I have been DYING to get my hands on the sequel to Little Thieves ever since reading the first book when it came out last year, so I feel so lucky to have had a chance to review it a bit early! Little Thieves was one of my top reads last year, both because of the amazing fantasy demisexuality representation and because of the incredibly well-written heist plots in the book. These elements carried over into Painted Devils, the sequel, evolving along with the characters, making this an absolute five-star follow-up. The continued exploration of Vanya and Emerick’s relationship was the highlight of this book for me, as they are one of my all-time favorite fictional couples. Even though Vanya and Emerick have extremely different personalities, their shared respect and attention to each other’s boundaries was my exact ideal version of romance. Painted Devils collected the best parts of Little Thieves and took them on a cross-country road trip to learn the meaning of self-love, romance and family, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!

My Recommendation-
There are so many reasons I could recommend this series to you, as it is one of my all-time favorites! If you love hilarious fantasy novels with character dynamics and relationships to die for (think Six of Crows) you need to read Little Thieves and Painted Devils as soon as you can!

Our favorite demisexual thief is back and this time she's creating cults and being coerced into having sex with her boyfriend, the living tax ledger Emeric Conrad. Along the way she has to collect a lot of blood, beat a God in a horse race, and remeet those she never expected to find...her family.

Book two of this series leaned HEAVILY on the humor and sometimes it landed, sometimes it didn't. There are quite a few new characters but even fewer of our old faves so you have to live with that. I didn't mind what we did see of Ragne and her delightful confusion about whether she and Giselle are married and the new folks are fine.
The plot is a journey that seems like a simple outward road trip/item collection plot but also ends up being an internal issue with Vanja still never really feeling worth the love/attention that MANY people give her. She feels she is a ruin and takes every bad thing as evidence to that truth while ignoring the good. I love that she and Emeric, even when his death is on the line, still don't immediately jump to the conclusion anyone who's read fanfiction did and that is to have sex immediately. Their conversations and moments together felt right within the sort of demi/ace reality of these two and I love that.

I did not guess the ending until about ten pages before Vanja did so I approve of Owen burying the lead so well. I can't believe I have to wait for the next book though because I for one thought I would be happy and now I am sad and worried.
I recommend the audio, the narrator is the same and she's a rockstar at vocal characterization.

*4.5 Stars*

Vanja didn't mean to start a cult, it just happened… as these things do. But now, the god is not happy and she has to go on a quest and will meet many people (old and new) along the way.

I really love that one. I was really grateful to have the audiobook arc for it and I loved it from beginning to end. A lot of the plot took me by surprised and I was really enthralled the entire time. I love getting to know these characters more and seeing their relationship evolve. Emeri and Vanja continue to be an amazing team in all ways. I also absolutely adore the demi rep in this. It makes it all the more special to me. I just have such a great time with this series. It is the perfect mix of plot driven and character driven to me. And this ending was a mean one. I cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange of an honest opinion.

Little thieves is one my favourite book ever and I was so hyped for the sequel. It didn't disappointed me at all. Painted Devils follows Vanja, who finds herself, again, in a complicated situation when, trying to made something for herself, to be more "worthy" of Emeric, creates a cult-ish and when the goddess shows herself, asking for Emeric as blood sacrifice, they will have to try everything in order to escape it and to find an alternative. Not only that. Emeric is asked to investigate if Vanja has committed a fraud creating this new goddess, in order to become a prefect, as final test. With old and new allies and friends, Vanja and Emeric navigate their relationship and trying to save Emeric's dream and future.
Will they be able to do that or everything will be lost for them?
Narrated by the amazing Saskia Maarleveld, Painted Devils is brilliant, involving and so so thrilling, filled to the brim with adventures, plot twists, stories and family and love.
I loved every single moment of this book and it was such a pleasure following Vanja and Emeric and listening to them growing together, becoming more and more in love, and, also, as individuals, with their desires and dreams.
I can't wait to know what will happen next.

The first book was fantastic, and I was excited to revisit the characters of Vanja and Emeric. This book starts when Vanja accidentally starts a cult and the action ensues. Although not as clever as the first book, it is entirely engaging. It does end with knowledge that there will be a book three.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio book!
A fantastic continuation of the first book! I loved little thieves, and was so excited to receive an early copy of painted devils. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the unexpected into her books, and I am never able to guess what is going to happen next!
This book did a great job of building on the lore and story from the first book. It continue to develop the characters especially Vanja as the book mainly follows her.

Little Thieves is among one of my favorite books ever. I was happy it was a stand alone story, and after all Vanja has been through, she and Emeric deserved their happy ever after.

When I heard there would be a second book, I had mixed feelings. The idea of returning to this world and the characters was certainly appealing, but at the same time I was nervous as to what would be messed up in the process of extending the narrative.

But I should have known better to trust Owens would deliver, and boy does she! I don't think any of the characters lose their growth from the first book, and while there is miscommunication between Vanja and Emeric, it isn't the relationship destroying kind, but the everyday figuring out how to be with someone kind. There is also a good bit of them figuring out the physical aspect of their relationship, which is the only place where I felt the character’s young age.

The stakes in this one are still high, and Vanja has not lost her knack for getting into a bind, but I believe she is now my favorite fantasy heroine of all time. The girl who believes she will ruin everything coming to terms with believing in herself and learning to trust that the people around her do indeed love her is priceless. Also, she is kind of a badd ass!

Here she digs further into the mystery of the family she has never known and why she was abandoned. My heart is so full for her.

Readers should be aware going in - this is now book 2 in a trilogy- so while much of the story does get resolved, there is a pretty significant cliffhanger this time, which on the one hand is just cruel, but on the other, I am sure will pay off in the end. And thus the wait for book 3 begins. . .

The audiobook is also expertly done and added a great deal to the experience!

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and co for access to an e ARC and audiobook exchange for this review.

Vanja is at it again, this time starting up a cult to a low goddess who may or may not actually exist, then Emeric comes to town to investigate said cult only to have our goddess in question make an appearance and claim him as her sacrifice. An epic adventure ensues, but it’s not just a quest for a way out of sacrificing Emeric it also turns out to be a major journey of self-discovery.
Margaret Owen is a master of her craft and is once again at the top of her game. Vanja is such a beautifully complex character that I can’t help but root for, especially when it comes to her relationship with Emeric. The adventure our heroes go on is so full of twists and turns that it was next to impossible not to just sit and listen to this whole story in one sitting. Speaking of listening Saskia Maarleveld did a phenomenal job with the narration. Overall, another delightful addition to this fictional world and I can’t wait for more!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing offering from Margaret Owen!

Vanja returns in this sequel to Little Thieves, and in an effort to gain assistance retrieving some rubies she dropped in a river, she accidently starts a cult. Yep, that seems about right for Vanja. But being who she is, it's a fairly benign cult... until the Prefect show up to investigate and the scarlet Maiden decides the Prefect needed for her sacrifice is none other than Emeric.

And off we head, on a journey to find out how to best a low god, save Emeric and - hopefully- mend their relationship along the way.

Clever, fun, snarky, and altogether delightful "Painted Devils" was a joy to read.

Little disappointed that Death and Fortune were not as present as they were in Little Thieves, as they are wonderful, but the introduction of new characters did, mostly, make up for it.
Narration was excellent.

Thank you Net Galley & Macmillian Audio for the AudioArc of Painted Devils!

I have been highly anticipating this release since I read the first book last year. I was not dissapointed! Once I started listening, I didn't want to stop. Vanja's relationship with Emerick is explored further in this book, which is portrayed in a healthy manner, but I believe leans on the older end of the YA age range. There are many twists and turns, but the ending will leave you begging for the next book!

Vanja is the god daughter of death and fortune abandoned first by her mother then later by her god mothers into a cruel life as a servant just to decide to get even by robbing the wealthy blind until she finds herself cursed by a god and hunted by the law. At the end of the last book we see Vanja decide to turn over a new leaf and start dating Emeric at the beginning of this book Vanja has freaked out decided not to meet up with emeric to find her family due to her own crippling self doubts. Vanja after getting a minstrel fired and vomiting in a inn finds that she has dropped her entire fortune of rubies into a bridge, so she falls back on what she does best she gaslight, gatekeep, girlbosses the town into getting all of her rubies out of the water. When several fortunate coincidences happen she finds her self accidentally forming a cult and unable to leave the town. When Emeric comes to investigate the cult and the Scarlet Maiden actually reveals herself things get rough, she wants to sacrifice Emeric to hell hounds. With no other choice Emeric, Vanja and local witch Helga are forced to Track down Helga’s wayward brothers in order to save Emeric.

I read Little Thieves last year and really loved it so I went into this one with high expectations and found it met them very well. This book not only is a gripping and run read for its entire length it also tackles complex issues of self worth, and Family trauma. I found myself pleasantly surprised to see how things unfolded even though I saw most of a major twists coming it in no way hampered my enjoyment of the story. The ending was a bit rough for me, I’ve seen others online say they hated it but while it wasn’t what I wanted for the main characters it was realistic and played very well into the themes that have been explored in the series as a whole. Can’t wait for the next one and I really loved this one!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

After the action of Little Thieves, you might have thought that Vanya would be ready to settle down. Think again! After a drunken night, she somehow convinces an entire town to believe in a Low God that she may or may not have made up. And the person sent to investigate just happens to be her old flame, Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, the very boy she ran away from all those months ago. And when the Scarlet Maiden claims Emeric for her own, to be sacrificed by midsummer, Vanya and Emeric are up against all the odds to find out the truth, and save each other.

I have been waiting for this book for so long, and knew it would be worth the wait. Painted Devils takes all of the action and intrigue of book 1, and multiplies it tenfold. There's magic, sacrifice, love, family, death, pain, and a bit of thieving and bribery to sweeten the mix. Vanya learns so much during this book, not least about her family, but also that she can allow herself to love, and be loved in return. The moments between her and Emeric were so heartfelt and real, I honestly had a soppy grin on my face reading it. That's not to say their romance was smooth, because it definitely was not! There were times when it seemed like everything was against them, and just when it looked as if they could be together, something else pulled them apart. I actually thought this was a duology, and there wasn't going to be another book, but thank god there is! That ending killed me, and I'm even more desperate than ever for Vanya and Emeric's tale to continue!

4 stars. To be released May 2023.

Little Thieves was one of my favorite books of last year and I jumped at the chance to get a copy of the second. I received a copy of the audiobook to review. As for the narrator, they did a fantastic job with engaging voices, pacing, and all those pronunciations of names and towns. As for the novel, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. The witty writing style was still there and Vanya’s tricks, but there was a lot of focus on Vanya and Emeric’s relationship. It was the crux of one of the major plot lines and I found myself super annoyed at Vanya’s reactions to things with Emeric. A few of the twists were slightly predictable but it still made for a good read. I felt like it could have been nicely wrapped up in the end for a duology, but the final chapter opened the door for a third book. Overall, if you liked the first - read this one too!

Picking up where Little Thieves left off, Vanja ends up in a pickle and to get herself out of it, she accidentally starts a cult. Imagine everyone's shock when Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad shows up to investigate. But The Scarlet Maiden isn't just a figment of Vanja's overactive imagination. She's real, and she puts her mark on Emeric which has everyone scrambling to put an end to this horrible deity. To further complicate matters, Vanja is on the search for her family, desperate to know why they abandoned her.

I loved Little Thieves, so it's no surprise that I loved Painted Devils too. In fact, I was dying for this ALC, so I could get my greedy little hands on it. Owen again packs a huge punch with this story, but there's very little I can say here without spoiling anything. I will say that if you loved Little Thieves, then definitely pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. I enjoy Saskia Maarleveld is always an enjoyable narrator and special thanks for pronouncing all those German words!

4.25
Generally I don't find myself loving the second book in a trilogy more than the first. This is one of those rare exceptions!

Margaret Owen really starts this off with a bang! Vanja accidentally starts a cult while searching for her estranged family and is reunited with her beloved Emeric when he is called to investigate her for fraud. Of course, he wasn't expecting the cult leader to be her, so tensions are already high when the made-up Scarlet Maiden actually manifests and claims Emeric as her virgin sacrifice. So instead of searching for her family, Vanja is off on a quest to save Emeric and reclaim his affection. Heists and robbery, haunted libraries, unexpected reunions, and general chaos are all in store for our unlucky heroine. It's quite the journey and Saskia Maarleveld does a great job of narrating it!

CONTENT WARNING: verbal and physical abuse, abandonment, anxiety, panic attack, blood, gore, mention of animal death (off-page), cults, mention of death of a parent (off-page), body image issues

I fell in love with Vanja, even with all her flaws, in Little Thieves. Maybe it was even because of all of her flaws. But regardless, she earned a place in my heart, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. So this audiobook ARC came as a welcomed gift.

Our unrepentant con artist is back and better than ever in this book, as she’s navigating a new romance with her endearing Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, and working to get to the bottom of her last unsolved question—her birth family, and whether they would welcome her as she is. She tries to do things the right way, but hits a snag and accidentally invents a new god to get out of trouble. In true Vanja fashion, it only creates more problems, in the form of an unintended cult.

This leads to Emeric’s final challenge to become a full-fledged prefect: investigating Vanja to see if she is guilty of fraud. He’s forced to set his feelings aside, as the person overseeing him is biased against Vanja, no matter what she does. I loved watching Emeric balance his desire to find the truth and punish those responsible for any responsible for injustice with his growing feelings for Vanja. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dynamic between Emeric and Vanja, because these two are polar opposites, yet they’re completely meant for each other.

As for Vanja, we get to see a more vulnerable side of her as she works on two different sides of her emotions—romance with Emeric, and reconciling her feelings of abandonment and fear about reconnecting with her family. And because it’s Vanja, you know things get more complicated, and the Scarlet Maiden demands Emeric as a virgin sacrifice since he’s “unclaimed.” So naturally Vanja is struggling to find a way to save Emeric and get around this requirement, so she’s nervous about the outcome of the prefect investigation and Emeric’s fate.

This was a fast-paced story with a lot of plot threads that all seemed unconnected but twined into one thread by the end of the story. I was fascinated, and Saskia Maarleveld did a fantastic job as the narrator. If you’re looking for a thrilling story that you won’t be able to put down, this is it. However, be prepared—there’s a third book in the works, and you’re going to want to get your hands on it immediately, if you’re anything like me.

Vanja can’t help but get herself into some interesting predicaments. This time around it’s the accidental creation of a cult surrounding the Scarlet Maiden. It’s definitely a case of ‘it’s all fun and games until someone summons a low god’. With the Scarlet Maiden’s arrival, comes Emeric Conrad’s return and Vanja’s path to self discovery. Navigating her relationship with Emeric at the same time as she searches for her true family has her dealing with a lot of her past. Will she get her fairy tale happy ending?

I enjoyed this audiobook of the novel. The narrator gave a perfect voice to the characters and really added to the humorous (and less humorous) parts of the story. This novel is truly about Vanja’s growth as she copes with her past and how it reflects on how she sees herself. This journey is full of snark, passion and mischief and truly is fun to read. A perfect second book in the series that leaves you ready to read the third. 5 stars.

Review based on a Advanced Audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. Thank you!

I was so excited for this release! It was incredible. The characters have so much depth and really feels like a mature YA book. I loved that the characters struggle with everyday issues, even though this is set such a great fantasy world. There are many important topics like relationships, body insecurities, healthy communication, intimacy, and familial community. But let's not forget the MAGIC!! It's a series you really should not skip over! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

First things first let the record show that I was PISSED to find out that I have to wait for another book.

I didn’t have very clear memories about what happened in book one, but the way Painted Devils is set up, I don’t really need to. If you know the vibes, you know enough. The memory mangling made things a little bit confusing (I was definitely hoping for a few more answers in that regard but whatever). The events of this book are connected to those of the previous book but the plot pretty much stands on its own.

The witty one-liners and the things that are pitched as comedic worked really well for me. The whole “accidentally starting a cult” plot is both so Vanya and comedic gold. But I also liked how Vanya and Emeric get to be vulnerable with each other. So much of this book is about Vanya learning to accept the things about herself that she has historically never liked (her appearance, including scars which were historically used against her; her complicated family situation; her criminal past, etc). She’s also incredibly naive - it’s easy to forget that the characters in YA fantasy books are kids (mostly because they tend not to interact regularly with enough adults) but the sheer number of times one of the adults rolls their eyes like “omg teenagers” really helped solidify that.

I did kind of want more from the ragtag group we had in the first book. We bring a couple in and lose them rather quickly because Ragna’s shape shifting is convenient (and then she is conveniently left behind during the main battle? Where did she go? I hope she made it home okay). Then again, this story really is about the romantic relationship between Vanya and Emeric and Vanya’s family.

Props to recognizing a bad mother and not needing her to be redeemed.

Anyway, guess I’m waiting for book three now…

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Publication Date: Today!

A book about an orphan, Vanja, who was raised by Death and Fortune, who inadvertently starts a cult. Turns out the Scarlet Maiden is real and has selected her ex-boyfriend (whom she is still in-love with) as the virgin sacrifice and the only way to save him is well… to deflow him. Or they can collect the blood of seven brothers. How will they ever choose?!

This book is chaotic in the best possible way. I dare you to read this and not smile at some point. I was listening to the audio and found myself snorting on a number of occasions due to the down-right snarky and fast-paced dialogue.

Reading this in physical format is probably a great experience but I promise you the experience of listening to this as an audiobook will be unmatched. From the sacrificial goat noises to the reading of Backstreet Boys songs as poetry, the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, nailed every aspect of this book.

I’ve yet to rate any Margaret Owen’s novel as anything but pure perfection so if you have not checked out her books, do yourself a favour and run don’t walk. This series as a whole has been great but this book was an absolute joy to read and most certainly put me in a good mood every time I hit play.

Thank you to Macmillian Audio for providing an advanced listening copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.