I didn’t love this one as much as I loved Little Thieves. I think maybe it’s just me because everyone seems to love it.

Margaret continues not to miss. This was a solid 4.5 stars for me.

Painted Devils manages to skip the second book slump thanks to Margaret's ability not to get slogged down in the mire of expanding the world she so carefully built. She does this, most effectively, with BANTER. The banter and the character interactions in this book are so absolutely delightful. Even when the world seems to be coming undone, you bask in the genuine delight of the characters interacting with one another.

In addition, the way this book tackles coming to terms with liking and trusting yourself and your partner was so tender. It was a hug of comfort and compassion one rarely sees in fantasy novels and the fact that this book was targeted towards teens makes it all even more amazing. I would recommend any teen in the spectrum of young to old pick this book up.

Finally, Margaret somehow elevates the Vanya x Emerick relationship into something deeper and more meaningful, so if you liked them together in Little Thieves, you're going to LOVE them together in this book.

Overall, this is an 11/10, no notes. Well, except for one: WHERE IS BOOK 3?!?!?

While the narration was well done, I didn't find this story as compelling as book one. The pace and storyline improved about a third of the way into the book but still never quite captured my interest and imagination the way Little Thieves did. I will still read the next book, probably the audio because again, the audio is very well done. Overall a solid but not amazing read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this title in exchange for this honest review.

Enjoyable, but not as fun and memorable as the first book was. It's been a while since i read it and i honestly do not remember much of what happened. Had fun with it though.

Little Thieves was hilarious. And honestly, how do you live up to what an absolute romp that book was? But here came Margaret Owen being like, 'hold my beer, I've got more insanity for you.'

So much insanity that we basically start this book with Vanja STARTING A CULT. What a woman. I die for her.

To say I adored the ending of Little Thieves would be an understatement. The way she handcuffed Emeric and was like come chase me and catch me. Again, I die for her. And then for the book to open up with him finding her and her leading a CULT.

I was enjoying this book so much that I wasn't once trying to piece it together. Who was after them? Why? Buddy, IDK and IDC. This book is just vibes and that's the best type of book. When the twist was revealed I didn't even see it coming because I was too busy laughing at the LITERAL BACKSTREET BOYS LYRICS in this.

There's a chapter title named "How I Met Your Mother."

Margaret Owen, call me, I wanna be friends.

I am also fully obsessed that after writing a very serious series she was like, for my next act....it's this absolute insane shit show about some demisexuals. I really wonder what her agent/publisher thought when this manuscript first hit their desk.

Probably sheer confusion and joy.

That's basically what this book is. Sheer confusion and joy. Give me book 3 immediately.

Painted Devils was one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year, and is probably my favorite YA novel I've read in quite some time. The plotline was so fun, the writing was hilarious and I absolutely adored the character and relationship development.

Owen wrote the relationship development in such a normal, healthy way that I spent the entire book wishing I'd had a novel like this as a teenager. I really loved the way she wrote Vanja and Emeric to be so realistic as they explored their sexuality together and that despite the pressures put on them to just "get 'er done," they both refused to take that step purely because the world told them to, and instead they continued to explore this new element of their relationship at their own pace. I think this is a fantastic example to set for teens, and I truly hope this leaves an impact on young readers who are feeling pressure to do things at a certain time/pace rather.

Overall, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels full of wholesome romance, humor, seemingly impossible quests, cults and interfering gods/goddesses.

--- 5/5 stars!

Thank you to netgally and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read Little Thieves awhile back, so when I had the opportunity to read Painted Devils, I figured I'd give it a go. I was just so-so about the first book, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually liked book two better.

Vanja and friends are back with a mystery about a fake god and a cult that Vanja has accidentally created. It's a good mix of mystery, adventure, fantasy, and a splash of humor that allows us to get to know each character more deeply.

I'm not usually a romance fan, but I did appreciate the way that Vanja and Emeric's relationship develops in this book. I love that things aren't perfect as they become both more emotionally and physically intimate. It felt very realistic to young people falling in love for the first time.

This definitely isn't the most complex fantasy series I've ever read, but it is enjoyable and worth reading for a good time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Margaret Owens, and Henry Holt & Co for the E-ARC and Audio-ARC! This in no way affects the objectivity of my review.

Aw man. I really wanted to be obsessed with this but I just liked it. Which is still great!!!!

The characterizations of Vanya and Emeric are both just chefs kiss. They have tons of insecurities but also have really good strengths, and are typically aware of both. Their relationship is tentative which is sweet - it's good and healthy in the way they make sure they're both comfortable with anything they decided to move forward with. It's especially funny considering there's a sex subplot in which the two of them doing it can call off a curse. But even that isn't enough to make them do anything before they're ready which I find really endearing.

My issue is Margaret Owen just went balls to the wall with meme references. And don't get me wrong. It's funny! It is! A character in a book saying "we live in a society" is funny. But...... I'm not here to laugh at memes girly girl I could go onto the internet any time if I'd like :-( It definitely didn't take anything away from the plot or the character development but it just felt SO unserious to me which really took me out of the story.

Which is probably why it took me a month to read this. But the storyline of Vanya and Emeric trying all these ideas to break a curse that started because Vanya accidentally started a cult is fun. Like I said, sex (specifically deflowering Emeric) is an option, but there's other cursebreaking options and they try those instead, starting them on a long quest. There's funny new characters, and some old characters return, although I wish I hadn't had to wait until 70% in to reunite with a fave.

Vanya's family history and the related trauma comes up in this book, sort of unexpectedly for me personally, and I was happy to see her go into how being abandoned affected her. Not only the act of being abandoned, but the mental strain it puts you under where you wonder what you could have done differently.

There's also a moral question that comes in, because Vanya sort of finds her calling in solving people's problems, but she typically solves the problems that the law, etc., cause, and Emeric as a career is going into upholding the law and doing things the official way. So Vanya has to worry about their future, with good reason, as she does stuff that could easily have Emeric and the other prefects trying her in a hearing at any time. She doesn't wanna stop doing what she loves but she doesn't want it to risk Emeric's career.

There's some wise adults who kind of mentor the kids and they're fun. The book is just fun in general and also calls up conversations about consent, what makes sex sex, how to healthily communicate with a sexual partner, etc., and I just wish so bad that I hadn't gotten turned a little away from this book with the jokey jokes.

A moment of appreciation for Margaret Owen’s tremendously good sense of humor, a rare bird indeed in this series’ genre.

Plot-wise this one is a bit of a step down from Little Theives, too focused on romantic subplot (and the ultra-cringey “can we get this angry god off our backs by um…getting on our backs?”), and and less driven by greater narrative arc. I fully expect a return to form in book three.

The characters remain excellent, though I missed Ragne and struggled to understand why she was absent for most of the book. The creepy doll, though, was an excellent addition to the cast, and I appreciated getting some answers (mostly for Vanja’s sake) about her family.

I thought this was fun in audiobook format, and the narrator was excellent.

We are a long way from The Goose Girl now, which I think is fine since the story can clearly stand on it’s own, born of traditional fairy tale but finding its own unique path.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this book but for me it kind of relied a little bit too much on the tropes. One of if not my least favorite trope is miscommunication and it was used in this. I loved the writing and the world building was amazing though. I also really enjoyed the narrator Saskia Maarleveld. They did an amazing job.

I absolutely love Margaret Owen's writing and delving back into this world was a wonderful experience. I love the characters, the plot and really enjoyed where the story went after the first book.

I'd definitely recommend it to customers and fantasy lovers.

Loveed thissss book. I have always enjoyed Margaret Owen since the merciful crows, but she just gives and gives. I will always be up for a book by her. She has the best character arcs
i have seen in a while. Her setting are always fun and unique. I loved the ending of this duology it was lovely. 4 stars.

It has been a minute since I read the first book and so it took me a while to get reaclimated to the book. But I was excited to read the second book in the series

I need the next book right away. I absolutely loved this book and am loving the series! I laughed out loud. I did not want to put it down. Vanja is my favorite character. I love her snark and her heart. I could just eat Emeric up. I was surprised by the twists. I highly recommend this. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED the first book. the folklore, and the MC in her villainous self who didn't apologize for who she was.
in the second book there is still that same energy but I feel like the plot got sidetracked and stuck on this -will-they-wont-they-have-s*x thing. I really wanted more in terms of the low gods and the quest they were on but every conversation became about losing their virginity.

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 this cover, and Saskia Maarleveld did a wonderful job as always with the narration.

An absolutely triumphant, unhinged sequel. I loved Little Thieves, but Painted Devils took things to a whole new level! This series has quickly become a new favorite for me and I cannot wait to see what comes next for our little gremlin girl!

Saskia Maarleveld did a phenomenal job bringing the story/characters to life! She is easily one of my favorite narrators/voice actresses. I would absolutely recommend that readers listen to the audiobook even if they also utilize a visual format, as the voices and pronunciation are incredible.

_____
"I get that to people who prefer their world neatly measured and registered and codified, this all sounds like superstitious peasant nonsense. But what you need to get is this. Just because it isn't in your records doesn't mean that it won't bite you in the ass."

After loving LITTLE THIEVES, I couldn't wait to pick up PAINTED DEVILS. The former was truly unlike anything I have ever read, allowing it to stand out in a genre that has been increasingly gaining popularity. PAINTED DEVILS follows a similar format, starting each section via a fairytale. I loved that this installment incorporated folklore as well. Furthermore, the magic system was explained in greater detail. It didn't feel necessary the first time around, but it provided welcome boundaries as Vanja's story continued. I truly appreciated the familial components; the way Owen tackled abuse felt graceful yet honest. Vanja is such a compelling character, and you can't help but to root for her.

For once I hear his words instead of Irmgard's: I know bravery is real because I see you choose it every day.

I was mildly disappointed when PAINTED DEVILS was missing some of the magic that made its predecessor so special. On one hand, Owen did a great job portraying the complex emotions that many young adults feel while trying to make the decision as to whether or not to lose their virginity, and I felt the way that it was depicted was done in an extremely healthy manner. It also continued to offer demisexual representation. That being said, it got to the point where I didn’t want to continue to bear witness to both Vanja’s internal conflict and the outward discussions with Emeric. I felt like the lack of a map and/or character guide served as a detractor this time around, especially when the quest became clear.

"Many of the world's monsters are born from those who die in great wrath, great sorrow, great greed."

While PAINTED DEVILS deviates somewhat from LITTLE THIEVES, the series is no less special, and I cannot wait for the next book!

I absolutely loved, loved this book. It felt like the perfect sequel to the first book and I feel so lucky that books like this exist, and that I get to read them.

4.7/5 stars

Vanja Schmidt was most definitely not trying to start a cult. Things just got a bit out of hand and well, something that would appear to be a cult was the result. She swore it wasn’t on purpose. Anyway that was what she tried telling Emeric Conrad when he showed up to the village she fled to- away from him mind you- to investigate the newly formed cult. Now Vanja has to prove to the man that she probably loves, one that is a prefect or on his way to becoming one that she is not a fraud. But what if she is, and what if the claim that the Scarlet Maiden has laid on Emeric can’t be broken. Just what will Vanja do then?

***

The second installment in Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves series, Vanja is on the run from Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad because she is after all nothing but a thief and how could a prefect like Emeric love somebody as lowly as her?

With her family still being the biggest mystery in life, Vanja decides that before she returns to Emeric she must be able to prove that she’s a normal hard working citizen that can contribute something useful to the world, prove herself to be the exact opposite of what she is, a thief. Though what does she go and do instead? She somehow creates what could be a false low god and a cult. That of course brings the last person she wants to see on her doorstep, Prefect Emeric Conrad.

I loved Little Thieves, so it’s not a surprise that I loved this book too. Though it took me a lot longer to read this than anticipated (through no fault of the storyline or the author, you can blame a break up for that), when I wasn’t reading Painted Devils, I couldn’t help but find myself thinking of the book and just what was going to happen next. It’s so easy to lose yourself in the world that Owen creates. The worldbuilding in the first book sets things up perfectly for the second book.

Vanja goes through a lot of character development in the first book and the second book is no exception. Vanja is seen to begin to embrace who she is and what she wants to do in the world as the storyline progresses. Though, the lower than five stars rating is of course due to her self sabotage at the end of the book, because of course she would.

I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction to new characters and reintroduction to old ones. What I enjoyed even more was Vanja’s initial struggle with family and her later acceptance. There were parts in the book where I teared up a bit because it’s so easy for me to empathize with Vanja. Owen does a truly great job writing her character and I’m not afraid to admit that Vanja Schmidt is beginning to become one of my favourite literary characters. There’s just so much growth and dimension to her, I absolutely adore it. (Minus the earlier mention of self sabotage, I really wish she would give my boy Emeric a break because he is such a tender and loveable character and oh so totally right for her and god dammit why can’t she see that?)
I enjoyed this book in form of Audiobook, I found the narration to be great and as it was my method of ‘reading’ both the first and second book, it will also probably be my chosen form of the book when the third one (Which is confirmed at the end of Painted Devils by the way!) when it does eventually come out.

I received my copy of this book in form of an audiobook from Macmillan Audio and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and views on the book are my own.