A Thief to Die For

by Melissa Poett

A stunning reimagining of Robin Hood, set in the same dystopian world woven with magic as The Enemy’s Daughter. An incredibly addictive YA enemies-to-lovers dystopian fantasy.

A soldier with magic. A thief with a secret. A spark that could burn their worlds down.

In a desolate, lawless land, Marian carries a dangerous secret. By day, she’s a high-ranking guard serving her father, the ruthless Commander who rules with an iron fist. By night, she becomes a whip-wielding thief, robbing the cowards she works with, to help those they mistreat.

That is, until Ryland catches her mid-raid. Revealing her identity could help him secure the deal he needs to save his homeland. Or, it could blow everything apart – if Marian has her way.

But Ryland holds his own secrets – untapped magic runs through his veins. A magic the Commander wants, along with invading Ryland’s distant settlement. Marian has her orders: win Ryland’s heart to betray him and his people.

And so begins a deadly dance of deception, stealing from the rich to give to the poor … and magic – the kind Ryland’s been waiting his whole life to wield.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Romance, Young Adult, Enemies To Lovers, Romantasy, Retellings

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Melissa Poett majored in music composition, first telling stories with instruments before switching her medium to words. She now writes young adult novels in a variety of genres ranging from contemporary to romantasy. She lives in Alberta, Canada with her family, and is the author of The Enemy’s Daughter and A Thief to Die For.

https://melissapoett.com/linktree

Reviews

[yuvi (hiatus)]

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
ִֶָ. 𓂃˖꣹ pre-read ꧔⟢ ִֶָ࿐

i loved the enemy's daughter (which was a tristan and isolde retelling btw). i've read it 3 times already. so imagine my surprise when i found out that i got the arc for this book😝😝😝
it's a robin hood retelling with marian leading the rebellion.
the scream i scrumpt ahhhhhhhhh.
okay so icl i've def read my fair share of robin hood retellings but smth abt melissa's books js hits diff idkk. like, this book is going to be different ijki. ahh im so excited.
lesssfreakinggooo

(ps. is a tristan and isodora novella too much to ask for🙏😭)

[Ellen McGinty]

Another delightful dystopian retelling by Melissa Poett! I really enjoyed these characters, the fast-paced adventure, and the clever plot twists. Robin Hood has always been one of my favorite stories, and this retelling didn't disappoint.

[Mia]

I don’t have much to say about this. The cover is pretty but world building and romance were severely lacking. It simply didn’t do for me.

[Sandrine]

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book around the 40% mark. The premise of this book sounded very interesting. However, the execution, for me was lacking. This is pitched as a Robin Hood retelling in a dystopian world. I don’t know where the dystopian is because there is almost no world building. Was I supposed to read the first book first ? I am a reader that needs context and a plausible world building and magic system to enjoy a fantasy story. In this, I was going blind. What is this magic that is supposedly lost ? What led to the supposed dystopian world? I wish I knew. Because of that, I felt like there were no stakes. How can the characters be nuanced if there’s no context? If I was supposed to read the first book to understand the world building, then it should’ve been marketed as a sequel or part of the same series. I couldn’t keep going as I didn’t even root for the Marian and Ryland. Also, it was a bit insta love as they are kissing after seeing each other maybe 3-4 times ? This book was not for me, but I’m sure readers who read the first book will appreciate :)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[Lana]

DNF page 120

SPOILERS

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️




The flirting was starting to get good, but i had a weird feeling about the sister. So i looked ahead.... long story short the sister is a bitch and somehow concocts a plan where the mmc has to marry her therefore enacting a magical bond. She kisses him. Its very intimate. Think mating bond esque. I think he may admit he could grow to love her because she is part of him. (However the vibe is reluctant because he doesnt love or want the sister but wants the fmc)

It was pretty clear she was into him and i wish he had set harder boundaries with her.

Also im kind of icked out by the ages of the characters. If im not mistake the fmc is 18 and her sister is younger which i took to mean 17 or 16 but the mmc is 20.... thats gunna be a big no for me. When was YA a fmc in her late teens but an mmc being 20???


Just a note we could have got the same result (his settlement location) if our mmcs got married, and the commander tortured the fmc for the location but the mmc gives it up so they'll stop torturing her that way theres no gross bond with her sister and stuff ugh

Very annoyed

[Hannah]

2.5 Stars.

⚔️The vibes:
- YA fantasy dystopian
- Robin Hood reimagining
- Closed door (kisses only)

⚔️ My thoughts:
Ok so I really liked the concept of this Robin Hood reimagining. The idea was a good one but I struggled with the execution. The romance, lack of world building, and usage of modern language pulled me out of the story.

⚔️ The connection between the two main characters felt lust-forward for me. The emphasis on physical attraction was fine, but I wanted more. Then we did start getting more (love), but it felt so unearned because of how rushed the execution was. The characters repeatedly acknowledge how they are rushing things, almost as if to excuse the rushed timeline to the readers.

⚔️ This is a small thing, but some of the language used felt more modern than what I expect in a fantasy. The language pulled me out of the story a handful of times. “Bad vibes”, mentioning if a character is “single”, and mentioning days of the week are a few examples of what I’m talking about.

⚔️ Lastly, every single moment with Agatha had me so frustrated and angry with her character. I don’t believe the reader is supposed to feel this way. I felt very much that the reader is supposed to be understanding of the entire storyline with her, but I’ll be honest- the speck of compassion I had for her in the beginning of the book fizzled to zero very quickly.

⚔️ Unfortunately this didn’t work for me, but I do think it will work for readers who want a fast-paced romance with a simple world set up, especially if you want a standalone fantasy with twists and turns in there.

Note / spice content : closed door (kisses only)
Release date: November 17, 2026.

Thank you so much to Melissa Poett, Harper Collins, and NetGalley.

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures)]

If you like gender swap retellings and bad a** heroines, a fast paced plot and characters to root for, you need this book! The target audience is YA and I will easily recommend it to readers of all ages who enjoy books like Soulmatch or The Hunger Games.
Marian is the dutiful daughter taking order from The Commander. She distances herself from everyone and toes the line. But occasionally, at night, she dons a disguise and raids her father's wagons to help the struggling Dresden with much needed items. Visitors are never welcome unless they can entice The Commander with anything that resembles old world advances like electricity or magic. Ryland has come in search of coal and is ready to bargain for anything reasonable. At the wrong place at the right time, he discovers Marian's secret and tensions loom ever higher.
It's what I like to call accessible fantasy. The magic system is detailed enough that you feel immersed in Melissa's world but simple enough to not feel like you don't think "what is happeningggg" every three pages. There are so many clever nods to Robin Hood. I think it can easily be read as a standalone but reading The Enemy's Daughter first gave me lots of fun Easter eggs and callbacks. I eagerly flipped pages and struggled to set it down until I finished. Would love to see another in this world!
Thank you to the author for sending a finished copy for a traveling arc. All thoughts are my own.

[Sorina]

"A Thief to Die For" by Melissa Poett is an YA enemies-to-lovers dystopian fantasy.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, Children's for the advance reader copy of the book.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

This is a reimagining of Robin Hood, set in the same dystopian world woven with magic as The Enemy’s Daughter.

Marian is a guard serving her father, but also a thief that helps they ones that the other guards mistreat.
Ryland is from the Kingsland and Tristan's cousin. This is the connection to The Enemy’s Daughter.

Both Marian and Ryland both have secrets and after he saved her during one raid, they start developing feelings.
This was a fast read for me, it have action, magic, secrets and unexpected twists.
The marriage magic from Kingsland is very interesting and the story went differently from what I expected.

Overall I think that The Enemy’s Daughter was a bit better, but I also had a good time reading this book.

[Kam]

A fantasy for ages 15-18 who are just getting into fantasy. If you are a more seasoned reader you’ll recognize lots of other plot points from other stories. I didn’t connect with the characters or setting.

[Sierra L]

*pre-read*

So Ryland is getting his story, okay I’m down. He didn’t have a whole lot of presence in the first book but I’m interested…

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

Thank you to Harper Collin’s Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such an improvement from the first book in this world. And when I say world, this is a second book that takes place in this universe and world that the author has created. Although it’s technically a standalone, I do think you should read the first book to know what is going on.

I liked the first book but I felt that there was a lot left to be desired and I felt like the main couple fell super fast. In this book, I feel like she solved all those issues. The pacing is better, I thought the nod to the tale of Robin Hood works here, and the characters fall for each other in a believable timeline.

I really liked that Ryland got his story here and I enjoyed his moments with Marian a lot. Their relationship was believable and enjoyed their scenes together a lot! Agatha bugged me, but I think that was to be expected.

I really enjoyed this book until the 65% where a decision was made and it bugged me so bad! I was so annoyed for the last parts of the book until something happened and things were “resolved”. And I say that loosely because the choice was to remove certain characters for the plot to resolve and that bothered me too.

Overall though, I liked this. I really do hope she continues to write more in this universe because I’m enjoying. I would like to see more from Levi and Sam, especially their banter with one another. I thought maybe she might go that direction but it seems implied that Sam is enjoying someone else.

Thank you again for the ARC! I had fun!

[Andrea Romero]

Firstly, Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!

Melissa Poett you have done it again. She might just be my new auto buy author. The Enemy’s Daughter was my favorite book of 2025 so this was one of my highly anticipated books of the year. I’m happy to say that it delivered! It was so well written. Melissa has such an effortless writing style that makes it impossible to put her books down. Even though there were a few aspects that didn't completely work for me, I was invested from beginning to end because the characters were so compelling and the plot was incredibly engaging. I’ve noticed that once you hit that 70% mark of her books you are in for a wild ride. It is so fast paced you just have to keep reading. The pacing skyrockets, the stakes keep escalating, and suddenly you're flying through the pages because you HAVE to know what happens next.

The romance was another highlight. It leaned a little more into insta-love than The Enemy's Daughter, where “the connection” made sense given the circumstances, but Melissa once again proves that she's exceptionally talented at writing chemistry. The yearning, the tension, the stolen moments, it all felt so tangible. She has a way of making you root for her couples from the very beginning.

I also really loved both main characters. I was happily surprised at Marian’s character since she was very different from Isadora who I felt like had such a quiet strength to her but Marian was really a warrior through and through. She was headstrong, sassy and passionate. She refuses to back down, and I loved watching her fight for what she believed in. Ryland completely stole my heart as well. (Although I still love Tristian more lol). He was selfless, compassionate, and endlessly kind, making him such a wonderful counterpart to Marian. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book.


I really hope Melissa keeps exploring this world and gives us more stories. The world building has so much potential to be further explored and expanded. While The Enemy's Daughter is still my favorite of the two, this was another fantastic read that reminded me exactly why Melissa Poett has become one of my favorite authors. Solid 4 stars!



Also I don’t care I have a soft spot for Agatha.

[Sifa Poulton]

I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for an upcoming interview. It has not affected my opinions.

A THIEF TO DIE FOR is a fast-paced romantasy inspired by Robin Hood, but was overshadowed by world building issues.

Like with THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER, this is a very, very loose retelling of Robin Hood. It is, however, so much more recognisably Robin Hood than that book was Tristan and Iseult (I would argue THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER is not Tristan and Iseult beyond the names). We have a Marian who here is taking on the role of Robin Hood as she is stealing from the Commander of Notting to give to the poor people. There is an archery contest in which Ryland takes part. I did appreciate that this felt more of a retelling, with more recognisable elements. It felt like it lived up to the promise of a Robin Hood retelling in a way the author's debut didn't.

This is a very action packed book. There are Marian's raids, the archery contest, plus the conflict with her tyrannical father. The chapters are quite short, so that helps give the book a sense of momentum, pulling you along.

I also bought into this romance more. The characters are not ideologically opposed - goal-opposed, sure, but that just gives a bit of tension to the romance as they need to find a way to make their goals align, but there isn't a fundamental ideological opposition to get past. This means that their bonding can take place fast while being believable - and the tension is done well through events like the staring contest.

The book is linked to THE ENEMY'S DAUGHTER. It's set in the same world and Ryland is from Kingsland. However, it's not a direct sequel. It does contain spoilers of that book in that it tells you Tristan and Isadora got together (though given it's a YA romantasy, I think that's a given!) and there are a few character overlaps. However, it can also be read on its own.

Frustratingly, this book was overshadowed for me by the world building - and the inaccurate nuclear physics in it. It was so distracting that there were all these throw away lines that were so wrong. Some of it wasn't even a lack of understanding of nuclear physics but a lack of understanding about how power stations work. Also, they say fission is bad but don't condemn coal - the entire plot is predicated on starting a coal powered station (to replace hydropower!) So enough information survived the apocalypse to know about fission but not climate change?

Yes, the average reader is not a nuclear physicist who specialises in nuclear power monitoring and so it won't distract them out of their mind that this layer of the world building is wrong. However, I am and it did. (There is also a discussion to be had about how things like this just add to misinformation. This is "pop-culture science" world building, and I mean that in the worst possible way - stuff that's usually wrong but so pervasive as it's in everything that you spend so much time arguing with people who get their science from fiction who believe because it's everywhere it must be right.)

Marian's father was a pretty one dimensional villain. He was tyrannical to the point of it being clear he knew he was being awful to everyone else. There was no sense that he thought he was the hero of his own story - who was his ideological enemy that had led to his regime being the way it is? I need that to buy into a villain in a book, otherwise they feel a bit cartoonish. I don't have to agree with their logic but I need to believe that they think they're doing the right thing (even if it's only the right thing for them) and understand how they gained power.

I think what would have helped would have been fleshing out the world a bit more. We didn't spend enough time with the people who benefit from his reign and thus prop it up to make the "why does he not get overthrown" explained, let alone a backstory for the settlement (it's just "protection against the wider world" with no evidence of the wider world being dangerous beyond characters saying it is.) Instead, the time is spent on everyone who is suffering with only "he has some guards" given as his reason for staying in control and they didn't give the impression of a large force.

Overall, I think this book would be very enjoyable if you're not a nuclear physicist!

[Kass Cooney]

I’m coming to A Thief to Die For as someone who knows next to nothing about Robin Hood lore, so I can’t speak to this as a reimagining of that story. But I loved The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett so I was excited to read more of her writing.

That’s why it was so nice returning to the world of her debut novel for this same universe installment. There are Easter eggs here and there from The Enemy’s Daughter but this book is written in such a way where you can still fully enjoy it without having read the other. The world building is well done and makes their gritty lives in Notting feel like a reality. Atlas’ dictatorship makes the already difficult living conditions even more oppressive.

This is a dual POV story but it takes six chapters for Ryland to have his first turn. However, the chapters are short and snappy. Only once or twice did an event get glossed over by the passage of time between chapters. But I really didn’t need to witness a character getting whipped, for example, so it wasn’t a bad decision.

Marian is a tough as nails heroine who’s trying to think of every creative way she can to subvert her father’s effects on their settlement. But all her subtle machinations aren’t enough.

Ryland’s deep loyalty to those he cares for and sense of justice are his driving force throughout the story. Meeting Ryland and learning to trust him helps Marian realize that she’s not trapped and that fighting her father in the open could be possible.

Their romance starts with enemies-to-lovers vibes especially since they end up at each other's throats in a fight more than once and she’s so concerned he’ll reveal her secrets to her father. Although it’s not long before they reach an understanding and their romance settles into a star-crossed lovers situation. Their attraction is undeniable and that was the steamiest staring contest ever conceived. The trajectory of their relationship may come off as fast paced, but it doesn’t feel forced to me.

Between Ryland, Agatha, Marian, and Atlas there are so many deceptions and plots layered on top of each other to keep track of but it was never confusing. Just assume that everyone is scheming. There’s tension to every situation and the stakes are pretty high as you worry for the characters but it didn’t end up stressing me out which is a fine line that I appreciated.

I can honestly say I did not predict the twist regarding Ryland’s past. But that wasn’t the only surprise this story had in store. That revelation was just a catalyst for one shock after another. The twist that led us into the dark night of the soul was a doozy and I struggled to picture how the characters would come back from that.

But through all the blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices there was still a happy ending.

The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars is because a book has to make the whole world fall away until I finish every last page or make me obsessive to receive that rating. Otherwise, I really enjoyed my time with A Thief to Die For and I thought it was very good.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC of this book for review. All opinions stated here are my own.

[Jan farnworth]

A Thief to Die For was one of those books where I started out thinking I'd have a fun little fantasy adventure. Then suddenly I was suspicious of everyone, emotionally invested, and questioning every single decision these characters made.
Basically, exactly the kind of mess I enjoy.
One of my favorite things about this book was the constant feeling that I couldn't completely trust what was happening. There are secrets, hidden motivations, and characters who definitely aren't putting all their cards on the table. Every time I started feeling comfortable with someone, my brain immediately went, “Yeahhhh… but what if they're lying?”
And that made this ridiculously easy to keep reading.
I also really enjoyed the balance between the fantasy side of the story and the relationships between the characters. Plenty was happening around them, but I never felt like the characters got lost underneath all the action. I wanted to know what would happen next, but I was just as invested in what was happening between everyone.
Especially when it came to the chemistry.
Because OH MY GOD.
Give me two characters who challenge each other, frustrate each other, don't know if they should trust each other, and still have enough tension between them that I'm sitting there waiting for somebody to DO SOMETHING finally.
Apparently, I enjoy suffering.
The romance didn't feel like it was thrown into the story just because it needed a romantic subplot. I liked watching the relationship develop alongside everything else that was happening. When you already have secrets and questionable loyalties floating around, developing feelings for someone becomes significantly more complicated.
Which, naturally, makes it significantly more entertaining for me.
I also appreciated that the story kept moving. There weren't huge stretches where I felt like I was waiting for something interesting to happen. There was always another problem, another revelation, another suspicious interaction, or another reason for me to say, “Well THAT doesn't seem like a good idea.”
Did that stop anyone from doing it?
Of course not.
Would this book have been significantly shorter if everyone made sensible decisions and communicated properly?
Probably.
Would I have wanted that?
Absolutely not.
And underneath all the action and chaos, there were enough emotional moments to make me genuinely care about what happened to these characters. That's what really hooked me. It's one thing to give me an exciting fantasy story, but another to make me emotionally attached to the people making terrible decisions. I'm doomed.
By the time everything started coming together, I was completely invested and very much in the “just one more chapter” stage—which we all know is a lie because there is NEVER just one more chapter.
A Thief to Die For gave me danger, secrets, tension, romance, betrayals, questionable choices, and characters I couldn't stop rooting for even when I wanted to shake them.
So thank you, Melissa Poett.
My TBR was already an uncontrollable disaster, and now you've given me another fictional world and another group of characters I need more from.
Exactly what I needed.
Obviously.

[Daniela M]

A Robin Hood retelling in the back drop of a post-apocalyptic world that gave me Bones by K.L. Speer vibes, but make it YA.

A Thief to Die for follows a girl named Marian who is living in an encampment run by her father. Witnessing the misuse of supplies among the lower class of people, Marian decides to take it upon herself to steal from her father, and blame the missing supplies on raiders from a warring faction. However, when a member of said warring faction witnesses Marian stealing these supplies, he uses this information to bribe her into an alliance. Ryland will provide this camp with technologies and information they have gathered in exchange for coal from Marian’s mines. From here, they form a reluctant allyship.

The characters in this novel are fine, but I did find them lacking in their roles and their place in the retelling. Other than names, this really didn’t feel like a Robin Hood retelling. Even Marian’s role as the thief was really toned down and didn’t carry a lot of weight in the narrative. No side characters really stood out to me, and even the main two didn’t seem to have much of a personality. The father being this villain also fell flat for me because he didn’t really have much weight to his character. He kind of just moved about and monologued when he was needed. He never felt menacing.

The world building in this was also very lacking. This is an interconnected standalone of The Enemy’s Daughter, and having had enjoyed that one, this one doesn’t really do much to add to the world we are in, and doesn’t put in the effort to stand on its own, should someone not read The Enemy’s Daughter. We only know that we are in a post-apocalyptic world because we have lines like “the old world” being thrown out as an explanation. But we aren’t really fed a good enough picture of what that means.

The marriage magic continues in this book, and we don’t get any further information than we did in the previous book. We don’t even get a “I don’t know” line when explaining the magic like we did in book one. Instead, the audience is supposed to accept that people can be bonded via marriage and heal each other because of something to do with the radiation or bombs from the old world. But that is all that we are given. For this being the only use of magic inside this world, it should be more fleshed out by this point, especially since this is an addition in the same world.

The plot is fine, but it didn’t feel like a page turner for me as much as The Enemy’s Daughter was. It felt like there was less of a tangible plot in this one, and it was more “vibes” with the storyline. I thought it was fine, and a solid YA dystopian romance. If someone is looking for something light in that genre, this is a fine option. But the use of healing magic with no explanation, as well as not fully describing the world that we are in is starting to get frustrating as we enter 2 books in this world and I’m still confused about that.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Melissa Poett for the ARC!

[Hailey]

First off, I should admit that I'm not a romantasy reader, and therefore not the exact target audience for A Thief to Die For. However, I'd heard quite a bit about Poett's debut, The Enemy's Daughter, so when THIEF had auto-approved requests for a day, I figured I'd check it out.

*WORLDBUILDING
The worldbuilding left me a little confused, to be perfectly honest. While some brief explanations are given for how the world ended up being a dystopia and Kingsland was founded, they left me wanting. Maybe more explanation is given in The Enemy's Daughter, but THIEF and DAUGHTER are marketed more as companion novels than a series, so reading one shouldn't be required for the other. Also, the dystopian leaned more toward medieval vibes than typical dystopian vibes, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It just made it harder for me to establish that it was dystopian in my head.

This might also be something that's explained more in The Enemy's Daughter, but the magic system of the connection felt a little... unconnected. There aren't any other fantasy elements, and I missed an exact explanation of how it originated with the Kingsland people. Of course, the connection did create some plot elements, but I think a little more fantastical pieces in the world could have helped it feel a bit more grounded.

*CHARACTERS
The dynamics between Marian, Agatha, and Atlas reminded me of the Dragna sisters and their father in Caraval. But I never really understood why Atlas manipulated his daughters, while also being overly possessive of them.

The romance is very insta-love. Like, five days after meeting, they want to get married insta-love. I did appreciate, though, that Marian and Ryland sort of acknowledged that it was insta-love at least.

Some of the side characters had very clear, strong character voices, and I would have loved for them to get a little more page time. But I also won't be surprised if they reappear as main characters if Poett keeps writing in this world.

*PLOT
A Thief to Die For felt more like it had Robin Hood motifs than being a direct retelling. Though, my Robin Hood knowledge is only through movies, not the actual book. But I do wish that there had been a bit more action and less romance.

*OVERALL THOUGHTS
Like I noted at the beginning, I'm not really the target audience for A Thief to Die For. I also don't know if reading The Enemy's Daughter first would clear up some of the questions I had. But if you like romantasy with "Will they /really/ end up together?" elements, you might enjoy this one.

Cautions: brief swearing and coarse language; non-graphic violence; heavy romance (kissing and lots of emotions only)

(I received an eARC through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.)

[Amber LaQuay]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy received by NetGalley ✨

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The world was intriguing, the characters interesting, and the plot was pretty unique compared to other recent dystopian/fantasy romances (idk which this one falls under lol). Marian is a badass yet caring fmc, and Ryland mysterious and hard-headed. Even the side characters were fun to read about and have around.

However, I think this would have worked better as a duet rather than a standalone. It felt like there were a lot of things the author wanted to happen, but was running out of paper and rushed it all to fit it into one story. There was enough world-building to know what was going on, but I personally would have liked to see more of the history of this world covered. I was confused as to why the Dresden are considered so different from everyone else—is it their race? Class? Another societal disadvantage? Etc.
Also, everything happened so fast, I was damn near getting whiplash. The romance’s development was too quick for there to be any type of chemistry or tension between the characters, making the “betrayal” a tad bit annoying bc like, you barely know the guy?? The major plot points happened back to back to back so fast that it was almost overwhelming. The entire premise of the book took place is less than a week (or so it felt/seemed like), but the major plot hits that happened were things you would typically see take multiple days, if not weeks, to build to/have the characters deal with/resolve. I think it would have been much more substantially paced split between two books—with book one being the events from the beginning to what happens with Ryland and Agatha after that archery contest, then book two being what came after that. It would have given more room to let relationships grow, given more time for world building/history, and it could have fleshed out the characters and major plot points even more. I mostly would have liked to see more of the fraying relationship between Marian and Agatha, had the connection with Agatha and Ryland explored more. I think expanding those two things would have made Agatha’s actions make a lot more sense, and feel more organic rather than impulsive.

All in all, three stars from me. It was fun and interesting and I did enjoy the story, I just think it could have been much longer and some things could have been expanded on more.

[V]

1 star is for a bad book. 2 stars is for a 'not for me' book. I was about to give this book 1.5 stars because my feelings about it were somewhere in between. But alas, I CHANGED my mind.

Look, even if this book is set at the same world as the author's previous book The Enemy's Daughter, you still have to explain and explore the world building again, okay!?

A major turn-off for me: The world building completely lost me in the first chapter. As I kept reading, I felt like someone who was lost while everyone around me was talking at the same time. There were so many characters introduced with names being thrown around here and there without enough explanation. Besides Marian and Ryland, I didn't even know who anyone else was or what they looked like. IDK, maybe I missed something, or maybe it was just that badly explained.

Now, the lack of world building and the overwhelming number of characters were the main things that got on my nerves and made me roll my eyes. But there was something else that annoyed me so much. And yeah, it was the romance. (It's always the romance in these damn books ....)

Because, what do you mean??? I felt absolutely no chemistry or appeal between Marian and Ryland. The romance happened way too fast. They kissed before the book even reached the 50% mark. And don't even get me started on the trope or the so-called 'deadly dance of deception'. They literally went from, "I'm going to tell your father that you're the thief!" to kissing and basically falling in love right after. So yes, you can see why I'm disappointed. Was the tension ever actually there?

I don't want to spoil too much, but the story, plot, and characters became even more annoying after I reached the half of the book because there was a whole 'you won the game, so you get to marry one of my daughters' type of nonsense. (Yes, this is where the 'star-crossed lovers' trope comes into play.) It was so cringe. That was THE biggest turn-off for me because it actually happened. After that point, I stopped caring about anything and just skimmed the rest until the end.

I fear that if I keep going, this review will turn into me just ranting about how bad this book is. So I'll end it here. This book gets 1 star from me, and I won't be changing my mind about it. Ever.

[Zia]

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss+, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, and Melissa Poett for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!

PLEASE NOTE: While this book is interconnected with Enemy's Daughter, it is not technically part of a series. However, I personally don't think this is a book you can jump into on its own. The main plot from Enemy's Daughter isn't required, but the world-building established there is barely explained here, so I think reading that book first will make this one much easier to follow.

After reading Enemy's Daughter, I was really excited to pick up Melissa Poett's next book. Sadly, this one just didn't work for me.

I really liked the concepts behind this story, but I found the execution lacking. While Enemy's Daughter gave us some understanding of how this world functions, I was left confused throughout this book. As I kept reading, I couldn't fully understand how these two kingdoms knew so little about one another despite their proximity and shared history. It's an interesting premise, but I don't think the world-building was developed enough to support it.

The romance also didn't quite land for me. Again, I liked the idea behind it, but the progression felt rushed. At times it felt like the characters went from, "I can't stand you," to spending a few minutes together, and suddenly they were ready to kiss because they were in love. I wanted more gradual development so I could truly believe in their relationship.

I understood why the author included certain supporting characters, as they helped make the world feel more fleshed out. However, many of their actions left me confused, especially considering where the story ultimately ended. By the time I reached the conclusion, it felt like several character arcs and plot threads hadn't been given enough time to fully develop, making the ending feel underdeveloped rather than impactful.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite Melissa Poett book. Even so, I'm still glad I gave it a chance.

Thank you again to NetGalley, Edelweiss+, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, and Melissa Poett for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!

[Monica Beard]

I thought Poett did an incredibly cool job with her enemies to lovers dystopian fantasy, The Enemy's Daughter, and I was excited to get to explore another corner of this rich world. In the forest of Notting, Marian serves as one of her father's captains, while undermining him as a thief who robs from the rich...you guessed it. Ryland, who I assume we met in The Enemy's Daughter as Tristan's cousin (although I don't remember him), is the stranger who comes to town to make a trade deal and falls in love with Marian. The two plot to both make Notting a better place for the common people, while to help Ryland's community.

The book's plot moves pretty quickly (there is a lot of action), but I think the part that really missed in the development was the development of our villains, Marian's father and sister. We hear a lot about how Marian feels loyalty to her sister, and her opposition to her father, but we never really get to experience them as a 3d characters, rather than obstacles. There is no sense that, for example, Marian's father might be hard on his daughters as a way to protect them, or any moments of laughter or support between Marian and her sister. So in the last third of the book, Ryland makes a choice regarding Marian's sister Agatha that the book tells us is agonising to him and Marian - but we never really understand why Ryland and Marian feel so strongly about protecting her, when all we see is Agatha's betrayal.

The decision also undermines the relationship between Ryland and Marian. The book sells us on insta-love, but when Ryland is able to experience such a strong connection with Agatha, it's hard to believe that one is the "truer" connection. Ryland tells us he feels like Marian is his true love, but he doesn't really make any choices that would support that.

I enjoyed being back in the world (which I hope Poett will continue to develop) and the book was a fun read that I couldn't put down; but I'd like to see a bit more well drawn villains in the next book. Thanks to Harper Collins for the early copy.

[Danie]

Thank you HarperCollins for the arc!!

The first thought I have after reading this book is that WE NEED MORE ROBIN HOOD RETELLINGS! It’s such a beloved story but doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves. I loved seeing the parallels between the original tale and A Thief to Die For.

We’ll start with my favs:
—I love the idea of the connection. It’s something I’ve never read anything like in fantasy before, and I really enjoyed seeing how marriage could strengthen and create a magic like that. Super unique idea!
—As already stated, I love the story of Robin Hood. Duh.
—The platonic relationships were so fun! The interactions between Ryland, Levi, and Samuel were entertaining.
—The midpoint plot twist got meeee. Did not call that.
—I LOVE a sister story. Reading abt Marian and Agatha was sweet and it was interesting seeing how differently they’d both grown up despite being raised by the same father in the same place.

Personal less-than-loved:
—I didn’t feel like I knew the characters enough to connect with them. I’m not sure what would’ve made me relate to/connect with them more. Maybe seeing more vulnerabilities, even more about their pasts, I’m not quite sure. I think it just depends on your personal experiences though on whether or not you relate to characters.
—Little John was a cute character, but he sometimes said and did things that seemed much older than a 7 year old, and that took me out of the story.
—Some scenes felt very classic carbon copy fantasy, which isn’t bad cause tropes are beloved for a reason, but some parts just felt a repetitive and not very different from the usual.
—It bothered me a little that Marian had been raiding for so long and at the beginning of the book seemed to plan o boding this forever and that it would hold up somehow. I would’ve loved to see her having some plans for how to fix things before Ryland even showed up.

[Yolanda]

A genderbent Robin Hood retelling set in a post apocalyptic world.

What?

How does that even work as a story?

Apparently, really, really well.

This book was so good that I had a hard time putting it down.

Marian, our FMC, was crafted beautifully. She is strong, but more importantly, she feels real. She isn't perfect. She makes mistakes. She questions herself. But through it all, she tries so hard to do the right thing, and that made her such an easy character to root for.

And Ryland, our MMC... well, maybe he tries a little too hard to do the right thing, if that's even possible. I loved both of these characters, and I loved watching their relationship develop. It wasn't perfect, which made it all the more believable and enjoyable to read.

I know I'm being vague, but you all know how I feel about spoilers.

The world-building isn't perfect. I still have questions. But I also understand that this isn't the first book set in this world, so now I obviously need to go read the others. There is enough world building woven into the story that you understand the world and how it became what it is without slowing the pacing.

Plot wise, yes, it is a Robin Hood retelling, but it takes enough twists and turns that it never feels like you're simply rereading a familiar story. It feels fresh while still honoring the parts of the legend that make it so much fun.

This book is firmly YA, and I think it fits that category perfectly. There is romance, but no spice at all.

If you prefer low or no spice romances, you should absolutely pick this one up.

And if you're someone who usually likes your fantasy with a little more spice, I would still highly encourage you to give this one a chance.

It was absolutely worth it.

[bells]

This was SUCH a fun and twisty Robin Hood retelling. And honestly, I enjoyed this even more than The Enemy’s Daughter. The plot feels richer and the characters are compelling enough that I kept turning the pages.

I also really loved the premise. Marian is a high-ranking guard working under her father, while secretly robbing the corrupt people she serves to help those they’ve been exploiting. And then Ryland, a magic-wielding soldier, accidentally discovers her little secret.

The romance was another highlight. Marian and Ryland have exactly the kind of tension I live for, the banter is bantering and the chemistry is chemistrying. They challenge each other without losing sight of who they are, and they’re both such bold, capable characters that they fit together ridiculously well.

My only real complaint is that the dystopian aspect feels a little underdeveloped. Just like The Enemy’s Daughter, it reads much more like a romantasy than a dystopian novel. It didn’t ruin my enjoyment, but I definitely wanted the dystopian elements to feel grittier and more central to the story.

And finally… okay, I’m sorry but I just had to let this out or else I’d start rocket-punching my poor plushies in my room. Every time Atlas and Agatha showed up, I developed a completely reasonable and perfectly normal urge to punch them in the face with a wooden chair. Repeatedly.

Overall, this book was twisty and entertaining. A genuinely fun Robin Hood retelling that I ended up enjoying even more than The Enemy’s Daughter.


════════════════════════

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Reader]

Melissa Poett has done it once again!! This book was absolutely amazing. I stayed up all night reading this masterpiece. It was without a doubt one of my favorite books ever.

“A Thief To Die For” is a novel set in the Republic after the old world was bombed. This book is a retelling of Marian and how she robs her tyrant father. By day she is the perfect guard doing her duties but once it’s dark out she becomes a thief. She steals goods to give oppressed. When an outsider who came to her home land for a deal with her father, finds out her secret things take a turn. This book has twists and turns in the best way. Marian and Ryland has to make hard decisions that could be life changing. This book is set in the same world as Poett’s debut novel “The Enemy’s Daughter”.


I loved how the author wrote the emotions and feelings that the characters were feeling through out the book. I could feel anger towards the villains in this book because it was so well written. This book made me cry and I had to take a break because I felt the emotions of the characters. Overall this is a book that you won’t want to put down.

I would love to see a prequel where it tells the story of how the old world was bombed and see it through the eyes of the people and the founding families of Kingsland. We could know more about the magic and how people rebuilt their homes.

Overall if ur reading my review it’s a sign to go and read this book.

Thank you Melissa and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!! 💕

[Melissa Fletcher]

"Of all the things I'm worried about, Marian, falling endlessly, hopelessly in love with you is not one of them."
This was just as amazing as The Enemy's Daughter! A Thief To Die For is a Robin Hood retelling and Melissa Poett does retellings so well!
The plot of this book had so many twists and turns that had me gasping out loud on the train! There was never a chance to be bored because something was always happening! The romance was something to behold as it had plenty of yearning from both sides and just a touch of 'this is sort of forbidden but I don't care'
Marian is a complete badass! At first she lets her tyrant father control her whilst quietly defying him from the shadows but towards the end she is serving justice and making things right! She just wants whats best for her people and will stop at nothing to make things right. Its so nice to see the FMC do her share of yearning as well and she is full on yearning for Ryland!
I adore Ryland! He wants to find ways to help his people and will stop at nothing to save them. He is a certified lover boy and book boyfriend and whilst Marian is a yearner, Ryland does it tenfold! He literally would shoot himself if it kept her safe. Your honour I love them!
For me Agatha was a very complex character. She wanted to desperately to be loved and appreciated by anyone who would listen. For me she was definitely the most interesting.
I really hope Melissa Poett continues this series and does more retellings because I am obsessed!

[Rachael Gage]

This modern-day Robin Hood retelling started off with a promising premise. Marian is a high-ranking guard for her villainous father, thieving by night to help the poor in her village. Ryland is a stranger staying in the village to bargain for coal, but ends up bargaining for something far more important: Marian’s heart.

This story really hooked me when we reached Ryland’s first POV. His character was extremely likable, and the kinship he shared with his friends was fun to read. Marian’s character, likewise, was everything you’d want a strong FMC to be. Both characters have a secret to protect: Marian’s thievery, and Ryland’s magical inheritance. The initial pacing was delicious, and the village of Notting was described beautifully.

However, I struggled to enjoy the story once the romance really solidified. The love story felt a bit rushed, and while there were a few tropes I usually enjoy like enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience, the execution fell flat for me. I also struggled with the resolution between Marian and her sister, a major plot point that left me unsure of what to root for, and I wished we had gotten more backstory on how the world became so desolate.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three stars for a unique magical premise and the witty dialogue between Marian, Ryland, and his merry men; because good banter can redeem the most contrived of love stories.

Thank you so much to Melissa Poett and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Rose]

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the eARC !

"A Thief to Die For" by Melissa Poett is a Young Adult "Robin Hood" retelling, specifically an enemies-to-lovers romantasy (I'd even say a little dystopian).

First, I had no idea there was another book before this one. What drew me in was the cover, the premise, and the fact that I LOVE retellings.

Between Ryland (MMC) and Marian (FMC), Marian was definitely my favorite (really enjoyed Ryland's POV though!). I loved the fact that she was "Robin Hood" and, as an eldest daughter, could relate to her in some instances. I'm still not quite sure how to feel about the romance--especially with that plot twist (no spoilers!). It was a little on the instalove side rather than a true enemies-to-lovers.
Side character wise, I loathed her sister which means she was written really well since I rarely loathe characters. Marian's father also drove me nuts (gave me the ick too) which, of course, was the point to make him dislikable.

The marital magic aspect, however, was really interesting and made the ending SO sweet.

Overall, this book is a really great YA novel for young readers wanting to dip their toe into romantasy. Teen me would've really eaten this up. Of course, as an adult, I see things from a different lens now but I can still appreciate a good YA book. Although a little slow at the beginning, it ended up being a really enjoyable read. Solid 4 stars!

[milie_readsৎ]

4

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Okay so let's get started!

Our fmc is Marian, the daughter of the Commander of Notting. By day, she's her father's favorite daughter and she stands by his side as he takes decisions, but by night, she's a thief that steals from him to give to the poor, the Dresden.
Ryland comes from a different kingdom to make a deal with the Commander for coal. One night, he catches Marian stealing from her father.
Marian has a lot to lose if Ryland decides to reveal her secret to her father, and Ryland has a lot to lose if Marian decides to convince her father not to make the deal.
A Thief To Die For is set in a magical world where marriage is magic and connects people with an unbreakable bond.
(Keep in mind that this is a dystopian)

Tropes: who did this to you, love triangle, marriage of convenience

My thoughts:
I found this very entertaining! It was easy to read and there was no part where I wanted to stop reading or DNF.
I also loved that the love triangle was between the MMC and two sisters instead of the FMC and two brothers. It was different from other books, and I was here for it!
The characters weren't really complex but it didn't really bother me.
I didn't rate it more than 4 stars because I didn't feel connected with the characters, and the relationship between our FMC and our MMC felt rushed for me.

I would really recommend for fans of Powerless and Red Queen!

[Kristina]

Thank you to HarperCollins, NetGalley, and Melissa Poett for the ARC!

This was an interesting read for me. I really enjoyed the overall story, but I felt like there were quite a few gaps where I wanted more information. The romance, in particular, felt very rushed. I'm absolutely a love-at-first-sight kind of reader, but the progression from "you intrigue me" to "let's get married" happened so quickly that it felt a little forced.

That said, I absolutely adored Ryland and Marian. Any FMC who can take down trained soldiers like it's second nature is an instant favorite of mine, and Ryland is just plain lovable. I was also really glad we got multiple POVs because it helped me understand both of them on a deeper level and see what truly drives them and shapes their values.

I also loved all the nods to the original Robin Hood...Little John, Marian, "Nottingham", and more. And I was ridiculously happy that there was an archery contest because, honestly, who didn't love that part of the OG story?

Finally, any book that can make me absolutely LOATHE multiple characters deserves some kind of award. Atlas? CHECK. Soren? CHECK. And even Agatha, with her warped need to constantly prove she's important too, had me absolutely fuming. Overall I would give 3.5/5 leaning more towards 4/5.

[Nikki Brooks]

A great premise with a gender flipped Robin Hood retelling.

I did enjoy Marian. She was so emotionally strong, having dealt with her mother's death, her father's abuse and the fractured relationship with her sister. Dezzy was a great character too, as she tied in the girls childhood and impending adulthood and was a great surrogate mother figure. Ryland was engaging and I loved the camaraderie he had with retinue, and gave great found family vibes.

Special shout out to Little John who was a complete sweetheart and a great wee protector in the making!

There were lots of twists with the introduction of some long lost family, new found allies and betrayals galore. Some of the "keeping Marian in line" scenes with their father really made my skin crawl.

My gripes were the lack of worldbuilding, everything was just a bit ephemeral for me. I wanted more "nuts and bolts" about the world. However, there may be more in the first book which I haven't read.

I was disappointed with Agatha's character too. She was so quick to jump to conclusions, believing their father's untruths to pit her and Marian against each other all the time. She could have been such a more robust character, I just didn't gel with her at all.

This is a definite YA fantasy (closed door spice, on page smooching)