Heart of Thieves

The Devious #2

by Jessica S. Olson

A cunning thief turns the tables on the feuding brothers who betrayed her in this thrilling conclusion to the Den of Liars Duology, perfect for fans of Powerless and Lightlark.

Lola St. James is trapped in a web of lies and deceit. But that only makes her more determined to find the truth. The truth about her past. The truth about her magic. And the truth about the curse that binds her to two warring brothers who she both hates and loves.

With the Liar’s Dice Tournament now only a painful memory, Lola dons a new alter ego, Nocturne, and creates her own elaborate game designed to lure both the Liar and the Thief into her clutches, certain this is the only way to give them a chance to break their curses.

But Lola is not the only one with plans for the brothers. When a powerful figure from their past comes back to haunt them, will Lola's love be enough to hold them all together? Or will the lies they've told tear them apart forever?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Magic

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great read!

Although I was not as invested in this one as I was with the first book in this duology, I thought this was a great followup to Den of Liars. So many unanswered questions from book one were answered in this one. I liked that we got Enzo's point-of-view and we got to see where his head was at and his goals/plans.

I am so happy with how this series ended as well. Perfect closing for Lola, Nic and Enzo!

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid 4.5/5 rounded up.

I’ve been waiting for this e-arc since the e-arc of “Den of Liars”. The first in the duology has stuck with me, and this follow-up is solidified the Devious duology firmly in my comfort read camp.

The familiar cast of characters and world makes it easy to jump right in, making for quick pacing. There never seems to be a moment of lull, and the plot covers ground, partly due to elements of familiarity. “Heart of Thieves” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it just uses it efficiently. We get to build more into the emotional and mental insights of Enzo, Nic, Laurel, and Lola, exploring how a web weaves itself and the consequences of actions. How much responsibility do you accept with the choices you make and the choices others make?

“Heart of Thieves” does feel like it reads a bit more juvenile in comparison to its predecessor, but still remains appropriate for the audience. This seems a result of not needing to rely on flourishes and world building as much as “Den of Liars” needed to as the introduction to the world and lore.

Every character and point of view had their unique voice, making it easy to distinguish between chapters and is a credit to the writing. After having been in such a reading slump over the last six months, I’m so pleased to have been able to experience such fun with this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pick your poison: the brother who wears a purple fedora, or the brother who calls you "Loofah" affectionately

Heart of Thieves is the second book in a YA fantasy (romance) duology featuring casinos, twisted lies, and two villainous brothers. I'll be honest and admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of book 1, but the ending had me intrigued, and I figured I might as well request book 2 on Netgalley, figuring I'd be denied an ARC since I was rejected for book 1...but now we're here. Do I think book 2 was better than book 1? Yes, but I also don't remember a ton from book 1, which meant the first quarter of this read was spent a bit confused as I tried to piece together what I'd forgotten plotwise. So, just a warning, you may want to review book 1 before you read this.

Lola St. James has used her Unbreakable Lie to create an alter ego, Nocturne, and now she's designed her own elaborate game to break Enzo and Nic's curses once and for all. But Lola's game isn't the only one at play, and it seems there are other forces that have other goals in mind. The plot is much more intricate than book 1, as we now get POVs from Lola, Nic, and Enzo, and they all have different end goals and subplots. The pacing dragged a bit at times, but that could also be because I wasn't fully invested in the characters. The last 20% or so was much more action-packed, with plenty of twists and turns and suspense. I felt that the stakes were fairly high throughout as well, which also I think helped me enjoy it a little more than book 1. The ending is satisfying, as this is a closure for the whole duology. That being said, I did have some issues with certain developments in the climax. I can't state them here for spoiler purposes, but I thought certain plot points were overused to the point where they lost emotional impact for me. I'm glad I finished the duology, and the plot was definitely the strongest point of the book for me.

I think the biggest struggle for me with this series was that I didn't really like the characters. Lola's arc in this book was definitely more intriguing than book 1, and the amount of plot she was carrying stressed me out a lot. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't really have strong opinions on her to begin with. My issues with Nic and Enzo stem mostly from the fact that I don't typically read a book for the romance, so I was not vibing with them. No, I will never stop talking about Nic's fedora because it's definitely something a handful of specific people will enjoy, but all I can picture is the "hewwo kittens" internet meme, and I wanted to bleach my eyes. I liked Nic's yearning in this one, but overall I couldn't get past the fedora, and maybe that's a me problem. I also still wanted to see more of his curse because the premise is so interesting and underused. Enzo was my preferred brother, even though he's a massive jerk most of the time, mostly because he doesn't wear a fedora. Also, I'm just intrigued by the concept of his curse. Like the last book, I didn't have any strong attachments to the side characters. Laurel (an old friend of Nic and Enzo's) was a good choice to add tension to the plot, but she still felt a bit shallow. I wanted to like the characters, but I just wasn't invested, and that's why I didn't love the book.

Heart of Thieves is the second book in the Devious duology, perfect for fans of Amanda Foody's Ace of Shades.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.25/5

[Morgan-McKay Hoppmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

So excited to have gotten an ARC of this, and I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed!

Heart of Thieves picks up a couple of months after Den of Liars takes place. Lola is now a full-fledged Tentacle, but the Unbreakable Lie she used to make Enzo trust her imprisons her just as much as she tries to figure out a way to break Enzo and Nic’s curse. Meanwhile, a figure from the Devious’ past has emerged with their own goals, and slowly begins to wreak havoc on all that Lola holds dear…

This book has several things I didn’t even know I wanted, including:
- A magical game where she’s the shadowy gamemaster pulling all the strings
- Father-daughter angst
- Torn between the sibling love with one brother and the romantic love of another
- Sibling fights & banter
- Brothers punching each other
- An expanded cast & diving deeper into the worldbuilding of Den of Liars

I think one of the best parts of the book, hands-down, was the thematic exploration of guilt & shame as emotions vs actually being at fault, and taking responsibility for your own actions but not those of others. For this reason, as much as I love Lola and her new gamemaster-manipulator side of her, Nic stole the show for me! Fedora or not, he commands the stage;)

4/5 stars, would definitely recommend if you enjoyed Den of Liars.

[Shelly Hadaller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Heart of Thieves by Jessica S. Olson through NetGalley, and this one just didn’t really work for me.

I had a hard time getting into it from the start. The story never fully pulled me in, and I kept waiting to feel invested in the characters or the world, but it just didn’t click. By the time I got toward the end, I found myself basically speed reading the last 20% just to finish it.

There are things I can appreciate—the pacing is fairly quick and the multiple POVs are easy to follow, with each character having a distinct voice. The writing itself is solid, and I can see how this would be a fun read for the right audience.

For me though, it felt a bit too surface-level at times, and I didn’t feel that emotional connection I was hoping for. It also leaned a little more juvenile than I personally prefer, which made it harder for me to stay engaged.

Overall, this just wasn’t the right fit for me, but I don’t think it’s a bad book—I can definitely see other readers enjoying it more than I did.

[Jayme Toerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give six stars if I could! Book one hooked me, book two WRECKED me. Lola is so strong and determined! I love how she speaks up right away and calls everyone on their bs. We never have to wait for her to have an epiphany. The entire story comes together beautifully. We get Enzo’s pov as well as Lola’s and Nic’s. So many surprises and completely whimsical. I must say I hate Laurel. I will not expand ski as no spoilers but I sincerely do not like her and it made this book deliciously stressful. The Liar is so appealing and I cannot get enough. The magic system is unique and the book is so full of whimsy and fantasy it’s a refreshing and beautiful read. Jessica Olson is a must read author for me. I have NEVER disliked one of her books. Thank you so much, Netgalley, for this
Digital ARC!

[Savannah Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already absolutely obsessed with Den of Liars, so I went into The Heart of Thieves with high expectations—and it completely delivered for me.

I ended up loving this one just as much. The relationship between the main character and the two brothers was one of the most interesting parts for me; it added tension, depth, and a lot of emotional pull without feeling repetitive or predictable.

The magic system and worldbuilding were also a big highlight. Everything felt immersive and carefully layered, and it had that same slightly mysterious, high-stakes energy that made me think of Caraval.

Overall, this was such an engaging read. I loved the characters, the dynamics, and the magic, and it totally lived up to my expectations.

[SelkieReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the first book and I thought it showed a lot of promise. The second book has a lot more intricacies and moving parts. The characters are really flushed out in this book, however, the main reason it is not a five star for me is because it’s been quite a while since I read the first book I felt like I was thrown in the deep end.
I didn’t remember most of the things referenced in this book and it absolutely cannot be read as a standalone.
So, I ended up having referencing the first books to try and figure out what was doing on.

I think a book one wrap up would absolutely help here because so much of book one was secrets and betrayals…. Which continue in book 2.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the last book in the duology. I loved how the book was full of action and had multiple povs. I did feel a bit lost in parts that may of been because it was been a while since reading the first book. Some parts were a little flat and I found myself reading faster to get further in the plot. Overall, a great young adult read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Maddie Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley arc review-

I absolutely loved ‘Den of Liars’ & i’ve been waiting for this one ever since! The continued character growth was really good. I enjoyed the storyline a lot. I felt like the pacing really made sense with how the story was laid out. I loved the ending!! I think everything got wrapped up pretty nicely.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

[Eryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Heart of Thieves" is a decent conclusion to the duology, but I ended up feeling a bit let down compared to the first book. The tone ending up comeing across as a little more juvenile than the original, losing some of the sharp, witty edge that made the first one so engaging. Overall, it was a decent read but I don't think it was very memorable or satisfying.

thank you so much, netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for the arc!!