When the first book in this series was up for grabs on Kindle First Reads I impulse downloaded it and I am so glad I did! While I still feel that the first book was the stronger of the two, The Queen of Thieves was a quick and fast paced adventure that I am sure all ages will enjoy.

Mika and crew are back again and this time Mika is trying to save her fellow orphans. Along the way she begins to unravel her own past when a newborn is dropped off in the dead of winter.

The Queen of Thieves by Johan Rundberg is an engaging middle-grade mystery set in 1880s Stockholm, centered around twelve-year-old Mika. As an orphan, Mika's life is tough, but her sense of responsibility for her fellow orphans and her determination to protect them makes her an admirable protagonist. The story follows Mika as she uncovers suspicious behavior among the older orphans and investigates their connection to a series of thefts in the city.

The historical setting is beautifully depicted, bringing the streets of 19th-century Stockholm to life. Rundberg's writing skillfully balances the suspense of the mystery with the emotional depth of Mika’s relationships, particularly her bond with the younger orphans and her growing trust in Constable Hoff. The book weaves themes of loyalty, survival, and moral dilemmas into its fast-paced plot, creating an exciting and thought-provoking read.

The story is gripping and keeps readers on edge, wondering whether Mika can unravel the mystery before it's too late. With vivid characters, a well-crafted atmosphere, and an absorbing plot, The Queen of Thieves is an excellent read for middle-grade audiences who enjoy historical mysteries with heart.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook. This is a good book for middle grade readers. This is my first time reading this author. I didnt read the first book. I'm sure young audience will love this series.

After a merciless winter, spring has sprung in 1880 Stockholm, and the city awaits the arrival of the SS Vega, the first ship to have sailed the Northeast Passage. Life is busy at the orphanage, but twelve-year-old Mika quickly notices that the older orphans are up to something—and it doesn’t look good.

When Constable Hoff approaches her with information about thefts around the city, Mika becomes even more concerned about what the other kids are up to—and what they might be planning for the Vega celebration. The police will have no sympathy for orphans, and she’d hate to see her friends condemned to life in jail

Amazing follow up book to The Moonwind Mysteries series! Fast paced with lots of action. Highly recommend.

This is the second installment of a delightful children's mystery series filled with intrigue and surprises!

"The Queen of Thieves" by Johan Rundberg is a captivating journey into the world of crime and intrigue. Through the protagonist's experiences, Rundberg prompts readers to question their perceptions of right and wrong, blurring the lines between heroism and villainy. The protagonist's struggle for survival and her complex moral dilemmas make for a compelling read. With its fast-paced plot and unexpected revelations, "The Queen of Thieves" is a thrilling tale of ambition, betrayal, and redemption. Rundberg's masterful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

This book was a stunning sequel to "The Night Raven." Two children have disappeared from the orphanage following some suspicious behaviors and Mika is determined to find out what happened to them and where they went. Not only are two children missing, but Detective Hoff approaches Mika about a string of thefts he thinks the orphans are behind. Determined to prove it isn't them, Mika seeks out who the real thief is, doing so while everyone is distracted by the return of the SS Vega. A fantastic middle grade read for those who enjoy the thrill of a good mystery.

Book Review: The Queen of Thieves by Johan Rundberg

Rating: 4 Stars

I just adore the covers on the books in this series! The Queen of Thieves by Johan Rundberg follows the story of twelve-year-old Mika in 1880 Stockholm, the novel delves into a tale of mystery and intrigue as Mika uncovers a string of thefts in the city while trying to keep her fellow orphans safe.

The first book in the series had me captivated, and while this sequel didn't quite match the same level of excitement, it was still a really good read that I would recommend to anyone. The writing is impeccable, drawing readers into a quick and fast-paced story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

One of the highlights of The Queen of Thieves is its atmospheric setting, transporting readers back in time to experience the bustling city of Stockholm in the 19th century. The author's attention to detail truly brings the world to life, making it easy to immerse oneself in Mika's journey.

Although this installment may not have had the same level of thrill as its predecessor, it sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting continuation of the series. I can't wait to see where Mika's adventures take her next and eagerly anticipate the release of the third book.

Overall, The Queen of Thieves is a compelling read that combines mystery, suspense, and a strong protagonist in a historical setting. Fans of the first book will surely enjoy this sequel, and newcomers to the series will find themselves drawn into Mika's world from the very first page.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

It was almost as good as book 1, but I didn't like the mystery as much. However, some of it may be because I was in a reading slump so I took a very long time to read it so it may have affected my enjoyment of the plot. Mika is still a really good character and I am Valdemar as a reluctant father figure stan. I am also very invested in their backstories and the underlying mystery, I do want to know more

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you so much @NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Queen of Thieves, the second book in the series “The Moonwind Mysteries” by Johan Rundberg.

Stumbling upon this series and getting approved for this latest book being translated was one of the best things that happened to me.

I absolutely adore reading middle grade fiction and it being a detective story in the ever-intelligent Mika gets to solve another mystery was such a treat. I can’t wait to read more adventures of Mika and Detective Hoff.

The second part takes the story of the children at the orphanage further and their desperate circumstances makes them super vulnerable to being caught in unfavourable situations. They could vet blinded and rightfully so by even a little hope about their futures.

The situation is crucial and especially when the people in power had so much hatred for these poor children.

Mika has to find the culprit who is luring the children away from the orphanage because they might be in danger. This sequel just as curious as the first one and it keeps you on edge throughout. One keeps thinking if the plan could go wrong or if it will be too late or anything worse may happen.

The growing friendship between Hoff and Mika was beautiful. Mika’s love for Nora is so special to behold. Her relationship with Amelia was worth reading too. The only thing I found missing was that there should be something well-thought off for the kids at the orphanage. They just can’t keep going on with their lives like this always. May be it will tackled in future in other parts of this series.

Lastly, it was such a good read on the whole.

How far would you go to protect your family? Mika returns for a second story in “The Moonwind Mysteries”, and faces the real-life application of that hypothetical question.

This second installment was as captivating as the first of Mika’s stories, and again kept the reader cheering for her success, hoping for Detective Hoff to get it right, and sympathizing with the supporting characters along the way. If you enjoy stepping back in time and experiencing another cultural era, this title is for you.

For a children's book this book is rather dark at times but I guess that's to be expected given the time period. I don't believe Miko has yet hit her teen years but the things she has to deal with are so heavy, she's trying to figure out who is taking children from the orphanage, as well as keeping a literal infant alive.
Despite the awful conditions Miko lives in I found myself rooting for this little girl. She handles herself so well and she's the champion that the other children desperately needed.

This historical fiction is about a group of orphans living rough in a Swedish orphanage in the 19th century. Mika is only 12 and tries to care for her fellow orphans, so she is understandably alarmed when some of the kids take up with a scam artist and one of the kids is sick.
This is a series and it would be interesting to see how they came to this point and what happens next. I felt so much sympathy for what the kids were facing. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Mika is back, and this time with a case that hits closer to home. Someone is luring kids away from the orphanage, promising a better life. Can what they promise be true?

As baby Nora weakens, and Mika is set up and forced to confront Henrietta, she'll have to choose. To stay where she's always been, or to take a chance on something new. Especially when what's being asked of her isn't exactly right.

I love this series, and I'm looking forward to the next installment! Quick, easy reads, though they're meant for children I fully enjoy them. I also look forward to sharing them with my kiddos, and introducing them to historical Sweden!

This exciting sequel is about a girl named Mika who lives in an orphanage in Stockholm, Sweden in the 1880s. Mika has a position of some responsibility in the orphanage and has no expectation that she will ever be adopted. She is worried about some of the other kids in the orphanage, who she believes are not going to school. Instead, the kids have found jobs and what they believe is a family, but Mika is suspicious and soon it turns out that she's not the only one who is suspicious of her friends' newfound benefactor.

This is the second book featuring Mika the 12 year old. I really wish I had read the first book first to better understand some of the references in this book. In this book we find Mika in a mystery. Some of her fellow orphans are not going to school or have just plain disappeared. When she tries to find out what happened she finds herself in danger. Due to some parts of the book I would say that it is better for older children age 10 and up. It will hold interest and keep children engaged. I think this would be a good required reading book for grades 7 and up.

This book focuses on the importance of finding people who care about you and sticking with those people rather than seeking out others with bad intentions and big promises. I enjoyed reading about Mika and seeing the lengths she went to to keep her fellow orphans safe. When her friends start going missing, she is determined to find them and make sure they live up to the potential she sees in all of them. The book showed that children don’t always make the right choice and can often let us down. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found the plot intriguing, and it kept me interested!

This is a great series. It's like Nancy Drew meets Oliver! I liked the characters. They felt alive when I read them. Fantastic book and I have put it on my summer reading list for my students.

This is such a fantastic series [and I will be counting the days until the next book]; I am always nervous with book 2 in a series that started as strong as this one, but that nervousness was just silly and this was just fantastic and whew.

Mika is continuing her search from book 1 [let me say here, YOU MUST READ BOOK 1 before reading this], working at "The Chapel" [such an odd name for a tavern] and caring for all the orphans at the Public Children's Home and trying to live the best life an orphan can in 1880's Stockholm. And everything is moving along until she notices the older orphans acting shifty, sneaking out, behaving oddly and then Constable Hoff shows up asking about certain things that are happening in the city and Mika is afraid she knows what is happening and sets out to find the truth and save them all before the most horrible things happen.

This was just an amazing read. Mika is such a great character, the villain was very, very, villainy [I don't have much time for people who exploit children], and the story was both captivating and edge-of-your-seat crazy and filled with so much love and caring that you may or may not cry at times. This is a great read for adults and kids alike and if you enjoy reading with your kids, this is a great series for that [and if your kid or yourself likes to read alone, I HIGHLY suggest the amazing narrator Nina Yndis as she really brings the story and Mika to life here]. It is a great way to get your kids involved in reading books-in-translation and in both the past AND a world they may be completely unfamiliar with.

VERY well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Johan Rundberg, A.A. Prime - Translator, and Amazon Crossing/Amazon Crossing Kids for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.