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Hell to Pay
Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows in this YA fantasy heist novel about a teenage con artist and her ragtag crew teaming up for their toughest job stealing a soul from the Afterlife.
Elle Fields comes from a long line of thieves who specialize in breaking into the Afterlife to steal secrets—and magic—from the dead. But after her parents’ disappearance and her brother’s death, Elle is left adrift, without even her crew to rely on.
Until a mysterious stranger offers her a job she can’t stealing a soul from the Afterlife. If Elle can get it done, it could be the key to restoring the life she lost.
The only problem is getting her crew back together. Oh, and the fact that the job’s impossible—but Elle is confident that she’ll be able to work it all out.
After all, how hard could it be to raise the dead?
Elle Fields comes from a long line of thieves who specialize in breaking into the Afterlife to steal secrets—and magic—from the dead. But after her parents’ disappearance and her brother’s death, Elle is left adrift, without even her crew to rely on.
Until a mysterious stranger offers her a job she can’t stealing a soul from the Afterlife. If Elle can get it done, it could be the key to restoring the life she lost.
The only problem is getting her crew back together. Oh, and the fact that the job’s impossible—but Elle is confident that she’ll be able to work it all out.
After all, how hard could it be to raise the dead?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Lora Beth Johnson
3 books323 followersAs an only child, Lora Beth Johnson grew up telling herself stories and reading past her bedtime. She spent her adulthood collecting degrees, careers, and stamps in her passport before realizing her passion for creating fictional worlds. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching college English and learning new languages. She lives in Davidson, NC with her little roommate, Colocatire the Yorkipoo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
August 2, 2026
Ocean's Eight meets Greek chthonic mythology in this new YA novel, and everything about that worked for me. I'm a little surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did, because the author's debut didn't really leave an impression on me a few years ago. But her comeback did even more so. I've read my fair share of liar, thief and street urchin protagonists, but never before were they pickpocketing their way through afterlife and conning the recently deceased out of their magic. That's exactly what the main character Elle Fields here does for a living. She's witty and direct, walks into every room like she owns the place and tells lies all day long to get what she wants. I loved her very much. It was so fun to follow her around and it was impossible to be bored with a character like that. She's also quite infamous in the world that is secretly ruled by syndicates with leaders inspired by Greek chthonic deities. All the powers in this book revolve around the afterlife and there are basically no limits to the magic that is earned by dying. But Elle still somehow ends up with an impossible job on her hands. She's tasked to steal a soul back from the afterlife when resurrection is basically unheard of. But Elle is willing to try it and she just has the right crew in mind. This is where the Ocean's Eleven / Twelve / Thirteen / Eight vibes really shine. There are multiple fun side characters who all have their own specialty. From forging papers to accents to alchemy, everyone was interesting to read about. The Ocean's comparison is also fitting because the overall feel is the same. And by that I mean that it's super entertaining if you just don't question anything. That was perfectly fine by me, though. I don't mean that there is no substance to anything because that's not true at all, but sometimes things are very convenient or the characters predicted scenarios in unbelievable ways. But the story was exciting enough for me that I'd basically excuse everything. The world building was super creative, all the characters stood out in their own way and there was plenty of plot. Maybe even a bit too much plot for such a fast-moving story, because I was kinda missing calmer character moments in between all the action. But I can't complain much here. It was such a nice surprise for me and I would broadly recommend it. Fingers crossed for a second book.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🔥💀 Hell to Pay 💀🔥
🙌🏽🙌🏽 Happy Release Day 🙌🏽🙌🏽
The FMC in this book was reckless, arrogant, impulsive, and freaking hilarious. I loved her.
This was a quick paranormal read, and honestly… I just wanted more. The worldbuilding and magic system were so interesting, but it felt like we only scratched the surface.
It doesn’t look like this will be a series, but if it ever becomes one, I would absolutely devour it.
😈 What to Expect
• YA fantasy
• Afterlife magic
• Ragtag crew
• Teenage con artist
• Mission impossible
• Found family
• Dark underworld
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
🙌🏽🙌🏽 Happy Release Day 🙌🏽🙌🏽
The FMC in this book was reckless, arrogant, impulsive, and freaking hilarious. I loved her.
This was a quick paranormal read, and honestly… I just wanted more. The worldbuilding and magic system were so interesting, but it felt like we only scratched the surface.
It doesn’t look like this will be a series, but if it ever becomes one, I would absolutely devour it.
😈 What to Expect
• YA fantasy
• Afterlife magic
• Ragtag crew
• Teenage con artist
• Mission impossible
• Found family
• Dark underworld
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 15, 2026
Hell to Pay has a very intriguing and unique premise (an afterlife heist — tell me you’re not intrigued!) so between my love of heist stories and my love of this author’s first book I was super intrigued and couldn’t wait to pick it up.
I really liked the heist elements and how they all came together and the different roles that each member of the team had to play. I also liked how the main character introduced each member of the team. The crow familiar was a particular favorite of mine. He definitely added to the team!
However, I didn’t love the main character. She was really brash and seemed to plow right over everyone else’s feelings at times. She was quite selfish as well which made her hard to like. She had single minded focus to save her brother at the expense of everyone else.
The ending was definitely setting up for a sequel as it ended on somewhat of an unexpected note. Overall this was an interesting heist story. I wish I had liked the main character more but this was overall pretty good.
I really liked the heist elements and how they all came together and the different roles that each member of the team had to play. I also liked how the main character introduced each member of the team. The crow familiar was a particular favorite of mine. He definitely added to the team!
However, I didn’t love the main character. She was really brash and seemed to plow right over everyone else’s feelings at times. She was quite selfish as well which made her hard to like. She had single minded focus to save her brother at the expense of everyone else.
The ending was definitely setting up for a sequel as it ended on somewhat of an unexpected note. Overall this was an interesting heist story. I wish I had liked the main character more but this was overall pretty good.
August 22, 2026
Mini blurb: A teen con artist who lost her brother during a job reunites with her old crew to perform an impossible assignment, hoping it will give her the means to bring her sibling back from the dead. Except nothing is quite as it seems, and she might even end up taking her brother's place in the afterlife...
***
This one has a fresh premise (take Ocean's Eleven, but make it YA, magic-fueled and underworld-related) and an interesting worldbuilding, in which classic Greek deities are still alive and kicking in the modern world, though they have adapted and basically gone undercover, all while still ruling it via a series of corporations. Our protagonist Ellie comes from a family of con artists and afterlife-hoppers of which she's the only surviving member, after her parents' death and the recent "incident" that took her brother's life. A year after his demise, Ellie might have found a way to resurrect him, but she needs the funds and a particular object to perform the task - plus her old crew. This starts a cascade of heists/cons/adventures at the end of which Ellie will get both less and more than she'd bargained for. The story is fast-paced, imaginative and full of twists - though one of them didn't exactly take me by surprise...but the last one did for sure, and I found it morbidly funny. I wish we'd seen more of the afterlife (because that's my jam, you know), and I didn't get particularly attached to the characters (though they were all solid), plus the heists were somehow convoluted and required some suspension of disbelief (especially since they were performed by a band of teens, maybe new adults? it's unclear). But Hell to Pay turned out to be original and entertaining, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone vibing with outrageous heists, snarky protagonists, afterlife settings, mythology, humour and dysfunctional found families. Bonus points for the NB rep... and the (priceless) undead crow.
Note: as a rule, I review every book that I rate 4 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But I didn't want to go in too deep about this one to avoid spoilers, and it felt easy to summarise its contents (and my opinions) in a few sentences, so I took the mini-review route.
***
This one has a fresh premise (take Ocean's Eleven, but make it YA, magic-fueled and underworld-related) and an interesting worldbuilding, in which classic Greek deities are still alive and kicking in the modern world, though they have adapted and basically gone undercover, all while still ruling it via a series of corporations. Our protagonist Ellie comes from a family of con artists and afterlife-hoppers of which she's the only surviving member, after her parents' death and the recent "incident" that took her brother's life. A year after his demise, Ellie might have found a way to resurrect him, but she needs the funds and a particular object to perform the task - plus her old crew. This starts a cascade of heists/cons/adventures at the end of which Ellie will get both less and more than she'd bargained for. The story is fast-paced, imaginative and full of twists - though one of them didn't exactly take me by surprise...but the last one did for sure, and I found it morbidly funny. I wish we'd seen more of the afterlife (because that's my jam, you know), and I didn't get particularly attached to the characters (though they were all solid), plus the heists were somehow convoluted and required some suspension of disbelief (especially since they were performed by a band of teens, maybe new adults? it's unclear). But Hell to Pay turned out to be original and entertaining, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone vibing with outrageous heists, snarky protagonists, afterlife settings, mythology, humour and dysfunctional found families. Bonus points for the NB rep... and the (priceless) undead crow.
Note: as a rule, I review every book that I rate 4 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But I didn't want to go in too deep about this one to avoid spoilers, and it felt easy to summarise its contents (and my opinions) in a few sentences, so I took the mini-review route.
August 16, 2026
Hell to Pay definitely lived up to the promise of Ocean’s 11 meets Six of Crows. Elle, our heroine, can enter the afterlife, which she does to con spirits out of magical materials. Most people who enter the afterlife bring some magic back with them, but not Elle. What she does have, though, is the ability to plan a heist and a repertoire of fake accents.
Her brother died for real last year and her focus since then has been to plan a heist to bring him back which requires her conning a mark to fund the venture and getting the old crew back together in a theft that could be the end of all of them.
I downloaded this as a Read Now ARC from
NetGalley, and once I started reading it, I was hooked. I know some people don’t like narration that breaks the 4th wall but I found it refreshing and entertaining. Very reminiscent of Ocean’s 11 along with heists that seem to go awry until Elle explains that was the plan all along.
Elle’s crew is a diverse group of teens with varying abilities and personalities, some from very powerful families in Underworld dealings, and here’s where the “talking to you” narration had issues. All the worldbuilding, whose family does what, their powers, and the political hierarchy was lost on me because Elle told it in passing. It never really stuck.
Apart from my confusion at times, I really enjoyed this. The characters were all so unique. I loved the camaraderie between them and how they stuck by Elle even though she could be prickly. I’m not a teen but I think teen readers will really enjoy this for its grim setting and eclectic characters.
Her brother died for real last year and her focus since then has been to plan a heist to bring him back which requires her conning a mark to fund the venture and getting the old crew back together in a theft that could be the end of all of them.
I downloaded this as a Read Now ARC from
NetGalley, and once I started reading it, I was hooked. I know some people don’t like narration that breaks the 4th wall but I found it refreshing and entertaining. Very reminiscent of Ocean’s 11 along with heists that seem to go awry until Elle explains that was the plan all along.
Elle’s crew is a diverse group of teens with varying abilities and personalities, some from very powerful families in Underworld dealings, and here’s where the “talking to you” narration had issues. All the worldbuilding, whose family does what, their powers, and the political hierarchy was lost on me because Elle told it in passing. It never really stuck.
Apart from my confusion at times, I really enjoyed this. The characters were all so unique. I loved the camaraderie between them and how they stuck by Elle even though she could be prickly. I’m not a teen but I think teen readers will really enjoy this for its grim setting and eclectic characters.
August 4, 2026
2.5 stars rounded down
I know I DNFed this book before (and I stand by my reasons for doing so). But I was in the mood to read a proper heist novel, and this book has good reviews on that front (plus it’s short), so I decided to give it another shot.
I tried the audiobook this time, and the narration was great.
The writing is fun, and the voice made me chuckle out loud multiple times! I still have problems with the first-person narrative and the world building. (And I stand firm on the belief that a first-person narrator cannot keep such big secrets from the reader whilst we are in their head.)
The actual heist was pretty good. There were some moments of convenience that got the characters out of trouble a bit too easily for my personal tastes. But it’s definitely one of the better heist novels I’ve read.
But the last 10% of the book wasn’t that good—there were way too many conveniences. I also think the plot would’ve been a lot stronger had the author just committed to using their own lore for the book rather than Greek Mythology (which felt convoluted as time went on).
The ending left room for a potential sequel. I’m not sure if it’s needed, or if I’d read it. But I really was a big fan of the voice in this book, so I’d be open to it.
All in all, I think this one of the better heist novels that’s been published recently. But it still has its flaws.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING (TAKE TWO):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JUNE 25, 2026 - DNF
DNF at 28% (Read through Chapter 10 of the eARC)
I didn’t really connect with the writing style; the narrator speaks directly to “you” the reader, which isn’t my cup of tea.
I wasn’t a big fan of the world either, as it combines our world with the afterlife. The concept is really cool, but I never felt grounded in the world, or like I could envision the world with the minimum descriptions that were given.
The magic system had the potential to be cool as well, but it was confusing. I don’t mind when a book has a glossary/table in the front to explain the magic system; however, I still expect that the magic system will be clear and easy enough to follow in the actual story. Here, there were so many details to this magic system that I found it to be overwhelming and too convoluted for my personal tastes. (Which is a shame, because stealing magic from the afterlife to bring to the mundane world is such an intriguing concept.)
Lastly, I found the characters to be just okay. I liked the diversity of the cast (for example, there’s a character who uses they/them pronounces, and another character with a prosthetic hand). But they didn’t really jump off the page to me. Especially when Elle (our POV protagonist) was gathering her crew together; I didn’t feel like there was much pushback, even with the conversation they had about how dangerous the mission would be. They all agreed to help her pretty easily at the end of the day.
Elle herself was probably the best character of the bunch—I love a con artist character, especially as a protagonist! But even she didn’t do enough to hold my interest. [And I think a big reason why is that the story is told in first-person POV, but the author has Elle withhold information from the reader. This doesn't really work because the reader is literally in her head, and thus should know what she is doing in the moment. If this book was told in third person, it would have worked better.]
I’m a sucker for a good heist story, so I am so bummed that this story didn’t work for me. It seems I’m in the minority, however, so I suggest readers give this book a chance if it interests them!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
I know I DNFed this book before (and I stand by my reasons for doing so). But I was in the mood to read a proper heist novel, and this book has good reviews on that front (plus it’s short), so I decided to give it another shot.
I tried the audiobook this time, and the narration was great.
The writing is fun, and the voice made me chuckle out loud multiple times! I still have problems with the first-person narrative and the world building. (And I stand firm on the belief that a first-person narrator cannot keep such big secrets from the reader whilst we are in their head.)
The actual heist was pretty good. There were some moments of convenience that got the characters out of trouble a bit too easily for my personal tastes. But it’s definitely one of the better heist novels I’ve read.
But the last 10% of the book wasn’t that good—there were way too many conveniences. I also think the plot would’ve been a lot stronger had the author just committed to using their own lore for the book rather than Greek Mythology (which felt convoluted as time went on).
The ending left room for a potential sequel. I’m not sure if it’s needed, or if I’d read it. But I really was a big fan of the voice in this book, so I’d be open to it.
All in all, I think this one of the better heist novels that’s been published recently. But it still has its flaws.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING (TAKE TWO):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JUNE 25, 2026 - DNF
DNF at 28% (Read through Chapter 10 of the eARC)
I didn’t really connect with the writing style; the narrator speaks directly to “you” the reader, which isn’t my cup of tea.
I wasn’t a big fan of the world either, as it combines our world with the afterlife. The concept is really cool, but I never felt grounded in the world, or like I could envision the world with the minimum descriptions that were given.
The magic system had the potential to be cool as well, but it was confusing. I don’t mind when a book has a glossary/table in the front to explain the magic system; however, I still expect that the magic system will be clear and easy enough to follow in the actual story. Here, there were so many details to this magic system that I found it to be overwhelming and too convoluted for my personal tastes. (Which is a shame, because stealing magic from the afterlife to bring to the mundane world is such an intriguing concept.)
Lastly, I found the characters to be just okay. I liked the diversity of the cast (for example, there’s a character who uses they/them pronounces, and another character with a prosthetic hand). But they didn’t really jump off the page to me. Especially when Elle (our POV protagonist) was gathering her crew together; I didn’t feel like there was much pushback, even with the conversation they had about how dangerous the mission would be. They all agreed to help her pretty easily at the end of the day.
Elle herself was probably the best character of the bunch—I love a con artist character, especially as a protagonist! But even she didn’t do enough to hold my interest. [And I think a big reason why is that the story is told in first-person POV, but the author has Elle withhold information from the reader. This doesn't really work because the reader is literally in her head, and thus should know what she is doing in the moment. If this book was told in third person, it would have worked better.]
I’m a sucker for a good heist story, so I am so bummed that this story didn’t work for me. It seems I’m in the minority, however, so I suggest readers give this book a chance if it interests them!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
June 3, 2026
Despite being the biggest scaredy cat ever, I absolutely love a fun paranormal book, and Hell to Pay definitely fits the bill.
The book follows a heist crew, more specifically one that sort of disbanded after the death of their leader, Dante, our FMC Elle’s older brother. With a plan to bring them back together by convincing them to help her steal a soul from the Afterlife for a job, it’s a crazy ride from the start. I love love love the plot. I think I would read anything if you told me the characters were dealing with the Afterlife and limbo and being dead, even for a short while. The setup of the story, having the readers follow through the steps of one of Elle’s con plans, was so smart and such a fun way to see exactly what part of the story we’re in without knowing what could possibly happen next.
On top of that, I love the characters. The crew is so different in so many ways, but they complement each other perfectly. They’re written so beautifully, and know each other so well, it really shows just how close and tight-knit they are despite the ups and downs they come to face with each other. Plus, Crowlene was perfect, even if her timing wasn’t always. I also loved how the romances between the characters were a small subplot to the overarching story. It never once felt like we were straying away from the heist to see more of Elle and Tolliver or even CJ and Poppy; the heist was always there, and little moments between them were sprinkled in perfectly.
I have to admit that there were times when I did fully want to stop reading, mainly due to the writing style. I’m not the biggest fan of when characters are talking to the reader directly (I only enjoy the occasional fourth wall break). Mostly, the characters and specifically Elle, talk just like I do to my friends, which is usually an immediate turn off for me in a book. However, this isn’t to shame the style of writing! Given Elle’s personality and how she carries herself, that style totally works for her. The plot was still intriguing enough to me that I could overlook these details and keep reading.
Overall, every piece of Hell to Pay comes together beautifully. There’s not a single point that I can think of that was left unconnected, and the ending was exactly what I was hoping for: the perfect reunion without breaking the rules of the world the readers have come to learn about.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Young Readers for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
----
3.75 rounded up! review tomorrow <3
The book follows a heist crew, more specifically one that sort of disbanded after the death of their leader, Dante, our FMC Elle’s older brother. With a plan to bring them back together by convincing them to help her steal a soul from the Afterlife for a job, it’s a crazy ride from the start. I love love love the plot. I think I would read anything if you told me the characters were dealing with the Afterlife and limbo and being dead, even for a short while. The setup of the story, having the readers follow through the steps of one of Elle’s con plans, was so smart and such a fun way to see exactly what part of the story we’re in without knowing what could possibly happen next.
On top of that, I love the characters. The crew is so different in so many ways, but they complement each other perfectly. They’re written so beautifully, and know each other so well, it really shows just how close and tight-knit they are despite the ups and downs they come to face with each other. Plus, Crowlene was perfect, even if her timing wasn’t always. I also loved how the romances between the characters were a small subplot to the overarching story. It never once felt like we were straying away from the heist to see more of Elle and Tolliver or even CJ and Poppy; the heist was always there, and little moments between them were sprinkled in perfectly.
I have to admit that there were times when I did fully want to stop reading, mainly due to the writing style. I’m not the biggest fan of when characters are talking to the reader directly (I only enjoy the occasional fourth wall break). Mostly, the characters and specifically Elle, talk just like I do to my friends, which is usually an immediate turn off for me in a book. However, this isn’t to shame the style of writing! Given Elle’s personality and how she carries herself, that style totally works for her. The plot was still intriguing enough to me that I could overlook these details and keep reading.
Overall, every piece of Hell to Pay comes together beautifully. There’s not a single point that I can think of that was left unconnected, and the ending was exactly what I was hoping for: the perfect reunion without breaking the rules of the world the readers have come to learn about.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Young Readers for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
----
3.75 rounded up! review tomorrow <3
August 3, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this book. I requested it because my exact thoughts were “Oh, this sounds like an absolutely ridiculous romp,” and that initial assumption couldn’t have been more spot on.
There were several times when I burst out laughing while reading.
This absolutely is a must for fans of Six of Crows or Ocean’s Eight. The stakes are impossibly high, and the banter is top tier. I also adored Elle’s first-person narration style. She’s snarky and a real “take no crap” kind of woman.
One tiny pet peeve I noticed (and since I read an ARC, this may have been corrected for the final version). Early on, Elle is in New Orleans and describes the weather as “hot as balls.” She also notes that Mardi Gras is 4 months away, which would make it roughly the beginning of October. A quick Google search tells you that the average weather in New Orleans that time of year is the 70s, which isn’t cool by any means, but definitely NOT “hot as balls.” Again, maybe this was just a weirdly specific pet peeve of mine, but being from the South, I wouldn’t think of the weather being “hot as balls” until at least 88-90.
There were cons on top of cons that were unveiled in the best way. The ending did feel a little quick, but the entire pace of this book was fast. It never felt like it was missing anything. There are some loose ends that line up a sequel perfectly, so I hope one is planned.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.
There were several times when I burst out laughing while reading.
This absolutely is a must for fans of Six of Crows or Ocean’s Eight. The stakes are impossibly high, and the banter is top tier. I also adored Elle’s first-person narration style. She’s snarky and a real “take no crap” kind of woman.
One tiny pet peeve I noticed (and since I read an ARC, this may have been corrected for the final version). Early on, Elle is in New Orleans and describes the weather as “hot as balls.” She also notes that Mardi Gras is 4 months away, which would make it roughly the beginning of October. A quick Google search tells you that the average weather in New Orleans that time of year is the 70s, which isn’t cool by any means, but definitely NOT “hot as balls.” Again, maybe this was just a weirdly specific pet peeve of mine, but being from the South, I wouldn’t think of the weather being “hot as balls” until at least 88-90.
There were cons on top of cons that were unveiled in the best way. The ending did feel a little quick, but the entire pace of this book was fast. It never felt like it was missing anything. There are some loose ends that line up a sequel perfectly, so I hope one is planned.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.
July 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers publishing, and Ms. Johnson for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
First of all, let me just say that this cover is AMAZING. Super eye catching. I love crows to begin with and Crowlene, my favorite character, looks awesome front and center on this cover.
I *also* love a heist novel and while this was no Danny Ocean/Kaz Brekker/Locke Lamora (iykyk), Elle Fields was certainly a lot of fun. Is she a brat? Is she selfish sometimes, rash, arrogant, impulsive, cocky? Sure, she’s a teen. I think it comes with the territory. She’s also, let’s not forget, a con woman which I do believe comes with some of those attributes. I wish it had been a little harder to reassemble the Avengers, I mean, the heist team, but I was fully on board and invested in all these odd ducks right from the start. I really liked Poppy but I LOVED Crowlene (maybe I mentioned this). Heist step #whatever, obtain my own crow familiar 😻🐦⬛
I didn’t realize there was going to be Greek mythology aspects in here as well which just made it even better. I’m guessing from the ending that a space was left for a potential follow up and I will 100% be reading it if and when it arrives. Especially if it features my new favorite animal sidekick ever.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all, let me just say that this cover is AMAZING. Super eye catching. I love crows to begin with and Crowlene, my favorite character, looks awesome front and center on this cover.
I *also* love a heist novel and while this was no Danny Ocean/Kaz Brekker/Locke Lamora (iykyk), Elle Fields was certainly a lot of fun. Is she a brat? Is she selfish sometimes, rash, arrogant, impulsive, cocky? Sure, she’s a teen. I think it comes with the territory. She’s also, let’s not forget, a con woman which I do believe comes with some of those attributes. I wish it had been a little harder to reassemble the Avengers, I mean, the heist team, but I was fully on board and invested in all these odd ducks right from the start. I really liked Poppy but I LOVED Crowlene (maybe I mentioned this). Heist step #whatever, obtain my own crow familiar 😻🐦⬛
I didn’t realize there was going to be Greek mythology aspects in here as well which just made it even better. I’m guessing from the ending that a space was left for a potential follow up and I will 100% be reading it if and when it arrives. Especially if it features my new favorite animal sidekick ever.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 12, 2026
This book was SUCH a wild ride from a start to finish and I absolutely LOVED every second of it. It was funny, clever, cool, and just one of the most creative stories I’ve ever read. I want to tell everyone to read this book because it was just that good.
I loved how the descriptions of a con at the beginning played out over the story. That was so fun and such a cool way to tie in that element of the story. The plot was amazing and kept me entertained all the way through. I couldn’t predict what was gonna happen next and I loved that.
I adored all the characters and their personalities. They were such a ragtag group and it was so fun seeing how they all got along.
The plot twists were so good and weren’t easy to guess, which is saying something for me. I’m usually good at seeing things from a mile away but I couldn’t guess the twists here and that made this so much more fun.
Overall this was the perfect heist book and just such a cool story overall. I can’t wait for the sequel!
I loved how the descriptions of a con at the beginning played out over the story. That was so fun and such a cool way to tie in that element of the story. The plot was amazing and kept me entertained all the way through. I couldn’t predict what was gonna happen next and I loved that.
I adored all the characters and their personalities. They were such a ragtag group and it was so fun seeing how they all got along.
The plot twists were so good and weren’t easy to guess, which is saying something for me. I’m usually good at seeing things from a mile away but I couldn’t guess the twists here and that made this so much more fun.
Overall this was the perfect heist book and just such a cool story overall. I can’t wait for the sequel!
![Profile Image for lexactuallyreads [surviving off vibes ftm].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1718587936i/139940672._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
August 4, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up!
Thank you to Lora Beth Johnson, the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for review. Wow, I absolutely loved this. If you combined the high octane heist energy from Six of Crows coupled with the current day and paranormal nature of The Babysitters Coven, you will find Hell to Pay by Lora Beth Johnson. At first, I was thinking "Oh, it just a YA heist story, there won't be much impact." Yeah, no. I was wrong. Like so incredibly wrong. Not only does the author infuse her absolute killer sense of humor into her main character, but putting together this big con-to-heist storyline where this crew has to basically infiltrate hell to retrieve a soul? Let me be honest here, you will be missing out if you do not read it. I'm honestly going to be in my corner awaiting a second installment.
Also, love the obvious beef with staircases. Specifically those of spiral nature. What is their purpose besides to look pretty, anyway?
Thank you to Lora Beth Johnson, the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for review. Wow, I absolutely loved this. If you combined the high octane heist energy from Six of Crows coupled with the current day and paranormal nature of The Babysitters Coven, you will find Hell to Pay by Lora Beth Johnson. At first, I was thinking "Oh, it just a YA heist story, there won't be much impact." Yeah, no. I was wrong. Like so incredibly wrong. Not only does the author infuse her absolute killer sense of humor into her main character, but putting together this big con-to-heist storyline where this crew has to basically infiltrate hell to retrieve a soul? Let me be honest here, you will be missing out if you do not read it. I'm honestly going to be in my corner awaiting a second installment.
Also, love the obvious beef with staircases. Specifically those of spiral nature. What is their purpose besides to look pretty, anyway?
August 14, 2026
(rounded down from 4.5)
Honestly this was so much fun. The humor was amazing and I really love the crew. The main character was amazing. The writing style was really cool and I really enjoyed the story!
My only critique is that the ending felt a little rushed and I think it could have easily been stretched out and maybe instead could have been a second book. But other than that, I genuinely had so much fun with this and absolutely loved it.
Honestly this was so much fun. The humor was amazing and I really love the crew. The main character was amazing. The writing style was really cool and I really enjoyed the story!
My only critique is that the ending felt a little rushed and I think it could have easily been stretched out and maybe instead could have been a second book. But other than that, I genuinely had so much fun with this and absolutely loved it.
August 5, 2026
3.8
This book breaks the fourth wall. Not something I often see and it's refreshing at first. The beginning sets the scene and did require focus to wrap my head around. The writing has humour and even had me smiling at the first page. It takes quite some time for all the characters to be introduced, but the cast has diversity with defined personalities. I found that moments in the heist seemed a bit weak and I couldn't feel the attraction between characters, but the action scenes are strong and well written. There's definitely room for a second book and I hope one does follow.
This book breaks the fourth wall. Not something I often see and it's refreshing at first. The beginning sets the scene and did require focus to wrap my head around. The writing has humour and even had me smiling at the first page. It takes quite some time for all the characters to be introduced, but the cast has diversity with defined personalities. I found that moments in the heist seemed a bit weak and I couldn't feel the attraction between characters, but the action scenes are strong and well written. There's definitely room for a second book and I hope one does follow.
Did Not Finish
July 11, 2026Not feeling this arc, immediately too complicated and I also got the ick from her dedication
August 24, 2026
This was a fun time
July 20, 2026
4.5 this is one of the best books I’ve read all year
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Hell to Pay" by Lora Beth Johnson is an entertaining YA fantasy set in contemporary Boston that follows a teenage con artist and a ragtag crew you can’t help but root for. It checked many of my favorite boxes: heists, quests, magic, and a familiar.
Elle Fields was once part of a successful crew of con artists who specialized in breaking into the Afterlife. Each visit grants the visitor a bit of magic, but Elle is the only one in the gang who never gained any. After her parents mysteriously disappeared and her brother died, the crew fell apart, leaving her with only her undead crow for company. Desperate to find a way to bring her brother back, Elle jumps at the chance when a wealthy client offers her a job stealing a soul from the Afterlife. Reuniting her old crew, she sets out on a dangerous heist filled with demons, syndicates, and other threats. The odds are stacked against them, and if they fail, there’ll be hell to pay...
The book is packed with humor, banter, and eccentric characters one can’t help but like. The story is told in first person from Elle’s POV, with moments where she addresses the reader directly. I loved the writing style, Elle’s internal monologue, and her breaking of the fourth wall to share her thoughts and information with us. She is something of an unreliable narrator, so we never quite know what is coming next or what is in store. The twists come fast and furious, believe me.
The book is loosely inspired by Greek mythology, and I loved the winks to it. The world-building is as intriguing as its inhabitants, with its syndicates, magic system, and various magical abilities. I enjoyed the concept of afterlife tourism, the vivid descriptions of the Afterlife, and the quests. Some of them had me holding my breath as the crew navigated increasingly dangerous obstacles and opponents. And there are demons, too! I also liked the gentle romance subplot, which didn’t overshadow the tale.
The book explores themes of love, grief, responsibility, trust, risk-taking, perseverance, and found family, as well as the dangers of power. I loved Elle’s spirit and her ability to improvise and think on her feet. Yes, she has flaws; she is stubborn, selfish, and impulsive at times, but that made her feel human. The ragtag crew contains a diverse and colorful cast of characters, including CJ, Tolliver, Poppy, and Ezra, each with their own magical abilities. I also appreciated the inclusion of a nonbinary character. The crow familiar steals the show, providing much-needed comic relief between darker moments with her tendency to arrive late, her parts falling apart, and her many quirks.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The characters, humor, inventive world-building, thrilling heists, and memorable crow familiar made for an engaging and fun read. I did find it a bit confusing at first, with all the groups and syndicates, which kept it from being a full five-star read for me. There is no cliffhanger, which I greatly appreciated. The author tied up most loose ends while leaving a few dangling to set up what feels like the next book. I would love to read more stories in this world. This book would suit fantasy lovers who enjoy quests, magical heists, found-family stories, and high-stakes adventures.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* The revie on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Elle Fields was once part of a successful crew of con artists who specialized in breaking into the Afterlife. Each visit grants the visitor a bit of magic, but Elle is the only one in the gang who never gained any. After her parents mysteriously disappeared and her brother died, the crew fell apart, leaving her with only her undead crow for company. Desperate to find a way to bring her brother back, Elle jumps at the chance when a wealthy client offers her a job stealing a soul from the Afterlife. Reuniting her old crew, she sets out on a dangerous heist filled with demons, syndicates, and other threats. The odds are stacked against them, and if they fail, there’ll be hell to pay...
The book is packed with humor, banter, and eccentric characters one can’t help but like. The story is told in first person from Elle’s POV, with moments where she addresses the reader directly. I loved the writing style, Elle’s internal monologue, and her breaking of the fourth wall to share her thoughts and information with us. She is something of an unreliable narrator, so we never quite know what is coming next or what is in store. The twists come fast and furious, believe me.
The book is loosely inspired by Greek mythology, and I loved the winks to it. The world-building is as intriguing as its inhabitants, with its syndicates, magic system, and various magical abilities. I enjoyed the concept of afterlife tourism, the vivid descriptions of the Afterlife, and the quests. Some of them had me holding my breath as the crew navigated increasingly dangerous obstacles and opponents. And there are demons, too! I also liked the gentle romance subplot, which didn’t overshadow the tale.
The book explores themes of love, grief, responsibility, trust, risk-taking, perseverance, and found family, as well as the dangers of power. I loved Elle’s spirit and her ability to improvise and think on her feet. Yes, she has flaws; she is stubborn, selfish, and impulsive at times, but that made her feel human. The ragtag crew contains a diverse and colorful cast of characters, including CJ, Tolliver, Poppy, and Ezra, each with their own magical abilities. I also appreciated the inclusion of a nonbinary character. The crow familiar steals the show, providing much-needed comic relief between darker moments with her tendency to arrive late, her parts falling apart, and her many quirks.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The characters, humor, inventive world-building, thrilling heists, and memorable crow familiar made for an engaging and fun read. I did find it a bit confusing at first, with all the groups and syndicates, which kept it from being a full five-star read for me. There is no cliffhanger, which I greatly appreciated. The author tied up most loose ends while leaving a few dangling to set up what feels like the next book. I would love to read more stories in this world. This book would suit fantasy lovers who enjoy quests, magical heists, found-family stories, and high-stakes adventures.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* The revie on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75 stars ⭐
Hell To Pay revolves around a ragtag group of con artists about to pull off the greatest mission of all: bringing someone back to life.
Color me hooked with that premise, but if you're going to compare a book to Six of Crows you gotta live up to the high standards of what that book created. Otherwise, that pedestal's not something you should be reaching for.
Before I go into my long rant, I'll spit out the good stuff first. The book is easily digestible with its fast pace, banter-y parts, and nods to Greek mythology, which I wish were more developed. I loved the syndicates and the magic stuff involved, I just hoped it was explained more properly and that the world felt more solid instead of details being thrown at the reader with little to no explanation. I think I could've enjoyed the book more if there had been more time to explain stuff and digest it.
HTP is an okay book by itself, but with that book comp, I had such high expectations which were barely met. It's been a while since I read SoC but I still remember its gripping narrative and unforgettable characters like Kaz Brekker and his crew. HTP has little of either. The majority of the heist/mission felt too easy and almost straightforward. Elle bringing her crew back together happened a little too smoothly. Like what do you mean she didn't have to explain herself/apologize and you're immediately in for the job? I get that most of them somehow felt a little sorry for Elle for losing her brother but come on, they just let her off the hook too easy. She's also very brash and reckless for someone who's supposed to be the leader; she keeps self-sacrificing (and being selfish at the same time, wow) and for no good reason. I admit, she has a unique character voice, but still she sounds like a teenager trying too hard to sound serious but is not. I guess she's supposed to be like the main character from Ocean's 8 so I can't comment much on that (I'm familiar with Ocean's Eight and the heist comedy aspect of it but haven't totally watched it, soooo).
There's also the matter of the narrator/Elle dropping crucial info only after stuff has already happened AKA "Hey, wanna know something cool? I totally didn't tell you [insert important info] on purpose because I wanted to surprise you". But you know what? It's more irritating than actually surprising. I can see how the intentional unreliability of the narrator makes the story pop, but it lost it charm after a few times of seeing the pattern.
The characters are pretty forgettable, despite being so diverse and different on paper. Elle doesn't have any meaningful interactions with any of them individually, or with the crew as a whole (except when scheming), which makes it hard for me to connect with any of them. Most of the time they're just there...
And the open-ended ending was too open-ended for me personally. It almost hinted at a sequel or probably a spin-off.
Hell To Pay is a nice heist romp if you're looking for something to read without having to think too much of anything. It's fun to go through but I'd rather reread SoC if I want the best heist book experience.
Hell To Pay revolves around a ragtag group of con artists about to pull off the greatest mission of all: bringing someone back to life.
Color me hooked with that premise, but if you're going to compare a book to Six of Crows you gotta live up to the high standards of what that book created. Otherwise, that pedestal's not something you should be reaching for.
Before I go into my long rant, I'll spit out the good stuff first. The book is easily digestible with its fast pace, banter-y parts, and nods to Greek mythology, which I wish were more developed. I loved the syndicates and the magic stuff involved, I just hoped it was explained more properly and that the world felt more solid instead of details being thrown at the reader with little to no explanation. I think I could've enjoyed the book more if there had been more time to explain stuff and digest it.
HTP is an okay book by itself, but with that book comp, I had such high expectations which were barely met. It's been a while since I read SoC but I still remember its gripping narrative and unforgettable characters like Kaz Brekker and his crew. HTP has little of either. The majority of the heist/mission felt too easy and almost straightforward. Elle bringing her crew back together happened a little too smoothly. Like what do you mean she didn't have to explain herself/apologize and you're immediately in for the job? I get that most of them somehow felt a little sorry for Elle for losing her brother but come on, they just let her off the hook too easy. She's also very brash and reckless for someone who's supposed to be the leader; she keeps self-sacrificing (and being selfish at the same time, wow) and for no good reason. I admit, she has a unique character voice, but still she sounds like a teenager trying too hard to sound serious but is not. I guess she's supposed to be like the main character from Ocean's 8 so I can't comment much on that (I'm familiar with Ocean's Eight and the heist comedy aspect of it but haven't totally watched it, soooo).
There's also the matter of the narrator/Elle dropping crucial info only after stuff has already happened AKA "Hey, wanna know something cool? I totally didn't tell you [insert important info] on purpose because I wanted to surprise you". But you know what? It's more irritating than actually surprising. I can see how the intentional unreliability of the narrator makes the story pop, but it lost it charm after a few times of seeing the pattern.
The characters are pretty forgettable, despite being so diverse and different on paper. Elle doesn't have any meaningful interactions with any of them individually, or with the crew as a whole (except when scheming), which makes it hard for me to connect with any of them. Most of the time they're just there...
And the open-ended ending was too open-ended for me personally. It almost hinted at a sequel or probably a spin-off.
Hell To Pay is a nice heist romp if you're looking for something to read without having to think too much of anything. It's fun to go through but I'd rather reread SoC if I want the best heist book experience.
July 31, 2026
“Tolliver and I are still having our silent conversation, and I know what he’s telling me. That this, ironically enough, might be the only way to save my brother. And that’s the thing, isn’t it? I’d do anything to bring Dante back.”
Elle Fields wants nothing more than to resurrect her brother Dante, so when a stranger named Rook shows up at Elle’s door asking her to steal a soul from the Afterlife, Elle realizes it might be the perfect opportunity to bring Dante back. The problem is, after Dante died, Elle’s crew fell apart, and she can’t do this job without them. Even though she’s worried that her past actions may deter her former crew from trusting her again, Elle is determined to bring the group back together. Elle knows her skillset, and the skillset of her crew—CJ the telempath, Poppy the witch, and Tolliver the potions master—and with them, she knows she can get her brother back.
This was such a fun read! I’m a huge fan of fantasy reads with the found-family trope, and this book delivered everything I wanted. It was genuinely funny, like, laugh-out-loud-funny. I loved all of the characters, especially Elle. She was an incredible main character; she’s so layered and complex, I feel like we just scratched the surface of who she really is. I’m not sure if there will be more books set in this world, but I would read anything that Elle is in—I absolutely adored her. I had fun on the journey with her to get her crew back, and each of the members felt so distinct. Johnson did such a wonderful job with representation in this story, and I loved the inclusion of a nonbinary character and a disabled character. I thought CJ and their telempathy—telepathy powers combined with empathy—was such a great addition to the story, and I loved the (what seemed to be) on-again, off-again relationship they had with Poppy. Elle and Tolliver’s relationship was sweet, and I enjoyed learning about their history and seeing them deal with the aftermath of losing Dante. Ezra’s character felt so relatable because he had so many questions about the magic system, and I was learning right along with him. The magic system was confusing at first, but after a while (and Ezra’s helpful, constant questioning) things started to click, and I liked how unique the politics and fantastical elements were. The concept of stealing a soul from the Afterlife was so outrageous that I was glued to the book, and the character-driven elements made me feel so attached to the story. Honestly, I would trust Elle and her crew with my life.
Hell to Pay releases July 28th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Elle Fields wants nothing more than to resurrect her brother Dante, so when a stranger named Rook shows up at Elle’s door asking her to steal a soul from the Afterlife, Elle realizes it might be the perfect opportunity to bring Dante back. The problem is, after Dante died, Elle’s crew fell apart, and she can’t do this job without them. Even though she’s worried that her past actions may deter her former crew from trusting her again, Elle is determined to bring the group back together. Elle knows her skillset, and the skillset of her crew—CJ the telempath, Poppy the witch, and Tolliver the potions master—and with them, she knows she can get her brother back.
This was such a fun read! I’m a huge fan of fantasy reads with the found-family trope, and this book delivered everything I wanted. It was genuinely funny, like, laugh-out-loud-funny. I loved all of the characters, especially Elle. She was an incredible main character; she’s so layered and complex, I feel like we just scratched the surface of who she really is. I’m not sure if there will be more books set in this world, but I would read anything that Elle is in—I absolutely adored her. I had fun on the journey with her to get her crew back, and each of the members felt so distinct. Johnson did such a wonderful job with representation in this story, and I loved the inclusion of a nonbinary character and a disabled character. I thought CJ and their telempathy—telepathy powers combined with empathy—was such a great addition to the story, and I loved the (what seemed to be) on-again, off-again relationship they had with Poppy. Elle and Tolliver’s relationship was sweet, and I enjoyed learning about their history and seeing them deal with the aftermath of losing Dante. Ezra’s character felt so relatable because he had so many questions about the magic system, and I was learning right along with him. The magic system was confusing at first, but after a while (and Ezra’s helpful, constant questioning) things started to click, and I liked how unique the politics and fantastical elements were. The concept of stealing a soul from the Afterlife was so outrageous that I was glued to the book, and the character-driven elements made me feel so attached to the story. Honestly, I would trust Elle and her crew with my life.
Hell to Pay releases July 28th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Did a crow on the stunning cover pull me in to request this book? Yes. Yes, it did!
I absolutely love the cover, and thankfully it turned out to be a book I was interested in since I didn’t read much of the description beforehand!
While I received the eARC from GP Putnam for Young Readers through NetGalley a while ago, by the time I was available to read it the audiobook had become available through the PRH Audio Influencer Program. I was thrilled to be able to do an immersion read, especially for this one, as it helped me keep all of the fantasy elements straight.
I’ve never seen the Oceans movies or read Six of Crows, so I don’t have the ability to compare them, but I do enjoy a good heist story, especially one led by teenagers, so this was right up my alley. Overall, I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure this quirky group takes readers on.
One benefit of the audiobook, which unlike the eARC was a finished copy, is that I got to experience the version that was actually being published—and in this case, it made a difference. Several things I would have nitpicked in the eARC had been addressed and appropriately fixed. I mention this because I read some of the more negative reviews criticizing aspects that simply shouldn’t be judged in an uncorrected draft, but I digress.
I found the book to be well balanced for its intended audience: teens. The diversity of the characters and their interactions was fun, while also touching on real-world issues young people face without becoming too heavy-handed.
Because of the format and the unreliable narrator—which is established from the beginning—I wasn’t trying to solve the mystery or predict every twist. While there weren’t any earth-shattering reveals, I still had a great time following all of the twists and turns along the way.
I will mention that the book seemed to try a little too hard to feel modern by referencing things like TikTok and similar pop culture. It came across as a bit contrived, and that approach, along with a few other literary choices, was neat the first couple of times but eventually became repetitive. By the end, I nearly strained my eyes from rolling them so often.
Lastly, the narrator, Joanna Carpenter? Fabulous job! She sounded great and was consistently strong throughout. She doesn’t do a lot of distinct character voices, but instead makes subtle shifts in tone that clearly indicate who’s speaking. It’s definitely a different style of narration, but I appreciated that far more than someone attempting a dozen unique voices they couldn’t sustain. As for the production itself, PRH Audio delivered another crisp, clean recording that made for an enjoyable reading experience.
Despite a few things that made me roll my eyes, I genuinely had a fun time with this one and would happily read another adventure with this group, which, based on the way things ended, seems like a real possibility. If you’re looking for a fast-paced YA fantasy heist with a lovable cast, plenty of adventure, and an unreliable narrator to keep you guessing, this one is definitely worth checking out.
I absolutely love the cover, and thankfully it turned out to be a book I was interested in since I didn’t read much of the description beforehand!
While I received the eARC from GP Putnam for Young Readers through NetGalley a while ago, by the time I was available to read it the audiobook had become available through the PRH Audio Influencer Program. I was thrilled to be able to do an immersion read, especially for this one, as it helped me keep all of the fantasy elements straight.
I’ve never seen the Oceans movies or read Six of Crows, so I don’t have the ability to compare them, but I do enjoy a good heist story, especially one led by teenagers, so this was right up my alley. Overall, I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure this quirky group takes readers on.
One benefit of the audiobook, which unlike the eARC was a finished copy, is that I got to experience the version that was actually being published—and in this case, it made a difference. Several things I would have nitpicked in the eARC had been addressed and appropriately fixed. I mention this because I read some of the more negative reviews criticizing aspects that simply shouldn’t be judged in an uncorrected draft, but I digress.
I found the book to be well balanced for its intended audience: teens. The diversity of the characters and their interactions was fun, while also touching on real-world issues young people face without becoming too heavy-handed.
Because of the format and the unreliable narrator—which is established from the beginning—I wasn’t trying to solve the mystery or predict every twist. While there weren’t any earth-shattering reveals, I still had a great time following all of the twists and turns along the way.
I will mention that the book seemed to try a little too hard to feel modern by referencing things like TikTok and similar pop culture. It came across as a bit contrived, and that approach, along with a few other literary choices, was neat the first couple of times but eventually became repetitive. By the end, I nearly strained my eyes from rolling them so often.
Lastly, the narrator, Joanna Carpenter? Fabulous job! She sounded great and was consistently strong throughout. She doesn’t do a lot of distinct character voices, but instead makes subtle shifts in tone that clearly indicate who’s speaking. It’s definitely a different style of narration, but I appreciated that far more than someone attempting a dozen unique voices they couldn’t sustain. As for the production itself, PRH Audio delivered another crisp, clean recording that made for an enjoyable reading experience.
Despite a few things that made me roll my eyes, I genuinely had a fun time with this one and would happily read another adventure with this group, which, based on the way things ended, seems like a real possibility. If you’re looking for a fast-paced YA fantasy heist with a lovable cast, plenty of adventure, and an unreliable narrator to keep you guessing, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I should probably start by saying: if the first sentence of the blurb is Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows, you're setting the bar very, very high and it will either go great or backfire. One is a movie with some very well known actors and artists, the other is a book that's adored by many. As I already said, the bar has been set very, very high for this one... and it didn't live up to it's expectations, at least for me.
I liked the humor, for most parts (especially the moments that felt like breaking the fourth wall), because there were some that didn't hit for me, at all. That might be because I'm not really a fan of constantly throwing modern world references in fantasy books, as for most of the time it seems to just pull me out of the story and it happened a few times here.
The plot felt like it was all over the place for me, especially the ending. It felt rushed and suddenly we got dumped all the missing info on us and it felt overwhelming, which greatly reduced the "wow" efect and/or any impact it should have had. I should probably mention that one thing that I did find really, really annoying: there were moments when Elle didn't mention something and then suddenly went like "so I didn't tell you about that before, but it happened". It might work in movies, sometimes with books too, but here? Not really, especially not done like that.
Another thing: Dante. Most of the plot, if not all of it seemed to be focused on bringing him back, but honestly, for most part I feel like we didn't really focus on that. We mentioned him from time to time, but I don't think it was enough, especially since there were moments where I forgot he even existed (until we mentioned him again).
Speaking about the characters, I don't feel like we focused on them enough either. I finished the book and honestly, I couldn't really tell much about them, because I feel like we barely get to know them. We had a whole crew of people, but most of them felt like they were the same person and if someone did stand out, they turned out flat. I wish we gotten more parts where they just interacted, talked with each other and we had an opportunity to get to know them, which in a heist themed book should probably be crucial.
Lastly, the heist itself. It felt... bland? I'm sure that I was supposed to be experiencing some emotions, probably feel the tension of the heist, I should have been rooting for the characters, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to. Why? I think the major thing was: it felt too easy. There were almost no problems along the way, it didn't at all feel like they were in any danger/had time limit. We simply went from point A to point B, did what there was to do and onto the next thing. Probably the best comparison I can think of is: imagine you're reading a walkthrough of a mission.
I should probably start by saying: if the first sentence of the blurb is Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows, you're setting the bar very, very high and it will either go great or backfire. One is a movie with some very well known actors and artists, the other is a book that's adored by many. As I already said, the bar has been set very, very high for this one... and it didn't live up to it's expectations, at least for me.
I liked the humor, for most parts (especially the moments that felt like breaking the fourth wall), because there were some that didn't hit for me, at all. That might be because I'm not really a fan of constantly throwing modern world references in fantasy books, as for most of the time it seems to just pull me out of the story and it happened a few times here.
The plot felt like it was all over the place for me, especially the ending. It felt rushed and suddenly we got dumped all the missing info on us and it felt overwhelming, which greatly reduced the "wow" efect and/or any impact it should have had. I should probably mention that one thing that I did find really, really annoying: there were moments when Elle didn't mention something and then suddenly went like "so I didn't tell you about that before, but it happened". It might work in movies, sometimes with books too, but here? Not really, especially not done like that.
Another thing: Dante. Most of the plot, if not all of it seemed to be focused on bringing him back, but honestly, for most part I feel like we didn't really focus on that. We mentioned him from time to time, but I don't think it was enough, especially since there were moments where I forgot he even existed (until we mentioned him again).
Speaking about the characters, I don't feel like we focused on them enough either. I finished the book and honestly, I couldn't really tell much about them, because I feel like we barely get to know them. We had a whole crew of people, but most of them felt like they were the same person and if someone did stand out, they turned out flat. I wish we gotten more parts where they just interacted, talked with each other and we had an opportunity to get to know them, which in a heist themed book should probably be crucial.
Lastly, the heist itself. It felt... bland? I'm sure that I was supposed to be experiencing some emotions, probably feel the tension of the heist, I should have been rooting for the characters, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to. Why? I think the major thing was: it felt too easy. There were almost no problems along the way, it didn't at all feel like they were in any danger/had time limit. We simply went from point A to point B, did what there was to do and onto the next thing. Probably the best comparison I can think of is: imagine you're reading a walkthrough of a mission.
August 20, 2026
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!~~
Yeah, this one was very much to miss.
First off, the humor? Very cringe. I dunno if it's because I'm almost a decade above the recommended reading demographic, but I'd like to imagine the teens reading this book would also be constantly annoyed at the modern pop cultural references like TikTok. Elle's constant fourth wall breaking was grating, too. I didn't not find it charming, nor did it endear me to her. I just feel like Johnson was trying so hard to make the story cool and edgy when, more times than not, it comes across as the opposite.
The characters had very little going for them. Elle, as aforementioned, annoyed me a lot through her POV and voice. I understand she's not meant to be likeable, typical good aligned YA protagonist, but what I don't understand how her crew managed to tolerate her, stay her "chosen family," even after the mandatory third act breakup. She plays up the con artist act so much it's all her character is; I cannot tell you a single thing about her that doesn't go back to her profession. She just doesn't seem like a genuine person, and her people, who, despite their lack of exploration, have more morale than she does, sticking by her despite her constantly omitting important truths, willing to dispose them when it's convenient to her, and just overall not being a good leader/friend to any of them. It made sense for one of them to stick with her despite all that (For plot twist reasons), but the rest? I really couldn't believe that.
As I said, the rest of the cast aren't really given enough time to flesh them out before we're invested in them. Tolliver, CJ, and maybe Ezra had the most potential, but they all still felt relatively flat to me at the end of the day.
The worldbuilding was interesting at first, but then it fell apart and didn't make sense by the end. So, this story is blatantly inspired by Greek mythos. Major gods are reimagined as Titans with Cults who share their originators' bloodline and powers derived from them. Except they stray so far from their source they might as well be different mythos all together. One prime example is how Hades and Persephone are reinterpreted to be . . . rivals? I honestly can't remember exactly what, especially when it got so convoluted and rushed at the end, but their relationship is nothing like its origins or the dark romance versions that have been popular the last few years. It irritated me, because it felt like the Greek mythos was being used as a way to familiarize the readers' with the world's concepts without meaningfully engaging with its sources.
Overall, this wasn't for me. Wish I enjoyed it more, but I couldn't.
Yeah, this one was very much to miss.
First off, the humor? Very cringe. I dunno if it's because I'm almost a decade above the recommended reading demographic, but I'd like to imagine the teens reading this book would also be constantly annoyed at the modern pop cultural references like TikTok. Elle's constant fourth wall breaking was grating, too. I didn't not find it charming, nor did it endear me to her. I just feel like Johnson was trying so hard to make the story cool and edgy when, more times than not, it comes across as the opposite.
The characters had very little going for them. Elle, as aforementioned, annoyed me a lot through her POV and voice. I understand she's not meant to be likeable, typical good aligned YA protagonist, but what I don't understand how her crew managed to tolerate her, stay her "chosen family," even after the mandatory third act breakup. She plays up the con artist act so much it's all her character is; I cannot tell you a single thing about her that doesn't go back to her profession. She just doesn't seem like a genuine person, and her people, who, despite their lack of exploration, have more morale than she does, sticking by her despite her constantly omitting important truths, willing to dispose them when it's convenient to her, and just overall not being a good leader/friend to any of them. It made sense for one of them to stick with her despite all that (For plot twist reasons), but the rest? I really couldn't believe that.
As I said, the rest of the cast aren't really given enough time to flesh them out before we're invested in them. Tolliver, CJ, and maybe Ezra had the most potential, but they all still felt relatively flat to me at the end of the day.
The worldbuilding was interesting at first, but then it fell apart and didn't make sense by the end. So, this story is blatantly inspired by Greek mythos. Major gods are reimagined as Titans with Cults who share their originators' bloodline and powers derived from them. Except they stray so far from their source they might as well be different mythos all together. One prime example is how Hades and Persephone are reinterpreted to be . . . rivals? I honestly can't remember exactly what, especially when it got so convoluted and rushed at the end, but their relationship is nothing like its origins or the dark romance versions that have been popular the last few years. It irritated me, because it felt like the Greek mythos was being used as a way to familiarize the readers' with the world's concepts without meaningfully engaging with its sources.
Overall, this wasn't for me. Wish I enjoyed it more, but I couldn't.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Netgalley review, possible plot points mentioned below (SPOILERS ARE POSSIBLE BELOW, you have been warned)
Hell to Pay is a book you have to stick with in order for it to somewhat get better. This is another book where I think the plot is very interesting but the execution isn't quite right.
What I think took me the most out of this story was the constant brand names, celebrities, tiktok dances, YouTube, etc being brought up. Nothing screams fantasy like learning how to fight on YouTube and saying tiktok slang... I don't know what it is about recent books having so much of this shoved into them but I am just not a fan at all. It makes me rate books so much lower.
This book is also written like the author was trying to be so edgy so hard and instead it made the character really cringey at times. I think what annoyed me often was everytime she described the outfit she was wearing.
I feel like I have so much to say about this book but I'm going to condense it as much as possible but I'll probably forget half the thoughts I had while reading
1. The house burning part was actually ridiculous, my childhood home is burning because I caught it on fire because I was being dumb but whatever that doesn't matter ... Girl be for real if ur gonna keep mentioning the fire then put it the fuck out why let it engulf the whole house
2. Most of the characters didn't feel like we got enough of them to really care about any of them. They felt flat in a way. Never felt shocked or distraught if they did something bad towards another. The only character I had any real care for was Cj and sometimes Rook. Never cared at all about Dante because he just never really mattered, was talked about so vaguely he almost didn't exist to the plot other than needing a reason to go to the afterlife.
3. The heist was more interesting, we got to see more of the magic at use and the plot in general got better at this point
4. The world overall is a bit confusing and flat. I do however really like the idea of the afterlife and being able to go between them. Especially the money aspect, there's something to say when you are too poor to be dead (costing money to tour the afterlife). It's insane but in reality we would monetize dying more than we already do given the chance.
5. The ending is a bit rushed. While I didn't expect the endings full outcome, Rook was never apart of the group truly and Elle kept making jabs at him but never let the reading in on any of it which was mildly annoying, so it's not too unexpected.
I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book.
Hell to Pay is a book you have to stick with in order for it to somewhat get better. This is another book where I think the plot is very interesting but the execution isn't quite right.
What I think took me the most out of this story was the constant brand names, celebrities, tiktok dances, YouTube, etc being brought up. Nothing screams fantasy like learning how to fight on YouTube and saying tiktok slang... I don't know what it is about recent books having so much of this shoved into them but I am just not a fan at all. It makes me rate books so much lower.
This book is also written like the author was trying to be so edgy so hard and instead it made the character really cringey at times. I think what annoyed me often was everytime she described the outfit she was wearing.
I feel like I have so much to say about this book but I'm going to condense it as much as possible but I'll probably forget half the thoughts I had while reading
1. The house burning part was actually ridiculous, my childhood home is burning because I caught it on fire because I was being dumb but whatever that doesn't matter ... Girl be for real if ur gonna keep mentioning the fire then put it the fuck out why let it engulf the whole house
2. Most of the characters didn't feel like we got enough of them to really care about any of them. They felt flat in a way. Never felt shocked or distraught if they did something bad towards another. The only character I had any real care for was Cj and sometimes Rook. Never cared at all about Dante because he just never really mattered, was talked about so vaguely he almost didn't exist to the plot other than needing a reason to go to the afterlife.
3. The heist was more interesting, we got to see more of the magic at use and the plot in general got better at this point
4. The world overall is a bit confusing and flat. I do however really like the idea of the afterlife and being able to go between them. Especially the money aspect, there's something to say when you are too poor to be dead (costing money to tour the afterlife). It's insane but in reality we would monetize dying more than we already do given the chance.
5. The ending is a bit rushed. While I didn't expect the endings full outcome, Rook was never apart of the group truly and Elle kept making jabs at him but never let the reading in on any of it which was mildly annoying, so it's not too unexpected.
I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book.
April 23, 2026
Summary:
After the sudden loss of her brother Dante, Elle Fields plans the most complicated heist in all history — to steal a soul from the afterlife. First things first, she must gather up her crew that drifted after Dante’s death, and convince them that this crazy plan is possible by piggy backing this plan with funding from their latest gig. Easy peasy.
Review:
This book sounded like pure fun when I read the summary, and boy did it deliver. Hell to Pay is a fast paced, young adult novel that reads well for older audiences, incorporating wit and world building. Elle is a very relatable, chaotic good character. She was a wonderfully honest character who’d cross any line for her crew, which is her found family. I enjoyed her internal dialogue immensely because she was so down to earth considering the crazy circumstances she kept finding herself in, like fighting literal demons.
Unlike many books I’ve read, the side characters in Hell to Pay felt just as fleshed out and developed as the main cast. I loved that I could understand the goals of Poppy, CJ, Trolliver, Ezra, and Ross. They all had enough backstory and “screen time" to feel invested in each of them. This made each plot twist have far more catharsis, and this book had several I did not see coming! I loved each unexpected twist and turn, and I genuinely felt like I was one of the marks for a con while reading.
The romance in this book is low spice, but realistic and tasteful. It was awkward, adorable, and implied more than anything. I enjoy low spice in my books because it allows for pure plot and character growth. Romance doesn’t substitute for development in this novel, and I find that so refreshing in fantasy.
The other fun element of this novel which was the main draw for me was the loose Greek mythology weaved in. The world is divided into different clans based on which god/goddess/titan one pledges alliance to. One's alliance also depends on the magical abilities they gain from the afterlife. The magic system in this novel was fascinating, different, and easy to understand. I like that Alive characters could step into the afterlife and come back imbued with ancient powers. It just was such a cool concept and it was executed well.
I hope there is a sequel. The ending of this book makes me crave one. I need to know what is next for changed Elle and her rambunctious crew members! Thank you so much for providing me an early copy of Hell to Pay in exchange for an honest review. I have this book 4 out of 5 stars.
After the sudden loss of her brother Dante, Elle Fields plans the most complicated heist in all history — to steal a soul from the afterlife. First things first, she must gather up her crew that drifted after Dante’s death, and convince them that this crazy plan is possible by piggy backing this plan with funding from their latest gig. Easy peasy.
Review:
This book sounded like pure fun when I read the summary, and boy did it deliver. Hell to Pay is a fast paced, young adult novel that reads well for older audiences, incorporating wit and world building. Elle is a very relatable, chaotic good character. She was a wonderfully honest character who’d cross any line for her crew, which is her found family. I enjoyed her internal dialogue immensely because she was so down to earth considering the crazy circumstances she kept finding herself in, like fighting literal demons.
Unlike many books I’ve read, the side characters in Hell to Pay felt just as fleshed out and developed as the main cast. I loved that I could understand the goals of Poppy, CJ, Trolliver, Ezra, and Ross. They all had enough backstory and “screen time" to feel invested in each of them. This made each plot twist have far more catharsis, and this book had several I did not see coming! I loved each unexpected twist and turn, and I genuinely felt like I was one of the marks for a con while reading.
The romance in this book is low spice, but realistic and tasteful. It was awkward, adorable, and implied more than anything. I enjoy low spice in my books because it allows for pure plot and character growth. Romance doesn’t substitute for development in this novel, and I find that so refreshing in fantasy.
The other fun element of this novel which was the main draw for me was the loose Greek mythology weaved in. The world is divided into different clans based on which god/goddess/titan one pledges alliance to. One's alliance also depends on the magical abilities they gain from the afterlife. The magic system in this novel was fascinating, different, and easy to understand. I like that Alive characters could step into the afterlife and come back imbued with ancient powers. It just was such a cool concept and it was executed well.
I hope there is a sequel. The ending of this book makes me crave one. I need to know what is next for changed Elle and her rambunctious crew members! Thank you so much for providing me an early copy of Hell to Pay in exchange for an honest review. I have this book 4 out of 5 stars.
July 29, 2026
3.5/5
What if the Greek pantheon were mafia bosses that had gained power by traveling back and forth from the Afterlife? And what if our mortal hero were a con artist desperate to bring her brother back from the dead? I was hooked by the concept, and because this comped to Six of Crows, which is one of my favorite series ever. It’s similar in that it’s about a ragtag group of thieves pulling off a heist of a person in a fantasy world. It also comped to Ocean’s 11, which was interesting because I hadn’t noticed a book comp to a movie before. It succeeded in feeling like a movie, especially at the beginning when it listed out the elements of a heist with headings (loved how the book was organized around the steps of a heist), introduced the characters with headings, and then listed their resumé like how in a movie, the main character may pause the story to fill the viewer in on the context. Speaking of the MC, Elle had a very strong voice, and she was entertaining to follow. She had an unserious personality, which was fun, but also made it hard to feel invested. Though, I think the true culprit of my feeling that way is that the feeling of absence from the family she’d lost was, itself, absent. Sure, Dante’s rules were mentioned throughout the entire book, but the crew had no holes in its interactions, dialogue, or chemistry that Dante would have filled. I wanted more emotional holes where he used to be rather than practical holes. I wanted more memories of him, so I could feel like I knew him, so I could want him back as desperately as the rest did. I wanted Dante to haunt the story as more than just the rules guy and endgame of their quest. Regardless, I really enjoyed Elle’s arc stepping out from Dante’s shadow and embracing who she is. The cast was a delight, every character playing well off each other and participating in key ways to the plot. Friendship banter was peak. The side romances I wish had more depth, especially Tolliver’s. I loved the creative worldbuilding, particularly to do with how the magic of the Afterlife worked. Ultimately, it was a fun, snappy story of a diverse cast with great chemistry popping in and out of the Afterlife trying to crack the secret of resurrection to finish their score and bring back a brother. The comps were good, and this book does a good job doing its own thing. It was just missing the emotional gut punch for me.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
What if the Greek pantheon were mafia bosses that had gained power by traveling back and forth from the Afterlife? And what if our mortal hero were a con artist desperate to bring her brother back from the dead? I was hooked by the concept, and because this comped to Six of Crows, which is one of my favorite series ever. It’s similar in that it’s about a ragtag group of thieves pulling off a heist of a person in a fantasy world. It also comped to Ocean’s 11, which was interesting because I hadn’t noticed a book comp to a movie before. It succeeded in feeling like a movie, especially at the beginning when it listed out the elements of a heist with headings (loved how the book was organized around the steps of a heist), introduced the characters with headings, and then listed their resumé like how in a movie, the main character may pause the story to fill the viewer in on the context. Speaking of the MC, Elle had a very strong voice, and she was entertaining to follow. She had an unserious personality, which was fun, but also made it hard to feel invested. Though, I think the true culprit of my feeling that way is that the feeling of absence from the family she’d lost was, itself, absent. Sure, Dante’s rules were mentioned throughout the entire book, but the crew had no holes in its interactions, dialogue, or chemistry that Dante would have filled. I wanted more emotional holes where he used to be rather than practical holes. I wanted more memories of him, so I could feel like I knew him, so I could want him back as desperately as the rest did. I wanted Dante to haunt the story as more than just the rules guy and endgame of their quest. Regardless, I really enjoyed Elle’s arc stepping out from Dante’s shadow and embracing who she is. The cast was a delight, every character playing well off each other and participating in key ways to the plot. Friendship banter was peak. The side romances I wish had more depth, especially Tolliver’s. I loved the creative worldbuilding, particularly to do with how the magic of the Afterlife worked. Ultimately, it was a fun, snappy story of a diverse cast with great chemistry popping in and out of the Afterlife trying to crack the secret of resurrection to finish their score and bring back a brother. The comps were good, and this book does a good job doing its own thing. It was just missing the emotional gut punch for me.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
August 11, 2026
We firstly want to thank NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for early access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
Hell To Pay follows Elle, who comes from a long line of thieves specializing in breaking into the afterlife to steal secrets and magic from the dead. After her parents disappear and her older brother suddenly dies. Elle is left without a family and, more importantly, a crew. When a mysterious stranger offers her an impossible job: steal a soul from the afterlife. Elle realizes that this may be her only chance to restore the life she lost.
Hell To Pay feels like Ocean’s Eleven but throw in Greek mythology, a very sarcastic heroine, and also, of course, hell. Elle’s quick wit and self-aware narration bring plenty of humor to the story, while the accessible magic system makes the world easy to understand. This novel also offers a ton of interesting characters, twists that you may or may not see coming, and a fast-paced storyline.
Sam had a great time with this novel, and she enjoyed Elle’s snarky personality, the fourth wall being broken within the narration, and the overall vibe of the adventure. Although some of the problems were solved a bit too conveniently, the book remained fun and highly entertaining.
Meanwhile, Morgan had mixed feelings about this novel. At the same time, she loved Elle’s humor and overall the modern retelling of Greek mythology. She wanted greater emotional depth, stronger suspense, and more development relationship between Elle and her crew. Although this novel did promise found family, many of those connections were explained rather than fully explored on the page. Meanwhile repeating “this was the plan all along” is not the best way to solve any issue as it weakens some of the tension that the novel lacked. The most disappointment was that the mythology often felt more like a backdrop than an essential part of the plotline.
Overall, Hell To Pay is a clever and humorous fantasy heist that you may love if you like sarcastic heroines, unconventional trips to the underworld, straightforward magic systems, and stories driven by chaos. But if you are looking for a more developed relationships or if you are fan of Greek mythology, then maybe leave this one on the bookshelf.
Sam’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Morgan’s Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Hear our complete review and spoiler-filled discussion of Hell to Pay on the Just One More Page Podcast, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Hell To Pay follows Elle, who comes from a long line of thieves specializing in breaking into the afterlife to steal secrets and magic from the dead. After her parents disappear and her older brother suddenly dies. Elle is left without a family and, more importantly, a crew. When a mysterious stranger offers her an impossible job: steal a soul from the afterlife. Elle realizes that this may be her only chance to restore the life she lost.
Hell To Pay feels like Ocean’s Eleven but throw in Greek mythology, a very sarcastic heroine, and also, of course, hell. Elle’s quick wit and self-aware narration bring plenty of humor to the story, while the accessible magic system makes the world easy to understand. This novel also offers a ton of interesting characters, twists that you may or may not see coming, and a fast-paced storyline.
Sam had a great time with this novel, and she enjoyed Elle’s snarky personality, the fourth wall being broken within the narration, and the overall vibe of the adventure. Although some of the problems were solved a bit too conveniently, the book remained fun and highly entertaining.
Meanwhile, Morgan had mixed feelings about this novel. At the same time, she loved Elle’s humor and overall the modern retelling of Greek mythology. She wanted greater emotional depth, stronger suspense, and more development relationship between Elle and her crew. Although this novel did promise found family, many of those connections were explained rather than fully explored on the page. Meanwhile repeating “this was the plan all along” is not the best way to solve any issue as it weakens some of the tension that the novel lacked. The most disappointment was that the mythology often felt more like a backdrop than an essential part of the plotline.
Overall, Hell To Pay is a clever and humorous fantasy heist that you may love if you like sarcastic heroines, unconventional trips to the underworld, straightforward magic systems, and stories driven by chaos. But if you are looking for a more developed relationships or if you are fan of Greek mythology, then maybe leave this one on the bookshelf.
Sam’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Morgan’s Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Hear our complete review and spoiler-filled discussion of Hell to Pay on the Just One More Page Podcast, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I always have very high expectations going in to a heist novel, and this YA novel managed to pretty much pull it all off! It has a very Leverage-esque feel to it, in that there are a ton of moving parts, steps to a con, twists, flashbacks with more clarity, and a whole host of slippery characters while mixed together with some Greek Underworld mythology.
The worldbuilding of this novel was very strong and interesting, with techniques of going into the Afterlife and breaking into Tartarus a little bit like dreamwalking in Inception but with even more deadly consequences. I loved the fact that all of this was run by a bunch of mob-like families, although I have to admit that it's strange to me that all the Greek Underworld gods are actually people who have repeatedly gone into the Underworld a ton of times but there's no mention of any other Greek gods.
A heist novel is nothing without its crew, and there's a pretty good bunch here: CJ, stoic scion who walked away from their crime family, Poppy, charmer and big sister, Tolliver, geeky but stolid chemist, Ezra, the new thief, Crowlene the best undead crow familiar, and of course our main character Elle--chaotic, brilliant, and impulsive, she drives the novel and plot forward (and careens it off the rails several times seemingly, only to come in clutch at the end). But even with her off-beat chaos, you always believe that she desperately wants to bring her brother back, and that love and obsession is the driving theme of this novel.
This novel ends on a bit of a sequel hook, and I look forward to seeing what else this crew will do!
I always have very high expectations going in to a heist novel, and this YA novel managed to pretty much pull it all off! It has a very Leverage-esque feel to it, in that there are a ton of moving parts, steps to a con, twists, flashbacks with more clarity, and a whole host of slippery characters while mixed together with some Greek Underworld mythology.
The worldbuilding of this novel was very strong and interesting, with techniques of going into the Afterlife and breaking into Tartarus a little bit like dreamwalking in Inception but with even more deadly consequences. I loved the fact that all of this was run by a bunch of mob-like families, although I have to admit that it's strange to me that all the Greek Underworld gods are actually people who have repeatedly gone into the Underworld a ton of times but there's no mention of any other Greek gods.
A heist novel is nothing without its crew, and there's a pretty good bunch here: CJ, stoic scion who walked away from their crime family, Poppy, charmer and big sister, Tolliver, geeky but stolid chemist, Ezra, the new thief, Crowlene the best undead crow familiar, and of course our main character Elle--chaotic, brilliant, and impulsive, she drives the novel and plot forward (and careens it off the rails several times seemingly, only to come in clutch at the end). But even with her off-beat chaos, you always believe that she desperately wants to bring her brother back, and that love and obsession is the driving theme of this novel.
This novel ends on a bit of a sequel hook, and I look forward to seeing what else this crew will do!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 ⭐
(+) :
- The best part of this book was it’s depiction of loss in regards to a a sibling. Obviously Elle was really close with her brother and that is very clear throughout the story.
- These kind of clan leaders with certain strongholds in the global industries and magic type were really interesting. Plus the way that magic could manifest in the two ways of being a part of a bloodline vs. having gone to the underworld or not was intriguing.
- I really like this cover. I love the colors, the typography, the skull and the bird. It’s just good.
(-) :
- I found these characters very annoying. I know I’m not exactly the target audience, but I really didn’t care for any of them.
- The Greek mythology overlay was lame and felt very forced. Yes it didn’t really affect the story that much, but it’s just a pet peeve of mine where writers will use Greek mythology as a blanket without any sort of substance.
- I wanted the heists to feel like heists? These people are supposed to be experts in their fields and they are bad at their jobs for the most part I know not everyone can be Soderbergh, but I just want to feel like these characters are one step ahead of the reader every step of the way and these characters very much did not.
- The reveals of the story “twists” were weak. And then the culmination of Elle’s character arc was just frustrating to me.
- I don’t think this title works. Yeah it’s about hell…but also it’s not really about payment.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : I don’t think so. I think I am just too far out of this writing style’s demographic.
*Thank you to Putnam & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Prodigal Tiger' by Samantha Chong
- 'The House of Hades' by Rick Riordan
- 'Midnight on the Celestial' by Julia Alexandra
(+) :
- The best part of this book was it’s depiction of loss in regards to a a sibling. Obviously Elle was really close with her brother and that is very clear throughout the story.
- These kind of clan leaders with certain strongholds in the global industries and magic type were really interesting. Plus the way that magic could manifest in the two ways of being a part of a bloodline vs. having gone to the underworld or not was intriguing.
- I really like this cover. I love the colors, the typography, the skull and the bird. It’s just good.
(-) :
- I found these characters very annoying. I know I’m not exactly the target audience, but I really didn’t care for any of them.
- The Greek mythology overlay was lame and felt very forced. Yes it didn’t really affect the story that much, but it’s just a pet peeve of mine where writers will use Greek mythology as a blanket without any sort of substance.
- I wanted the heists to feel like heists? These people are supposed to be experts in their fields and they are bad at their jobs for the most part I know not everyone can be Soderbergh, but I just want to feel like these characters are one step ahead of the reader every step of the way and these characters very much did not.
- The reveals of the story “twists” were weak. And then the culmination of Elle’s character arc was just frustrating to me.
- I don’t think this title works. Yeah it’s about hell…but also it’s not really about payment.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : I don’t think so. I think I am just too far out of this writing style’s demographic.
*Thank you to Putnam & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Prodigal Tiger' by Samantha Chong
- 'The House of Hades' by Rick Riordan
- 'Midnight on the Celestial' by Julia Alexandra
August 3, 2026
Elle Fields is a thief able to steal secrets and magic from the dead. After her parents’ disappearance and her brother’s death, Elle doesn't have a crew any longer and is adrift. When a mysterious stranger wants her to steal a soul from the Afterlife, she's convinced it will restore her old life. She must get her old crew back together and try to do the impossible. But how hard could it be to raise the dead?
Told from Elle's POV, we see how she uses her knowledge and abilities to con the recently dead. It also gives us the rules of magic in this world, and the risks involved before she even gets the job of stealing a soul. She outlines what's involved in a heist as well as con schemes, and we soon see the different steps involved to get what they need to ultimately do the soul heist and resurrection: their job is to find their benefactor's sister, and Elle hopes she can do the same for her brother. The job is complicated, the steps convoluted, and we learn more about the Syndicates and magic as we go. The crew and Rook all have hidden layers, and we only see them after it's relevant. For all that she trusts her crew, she also hides a lot. At one point, she even says that manipulation is her love language.
Just when you think you have a handle on what's happening, there are switchbacks and twists that redefine what just happened. Essentially, Elle's precarious relationship with the truth and tendency to do a con also extends to the reader. We find out exactly what's going on with the heists, the underworld and what is at stake when we discover the actual job Elle was hired to do. The story kept me glued to every page, and I enjoyed the world-building here. It's a fun and exciting book to read.
Told from Elle's POV, we see how she uses her knowledge and abilities to con the recently dead. It also gives us the rules of magic in this world, and the risks involved before she even gets the job of stealing a soul. She outlines what's involved in a heist as well as con schemes, and we soon see the different steps involved to get what they need to ultimately do the soul heist and resurrection: their job is to find their benefactor's sister, and Elle hopes she can do the same for her brother. The job is complicated, the steps convoluted, and we learn more about the Syndicates and magic as we go. The crew and Rook all have hidden layers, and we only see them after it's relevant. For all that she trusts her crew, she also hides a lot. At one point, she even says that manipulation is her love language.
Just when you think you have a handle on what's happening, there are switchbacks and twists that redefine what just happened. Essentially, Elle's precarious relationship with the truth and tendency to do a con also extends to the reader. We find out exactly what's going on with the heists, the underworld and what is at stake when we discover the actual job Elle was hired to do. The story kept me glued to every page, and I enjoyed the world-building here. It's a fun and exciting book to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While the premise is unique with Afterlife heists and conning magically-gifted syndicate families, the story itself has some recurring ups-and-downs on repeat.
First of all, I enjoyed all the different characters. Vibrant, witty, and emotional, they steal the show in terms of what carried me through the book. How each one is an important and careful piece of the puzzle to establish a successful heist (or con or con-heist) was wonderfully implemented. Also, Crowlene is my favorite despite being so-so dependent on best (she has a mind of her own).
The story itself is framed from the main character's perspective, and it's written as though she is explaining the story to you in terms of what happened, what she was thinking, etc. Think kind of like Ocean's Eight, in a way, when the explanation of the heist occurs. However, what was fine the first time became a boring staple. There are many, many instances where the main character becomes an unreliable narrator and only reveals important pieces of information after ending on a previous chapter's shocking event. It became annoying after the pattern started to emerge, and near the end it became less entertaining and more of a bait-and-switch.
Overall, a fun read for the heists and Greek mythology-based syndicate families, but be aware of certain tropes coupled with an unreliable narrator controlling how the story is told.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Lora Beth Johnson, and the publisher Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for allowing me an eARC to read and review.
First of all, I enjoyed all the different characters. Vibrant, witty, and emotional, they steal the show in terms of what carried me through the book. How each one is an important and careful piece of the puzzle to establish a successful heist (or con or con-heist) was wonderfully implemented. Also, Crowlene is my favorite despite being so-so dependent on best (she has a mind of her own).
The story itself is framed from the main character's perspective, and it's written as though she is explaining the story to you in terms of what happened, what she was thinking, etc. Think kind of like Ocean's Eight, in a way, when the explanation of the heist occurs. However, what was fine the first time became a boring staple. There are many, many instances where the main character becomes an unreliable narrator and only reveals important pieces of information after ending on a previous chapter's shocking event. It became annoying after the pattern started to emerge, and near the end it became less entertaining and more of a bait-and-switch.
Overall, a fun read for the heists and Greek mythology-based syndicate families, but be aware of certain tropes coupled with an unreliable narrator controlling how the story is told.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Lora Beth Johnson, and the publisher Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for allowing me an eARC to read and review.
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