I was afraid this book wouldn't live up to all the hype. Surprisingly, it did. I loved the angsty feels. The incredible world-building and characters are making me want to read the other books by this author.

I read hundreds of books a year, and I rarely leave one unfinished. However, this is one I just couldn't get into, after multiple attempts. I've never read any other books by this author. Perhaps this would've made more sense if I'd read the other series. In what I did read, I found the character development lacking, and I just didn't feel a connection to any of them. The pace wasn't what I was hoping for, and, even reading about half the book, I really couldn't follow much of what was going on. It was just confusing to try and follow.

I started this book and was really enjoying it, but then I realized it was a spin off series for one of her other books. So when I found that out I put this one down and decided to start reading that other series first. I can't wait to get to this one later though.

Dance of Thieves is the first book in a brand new duology by Mary E. Pearson, and is also a spin-off of The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, which happens to be one of my most favorite series ever! Dance of Thieves was one of my most anticipated reads for 2018, and I was SO very excited to finally read this book. Having finally read it, I definitely was not disappointed, and I think it’s a perfect start to what should be a really awesome duology!

Before I started Dance of Thieves, I decided to re-read The Remnant Chronicles to refresh my brain before starting this new book, and I’m so glad I did. Not only did I enjoy diving back into that series again, but it also gave my brain a nice refresher, and reminded me why I love the series so much. I definitely plan to re-read the series again soon, and if you haven’t yet checked it out, you totally should!

Dance of Thieves was full of a LOT of awesome new characters, and I fell in love with SO many of them, including Kazi, the main character in the story, and her crew. They definitely made the book special, and I’m super curious to see what’s going to happen next in the series for them, as well as Jase and the Ballenger crew, who we also get to know really well in the story. And while all of these new characters are great, one of the things I loved most about this book was getting to see some of my most favorite characters from the previous series! You don’t get to see them much, but definitely enough to put a happy smile on my face, and I’m hoping we get to see them more often in the next book.

The setting of the book reminds me a lot of the previous series, yet it feels completely different as well, which was fun. Mary did an excellent job with the world-building for the book, and I could picture everything so perfectly in my mind. The storyline was very addictive, and I found myself flying through the pages a whole lot quicker than I expected to. The book ends with a pretty massive cliffhanger, one that kind of made my jaw drop open, and I’ll definitely be pining away until I can get my hands on the next book to see what’s going to happen next!

Overall; I really, really enjoyed Dance of Thieves, and I do believe it’s a great beginning to what should be another awesome series by Mary E. Pearson! I will definitely be pining away until I can get my hands on the next book in the series, which is currently untitled, but set to release sometime in 2019, which is definitely not soon enough for me. *grin* I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more information on the sequel, and I can’t wait to check it out when it’s released!

Happy Reading!

"We were alone, we had each other, and we had a whole wilderness ahead of us."

Dance of Thieves was a wish come true. I absolutely loved The Remnant Chronicles, so I was more than happy to read a novel set in the same universe. You can call it capitalism, but I'll read anything that has something to do with my beloved Lia and Rafe. Their special cameo was so satisfying that it almost made me forget about the one and only problem that I had with this book: instalove.

Fellow fans of Mary E. Pearson were probably surprised, too. After all, the romantic relationships in The Remnant Chronicles didn't have any trace of frivolity (or impossibility). In other words, Kazi and Jase's love story was a far cry Lia and Rafe's. I knew that I had to avoid making comparisons, but I couldn't help it since the characters came from the same human brain and lived in the same fictional world. The author set the bar so high, so how could I settle for less? xD

To be fair, Kazi and Jase's interactions were outstanding in that they made me feel many emotions like happiness, frustration, and surprise. Their banter was often the highlight of the story, and I couldn't get enough of it. I just wished that they hadn't kept so many secrets from each other. They would've spared themselves from a lot of stress! It was funny how their fights effectively demonstrated that open communication could be a matter of life and death sometimes.

Moreover, I loved how the author emphasized the importance of personal history. Most of the time, Kazi's and Jase's actions were a result of their respective pasts. Kazi was robbed of her childhood after her mother was taken by a slave trader. Jase, on the other hand, wanted to make up for not being able to save his younger siblings from a deadly fever. Their obsession with the past was saddening, but it was a significant contributor to their character development. By overcoming their traumatic experiences, Kazi and Jase were able to move forward and create a promising future together.

In the end, I genuinely enjoyed Dance of Thieves. It had a character-driven story that taught me valuable things about life (i.e. human relationships). If you enjoyed The Remnant Chronicles, you can look forward to another series about the beauty of exposing royal conspiracies and finding love in the process.

Dance of Thieves is set in the Remnant universe with some familiar characters and politics, but it is not necessary to have read that series to enjoy this book. Kazi is an orphan, who has risen in the ranks of the new Queen's elite guard, due to her abilities as a thief. When she is sent to Tor's Watch in search of a war criminal, she meets Jase Ballenger who has just inherited his father's position as leader of an outlaw nation that doesn't recognize the Queen. Jase and Kazi are snatched by slavers and chained together, so when they escape, they must work together to make it back to civilization. Although at odds politically, Jase and Kazi are drawn to each other, despite constantly lying to each other about their true motivations. The complex tale of warring territories, competing kingdoms and changing loyalties is sweetened by the star-crossed romance between the two. Told in alternating chapters from Kazi and Jase's points of view, this action-packed fantasy is a page-turner, which is sure to have readers anxious for the next book in the series.

1. TRAVEL BACK TO A RICHLY DETAILED WORLD
Dance Of Thieves will get you exploring beyond Morrighan, Venda, and Dalbrecht to an outpost beyond the Cam Lanteaux called Hell’s Mouth and Tor’s Watch. You know how fantasy books always have maps and there’s countries that you never set foot in while reading? So, this book takes on one of those countries on the maps from the Remnant Chronicles and girl, I am here for it.

2. LEARN MORE HISTORY ABOUT THE REMNANTS AND A WHOLE NEW SIDE OF THE ORIGIN STORY
Well, that kind of says it all. Kazi has this habit where she enjoys listening to origin stories and she has found herself listening to how people in different cultures describe what happened with the Remnant and how they survived and got to where they are today. I love these bits of history and it just makes that world Pearson created so much richer.

3. A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH
Kazi of Brightmist and Jase Ballenger are my new favorites and I will fight everyone who says otherwise. The two are from very different worlds than Lia, Rafe, and Kaden. Kazi grew up poorest of the poor and had to make her way in the world as a thief when her mother was abducted in front of her when she was kind of young. Now Kazi is part of the Rahtan and we see her resilience over and over again. Jase is someone we would suspect is a dick, only he’s not. Instead, he’s the new Patrei of the Ballenger clan and at first I had the impression that they were like a mob and horrible. BUT THEY ARE NOT. AND I LOVE THEM ALL OKAY.

4. SPEAKING OF LOVE, ALL MY FAVORITE TROPES ARE HERE.
There’s hate to love. There’s the fact that Jase and Kazi are literally chained to each other and have to rely on each other to get out of a sticky situation. Oh and there’s a slow building of trust and some slow burns yes sir. There’s NO love triangle. Also, Kazi and Jase have lead very different lives but at their core, they are more alike than you would think.

5. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
You know, sometimes I love books that are set in the same world as previous series because I get to see where all my precious faves are now. Like, I know what Lia and Rafe are up to. I know how Kaden is doing. Pauline seems well too. It just makes me happy to be able to get glimpses of what goes on after the last book ends.

6. GIRL GANG!
Okay so Kazi is traveling with two other elite Rahtan warriors, her best friends Wren and Synove. I love them both. I want them both to get their own books. Anyways, their friendship is tight and non competitive and just so supportive. I love them.

7. THE ENDING IS NOT A PLOY JUST TO SELL MORE BOOKS.
Yes, so after reading this book I had to check to see if the next book was still about Kazi and Jase or Wren or Synove. As it turns out, the book is about Kazi and Jase again. Yet, when I finished I felt satisfied. I didn’t feel like there was an obnoxious cliffhanger. I felt like the book ended in a really good spot. Like I could just be satisfied with that being it for Dance of Thieves.

Get ready to meet two new irresistible characters in DANCE OF THIEVES. Set in the same incredible world as Mary E. Pearson's The Remnant Chronicles, readers are introduced to Kazi, a reformed thief who is now a member of the queen's elite group known as the Rhatan, and Jase, the fierce new leader of the Ballenger clan—an outlaw dynasty that governs by its own set of rules.

I was once again reminded why I love Mary E. Pearson's writing.
I found myself falling into a story filled with vivid worldbuilding and characters that I adored. I was not anticipating loving the romance as much as I did but it was completely addicting and swoon-worthy.

My only complaint is the beginning's pace was slow reading as we are introduced to the characters and setting. With that said, however, everything is written with such depth and intensity—you can't help but want to turn the pages to find out what is going to happen.

Told through the dual POV of Kazi and Jase this book starts off immediately catching your attention with an exciting new territory to discover and cast of characters to fall in love with.
Kazi is sent by the queen to investigate rumors of a traitor ( a certain captain who betrayed Morrighan ) who is taking refuge on Ballenger land. In route, Kazi and her two sisters-in-arms travel through the infamous Hell's Mouth—a trading town set within Tor's Watch and on Ballengers' contested land.

Here, the story really picks up with Kazi and Jase meeting for the first time and it's definitely a situation of hate on first sight, in fact, there's a scuffle, some mistaken identity going on, and even a kidnapping that takes place leading to them being taken hostage by a slave trader! Readers—let's just say things get a bit feisty and I loved the banter!!

There is so much pull and tug between Kazi and Jase. I love these kinds of stories which make for an angsty, but romantic read filled with lots of romantic tension.

The plot unfolds with plenty of action and danger. Secrets are being revealed, deadly encounters of duals, fights, and overall fierceness in an open range territory abound. Readers are going to love meeting the members of the Ballenger clan as well as getting to know Kazi's Rhatan-Sisters.

DANCE OF THIEVES is an exciting new chapter set in the world of The Remnant Chronicles with a new territory painted in a vivid landscape and complex characters to root for. A few familiar faces appear which is definitely a bonus but this story really can stand on its own for new readers as well. A slow beginning gives way to a fantastic story filled with danger, romance, and plenty of fierceness. DANCE OF THIEVES was all that I had hoped for. Definitely recommended to fans of the Remnant Chronicles!

Thank You, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the review copy!

I love Mary Pearson's Remnant Chronicles and how she has expanded its universe. This is mostly a slow-burn romance with enemies to lovers and a wide mix of deception and power struggles. I really liked it and want more!

I underestimated how amazing it would be to immerse myself back into the world of the remnants. Dance of Thieves starts a new series set in the same world as The Remnant Chronicles series by Mary E. Pearson but follows a new cast of characters in a new location in that world. If you haven't picked up the Remnant Chronicles yet, then you need to fix that right now by binge reading all 3 books and then devouring this one (ugh, the wait for the sequel is going to be killer, please come join me in my misery).

As with the first series, the world building is solid and gives us a new legend of the remnants from when the stars fell (and more glimpses into what this world was before). We get to explore Tor's Watch and learn about what happened after the events of The Beauty of Darkness (and check in with some of our old friends). However, it's the new characters that drive this story and I loved them, each and every one. I adored the Ballengers and would join their family in a heartbeat but I also would do just about anything to join the Rahtan and ride with Kazi and her crew! We get dual points of view - Kazi and Jase Ballenger - as they both try to accomplish their own agendas after being forced to work together to survive. The story is engrossing, the action is exciting, and romance is just as frustrating/swoon-worthy as that from the previous series. The majority of events are brought to a conclusion but there is definitely set-up and excitement/burning desire for the next book.

While I don't feel you absolutely have to read the first series in order to enjoy this one, it would definitely help give you a solid foundation in the world and help to better understand the few references to previous events/characters. Plus, it's an outstanding series that you really should read, trust me!

Overall, love love love this start to a new series and hate hate hate that I have to wait for a sequel.

My rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars. This review is based off an arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for honest reviews.

Dance of Thieves was everything I hoped it would be and more! From start to finish I was captured by the world Pearson has created. The characters were so layered and complex. I was rooting for Kazi and Jase throughout the book, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The romance when it came into fruition was beautiful. The end of the book had me craving for more, I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!

I received an ARC of 'Dance of Thieves' via Netgalley thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Star-crossed lovers meets outlaws and thieves, 'Dance of Thieves' kept my attention throughout. Though the world building could be more fleshed out, it was an interesting premise: A group of the Queen's Guard has been tasked with finding an enemy of the Queen. Along the way there is kidnapping, an escape involving being chained together, meeting the love interest's family, betrayal, and miscommunication galore.

Secrets play a major part in 'Dance of Thieves' in which miscommunication, or lack of communication, is a theme throughout. Personally, I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope, but if you don't have an issue about the entire plot being drenched in it then I'd say this book is for you.

The romance also plays a major role in the plot. The heroine and hero are thrown together early on by being chained together and 'making the best of it'. The hero's judgement is clouded because of this, despite them barely knowing each other.

I'm more of a fan of subtle, slow burn romance in fantasy, and them hooking up early and continuing to betray each other yet still remain enamored confused me.

A fan of thieves in fantasy, I found the title slightly misleading. Though the heroine used to be a thief, and steals a few pieces during the book, I thought thieves would play a bigger role throughout than it did.

Overall, I enjoyed the journey, despite my issues with miscommunication and rushing the romance, the plot was intriguing enough that I wanted to find out how it would all play out.

I love Mary Pearson's writing style and the characters are always well rounded. I was a bit late to the game for the Remnant Chronicles, but the world is so well developed it it easy to fall right into. Dance of Thieves is an excellent addition to the world.

"My thoughts jumped, my own words taunting me, The thing about a mark is they’ve created lies in their head, a story they’ve invented that they desperately want to believe, a fantasy that merely needs to be fed."


Kazi grew up on the harsh streets, becoming a thief to survive- a dang good one, at that. But now, she was chosen by the Queen to be one her elite guards, but an impulsive move may coast her that. Kazi has the opportunity to redeem herself by going on a mission of importance for the Queen, the person who has so much undeserving faith in her. Jase has just lost his father and now became the ruler of his people, spending his first night as ruler wallowing in his grief and alcohol. When the two have an altercation in streets, they never anticipated being kidnapped by slavers. Banding together (both emotionally and literally by shackles- even though they are enemies- Kazi and Jase have to find their way home and to the truth of their people's conflict.

The world building was amazing and layered, with all the regions and wars as well as histories and people so lovingly craftes. I really wanted a map so I could place all the locations mentioned in the story physically since I am a visual person. This is a book that I would love a map for! And yes, this is a spin-off, but it was such a complete world, plot and characters that there was no need for previous books (but you should read the Remnant Chronicles because they are fantastic!). This was such the perfect blend of court politics and intrigue, betrayal, lies. adventure and feels!

Oh my gosh, Dance of Thieves ended up being so romantic! Seriously, I had no idea what this story was going to be like, but I knew I was going to read this new spin-off series because I enjoyed the Remnant Chronicles so much. Gah, it was so freaking romantic and hug worthy at times, I felt like I needed to swoon- or at least force Kazi to (so not her style though but appropriate for the situation, I think).


“I love you. I love you with every breath, with every thought that’s inside me . I’ve loved you from the first time I kissed you on that ledge. Even before that.”

I shook my head trying to pull away. “Jase, no—”

But he pulled me closer and didn’t stop. “When I asked, What is this? I already knew. I knew what I felt, what I was certain you felt, too, but I was afraid to say it, because it was all new to me. It seemed too soon, too impossible. But everything about us didn’t just feel right, it felt like something rare, something delicate that I was afraid of breaking. Something that only comes along once in a lifetime.”


I loved Kazi, but let's be honest- she may be a kleptomaniac. The girl did have an interesting habit of collecting the most random of trinkets of all varieties. Sure, she is a product of her upbringing, and you do what you need to to survive, but really she is a master thief. She has the most prickly of shells, but inside she was a lonely sad little girl. I loved her riddles, people maneuvering skills and her loyalty. The banter and love between Kazi and her 2 sisters in arms was perfect, you could see the love and bond between the girls and that they would gladly go into battle for each other, no questions asked.

Jase had such a strong moral compass that always pointed true- even though the morals of his people did not always line up with what other thought was right. I did really enjoy the dynamic between Jase and his family, you could see the love as well as the ruler boundaries that were probably hard to hold at times. He was just given a new, terrible and great responsibility yet he held up like a champ (for the most part). He was so caring towards Kazi, even though their purposes were at odds. (sniff sniff)

Ps I loved seeing "the Queen", who I know as Lia be her insightful, protective, queenly self. I will admit after the ending of The Beauty of Darkness, I was hoping for at least a little mention of a romantic connection with a certain wonderful guy, so the ending made my heart ever so happy...


“Do you suppose,” he finally whispered, “that this could be part of making … the best of it?”
...
"I was as loyal to her as he was to his family, and I would betray him when the time came. I would bring his family and dynasty to their knees. His world was about to end.
The best of it.
We were only making the best of it.
For now."

The story felt magical and epic and I never wanted it to end. But as per all of Mary's books, the heartbreak and betrayal was strong too. There were moments where I thought my heart was ripped out of my chest, all I hoped for was a HEA...that may not be how this story ends. That last chapter though! I seriously do not know how such a beautiful and real moment could fall apart into such utter heart-wrenching chaos. Sorry for all the words, but I feel like I have a lot to say when it comes to my love of this book, this author and this world. I am so tied in knots, wanting to know where the story will go next. There is no doubt that I will be picking up the next leg of the adventure in this duology as soon as possible.

Review can be found at Smada's Book Smack Blog

Dance of Thieves was a wonderful addition to the Remnant Chronicles world. It got off to a bit of a slow start but once the pace picks up, it’s a wild ride. Dance of Thieves is full of lovable characters, exciting action, and intriguing riddles.

Although the beginning was slow, the pace allowed the reader to really get to know the two main characters. I actually liked both of the MCs equally, which is rare in a dual viewpoint novel. Kazi and Jase were such diametrically opposed individuals at the beginning. Watching them navigate their relationship and find similarities was so much fun. Plus I could always understand why they each took certain actions (even if I was screaming “No, don’t do that” on the inside). If you enjoy a good hate-to-love romance, you’ll adore these two.

Pearson did an excellent job with fleshing out the secondary characters as well. The girl gang and Jase’s family were just fantastic. There were also glimpses of characters from the original trilogy. While Lia and the others weren’t main characters, they were included enough to satisfy the curiosity of any fans of the original trilogy. I loved that Dance of Thieves introduced the reader more to the non-royal sphere in this world. It was fascinating to see that different perspective. Particularly because most of the characters here weren’t the most law abiding sort.

The world was so well-developed, I could clearly picture everything. Plus who doesn’t want to read a book that essentially takes place in a den of thieves? I loved how Pearson presented each side of the issues she brought up. From the rights of the settlers to the morality of the black market trade, she doesn’t paint anything in black and white terms.

Dance of Thieves was an engaging, fun read with surprising depth. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment (Particularly after that cliffhanger ending.)

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It kills me to leave this at a DNF. I knew that this was a spin off to a series that I have already begun but not finished. I regret that deeply. As I started this book I realized there is absolutely nothing that makes me remember the world I've already been introduced to.

This is supposed to be a stand alone and yet it doesnt do that. It starts off where something left off, im sure of it!

I will certainly come back and finish this once i read the first part of the series. But for now this is where i leave it.

I loved Remnant Chronicles and was thrilled to return to this complex world. The beginning was somewhat confusing, but once Jase's point of view chapters began, everything fell into place. I couldn't get enough of Jase and Kazi's interaction. They have the best banter, and I enjoyed watching these two enemies rely on each other for survival. There are countless twists and turns, and I never knew who was being deceitful. The middle chapters are tedious and slower paced, but by the closing, I was once again captivated.

If you enjoyed Remnant, then I highly recommend this new spinoff. There are familiar faces but new and interesting characters have quickly earned their places in my fantasy loving heart. I cannot wait for the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for my advanced review copy.

******** My Synopsis (Review Follows) *********
Kazi is the Queen's thief and part of a squad of elite soldiers. She's been tasked to lead a team into Hell's Mouth to steal something the queen desperately wants. Under the guise of investigating treaty violations, Kazi and her friends will infiltrate the city and search for something in secret.

Jase Ballenger has just become the new Patrei of Hell's Mouth. Just hours before Kazi arrives, Karsen Ballenger, the previous Patrei--Jase's father, died in the prime of his life. The death took everyone by surprise and Jase and his family are still grieving. The event causes quite a lot of confusion when Kazi arrives because she doesn't realize what transpired. To say, Kazi and Jase don't start off well would be an understatement. For Kazi accidentally embarrasses the new Patrei when she mistakes him for someone sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong--in her business. Things escalate from bad to worse as the two suddenly find themselves in a life or death situation with no one to rely on but each other.

********* My Review: *********
When I saw that Mary E Pearson had a new book coming out, I immediately requested the ARC. I love her writing style and world building skills. In the Remnant Chronicles, she created a world that you could practically reach out and touch through the pages. It was a world one could easily fall into and I've been a fan ever since.

I didn't know much about this new series going in or what to expect. As I began reading, however, I realized I knew this world. In Dances with Thieves, Ms. Pearson extends our view of the Remnant Chronicles realm beyond the reaches of Dalbreck, Morrighan, and Venda and now has us exploring the far-reaching edge of the lesser kingdom of Eislandia. Hell's Mouth sits at the border of Eislandia and Tor's watch where the Ballenger family stronghold is seated. Hell's Mouth has, for all intents and purposes, been ruled for many generations by the Ballengers even though they are without title. Rumor has it that Hell's Mouth was lost by the Ballengers to the Kingdom of Eislandia in a card game making everything all the more interesting.

Dance of Thieves is told in alternating points of view. We are privy to the unique perspectives of the two main characters, Jase and Kazi and I enjoyed seeing how the two differed. We also get insight into how each perceives the events transpiring and what they are feeling. The story begins in Venda I'm guessing around six years after 'The Beauty of Darkness' left off and a year after a new treaty among the kingdoms was signed. Jezlia, the main character from The Remnant Chronicles, is now Queen of Venda. If you haven't read any of the Remnant Chronicles, you don't need to for this series, but you're probably going to want to after reading this book. Luckily, there are three books from which you can indulge.

Kazimyrah 'Kazi' of Brightmist is a smart, level headed, kick@ss, heroine with mad skills who is as deadly with a weapon as she initially seems unassuming. She can read people very well and see things others cannot. She is as tough as they come and is referred to on the streets of Venda as "Ten" with whispered reverence. You see a complete set of ten fingers is practically unheard of for a thief, or an alleged one, yet Kazi has managed to keep all of her digits intact having never been caught. While many know what she does, or did, without proof they couldn't touch her, and she made sure they couldn't. But thieving isn't her only skill. Among the quarter lords she is known as the Shadowmaker for they swear she can conjure up shadows out of nowhere to hide, even when the sun is at its highest. This skill has served her well over the years allowing her to spy on both her enemies and marks. For there isn't a secret in the Kingdom that can escape her when she puts her talents to use.

Jase, on the other hand, is a whole other creature. He's also smart and dangerous, but he comes from a loving family who nurtured him. While he's a bit green for a leader, having just come into power, he has the potential to be great. He has a good heart, is charismatic, and has a good feel for what needs to be done. Kazi, however, utterly confounds him. He's never met anyone like her and she knocks him off his feet, quite literally, from the very beginning. I loved seeing these two get to know one another and build a relationship. On many occasions they'll need to have each other's back in order to survive, and trust will not easily be won.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. I was hooked into the story from the get-go and am still wondering where the story will go in the next book. I loved the complex world and multifaceted characters the author created. The mystery surrounding Kazi's parentage has me wondering if the next book will delve into that because I'm positive there's more to the story than meets the eye. What I loved the most was that Kazi never wavered from her plan. She accomplished what she set out to do and didn't apologize for it. She is loyal to the bone and I adored how both her and Jase seemed to fit together in a way neither expected. I look forward to reading the next installment of this series and seeing where the author will take us and the story next. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

What will happen when a master thief and a young leader cross paths? Dance of Thieves is an exciting story full of plenty of cut-throat action, angst, and deception. In true Mary E. Pearson fashion, readers will see the truth behind these characters’ hearts and instantly fall in love with them and their story.

Dance of Thieves is set after the events from The Remnant Chronicles. I’ve only read the first book in that series so I went in not as familiar with this world as others may be, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. A lot of moments that are mentioned I was able to grasp, and honestly the previous events don’t take up much of Dance of Thieves. This book feels very much like its own series.

It’s told in a dual POV, and our two main characters are Kazi and Jase. Kazi is a member of the queen of Venda’s Rhatan, which means never fail, but before becoming Rhatan she was a master thief. Then there’s Jase Ballenger who is the new Patrei over a land the Ballengers claim is the “first kingdom”. I absolutely loved both of them! They have completely different backgrounds but are so alike in many ways, too. They are fiercely loyal to the people they love and this trait drove the story forward.

Dance of Thieves is a long book, and there’s a lot of world building and history told. I’m definitely a fan of Mary E. Pearson’s writing. She knows how to write beautiful, detailed descriptions. But what I love most about her writing are her characters. There is so much heart behind each one and I completely fell in love with all of them!

I was skeptic about The Ballengers but they are such a precious family. They reminded me a lot of my own family and I think readers will feel the same when they dive into this story. Then there was Kazi’s relationship with her team, especially with Wren and Synove. They are fierce! These three are the strong female characters we desperately want in YA literature. Everyone is fantastic because they aren’t perfect. They are flawed and relatable making it easy to root for them until the end.

When Kazi and Jase’s paths cross there is a lot of drama, which is to be expected of course. It was fun to read about the relationships that formed between the characters, though. And the romance is great! This one is a hate-to-love one and I’m always up for those. Definitely expect some swoonworthy moments!

The climax of the story felt like everything was going to be wrapped up nicely, up until the final chapter. I can’t wait to read what comes next even if I am scared to find out! If you’re a fan of The Remnant Chronicles then I think you’ll enjoy Dance of Thieves. It’s a thrilling ride that expands a world fans already love. Also, if you’re new to these kingdoms and characters, I think you’ll still be able to enjoy this book if you’re looking for a fun, action-packed story!

My first book by Mary Pearson and what a great introduction! This author knows how to write romance. I've never read the Remnant Chronicles, but I was able to follow the story just fine. It would have been nice though to have included a map to the world. The book is considered fantasy, yet magical elements were subtle and not the main focus. I liked all the schemes, conflicting loyalties, strong characters and some good romantic moments.