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Little Thieves #3
Holy Terrors
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it. In this thrilling final chapter of the Indie Next series Little Thieves, New York Times-bestselling author Margaret Owen shows us the beauty and peace we find in loving - and forgiving - ourselves of past mistakes.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it. In this thrilling final chapter of the Indie Next series Little Thieves, New York Times-bestselling author Margaret Owen shows us the beauty and peace we find in loving - and forgiving - ourselves of past mistakes.
548 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
166 people are currently reading
19038 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Owen
10 books2,839 followersBorn and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, Margaret Owen spent her childhood haunting the halls of Powell’s Books. After earning her degree in Japanese, her love of espresso called her north to Seattle, where she worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned.
She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)
She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 945 reviews
December 15, 2025
This series is everything. It’s hilarious, laugh out loud funny, it’s crazy at times, off the wall outrageous, raw and real, emotional, silly and just plain perfect.
If you’ve not read Little Thieves yet, I need you to stop slacking and go have some fun (aka read it). It is hands down the funniest book I’ve ever read with the most lovable morally grey FMC ever. imho
Then you need to move on to Painted Devils, where our lovable and morally gray FMC accidentally starts a cult…
OK, all caught up?
Now that you’ve thoroughly immersed yourself in this world and you’re clearly in love with Vanja and Emeric it’s time to move on the final book.
Holy Terrors is everything you’ve ever wanted in a series finale.
The absolute epic growth that we see in both Vanja and Emeric will have you questioning if this is a YA book.
and on that note, this is actually the perfect YA series
It starts off silly and fun with a small lesson about learning to care for others more than yourself.
and then Vanja does what every young adult should do, she makes a mistake, albeit a big one, and from it she grows - she grows so much she learns it’s important to let go of things no matter how much you love them.
and to top it all off we get a series finale that feels grown up enough that if ages were adjusted it could certainly be a book for middle-aged adults, but as it stands its a phenomenal journey of self-discovery and learning how to accept and be loved as you are.
…. I’m not crying writing this review I swear…
Look - stop reading this review and go read the book - nothing I have to say is as important and amazing as this book is.
Audio Narration: 5/5 The narrator really brings this story to life and I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read via audio, this is one I will likely find myself re-listening to often!
4.75⭐️| IG | TikTok |
but… if you do want to read an eloquent and well written review (to which I agree with every point) this one is my fav. Stress Reader's Review - they nailed it and I agree with everything they said.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Children's & Macmillian Audio for sending this book (eARC & ALC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
If you’ve not read Little Thieves yet, I need you to stop slacking and go have some fun (aka read it). It is hands down the funniest book I’ve ever read with the most lovable morally grey FMC ever. imho
Then you need to move on to Painted Devils, where our lovable and morally gray FMC accidentally starts a cult…
OK, all caught up?
Now that you’ve thoroughly immersed yourself in this world and you’re clearly in love with Vanja and Emeric it’s time to move on the final book.
Holy Terrors is everything you’ve ever wanted in a series finale.
The absolute epic growth that we see in both Vanja and Emeric will have you questioning if this is a YA book.
and on that note, this is actually the perfect YA series
It starts off silly and fun with a small lesson about learning to care for others more than yourself.
and then Vanja does what every young adult should do, she makes a mistake, albeit a big one, and from it she grows - she grows so much she learns it’s important to let go of things no matter how much you love them.
and to top it all off we get a series finale that feels grown up enough that if ages were adjusted it could certainly be a book for middle-aged adults, but as it stands its a phenomenal journey of self-discovery and learning how to accept and be loved as you are.
…. I’m not crying writing this review I swear…
Look - stop reading this review and go read the book - nothing I have to say is as important and amazing as this book is.
Audio Narration: 5/5 The narrator really brings this story to life and I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read via audio, this is one I will likely find myself re-listening to often!
4.75⭐️| IG | TikTok |
but… if you do want to read an eloquent and well written review (to which I agree with every point) this one is my fav. Stress Reader's Review - they nailed it and I agree with everything they said.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Children's & Macmillian Audio for sending this book (eARC & ALC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2025
In an unexpected turn of events I did not care at all for the final book in a series that was once very dear to me. At some point in book 2 this series got so strangely horny, and now the relationship drama is one of the biggest plot points. It made me so uncomfortable in book 3. Vanya and Emeric are so mean to each other for the majority of the book, and that weird love triangle situation in the beginning was so awkward, I cringed the entire time. And the main plot didn't do anything for me either. People were assassinated left and right, but not once did I care for what was actually going on. And the way the election part went on for FOREVER ... I barely liked anything here. I'm sad :(
August 10, 2025
To the terrible girls,
Maybe you weren’t soft and lovely.
Maybe you weren’t obedient and kind.
Maybe, when the wolf’s teeth closed, you weren’t concerned with being digestible.
The good news is:
There is so much more to your story.
NEW ALL TIME FAV SERIES ALERT!
i already loved books 1&2, but this definitely solidified its place as one of my all-time favs!!!!
seriously, so much fun w the mysteries and owen brought in such fun unique magic systems.
and vaneric are EVERYTHING to me omg the ANGST. they are one of my fav book couples ever!
seriously a new auto-rec for all fellow fantasy lovers, you NEED to give this a go!
(do not forget to read fallow year on ao3 after book 2 and before this one!)
Maybe you weren’t soft and lovely.
Maybe you weren’t obedient and kind.
Maybe, when the wolf’s teeth closed, you weren’t concerned with being digestible.
The good news is:
There is so much more to your story.
NEW ALL TIME FAV SERIES ALERT!
i already loved books 1&2, but this definitely solidified its place as one of my all-time favs!!!!
seriously, so much fun w the mysteries and owen brought in such fun unique magic systems.
and vaneric are EVERYTHING to me omg the ANGST. they are one of my fav book couples ever!
seriously a new auto-rec for all fellow fantasy lovers, you NEED to give this a go!
(do not forget to read fallow year on ao3 after book 2 and before this one!)
June 24, 2024
a groundbreaking finale for the series. it dares to ask: what if we got a divorce book, but in YA
October 23, 2024
⚠️ Potential spoilers for Little Thieves and Painted Devils ⚠️
Holy Terrors is the culmination of chaos filled heists, accidental cult initiations, and the gem of curses with enemies to lovers, gods, a humorously haunted doll, and my favorite found family to date that will have readers turning pages and going through the full gamut of emotions. All of that thrice over.
Going into Holy Terrors, I was scared it wouldn't live up to what I've built it up to be and of their story coming to a close. I'm delighted to say it was all that I had built it up to be, and more. I cried at least twice (even the acknowledgement made me cry, making me think Margaret Owen is the Holy Terror 🤔😂). I chuckled so many times. This book, this series, is everything. If you ever read a book because of my reviews, let it be this one. It will break you and heal you in the best of ways.
🪟 I grew up somewhat similarly to Vanya. Unwanted and abused by her bio parents, abandoned by her bio mom, being basically adopted as the goddaughter of the Gods Death and Fortune (I was adopted as a teen, but not by Gods 😂), growing up doing whatever it takes just to survive another day.
Because of that, I realize that I connect with this series, these characters, in a way that not everyone may. If you're someone who's had a vastly different life experience, this book may not hit you on a deeply visceral level like it did me, and others like me.
If you're a character focused reader, you would love this. If you're a plot focused reader, you would love this. I feel like the mix of fantasy to romance is the prefect middle ground (slightly leaning more on the fantasy side, which is my preference).
After a lifetime of scheming and running, is Vanya finally ready and in a place where she can feel safe to stop scheming and running? Well, not stop scheming because then she wouldn't be the Vanya we know and love.
📖 I found the plot to be intriguing and I was captivated immediately. I both love and appreciate that this is a book that you can choose to read purely for entertainment purposes, or you can think more deeply about the big topics within the pages. Owen walks the line of bringing light to those topics without the reader feeling like they're the main (or only) point to the book. The series as a whole is like that.
Owen is a master at meticulously weaving an intricate plot, while keeping it from feeling overwhelming, contrived, or so intricate that it hurts your brain. Beautifully executed tie ins/call backs, twists and turns, as well as a shocking reveal.
Holy Terrors invites readers to consider themes such as what it is to be human, is vigilante justice truly "jusitce," and other big topics. You don't have to accept the invitation to enjoy the book, but you can choose whether to take Holy Terrors at face value, or to think more deeply on the themes within.
✍️🏼 Exquisitely written with gorgeous turns of phrases and rich descriptions, plus bits of snarky humor. It reads smoothly and easily, while being a delight to read.
🗺 Owen enriches the world she built in the previous 2 books, as well as adds new world building to create a fully immersive fantasy world. Additional lore and expansions on what's already been built leave the reader encorselled.
🔮 The magic system is well developed and explained in previous books, with some expansion in Holy Terrors.
⏳️Great pacing with action, tension, and beautiful character work pushing the plot along.
👥 A diverse, queer normative cast that are so endearing you can't help but love - or so cruel and evil you can't help but love to hate. The characters are full of personality with interesting backstories. Excellent character work in this series.
💞 This romance is one of my all time favorites. It started as true enemies-to-lovers, and has had many ups and downs since. They're bickering is so much fun to read. I love that Owen had them as actual enemies, and showed us how they went from that to so much more, and all the bumps along the way. The angst is so well done.
He's a rigid Type A, the youngest prefect (police investigator) in history, on the case to track down and bring her (as the Pfennigeist) to Justice.
📚 If you like: Six of Crows (Leigh Bardugo), Sorcery of Thorns (Margaret Rogerson), An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson), Merciful Crow duology (Margaret Owen), A Fragile Enchantment (Allison Saft), A Far Wilder Magic (Allison Saft), Down Comes the Night (Allison Saft), or the Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries series (Heather Fawcett) - I think you would love this series.
Thank you to @what_eats_owls MacMillan Children's, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
-------
I laughed, I cried. I loved this book so much.
Review to come once my heart and brain have recovered.
Holy Terrors is the culmination of chaos filled heists, accidental cult initiations, and the gem of curses with enemies to lovers, gods, a humorously haunted doll, and my favorite found family to date that will have readers turning pages and going through the full gamut of emotions. All of that thrice over.
Going into Holy Terrors, I was scared it wouldn't live up to what I've built it up to be and of their story coming to a close. I'm delighted to say it was all that I had built it up to be, and more. I cried at least twice (even the acknowledgement made me cry, making me think Margaret Owen is the Holy Terror 🤔😂). I chuckled so many times. This book, this series, is everything. If you ever read a book because of my reviews, let it be this one. It will break you and heal you in the best of ways.
🪟 I grew up somewhat similarly to Vanya. Unwanted and abused by her bio parents, abandoned by her bio mom, being basically adopted as the goddaughter of the Gods Death and Fortune (I was adopted as a teen, but not by Gods 😂), growing up doing whatever it takes just to survive another day.
Because of that, I realize that I connect with this series, these characters, in a way that not everyone may. If you're someone who's had a vastly different life experience, this book may not hit you on a deeply visceral level like it did me, and others like me.
If you're a character focused reader, you would love this. If you're a plot focused reader, you would love this. I feel like the mix of fantasy to romance is the prefect middle ground (slightly leaning more on the fantasy side, which is my preference).
After a lifetime of scheming and running, is Vanya finally ready and in a place where she can feel safe to stop scheming and running? Well, not stop scheming because then she wouldn't be the Vanya we know and love.
📖 I found the plot to be intriguing and I was captivated immediately. I both love and appreciate that this is a book that you can choose to read purely for entertainment purposes, or you can think more deeply about the big topics within the pages. Owen walks the line of bringing light to those topics without the reader feeling like they're the main (or only) point to the book. The series as a whole is like that.
Owen is a master at meticulously weaving an intricate plot, while keeping it from feeling overwhelming, contrived, or so intricate that it hurts your brain. Beautifully executed tie ins/call backs, twists and turns, as well as a shocking reveal.
Holy Terrors invites readers to consider themes such as what it is to be human, is vigilante justice truly "jusitce," and other big topics. You don't have to accept the invitation to enjoy the book, but you can choose whether to take Holy Terrors at face value, or to think more deeply on the themes within.
✍️🏼 Exquisitely written with gorgeous turns of phrases and rich descriptions, plus bits of snarky humor. It reads smoothly and easily, while being a delight to read.
🗺 Owen enriches the world she built in the previous 2 books, as well as adds new world building to create a fully immersive fantasy world. Additional lore and expansions on what's already been built leave the reader encorselled.
🔮 The magic system is well developed and explained in previous books, with some expansion in Holy Terrors.
⏳️Great pacing with action, tension, and beautiful character work pushing the plot along.
👥 A diverse, queer normative cast that are so endearing you can't help but love - or so cruel and evil you can't help but love to hate. The characters are full of personality with interesting backstories. Excellent character work in this series.
💞 This romance is one of my all time favorites. It started as true enemies-to-lovers, and has had many ups and downs since. They're bickering is so much fun to read. I love that Owen had them as actual enemies, and showed us how they went from that to so much more, and all the bumps along the way. The angst is so well done.
He's a rigid Type A, the youngest prefect (police investigator) in history, on the case to track down and bring her (as the Pfennigeist) to Justice.
📚 If you like: Six of Crows (Leigh Bardugo), Sorcery of Thorns (Margaret Rogerson), An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson), Merciful Crow duology (Margaret Owen), A Fragile Enchantment (Allison Saft), A Far Wilder Magic (Allison Saft), Down Comes the Night (Allison Saft), or the Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries series (Heather Fawcett) - I think you would love this series.
Thank you to @what_eats_owls MacMillan Children's, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
-------
I laughed, I cried. I loved this book so much.
Review to come once my heart and brain have recovered.
Currently reading
April 22, 2025This better end happy because I barely survived Painted Devils
March 17, 2025
5
It's over 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭
*Review to come*
Pre-review comments below
Am I adding this to my TBR before I even read the second one? yes 👀 because I will read ANYTHING Margaret Owen writes (and Vanja is my beloved)
Update WHEN did we get a cover??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Update 10/8/24 WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD ON EDELWEISS RIGHT NOW
It's over 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭
*Review to come*
Pre-review comments below
Am I adding this to my TBR before I even read the second one? yes 👀 because I will read ANYTHING Margaret Owen writes (and Vanja is my beloved)
Update WHEN did we get a cover??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Update 10/8/24 WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD ON EDELWEISS RIGHT NOW
April 29, 2025
Wspaniałe, napiszę więcej jak przestanę płakać 😭
April 19, 2025
for my own piece of mind, i refuse to read the 2.5 novellas that take place before this book, because they could be my final straw 😀 margaret owen do you live off the tears of your fans...
ANYWAY. this book was INSANE. for a 560 page book, this absolutely FLEW by. so beautifully written and absolutely devastating and absolutely spectacular!
people did call this the divorce book and they did not lie - our main loves went through some tough times. i was screaming, slamming down the book, flopping onto the floor like i myself was in their position - truly, margaret owen has the most phenomenal character writing, because they were so human-like and flawed and precious!!
while i often use reading for entertaining escapism, this series - despite being a wild fantasy adventure of magic, godparents (literally), crime, belief, and mischief - truly makes you adore and feel for the characters, because they make so many mistakes, but they always keep trying. don't get me wrong, it is absolutely escapism because this series transports you to another (more fun) world, but the characters aren't clear cut heroes and villains. they're people! (though some of them are definitely villains.)
i still think book #1 was the strongest book plot-wise, and definitely the most fun, but this book was a little more serious and delved into how much we can give up for loved ones. i really, really loved how margaret owen didn't do the basic "in every life, we would be together" plot - instead, she showed that you truly have to try and work for your relationships, and it is too easy to lose yourself in the process.
but don't get me wrong, this book still made me laugh the whole way through! i love the humour of these books, and the banter between our two protagonists. they just match so perfectly! and i was really satisfied with the ending. plus, as per usual, the illustrations were gorgeous!!
everyone please read this series!!
~~~
pre-read review: ohoho YES this cover has made my year...
still not completely sure this book is necessary BUT LOOK I'M OBSESSED WITH THESE TWO MENACES so i'll take anything margaret owen will give 🤷🏻♀️
ANYWAY. this book was INSANE. for a 560 page book, this absolutely FLEW by. so beautifully written and absolutely devastating and absolutely spectacular!
people did call this the divorce book and they did not lie - our main loves went through some tough times. i was screaming, slamming down the book, flopping onto the floor like i myself was in their position - truly, margaret owen has the most phenomenal character writing, because they were so human-like and flawed and precious!!
while i often use reading for entertaining escapism, this series - despite being a wild fantasy adventure of magic, godparents (literally), crime, belief, and mischief - truly makes you adore and feel for the characters, because they make so many mistakes, but they always keep trying. don't get me wrong, it is absolutely escapism because this series transports you to another (more fun) world, but the characters aren't clear cut heroes and villains. they're people! (though some of them are definitely villains.)
i still think book #1 was the strongest book plot-wise, and definitely the most fun, but this book was a little more serious and delved into how much we can give up for loved ones. i really, really loved how margaret owen didn't do the basic "in every life, we would be together" plot - instead, she showed that you truly have to try and work for your relationships, and it is too easy to lose yourself in the process.
but don't get me wrong, this book still made me laugh the whole way through! i love the humour of these books, and the banter between our two protagonists. they just match so perfectly! and i was really satisfied with the ending. plus, as per usual, the illustrations were gorgeous!!
everyone please read this series!!
~~~
pre-read review: ohoho YES this cover has made my year...
still not completely sure this book is necessary BUT LOOK I'M OBSESSED WITH THESE TWO MENACES so i'll take anything margaret owen will give 🤷🏻♀️
April 10, 2025
One of the best conclusions to my favourite Young Adult Fantasy series!
Non-spoiler for whole series:
This is a series where we have a very damaged anti-heroine who believes no one can love her and a law-abiding hero who never lets his prize go uncaught.
One person who swore he would chase me, find me, choose me, every time.
Owen knows how to write flawed but deeply lovable characters. She gets fears, relationships, and pitfalls. She doesn’t fall into the trap that realising you have feelings for someone and acting on it means an automatic happily ever after.
Also, YA innuendos - you will be forever beloved.
“No, she trained him to attack my—me,” Emeric hisses, “and she needs to take responsibility—”
“I have plans,” I return. “You want to talk responsibility? One of us is actually working your case right now, and the other just had a kitten bite his—”
P.s in this book we have a kitten that causes co-parenting situations that had me cackling
This book:
It has been almost two years since Vanja ran from Emeric, worried she will be the cause of his ruin.
As the The Pfennigeist, she has bounced all around the Empire, exposing corrupt bureaucrats, returning stolen heirlooms, swindling unpaid wages from greedy employers.
When she is framed for the increasing deaths of royals, she is forced to join the investigation to clear her name and face Emeric… and his new fiancé.
Despite feeling betrayed by the end of book two in terms of reversal of character development, we see both Vanja and Emeric wrestle with what they are feeling and not feeling. Their fears and desires.
“What if one of us is always going to ruin the other?”
Without hesitation, Emeric says, “Then ruin me.”
This had a lot of politicking, intrigue, and facing up to what you don’t want to do.
Every time you thought you reached the climax, there was another twist. The ending was a whirlwind of happenings and brought us full circle to book one… which I enjoyed even if I didn’t love the execution due to its chaotic quickness.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Non-spoiler for whole series:
This is a series where we have a very damaged anti-heroine who believes no one can love her and a law-abiding hero who never lets his prize go uncaught.
One person who swore he would chase me, find me, choose me, every time.
Owen knows how to write flawed but deeply lovable characters. She gets fears, relationships, and pitfalls. She doesn’t fall into the trap that realising you have feelings for someone and acting on it means an automatic happily ever after.
Also, YA innuendos - you will be forever beloved.
“No, she trained him to attack my—me,” Emeric hisses, “and she needs to take responsibility—”
“I have plans,” I return. “You want to talk responsibility? One of us is actually working your case right now, and the other just had a kitten bite his—”
P.s in this book we have a kitten that causes co-parenting situations that had me cackling
This book:
It has been almost two years since Vanja ran from Emeric, worried she will be the cause of his ruin.
As the The Pfennigeist, she has bounced all around the Empire, exposing corrupt bureaucrats, returning stolen heirlooms, swindling unpaid wages from greedy employers.
When she is framed for the increasing deaths of royals, she is forced to join the investigation to clear her name and face Emeric… and his new fiancé.
Despite feeling betrayed by the end of book two in terms of reversal of character development, we see both Vanja and Emeric wrestle with what they are feeling and not feeling. Their fears and desires.
“What if one of us is always going to ruin the other?”
Without hesitation, Emeric says, “Then ruin me.”
This had a lot of politicking, intrigue, and facing up to what you don’t want to do.
Every time you thought you reached the climax, there was another twist. The ending was a whirlwind of happenings and brought us full circle to book one… which I enjoyed even if I didn’t love the execution due to its chaotic quickness.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
May 10, 2025
my heart hurts in the best way possible. holy terrors was the perfect end to my three-year relationship with this series. vanja ros and emeric conrad, you will always be famous
real review to come later and when i'm not sleep deprived at 11:11, but I have some thoughts I just have to get out:
- saints and martyrs the representation. the romance. the political intrigue. the murder. what more can a girl want
- this series is just a goldmine
- you can feel all the care and love put into this so acutely. next up is a complete reread of this series because I don't think I can leave the blessed empire behind.
- 548 pages??
- this is also the same book that was delayed an extra year because of just how much needed to be edited out of it... ms owen. director's cut when (you could release vanja's shopping list and I would buy it and love it and rate it 5 stars)
- unlikeable female heroines you have my heart (katniss everdeen, vanja ros, coincidence that these are my two obsessions rn? I think not)
- vanja is very ttpd coded just saying
- esp the albatross and the bolter
- and emeric is down bad crying at the gym idk guys its 11:20 as I mentioned
- it's so personal to me that these books are written for the gremlin girls bc that's literally me!!!
- if you guys care I dressed up as vanja ros to school on halloween 3 years ago before either of the sequels were out. this is real dedication guys i'm actually the number one fan of this series
- okay bye before I reveal my social security number or some shit brb in the morning lmao
call me emeric the way i will follow vanja everywhere
all jokes aside i am going absolutely insane over holy terrors. i remember finishing painted devils in 2023 and going "2025?? that's so long!!! i'll be (insert age)!!!" at any rate we're here now!!
ik this book is going to tear apart my heart and then meticulously stitch it back together. vanja ros the gremlin that you are <3333
real review to come later and when i'm not sleep deprived at 11:11, but I have some thoughts I just have to get out:
- saints and martyrs the representation. the romance. the political intrigue. the murder. what more can a girl want
- this series is just a goldmine
- you can feel all the care and love put into this so acutely. next up is a complete reread of this series because I don't think I can leave the blessed empire behind.
- 548 pages??
- this is also the same book that was delayed an extra year because of just how much needed to be edited out of it... ms owen. director's cut when (you could release vanja's shopping list and I would buy it and love it and rate it 5 stars)
- unlikeable female heroines you have my heart (katniss everdeen, vanja ros, coincidence that these are my two obsessions rn? I think not)
- vanja is very ttpd coded just saying
- esp the albatross and the bolter
- and emeric is down bad crying at the gym idk guys its 11:20 as I mentioned
- it's so personal to me that these books are written for the gremlin girls bc that's literally me!!!
- if you guys care I dressed up as vanja ros to school on halloween 3 years ago before either of the sequels were out. this is real dedication guys i'm actually the number one fan of this series
- okay bye before I reveal my social security number or some shit brb in the morning lmao
call me emeric the way i will follow vanja everywhere
all jokes aside i am going absolutely insane over holy terrors. i remember finishing painted devils in 2023 and going "2025?? that's so long!!! i'll be (insert age)!!!" at any rate we're here now!!
ik this book is going to tear apart my heart and then meticulously stitch it back together. vanja ros the gremlin that you are <3333
June 4, 2025
I've been moved by the writing throughout the Little Thieves trilogy, but Holy Terrors is by far the most touching of the series. I am so beyond impressed by Margaret Owen's writing. She crafts such engaging plots with really solid humour, yet interjects them with such humanity. The characters feel so real, as do their insecurities and growth. The themes almost always bring me to tears, and the romance is so heartfelt. I am sad that this series is over, but so happy to see the characters I love get their well-deserved resolution. Other than a few instances of wanting to shake Emeric, I loved this story from start to finish. I highly recommend this series.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 26, 2025
The dialogue between Vanja & Emeric > the rest of the plot.
First things first, TY for this ARC
Netgalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.
Quick background –I loved book 1 but book 2 put me in a book slump. So I was nervous about book 3, but I needed to know what shenanigans Vanja was getting herself into now.
And though…
1. I genuinely missed the audio narration- &
2. I was overwhelmed with keeping track of the level of side characters. * &
3. Pacing and plot were frustrating…**
We, the readers, needed that ending***. Owen just makes you really work for it. 😅😩
I’m not sure how to rate this, tbh. So I’ll keep it in the middle to play it safe.
*I desperately needed a list of characters to reference.
** I can’t believe Owen did us dirty at 75%. We were so close!
*** Which reminds me-I love the illustrations for this series. 🥰 Give them a raise.
First things first, TY for this ARC
Netgalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.
Quick background –I loved book 1 but book 2 put me in a book slump. So I was nervous about book 3, but I needed to know what shenanigans Vanja was getting herself into now.
And though…
1. I genuinely missed the audio narration- &
2. I was overwhelmed with keeping track of the level of side characters. * &
3. Pacing and plot were frustrating…**
We, the readers, needed that ending***. Owen just makes you really work for it. 😅😩
I’m not sure how to rate this, tbh. So I’ll keep it in the middle to play it safe.
*I desperately needed a list of characters to reference.
** I can’t believe Owen did us dirty at 75%. We were so close!
*** Which reminds me-I love the illustrations for this series. 🥰 Give them a raise.
May 6, 2025
Honestly, I don't know what to say...
Part of me feels disappointed, but part of me found it interesting, I kept stretching it out.
Still, I liked the first part the most.
The ending was good (I was even a bit shocked by one plot twist)
I'm not really into those situations where they can't talk and it just leads to more hate, but there were some sweet moments too, and I laughed at times.
Part of me feels disappointed, but part of me found it interesting, I kept stretching it out.
Still, I liked the first part the most.
The ending was good (I was even a bit shocked by one plot twist)
I'm not really into those situations where they can't talk and it just leads to more hate, but there were some sweet moments too, and I laughed at times.
April 11, 2025
2.75⭐️
It really pains me to say this, but I honestly think this may have been the worst series finale I've ever read 😭. Reading this series has honestly been such a wild, frustrating, and heartbreaking experience because I ADORED Little Thieves when I read it last year, enjoyed Painted Devils not nearly as much and was furious at the ending, really didn't enjoy The Fallow Year, and then Holy Terrors really let me down as well. I have so many thoughts about this one and no idea how I'm going to articulate them, but hopefully I can form a somewhat coherent review.
For me, I thought this book started out quite strong. I really enjoyed the opening chapters and then thought that the following plotline of a locked-room style murder mystery worked really well alongside the tension between Vanja and Emeric and their personal growth. At this point in the book, it was looking like this was going to turn out as a 4⭐️ read because, as much as I thought this plotline was compelling and intriguing, it still had a lot of faults. For one, there was just too much for readers to keep track of. The murder mystery is centred around the royal families of the empire, and the issue lies in the fact that this book is the first time we're meeting any of them (outside of Von Falbirg and Von Wälft) so we simply don't care about them, or have the knowledge to keep track of who they are. This section is dragged out for a bit too long for my liking, and unfortunately I felt that Vanja and Emeric's reconnection felt a bit rushed, but it is miles better than what comes next. If the book had ended at the end of the murder mystery section, then this would be a somewhat flawed but decent 4⭐️ read and satisfying series finale, but no...
Because, for reasons that I cannot make sense of, around the 70% mark, everything goes wrong and this book becomes a complete mess because the author decides to bring in different timelines. I won't say too much on this because of spoilers, but this section completely ruined this book for me. For one, it is not grounded at all in the rest of the book or series as a whole, so comes out of nowhere to the point that, from the start of part 4 to almost the end of the book, it felt like I was reading an entirely different book. As someone who reads a lot of high fantasy, intensive sci-fi, and has read some truly horrendously convoluted texts on my literature uni course, this section is also far too complicated. It is simply too much for a reader to handle and, personally, I don't think it makes any sense and I'm shocked that the editors of this book did nothing to fix this. Genuinely, once my frustration at this turn of events subsided, I spent the last 20% of this book just laughing at how bad it was. If this hadn't been the series finale and this hadn't happened so close to the end, I would've DNFed this. I'd become so disinterested that the final climax had no stakes and I just didn't care anymore because the plot had become so ridiculous.
My feelings about this series' actual ending comes in two parts. The overarching, empire-wide ending was dreadful. It was, again, not grounded at all, underserved for the characters relating to the ending, and based upon pure convenience. And then we have Vanja and Emeric's personal ending. Now this I was really happy with and it was exactly what I wanted, and it felt well-earned and fitted the characters' journeys. But, this was very much tainted by the weird time-bending mess that came before it. I firmly believe, with a few tweaks, the entire last 25% of this book could've been cut, with Vanja and Emeric's ending coming after the murder mystery ends, and this would've been a much better book.
Overall, this book simply tried to do too much and was executed terribly. I cannot for the life of me work out why on earth the timelines plotline was needed, and was unimpressed with the book's villains and the overall ending. It's such a shame because this series had so much potential, and I do think this either should've been just Little Thieves as a standalone, or a duology with the ending of Painted Devils tweaked, especially when so much of Painted Devils (and the most compelling part of it for sure) was centred on Vanja finding her family, and then (other than Ozkar) they just didn't appear in this at all. There were so many plotholes and things left undealt with () and this book was far too complicated and messy to prove a satisfying finale. If you're wanting to try this series, I'm not entirely sure I can recommend it anymore, and would suggest maybe reading Little Thieves simply as a standalone.
Also, extra note:
I know Margaret Owen claims you can read Holy Terrors just fine without having read The Fallow Year, but I'm here to tell you that you absolutely cannot. So many of the significant characters in this book (Benno, Lilje, Dorholtz, and even Ozkar to an extent) are introduced and properly grounded and developed in The Fallow Year stories, and without having read that I don't think some of the emotional moments or even general plot moments will work and they will feel like random additions to the plot just like the majority of side characters in this. Vanja and Emeric's personal journeys in The Fallow Year are also incredibly important or this book, and so a lot will be missing without this.
It really pains me to say this, but I honestly think this may have been the worst series finale I've ever read 😭. Reading this series has honestly been such a wild, frustrating, and heartbreaking experience because I ADORED Little Thieves when I read it last year, enjoyed Painted Devils not nearly as much and was furious at the ending, really didn't enjoy The Fallow Year, and then Holy Terrors really let me down as well. I have so many thoughts about this one and no idea how I'm going to articulate them, but hopefully I can form a somewhat coherent review.
For me, I thought this book started out quite strong. I really enjoyed the opening chapters and then thought that the following plotline of a locked-room style murder mystery worked really well alongside the tension between Vanja and Emeric and their personal growth. At this point in the book, it was looking like this was going to turn out as a 4⭐️ read because, as much as I thought this plotline was compelling and intriguing, it still had a lot of faults. For one, there was just too much for readers to keep track of. The murder mystery is centred around the royal families of the empire, and the issue lies in the fact that this book is the first time we're meeting any of them (outside of Von Falbirg and Von Wälft) so we simply don't care about them, or have the knowledge to keep track of who they are. This section is dragged out for a bit too long for my liking, and unfortunately I felt that Vanja and Emeric's reconnection felt a bit rushed, but it is miles better than what comes next. If the book had ended at the end of the murder mystery section, then this would be a somewhat flawed but decent 4⭐️ read and satisfying series finale, but no...
Because, for reasons that I cannot make sense of, around the 70% mark, everything goes wrong and this book becomes a complete mess because the author decides to bring in different timelines. I won't say too much on this because of spoilers, but this section completely ruined this book for me. For one, it is not grounded at all in the rest of the book or series as a whole, so comes out of nowhere to the point that, from the start of part 4 to almost the end of the book, it felt like I was reading an entirely different book. As someone who reads a lot of high fantasy, intensive sci-fi, and has read some truly horrendously convoluted texts on my literature uni course, this section is also far too complicated. It is simply too much for a reader to handle and, personally, I don't think it makes any sense and I'm shocked that the editors of this book did nothing to fix this. Genuinely, once my frustration at this turn of events subsided, I spent the last 20% of this book just laughing at how bad it was. If this hadn't been the series finale and this hadn't happened so close to the end, I would've DNFed this. I'd become so disinterested that the final climax had no stakes and I just didn't care anymore because the plot had become so ridiculous.
My feelings about this series' actual ending comes in two parts. The overarching, empire-wide ending was dreadful. It was, again, not grounded at all, underserved for the characters relating to the ending, and based upon pure convenience. And then we have Vanja and Emeric's personal ending. Now this I was really happy with and it was exactly what I wanted, and it felt well-earned and fitted the characters' journeys. But, this was very much tainted by the weird time-bending mess that came before it. I firmly believe, with a few tweaks, the entire last 25% of this book could've been cut, with Vanja and Emeric's ending coming after the murder mystery ends, and this would've been a much better book.
Overall, this book simply tried to do too much and was executed terribly. I cannot for the life of me work out why on earth the timelines plotline was needed, and was unimpressed with the book's villains and the overall ending. It's such a shame because this series had so much potential, and I do think this either should've been just Little Thieves as a standalone, or a duology with the ending of Painted Devils tweaked, especially when so much of Painted Devils (and the most compelling part of it for sure) was centred on Vanja finding her family, and then (other than Ozkar) they just didn't appear in this at all. There were so many plotholes and things left undealt with () and this book was far too complicated and messy to prove a satisfying finale. If you're wanting to try this series, I'm not entirely sure I can recommend it anymore, and would suggest maybe reading Little Thieves simply as a standalone.
Also, extra note:
I know Margaret Owen claims you can read Holy Terrors just fine without having read The Fallow Year, but I'm here to tell you that you absolutely cannot. So many of the significant characters in this book (Benno, Lilje, Dorholtz, and even Ozkar to an extent) are introduced and properly grounded and developed in The Fallow Year stories, and without having read that I don't think some of the emotional moments or even general plot moments will work and they will feel like random additions to the plot just like the majority of side characters in this. Vanja and Emeric's personal journeys in The Fallow Year are also incredibly important or this book, and so a lot will be missing without this.
March 30, 2025
“Blessed be the crown
Sacred be the bearer
Righteous be the spirit
And holy be the terror”
Poor Vanja. The daughter of Death and Fortune was never going to have an easy time of it, was she? In the final book of the trilogy, we start with a bit of a time jump. Vanja and Emeric tried to make a go of things, but as is her habit, she ran. (For mostly selfless reasons, but still.) She’s been going to town to town, trying to help people in her guise as the Pfennigeist, but nobles start showing up dead with her trademark red penny on their tongues. And who better to apprehend her than the prefect she ran from?
This was a beautifully executed end to a delightful little trilogy. There’s a lot of action, murder, betrayal, court intrigue, what have you. But there’s also a lot of deeply emotional scenes and revelations. A good bit of time is spent exploring the roads not taken, and how things could have played out and who Vanja might have become, vs the person she is. Her growth arc as a character has been enormous, and it’s easy to see when you compare the choices she might have made in the past to the ones she makes now.
I wish we’d had a bit more of the lower gods just because they seem enormously fun, but the strength of the story is such that you don’t need gods popping in and out to make things move along; it stands all on its own. My only note would be the pop culture references – I get it, they’re supposed to be fun and it’s a very witty, snarky, funny book. But modern song lyrics and references in a book set in medieval Germany (or a world inspired by) pulls me out of the story every time.
Definitely a series I would recommend to anyone who likes medieval settings, rich characters, difficult relationships, or retellings of fairytales. (Book 1 is loosely based on the Goose Girl tale.) And snark? Oh, there’s so much snark. “I cannot believe I’m attracted to a human civics primer.”
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan/Henry Holt & Co for the chance to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Sacred be the bearer
Righteous be the spirit
And holy be the terror”
Poor Vanja. The daughter of Death and Fortune was never going to have an easy time of it, was she? In the final book of the trilogy, we start with a bit of a time jump. Vanja and Emeric tried to make a go of things, but as is her habit, she ran. (For mostly selfless reasons, but still.) She’s been going to town to town, trying to help people in her guise as the Pfennigeist, but nobles start showing up dead with her trademark red penny on their tongues. And who better to apprehend her than the prefect she ran from?
This was a beautifully executed end to a delightful little trilogy. There’s a lot of action, murder, betrayal, court intrigue, what have you. But there’s also a lot of deeply emotional scenes and revelations. A good bit of time is spent exploring the roads not taken, and how things could have played out and who Vanja might have become, vs the person she is. Her growth arc as a character has been enormous, and it’s easy to see when you compare the choices she might have made in the past to the ones she makes now.
I wish we’d had a bit more of the lower gods just because they seem enormously fun, but the strength of the story is such that you don’t need gods popping in and out to make things move along; it stands all on its own. My only note would be the pop culture references – I get it, they’re supposed to be fun and it’s a very witty, snarky, funny book. But modern song lyrics and references in a book set in medieval Germany (or a world inspired by) pulls me out of the story every time.
Definitely a series I would recommend to anyone who likes medieval settings, rich characters, difficult relationships, or retellings of fairytales. (Book 1 is loosely based on the Goose Girl tale.) And snark? Oh, there’s so much snark. “I cannot believe I’m attracted to a human civics primer.”
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan/Henry Holt & Co for the chance to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2025
listening to Gracie Abrams while reading this was crazy
May 22, 2025
I can't believe, after all this time, we're finally here. I was desperate for this ending for so long and yet I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters. Thank goodness I have the ability to schedule rereads in my future because I'm going to need them.
I can't say that HOLY TERRORS exceeded my love for the preceding books but it's pretty close. And I think the only reason this didn't quite measure up was because things are.. complicated and a little drawn out. Which isn't to say I was bored, because I wasn't, not even if things got way too serious for even Vanja to crack jokes. It was just maybe a touch of a lot of things, and people, in the mix.
And then that bit unmasking, which wasn't quite a surprise for me, but the extent of it? The scale? The vengeance wrought? Wowza. Unreal. Literally. And the callbacks and how everything tied in from day one? Owen's mind is wild.
There was no way to know what I was in for when I spent the first hundred pages alternately kicking my feet and giggling and then being knocked back by an angsty sucker punch. And said beginning certainly didn't prepare me for where we would end up because, well, see aforementioned sucker punches. The emotional arcs are hard and brutal but if you've read the other books you know that's par for the course. Vanja is put through the wringer but Emeric, and their friends, aren't immune to the same. But Vanja, oh Vanja, my darling gremlin girl. You know the "probably needed a hug but.." meme? Well, just scrawl that across her forehead because yeah.
I long ago knew I was going to read anything and everything Owen came out with but this series just cemented that reality for me -- and then some. I love her narrative, her voice, her plot, her jokes, and (but?), more than anything, I love her characters. I can't wait to see where she goes next but equally I'm really happy to just sit with my feelings about this series and luxuriate in the experience.
Highly highly recommend.
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I can't say that HOLY TERRORS exceeded my love for the preceding books but it's pretty close. And I think the only reason this didn't quite measure up was because things are.. complicated and a little drawn out. Which isn't to say I was bored, because I wasn't, not even if things got way too serious for even Vanja to crack jokes. It was just maybe a touch of a lot of things, and people, in the mix.
And then that bit unmasking, which wasn't quite a surprise for me, but the extent of it? The scale? The vengeance wrought? Wowza. Unreal. Literally. And the callbacks and how everything tied in from day one? Owen's mind is wild.
There was no way to know what I was in for when I spent the first hundred pages alternately kicking my feet and giggling and then being knocked back by an angsty sucker punch. And said beginning certainly didn't prepare me for where we would end up because, well, see aforementioned sucker punches. The emotional arcs are hard and brutal but if you've read the other books you know that's par for the course. Vanja is put through the wringer but Emeric, and their friends, aren't immune to the same. But Vanja, oh Vanja, my darling gremlin girl. You know the "probably needed a hug but.." meme? Well, just scrawl that across her forehead because yeah.
I long ago knew I was going to read anything and everything Owen came out with but this series just cemented that reality for me -- and then some. I love her narrative, her voice, her plot, her jokes, and (but?), more than anything, I love her characters. I can't wait to see where she goes next but equally I'm really happy to just sit with my feelings about this series and luxuriate in the experience.
Highly highly recommend.
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
April 8, 2025
I went into Holy Terrors a little nervous. I loved the first two books in the trilogy (and Margaret Owen's AO3 story about the year between Painted Devils and Holy Terrors). I adore our main characters. I knew their road to the conclusion would be bumpy. How much would it hurt? A LOT. How much would I cry? A LOT. How much would I laugh? A LOT.
Buckle up, friends, this is quite a ride!
The first 50% of this book follows a rough format that anyone who is familiar with the previous books would be expecting. Vanja, our wounded heroine, tries to carve out a life for herself after the events of the second book. She finds a way to help others while also nursing wounds left by abandoning Emeric. Despite the fact that she's a thief at heart, we see her righting wrongs and looking out for the underdogs she encounters. She dates a few people. And then Emeric shows up. It's not the satisfying reunion you expect. This early phase gives way to one where Vanja is a suspect and is plunged into political intrigue while surrounded by royalty and prefects.
At 75%, you will think it's done. You’ll assume that the last 25% will be settling all your beloved characters into their happily ever afters. Oh, friend, you will be so wrong. The last 25% is when you'll be catapulted into a wild, what-is-even-happening-right-now dimension where the roller coaster you were on from the first three quarters of the book will look like the “It's a Small World” ride. The last quarter is bonkers in all the best ways.
Yes, you will get your happily ever afters. Yes, you will be satisfied. But you will be gob smacked by the last quarter of this book. And the you'll want to read it again to make sure you understand what happened.
Also, there's an adorable kitten.
I was given early access to this by the publisher, but the opinions in this review are my own.
Buckle up, friends, this is quite a ride!
The first 50% of this book follows a rough format that anyone who is familiar with the previous books would be expecting. Vanja, our wounded heroine, tries to carve out a life for herself after the events of the second book. She finds a way to help others while also nursing wounds left by abandoning Emeric. Despite the fact that she's a thief at heart, we see her righting wrongs and looking out for the underdogs she encounters. She dates a few people. And then Emeric shows up. It's not the satisfying reunion you expect. This early phase gives way to one where Vanja is a suspect and is plunged into political intrigue while surrounded by royalty and prefects.
At 75%, you will think it's done. You’ll assume that the last 25% will be settling all your beloved characters into their happily ever afters. Oh, friend, you will be so wrong. The last 25% is when you'll be catapulted into a wild, what-is-even-happening-right-now dimension where the roller coaster you were on from the first three quarters of the book will look like the “It's a Small World” ride. The last quarter is bonkers in all the best ways.
Yes, you will get your happily ever afters. Yes, you will be satisfied. But you will be gob smacked by the last quarter of this book. And the you'll want to read it again to make sure you understand what happened.
Also, there's an adorable kitten.
I was given early access to this by the publisher, but the opinions in this review are my own.
Want to read
October 19, 2024
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc & an audiobook in exchange for an honest review!*
This is actually bizarre that I got an arc for the final book of 'Little Thieves'. I wanted to start reading this trilogy for SO LONG and now is the perfect opportunity to do it.
I'm beyond excited!!!
This is actually bizarre that I got an arc for the final book of 'Little Thieves'. I wanted to start reading this trilogy for SO LONG and now is the perfect opportunity to do it.
I'm beyond excited!!!
Read
March 31, 2025Vanja is back! And she's being hunted down by her beloved, no HATED, hear me, hate, hate, hate! ex (who is now engaged to be married, btw)...for a murder she did not commit.
We're off at the gallop, and this book never lets up. It's such a terrific blend of humor, snark, horror, and high-octane emotions! I don't want to say much else, except that once more I adored the inventiveness of this world drawing heavily on the tales of the Grimm Brothers. The characters so so vivid, the villains truly horrible, our protags lovely. The emotional twists and turns make a lot of sense, justaposed with the total crazy of the magical razzmatazz, a great blend. Almost perfect--the plot got mighty convoluted in the last third; the political scheming, complicated prodecures, and weird magic threatened to overshadow the character lines, but then it all drew together in a crash!
Very satisfying closure to a series I shall read again!
We're off at the gallop, and this book never lets up. It's such a terrific blend of humor, snark, horror, and high-octane emotions! I don't want to say much else, except that once more I adored the inventiveness of this world drawing heavily on the tales of the Grimm Brothers. The characters so so vivid, the villains truly horrible, our protags lovely. The emotional twists and turns make a lot of sense, justaposed with the total crazy of the magical razzmatazz, a great blend. Almost perfect--the plot got mighty convoluted in the last third; the political scheming, complicated prodecures, and weird magic threatened to overshadow the character lines, but then it all drew together in a crash!
Very satisfying closure to a series I shall read again!
November 14, 2025
The real Meat throne was the friends we made along the way
I love divorce settlements
I love divorce settlements
October 14, 2025
this was the best ending i could have asked for. i love this series, love these characters, this world, this writing, so so so much, so let's just say i had high hopes.
and boy did this deliver. there was SO much happening, character-arc-wise and plot-wise, and everything wrapped up in a way that felt natural but also satisfying but also heartbreaking. it's hard to describe too much without going into spoiler territory, but this felt like if conclave was set in and then there were none in a world of gods and magic. it's almost a little gideon-the-ninth-esque. there's also a fair bit of multiverse/time distortion stuff going on, so it was definitely a confusing plot, but i think margaret owen did an excellent job making the beats of the story hit regardless of whether we completely understood every single detail of what was physically happening.
there are a LOT of characters in this book, and the worldbuilding and character relationships that have been building for 2.5 books all come together in a glorious, explosive mess. but (and this got easier as people died...), i was able to figure out who was in which noble house, what people's goals were, etc., soon enough. as i mentioned, this book does not shy away from death – character deaths, the god death, the prevalence and concept and power of death. margaret owen does notttt play about having deeply traumatized characters, and we don't shy away from that, either. it's dark but it's silly, angsty yet sincere, and i loved every moment of it.
let's talk about that angst. because we left the fallow year (or at least i did) in an enormous panic about the state of emeric and vanja's relationship. but i think their dynamic was done SO well in this book. we've got a healthy dose of bitterness, plenty of banter, and intense emotional arcs intertwining. for anyone who got mad at the end of painted devils, thinking that the characters were ridiculous and had backslid or margaret owen was just repeating the angsty ending for funsies, read this. please. it all makes so much sense to who they are as people.
we find vanja and emeric brought together by a series of murders, blamed on vanja's pfennigeist, that the prefects are assigned to solve. but things quickly become complicated as the bodies pile up, magic isn't working as it should, and there's the looming threat of a monster (or multiple) rising to the emperor's throne.
one other thing i love about this series (besides the gorgeous writing and beuatiful chapter-header illustrations and incredibly unique, interesting worldbuilding, duh) is how much development we give all the side characters. they truly feel like their own people going through their own intense character arcs.
gisele's wrestling with her reluctance to take on power, still undoing what her mother wove in her blood, trying to trust her wife.
ragne's worried gisele will outgrow her, wondering if she needs to change herself to fit in to keep her loved ones safe.
lilje's figuring out what she really wants and deserves.
joniza and bastiano are cute as ever, and i loved .
ozkar's up to his usual warlock shenanigans, except he's pushing farther and farther up against the edge of reality.
and in the midst of all this, the one, the only, the delightfully hatable
every few pages, i was shocked again as the plot twisted and turned. i couldn't put this 560-page-book down, which is saying something. and of course, the ending broke me. it's just all-around a gorgeous conclusion to one of my favorite series ever, and i hope you all love it as much as i do.
and boy did this deliver. there was SO much happening, character-arc-wise and plot-wise, and everything wrapped up in a way that felt natural but also satisfying but also heartbreaking. it's hard to describe too much without going into spoiler territory, but this felt like if conclave was set in and then there were none in a world of gods and magic. it's almost a little gideon-the-ninth-esque. there's also a fair bit of multiverse/time distortion stuff going on, so it was definitely a confusing plot, but i think margaret owen did an excellent job making the beats of the story hit regardless of whether we completely understood every single detail of what was physically happening.
there are a LOT of characters in this book, and the worldbuilding and character relationships that have been building for 2.5 books all come together in a glorious, explosive mess. but (and this got easier as people died...), i was able to figure out who was in which noble house, what people's goals were, etc., soon enough. as i mentioned, this book does not shy away from death – character deaths, the god death, the prevalence and concept and power of death. margaret owen does notttt play about having deeply traumatized characters, and we don't shy away from that, either. it's dark but it's silly, angsty yet sincere, and i loved every moment of it.
let's talk about that angst. because we left the fallow year (or at least i did) in an enormous panic about the state of emeric and vanja's relationship. but i think their dynamic was done SO well in this book. we've got a healthy dose of bitterness, plenty of banter, and intense emotional arcs intertwining. for anyone who got mad at the end of painted devils, thinking that the characters were ridiculous and had backslid or margaret owen was just repeating the angsty ending for funsies, read this. please. it all makes so much sense to who they are as people.
we find vanja and emeric brought together by a series of murders, blamed on vanja's pfennigeist, that the prefects are assigned to solve. but things quickly become complicated as the bodies pile up, magic isn't working as it should, and there's the looming threat of a monster (or multiple) rising to the emperor's throne.
one other thing i love about this series (besides the gorgeous writing and beuatiful chapter-header illustrations and incredibly unique, interesting worldbuilding, duh) is how much development we give all the side characters. they truly feel like their own people going through their own intense character arcs.
gisele's wrestling with her reluctance to take on power, still undoing what her mother wove in her blood, trying to trust her wife.
ragne's worried gisele will outgrow her, wondering if she needs to change herself to fit in to keep her loved ones safe.
lilje's figuring out what she really wants and deserves.
joniza and bastiano are cute as ever, and i loved .
ozkar's up to his usual warlock shenanigans, except he's pushing farther and farther up against the edge of reality.
and in the midst of all this, the one, the only, the delightfully hatable
every few pages, i was shocked again as the plot twisted and turned. i couldn't put this 560-page-book down, which is saying something. and of course, the ending broke me. it's just all-around a gorgeous conclusion to one of my favorite series ever, and i hope you all love it as much as i do.
May 6, 2025
okay so listen... the first half was absolutely 5 stars worthy and then the plot gets kinda weee woooo in my head and i swear i'm not stupid but that was a Lot. but vanjameric is my blood and soul and i love them dearly
May 16, 2025
I’m not crying. YOU’RE crying!
December 19, 2025
hands down one of the best YA fantasy trilogies out there 🙂↕️
July 22, 2025
Vanja comes to terms with her history
Vanja Ros has a long history of disappointing people. She was the thirteenth child of Marthe Ros, and therefore, Marthe believed, ill-fated. She asked Death and Fortune to take her daughter. Death promised her, "Only one of you will go home." Death and Fortune gave their God Daughter Vanja a home. Vanja's mother never returned home from the forest. Marthe, now a ghost, is still furious about this. And so it went. Vanja went into service in a noble house and there she disappointed. Eventually she ended up as a thief.
And then things got serious. A brilliant young prefect (police detective) came after her. She fell in love with him, and he with her, but she left him. She found her family and deceived them. She even became a goddess and failed at that.
Now, to be clear, none of that is fair. It is, however, far too accurate a picture of how Vanja sees herself. When Holy Terrors begins, Vanja is estranged from Emeric, the prefect she loves, and she is trying to do without him -- For His Own Good. She has made a niche for herself as the Pfennigeist. People too low to catch the gaze of Justice pray to her, and she supplies a do-it-herself facsimile of justice. She leaves a single red penny as her token. Her activity, of course, is against the letter of the law, and she needs to keep hidden and on the move.
Then royal family members start turning up dead, with her red penny token planted on them. This is enough to make Emeric come after her. He finds her, of course, and naturally they end up cooperating to find the fake Pfennigeist who's killing royals.
It's an EXTREMELY complicated story. It's made even more complicated by the way it's told. Each major section is introduced by a callback to Vanja's past, to a time when she made a choice that disappointed someone. I read Little Thieves in September 2023 and Painted Devils September 2024. If you'd asked me four days ago how well I remembered those books, I would have answered, "Pretty well!" The correct answer, it turns out, would have been "Not well enough." Holy Terrors calls back to earlier events and characters in detail. Characters from Little Thieves that I would have called "minor" show up in Holy Terrors with major parts to play. Most of them have beefs with Vanja, which they want to relitigate.
Holy Terrors is a brilliant story, intricate, and VERY difficult to follow. Reading it felt way too much like work. I follow Margaret Owen on Amazon and Goodreads., and look forward to reading her future works. I hope something convinces her, however, that she has overestimated my powers of penetration.
Blog review.
Vanja Ros has a long history of disappointing people. She was the thirteenth child of Marthe Ros, and therefore, Marthe believed, ill-fated. She asked Death and Fortune to take her daughter. Death promised her, "Only one of you will go home." Death and Fortune gave their God Daughter Vanja a home. Vanja's mother never returned home from the forest. Marthe, now a ghost, is still furious about this. And so it went. Vanja went into service in a noble house and there she disappointed. Eventually she ended up as a thief.
And then things got serious. A brilliant young prefect (police detective) came after her. She fell in love with him, and he with her, but she left him. She found her family and deceived them. She even became a goddess and failed at that.
Now, to be clear, none of that is fair. It is, however, far too accurate a picture of how Vanja sees herself. When Holy Terrors begins, Vanja is estranged from Emeric, the prefect she loves, and she is trying to do without him -- For His Own Good. She has made a niche for herself as the Pfennigeist. People too low to catch the gaze of Justice pray to her, and she supplies a do-it-herself facsimile of justice. She leaves a single red penny as her token. Her activity, of course, is against the letter of the law, and she needs to keep hidden and on the move.
Then royal family members start turning up dead, with her red penny token planted on them. This is enough to make Emeric come after her. He finds her, of course, and naturally they end up cooperating to find the fake Pfennigeist who's killing royals.
It's an EXTREMELY complicated story. It's made even more complicated by the way it's told. Each major section is introduced by a callback to Vanja's past, to a time when she made a choice that disappointed someone. I read Little Thieves in September 2023 and Painted Devils September 2024. If you'd asked me four days ago how well I remembered those books, I would have answered, "Pretty well!" The correct answer, it turns out, would have been "Not well enough." Holy Terrors calls back to earlier events and characters in detail. Characters from Little Thieves that I would have called "minor" show up in Holy Terrors with major parts to play. Most of them have beefs with Vanja, which they want to relitigate.
Holy Terrors is a brilliant story, intricate, and VERY difficult to follow. Reading it felt way too much like work. I follow Margaret Owen on Amazon and Goodreads., and look forward to reading her future works. I hope something convinces her, however, that she has overestimated my powers of penetration.
Blog review.
March 14, 2025
Thank you, FierceReads, for the eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I am honored to see my Vanja's story through to the finish.
The tl;dr is this: Little Thieves should have been a standalone. I love these characters with my whole, entire heart and I always will. Book two was difficult, but I could tolerate it. This book was absurd, and not in a good way.
The sheer amount of names I had to keep track of here was insane. And then I have to keep track of poorly-written magical rules and TIMELINES? Remember how book one was a Goose Girl adaptation... Where the hell are we? I just wanted Vanja and Emeric to be happy, how ever that looked, and anyone who knows me knows I hate a reused villain (see my review of King of Scars for that), so this superfluous book that was drowning in its unnessariness...drained me.
Ask yourselves why this took me so long to read when Vanja is one of my favorite characters of all time.
The tl;dr is this: Little Thieves should have been a standalone. I love these characters with my whole, entire heart and I always will. Book two was difficult, but I could tolerate it. This book was absurd, and not in a good way.
The sheer amount of names I had to keep track of here was insane. And then I have to keep track of poorly-written magical rules and TIMELINES? Remember how book one was a Goose Girl adaptation... Where the hell are we? I just wanted Vanja and Emeric to be happy, how ever that looked, and anyone who knows me knows I hate a reused villain (see my review of King of Scars for that), so this superfluous book that was drowning in its unnessariness...drained me.
Ask yourselves why this took me so long to read when Vanja is one of my favorite characters of all time.
May 24, 2025
Fucking amazing. I shouldn't have worried. Full review to come once I stop these happy tears.
Full Review:
Holy Terrors is the kind of finale that makes me believe in trilogies again. After reading several “meh” endings lately, this book gave me hope; and emotional devastation in the best way. And I get it - endings are HARD. But this was just so satisfying.
Margaret Owen leans hard into what made this series great: the characters. She doesn’t abandon the emotional arcs in favor of story and plot only. Instead, she doubles down on the messiness, the growth, and the heartbreak of Vanja and Emeric. Their evolution here? Amazing. I am in awe of how much they’ve grown and how earned it all feels. I would die for these two characters.
The plot wasn’t perfect. I didn’t always care about the politics. But I was never here for that; I was here for THEM, and even if it wasn’t flawless, it was everything I needed. Yes, the plot goes a little “timey wimey,” and the number of side characters and royal names is… overwhelming. I couldn’t remember half of them. But honestly? Didn’t care. Because Owen somehow makes me care deeply about even the briefest character interactions. She builds attachment with such precision, and even if I couldn’t keep the names straight all the time, the emotional beats always hit.
This book is everything I wanted from a final book. Messy, heartfelt, and absolutely devoted to its characters. I laughed, I cried, I giggled. I will read anything Owen writes next.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan for the complimentary copy. This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Full Review:
Holy Terrors is the kind of finale that makes me believe in trilogies again. After reading several “meh” endings lately, this book gave me hope; and emotional devastation in the best way. And I get it - endings are HARD. But this was just so satisfying.
Margaret Owen leans hard into what made this series great: the characters. She doesn’t abandon the emotional arcs in favor of story and plot only. Instead, she doubles down on the messiness, the growth, and the heartbreak of Vanja and Emeric. Their evolution here? Amazing. I am in awe of how much they’ve grown and how earned it all feels. I would die for these two characters.
The plot wasn’t perfect. I didn’t always care about the politics. But I was never here for that; I was here for THEM, and even if it wasn’t flawless, it was everything I needed. Yes, the plot goes a little “timey wimey,” and the number of side characters and royal names is… overwhelming. I couldn’t remember half of them. But honestly? Didn’t care. Because Owen somehow makes me care deeply about even the briefest character interactions. She builds attachment with such precision, and even if I couldn’t keep the names straight all the time, the emotional beats always hit.
This book is everything I wanted from a final book. Messy, heartfelt, and absolutely devoted to its characters. I laughed, I cried, I giggled. I will read anything Owen writes next.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan for the complimentary copy. This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
January 22, 2025
What a ride! I knew going into this that it would be impossible not to have sky high expectations and for the most part, this delivered! Was it my favorite of the trilogy? No, and that’s partly because I feel like Owens over delivered in a sense. I know I know, ugh I’m so difficult.
But truly, this felt like maybe 2 different books put together, possibly even 3 when you consider the beginning, middle, and end of this book. It didn’t always seem to flow smoothly from one section to the next in the story.
Without providing spoilers, the beginning was a bit slow, purposefully, to show us where our darling Vanja is mentally and emotionally after the events of Painted Devils. And let me tell you, this is where / when I loved Vanja the most in this book because Owens perfectly nails the right balance between Vanja conquering some of her trauma, but not completely leaving it in the rear view. She’s complex. She’s emotional. She’s also taking time to reflect on her past actions and do better. She’s just so much in the best way.
Once we move into the middle, this locked room type of mystery crime settles in and evolves and brings other characters into the picture. Theres of course a reunion with key people and of course Emeric enters the fray. This is where I felt things got a bit too sticky. One of the side characters that had a HUGE effect on the ending of Painted Devils gets a complete redemption in the span of a paragraph which I just could not abide. Not given what they do in Painted Devils. It just felt like a cheap redemption that didn’t end up making sense. I suspect some of it had to be cut for length (this is a longer book!) but yeah, very unsatisfying. I also wasn’t a fan of the tension between Vanja and Emeric, it felt like you had to read between the lines a lot and it also felt overly drawn out. I also missed a lot of the dynamic dialogue between Vanja and the side characters, it felt like hey just delivered pieces of the mystery or clues, but weren’t embedded in the mystery itself so less Scooby Doo gang and more messengers, which is a shame because by now they’re so known and beloved to us.
In the third section, we get to the climactic conflict and showdown and the magic really expounds. This was exciting and interesting, I found the twists and reveals to be well executed and of course, Vanja always has something extra up her sleeve. That said, I did feel it got too crowded with too many fantastical elements and lore and magic that it was a bit hard to keep up with. What it does is expertly highlight Vanja’s inner growth and development, but it wars a bit with the fantastical god and magic elements as things inevitably go haywire. I truly struggled to understand how things go sideways in the world and what ends up fueling the powers. Mind you I also didn’t feel like I was speed reading this, but maybe I had to read it even slower and more carefully. Could be a user error but I just found it clunky.
All the above aside though, the ending feels hard won and well deserved. Vanja’s ending feels satisfying and right, you have a good idea of what’s in store for her without Owen’s dolling out ever single piece and spoiling the HEA fantasy. I like knowing adventure lies ahead without knowing every piece of it. I can’t say all characters get as satisfying an ending as Vanja, but overall it’s a solid landing.
I liked this, love the author, and am obsessed with the series as a whole, so…4 stars.
But truly, this felt like maybe 2 different books put together, possibly even 3 when you consider the beginning, middle, and end of this book. It didn’t always seem to flow smoothly from one section to the next in the story.
Without providing spoilers, the beginning was a bit slow, purposefully, to show us where our darling Vanja is mentally and emotionally after the events of Painted Devils. And let me tell you, this is where / when I loved Vanja the most in this book because Owens perfectly nails the right balance between Vanja conquering some of her trauma, but not completely leaving it in the rear view. She’s complex. She’s emotional. She’s also taking time to reflect on her past actions and do better. She’s just so much in the best way.
Once we move into the middle, this locked room type of mystery crime settles in and evolves and brings other characters into the picture. Theres of course a reunion with key people and of course Emeric enters the fray. This is where I felt things got a bit too sticky. One of the side characters that had a HUGE effect on the ending of Painted Devils gets a complete redemption in the span of a paragraph which I just could not abide. Not given what they do in Painted Devils. It just felt like a cheap redemption that didn’t end up making sense. I suspect some of it had to be cut for length (this is a longer book!) but yeah, very unsatisfying. I also wasn’t a fan of the tension between Vanja and Emeric, it felt like you had to read between the lines a lot and it also felt overly drawn out. I also missed a lot of the dynamic dialogue between Vanja and the side characters, it felt like hey just delivered pieces of the mystery or clues, but weren’t embedded in the mystery itself so less Scooby Doo gang and more messengers, which is a shame because by now they’re so known and beloved to us.
In the third section, we get to the climactic conflict and showdown and the magic really expounds. This was exciting and interesting, I found the twists and reveals to be well executed and of course, Vanja always has something extra up her sleeve. That said, I did feel it got too crowded with too many fantastical elements and lore and magic that it was a bit hard to keep up with. What it does is expertly highlight Vanja’s inner growth and development, but it wars a bit with the fantastical god and magic elements as things inevitably go haywire. I truly struggled to understand how things go sideways in the world and what ends up fueling the powers. Mind you I also didn’t feel like I was speed reading this, but maybe I had to read it even slower and more carefully. Could be a user error but I just found it clunky.
All the above aside though, the ending feels hard won and well deserved. Vanja’s ending feels satisfying and right, you have a good idea of what’s in store for her without Owen’s dolling out ever single piece and spoiling the HEA fantasy. I like knowing adventure lies ahead without knowing every piece of it. I can’t say all characters get as satisfying an ending as Vanja, but overall it’s a solid landing.
I liked this, love the author, and am obsessed with the series as a whole, so…4 stars.
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