At the time I requested this book I was very interested in it. Obviously, it has been a few years since I requested this and I am no longer interested in it now. It doesn't match my current reading tastes and I apologize that I didn't read it and thank you for the kindness you showed offering it to me.

An exciting YA graphic novel about a novice thief who wants to be something more, who (of course) gets into a job that's waaaay over her head, involving three dead kings, a lost treasure, and a sleeping god. I really hope there's a sequel in store!

Lily is only a semi-likable protagonist and the other characters are not much better. That said, somehow Lily the Thief is a pretty fun book. I wouldn't call it required for all graphic novel collections, but it's a nice addition for larger collections.

So, I kind of liked this book and didn't like it at the same time.

Didn't like: how Lily talks to other people... super disrespectful and rude, also, so much gore! and finally there's a bunch of mild swearing

Likes: the mystery sucked me in and I had to know how it ended! Guess what... it's a cliff-hanger. Now we have to wait for book two...

Lily is fed up with getting the measly jobs of the thieves guild. When the Guildmaster proclaims to her mentor that she’ll never get any good jobs, Lily decides to prove to the Guildmaster she’s better than he thinks. She steals one of the new assignments and goes to pull it off by herself. But the job is just a cover for an even bigger scheme by a crooked Earl. And Lily may be in more serious trouble than she ever could have dreamed taking on this job.

So this book may star a scrappy little middle grade-aged girl, but the content is definitely more YA than middle grade. There’s a pretty high body count. Actually, the overall plot line gave me the feel of a quest-based video game. I think it would adapt into one that would be pretty popular. You have an underestimated thief that has to go collect a couple keys from impossible locations and the keys are guarded by various people/things she has to outwit or defeat. Along the way she figures out the keys may not lead to the treasure that the shady guy she’s working for thinks it leads to. You’ve got a creepy religious group that are after her for their own reasons and run the most successful dungeons in the land (and their lead hunter rides a demon-looking moose…which I have to say was a nice unique touch). You’ve got the thieves guild which has their own strict codes and punishes members for breaking them (even if they are only doing so under duress). So the heroine is on the run from 2 different groups and is trying to outwit a 3rd group while looking like she’s cooperating with them. There are so many ways to fail. It would make a challenging video game. It also makes a pretty exciting and engaging story (as long as the blood doesn’t bother you). Hand this to older fantasy quest fans who also like graphic novels.

Notes on content [based on the ARC]: 5 mild swear words (also 2 hecks and a few darns). The guild guys mock Lily at the beginning because she doesn’t have “bosoms”. There’s a big pool bathing scene, but nothing is shown. There are so many deaths on page it would be hard to count. There’s individual murders and then melees with lots of deaths. Blood is gushing/splattered freely on many pages and some nasty cuts are shown. Several skeletons and a few rotting corpses shown.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was in interesting take on thieves and quests. It is bloody at time so not aimed at younger readers. There is a hint of a sequel near the end so I'm looking forward to the next one. I can't tell you much more but the legend of the fire king and three keys is good.

I really enjoyed this adventure graphic novel. Due to language and violence, I'd recommend this to older middle grade patrons. There was a lot of action, some humor, and it was a lot of fun! It ends with you assuming another book is forthcoming.

Very cute and entertaining. I was captivated by the drawings of the setting, which were so detailed and fun. Definitely will be a big hit among young readers who've enjoyed First Seconds other fantastic graphic novels. Looking forward to seeing if a second volume is set--as I can see many more fun adventures with Lily and Seamus!

Originally released in Finland in 2016, Lily the Thief is a middle grade fantasy adventure starring a young thief who's desperate to break out of the apprentice role and take on bigger and better assignments in the thieves guild. The Guildmaster only gives her the little jobs, the low-profile stuff: pick-pocketing; trespassing; stealing little things here and there. Durine one little assignment, though, she stumbles onto a big job, but it puts her and her mentor into some very dangerous crosshairs. There are cults, gods, and treasure to be found, but there's also blackmail and danger. Lily's got to keep herself alive!

Lily is a good pick for your fantasy readers and your graphic novel fans who love Ben Hatke's Zita and Mighty Jack books, and Faith Erin Hicks' epic Nameless City epic series. Colors are earthy, and Janne Kukkonen creates moody settings for the thief's tale and uses shadows and light to create an almost sinister, creeping feeling as Lily gets closer to uncovering big secrets that could cost her more than her wages.

Translated graphic novel telling the story of Lily the Thief, a skilled thief's apprentice who wants to join the Thieves Guild but is continually denied because she is a female. The advance copy is difficult to read due to highly blurry text.

"Lily the Thief" is a cute graphic novel for a junior audience. The art is simple and bright. And the story is engaging.