Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for sending me an ARC of Thieves' Gambit in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this was a really fun read. I loved the concept of Oceans 11 meets The Inheritance Games with this high-stakes young adult thief competition. The story initially started off a little slow for me, and I had trouble buying into it right away. However, as soon as the actual competition started, I absolutely couldn’t stop reading. I loved the idea of a bunch of young expert-level thieves competing against each other as well as alongside each other. You see a lot of these storylines with adults so it was interesting to see how the teenage attitudes and mindsets came into play. I really enjoyed how diverse the cast was, and their different unique personalities. There were small hints dropped throughout that kept you on the lookout for when they might pop back up, but I loved that there were still a couple of twists that really surprised me.

What really bothered me, and the reason this rating goes all the way down to a 3.5 instead of a 4 or 4.5, was the ending. That was so frustrating. After finishing the book and seeing some other reviews, it sounds like this is going to be the beginning of a series, but even with that in mind the last 5% of the book felt incredibly rushed and lacking. The rest of the book had been so multi-layered and thought out that it was really disappointing to have so many secrets revealed in literally the last couple of pages seemingly out of nowhere.

That also ties into the romance element of the book. There was a nice little touch of romance, and it added a nice human element and a chance for Ross to go through some character development. She was able to let her guard down and learn how to safely trust other people. HOWEVER, this is where the ending makes me EXTRA mad. Because after letting her guard down, going through all this character growth, Ross is double-crossed at the last minute and immediately clams right back up and we end the book in the exact same place where we started: Trust No One. So what was the point of all that character growth?! Why did we bother to go on this entire journey with Ross in the first place if we end up right back where we started? It absolutely breaks my heart when a really great book is let down by a bad ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

If you’re looking for a YA heist story with lots of twists and turns, you won’t be disappointed by Thieves’ Gambit. I didn’t love this book as much as I hoped I would, but I definitely had fun with it at times.

What I enjoyed:
- The cover. It’s gorgeous! Such a stunning design.
- The friendships between Ross and the other characters. Her relationships with Noelia, Mylo, Kyung-soon, and even Taiyo and Yeriel were truly the highlight of the book to me.
- I was HOOKED on that last 10%. I couldn’t have put the book down if I wanted to.
- Those last few twists were sooooo good!
- The set-up for a sequel! I’d really like to see the side characters return in a sequel.

What I didn’t enjoy:
- Ross’s dynamic with Devroe. Their chemistry felt forced most of the time.
- Aside from the last 10%, the pacing felt odd and the stakes didn’t feel very high. Even while the characters were risking their lives and committing crimes, the story sometimes dragged.


If there’s a sequel, I’ll probably read it. I’m very interested in what Ross does next, and I’d really love to see the other characters again!

'The Thieves' Gambit' is full of high-stakes action and world travel, but it's also very full of urban, fashion-conscious references that made the story feel very distant and irrelevant to me. I was looking for a fun, suspenseful story, but the backstabbing drama and ultra-modern slang detracted from what could have been an enjoyable read. If not for this review, I wouldn't have made it to the middle - though the second half was better than the first. Still, I won't be continuing with the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

'Thieves' Gambit' is a fast-paced YA heist that draws readers in from the very start. Buckle up for this wild ride!

A super fun and original debut that kept me on my toes throughout the entire read! Can't wait to see more from Kayvion Lewis in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC of 'Thieves' Gambit' in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fast-paced YA heist novel, full of twists & turns, danger, scheming & plotting, slow-burn romance, and a few surprises tucked up its sleeves. Personally, I wouldn't compare it to Ocean's 11 (not all heists have to be Ocean's 11!) as everyone gathered is ultimately competing against each other, which makes the partnerships and team-ups much more risky and challenging than if everyone were working for a shared goal. But there's only one prize to be won here, and the threat of betrayal makes for an exciting high-stakes adventure as the novel progresses. Be prepared for a cliffhanger ending, which will leave readers eager for book two. If you liked 'Inheritance Games', definitely add this one to your list.

This book was a bit of a letdown for me. I liked the plot and the characters seemed cool, but the writing was really lacking. Would not recommend.

This was a fun read and kept my attention during the entire book.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis in exchange for my honest review.

Teen thieves travel the globe in a “win or you’re out” competition run by a secret, unless you’re in the know, organization who have a lot of reach, endless funds, and hidden spies. What could go wrong?

Thieves’ Gambit is fast-paced, thrilling, and action-packed. It starts off on the slower side, it does pick up and that’s when things really start to get interesting. The MC Rosalyn “Ross” Quest of the infamous Quest Family desperately wants to know what it feels like to be away from her family and out in the real world, doing things people her age are doing, not being a thief.

Just a note about the writing, it’s fast-paced, and snappy is a good word for it. Witty. It also reads like a movie and it would be interesting to see this made into a movie or tv show. Some may get frustrated with Ross, as there are moments when I found her flaws to be a lot to keep up with, but in the end, Thieves’ Gambit is a fun read.

If you’re a fan of heist movies and books, you’ll enjoy Lewis’ world. There are twists and turns around every corner and while some you see coming, the reactions are really what makes this a fun read. Especially as you hit the race to the finish.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I absolutely LOVED this book and every minute that I spent reading it. Can't wait to be able to put this on my physical shelf!! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I ABSOLUTELY ADORED and am ENTIRELY OBSESSED with this story! The plot execution and twists and turns were so unexpected! Our main character Ross was a bit naive but still a very strong character! I do love the relationships in this story as well. My favorite would have to be Ross and her aunt which was a surprise. Ross and her mother s realtionship is terrible but I understood the need for the strain. I feel like with people of color depending on your upbringing, parental relationships are a daily and constant struggle. I saw myself In just about every single character.

Ross Quest is trying to break free of her family of thieves and attend a summer cheerleading camp, when she finds herself having to take part in an international heist competition. If Ross wins the competition, she will be able to ask for one wish, no restrictions. She's pitted against other teen thieves from around the world, both known and unknown, and for once in her life must try and work with others despite her mom's rule of not trusting anyone. The further she gets in the competition, the more she realizes that there's something else going on with this gambit and she's trying to figure out who is involved and whether it's worth continuing for the prize. Ross is also dealing with family issues, as she realizes her mom has been isolating her from making connections with others. Overall, a fun, fast-paced book where the heists are very well written and each character brings their own specialties and strengths to the competition and it's ultimately down to who can be trusted.

I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy teen spy/thievery books. So when I read the synopsis for this book I was super excited. The book was very good. The twists and turns were out of left field a lot of the time for me. I didn't realize that this is probably going to be a series but I am there for it. I really liked the characters and the side characters.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast paced and thrilling read. Ross Quest comes from a long line of thieves. Her family is one of the most famous in the world. She is invited to participate in a gambit. She must compete with other teenagers from around the world. Most of the quests are far-fetched but just go with it. I could definitely see this as a movie. If you are looking for a fast-paced thrill ride, I would pick this book up.

Age rating: 12+ (not spicy, no cursing)

This is a really fun fast-paced YA mystery, and I’m excited to read the next books in the series because it left off on a big cliffhanger! I really appreciated that there was more attention and intention for diversity in the characters, since most of the previous big YA series (ex. The Hunger Games and Divergent) had little to no racial or LGBTQIA+ diversity. However, this book centers around a black main character, and the main competition includes teens from all around the world and all different races and ethnicities.

I think the whole concept was really interesting and quite different from other YA books! It took me until the actual competition started (around 20%) to really get into it, but once you do, you really fly through this! It’s super action packed and fast paced and I could see the whole thing playing out in my head as a movie! I think this would be a really great book for a film adaptation!

I also really liked the character dynamics, as Ross is trying to break away from her family’s life of crime and the struggles of finding your identity, and how breaking away from her mother’s life of crime affects her relationship with her mother. I also really liked the romance in this!

There were quite a few plot twists, some pretty unexpected, that had me shocked at the end! And the ending left on such a big cliffhanger, I need to know what happens next, I need the next book ASAP.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“I was going to save Mom’s life, but after that, I was going to get an explanation.”

This book is definitely Ocean’s 11 meets Inheritance Games. I thought I had this book all figured out, but that ending proved me wrong.

This is the story of Ross Quest, who is ready to live a run of the mill life, but when her mom gets kidnapped she enters the thieves gambit to save her. Knowing who to trust becomes Ross’ ultimate challenge. This story has many twists and turns, slow burn romance (very clean) and lots of action.

I can’t wait to read what #KayvionLewis writes next.

#PenguinTeen #ThievesGambit

The tag line for this book did not let me down. This was Oceans Eleven meets a touch of Spy Kids (in a really good way). I love love loved the plot of this book and can’t wait for the sequel. The dialogue was perfectly witty and I think this would make a great movie. I can’t wait to read more of Ross Quest’s adventures.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is a fun wild ride! I had so much fun reading it. I will say that it took me a bit to get into but once the gambit started it was so much fun. This is a fast paced story with danger and thieves that steal your heart.

Ross is a thieve dreaming of another life but when her mother is in danger she will do anything to save her. The thieves gambit, a competition amongst other thieves becomes the only way for her to save her mom. She has to win.

We get a diverse cast of characters which I appreciate. This book had me at the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop reading which is why I finished it in one day.

If you're a fan of heists and lots of action I definitely think you should check this one out!

Out Sept 26, 2023

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thieves Gambit is like a combination of Six of Crows, Hunger Games, and Ocean's 11, resulting in an exhilarating narrative that surpasses all expectations. As a fan of heist books, this one truly captivated me. Meet Ross Quest, a member of a renowned family of thieves. When an unfortunate incident leads to her mother's abduction, Ross makes the bold decision to enter the Thieves Gambit, an international heist competition, with the hope of rescuing her, winning this competition will grant her a single wish.

Prepare yourself for an enthralling journey filled with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You'll eagerly devour each page, unraveling the mysteries and unveiling the surprises that await. In addition to the captivating heist narrative, Thieves Gambit also weaves in a compelling romance subplot and an intriguing dynamic between childhood friends turned into enemies. This action-packed book delivers an astounding plot twist at the end, leaving me in awe. I sincerely hope a second book is in the works, as I found the ending slightly rushed. Overall I really enjoyed this. Thanks to netgalley and penguin for the eARC of this book.

A jam-packed global action fest...like a YA Ocean's Eleven.

I dug this book. I liked the characters and the fact that we got to know a little bit about all the participants. I thought the heist scenes were dramatic and the central relationship was believable. Like our hero, you never quite know who's on her side.

However, this is one book that might actually be better as a movie. The plot is complex, with many characters, settings, and lots of double crossing. Toward the end, it was a wee bit hard to track all the details.

I think this was largely due to the fact that the ending is setting up Book 2. Instead of tidying things up, the story expands to explore more of the secret world of the hosts of the gambit. That's a lot of exposition to throw at readers that late in the game.

But overall, this was a fun ride. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.