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Sneakthief
In Eldingar, magical ability is a gift granted by the One Above. Those born without it, the ungifted, are sentenced to serve in the church or be executed as heretics.
Theodore Tolliver can't cast a spell to save his life, but he'll be damned before he resigns to a life of servitude. When he's conscripted into a shadowy band of ungifted bandits, he begins to make a life for himself as their Sneakthief. At home in the shadows, it's not the life he imagined, but it's better than what he'd been headed for.
Nicholas Alcyon watched, helpless, as one of his best friends was taken into church custody two years ago. As the scion of Eldingar's oldest family line, his whole life has been curated to position him for success, and he's intent on using that to make good on his promise to change the world.
When the Sneakthief is sent into the capital city of Umbrial to rob the church itself, it should be the heist of a lifetime. Instead, it sets in motion events that could help them both achieve their dreams--if they're willing to work together. And if they can survive.
Theodore Tolliver can't cast a spell to save his life, but he'll be damned before he resigns to a life of servitude. When he's conscripted into a shadowy band of ungifted bandits, he begins to make a life for himself as their Sneakthief. At home in the shadows, it's not the life he imagined, but it's better than what he'd been headed for.
Nicholas Alcyon watched, helpless, as one of his best friends was taken into church custody two years ago. As the scion of Eldingar's oldest family line, his whole life has been curated to position him for success, and he's intent on using that to make good on his promise to change the world.
When the Sneakthief is sent into the capital city of Umbrial to rob the church itself, it should be the heist of a lifetime. Instead, it sets in motion events that could help them both achieve their dreams--if they're willing to work together. And if they can survive.
- GenresFantasy
350 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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October 9, 2024Review and rating to follow
February 17, 2023
This book is full of intrigue and its multi-faceted, believable characters keep you glued to the page, hoping that they achieve their goals and stay a step ahead of the threats that chase them. The young people trying to figure themselves out and change the world for the better offer relatable role models for almost everyone. And the story sets itself up well for a continuing series that I can't wait to read. Highly recommend.
January 15, 2024
Whenever I start reading a fantasy novel I hope that isn't going to give me cookie cutter Lord of the Rings vibes like so many terrible fantasy that I have stumbled upon in television and books. I also internally groan at the info dump of exposition that many fantasy novels struggle to distance themselves from.
Sneakthief created none of these reactions in me. The details of the world were threaded into the characters and story bit by bit, not thrown onto the reader like a bucket of water prank as you open the door. This made it easy to get into. I didn't find myself having to re read passages because I had missed something or felt like I had gotten completely lost.
I greatly appreciated the world building in Sneakthief since it was unique enough that I couldn't think of a world that it felt like it was 'paying homage' to. This was particularly evident with its magic system. I found it interesting and one of the aspects that kept me wanting to learn more.
The characters were likeable and made the plot all the more engaging. I admit it took me around 4 chapters to get into Sneakthief, but then the story got better and better. I got through each chapter quicker and quicker. There were three main viewpoints in the story and each one demonstrated a different aspect of the world. None felt like they ever overstayed their welcome or like I wanted to skip to another point of view.
There is a subtle undercurrent of romance in the book. It was tastefully done and cute. I liked how the dynamics of casual relationships were explored wonderfully as well. It could have been something that was easily brushed over but it was weaved into the main plot perfectly.
The book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and I wanted there to be another 2-3 chapters. Oh well, I guess I will have to wait for the next book. I would highly recommend Sneakthief if you would like something in a fantasy world that is different from the typical tropes.
Sneakthief created none of these reactions in me. The details of the world were threaded into the characters and story bit by bit, not thrown onto the reader like a bucket of water prank as you open the door. This made it easy to get into. I didn't find myself having to re read passages because I had missed something or felt like I had gotten completely lost.
I greatly appreciated the world building in Sneakthief since it was unique enough that I couldn't think of a world that it felt like it was 'paying homage' to. This was particularly evident with its magic system. I found it interesting and one of the aspects that kept me wanting to learn more.
The characters were likeable and made the plot all the more engaging. I admit it took me around 4 chapters to get into Sneakthief, but then the story got better and better. I got through each chapter quicker and quicker. There were three main viewpoints in the story and each one demonstrated a different aspect of the world. None felt like they ever overstayed their welcome or like I wanted to skip to another point of view.
There is a subtle undercurrent of romance in the book. It was tastefully done and cute. I liked how the dynamics of casual relationships were explored wonderfully as well. It could have been something that was easily brushed over but it was weaved into the main plot perfectly.
The book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and I wanted there to be another 2-3 chapters. Oh well, I guess I will have to wait for the next book. I would highly recommend Sneakthief if you would like something in a fantasy world that is different from the typical tropes.
December 1, 2023
What to say about this book, it took me basically two whole months to read because I started the first few chapters early October and then didn’t touch the book again until the end of November (maybe I have something against starting a series?). And also to be honest, though this does not affect my review, this was written by my old high school fantasy literature teacher. It has been MANY a year since I was in high school and this book was released in 2023 so it’s not like she was handing them out to us in class to read - I paid for it myself because I wanted to support her!
This book has such a great concept and I think that it flowed well to help us get to know the different characters and their motivations and how it comes together at the end and will set up the next books. There was a diversity in the personalities of the characters that I enjoyed that helped me be able to determine who was who in the chapters without needing their names at the beginning and I liked when a chapter would switch between two people.
Was this my favorite book of the year? No. Was it a terrible book? Also no. I enjoyed my time reading it (when I did actually sit down to read it) and am more than happy to wait for the next books to come out - however J.R. Rainville if you’re reading this please release it sooner because I also hate waiting for books in a series to come out.
I’m giving Sneakthief 4 stars because I think it was a great first book and sets up amazingly for where the rest of the story will go and has so many questions that I still want answered.
This book has such a great concept and I think that it flowed well to help us get to know the different characters and their motivations and how it comes together at the end and will set up the next books. There was a diversity in the personalities of the characters that I enjoyed that helped me be able to determine who was who in the chapters without needing their names at the beginning and I liked when a chapter would switch between two people.
Was this my favorite book of the year? No. Was it a terrible book? Also no. I enjoyed my time reading it (when I did actually sit down to read it) and am more than happy to wait for the next books to come out - however J.R. Rainville if you’re reading this please release it sooner because I also hate waiting for books in a series to come out.
I’m giving Sneakthief 4 stars because I think it was a great first book and sets up amazingly for where the rest of the story will go and has so many questions that I still want answered.
April 30, 2025
A great start
In a world overflowing with magic, where do the people who *don't* have the gift fit in? An interesting world where summoning the arcane is the norm and not something extraordinary, "Sneakthief" sets an interesting political foundation to look at those in power and the system that marginalizes those who aren't. The plot threads start out separate, but as they weave together in the back half of the novel, a great adventure emerges leading to promising places for a Book Two.
She's an author I got to know well before this book came out and always admired her talent and understanding of the craft. Check it out!
In a world overflowing with magic, where do the people who *don't* have the gift fit in? An interesting world where summoning the arcane is the norm and not something extraordinary, "Sneakthief" sets an interesting political foundation to look at those in power and the system that marginalizes those who aren't. The plot threads start out separate, but as they weave together in the back half of the novel, a great adventure emerges leading to promising places for a Book Two.
She's an author I got to know well before this book came out and always admired her talent and understanding of the craft. Check it out!
January 19, 2026
I am a little late to the game, reading this purely for recon. Holy cow am I glad I did! I must admit that I struggled to get my head in the game at first but after the first few chapters, I was fully committed. The trope of gifted v non is not uncommon of course; However, the characters are well developed and there is plenty of strategy to go around. There are also so many twists and hints of answers to questions and future plot lines, I cannot wait to get into the next book in the series!
March 18, 2023
A very good story! I especially got into the second half of the book when things start falling into please as a result of the heist. The author does a fantastic job with description and paints a good picture of the places and people. I could clearly picture each character in my mind. This book has LGBTQ+ relationships which is refreshing to see in today's writing. It's is definitely more for adults, but I would allow my 15 year old to read it.
May 7, 2023
Fantastic debut
Wonderful world building, fantastic characters and development, and an intriguing story line all combined to make this a book that I wish didn’t end. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with these characters.
Wonderful world building, fantastic characters and development, and an intriguing story line all combined to make this a book that I wish didn’t end. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with these characters.
July 16, 2023
Theo is a darling and I want to protect him with my life. Really enjoyable story, and I adore how Rainville's love of fantasy, worldbuilding and character development shine here. I cant wait for the next book! (This one does end of a cliffhanger)
April 16, 2024
Really loved the lore and world building in this book and I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews