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Heartstone Thief #1
The Heartstone Thief
Curtis Vance doesn't believe in magic.
Magic doesn't put food in his belly, neither does it put a roof over his head. But thieving does. And he's good at it. The best, if his reputation is to be believed. Until a self-proclaimed sorceress comes looking for a thief. She's dressed like the night, speaks of monsters and myths, and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants. A legendary Dragon Eye gem, said to grant its wielder the power to move continents.
The sorceress is clearly insane, but Curtis hasn't met a challenge he can't overcome - or steal from - and the Dragon Eye gem proves too much of a temptation. All he has to do is survive her.
He didn’t expect her stories of magic and monsters to be true.
He didn’t expect to fall for her in ways that terrify him.
But most of all, he didn’t expect to find himself trapped between the devastating power of a forgotten relic and his duty to save a people who would see him burned alive for his crimes.
Curtis Vance doesn't believe in magic. But it believes in him, and if he can't stop it, his world will burn.
DragonCon2017 Awards Finalist
Magic doesn't put food in his belly, neither does it put a roof over his head. But thieving does. And he's good at it. The best, if his reputation is to be believed. Until a self-proclaimed sorceress comes looking for a thief. She's dressed like the night, speaks of monsters and myths, and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants. A legendary Dragon Eye gem, said to grant its wielder the power to move continents.
The sorceress is clearly insane, but Curtis hasn't met a challenge he can't overcome - or steal from - and the Dragon Eye gem proves too much of a temptation. All he has to do is survive her.
He didn’t expect her stories of magic and monsters to be true.
He didn’t expect to fall for her in ways that terrify him.
But most of all, he didn’t expect to find himself trapped between the devastating power of a forgotten relic and his duty to save a people who would see him burned alive for his crimes.
Curtis Vance doesn't believe in magic. But it believes in him, and if he can't stop it, his world will burn.
DragonCon2017 Awards Finalist
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2017
89 people are currently reading
1685 people want to read
About the author
Pippa DaCosta
79 books1,557 followersTwo-time DragonCon Finalist & Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finalist--- "Wait a second. Let's cut to the chase. I write kick-ass urban fantasy & sci-fi novels with conflicted characters, breathless action, and no-holds-barred dialogue. My books may not leave you feeling all fluffy and warm inside, but they will excite you. There will be plot-twists, angst, probably a few dead bodies, and very likely your favorite character will turn out to be the bad guy. Don't say I didn't warn you..."
www.pippadacosta.com
(I review on Goodreads as a reader, not a writer. Reviews here are my personal opinion, not a professional one).
www.pippadacosta.com
(I review on Goodreads as a reader, not a writer. Reviews here are my personal opinion, not a professional one).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 23, 2018
Previous rating: 18 stars.
New rating: 20 stars. More or less.
➽ And the moral of this reread is : I really wonder why the fish some people rave about Pippa DaCosta. I mean, there is absolutely nothing special about her books. The stories she writes are as utterly uninspired as they are desperately boring, and her characters are totally unworthy of my High Security Harem. So why do I keep losing my time with Pippa's books, you ask? Dunno. Maybe because I've read all the beautifully glorious historical romance and mightily wondrous YA out there, ergo my life no longer has meaning and stuff. Yeah, that must be it.
Previous rating: 15 stars.
New rating: 18 stars. Obviously.
➽ And the moral of this reread is : anyone who hasn't yet read this slightly scrumptious book should die an exceedingly slow, somewhat horrible, deliciously excruciating death. QED and stuff.
P.S. This moderately awesome book has been nominated for a DragonCon Award . The murderous crustaceanswill make sure you suffer the above-mentioned moderately agonizing demise if you don't register kindly request you register here, and then vote for The Heartstone Thief in the Fantasy category. But hey, no pressure and stuff.
[Original review]
Actual rating: 15 stars. More or less.
Note to self: no fangirling. No fangirling. No fangirling.
So. As you might have heard through the shrimpvine, I didn't like this book at all. But being the kind-hearted soul that I am, I am going to pretend I slightly loved it. Because Pippa DaCosta, despite completely lacking talent in the writing department, is kinda sorta nice. So I figure I kind of owe it to her to give one of her books a high rating for once. Besides, being charitable once in a while is probably good for my subaquatic karma. One fakenews fangirling review coming right up!
Okay, you know what this book reminded me of? The prehistoric adventure movies I used to watch, back in the days when I was a baby shrimp. You know, those Movies of the Gloriously Glorious Posters with Inbuilt Exclamation Marks (MotGGPwIEM™)?
If you've never heard of this movie and/or have no shrimping idea who the hot dude on the poster is, you deserve to die. Just so you know.
Action! Adventure! Excitement! Romance! Dashing hero! Feisty heroine! This is what this book is about! Only that this is Pippa DaCosta! Which means that the dashing hero is a deliciously sneaky thieving rascal/anti hero with a slightly screwed up past and enough demons in his yummy little head to fill a couple of levels of Hell! And the feisty heroine is ascrumptiously somewhat bipolar non-princess/assassin/sorceress/who-the-fish-knows with homicidal maniac tendencies! Who likes to cut cut cut and slice slice slice through everyone her enemies! And then there's magical stuff! And supremely sexy delectably embedded gems! And yucky, villainous villains! And daggers! And whorehouses and devious almost everyone and ancient ruins and relics and antique beasts rawrrrr and not-so-good-non-doggies and trepidation and intrigue and great banter and twists and no HEA and no HEA! And stuff! And it's all pretty marvelicious! And I think I've caught the Deadly Exclamation Mark Disease (DEMD™)! Must be an effect of my NOT unleashing my inner hysterical teenage fangirl! I'm not sure I can stop! Please someone! Anyone! Do something! Now! Come on, my Little Barnacles! Call 1-800-Save-My-Dark-Exoskeleton-Clad-Overlord or something!
[A message from Goodreads Support]
We are very sorry to interrupt this most fascinating non-review in such a shameful manner, but the nefarious breeder of all things shrimpy known as Sarah is momentarily indisposed. She unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest for some unknown reason named Pippa DaCosta. She is currently being brought back to life by one of hersex slaves harem guests, and should be back shortly. You're welcome.
[End of message from Goodreads Support]
So, where was I? Oh yes, the moderately awesome MCs . First, let's get something out of the way real quick: delicious sneaky slightly screwed up thief of a dashing non-hero = Curtis = Poof! Gone! Harem! So glad we cleared that up. So. MY Curtis, aka "Thief." YUM. Curtis is disgustingly youngish. And he awakens the cougar in me in the most beautifully wicked, evil way. YUM. I am pretty sure what I feel for him is superbly illegal in some countries. YUM. Our Shrimpy Lord knows my Yummy Thief can beexquisitely exasperatingly harebrained sometimes, and that he has a delightful knack for ruining the mostest perfectest of moments, but I am afraid it cannot be helped, I am in luuuuuurrrrve.
Now for our utmostly appetizingsomewhat bipolar homicidal freak of a feisty lovely heroine. First, let's get something out of the way real quick: Her Batshit Crazy Princessness/Haughtishness/Cutthroatishness = Shaianna = Poof! Gone! Harem! So glad we cleared that up. So. MY Shaianna. So enchantingly slaughterish. So charmingly enigmatic. So endearingly sorcerish. So adorably cryptic. So rapturously murderous mysterious. So ineffably ineffable. So gorgeously spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler. And so incredibly spoiler spoiler spoiler, too. I am SO in luuuuuurrrrve.
Sorry, what? You want to know about the story? Why of course, my Tiny Arthropods, of course. Let's see, the story starts out as a most excitingly awesome adventure, complete with, you know, most excitingly awesome adventurous (if slightly magical and mortiferous and otherworldly and lethal) stuff. And then it evolves into a oh-wow-spoiler-spoiler-spoiler-bloody-shrimping-hell-spoiler-spoiler-spoiler-you-have-got-to-be-shrimping-me spoiler-spoiler-spoiler Roller Coaster Ordeal of An Adventure A La Pippa DaCosta (RCOoaAALPDC™). Which loosely translates to: hold on to your knickers, my Lovely Decapods, this ain't no fluffy stroll in the park with the Care Bearsof doom and destruction!
Non Hysterical Teenage Fangirling Mission (NHTFM™) accomplished. I rest my case. Temporarily.
» And the moral of this I Wish I Could Tell You More about this Book but Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Plus I'm Getting a Bit Ravenous And Need to Go Slaughter Things Crappy Non Fangirling Review (IWICTYMatBbSSSPIGaBRANtGSTCNFR™) is: hellish bloody shrimp, Pippa DaCosta, is there anything you cannot write?! Fantasy, UF, SF, non-despicable NA about the silly fae...Next thing you know you'll have me raving like a lunatic maniac about a non stupidly stupid Historical Romance! And that would be pretty disgusting, if you ask me.
» And the other moral of this IWICTYMatBbSSSPIGaBRANtGSTCNFR™ is: this story will be featured in the Legends of the Damned anthology, to be published April 11, 2017. Available for pre-order at the most scrumptious price of 99¢! So what are you waiting for, my Little Barnacles?! Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!
P.S. There is a slight possibility that this might possibly be the start of a new series. Maybe. Perhaps. That's what my nefarious pinky toe told me, anyway.
P.P.S. Rawwwrrrr, I tell you!!!!! Rawwwrrrr!!!!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
· Book 1.5: Deep Blue Sea - to be published 2019.
[Pre-review nonsense]
I didn't like this one. Not. One. Bit. Yuck yuck yuck. It is a total disgrace from start to finish. I sure hope this will not turn into a series. And if it did, I would never read it. Nope nope nope. Not me. Because, you know, I'm sure it would suck big time and stuff. Just like this book. Which I didn't like. Because it is a total disgrace from start to finish.
Pippa DaCosta, we need to talk. This has to stop NOW. You have to quit writing crappy stuff. Do you have any idea how much my average rating is suffering from this? You are killing my reputation, woman! This will not do!
►► Full I Promise My Inner Hysterical Teenage Fangirl Will not Be Unleashed in This Crappy Non Review But I Am Slightly Full of Crap So It Might Be a Good Idea not to Believe A Word I Say You're Welcome Crappy Non Review (IPMIHTFWnBUiTCNRBIASFoCSIMBaGIntBaWISYWCNR™) to come.
New. Pippa. Book. Me. Breathe. Not. Can.
New rating: 20 stars. More or less.
➽ And the moral of this reread is : I really wonder why the fish some people rave about Pippa DaCosta. I mean, there is absolutely nothing special about her books. The stories she writes are as utterly uninspired as they are desperately boring, and her characters are totally unworthy of my High Security Harem. So why do I keep losing my time with Pippa's books, you ask? Dunno. Maybe because I've read all the beautifully glorious historical romance and mightily wondrous YA out there, ergo my life no longer has meaning and stuff. Yeah, that must be it.
Previous rating: 15 stars.
New rating: 18 stars. Obviously.
➽ And the moral of this reread is : anyone who hasn't yet read this slightly scrumptious book should die an exceedingly slow, somewhat horrible, deliciously excruciating death. QED and stuff.
P.S. This moderately awesome book has been nominated for a DragonCon Award . The murderous crustaceans
[Original review]
Actual rating: 15 stars. More or less.
Note to self: no fangirling. No fangirling. No fangirling.
So. As you might have heard through the shrimpvine, I didn't like this book at all. But being the kind-hearted soul that I am, I am going to pretend I slightly loved it. Because Pippa DaCosta, despite completely lacking talent in the writing department, is kinda sorta nice. So I figure I kind of owe it to her to give one of her books a high rating for once. Besides, being charitable once in a while is probably good for my subaquatic karma. One fake
Okay, you know what this book reminded me of? The prehistoric adventure movies I used to watch, back in the days when I was a baby shrimp. You know, those Movies of the Gloriously Glorious Posters with Inbuilt Exclamation Marks (MotGGPwIEM™)?
If you've never heard of this movie and/or have no shrimping idea who the hot dude on the poster is, you deserve to die. Just so you know.
Action! Adventure! Excitement! Romance! Dashing hero! Feisty heroine! This is what this book is about! Only that this is Pippa DaCosta! Which means that the dashing hero is a deliciously sneaky thieving rascal/anti hero with a slightly screwed up past and enough demons in his yummy little head to fill a couple of levels of Hell! And the feisty heroine is a
[A message from Goodreads Support]
We are very sorry to interrupt this most fascinating non-review in such a shameful manner, but the nefarious breeder of all things shrimpy known as Sarah is momentarily indisposed. She unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest for some unknown reason named Pippa DaCosta. She is currently being brought back to life by one of her
[End of message from Goodreads Support]
So, where was I? Oh yes, the moderately awesome MCs . First, let's get something out of the way real quick: delicious sneaky slightly screwed up thief of a dashing non-hero = Curtis = Poof! Gone! Harem! So glad we cleared that up. So. MY Curtis, aka "Thief." YUM. Curtis is disgustingly youngish. And he awakens the cougar in me in the most beautifully wicked, evil way. YUM. I am pretty sure what I feel for him is superbly illegal in some countries. YUM. Our Shrimpy Lord knows my Yummy Thief can be
Now for our utmostly appetizing
Sorry, what? You want to know about the story? Why of course, my Tiny Arthropods, of course. Let's see, the story starts out as a most excitingly awesome adventure, complete with, you know, most excitingly awesome adventurous (if slightly magical and mortiferous and otherworldly and lethal) stuff. And then it evolves into a oh-wow-spoiler-spoiler-spoiler-bloody-shrimping-hell-spoiler-spoiler-spoiler-you-have-got-to-be-shrimping-me spoiler-spoiler-spoiler Roller Coaster Ordeal of An Adventure A La Pippa DaCosta (RCOoaAALPDC™). Which loosely translates to: hold on to your knickers, my Lovely Decapods, this ain't no fluffy stroll in the park with the Care Bears
Non Hysterical Teenage Fangirling Mission (NHTFM™) accomplished. I rest my case. Temporarily.
» And the moral of this I Wish I Could Tell You More about this Book but Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Plus I'm Getting a Bit Ravenous And Need to Go Slaughter Things Crappy Non Fangirling Review (IWICTYMatBbSSSPIGaBRANtGSTCNFR™) is: hellish bloody shrimp, Pippa DaCosta, is there anything you cannot write?! Fantasy, UF, SF, non-despicable NA about the silly fae...Next thing you know you'll have me raving like a lunatic maniac about a non stupidly stupid Historical Romance! And that would be pretty disgusting, if you ask me.
» And the other moral of this IWICTYMatBbSSSPIGaBRANtGSTCNFR™ is: this story will be featured in the Legends of the Damned anthology, to be published April 11, 2017. Available for pre-order at the most scrumptious price of 99¢! So what are you waiting for, my Little Barnacles?! Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!
P.S. There is a slight possibility that this might possibly be the start of a new series. Maybe. Perhaps. That's what my nefarious pinky toe told me, anyway.
P.P.S. Rawwwrrrr, I tell you!!!!! Rawwwrrrr!!!!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
· Book 1.5: Deep Blue Sea - to be published 2019.
[Pre-review nonsense]
I didn't like this one. Not. One. Bit. Yuck yuck yuck. It is a total disgrace from start to finish. I sure hope this will not turn into a series. And if it did, I would never read it. Nope nope nope. Not me. Because, you know, I'm sure it would suck big time and stuff. Just like this book. Which I didn't like. Because it is a total disgrace from start to finish.
Pippa DaCosta, we need to talk. This has to stop NOW. You have to quit writing crappy stuff. Do you have any idea how much my average rating is suffering from this? You are killing my reputation, woman! This will not do!
►► Full I Promise My Inner Hysterical Teenage Fangirl Will not Be Unleashed in This Crappy Non Review But I Am Slightly Full of Crap So It Might Be a Good Idea not to Believe A Word I Say You're Welcome Crappy Non Review (IPMIHTFWnBUiTCNRBIASFoCSIMBaGIntBaWISYWCNR™) to come.
New. Pippa. Book. Me. Breathe. Not. Can.
November 25, 2018
*Reread* Can I rate my own book five stars? F*ck it, I'm rating my own book five stars. It's been a few years since I wrote Heartstone so I figure I have enough distance from it now to be mostly objective.
OMG, I love this book. << See, totes objective! I love the rich fantasy world, inspired by local Cornish scenery and legends. I love the conflicted sorceress who both loves and hates so passionately. And I love our thief, Curtis, for his terrible past, his wry humor and his caring soul. Monster mages, vicious wargs, restless gods, tomb raiding, swashbuckling, a little bit of loving... what's not to love?!
***
“Fear has no place in my heart and neither do you.”
Curtis Vance went looking for death but death found him, in the form of an insane and alluring sorceress. She speaks of magic and lost cities, as though those things exist. But Vance is no fool. He’ll use the sorceress to find her mythical gem and sell it to the highest bidder. All he has to do is survive her…
He didn’t expect the sorceress’s stories of magic and monsters to be true.
He didn’t expect to fall for her in ways that terrify him.
But most of all, he didn’t expect to find himself trapped between the devastating power of a forgotten relic and his duty to save a people who would see him burned alive for his crimes.
Curtis Vance went looking for death, but she found him. And she has no intention of letting him go.
“She is the whisper in the wind, the rise of the ocean wave, the stirring beneath still waters. She is the beginning of the end, and I cannot stop her.”
OMG, I love this book. << See, totes objective! I love the rich fantasy world, inspired by local Cornish scenery and legends. I love the conflicted sorceress who both loves and hates so passionately. And I love our thief, Curtis, for his terrible past, his wry humor and his caring soul. Monster mages, vicious wargs, restless gods, tomb raiding, swashbuckling, a little bit of loving... what's not to love?!
***
“Fear has no place in my heart and neither do you.”
Curtis Vance went looking for death but death found him, in the form of an insane and alluring sorceress. She speaks of magic and lost cities, as though those things exist. But Vance is no fool. He’ll use the sorceress to find her mythical gem and sell it to the highest bidder. All he has to do is survive her…
He didn’t expect the sorceress’s stories of magic and monsters to be true.
He didn’t expect to fall for her in ways that terrify him.
But most of all, he didn’t expect to find himself trapped between the devastating power of a forgotten relic and his duty to save a people who would see him burned alive for his crimes.
Curtis Vance went looking for death, but she found him. And she has no intention of letting him go.
“She is the whisper in the wind, the rise of the ocean wave, the stirring beneath still waters. She is the beginning of the end, and I cannot stop her.”
April 6, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
Why, Pippa, why???
It's so not fair...
When I started reading this book I was swept away by all the action! It was amazing!
Usually I don't like very much the first person narrative, and here it's a male voice, but, boy, oh boy, was it good!
Vance was such a great character! He's a thief, he's irreverent, he's caustic, he's lying, he's cheating, he's running away from everything and everybody, but mostly from himself...
I loved him!
What to say about Shaianna? She's bad-ass-kicking heroine if ever there was one! WOW!
A cold-blooded knife-wielding killer!!! She doesn't feel, she doesn't yield, she doesn't forget, she doesn't forgive... NEVER!
But who is she? Where does she come from? What is she?
Well, I realy, really don't want to spoil the book for you, so I will not say anything more. But if you like fantasy, different than kings and knight one, you MUST read this book - it's sooooo GOOD!
And for you who are not into love-lust/damisels-in-distress, do not fear: there's love here, but not as you may think!!!
... and don't ask me why the gif at the beginning: do read the book and you'll understand!!!!
Why, Pippa, why???
It's so not fair...
When I started reading this book I was swept away by all the action! It was amazing!
Usually I don't like very much the first person narrative, and here it's a male voice, but, boy, oh boy, was it good!
Vance was such a great character! He's a thief, he's irreverent, he's caustic, he's lying, he's cheating, he's running away from everything and everybody, but mostly from himself...
I loved him!
What to say about Shaianna? She's bad-ass-kicking heroine if ever there was one! WOW!
A cold-blooded knife-wielding killer!!! She doesn't feel, she doesn't yield, she doesn't forget, she doesn't forgive... NEVER!
But who is she? Where does she come from? What is she?
Well, I realy, really don't want to spoil the book for you, so I will not say anything more. But if you like fantasy, different than kings and knight one, you MUST read this book - it's sooooo GOOD!
And for you who are not into love-lust/damisels-in-distress, do not fear: there's love here, but not as you may think!!!
... and don't ask me why the gif at the beginning: do read the book and you'll understand!!!!
March 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this, more than Pippa’s urban fantasy, I think. I thought this was an original take on mages and I liked learning the truth bout the inner city. I will be interested to see where the adventures of Curtis Vance take the reader next and how his magic may develop.
March 18, 2017
5 Fantastic Stars! Ms DaCosta has outdone herself with her latest book, The Heartstone Thief. From the secrets hidden in the ancient tombs, to the supposed myth of a long forgotten war that destroyed a civilization, to the truth behind the forbidden magic of the Inner Circle and to the mysterious sorceress who is keeping dark secrets, I became immersed in this incredible fantasy world from start to finish. It is heart-breaking, gripping and unpredictable and totally addictive.
Curtis Vance’s self-serving life went from thieving, drinking and womanising to monsters, magic and endless trouble the moment he stumbles across a sorceress on his way home one night.
She was trouble. It was in her eyes, in the blood on her blade, and in the way she stood stone still. Everything about her had my instincts clawing to get away.
Vance just wants to return to his thieving existence, but the sorceress has bound herself to him, and they cannot be separated unless they find the Dragon Eye gem. But Vance is not the only one after the Dragon Eye and there is so much more to the sorceress and the Dragon Eye than he knows.
From the moment Shaianna appeared in the alley, my world had become a whirl of magic, truths, regrets, and lies. Mine, and may be hers. I'd heard her voice in my mind and felt the elated rush as she killed. My gut told me none of this was right and neither was she. But it didn't have to be right. I just needed the valuable Eye.
I can’t stop gushing about this amazing book – Ms DaCosta is a masterful storyteller. She creates intriguing and engaging characters, in a well-crafted interwoven plot with revelations that literally had me gasping, and what a jaw-dropping ending!
Sometimes you look so hard for things to steal that you miss those things that are freely given.
The Heartstone Thief is an action-packed, thrilling fantasy of heroism, love and betrayal which I cannot recommend highly enough. And what an absolutely gorgeous cover!
Curtis Vance’s self-serving life went from thieving, drinking and womanising to monsters, magic and endless trouble the moment he stumbles across a sorceress on his way home one night.
She was trouble. It was in her eyes, in the blood on her blade, and in the way she stood stone still. Everything about her had my instincts clawing to get away.
Vance just wants to return to his thieving existence, but the sorceress has bound herself to him, and they cannot be separated unless they find the Dragon Eye gem. But Vance is not the only one after the Dragon Eye and there is so much more to the sorceress and the Dragon Eye than he knows.
From the moment Shaianna appeared in the alley, my world had become a whirl of magic, truths, regrets, and lies. Mine, and may be hers. I'd heard her voice in my mind and felt the elated rush as she killed. My gut told me none of this was right and neither was she. But it didn't have to be right. I just needed the valuable Eye.
I can’t stop gushing about this amazing book – Ms DaCosta is a masterful storyteller. She creates intriguing and engaging characters, in a well-crafted interwoven plot with revelations that literally had me gasping, and what a jaw-dropping ending!
Sometimes you look so hard for things to steal that you miss those things that are freely given.
The Heartstone Thief is an action-packed, thrilling fantasy of heroism, love and betrayal which I cannot recommend highly enough. And what an absolutely gorgeous cover!
April 14, 2017
Pippa DaCosta has done it again! A new world, a fabulously delicious anti-hero, an homicidal and slightly insane heroine and it all adds up to another book that you'll just want to get lost in!
There aren't many authors who can consistently come up with such exciting new worlds and series for their readers to play in but Pippa is one of the best. I'd kind of like to take a holiday inside her brain and go rooting around to see what else she has hiding in there! The Heartstone Thief is a fabulous story and one I'm really hoping is the start of a new series (please write more Pippa, please, please, please!). This is a world full of magic but not your nice wave-a-want-and-get-whatever-you-want magic, its a darker magic, one that demands a very high price. Be careful what you wish for because it might just come at a cost you weren't prepared to pay!
Curtis Vance is one messed up anti-hero with a dark and troubled past, he's a mercenary thief who doesn't think twice about taking from others as long as he's getting paid for his troubles. When he is approached by a mysterious sorceress he agrees to help her look for a hidden treasure but he completely ignores her warnings about the danger involved, after all there is no such thing as magic and the monsters she describes can't possibly exist. Well that was what he thought anyway, he plans to go along with her until he can steal her treasure out from under her nose but that backfires quite spectacularly when he finds himself caught up in something huge, something that could end up costing him everything.
I absolutely loved The Heartstone Thief, the characters are fantastic and full of surprises, the world is dark and twisted and its full of action and adventure. Pippa DaCosta takes us on a thrilling journey thats full of surprises and will leave you breathless. She definitely has another future hit on her hands with this one and I'm keeping everything crossed that she turns it into a series.
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review but I also purchased the ebook as part of the Legends of the Damned: A Collection of Edgy Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels boxset
There aren't many authors who can consistently come up with such exciting new worlds and series for their readers to play in but Pippa is one of the best. I'd kind of like to take a holiday inside her brain and go rooting around to see what else she has hiding in there! The Heartstone Thief is a fabulous story and one I'm really hoping is the start of a new series (please write more Pippa, please, please, please!). This is a world full of magic but not your nice wave-a-want-and-get-whatever-you-want magic, its a darker magic, one that demands a very high price. Be careful what you wish for because it might just come at a cost you weren't prepared to pay!
Curtis Vance is one messed up anti-hero with a dark and troubled past, he's a mercenary thief who doesn't think twice about taking from others as long as he's getting paid for his troubles. When he is approached by a mysterious sorceress he agrees to help her look for a hidden treasure but he completely ignores her warnings about the danger involved, after all there is no such thing as magic and the monsters she describes can't possibly exist. Well that was what he thought anyway, he plans to go along with her until he can steal her treasure out from under her nose but that backfires quite spectacularly when he finds himself caught up in something huge, something that could end up costing him everything.
I absolutely loved The Heartstone Thief, the characters are fantastic and full of surprises, the world is dark and twisted and its full of action and adventure. Pippa DaCosta takes us on a thrilling journey thats full of surprises and will leave you breathless. She definitely has another future hit on her hands with this one and I'm keeping everything crossed that she turns it into a series.
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review but I also purchased the ebook as part of the Legends of the Damned: A Collection of Edgy Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels boxset
February 12, 2019
I sit here, trying to put my thoughts in some sort of order so I can express what this book did to me. And it's hard because there's so much to be said and yet the words just don't want to come. I just feel crushed. Because I wanted a different ending with all my heart. It's the right ending for the story but it still doesn't change that I wish it wasn't so.
Like every good book The Heartstone Thief made me care for the characters and wish for the best outcome for all of them. Curtis Vance and Shaianna above all. They aren't perfect, in fact they're deeply flawed and so, so real for it. And they grow as the story progresses. Watching the tentative friendship blossom between two such unlikely to be friends people made me hope. Made me dream. But much like in the real world wishing is not enough and sometimes knowing you're in the wrong can't change your path once you've set foot on it. And that crushing realization was what made me feel so sad at the end. Because they deserved more. More time, more laughter and dances, more life.
THF is a typical Pippa book - you can't make assumptions (okay you can but you'll likely be wrong!) about anything. Not the characters and their motivation nor where the story is headed. It's probably what I love most about Pippa's books. After reading so many UF/Fantasy novels new and surprising things happen rarely so I cherish each book that has twists I didn't foresee. Add a layered worldbuilding and complex characters and it's a winning combination all around. I would strongly recommend THF to all fantasy lovers and those who like antiheroes in the limelight.
Like every good book The Heartstone Thief made me care for the characters and wish for the best outcome for all of them. Curtis Vance and Shaianna above all. They aren't perfect, in fact they're deeply flawed and so, so real for it. And they grow as the story progresses. Watching the tentative friendship blossom between two such unlikely to be friends people made me hope. Made me dream. But much like in the real world wishing is not enough and sometimes knowing you're in the wrong can't change your path once you've set foot on it. And that crushing realization was what made me feel so sad at the end. Because they deserved more. More time, more laughter and dances, more life.
THF is a typical Pippa book - you can't make assumptions (okay you can but you'll likely be wrong!) about anything. Not the characters and their motivation nor where the story is headed. It's probably what I love most about Pippa's books. After reading so many UF/Fantasy novels new and surprising things happen rarely so I cherish each book that has twists I didn't foresee. Add a layered worldbuilding and complex characters and it's a winning combination all around. I would strongly recommend THF to all fantasy lovers and those who like antiheroes in the limelight.
April 19, 2017
Please don't look at the spoiler if you are planning to read this!
The laughing woman, the woman I'd seen in the river and dancing at Calwyton, wouldn't have murdered anyone. But there was another side to Shaianna. The side quick to kill without flinching. It was that woman I feared, and I believed Shaianna feared her too.
Despite of amazing premise, this book was frustrating for me. What is Shaianna? Who is she? Where does she come from? By the time all secrets are explained (if at all), honestly speaking, I lost interest by then. What would have been more helpful was, to have couple of chapters from Shaianna's POV. I was hoping for that but didn't find them and it left me extremely frustrated.
This is my first read by Pippa DaCosta, and even though I didn't enjoy this one, I'll give a chance to other series a chance.
The laughing woman, the woman I'd seen in the river and dancing at Calwyton, wouldn't have murdered anyone. But there was another side to Shaianna. The side quick to kill without flinching. It was that woman I feared, and I believed Shaianna feared her too.
Despite of amazing premise, this book was frustrating for me. What is Shaianna? Who is she? Where does she come from? By the time all secrets are explained (if at all), honestly speaking, I lost interest by then. What would have been more helpful was, to have couple of chapters from Shaianna's POV. I was hoping for that but didn't find them and it left me extremely frustrated.
This is my first read by Pippa DaCosta, and even though I didn't enjoy this one, I'll give a chance to other series a chance.
April 15, 2017
3.5 stars
Most people believed magic was nothing but a fairy tale. Those who used it were killed. Curtis Vance wanted to forget about magic and those who control it. After meeting a sorceress with some special skills, he was forced to face his past. She convinced him to help her find something rare. He didn’t help her out of the goodness of his heart; he was a thief after all.
The world building was great! There was a constant stream of new things to learn about it. I didn’t want to put it down because I wanted to find out more. It was action packed with one crazy thing happening after another. The characters were deceptive, so it hard to gauge who Vance could trust.
The reason I didn’t rate this book higher was because of the characters. Vance and the sorceress were the main ones. I liked Vance. He was intelligent and could manipulate others to save his own ass. It was kinda hard to believe the guy had lived so long because he couldn’t do shit to save himself when physical skills were required. The sorceress was fascinating because I never knew what her ultimate goal was. She did enough good things that I wanted to trust her, but she had too many secrets. My biggest issue with her was her lack of personality.
The plot was entertaining, and I liked the direction the story went in at the end. It’s unfortunate this is a standalone. The plot was wrapped up, but it’s a shame to develop such an interesting world and only get one story about it.
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Most people believed magic was nothing but a fairy tale. Those who used it were killed. Curtis Vance wanted to forget about magic and those who control it. After meeting a sorceress with some special skills, he was forced to face his past. She convinced him to help her find something rare. He didn’t help her out of the goodness of his heart; he was a thief after all.
The world building was great! There was a constant stream of new things to learn about it. I didn’t want to put it down because I wanted to find out more. It was action packed with one crazy thing happening after another. The characters were deceptive, so it hard to gauge who Vance could trust.
The reason I didn’t rate this book higher was because of the characters. Vance and the sorceress were the main ones. I liked Vance. He was intelligent and could manipulate others to save his own ass. It was kinda hard to believe the guy had lived so long because he couldn’t do shit to save himself when physical skills were required. The sorceress was fascinating because I never knew what her ultimate goal was. She did enough good things that I wanted to trust her, but she had too many secrets. My biggest issue with her was her lack of personality.
The plot was entertaining, and I liked the direction the story went in at the end. It’s unfortunate this is a standalone. The plot was wrapped up, but it’s a shame to develop such an interesting world and only get one story about it.
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2017
This story was a wonderful piece of modern High Fantasy. It reminded me of the High Fantasy that I loved when I was in middle school and played Dungeons And Dragons.
This story would make a great film that would appeal to most Fantasy fans.
This story would make a great film that would appeal to most Fantasy fans.
June 5, 2019
I think this is my absolute favorite book from this author. I've liked everything she's written, but the writing in this story is on a whole different level. This story made me think of a tapestry, richly detailed and very intricate, with a complex story line that even after reading it twice in a row, I keep discovering new details! Vance's character evolution is central to the story, and while Shaianna is the key to his change, she does very little of her own change. And just when you think she has changed, changing the story.......nope, she hasn't which throws off your perceptions of everything you had previously read!! Masterfully done, I truly hope there is a sequel to this book!
September 29, 2019
Anything Pippa da Costa writes works for me🥰. Fast-paced, edgy prose, quirky relationships, snarky leads and so many worlds - love, love, love. I started with the Soul Eater series (got the first one as a freebie and couldn’t stop reading), then went through The Veil, Chaos Rises, 1000 Revolution (hanging out for the next book), Messenger Chronicles and London Fae (need more please!) Finally I turned to The Heartstone Thief (which I really didn’t fancy, I’m not sure why) and I just inhaled it! Loved Curtis and his sorceress and was left wanting more.
So....then I picked up Pippa’s work as Ariana Nash...and found myself in a whole new genre of writing which (of course!) I also love 💕.
Would totally recommend☺️.
So....then I picked up Pippa’s work as Ariana Nash...and found myself in a whole new genre of writing which (of course!) I also love 💕.
Would totally recommend☺️.
March 31, 2017
What do we have here? Fantasy romance involving a dark, dangerous yet alluring love interest, shrouded in mystery and black leather. That would normally be the most common description for a paranormal heartthrob in this genre. The dagger-wielding, throat-slitting, permanently brooding type.
Only, in The Heartstone Thief, it's a woman!
Told from the point of view of swashbuckling thief Curtis Vance - and I can't remember the last time I read from the perspective of a male first-person narrator - The Heartstone Thief starts right with the "bonding" between the unsuspecting protagonist and arcane sorceress Shaianna, after she's been awakened from the artefact he has been paid to steal. In a world where magic is nonexistent, or rather persecuted, he's still not convinced of her powers and only reluctantly heads off to retrieve the gem she's after, if only for his own ulterior motives.
Now, supernaturally binding two characters to eachother is always a nice way of a) preventing them from being separated for too long, thus pushing on the plot, b) forcing them to work together, and c) building up romance. And, I mean, the blurb is pretty obvious about it.
The gender-reversal in this novel is amazing though. I chuckled to myself whenever Vance is absolutely terrified of, yet feels drawn to Shaianna, or every time he mentions her flawless, gloomy looks and deadly fighting skills in the same sentence. While he's not incapable of surviving by himself, most of the time he is the damsel in distress, and Shaianna rushes to his rescue. Once reading this book, I became painfully aware of the foreignness of this role allocation. The way the male protagonist refers to and is wary of the love interest, the inequality of power and even physical strength between them, the overall inversion of tropes, is just not the norm, and I loved it. I'd read a thousand books like this one.
Obviously, Shaianna is not what she seems to be. To be honest, I was frustrated by the fact that the only reason Vance didn't know the truth about her until fairly late into the novel was that everyone who knew kept their mouth shut. The reveal itself was what ultimately brought down my rating, because . It seemed a little forced and out of place, compaired to the otherwise perfectly witty dialogues or the rest of the great writing. Apart from that, the fast-paced action kept me from thinking too far ahead and had me concentrated on the present.
This one is hard for me to rate, because of some plot holes and my above-mentioned personal preferences, but just for the subversion of the usual tropes, I'm happy to give The Heartstone Thief four stars.
*I received a digital copy through netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Only, in The Heartstone Thief, it's a woman!
Told from the point of view of swashbuckling thief Curtis Vance - and I can't remember the last time I read from the perspective of a male first-person narrator - The Heartstone Thief starts right with the "bonding" between the unsuspecting protagonist and arcane sorceress Shaianna, after she's been awakened from the artefact he has been paid to steal. In a world where magic is nonexistent, or rather persecuted, he's still not convinced of her powers and only reluctantly heads off to retrieve the gem she's after, if only for his own ulterior motives.
Now, supernaturally binding two characters to eachother is always a nice way of a) preventing them from being separated for too long, thus pushing on the plot, b) forcing them to work together, and c) building up romance. And, I mean, the blurb is pretty obvious about it.
The gender-reversal in this novel is amazing though. I chuckled to myself whenever Vance is absolutely terrified of, yet feels drawn to Shaianna, or every time he mentions her flawless, gloomy looks and deadly fighting skills in the same sentence. While he's not incapable of surviving by himself, most of the time he is the damsel in distress, and Shaianna rushes to his rescue. Once reading this book, I became painfully aware of the foreignness of this role allocation. The way the male protagonist refers to and is wary of the love interest, the inequality of power and even physical strength between them, the overall inversion of tropes, is just not the norm, and I loved it. I'd read a thousand books like this one.
Obviously, Shaianna is not what she seems to be. To be honest, I was frustrated by the fact that the only reason Vance didn't know the truth about her until fairly late into the novel was that everyone who knew kept their mouth shut. The reveal itself was what ultimately brought down my rating, because . It seemed a little forced and out of place, compaired to the otherwise perfectly witty dialogues or the rest of the great writing. Apart from that, the fast-paced action kept me from thinking too far ahead and had me concentrated on the present.
This one is hard for me to rate, because of some plot holes and my above-mentioned personal preferences, but just for the subversion of the usual tropes, I'm happy to give The Heartstone Thief four stars.
*I received a digital copy through netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2017
This book is over 80K, and I read it in a day, that's how amazing it was. I loved the author's writing style, the characters, the fast-paced action, and the beautiful fantasy setting. All the twists and turns made it impossible to put the book down, and the humor made me laugh out loud more than once. If you're into Epic Fantasy, or any Fantasy at all, this is a must read!
*I got a free beta copy from the author*
*I got a free beta copy from the author*
March 12, 2017
*I RECEIVED A FREE ARC FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
"You can no more know her than a man can know the stars, or the wind, or the ocean's depths. Do you think to steal her heart,thief?"
Vance survives by stealing. He's gifted with stealth and a cocky attitude; everything he needs to survive in the Outer Circle of Brea. But one night he finds himself bound to a weird murderous sorceress who seems to be made of riddles and mystery. But Vance just wants his life back so his plan is simple; go with the sorceress to find the gem that can break their bond, steal the gem, sell the gem and live happily ever after. But he hadn't expected the sorceress to steal his heart or find himself entwined in a war he may have unleashed.
WHAT IN THE WORLD. ALERT. ALERT. PIPPA DACOSTA IS NOT HUMAN. HOW ON EARTH DOES SHE KEEP RELEASING SO MANY AMAZING BOOKS ONE AFTER THE OTHER!? HOW. IT'S NOT NORMAL. AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS AWESOME. THIS DEGREE OF AWESOMENESS SURPASSES MY POOR MUNDANE MIND.
And what a GORGEOUS COVER!!!
Normally it's the guy that's cold, distant, ruthless and keeping secrets whereas the girl is the one who finds herself trapped. But in this book, we have the girl that's the cold distant one! It was cool to see that stereotypical gender role switch up!
Shaianna was so otherworldly. She was powerful and ruthless and sometimes you'd get glimpses of a kind soul beneath her mask and it made it so much more special! She was unpredictable and so so so badass i can't even describe it!
"She changed like the ocean, one moment benign and calm, the next a raging storm."
Someone get me a Vance!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIM! At the beginning he comes out as a shady character since he's keeping a lot of secrets and seems to have a past that sets him apart from the typical thief. He has a lot of demons in his closet and his character development was pretty intense! But despite his nightmares, he was always bright and even a little jolly. Loved his sarcasm and wit! And despite the kickass thief aspect, there were so many instances when you could see so much vulnerability and innocence in him.
I think deep down i knew how the story would end but when it did happen, i did get teary eyed! And i have to say, just like in all of Pippa's books, the women are BADASS!!! All of them!!! They have extremely strong characters and were on equal footing with the men both intellectually and physically.
Plot wise, like all of Pippa's books, it was again a roller coaster with a few surprises! She just weaves such amazing and unique tales!!! It was a real adventure to read about, full of danger, myths, ancient civilizations and DRAGONS.
I loved the slow romance between the two! At times it was downright hilarious because Vance was really afraid of Shaianna and it took a while before he overcame his fear of the "mad woman" and started to accept his own feelings.
"Stand."
"Please?"
She looked down at me as if she'd prefer to grind me into the cobbles beneath her boot heel.
-Vance
Loved every second of this book! Vance's action packed life always kept you on the edge of your seat as he uncovers the secrets that not only plague his past but that of Brea's Inner City and those of Shaianna.
So kudos to Pippa because seriously-WOW. I can't even comprehend how she keeps popping these amazing and unique books out like a popcorn machine!!! Now if you'll excuse me i have a Pippa Dacosta shrine to build.
"You can no more know her than a man can know the stars, or the wind, or the ocean's depths. Do you think to steal her heart,thief?"
Vance survives by stealing. He's gifted with stealth and a cocky attitude; everything he needs to survive in the Outer Circle of Brea. But one night he finds himself bound to a weird murderous sorceress who seems to be made of riddles and mystery. But Vance just wants his life back so his plan is simple; go with the sorceress to find the gem that can break their bond, steal the gem, sell the gem and live happily ever after. But he hadn't expected the sorceress to steal his heart or find himself entwined in a war he may have unleashed.
WHAT IN THE WORLD. ALERT. ALERT. PIPPA DACOSTA IS NOT HUMAN. HOW ON EARTH DOES SHE KEEP RELEASING SO MANY AMAZING BOOKS ONE AFTER THE OTHER!? HOW. IT'S NOT NORMAL. AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS AWESOME. THIS DEGREE OF AWESOMENESS SURPASSES MY POOR MUNDANE MIND.
And what a GORGEOUS COVER!!!
Normally it's the guy that's cold, distant, ruthless and keeping secrets whereas the girl is the one who finds herself trapped. But in this book, we have the girl that's the cold distant one! It was cool to see that stereotypical gender role switch up!
Shaianna was so otherworldly. She was powerful and ruthless and sometimes you'd get glimpses of a kind soul beneath her mask and it made it so much more special! She was unpredictable and so so so badass i can't even describe it!
"She changed like the ocean, one moment benign and calm, the next a raging storm."
Someone get me a Vance!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIM! At the beginning he comes out as a shady character since he's keeping a lot of secrets and seems to have a past that sets him apart from the typical thief. He has a lot of demons in his closet and his character development was pretty intense! But despite his nightmares, he was always bright and even a little jolly. Loved his sarcasm and wit! And despite the kickass thief aspect, there were so many instances when you could see so much vulnerability and innocence in him.
I think deep down i knew how the story would end but when it did happen, i did get teary eyed! And i have to say, just like in all of Pippa's books, the women are BADASS!!! All of them!!! They have extremely strong characters and were on equal footing with the men both intellectually and physically.
Plot wise, like all of Pippa's books, it was again a roller coaster with a few surprises! She just weaves such amazing and unique tales!!! It was a real adventure to read about, full of danger, myths, ancient civilizations and DRAGONS.
I loved the slow romance between the two! At times it was downright hilarious because Vance was really afraid of Shaianna and it took a while before he overcame his fear of the "mad woman" and started to accept his own feelings.
"Stand."
"Please?"
She looked down at me as if she'd prefer to grind me into the cobbles beneath her boot heel.
-Vance
Loved every second of this book! Vance's action packed life always kept you on the edge of your seat as he uncovers the secrets that not only plague his past but that of Brea's Inner City and those of Shaianna.
So kudos to Pippa because seriously-WOW. I can't even comprehend how she keeps popping these amazing and unique books out like a popcorn machine!!! Now if you'll excuse me i have a Pippa Dacosta shrine to build.
May 7, 2017
Pippa DaCosta does it again!!! The Heartstone Thief is an amazing adventure filled with action, intrigue, mystery, magic, love, sadness, loss and a couple of brilliantly done plot twists.
Like her other books, she drops you right into the action without feeling like you’ve started reading from the middle of the book.
It’s the city of Brea and Curtis Vance, a brilliant Thief, ends his night of drinking stumbling into the alley behind the drinking establishment. He’s so drunk he’s not even sure if the strange woman standing there is real or not. If only he could know then how much of a difficult question that will be to answer. Her name is Shaianna. She is a sorceress, amongst other things, and she has need of Vance and his thieving abilities. To guarantee his compliance, she tricks him into bonding himself with her. A bond that keeps him in close proximity of her, otherwise he succumbs to a dire feeling of illness and nausea.
From there on, all hell breaks lose and Curtis is thrust into life and death situations that he surely doesn’t want and ultimately doesn’t understand why. Who or what is this woman that needs him to steal a gem that will also break this bond forged between them? What is it she’s really after?
The adventure takes them across the lands outside of the city of Brea, to the old Ruins of Arach and back to the Inner Circle of Brea, where Curtis must face the demons of his past.
It truly is a fantastic story to read. I could have easily finished it one night but I felt as if I couldn’t let the characters go that fast, so I took my time reading it. This way I could be apart of them and their world for that much longer. I purposely left the review a bit vague because I didn’t want to take away all of the magic you’ll experience in reading this novel and discovering the characters for yourself.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book as well as any other by Pippa. You won’t be disappointed.
Like her other books, she drops you right into the action without feeling like you’ve started reading from the middle of the book.
It’s the city of Brea and Curtis Vance, a brilliant Thief, ends his night of drinking stumbling into the alley behind the drinking establishment. He’s so drunk he’s not even sure if the strange woman standing there is real or not. If only he could know then how much of a difficult question that will be to answer. Her name is Shaianna. She is a sorceress, amongst other things, and she has need of Vance and his thieving abilities. To guarantee his compliance, she tricks him into bonding himself with her. A bond that keeps him in close proximity of her, otherwise he succumbs to a dire feeling of illness and nausea.
From there on, all hell breaks lose and Curtis is thrust into life and death situations that he surely doesn’t want and ultimately doesn’t understand why. Who or what is this woman that needs him to steal a gem that will also break this bond forged between them? What is it she’s really after?
The adventure takes them across the lands outside of the city of Brea, to the old Ruins of Arach and back to the Inner Circle of Brea, where Curtis must face the demons of his past.
It truly is a fantastic story to read. I could have easily finished it one night but I felt as if I couldn’t let the characters go that fast, so I took my time reading it. This way I could be apart of them and their world for that much longer. I purposely left the review a bit vague because I didn’t want to take away all of the magic you’ll experience in reading this novel and discovering the characters for yourself.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book as well as any other by Pippa. You won’t be disappointed.
April 16, 2017
3.75 stars
This was a intriguing fantasy. The world building reminded me a little of The Lies of Locke Lamora I have a soft spot for thieves, vagabonds and all-around rouges. Curtis Vance fits all three categories nicely.
Shaianna is not so easily pegged. Is she an assassin, a sorceress, the princess Curtis mockingly nicknames her or something much, much worse?
There are a lot of twists in this one and a lot of shady characters, in other words, exactly what you'd expect from a Pippa DaCosta book. But I didn't quite find my heart in my throat the way I expected to and Curtis and Shaianna never quite connected in that explosive way that gives me shivers.
Still, it was a great read and I certainly never got bored.
This was a intriguing fantasy. The world building reminded me a little of The Lies of Locke Lamora I have a soft spot for thieves, vagabonds and all-around rouges. Curtis Vance fits all three categories nicely.
Shaianna is not so easily pegged. Is she an assassin, a sorceress, the princess Curtis mockingly nicknames her or something much, much worse?
There are a lot of twists in this one and a lot of shady characters, in other words, exactly what you'd expect from a Pippa DaCosta book. But I didn't quite find my heart in my throat the way I expected to and Curtis and Shaianna never quite connected in that explosive way that gives me shivers.
Still, it was a great read and I certainly never got bored.
April 10, 2017
This was a dnf for me
To be honest I just wasn't interested in reading from the main characters perspective. I think it would have been such a better story if it was from the sorceress's point of view she had such secrets and you could tell she was a deep character I just didn't see any of that from the thief's view he bored me and seemed like such a whinny male character.
This is all just my weird reading preferences though so I'm sure a lot of other people may like this story, it does seem interesting. I only read a chunk just lost interest in it.
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
To be honest I just wasn't interested in reading from the main characters perspective. I think it would have been such a better story if it was from the sorceress's point of view she had such secrets and you could tell she was a deep character I just didn't see any of that from the thief's view he bored me and seemed like such a whinny male character.
This is all just my weird reading preferences though so I'm sure a lot of other people may like this story, it does seem interesting. I only read a chunk just lost interest in it.
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
March 30, 2017
Curtis Vance is a thief for hire, with no care for anything except enough rubies to get him by in the outer circle, finds himself magically bound to a assassin sorceress. His only way to break the bond will force him to use his thieving to help her take the dragon eye gem. All Vance wants to do now is break the bond, sell the gem, and move on with his life, but will be be able to escape with his heart? The Heartstone Thief takes us on a heartbreakingly magical journey in ancient forgotten pasts, love, and forgiveness.
This is my first book by Pippa DaCosta, and I have to say, it definitely won't be my last. The Heartstone Thief has my favorite elements in a book: A strong heroine, magic, slow-burn romance, mystery, and self discovery.
"She is dangerous, young thief. You think you know her, but you can no more no her than a man can know the stars, or the wind, or the oceans depths. Do you think to steal her heart, thief?"..."No, she is not for you."
As I said before, I really love myself a strong heroine, and that's exactly what we get with our awesome sorceress. We get to see many personalities for her, which seem polar opposites at times. It was nice getting to watch Shaianna and Vance grow more open with each other, and in turn, seeing their true personalities shine through.
The Heartstone Thief doesn't end in a cliffhanger, but leaves the story open for more books in the future.
*ARC kindly provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review*
This is my first book by Pippa DaCosta, and I have to say, it definitely won't be my last. The Heartstone Thief has my favorite elements in a book: A strong heroine, magic, slow-burn romance, mystery, and self discovery.
"She is dangerous, young thief. You think you know her, but you can no more no her than a man can know the stars, or the wind, or the oceans depths. Do you think to steal her heart, thief?"..."No, she is not for you."
As I said before, I really love myself a strong heroine, and that's exactly what we get with our awesome sorceress. We get to see many personalities for her, which seem polar opposites at times. It was nice getting to watch Shaianna and Vance grow more open with each other, and in turn, seeing their true personalities shine through.
The Heartstone Thief doesn't end in a cliffhanger, but leaves the story open for more books in the future.
*ARC kindly provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review*
March 26, 2017
A great, heart-wrenching novel with tension, romance, awesome dialogue, and drama. I was very curious about how this novel would unfold, and it had me on the edge of my seat more than once. The world building was really good and left me wanting to know more. The two main characters, doomed to be magnetized to each other, were stellar. Vance is everything I love in a fantasy rogue: charming, snarky, clever, quick, haunted, and at times, vulnerable. He comes a long way in his story and I was so proud of him by the end. Equally, Shianna was a literal force of nature. Badass, tragic, and unpredictable, I never knew what to expect from her. While such wildness drove Vance crazy, it was a lot of fun for me to read about. There was tons of action, including all sorts of monster battles. I almost wish there was more with the mages, but honestly, I really liked how everything in this story fit together. It was fun, suspenseful, and had an emotional ending. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy fun, passionate fantasy stories!
April 9, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Wow, so it looks like I'm the only reviewer on here [so far] that isn't absolutely in love with this book. Oops? This was my first book by this particular author, although I do have one of her other series on my TBR list, so I was excited to give this book a try. And it wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was looking for. It just happened to contain a few tropes that I don't really like, and the rest of it was okay but not really enough to make up for it / make me love it.
Like, you start of with your standard fantasy-world-thief [orphaned, raised in a brothel, etc, etc] and your standard fantasy-world-sorceress [beautiful, mysterious, possibly evil, etc etc]. And I'm fine with that, I really am. Not every book has to reinvent the wheel and sometimes it's fine to just do some light reading with some familiar tropes. They aren't even necessarily tropes I dislike. It's just that it gives you the sense of 'I've been here before' and not really in a good way. She made up for the two-dimensional characters with a very interesting magic system and some good world building though.
But the overall plot just did not grab me. I started off being really into it and then by the middle my attention was really wandering. So like I said, not a bad book by any means, but just not one that I could get that into.
Wow, so it looks like I'm the only reviewer on here [so far] that isn't absolutely in love with this book. Oops? This was my first book by this particular author, although I do have one of her other series on my TBR list, so I was excited to give this book a try. And it wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was looking for. It just happened to contain a few tropes that I don't really like, and the rest of it was okay but not really enough to make up for it / make me love it.
Like, you start of with your standard fantasy-world-thief [orphaned, raised in a brothel, etc, etc] and your standard fantasy-world-sorceress [beautiful, mysterious, possibly evil, etc etc]. And I'm fine with that, I really am. Not every book has to reinvent the wheel and sometimes it's fine to just do some light reading with some familiar tropes. They aren't even necessarily tropes I dislike. It's just that it gives you the sense of 'I've been here before' and not really in a good way. She made up for the two-dimensional characters with a very interesting magic system and some good world building though.
But the overall plot just did not grab me. I started off being really into it and then by the middle my attention was really wandering. So like I said, not a bad book by any means, but just not one that I could get that into.
April 20, 2017
Another brilliant book by Pippa DaCosta! I had to buy a box set of 22 books for .99 in order to get the ebook, but it was so worth the 99 pennies.
The characters were well developed and the storyline was solid. In the beginning it was a bit much on the page fillers, but as the story peaked there was no time for fillers. There were a couple of "Oh shit" and "Oh no" moments! What reached out to me most was the loneliness that Vance and Shaianna experienced even when they weren't "alone". Pippa relayed that message like a true storyteller.
June 4, 2017
Please write another in series.
Loved this book. Would like to continue reading about the tales of the main character Curtis Vance. Some violence so be prepared. Good read!
Loved this book. Would like to continue reading about the tales of the main character Curtis Vance. Some violence so be prepared. Good read!
to-read-own
February 13, 20182/13/18 $.99 for Kindle.
August 13, 2018
I had started reading this author's Veil series some time ago, but put it on the side because I didn't really care for it. So when I saw this was by her too, I was a little hesitant. But it sounded good, and I have found so few books that have a male lead that I figured why not. I'm very glad that I did because I really enjoyed this. There's magic, myths, and dragons. How can you go wrong?
Curtis is a young thief that has already endured numerous horrors in his life. He lives each day like it could be his last, enjoying whatever pleasures he can with the money he earns. He's good at what he does though, some might even say the best. Even so, Curtis has little self worth and can only ever see himself as a coward. What he never expected was that his most recent commission would make him grow in ways he didn't think possible, but would also leave a trail of bodies in his wake.
Shaianna is an unknown existence, and a very dangerous one. Last of all of her kind, she has devastating power and unmatched skill at killing as well as magic. But because she has been sealed away for so long, she also interacts with the world in such a different way. Curtis first encounters Shaianna one night when he is completely drunk and she corners him in an ally. Forced to drink out of the cup that he was paid to steal, he has no idea that he just bound himself to her. He finds out soon enough the next morning though. Already the dead start to pile up, he's chased by disturbing and violent creatures, and when he gets too far away from Shaianna the pain becomes debilitating. He wants nothing to do with her, but he really has no choice anymore.
Shaianna is on a mission to get to the dragon eye before anyone else. She also tells Curtis that it is needed to break the bond between them. He goes along with her on this trip planning to steal this gem as soon as he's free of her. But he's captivated by this beautiful and mysterious woman. Especially when she shows him sides of her that are happiness and light, not just the masked calm concealing a swift death. So much so that when they finally find the gem, but end up being separated, he spends every day thinking about her and every night hoping she would find him again.
Unfortunately when she does come to him, only more troubles follow. Now Curtis needs to decide if he's really a coward, or if he will fight to protect as many people as he can. While his desires put him at odds with Shaianna, he also wants to find a way to save her as well. The whole book had a very good pace to it, so I was a little upset with how fast the ending went. It began and was done with in just such a short amount of time. Even so, it was still pretty awesome. And that ending was just so absolutely perfect. So much so that I was not happy to get an epilogue for once.
All in all, this was a pretty great book.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley.
Curtis is a young thief that has already endured numerous horrors in his life. He lives each day like it could be his last, enjoying whatever pleasures he can with the money he earns. He's good at what he does though, some might even say the best. Even so, Curtis has little self worth and can only ever see himself as a coward. What he never expected was that his most recent commission would make him grow in ways he didn't think possible, but would also leave a trail of bodies in his wake.
Shaianna is an unknown existence, and a very dangerous one. Last of all of her kind, she has devastating power and unmatched skill at killing as well as magic. But because she has been sealed away for so long, she also interacts with the world in such a different way. Curtis first encounters Shaianna one night when he is completely drunk and she corners him in an ally. Forced to drink out of the cup that he was paid to steal, he has no idea that he just bound himself to her. He finds out soon enough the next morning though. Already the dead start to pile up, he's chased by disturbing and violent creatures, and when he gets too far away from Shaianna the pain becomes debilitating. He wants nothing to do with her, but he really has no choice anymore.
Shaianna is on a mission to get to the dragon eye before anyone else. She also tells Curtis that it is needed to break the bond between them. He goes along with her on this trip planning to steal this gem as soon as he's free of her. But he's captivated by this beautiful and mysterious woman. Especially when she shows him sides of her that are happiness and light, not just the masked calm concealing a swift death. So much so that when they finally find the gem, but end up being separated, he spends every day thinking about her and every night hoping she would find him again.
Unfortunately when she does come to him, only more troubles follow. Now Curtis needs to decide if he's really a coward, or if he will fight to protect as many people as he can. While his desires put him at odds with Shaianna, he also wants to find a way to save her as well. The whole book had a very good pace to it, so I was a little upset with how fast the ending went. It began and was done with in just such a short amount of time. Even so, it was still pretty awesome. And that ending was just so absolutely perfect. So much so that I was not happy to get an epilogue for once.
All in all, this was a pretty great book.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley.
April 14, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up for the interesting back story.
I like thieves. A lot. So when I saw someone mention this book on a blog I immediately went to look it up and found it sitting prettily on netgalley just waiting for me to click it. I wasn't planning on reading any books from netgalley this month because of my holiday but I couldn't resist.
The thief in this book is a fella by the name of Curtis Vance who gets suckered into a job against his will and involved in things much deeper than he had planned. Cue myths, magic, dragons and a certain sorceress mixing things up.
I found Vance's backstory refreshingly different, rather than tragic events happening to him as a child, as is so common in this genre, he was the one that caused horrible things to happen. I haven't seen that before and it made this book stand out to me. That said, I felt like there was something missing in the telling that stopped me from loving Vance. I didn't quite get to know him enough for him to be a lovable rogue and the plot was a little bit too easily solved in the end. I also didn't think the romance angle made that much sense, there wasn't enough shown between them to warrant what happened. But then I don't like romance much so maybe others won't feel the same
I like thieves. A lot. So when I saw someone mention this book on a blog I immediately went to look it up and found it sitting prettily on netgalley just waiting for me to click it. I wasn't planning on reading any books from netgalley this month because of my holiday but I couldn't resist.
The thief in this book is a fella by the name of Curtis Vance who gets suckered into a job against his will and involved in things much deeper than he had planned. Cue myths, magic, dragons and a certain sorceress mixing things up.
I found Vance's backstory refreshingly different, rather than tragic events happening to him as a child, as is so common in this genre, he was the one that caused horrible things to happen. I haven't seen that before and it made this book stand out to me. That said, I felt like there was something missing in the telling that stopped me from loving Vance. I didn't quite get to know him enough for him to be a lovable rogue and the plot was a little bit too easily solved in the end. I also didn't think the romance angle made that much sense, there wasn't enough shown between them to warrant what happened. But then I don't like romance much so maybe others won't feel the same
June 8, 2017
Twists
Excellent well written and well developed characters! We have a thief and a sorceress who meet and join together and a mystery develops. There is plenty of action, a twist and lots of magic. Both characters learn a lot about themselves and even there is a bit of romance. This is such an awesome story if you say too much it will spoil the story. The title is just perfect for the book!
Excellent well written and well developed characters! We have a thief and a sorceress who meet and join together and a mystery develops. There is plenty of action, a twist and lots of magic. Both characters learn a lot about themselves and even there is a bit of romance. This is such an awesome story if you say too much it will spoil the story. The title is just perfect for the book!
April 11, 2024
I just don't have the words to describe how much I enjoyed this story. It is so well written, has a plot that twists and turns, has hints and warnings that leave you even more puzzled than Vance and will captivate you from start to finish.
There is a hint of love and romance in this story but it is also a wonderful fantasy. mystery, adventure. Vance is a thief, an unlikely hero, but a hero he is and a truly warm and caring man, despite what he likes to believe. Shaianna is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. She is one moment caring and the next hard as nails, but that is deliberate and her character is MEANT to be erratic. The book is written only from Vance's POV. Whilst I prefer dual POV's, in order for the story to work and for mystery to be retained, it is necessary in this case.
With my kindle showing 24 minutes reading time left I finally realised (or thought I had) how the book would end - I was about 30% correct because the amazing talent that is Pippa DaCosta still managed to throw in a few unexpected little twists in the tale. And whilst there is no cliff-hanger in this book it does leave the door open to further stories, and I am rather hoping this isn't the only time I will get to meet Vance, Shaianna and their world.
This is Pippa DaCosta at her finest. I was a huge fan/reader of David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Margaret Weis, Mercedes Lackey and Julian May in my early years, this book takes me right back to the very best that these author's produced. It's a must read for any fan of the fantasy genre.
There is a hint of love and romance in this story but it is also a wonderful fantasy. mystery, adventure. Vance is a thief, an unlikely hero, but a hero he is and a truly warm and caring man, despite what he likes to believe. Shaianna is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. She is one moment caring and the next hard as nails, but that is deliberate and her character is MEANT to be erratic. The book is written only from Vance's POV. Whilst I prefer dual POV's, in order for the story to work and for mystery to be retained, it is necessary in this case.
With my kindle showing 24 minutes reading time left I finally realised (or thought I had) how the book would end - I was about 30% correct because the amazing talent that is Pippa DaCosta still managed to throw in a few unexpected little twists in the tale. And whilst there is no cliff-hanger in this book it does leave the door open to further stories, and I am rather hoping this isn't the only time I will get to meet Vance, Shaianna and their world.
This is Pippa DaCosta at her finest. I was a huge fan/reader of David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Margaret Weis, Mercedes Lackey and Julian May in my early years, this book takes me right back to the very best that these author's produced. It's a must read for any fan of the fantasy genre.
September 15, 2021
🆗 World-building
🆗 Action
🆗❌ Plot
❌ Characters
DNF at 52%.
It was not a bad book, it just wasn’t good either. I was more than halfway through the story and I still couldn’t get into it. Reading from the main character's point of view does not usually bother me, but in that case, I just felt nothing towards Curtis Vance. I would have rather read from the sorceress point of view, she is mysterious and apparently full of secrets. He is just a plain orphan full of guilt... I just couldn't connect with him at all.
There is action in this book, but I just didn't really care about what happened to Vance and the sorceress, whether they lived or died, honestly it would have made no difference for me. The story is also kind of plain, they travel to find a precious stone for the first half of the book and I stopped soon after that. That's why I couldn't finish this book, the boring characters, and the bland story-line. All I could think about was how many pages I had left until I could pick up another book.
But, if you somehow manage to connect with the characters and you even like them, then you may well like this story because there are mystery and action and many 4 stars and 5 stars reviews. It just was not for me.
🆗 Action
🆗❌ Plot
❌ Characters
DNF at 52%.
It was not a bad book, it just wasn’t good either. I was more than halfway through the story and I still couldn’t get into it. Reading from the main character's point of view does not usually bother me, but in that case, I just felt nothing towards Curtis Vance. I would have rather read from the sorceress point of view, she is mysterious and apparently full of secrets. He is just a plain orphan full of guilt... I just couldn't connect with him at all.
There is action in this book, but I just didn't really care about what happened to Vance and the sorceress, whether they lived or died, honestly it would have made no difference for me. The story is also kind of plain, they travel to find a precious stone for the first half of the book and I stopped soon after that. That's why I couldn't finish this book, the boring characters, and the bland story-line. All I could think about was how many pages I had left until I could pick up another book.
But, if you somehow manage to connect with the characters and you even like them, then you may well like this story because there are mystery and action and many 4 stars and 5 stars reviews. It just was not for me.
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