Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC!

"Heist Royale" by Kayvion Lewis is a riveting and adrenaline-charged thriller that catapults readers into a world of high-stakes theft and cunning deception. The novel follows Ivy Sinclair, a master thief who is coerced into participating in the Heist Royale, an exclusive and perilous competition where only the most skilled thieves can survive and claim victory.

Lewis crafts a compelling narrative filled with pulse-pounding action, clever twists, and intricate heist plans. Ivy is a dynamic and multifaceted protagonist, whose intelligence, agility, and determination drive the story forward. Her complex relationships with fellow competitors and the secrets she uncovers add depth and intrigue to the plot.

The book's fast-paced and engaging writing style keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to see what happens next. The world of Heist Royale is vividly depicted, with elaborate settings and high-tech gadgets that enhance the excitement and tension of the heists.

Themes of trust, betrayal, and survival are expertly woven into the narrative, making Ivy's journey not just a thrilling adventure but also a poignant exploration of her character and motivations.

Overall, "Heist Royale" is a spectacularly entertaining read that will captivate fans of action-packed thrillers and heist stories. Kayvion Lewis delivers a masterful blend of suspense, strategy, and heart, ensuring that readers are thoroughly engrossed from beginning to end.

This is a sequel, and I would recommend reading the books in order, as it is a continuation from where the first book left off. It was great to see the characters develop throughout the book. However, this installment didn't have the same sense of adventure as the first one. It was hard to figure out what direction the book was going in. Plot points seemed a bit random. The ending was quite abrupt.

After last year's Gambit, Ross is stuck working for the organisation alongside the boy who betrayed her. But a power struggle reveals even more secrets and lies, leaving Ross to wonder who is actually on her side ...

With high drama and endless twists, Heist Royale is just as brilliant as the first in the series! Love the characters and their friendships, and hope there's going to be more?

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy to review

I was so excited to read this one, but I think it suffered a bit from second-book syndrome. What made Thieve's Gambit so fun was the competition that pit people against each other—there were high stakes and clear goals. For me, Heist Royale wasn't quite as engaging and didn't have the same sense of adventure. The first half of the book didn't have a clear goal or direction like there had been in the first book (it was mostly just Ross running around at random jobs trying to figure out what to do), and it finally started to really pick up around 45% when they decide to have another competition. But even then, despite being told that there were high stakes (aka Diana still wanting to kill the Quest family), it didn't feel like it to me. I also was kind of disappointed in how Devroe treats Ross after all he did. It didn't really make sense to me that he could suddenly be like "hey I didn't actually kill you and your family after all, so no harm done" after his major betrayal in the first book. I'm glad things ended well for Ross and her friends in the end, but I wish that things would've been a little more exciting.

Heist Royale was very much like Thieve’s Gambit, and finishing it right after was fun. It was a moment of “is this too similar too before?” But overall worked. I liked the romance and friendship and the idea that family doesn’t mean they’re right or the best option. Happy with the ending!

After the cliffhanger at the end of the first book, I was really intrigued to see how the power dynamics within the organization but also between Ross and Devroe played out. I think it was a pretty solid sequel, with all the hallmarks of what made the first book lovable, but the romance still felt a bit flat to me, and she genuinely has the worst friends who would NOT ride for her. Overall a very easy breezy fun heist novel where Ross once again proves why she is THE Quest.

Ross Quest is back again for another high-stakes gambit, this time with her Mother on her team. This time around, the Organization pits Ross against her new friends, and the winners get to choose the manner of death for the opposing team. Ross is competing against her romantic interest Devroe, and their Mothers are on their respective teams. The targets are assets wanted by the Organization, and the gambit goals are not kept secret. Ross faces shifting loyalties and danger at every turn. Once you get past that stealing is just wrong, you get sucked into the excitement of the heist and the competition to find the best thief! I was surprised by Ross's reaction at the end because I didn't see it coming and thought it was a little out of character. Other than that oddity, I was swept back into Ross's adrenaline rush of a life! This is an exhilarating sequel to Thieves' Gambit, the first in the series!

Initially, I was not sure how much I would like this sequel. To have a power struggle for control of the Organization decided by a thieving contest between two teams of mostly teenagers is a bit of a hard sell. However, the challenges and how the teams succeeded or failed was creative. It also helps that the teenage characters -- Ross, Noelia, Mylo, Kyung-soon, Devroe, Taiyo -- are entertaining to read about and there is a great dynamic between them whether working together or against each other. The story has plenty of double-dealing and plenty of surprises. It also has a very satisfying ending. In the end, the sequel is quite good.

Great follow up book. Great for early to mid teen ages and anyone who loves young adult fiction. Action and intrigue. Loved it

I've been desperately waiting for the conclusion to this sequel. It's another great heist and I needed to know if Devroe was going to redeem himself. Won't say anymore to avoid spoilers. This was fast-paced and had some pretty great character development between book 1 and 2. I'm sad this series is ending, but looking forward to what this author writes next.

The high-stakes sequel to Thieves’ Gambit delivers a thrilling continuation of Ross’s journey, perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Ally Carter. Picking up six months after the first book, Ross is now facing the imminent threat of her family’s execution rather than celebrating an impossible wish. The tension is palpable as Devroe, the one person Ross thought she could rely on, holds the power to end the Quests at any moment. Despite his betrayal, Devroe’s lingering romantic interest in Ross adds an intriguing layer of complexity as they navigate their dangerous partnership within the Organization.

Ross’s cunning and resilience are put to the ultimate test when she becomes embroiled in a fierce power struggle within the Organization. Her chance to change her fortunes comes with a new deadly Gambit, pushing her to strike a precarious deal to safeguard her family. The narrative is a whirlwind of action and suspense, taking readers from the glamorous casinos of Monte Carlo to the perilous, icy terrains of Antarctica.

The stakes are higher than ever as Ross competes against Devroe in a battle for survival. Loyalties are strained, betrayals abound, and hearts are shattered in this gripping saga. The final clash is a nail-biting showdown against a relentless adversary, with Devroe and his mother posing a significant threat to Ross and the Quests.

This sequel captivates with its fast-paced plot, intricate character dynamics, and vividly described settings. As Ross navigates treacherous alliances and high-stakes gambles, readers are kept on the edge of their seats, eager to see who will emerge victorious in this ultimate test of wit and courage. May the best thief win, indeed.

I loved the Thieve's Gambit and had high hopes for this sequel. I loved it too! I loved seeing where the story picked up six months later and what turns it would take.

I was so excited to read this sequel to Thieves’ Gambit. Ross and Devroe are pulling jobs for the Organization when they realize there is power struggle within it. In a twisted criminal way, the Organization decides to hold a gauntlet to decide who will run the organization, with Ross and her mother on one team, and Devroe and his mother on the other. Many of Ross’ friend from the Gambit help out in various ways, the biggest being helping Ross question her relationships. She is learning to make and keep friendships and needs to decide how important this is to her. The heists take place in beautiful and fascinating places with high stakes and near-death excitement. This is a fun and exhilarating book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this DRC.
#HeistRoyale #NetGalley

tl;dr
Fast-paced heists once again take center stage, with plenty of family complications stitched in.

Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book. It was packed with clever heists, compelling characters, and a fun competition. But I've found that the book after a competition plot tends to fall flat for me. So how does Heist Royale fare? It runs another competition! And honestly, it absolutely works. The gang's all back, although not necessarily in the same configuration, which keeps things fresh, and there's a lot more going on in terms of relationships. Romance, friendship, and family tangles all come into play as characters race across the globe trying to out-steal each other. It's a fast-paced adventure with all the adrenaline of the first, and plenty more character development for everyone. As with the first book, the friendship between Ross and Noelia hit for me more than the romance with Devroe, but there's also a cute secondary romance that I did not see coming. There's also a casino heist in the middle that could practically be a book unto itself, with a new character who I love probably too much. If you liked the first book, this one won't disappoint.

I really loved this book! It is the sequel to the thieves gambit. It was such a great continuation of the series. I really love her writing style and I would highly recommend this book!

I loved this book but the ending felt abrupt. It’s a little short and feels like the ending was shaved off to have a shorter word count.

thanks to netgalley & penguin group for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

i was very pleasantly surprised with the caliber of this book. while i cannot - and probably never will - get behind ross and devroe as a couple (i find him fairly controlling/savior complex-y), i think ross' character development is some of the best i've read in a while. this book was very entertaining in a simplistic manner, allowing me to relax into the story a lot.
kyung-soon, taiyo, mylo, noelia, and all the other returning characters were really great. i love coming-of-age elements in non-high school settings, so this was a really nice read.
read this if you want: something with literally no philosophical subtext, something interesting yet comforting, really cool characters, and thievery.

Thank you so much Penguin Teen for my first ever Netgalley ARC!!

Heist Royale was a very thrilling adventure. It took Thieves’ Gambit, the first book, to the next level. I especially thought the second heist was the most intricate and well played, even though it had a surprising twist at the end.

I love the character development that Ross went through! The friendships she made were the best. She finally got to experience the world that she had been missing and yearning for from the island.

By the end, the big question that had me wondering throughout the book was finally answered, and definitely not what I thought it was. I knew it had to have had something to do with Ross since she’s the main character, but I thought it was going to go a different route. I’m glad it concluded with a happier ending than what my overthinking brain believed it would be. This was a very fun read and I can’t wait to see what Kayvion Lewis has planned for her next book!!

I greatly enjoyed Thieves' Gambit, and Heist Royale, the sequel, did not disappoint! There were twists and turns, backstabbing and betrayal, and the reader will be on the edge of their seat waiting to see what happens next! Ross is working for the organization in order to fulfill her contract, when she gets pulled into some petty infighting between the Count and a new mysterious figure, the Baron. Since both want to lead the organization, a new gambit is hosted with even higher stakes challenges. Rather than stealing priceless artifacts from the museum, the competitors are tasked to steal secrets, assassination tapes, and other even harder to find items. Although Devroe and Ross have been more or less peacefully working together after the Gambit (what's a few frame jobs between friends?), the two are split with Kyung-Soon and Diana Abara joining Devroe and Noelia and Milo joining Ross. From perilous high stakes chases across the ice to a dodgy casino heist to a break in on a hard to reach island, the action never stops. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of action adventure with a bit of teenage drama sprinkled in.

A great continuation to the Thieve's Gambit, Heist Royale follows Ross Quest in her ongoing interactions with the organization, her family and her friends. We jump right into the action, and it doesn't stop through the whole book. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, I think because the 2nd half felt a little rushed and abrupt. But overall, I appreciated that this book maintained the story from the previous one but was unique enough to not feel like a repeat of the first.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #PenguinGroup and #NancyPaulsenBooks for a free copy of #HeistRoyale by Kayvion Lewis. All opinions are my own.