Heart of Thieves

The Devious #2

by Jessica S. Olson

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

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

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

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

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Fantasy Romance

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Heart of Thieves (The Devious #2) Jessica S. Olson
Book Blurb: Lola St. James is trapped in a web of lies and deceit. But that only makes her more determined to find the truth. The truth about her past. The truth about her magic. And the truth about the curse that binds her to two warring brothers who she both hates and loves.

Rating: ****
Feels: Adventure, Surprise, Invested, Satisfied
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy Romance
First published September 15, 2026 : 384 pages

Themes & Setting: Families in turmoil, hidden agendas & identities ... who do you trust??
FMC: Love a good strong FMC and Lola has all the qualifications you are looking for !! She is determined and intelligent. She will need it will all the twists and turns thrown at her.
MMC: Ohhhhh the brothers. They are soo very different and I do not like doing spoilers so you really will have to get to know these two and how intriguing they are !!!
Conclusion: Adore a duology that really gets into the story like this one does !! What really makes this so enjoyable is all the twists, turns and never knowing where its all going. Everyone has an agenda and you never quite know if they are in opposition to each other or if they are going to be helpful. I was totally always in Lola's corner and kept reading wanting to know what was going to happen to her !! The whole dynamic between the Brothers with each other and with her is just too amusing and definitely hot !! Enjoy diving into this finished duology and enjoy the ride !!


Favorite Quote: "Am I a corruptor or the corrupted?" I ask softly
"That's entirely up to you," she whispers.

Book Vibes:
Hate to Love
Villain Romance
Hidden Identities
Found Family
Slow Burn
Unique Love Triangle
Heists and Gambling
Warring Brothers
Magic system

[Chloe]

This was a great read!

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

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

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

[Janine]

An interesting end to the Devious storyline. Full review later.

[Alex]

Solid 4.5/5 rounded up.

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

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

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

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

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

[Abby]

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

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

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

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

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

3.25/5

[Erin Arkin]

3.5 stars

Jessica S. Olson returns to the dangerous, deceitful world of the Den of Liars duology with Heart of Thieves, a fast-paced follow-up that picks up shortly after the dramatic events of book one. Picking up right in the aftermath of the Liar’s Dice Tournament, the high-stakes game may be over, but the fallout is only just beginning. Lola St. James finds herself deeper in a web of secrets, magic, and treacherous motives as she attempts to break the curses binding her and navigate her volatile bond with two warring brothers.

What makes Heart of Thieves such an engaging read is how Olson continues to push her core characters through intense personal growth. Lola is as fierce, clever, and resilient as ever. Watching her step into a new alter ego—Nocturne—to turn the tables on those who betrayed her showcases her tactical brilliance, but it's her emotional journey that really stands out. She is forced to confront hard truths about her past, her magical identity, and her own heart.

The dynamic between the brothers, Nick and Enzo, continues to be a central engine for the narrative. Nick’s journey deals heavily with the weight of expectation, duty, and the choices that led to his past betrayals, forcing him to decide what kind of person he truly wants to be when the dust settles. Meanwhile, Enzo’s arc brings a compelling layer of tension and vulnerability to the story as he grapples with trust, allegiance, and the lingering shadow of his choices. The contrast and conflict between Nick and Enzo keep the stakes personal and high throughout the entire book.

As a final installment, Heart of Thieves delivers a genuinely solid closure to the duology. Olson weaves together an entertaining mix of intricate magic systems, sharp action sequences, and dynamic romantic tension. The narrative momentum rarely slows down; between elaborate schemes, dangerous magical encounters, and shifting loyalties, it remains a genuine page-turner from start to finish.

I listened to this installment on audio, and I highly recommend the audiobook format. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the cast to life, capturing Lola’s sharp edge and vulnerability effortlessly, while giving distinct voice and tone to the brothers. The pacing of the narration really heightened the drama during the story's high-octane climaxes.

While I think I ultimately enjoyed book one just a bit more—there’s always something special about the initial spark and setup of a new fantasy world—Heart of Thieves is a satisfying wrap-up that does justice to these characters. Jessica S. Olson has built a dark, enchanting world here, and based on her strong character work and swift plotting, I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alba]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Jessica S. Olson, and Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an ARC of Heart of Thieves in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think I realised how invested I was in this book until everything started falling apart.

Heart of Thieves begins as a tangled web of games, secrets, hidden identities, magic, lies, and people who desperately need to sit down and have one honest conversation. There is a LOT going on, and for the first half I occasionally found myself struggling to keep my attention on all the different threads.

And then, somewhere along the way, this book grabbed me by the throat.

What started as an intriguing magical game suddenly became something I was emotionally invested in to a frankly unreasonable degree. I went from calmly wondering where certain relationships and plotlines were heading to gripping my mattress, internally screaming at characters, nearly having a heart attack, and eventually crying.

The atmosphere feels like Six of Crows meets Caraval, with criminals, dangerous games, shifting identities, morally questionable decisions, magic, betrayals, and layer upon layer of deception. But underneath all of that is a surprisingly emotional story about trust, loyalty, forgiveness and, perhaps most importantly, choice.

The relationships were easily my favourite part. They're messy and complicated, and nobody seems capable of making a decision without emotionally destroying at least three other people in the process. There were characters I wanted to hug, characters I wanted to shake, and one particular character I desperately wanted to personally escort out of the book.

And the romance? I initially complained there wasn't enough of it.

I TAKE IT BACK.

When the tension finally pays off, it absolutely pays off.

The final third was magnificent. Everything that had felt almost overwhelmingly complicated earlier began crashing together, and suddenly I understood just how much I cared about these characters. I genuinely didn't know how everyone could possibly make it through the mess they had created, and the ending put my emotions through the wringer before giving me exactly the kind of conclusion I needed.

I cried. I panicked. I suffered. I loved it.

Five stars. No hesitation.

[Hannah]

*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

This book was a wonderful ending to an exciting duology.

When we last left Lola and the Devious Brothers, Nic had cast her aside and she had used her Unbreakable Lie on Enzo to make him believe she trusted him.

Heart of Thieves picks up a little down the road, Enzo has allowed Lola to join his Tentacles and she is using an alter ego named Nocturne to get to the truth about her magic and the moonshard that cursed the two brothers.

No spoilers ahead, just thoughts…

This book was good, I enjoyed it, but was it on par with Den of Liars…no, no it was not. Den of Liars was just sooo good, it had everything, romance, action, mystery (go read my other review if you can’t remember how much I adored this book) Heart of Thieves, on the other hand, was more plot less character. Not to say there wasn’t any character growth, there was, but it just wasn’t enough for me.

The first half was slow, building up tension and background for the second half, which is fine, but I was a little bored trying to get through it. I also was a little bored because Lola and Nic hardly interact. The two of them were the best part of the first book, and this book sidelined their interactions for other characters, plot, etc.

That said, I did enjoy this book. The second half in particular was so good and definitely was more on par with Den of Liars. The best part was definitely the added POVs, both Enzo and Nic get multiple chapters throughout Heart of Thieves. While Lola was still the MC, our two leading boys got to showcase their own thoughts which really helped their characters, particularly Enzo as we saw less of him in the first one.

The ending was also just fantastic. Without getting into any spoilers, I will just say that it was definitely worth the build-up of the first half.

Overall thoughts;
Little slow, especially in the beginning, but once it picked up oh boy was it good. If you enjoyed Den of Liars, you absolutely need to finish the duology.

[High Lady of Delulu]

4.5

This was great - a truly worthy conclusion to Den of Liars, in my opinion.


PLOT
While Heart of Thieves is very different in a lot of things, it managed to pick up a story that left me feeling almost disoriented (in the good way, like emerging from a night of adventures, covered in glitter and somewhat oblivious to reality) and develop it into something slightly more serious.

The dynamics, the atmosphere, even the location couldn’t stay the same as in Den of Vipers for obvious reasons and it can be quite difficult to make this shift without losing momentum or feeling bumpy.
If there was ever a moment in this book where I felt like it might have been at risk of this, it was simply in the way a completion was introduced.

Other than that, Heart of Thieves managed to unravel a lot of what had started to come loose by the end of the previous book. The dice were quite literally rolled anew, old players returned and those previously on the sidelines got a chance to shape the story.



CHARACTERS
Amidst all of this, both Lola and the Liar were allowed to undergo the necessary change and growth. Their dynamic didn’t feel any less explosive than before, despite certain new challenges.

It was Enzo who I struggled with a bit, but only as far as the story required it. And to Jessica S. Olson’a credit, I did eventually come around and embrace the changing constellations and relationships involving him.


And now I might be hoping we’ll get a book for Enzo as well because talk about an interesting character development.



WRITING
There is a chance memory doesn’t serve me well but I felt like Den of Liars was a bit smoother and more polished, as if it had had one more round of editing.
It was still good and worked so well, just with the occasional tiny little stumble.




—



Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Jessica S. Olson for an ALC of Heart of Thieves

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

3.5⭐️ | Heart of Thieves was a solid conclusion to the duology, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite recapture the feeling that made Den of Liars so much fun for me. I still enjoyed the twists, betrayals, magic, and general chaos, and I appreciated getting multiple POVs from Lola, Nic, and Enzo. Seeing the story from all three perspectives added some interesting layers, especially with everyone having their own agendas and secrets, but it also made the plot feel more complicated than it needed to be at times.

I think the biggest issue for me was that the character work took a bit of a backseat to the plot. Lola’s new identity was an intriguing direction, and I liked watching her become more strategic and determined, but I wanted more emotional depth and more time with the relationships that made the first book so interesting. I especially missed the Lola and Nic dynamic, and some of the new additions and revelations surrounding the characters didn’t land as strongly for me as I hoped. The first half also felt a little slow while everything was being set up, but thankfully the story really picked up toward the end. The final stretch was definitely the strongest part for me. Once everything started unraveling, there were plenty of twists and high-stakes moments that kept me reading. I liked seeing all the different pieces finally come together, and the ending felt satisfying for the duology overall.

Overall, I enjoyed this duology and I'm glad I stuck with it to the end. Heart of Thieves may not have had the same spark as Den of Liars, and I wanted more character depth and emotional payoff, but it still delivered an entertaining conclusion filled with secrets, magic, complicated relationships, and plenty of scheming. A good ending to a fun series, even if I didn't love it quite as much as the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for this ARC!

[Yolanda]

Content Warning: death, violence, loss of body autonomy

This is book two in The Devious serious and I really loved book one, Den of Liars, and wanted to see what happened next in the story. The narrators did such a great job, the female narrator was practically acting out all her scenes, especially a dramatic one at the ending! I loved the sound of the male narrator also but at times I couldn’t distinguish when it was Nic or Enzo speaking.

The world building really goes more into the magic in this sequel and conclusion. We learn about Laurel, Nic’s first love, and I totally didn’t like her. She’s controlling Nic, and making him out to be someone he is not. Lola is trying to help break the brothers’ curse but she has to accomplish this by keeping secrets and trust with Enzo is already so shaky. I honestly wish I had the ebook to read while reading because a lot of the magic and world-building kind of went over my head.

I did like Lola’s relationship with Enzo which was strictly platonic and more of a found family vibe. Whereas it was clear her relationship with Nic was a romance. But Lola is barely with Nic in this book because he is stuck in Laurel’s clutches. Speaking of relationships, the brothers never got along because of their past but it does end cordially and happily for them. The other loose end in the story was Lola’s dad, the crime lord who is looking for her. Things are complicated there but there is closure.

Overall, I’d say this was a solid conclusion.



Final Thoughts:

This one was filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, and some very interesting magic and world-building. There was only a little bit of romance. The narrators were fantastic, but story-wise I don’t think this held my attention like book one did. I think it was a pretty solid conclusion though.

Read if you like:

Den of Liars (first book)
magic
found family

[Morgan-McKay Hoppmann]

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

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

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

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

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

[Chantelle Raines]

Thank you Fierce Reads and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an eARC and an ALC.

I was excited to continue the story of Lola, Nic and Enzo after Den of Liars!

I am grateful I got to immersive read this book, and definitely felt it was necessary at times with the audiobook. This was dual narration, and I overall enjoyed their voices, however I struggled differentiating between characters at times. I didn't feel like there was a big enough difference in the male narrators voices for Enzo and Nic. I also struggled with the female narrators voices for the male characters. The voice inflection needed improvement.

I also struggled getting back into this story and it took me the first 50% to get my bearings. I tend to struggle with multiple POV's, if they don't all seem necessary to the plot. I also struggled feeling connected to any of the characters. I really liked Nic in the first book, and found myself wishing for more of his backstory and curse. I also really didn't like Enzo, and really didn't like being in his head. It did really pick up in the last 20% and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed some of the revelations, but again wish we could have gotten more with Nic at the end!

I still think this is a great story and know many people will love this! Especially if they can read both books back to back.

Thank you again

[Tee]

I enjoyed my time reading this sequel!

There’s so much to love about this book—from the casinos, to the twists and turns, to the lies and betrayals, and of course the two questionable brothers at the heart of it all.

One thing I appreciated about this second book is that the plot was more complex than it was in the first book. I liked that we got POVs from Lola, Enzo, and Nic, who all had their own agendas and subplots going on. And the stakes always felt pretty high throughout the book, which I also liked. I wish we had gotten to see more of the curses though, as those really intrigued me!


I will say that the pacing was a bit too slow at times, which was a bummer. There were also certain plot points that were overused, which led to some issues with the climax. But I really liked the ending, as there was a lot of action, suspense, and fun twists. It felt like a satisfying way to close out the duology.


All in all this was an entertaining conclusion to The Devious duology, and I think people who enjoyed the first book will also enjoy this sequel!


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to listen to the audiobook!

[Kimberly]

3.5 stars.

HEART OF THIEVES, by Jessica S. Olsen is the final book of "The Devious" duology. I absolutely loved the world built up in book one, as well as the characters. This book didn't quite hit the same for me.

We pick up where we left off in Book one. In addition to our top three main characters (who each have a POV in this one), we have more from the the past, and Enzo's "Tentacles". The writing was good; however, I didn't have the same feelings for the characters this time. It had more to do with the situation and the addition of Laurel--we knew about her from the first book, but her entire story and showing up when she did never made sense to me.

Overall, there were some parts I truly enjoyed (such as Enzo's "Found Family" of Tentacles), but most of the action--especially Lola's big plot--was confusing and "too much" at times. I was hoping for more of the gripping connection I felt with DEN OF LIARS, as well as much more detail about Lola's past, but this didn't quite deliver all I had hoped it would. Still, I've read every book by this author, and will definitely pick up her next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book. All opinions are uniquely my own.

[Elsa L]

This one was full of surprised, schemes and action. I loved every part of it. It was so great seeing things started from where we left off in book 1. It took me a bit to get settled again in this world but it picks up fast enough that it was easy to remember. All three main characters are split apart in a way, lola is deceiving Enzo, Enzo is still scheming to break his curse and Nic is trapped with Laurel. I think my favorite POV was definitely Lola, she was planning the solution to this moonshard business the whole time, while creating a new persona, a game and avoiding her father. Then, Nic gives the POV of what Laurel has become. I do think Laurel was a great villain, a good girl turn faith believer of the gods to eliminate criminals, except that she took it to a very bad level. I enjoyed finding out more about Lola’s origins but I admit that the ending of the book was somewhat tragic but with a happy ending. I was surprised that I felt the grief of that final scene. Their group friendship is really something in this little gang. What was mostly special was the two brothers and lola and their bonds (BTW, thank you so much for not making this a love triangle, it made it more special as is). Overall great solid ending for a duology

[Shannon]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed Den of Liars, but Heart of Thieves completely surpassed my expectations. Jessica S. Olson took everything that worked in book one and made it bigger, bolder, and far more emotional.

This finale delivers high-stakes schemes, twists, curses, magic, and enough tension to keep me glued to my headphones. Lola was such a standout character, and I loved watching her step into her power and take control of the game.

But for me, the heart of this story was the found family. Beneath all the lies, heists, and magical chaos is a story about loyalty, forgiveness, trust, and choosing each other. The emotional payoff was absolutely worth the journey.

The audiobook was phenomenal. Emily Ellet and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick brought so much life, emotion, and energy to these characters that I found myself looking for excuses to keep listening.

If you enjoyed Den of Liars, this is exactly the kind of sequel you want: bigger stakes, deeper character work, more heart, and a deeply satisfying conclusion.

[Shelly Hadaller]

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

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

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

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

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

[Cozyfoxfairytails]

A Heart of Thieves by Jessica S. Olson is the final book in the Devious Duology, and while I still really enjoyed this one, I have to say that A Den of Liars was my favorite of the two.

The first book had that WOW factor that completely pulled me in, and I don't think this one quite hit the same way for me. That being said, it was still a really good read, and I enjoyed getting to see the aftermath of everything that happened in A Den of Liars and where the story went from there.

I'm trying to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible because I definitely think this is a story you should experience for yourself. There were still plenty of things I enjoyed, and I was invested in seeing how everything would come together in the end.

Even though book one remains my favorite, I had a lot of fun with this duology overall. And yes, I will absolutely still be pre-ordering my finished copy because I NEED that pretty artwork on my shelf. 😂

Overall, a good conclusion to the duology, even if it didn't quite capture the same magic that the first book did for me.

[Rebecca]

This was a fabulous follow up to the first book. Now that we have gotten to know the characters more, a lot of this hit a lot harder, especially the very complex and nuanced relationships. No one is truly good/evil, no one is acting for purely selfish reasons, despite how it might be perceived by others. I love seeing Lola play so many roles, juggling so many secrets and somehow keeping it all together. I will say the magic system is still a bit confusing, but in a way that seems mysterious and set up for many twists and surprises and I really liked how it expanded more in this one. I always love a caper and a puzzle so those parts were as fun as in the first. So many times I felt my heart being torn for the characters and I love how the author kept us on the edge of our seat until the very end.

Note: I listened to the audiobook for this and it was wonderful in ramping up the tension, especially in the confrontations, betrayals, and denouement.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Meg]

This was an impeccable follow up from Den of Liars. I’ll be honest I was disappointed at the end of DoL but this absolutely more than made up for it.
I love Nic and I would die for him like any day. Enzo I don’t love, but I think that’s because the author did *such* a good job at making him snakey and untrustworthy. To me, he’s a weasel, or a rat. Do I wish Lola had punished him for longer? Yes. Do I also understand how torn she was? Yes.
There were a few heartbreaking scenes that I really didn’t expect, which was a great reminder on just how brutal the author can be 🤣 but it contributed to the end goal so I can forgive it. I have become completely immersed in this story and I’m devastated it is over. But I’ll definitely be looking into more of the author’s work cause I really enjoy her writing!
A beautifully chaotic tale of self-acceptance, unconditional love, and found family.

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

[Katie]

Heart of Thieves was such a satisfying ending to the Devious duology. The addition of Laurel immediately raised the stakes, and I loved watching all those little threads from the first book finally connect. This is cozy YA fantasy at its best, but with a plot that basically refuses to let you put the book down. I flew through it in two days.

I especially loved how distinct every character felt. They’re all SO different, but there’s so much heart behind each of them and their relationships. Some of the dialogue did feel a little young considering the stakes, but honestly, it also makes perfect sense for the YA audience and gives the characters that relatability.

And HIGHLY recommend the audiobook. The production was fantastic and made an already fast-paced story even easier to fly through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Brooke]

Always sad when the ending of series rolls around but this was such a fun read that it was hard to be sad for long! Things pick up right where they left off at the end Den of Liars. I love the found family parts of this plus there’s still a little bit of competition to be had. Loved Lola and Nic. Seeing their growing romance was really sweet. I do think I missed a bit of the thrill of the first book with the tournament and the casino. However there is no shortage of twists and betrayals in this. I loved how everything ended!

The audiobook is stellar and absolutely the way to go. Each character was very distinct which is super important for me when there are so many to keep up with. Plus both of the narrators do an excellent job of really bringing out their characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read/listen to this book. All opinions are my own.

[Phoebe]

I went into 'Heart of Thieves' straight after reading 'Den of Liars', and I'm really happy with how the whole story was wrapped up. The finale was emotional, tragic, and still immensely satisfying. In my opinion, the sequel was a huge step-up from book 1 (which was already great!), but I really liked that this time, it is Lola who sets up the game instead of just playing it. The tension between her and the two brothers truly drives the story, and I loved the moment they finally figured things out and teamed up. (This might also be the only small thing I didn't like: the time it took for Lola to find out what has happened to Nick after learning of a certain person's powers was incomprehensible to me.)

'Heart of Thieves' is the great conclusion to a duology filled with morally grey characters, games, liars, plot twists, and a lot of yearning - what more could you wish for?

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kirsten (shadow.mommy)]

I was really disappointed by this sequel because I loved the first book, Den of Liars so much. I really only liked this book from the 60-92% mark and the last chapter. I felt like the first part of the book was not super interesting and the plot was dragging a bit. I also felt like it was very unrealistic that Lola would be able to fool everybody (including her criminal mastermind father) that she is Nocturne. Overall, the first half of the book felt like it could have been somewhat condensed. Once the book got to the 60% mark, I really started to enjoy it and it started to feel like reading the first book did. Until the end, which felt extremely rushed. Some of the things that happened seemed to occur out of the blue with no purpose (I'm being purposely vague to avoid spoilers). ALSO I feel like her and Enzo did not resolve their issues—she yelled at him a bit but that was all. I just felt really frustrated and confused by the ending of the book. The last chapter was good and tied up things well but unfortunately didn't make up for everything else that had happened in the ending.
I didn't completely hate it though—and like I said—I actually really enjoyed about 30% of the book. It is such a unique premise for a romantasy I really like Lola as an FMC. I also enjoyed having Enzo and Nic together on the page for some really great sibling banter. However, the parts I liked weren't enough to make up for an overall disappointing sequel.
I do recommend you check out this series because I loved the first book so much. I'm really hoping some of the parts I disliked are worked out in the final version since I read an advanced copy. I'm also planning on reading the final version because I hope I'm right!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Serena]

Thank you to Bonnie Books, Net Galley and of course the lovely Jessica S Olson for this ARC.

After reading book 1 (Den of Liars) I wasn’t sure about what was next in this Duology, I wasn’t hoping for a lot of answers to questions that had been left at the end of book 1 and although I am happy that everything was answered and squared away, I did struggle quite a bit with this book.

I don’t fully know why, I just wasn’t invested in the characters, they seemed very surface level in their personalities and relationships, there wasn’t anything that gripped me and made me care about them.

I can see how the plot and Magic/curse would get people to enjoy this book, especially those who aren’t interested in the romance aspect.

I enjoyed this book enough to finish it, but it was a real slog for me to power through 😢

[L.A. Montgomery]

A solid, satisfying conclusion to the Devious duology! While the first book remains my absolute favorite (nothing can quite compare), this sequel did a fantastic job of answering all my lingering questions.

I really liked how we got to see Enzo's perspective in this book! Getting inside his head was a major highlight, as I have always wondered what he was thinking. I believe seeing things from his point of view added so much depth to the story. I also appreciated how neatly all the loose ends form book one were tied up (I can't say anything more without spoiling things!). I did find the pacing a bit frustrating at times and it was slow to start out. However, once the action finally kicked in, it became an absolute page-turner that I couldn't put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Savannah Lilley]

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

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

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

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

[SelkieReader]

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

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

[Elizabeth]

I really enjoyed this duology.

I fell in love with Lola, Nic and Enzo right from the very beginning. I loved how their journey progressed and how their story ended.

I really enjoyed the character development in this one. Lola, Nic and Enzo have to really dig deep and accept things they have been avoiding. All the truths come to light and the consequences of the lies have to be felt. But everyone is stronger and healed through it.

Overall I liked Heart Of Thieves. I would definitely recommend this duology!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and the author for the eARC!