The Painted Devils was an absolutely delightful sequel to Little Thieves. This novel cemented Margaret Owen as one of my personal favorites.

This was good story. Not great, but good. I struggled a bit and I know this is a classic case of, “it’s not you, it’s me,” since everyone I know that read it, loved it.

I love Margaret Owen's world building and this was no exception. Vanja continues to be an interesting and engaging character. It was no Little Thieves, but I eagerly await book three.

Incredible. I love Vanja and somehow, Margaret Owen has crafted the perfect sequel. I expected more of the hilarity and wit that we came to expect from Vanja in the first book but was not expecting the gut punch of Vanja's trauma. A layered, wonderful look at found family and finding the love we deserve.

This is the perfect book two. I loved book one and I devoured this book. It’s such a great duology and it’s worth the read. I somehow love these characters even more.

Painted Devils is, at its core, a story of two young people navigating love and sexuality and the idea of virginity as a social construct in a way that feels right to them, and recognizes that their comfort and their desire and the way they feel about each other is all that matters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Margaret Owen continues to impress! I will never tire of her mix of humor, humanity, and fantasy. Her characters feel so deeply real, their struggles are so innately human. It's hard to find another YA fantasy author who can make you laugh out loud at a line of dialogue and on the same page blow your mind with the action that just unfolded.

I’m always terrified of reviewing books I love because there’s no way I’ll ever be able to do them justice. There’s just no easy way to verbalize my adoration for these stories, and the deeper they cut, the more true this becomes.

These books are knives, slicing me deeply and just making a home inside my skin. Little Thieves was already beautiful, painful, glittering, and absolutely everything I could ever want from a book. Painted Devils is somehow even sharper, even more cutting, and I felt hollowed out by the end of it. It’s been months since I’ve finished it now, and thinking of this book still feels like poking a bruise. It’s like this story has left a pot simmering in the back of my head, and anytime I’m reminded of it, I go running back to check on it. This story just lives in me now.

But why is this book so astounding, and how is it still affecting me so much, months later? There is just something about the unique combination of setting, magic, characters, and plot in these books that creates a lasting impression that sticks around, whether you want it to or not.

There is a cast of wonderful, maddening, heartbreakingly flawed characters that pull you into their orbits and never let you go. You watch them hurt and bleed throughout the story, watch them forced to grapple with bad choices and mistakes and failures, and you’re left just wanting to pull them out of the book and tuck them into a warm bed and keep them safe. This is exceptionally true for Vanja, the main character, and I’m just so incredibly attached to her. She’s so prickly, and guarded, and I see parts of myself in her (without the, you know, crimes). I feel like watching her struggle and grow and still be Vanja makes me feel like I have the space to struggle and grow too.

The story itself, and its plot, is also one of Painted Devils many strengths. Both Painted Devils and Little Thieves feel like untangling an extremely complicated knot, sometimes taking many steps back before you finally see the next step to take. However, the sheer satisfaction at seeing that knot begin to loosen, let alone entirely disappear, is incredible, and seeing the plot unravel in this series is exactly the same. The shroud of mystery around everything, and this recurring plot of investigating a crime, only further complicates and deepens the plot, and creates a solid structure for the entire story to rest on.

Then there is this cruel world the entire story is set in. There is so much cruelty and unkindness, and in the face of it all, there are our characters trying to fix just a small piece of it. It lets us really see the beauty and power in small acts of kindness. I also love how it sets up a perfect space for examining the role of law-bending and rule-following in fixing corruption and injustice, and how the balance can be so precarious. I also adore the folklore that’s woven into every page of these books, and it only further heightens the themes explored in the book. There’s just so much myth and magic and story here, and I want to drink every last drop of it.

All of this is then wrapped together in such phenomenal writing. There is so much humor in this book, and you can just feel how much joy Owen had when writing it. But it’s also a writing style that can carry pain and heavier moments well, too. Owen knows exactly when a blow needs to be softened, or the exact way to phrase something to make it absolutely devastating to read. Somehow, her writing has only gotten stronger in this sequel, and honestly, very few writers could manage to pull something like Painted Devils off.

While I’m still recovering from the pain of Painted Devils, I am absolutely ready for Holy Terrors to deliver the killing blow.

Margaret Owen how dare you— this book is a marvel, ruined my life, and was so hilarious and touching.

As someone who has mostly moved away from reading Young Adult books, Margaret Owen's work is some of the few shining examples of books that I will drop everything to read and be swept away by like none other, and Painted Devils is no exception. From a meticulously planned plotline to endearing characters that I absolutely would commit crimes for or with, Painted Devils is both cackle like a feral witch in the woods funny and sob on public transportation touching (all true and real reactions that others observed me doing).

Painted Devils was a sequel that I anticipated like none other, and exceeded my expectations in every single way.

Somehow I loved this installment even better than the first?? There is SO MUCH SASS and a creepy doll and yes maybe I saw the end coming but it was still a TON OF FUN GETTING THERE.

Cults! Mama drama! Trauma and growth! Far too many parallels to real life for my personal comfort but it all works anyway!

Obviously can't wait for the next book, as I'm sure Emetic is still pissed off.

I read this book IMMEDIATELY after finishing Little Thieves, a book I rated five stars. I absolutely adore Vanja as our main protagonist. She is such an entertaining gray character who, in this second installment, is trying to become a better person in the eyes of Emeric...and this results in her starting a cult...unintentionally. 😂 Clearly, she is still a work in progress, but we love her anyway.

One element that I loved in Little Thieves that carried over to Painted Devils is the brilliant dialogue and dynamic between characters. We see a few characters returning from book 1, and many are added to this band of odd, eccentric found family. The characters are humorous, flawed, loyal, and vulnerable with each other. I am especially invested in Vanja and Emeric's relationship, especially because Owen provides great Ace representation with Vanja and Emeric's patience and respect of her boundaries is just so great to see on the page.

It has been quite a few months since I finished this book, but I think I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 (like Little Thieves) is because I found the reveal at the end to be semi convenient but at the same time, I can 100% see it being so important for Vanja as a character to go through a trial like that and gain some kind of closure. I also devoured book 1, and I do think it would be difficult for Owen to top it! No matter what, hands down a favorite series!!!

A huge thank you to Henry Holt and Margaret Owen for sending my both Little Thieves and Painted Devils in exchange for this honest review. I have already preordered book #3 in the series, and I am so so sad I have to wait for its release!

I was shocked to find I have not reviewed this book yet. Painted Devils by Margaret Owen is the highly anticipated, at least for me, follow up to the first novel in the series, Little Thieves. I could honestly gush about both of these books all day. Specifically in Painted Devils, we meet back up with our main character, Vanja, after she has broken a curse, saved a kingdom, and fallen in love. The only thing weighing her down is she wants to find her birth family. Given over to two lesser gods at a young age, Vanja grew up not sure she was every truly loved or how to love in return, so when there is a certain boy waiting for her, she freaks out and runs away. Her emotions are running high and twisted, so she decides that before she deals with those she will do what she does best, pulls one last scam. Because once a thief, always a thief. Unfortunately, this new scam puts her straight in the line of sight of a very ancient god that wants Vanja for herself. Can she wiggle her way out of this one?

I love this series because it is not your typical YA fantasy series. You have magic and a romance on the side, but it is more like contemporary YA in the way we watch out MC grow up, figure out who she is, struggle with the pressure of love/relationships/sex/etc. Finding who she is in this world, who she wants to become, and where she came from, and deciding if all three of those things can coincide to be one person or is she forced to choose?

I will read anything Margaret Owens puts out and am looking forward to working through her backlist as well. 5/5 stars!

Amazing world building, beautifully developed characters, and so much magic continue in this continuation of Little Thieves.

Vanja finds herself accused of starting a cult and non other than her abandoned paramour is tasked with the investigation into her crimes. Members of her former family start to emerge, as Emeric tries to find the truth despite his supervisor's extreme dislike of Vanja. It ended on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait for the sequel.

I love the covers in this series.

This was such a good follow up to Little Thieves! I loved the first book, and honestly love this one too! The relationship between the two main characters is so well done. I love their communication, open honestly, and even when they have issues they TALK and work things out, honestly that's a breath of fresh air! My only complaint is that I don't have the next book in my hands after that ending!

It was enjoyable enough, but a bit of a let down from little thieves. The plotting of the heists were really fun and entertaining just like the first book. However the romance became a bit daunting and over played. We get it they are not quite doing it, plus after all of that we basically are ending back at square one! Loved getting to see her reunite with her family though.

Okay, I seriously want to knock down half a star or a whole one for the way that book ended but I just can't! This book was five stars, much like the first one was five stars! The pacing, the dialogue, the atmosphere, it just kept me engaged. Not all the characters from the first one were in this which, at first, made me sad when I realized it was a completely different setting but... it's the same ol' Vanja Schmidt! And we wouldn't have her any other way.

In this one, Vanja accidentally starts up a cult and then ends up having to deal with a real life Low God that she THOUGHT was a lie which is hilarious in itself. And she has to go on a quest with Emeric Conrad (who is the perfect man and we love to see him again) while trying to navigate internal conflict from her past as well her complicated feelings over her own image. This one was for all of us who ever felt ugly and had to deal with toxic parents ruining our self-esteem to a point of almost no return. (You'll understand this once you start reading, which I strongly recommend.)

The demisexual/ace rep was pretty good in the first one but in this, Owens gives a more in-depth look into what this means and what are the conflicts one would go through before realizing that what they are is not damaged or not wrong. I appreciated this book also bringing to light that there is no wrong way to be intimate with a partner, screw what the rest of the world thinks (pun intended).

Owens is just absolutely brilliant, I also have to give her a shoutout for weaving in a Backstreet Boy lyric. Which sounds ridiculous but it was actually nicely done. If you love a badass morally-gray female main character, found family, cinnamon-rolly tall lanky nerdy boyfriends, and many witty comebacks that make you go "OHHH SNAP", this series is the right one for you.

A very enjoyable read, though I missed some of the absence of my favorite characters from the first book in the first part of the second one. Still a fantastic read, though I will admit not as strong of a book as the first one. I still eagerly await the third book nevertheless!

*Many thanks to Henry Holt and Company/Macmillan Publishing Group LLC and Edelweiss for an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book**

As of 12/9/2022, I work at Barnes and Noble. In spring of this year, I was on-shift with my coworker, Erin (please check out her blog, where she reviews YA books, Gateway Reviews! https://gatewaybookreviews.blogspot.com/?m=1), and I asked her "What book should I buy and read? Which one would you recommend?" The first one she thought of was Little Thieves (LT) by Margaret Owen. I bought a hardback copy then, I read it in June, and though I'd never read a book by her before, Ms. Owen has now become an insta-buy author for me.

Vanja and Emeric are back in this sequel, and though you don't have to read LT first, it's a whole lot sweeter if you do. I almost had to read it over again but thought, "No. I want to just jump in headfirst."

HEADS FOR THE WHITE PENNY
1. The plot of this one is ABSOLUTELY BONKERS in the best way possible. Vanja finds herself in the middle of a cult she inadvertently created, and Emeric is on the case. But, like in LT, nothing is EVER as it seems. The twists and turns I went through to get to the end of this one kept me up until 1:30am. I was never bored, and I was very anxious to see where it all landed.

2. Emeric. I cannot, CANNOT, champion this prefect's kindness, thoughtfulness, and absolutely gentlemanly care more if I tried... And he's even better in this book. Emeric is one of those beautifully written males in book history that you think is too good to be true, but has too many flaws to think he's imaginary. He makes mistakes, he says the wrong thing, he appears to be one thing but then turns what you know about him on its head... Then he shows you just how imperfectly perfect he is. He is one of the BEST examples of a non-toxic person that I've read about, and if Vanja doesn't want him, I WANT HIM. It's his budding relationship with Vanja from the first book, which carries over into the second, that makes me believe in love again.

3. Ms. Owen's sparkling use of the written word is a whole amusement park of imagery and sarcasm that makes you laugh the moment you step into the ride. So many times, I was bemused by Vanja's descriptions and antics in certain moments. I caught myself thinking "Man, I would say that in real life." The deep parts hit deep. The funny parts didn't pull their punches and knocked me out laughing. Ms. Owen's way of writing has the beautiful capability to be relatable and entertaining. Reading these two makes me really, REALLY anxious to read the two Merciful Crow books she wrote, because I know that I will not be disappointed.

TAILS FOR THE RED
(This is the part of my ARC review where I provide constructive criticism for the book I just read. Unfortunately, I am not able to do that, because this book is near flawless, and the tiny irksome bits I could somehow drag out of it are negligible at worst. One of those points is really a publisher's formatting thing that has nothing to do with Ms. Owen's text, so I'm not even going into it. Instead, I am going to leave 3 reactions I had by the end of it.)

1. Ms. Owen, YOU ENDED IT LIKE THAT?!?!! WHAAAAAAAT?!?!??

2. THERE HAS TO BE MORE. CAN I HAVE IT NOW?!? HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME WAIT!!!!

3. Thank you for writing what I never knew I needed. But seriously... I want another one.

VERDICT
...in 5/2023, buy it. Read it. Love it. Flawless ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. While you're at it, buy Little Thieves, read it (if you haven't already), love it.

I dearly dearly loved this book. Margaret Owen writes for the awful girls. The girls who fear that a single wrong move could make them unworthy of love. This story is so tender, these characters so dear to me, and yet there is an unlimited supply of action and humor among all the vulnerability. I could read about Vanja and Emeric and all of their many interesting acquaintances for 1000 more books, and I can't wait for the release of Holy Terrors!