This book was a fast-paced, thrilling rollercoaster ride! I was hooked from the first page and breathless until the end. If you love a good heist story, you'll love Thieves' Gambit. I sure did!

Definitely will not want to put this book down!

There are twists and turns at every turn. The heists, the betrayals, and so much more. You will definitely be rooting for Ross and her chance to “escape” her life and lead a normal one.

Do not skip this one. This is a binge worthy book for sure!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

I was excited for this book and while I did like the writing I had a difficult time staying engaged. It wasn’t really all that exciting and I could tell what was going to happen next. I guess I was hoping it would keep me guessing and it really didn’t. Not a bad story but I had a difficult time connecting to the main character.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

4.5 stars
Thank you Penguin for this ARC
Heist books are always so fun to read and this was no exception. Every heist, plan, and sneaky thief move had my heart pounding, and was just so exciting to read.
Ross and her Mom regularly perform heists, while they are very good at it, it is a lonely life. Ross's Mom constantly hammers into her brain the importance of never trusting anyone, and as a result Ross is incredibly lonely. Her plan to get away and make some friends is quickly botched when her Mom ends up getting kidnapped. Her only solution to get one billion dollars for the ransom is to enter in a cut throat competition between thieves.
This is a really enjoyable book, and truly is such a fun read. I would never have made it past round 0, I would definitely have failed and gotten stuck in the first room. It is so fascinating to see how different characters came up with different plans and ways to steal and lie. I would never have been able to think of a quarter of what they came up with!
There is of course a bit of romance, and while it did feel a bit fast-paced, I enjoyed their chemistry. Devroe is very persistent. I almost thought there was going to be a sapphic romance between Ross and Noelia because of the chemistry the two of them had, and their past.
I absolutely adored how diverse this book is, it's so rare to see this type of genre have this set of characters. Everyone felt so fleshed out and actually read as BIPOC.
Bad parents continue to be one of my favorite elements for books to have, I love that we are getting to see more morally grey or just truly sucky parents in books. (Seriously guys, I hate the trope of parents being infallible)
At times it did read more like it was made for a movie, then if it was made for a book. (This is odd, but does this make sense) I almost think it might make certain scenes easier to follow along when watching then when reading.
The ending was a bit of a let down, it was one twist then another. With two back to back twists it was hard to be invested and still find care for how everything went down. I also was a bit confused by some of the later events in the big just plot wise, there were a few holes. (Like the fact Ross has never worn an evening dress or similar attire but can walk in heels easily) The ending definitely felt a bit abrupt, I still have tons of questions.
I can't wait for the next book, and I would definitely read more of Kayvion Lewis's writing.
Highly recommend, perfect for fans of heist books similar to Ocean's Eleven.

Thieves Gambit by Kavyon Lewis is a wickedly intelligent YA thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and left me wanting more of this world and the characters. I found it completely addictive, and I loved that about it!

The characters are all morally gray and exceptionally well developed with so many conflicting layers that I could easily relate to them even though - could I really, considering they live in a world of crime entirely foreign to me? The subtle nuances brought each character to life in ways I never expected.

The pace is fast, and the narration is in the first person, with the main character Rosalynn (Ross) Quick telling her tale. Sometimes, I wished the narration had been in third, but then something would happen, and I realized the genius of keeping it in first.

I love the intelligence behind cons, and this story delighted me with an entire game of thievery and cons - from beginning to end. I never tire of witnessing characters outwit one another, so I find this story so addicting. I’m not sure if there is a plan for more stories, but I would love to read them if there are. The ending left a small opening for that but was also conclusive enough to be a satisfying standalone.

Ross is the daughter of a well know thieving family. She is desperate to go out on her own, get a normal life, but her plan to do so goes horribly wrong. With it being her only option left, she may just have to participate in a dangerous game for the rich to enjoy.

This felt so fun and cinematic. I had a blast reading it and I read it incredibly quickly. There’s a found family aspect to it that I loved, I thought it was so sweet. But, the plot twists never really felt surprising to me. It felt like I knew what was coming, it was just the matter of waiting for it. For a mystery novel, it didn’t feel like a mystery to me.

If hearing that Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis is billed as The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven isn’t enough to pique your interest, well then you might want to see a doctor because something must be wrong with you, lol. But seriously, this really is one heck of a wild adventure.

Rosalyn (Ross) Quest might only be seventeen years old, but she already a master thief. So good in fact that she’s been invited to take part in a special tournament of sorts: The Thieves’ Gambit. And while she’d had no intention of accepting that invitation (quite the opposite in fact as she’d been planning to slip away from her mother, taking time away from thieving to try her hand at being a normal kid for a little while) but when a job goes horrible wrong and her mother’s life is suddenly on the line, Ross sees the competition as her only way to save her mother.

This is a seriously intense and fast paced adventure and Ross is an engaging and likable protagonist. My understanding is that a movie adaptation is already in the works and if the movie turns out half as good as the book it should be a blockbuster. I’d like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Thieves’ Gambit.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R236PNRGAWBCKU/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

The Oceans Eleven and Inheritance Games vibes that I got from this book are absolutely immaculate.

This is fast paced YA heist thriller packed with action and adventure, it was an absolute thrill to read! All the suspense, twists and turns have left me speechless. Reading this book was a total thrill since I never knew what to expect and when I tell you that some parts made my jaw drop I am serious.

It was honestly page after page of mystery and had me filled of pure curiosity and expectation of what would happen next. I also, really loved the characters, especially how diverse it was! I thoroughly enjoyed that all of them were likable (expect Lucus ofc) and had just such different personalities. They were so well written as well as the story and it was so much fun seeing Ross go out there and start making friends and connections with people her age. Her and Kyung-Soon were so adorable, and so pure 🥲 I love them so much as well as Mylo. The whole friend group was just so wholesome.

This was definitely a 5/5 for me and I recommend it when it releases tomorrow!!

Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Teen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

Ross Quest is a master thief in a family of master thieves, but she wants to try something new—until her mom is put in grave danger, and she pulls out all the stops to win The Thieves’ Gambit, a cutthroat competition where the world’s greatest young larcenists pull off impossible heists in exchange for a prize, one that is Ross’ only chance of saving her mom. But how far is Ross willing to go to win—and who can she trust?

I have been waiting for a book of this caliber for so long! I could not get enough of each eccentric character, not only their styles, personalities, and skillsets, but also their backstories and motivations, drip-fed to us one excruciating cliffhanger and detail at a time. The suspense was top-notch—my chest was clenched the whole time as I waited for the next double-cross, the next sabotage, the next narrow escape, the next high-octane fight, the next selfless act. And the ending had my jaw on the floor; it’s not often I’m left blindsided in the best way imaginable, but this did it.

There were moments when the theme about trusting others was a bit overt, as well as tropey moments (think, “crush at first sight with the strikingly handsome, uncannily gentlemanly, devilishly charming boy” or “go with the crush to a formal event as part of the mission”), which aren’t always my favorites, but I know other readers will fall in love with seeing those story beats get hit.

And can I just say how cool the name Ross Quest is?

Go read Theives’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis as soon as possible!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for providing me with an eARC of this title. This in no way changed my opinion of the book**

Thieves Gambit is the newest from Kayvion Lewis. It follows a teen named Rosalyn Quest, who comes from a family of masterful thieves. Due to this, Ross has been sheltered, learning she can only depend on her mom and aunt. She makes a plan to escape and breakout on her own, but it goes wrong and her mom ends up kidnapped. When the kidnappers demand a ransom of one billion dollars, Ross ends up competing against other teen thieves in what's known as The Gambit, a high-stakes game where the winner will be granted a wish of their choosing on the condition that they sign a contract with the organizers for a year.

The synopsis compares it to Ocean's Eleven and The Inheritance Games, which I think are good indicators of if you'll like this, but I'd add a little of Squid Games. You don't know much about the organization and it's motivation, you're not quite sure if people end up dead or cut and it's high stakes the entire time. I REALLY liked this title and I'm glad there will be a second book. I also liked seeing Ross develop as a character, seeing her learn who she is on her own without her family behind her and finding out who she can trust or can't. There's also some romantic tension with a fellow competitor. I think this will be a big hit when it's released and would recommend reading it. It grips you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end.

I Voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced copy of this book. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wow what a great roller coaster ride. Its one of my favorite reads this year.

Hands down the best book that I’ve read all month and definitely will be a favorite for the year for me . As soon as I started reading this book,I felt like I was running . The book reminds me of the Netflix show Lupin mixed with the Ocean 11 movies . Imagine you are apart of a family of thieves and you know no other life. You have no friends. Just your mom and aunt .You are taught to trust no one no matter what . As a teenage thief, Rosalyn is tired of feeling lonely . She loves her family but she wants more out of life. She’s finally built up the courage to leave her mom , when her mom is kidnapped . The only way for Rosalyn to get her mom back is by paying 1 billion dollars . Which leads to her entering the Thieves Gambit . If she’s able to beat out 11 other contestants in 3 different phases she will be granted one wish . These teens get down right dirty and show they will do anything to win . This story was so fast paced. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next . This is a book I must have . A great read that had my imagination running .

A cutthroat competition amongst the best thieves and winner gets one wish granted, but one thief is playing for the greatest stake of all: her mother's life. Rossalyn "Ross" Quest is a seventeen year old girl and a master thief, her mother raised her to be one, and she's excellent at escape plans... yet the only escape plan she hasn't been good at is escaping her mother and her life as a thief. All Ross has ever wanted was to be normal, to have friends, to make connections, and just as she was getting ready to enact her escape to go to college her mother is suddenly captured and won't be released unless Ross comes up with a billion dollar ransom. Luckily for her, her antics have not gone unnoticed and she is invited to participate in the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous international heists against other competitors... and killing isn't off limits. The winner is granted one wish, anything they want, and Ross knows that this is the only way to save her mother. Yet this competition has it's own issues, from the fact that some of the competitors include her childhood friend turned nemesis and a handsome guy who might just steal her heart. Ross knows she'll have to do whatever it takes to win, but can she backstab some of the people she's begin to think of as her own friends... and are the betrayals awaiting her closer to home than she realizes? The Quest family creed is : trust no one whose last name isn't Quest.... yet she's in for a shock. This is the first book in the series and the end of this book definitely has you looking forward to the next one. This was a really fun heists/puzzle adventure and lives up to the Ocean's Eleven aspect. Filled with fun heists and cutthroat competition, I can't wait to see where the next book goes and how the relationship drama works out! This is a fun read for anyone who likes heists stories.

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Lewis’ debut novel is a thrilling must-read that is entertaining to no end!

“Thieves’ Gambit” follows 17-year-old Rossalyn Quest, a master thief who plans to run away from her notorious family to leave behind her life of crime. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when her last job goes sideways, leaving her mother’s life in the balance. In a desperate bid to save her, Ross enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a legendary, yet dangerous competition in which the world’s top teen thieves go head to head for the ultimate prize—a granted wish for anything in the world.

There are no dull moments in this book! Lewis’ high stakes, fast-paced storyline made it impossible for me to put it down. I was endlessly entertained and engaged by the series of heists Ross had to complete in the tournament, the cinematic feel of Lewis’ writing, and the backstabbing, lying, and cheating amongst competitors amidst the chaos.

As much as I loved the novel’s plot, I loved Rossalyn Quest as a protagonist even more! Caught between her dream of a normal life and staying loyal to her family of thieves, Ross’ internal conflict is complex and relatable. Her fierce love for her mother is admirable and I found myself rooting for her to win the wish the entire time! The only thing standing in her way is her struggle to trust others. This layer of intrigue only deepens when her fellow competitor Devroe Kenzie begins to break through her walls with his charm and persistence. I adored their partnership and couldn’t help but audibly scream when it turned into something more.

“Thieves’ Gambit” is full of love and betrayal and I could not get enough despite the ending absolutely destroying me. I need book two immediately and hope that Lionsgate Studios moves forward with the development of Lewis’ debut so that I can see it on the big screen!

*4.5 stars
Wow, wow, wow! This book was so much fun, the storyline was really creative and interesting. When I saw it being described as inheritance games meets oceans eleven, I was immediately intrigued. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. It not only met, but exceeded my expectations. So if you too are drawn in by that description, I highly recommend you give this book a go. A group of the best of the best young thieves all competing against each other in a high stakes competition, vying for the coveted prize of a wish (anything they want), sounds fun right? I was hooked from the beginning and all of the drama and excitement kept me entertained the whole time. The little romantic subplot was also fun and sweet. I expected a twist towards the end, but I did not predict the full extent of said twist. So I was still surprised and a little shocked (my jaw was dropped) as everything was revealed. The main storyline wrapped up, but it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger, which has made me super excited for another book. I can’t wait to see where the story goes. Overall, this was such a fun read!

Thieves Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven in this high stakes heist thriller where a cutthroat competition brings together the world’s best thieves and one thief is playing for the highest stakes of all: her mother's life.

The high stakes competition theme will always be a hit for me. I was enthralled with this novel. From the believability of the characters and the stakes that they face, I was rooting for Ross Quest the whole time. I am highly anticipating the next book.

Ross is a master thief. At only 17, he has it all figured out. Ways to steal and escape. But she wants an out, especially from her family. Her desperation makes her enter the international heist competition, Thieves Gambit. It’s an all out, everything’s on the table including murder, game. The winner gets any wish in the world they want. But that’s difficult when two of Ross’s friends enter the competition as well.

Ooh this was a fun read! Definitely like the description says, it has hints of ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ but also a tammer John Wick to me. This setting was so interesting and unique and definitely kept my attention. It’s very addictive. I mean who doesn’t love fighting to survive stories.

The characters, the plot, the action.. it has it all, from beginning to end. Thieves, spying, deception, betrayal, some romance, and competitiveness. I can’t wait for the next book!

If you like puzzles, heists, and adventures, then you definitely want to read this first book in a new series. Ross Quest is from a family of high level thief masterminds and she wants out. It's not that she doesn't love her family or that she isn't really good at the family business, she just wants to be a normal teenager for a little while. When she gets an invitation to participate in the Thieves' Gambit against other teens from similar backgrounds, she isn't interested. Until her mother is kidnapped and winning the gambit may be the only way to get her back. Now she is on an around the world adventure to beat out the other thieves and win it all, as long as she doesn't let silly things like friendships get in the way. Highly recommended for grades 7 & up.

This book was super good! It definitely felt like a movie while reading it, I’m not surprised that it already has an adaption announced. I read about 300 pages of this book in one day because I literally couldn’t put it down lol

There are so many supporting characters, but it never felt like too much because they had such distinct personalities! My favorite, besides Ross, was definitely Kyung-soon. I liked how all of them were morally gray because they are all very impressive thieves, so I never knew who to trust.

The heists were really fun to read about! There were only a few in the book, but all of them featured set up and the actual heist. I love heist stories so much, and this book did not disappoint.

The competition made it so that the cast got smaller with each heist, which also meant that I got to know the characters a lot better as the story progressed. There were often mini tasks within each heist, so there was added conflict, especially when they were divided into two teams.

There was a huge cliffhanger at the end of the book, and I was shocked to see it end that way because I didn’t know it was a series, I thought it was just a standalone. I really liked the ending, the overall plot of the story led up to that moment. It was not at all what I was expecting! I’m glad it wasn’t predictable for me.

Overall, I loved this book! I had such a fun time reading it, and I really recommend it!!

I don’t read a ton of YA but the synopsis for Thieves Gambit sounded intriguing and like it could be a lot of fun.

I was not left disappointed! While it had some teen romance (not my fav) the characters mostly presented older, likely because there were no parents present and they were doing adult thieving things. 😂

The pace, once passed the 20% mark, flew by in a hurry. The plot was hopping and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I found the occasional gen-z slang fun and relevant. Gen-x and boomers (without teens at home) may sometimes be lost. 😂 I also really appreciated the fact that most of the main characters were people of color. It was a nice change from most stories that are all white with a token minority. I loved the representation!

The book is advertised as a cross between The Inheritance Games and Oceans Eleven. I’ve never read the Inheritance Games but found the competitive dog-eat-dog side of the competition similar to The Hunger Games. It is the first book of a series, so don’t expect a full conclusion as the ending tees up the next installment in line.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read this if you want some high-risk, high reward heists, with a YA romance slant, and a fierce last-man-standing style competition!

Book drops next Tuesday, don’t miss it!

Publication date: September 26, 2023
Pages: 384

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinteen for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.