Brief Synopsis
“Thieves’ Gambit” is the first book in a new YA series by Kayvion Lewis. Ross Quest is already a master thief at seventeen years old, but when a plan goes awry and her mother’s life is in danger, she is forced to enter high-stakes competition called the Thieves’ Gambit. But not everybody survives…
Content Warnings: Intense Action (PG-13), Language (PG-13), Parental abandonment, Kidnapping, Violence (PG-13)
What Do I Think?
I was first taken into this book by it’s fun cover – say what you will about that old adage, but when a book cover looks great, it never fails to capture my attention. Reading that it was likened to Ocean’s Eleven, a heist movie which I thoroughly enjoy, and I knew I needed to pick it up.
Immediately, you are thrown in the action, and quite simply the action just never stops. Thieves’ Gambit does a wonderful job of blending complex character moments into the action set pieces, and all in all it keeps you engaged throughout.
I think that what I enjoyed most was how complex-yet-likeable all of the characters are, particularly Ross herself. Her story didn’t just start on page one – there’s a history that makes some scenes genuinely harrowing. Truthfully, I think I liked this far more than Six of Crows, which is basically a fantasy heist book, in part because Lewis knew when to draw out key moments and when to let things breeze past. The book isn’t overly-complex, and it doesn’t waste your time with unnecessary backstory; it knows you are here to read a fun heist book and it focuses on that.
If I were to level one complaint, it’s that I was not aware that this was going to be the first book in a series, and so the unexpected twist right at the very end – followed by a very cliffhanger-y ending – left a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Most of the book manages to stand on its own two feet, but the ending prevents it from being an absolute knockout.
Overall, if you are looking for a fun heist story with plenty of action and great character moments, Thieves’ Gambit is an excellent choice!
Jacob Ryckman 