just vulnerable enough that her choices make sense. Ravager, on the other hand, is effortlessly charming and walks that fine line between cocky and sincere in a way that feels natural rather than forced. They balance each other out beautifully. Their banter works, their chemistry is undeniable, and I actually enjoyed their relationship arc more than the heist itself. Yes, it leans into instalove, but given the circumstances, I can understand how two lost, lonely people could form such an immediate connection. I loved Ravager’s acknowledgment that what they felt wasn’t just trauma bonding or adrenaline lust; they saw each other at their absolute worst and didn’t flinch. There’s an emotional understanding between them that felt believable and tender in all the best ways.

I also appreciated a subtle structural detail: while this book is a standalone, the small callbacks to the first two Mythic Holidays stories were a nice touch. The quiet involvement of the gods behind the scenes with those little nudges, bits of help, and well-timed interventions, added an extra layer of charm to the fantasy elements of the story. It’s not intrusive, but it gives the story a sense of continuity within the series that fans will enjoy.

That said, I agree with several of the early criticisms. The heist is underdeveloped: I expected more complexity in the planning, more tension between Devilry and her crew, and more betrayals or clever twists. The opening rivalry had such fantastic hook with a chase scene, brutal hits, and real bodily damage. But once the two leads were forced together for 24 hours, that sharp, intense energy softened a little too quickly for me. It didn’t ruin their chemistry, but it did undercut the promise of a more drawn-out enemies-to-lovers arc.

I was also confused about this being marketed as a holiday book. Beyond the mention of the fae Midwinter Eve celebration, there’s no real holiday environment, atmosphere, or tradition used in the plot. Belgate itself isn’t presented as being in a festive season, and with most of the story taking place inside a castle, there isn’t much environmental support for a winter or holiday tone. Considering how strongly themed the first two Mythic Holidays books were, this one feels more like a loose retelling inspired by Home Alone and debatably-holiday action romance Die Hard rather than an actual holiday romance.

Overall, the book delivers fun energy, strong banter, and a romance that’s both sharp and surprisingly sweet. If you love fast-paced romance with pop-culture flair and an emotionally compelling central pairing, this is an entertaining read with a lot of charm.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format(s): eBook
Rating: 2/5 ⭐⭐💣
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Long Story Short: Good writing and plot development, but whether or not you will enjoy this book is going to come down entirely to if slapstick humor mixed with spice is your cup of tea.

Short Story Long: This isn't a bad book, but I also didn't particularly enjoy it. The writing overall is good and the story is structured well, but it just didn't work for me. It feels kind of like if someone made Home Alone or Looney Tunes into a fantasy rom com about two thieves. While that sounds fun in theory, I found the actual execution to be off putting. The slapstick humor contrasted too much with some of the more adult themes in the book, making for a jarring reading experience. The romance/spice also felt way too sudden when it did happen. I get that they had been kind of flirtatiously bantering from the start, but it seemed primarily one sided. However, as soon as they are physically in each other's presence for the second time ever they are spicing it up. Huh? Then she was just so overcome by her orgasm she was willing to let him stab her? WTF? This all conflicted so much with her spunky badass attitude that it felt so out of character. I'm sad to say I ended up DNF'ing this book at 52%. The comedy I wasn't enjoying is such a major component of this book, and remained so consistent through the first half of the book that I can't see it changing in the second half. Therefore, it's not worth it for me to continue reading through another 150+ pages regardless of the remaining plot or ending. However kudos to the author, consistent writing can be difficult and I think it means that if you're enjoying this book from the start it will remain an enjoyable read for you.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heist for Filthy Rivals was an absolute blast from start to finish. As the third entry in the Mythic Holidays series, it brings so much chaotic energy. Even though it is the least "holiday" themed of the series so far it does have some very fun Home Alone nods woven into the mayhem. It’s very spicy, wildly entertaining, and honestly might be my favorite of the series so far. I was laughing out loud one minute and basically sobbing at some scenes towards the end, which is exactly the emotional whiplash I seek.

Ravager completely stole the show for me. His cockiness, his swagger, the way he just eats up every scene he’s in. I just adored him. His banter with Devilry had me full-on giggling, and their enemies-to-lovers arc hits just right. The switch from literally stabbing each other to… decidedly not stabbing each other? A+. Their chemistry is unhinged in all the right ways.

The heist itself is a blast, too. Sometimes literally. Booby traps, monster chaos, rivalry-fueled pettiness, all wrapped up in that signature Rebecca Kenney style. And that final moment, when a certain someone asks Ravager for advice on women? 🤣 I absolutely lost it.

I had so much fun reading this, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this world.

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received A Heist for Filthy Rivals in return for an honest review from the author as part of the tour hosted by MTMC Tours.

I was super excited to read this one as Mr. & Mrs. Smith is one of my favorite movies. I just loved Devilry she's such a great main character and I loved that she's a total badass. Ravager is such a great partner for her. They have this steamy connection and banter that kept me giggling through the whole book when they aren't trying to kill each other. I enjoyed the references to Home Alone while they traversed the house. I laughed so hard through this book.

This was a fast paced story with just the perfect balance of story to spice. The characters are easy to connect with and I couldn't help cheering them on in the faery world adventure. The author did a beautiful job creating a captivating story that I couldn't put down. I loved every moment of our thieves story. My only complaint was that I wanted more and I wasn't ready for it to end. It's a fantastic story and perfect for the holiday season. Every book by the author just get's better. This may be my favorite but I'm kind of partial to Devilry because she's awesome.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down my favorite series from this author. I love that we get a new story in this series each year at the holidays! Each book is dark and delicious, with characters who are imperfect and flawed and are just so so good for each other.

Heist is a fantasy blend of Mr. and Mrs. Smith with some Die Hard thrown in, revolving around an epic Fae heist. The FMC Devilry is a fearless black cat leader, and Ravager, the MMC, is the leader of another thieves group in the same city. And these two?! TOP tier banter! Like if banter is your jam, then these two deliver an A+ game on that front.

The world and setting in this one is so vivid and creative. There are dangers in every room, and Devilry and Ravager have to work together to make it back alive. Ravager is a bit of a golden retriever, and his "he falls first" energy is such a joy to read about. Yeah, I kinda loved him.

I couldn't stop reading this one, basically read it in 2 sittings. I love the world that Rebecca has created with this series and I hope we get a new one in 2026!

I received a copy for an instagram tour. My thoughts are my own.

[ReadingInPyjamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heist for Filthy Rivals absolutely delivered the chaos, the spice, and the laugh out loud mayhem I was craving. Devilry is everything I want from a badass heroine: sharp, snarky, and absolutely capable of murdering a man while looking fabulous. And Ravager? Let’s just say if golden retriever energy came wrapped in danger and leather, it’d be him. Their banter crackled, their chemistry burned, and their attempt to not kill each other (most of the time) had me grinning like a maniac. This book is like if Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Die Hard, and Home Alone got drunk at a Fae Christmas party and decided to pull off the most unhinged, bloody, and hilarious heist of the season. I was laughing, blushing, and occasionally clutching my chest because these two maniacs kept trying to kill each other and steal each other’s hearts.
Rebecca F. Kenney managed that perfect balance between wickedly funny and darkly romantic. This book is fast, feral, and impossible to put down. Perfect read for anyone who wants a holiday story with daggers, desire, and delightfully bad decisions.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of this book. A Heist for Filthy Rivals was such a fun, fast paced and action packed read. This heist has curses, traps galore, betrayal, and so many twists all in such a unique world.
The banter in this had me laughing like I haven't in years, I was in tears!

Devilry, our fmc and Ravager our mmc are my new faves, the tension between them eventhough they start out as enemies is perfection, their first interaction was hilarious right off the bat. The enemies to lovers trope is done SO well here too.

I love an fmc who is strong, knows how to fight but you can also connect with emotionally, and that was Devilry for me.
Oh and the spice had me blushing, it is superrrr hot. Ravager is one of my new faves, if you like a dirty mouth mmc, you'll love him. But also the way he cares for her and protects her, he's top tier.

The pacing and the plot both kept me intrigued, I definitely kept saying "one more chapter".
This was such an exciting read and I recommend this very much!

Thank you so much for the gifted arc!

[HereThereBeBookDragons | Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rollicking, wicked, bombastic good time.

This may be my favorite Rebecca F Kenney I’ve read yet. I am OBSESSED with Devilry and Ravager. Their connection sparks from their very first moments on the page together, and with Devilry in particular I was ride-or-die for her within about two pages. Just masterfully crafted.

As with all the books in her Wicked Darlings Fae universe, the dark elements are very dark indeed, and every aspect of the book is feral and unhinged, from the monsters to the bad guys to even our “good guys.” The Home Alone and Die Hard Easter eggs are cleverly scattered throughout, and are fun to identify without feeling hokey or out of place.

Rating: 5/5
Spice level: 4/5

Tropes:
- Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
- Heists
- Deadly unique fae monsters
- Rival thieves
- Home Alone meets Die Hard meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith
- Banter
- Forced proximity
- Wound tending
- Wound causing
- Morally grey MCs

Thank you to MTMC Tours for the gifted copy.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this although I don’t know what qualified it for “Mythic Holidays.” There wasn’t any holiday that I recall.

Devilry and Ravager are the leaders of two motley bands of thieves. She is starting to feel that her people are turning away from her. Ravager is new to the area and had to form his crew from the lowlifes that no one else wants.

They both are headed to Annordun located in Faerie to steal objects that will make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. Devilry’s group arrives first and have to think outside the box to breach the barricades of the fortress where the valuables are located. There are magical traps and wonders galore to be found. She inadvertently loses her people and single handedly has to attempt to thwart Ravager’s band from gaining access.

The variety of outlandish situations kept me turning pages and there is eventually a spark of romance ignited. The impetus behind their thievery of this location is unexpected.

[Heartofhomesteadreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a fun ride! It’s packed with chaos, clever twists, and a rivalry that keeps you guessing the whole way through. Every chapter had me smiling, laughing, and wondering what kind of trouble was coming next.

Devilry and Ravager were such a blast to read. Their banter was sharp, playful, and just the right amount of chaotic. You never quite know who’s winning their little games, but watching them go head to head was half the fun. The chemistry between them jumps off the page and makes the story fly by.

It’s fast paced, funny, and the kind of story that leaves you grinning when you turn the last page. Definitely one I’d recommend when you’re in the mood for something entertaining and full of attitude.

[BOOK IT BISHES · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enemies to lovers plus a heist?! Yes please! This book was so much fun!

Devilry is a snarky smart thief gets a lead on a job that can change her life forever. Her crew however is not sold on the idea but reluctantly tag along. Thinking she has the advantage, a second thief makes his way into her plans. It will take everything to keep him away from her treasure and heart.

Ravager a thief with a heart of gold is ruthless in his own way but has a soft spot for the thief who eluded him. Trapped in a place where magic is dangerous and creatures can devour you, he allies with the beautiful Devilry and soon discovers that he is willing to do everything to keep her safe.

Rebecca delivers as always with this fun and sexy adventure! I absolutely love their banter! While this is a short story, she writes her characters with a lot of heart that will have you smiling to the very end!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun though heavily drew inspiration from Home Alone, including some almost identical traps and dialogue which, whilst being somewhat amusing, definitely jolted me out of the story rather abruptly. So if you're very familiar with the movie, be prepared for that.

The heist plot was what drew me to the book initially but sadly once the FMC and MMC started hooking up, the plot kind of went out the window and the resolution becomes a little rushed. Devilry and Ravenger do get a HEA though and I believe there are some hints to other books dropped in the epilogue chapters though I haven't read any of this author's other work personally to know for sure. Overall it was an enjoyable enough read and a solid 3-stars.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it!! Ravager and Devilry are both wicked and full of mischief

I really enjoyed this! The author likening it to Mr and Mrs Smith (one of my favorite movies) got me to preorder this.

And it definitely delivered! Two thieves who beat the crap out of each other - sometimes with sharp objects - who end up joining forces to battle a common enemy.

There were some moments that surprised me and at point, someone gets maimed and I wasn’t quite expecting it and was devastated lol

It’s a fun, violent rom com with great world building and two leads who have more in common than they think.

[Tia Scellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, fast paced holiday dark romance. Emphasis on the dark- this is a book you need to read the trigger warnings on but if you like depraved and violent you’ll love this book.
Definitely recommend reading in order of at least the Mystic Holiday series to be able to appreciate the cameos and highly recommend having read the Wicked Darling series to better understand the universe that it takes place in. The book is well written enough that even going in blind and reading as a stand alone it would still be great.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 30% of this book was incredibly difficult for me to get through because I simply did not care about the characters of their motivations at all. Once the story started to pick up, I was pretty hooked, but that should have happened way sooner. RFK can write characters that have an innate connection and wonderful chemistry, so this was so different, but aside from the romance, I simply did not care. That might be on me, maybe I’m not a fan of heists or maybe I’m just not a fan of this heist but it all balanced out in the end to a respectable 3 stars.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book recommended to me to talk about with a group of friends. It’s not one I would be inclined to pick up myself, based on the blurb but it wasn’t a bad book, just not my cup of tea particularly. The spice was good, although parts of it were weird and jarring. I liked where the plot ended up going, and how the story ended but the gore and weird creatures were not very fun for me. The writing style and ability was good, so I probably will look at other books by her.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished my advanced read and all I’m going to say (to avoid possible spoilers) is this book is a sweet little treat, a perfect not so guilty pleasure, that will have you on the edge of your couch, lounger, bed, whatever you relax to read on! I’ll absolutely be rereading it when it comes out!! 💯❤️‍🔥

[Aurien · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How charmingly dangerous. Rather like someone else I know.”
“Yourself, I assume.”
“No, love. I’m dangerously charming.”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

Among people like us, there’s a visceral terror of trusting someone too far, of becoming pathetically vulnerable. Sometimes it’s easier to destroy the thing we want rather than risking the pain of its loss.

[Mili · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I thought I made it clear that I can’t live without you. I’m going to stalk you in this life and haunt you in the next"

Yes, hellou, this was a hot hot book. And also fun with traps and monsters!

Author says in the beginning that these are not the nicest ppl but I thought if not so nice, they're loyal Aquariuses 😅

[Helen Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute Christmas novella inspired from the movies Die Hard and Home Alone, with a bit of Fae and a with bit of spice. I’ve enjoyed all 3 of the mythic holidays series, my favourite being the first one.

[Jennlunaisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun to read!! Their banter was my favorite part 😂😂😂 i’m glad they got their happy ending 🥰

[Trysta Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun continuation of RK holiday series! Lots of action and magic and everything that I’ve come to love from Rebecca Kenney!

[Sophie Maples · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a book. The beginning of this series is REALLY strong, but the last two are just kind of meh.

It was fun, but I don’t feel the need to read it again. 3 ⭐️

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really feel the theme of the book, and there’s a lot happening.

I enjoyed the theme, and there’s some chemistry, maybe I was hoping for something more magical with the 2.

[Maci Talley · Rating 5 out of 5]

True enemies to lovers, heist, 🔥spice🥵, standalone. I thought Maleficent Faerie was my favorite RFK but it seems this has taken the number one spot! I also loved the bits of home alone and die hard!! Truly chef’s kiss 🤌🏻