I could not be more excited for a book sequel!

Little Thieves was the fairy tale retelling I didn't know I needed. After grasping the world and the characters, the story was absolutely top-notch. Riveting!
I am a sucker for a morally ambiguous protagonist. Moreso when they have mischief in their blood.

In the same style, Painted Devils starts STRONG, with a story that starts by working backwards.

"Let me state one thing up front: I wasn't trying to start a cult."

Vanja, I could not be more ready for your hijinks.

[Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for a free sneak peek in exchange for an honest review.]

I absolutely LOVED little Thieves and I am so excited to see the momentum continue building here. I would love to get my hands on the full length ARC!

This sampler was such a teaser and makes me yearn for Painted Devils even more! From this first bit, Vanja is back at it again, running from something chaotically and stirring up trouble and I personally wouldn't have it any other way. The sampler's style is basically the same as Little Thieves, which is such a relief, and it definitely did not take any time to become immersed in the world and storyline. Painted Devils is one of my most anticipated 2023 releases and this sampler makes me that much more desperate for it!

This chapter sampler was SO good but not enough!! Painted Devils looks like it’s going to be a good one, and the writing style is absolutely on form. If you loved Little Thieves, I can already tell from this first chapter that you’ll love Painted Devils. Our MC is absolutely hilarious and just casually starting up trouble without thinking ahead (I wonder if we’ll see her grow out of this? Would that make the story boring or better? Too soon to tell), which is exactly what I was hoping for. I can’t wait for the rest of this book!

I love Vanja so much. I cannot wait to get my hands on a full copy of this. Easily one of my new favorite series.

This is an absolutely beautiful beginning to this highly anticipated sequel! I am so excited for Painted Devils and this truly shows how we are off to an amazing start.

OH MY GODDDD THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME I NEED TO READ THE WHOLE BOOK NOW!!!

Seemed like Vanja started her own problem again, per usual. BUT I WHEN MARGARET OWEN SAID "WE'RE STARTING A CULT" I DIDNT WHINK IT WOULD BE A LITERAL CULT😭😭😭

please let me get the full arc omg please please😭

Thank you so much NetGalley, Margaret Owen, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with a free copy of this chapter sampler in exchange for an honest review.

Little Thieves was one of my favorite books that I read in 2021. I loved the plot, characters, setting, world-building, and dialogue between the characters. To be honest, after the way the book ended so nicely, I didn’t know there was going to be a sequel. I was a bit nervous, because I thought it would be same-world, just different characters. I’m so relieved that I was wrong! Vanja and Emeric are back!! I love how the chapter sampler displays character growth but doesn’t change the character’s overall personalities. Vanja is still a con artist who “accidentally” starts a cult. (Oopsie Daisy) This chapter sampler was wonderful and has me even more excited to read the book!

I really liked the first book. The language can sometimes be confusing but overall I’m really excited to read more of this! I didn’t know how she would make a sequel to a perfectly wrapped up book but she has done it! I can’t wait to continue the story!

I am absolutely screaming. I am not ready for this book, and yet I am SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR IT!!! I loved Little Thieves so much. I cannot wait to see what happens with Vanja and Emeric! This sampler was simply not enough!!! (Though I’m super appreciative that I got this glimpse!)

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! Little Thieves was one of my favorite reads of this year, and the teaser chapter was a delight! I can not wait until the entire sequel id published so I can dive back into this beautifully written world filled with Vanja's entertaining internal monologue!!

I LOVED THIS PREVIEW! When I heard Vanja was starting a cult in book two, I did not think it would be a LITERAL cult. But it is. I am so so excited to read the full book, and will definitely be hyping it up on my socials until it is out into the world!

This sampler only made me even more impatient for the next book. I rated the first book 5 out of 5 stars and so far, it sounds like the sequel will be just as good!

This little snippet is to hopefully hold me until the release of the full copy. I fell head over heels in LOVE with Little Thieves and am soooo excited for this sequel!!!!

I'm dead inside because the sample was soooo small and I need every last bit of this book.
Vanja's shenanigans give me life. She's so flawed and feels so real even as a fictional fantasy character who has accidentally started a cult and seems to have brought the ire of a god upon herself.
Seriously, how does that happen?!?!
And Emeric shows up but was he even chasing her or did he just go where he was sent? I need answers and I need to know and I need more.

I absolutely loved Little Thieves, so I was both thrilled and terrified when I learned that what I thought was a standalone would be getting not one but apparently two sequels. Reading this sample of the first few chapters has reassured me that this book will be just as good as the last one and I can rest easy knowing that Margaret Owen is sure to provide another excellent story about Vanja, who is one of my favorite gremlin girls of all time. I'm very excited to read the full book.

I haven't ever read anything by Margaret Owen before but I really like her writing style. This is a short sampler but I found myself totally engrossed and wanting to read more. Little Thieves has been on my radar for a while and I think this might have just bumped it up the list!

This chapter sampler is everything I wanted. I laughed out loud, got chills and was smiling so much. I can’t wait to be back in this world with Vanja and Emeric!

I loved this chapter sampler. Owen has wonderfully colorful characters and a knack for comedy and intrigue. Vanja's ability to land herself into advantageous places by letting others see what they want to see is perfectly encapsulated in this preview. The perspective in the prologue (The Seventh Lie) feels like it needs a little streamlining between the third person of "Once upon a time there was a wicked maid.." and suddenly switching back to first person "I" at the very end without making it very clear who the narrator is. With that said, the preview's ending is an excellent hook for the rest of the novel. I am looking forward to it's release!

The only thing this sampler did for me is make me impatient for the next book. I love the righting style and thus little story as much as I loved the first book in this series, and I can’t wait for the official release.