I was very excited to get the second book in this YA heist series and it was almost as good as the first one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishes for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love Ross, and I was glad to see her back. This story is set 6 months after the first book. Unfortunately for me, I’m awful at keeping up with what happened in books before. Thankfully as you are reading the little things get brought up that helped jogged my memory. (I still think all books should have a small summary of the previous book in the beginning like a tv recap, but I digress) we see everyone from the first book return. Ross is at war with who she wants to be outside of her Mother’s shadow. She is still reeling from some major betrayals in the first book and trying to move on with her life. Another game is brought up that divides her already crumpling friend group.

This had a lack of Devroe, which made me a little sad. I started to really like him. He and Ross have such a cute dynamic. All of the friend dynamics here were so strong. And even though I forgot some people, it came back quickly.

Like the first book, this had plenty of action with twists and turns. I really rooting for team Count but you still worry about everyone on the other team. Ross also learns a lot about being a friend and tapping into her emotions.

This was such a fun series to read and I’m looking forward to more from this author!!

Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Heist Royale, the second book in the Thieves' Gambit series, is an entertaining and thrilling follow-up that feels just as fresh and intense as the first installment. This time, the familiar characters return, but with a twist: they’re no longer working in the same teams. Instead, they find themselves competing against Devroe—Ross’s former crush—and his mother, Diane, who has a deep-seated vendetta against the Quest family.

The stakes have never been higher as the team faces a series of heists that are less like a gambit and more like a brutal gauntlet. Each heist is exhilarating, sometimes almost fatal, set in stunning and inventive locations that keep the reader on edge.

The action is fast-paced and well-written, keeping the excitement high throughout. Although the book wraps up with satisfying closure, one can’t help but wonder if the series might continue. While I’d welcome another installment, Heist Royale would still stand as a fitting and gratifying conclusion to the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Heist Royale had the misfortune of being the book I spent Election Night and most of the post-Election Results haze with, and I acknowledge that that may have colored my apathetic opinions on this one. But even stepping back and trying to judge it on an objective level, I feel it’s an inferior sequel.
I am notorious for forgetting a lot between books, and while I don’t expect books in series to “stand alone” in any capacity, I did feel like this is one of those books that really benefit from having the first book fresh in your mind, even though there is a time jump of six months between books, timeline wise.
I did recall that Devroe had betrayed Ross, and I found it hard to believe that she’d forgive him, especially in the way she did. Some of the other character dynamics were still fairly interesting, but pale in comparison to the first book.
And the real high-stakes nature of the first book is gone. While there is another gambit, there’s quite a bit of buildup toward this one, resulting in a slower pace initially that didn’t make the payoff feel all that worth it.
While this book let me down, it does seem to be an unpopular opinion (and I’m also not opposed to the idea that I may have been able to enjoy it a bit more in other circumstances). If you enjoyed the first book, I’d recommend giving it a chance. And I’d recommend the series to readers who enjoy heist books.

A solid sequel to Thieves' Gambit that carries on the story with new twists and thrills. This book felt like watching a particularly well-done spy film, especially one with character you can't help but root for.

If this were written in old English, I would have thought this was a work by William Shakespeare. This is a story about a twisted romance between 2 thieves. Rosie, a young female thief must work with Devore, a young male thief, as a result of what happened in the Thieves Gambit in Book 1. Devore loves her, but also wants her dead. Why? Because their moms are feuding. The feud gets even bigger when there is an attempted coup in the organization. Now, Rosie must go head-to-head against Devore. If she fails, it likely means her death and her family's death. Rosie needs to find a way to save herself and her family.

A disappointing sequel. There was zero tension in the story and I didn't care about anything that was happening. I don't know how this fits into the overarching series plot. The characters were all so flat. The pacing was so slow and dragged everything. I don't understand why this was is the direction to go in.

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis is one for the books for sure. I greatly enjoyed Thieve's Gambit so I was hoping for another rockstar like the first book. I did not get that. Don't get me wrong- the plot is packed with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat and the characters are well-developed and relatable, each bringing their own unique flair to the story. The heist itself is brilliantly crafted, with enough suspense and action to satisfy any fan of the genre. However, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit off, and some plot points seemed a tad predictable. Despite these minor hiccups, the book is an enjoyable read

I loved it! Queen Ross! I love how it is a fun story and the characters are so unique. I feel like it’s not your average characters that you picture but rather diverse and spread out all over the world.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, and I’ve read it twice. So I was thrilled to read this sequel, and I’m so happy it was a great story too!

It made me so excited to see the members of the crew from the first book again. Their friendships are well written, and I enjoyed reading about their camaraderie and the ups and downs of their relationships. Found family is one of my favorite tropes!

I also loved the heist aspects of the book! The book is action packed and suspenseful, and I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to see what would happen next. The Mission Impossible movies are some of my favorites, and I loved the Mission Impossible vibes in this story. I’m happy with how it ended, but I would be excited to read more books about these characters!

Content:
Crass language/mild swearing/using God’s name in vain (I don’t know the numbers, but it felt like there was more swearing in this book than in the first book, which was disappointing)
Male side character makes comments about being attracted to another male

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a satisfying sequel to Thieve’s Gambit with all of the themes I loved in the first book. Plenty of heists, family drama and mysteries. There were plenty of fun twists and surprises.
My one critique was the book jumps right in and doesn’t give any sort of summary or reminder of how the first book ended. It had been a year since I read the first book. I had to stop after the first chapter and read a summary of Thieve’s Gambit for a refresher. This may not be a problem for other readers if the read the first book recently or have a better memory than me.

3.5 stars, rounded up for this YA heist sequel.

The action and introduction of characters begins in the first book, Thieves' Gambit, so be sure to read that one before this one or you will likely be lost.

This book picks up six months after the Gambit ended, and Ross and Devroe are working for the Count for a year. An intriguing proposal is offered, which pits Ross's family against Devroe's family. Even though there is still an attraction between them, they are now working against each other, and other former Gambit participants choose sides as well.

Although this is a thrilling book with a great deal going on, I didn't quite feel the excitement that I felt when it was just the group of young adults competing against each other. Having the adults involved made it less interesting for me, and I never had full buy in as to why Diane was trying to kill Ross.

Still, there was a great plot that kept me involved and rooting for my favorite characters to come out on top. I enjoyed the way things played out and how everything concluded. If readers are looking for a smart YA thriller with lots of action, this is a great duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I loved Thieves' Gambit and was so excited to read this sequel! I found heist Royale to be just as fun as the first book and loved all. the hijinks Ross and crew got up to. As a high school teacher, I am so thrilled to see books like this being written--teen readers need more stories that are just plain fun! The friendships in this series are great and I loved how even rivals came together in this one. Heist Royale is fast-paced, engaging, and will absolutely be added to my classroom library!

“Being vulnerable was being human. I wouldn't want to let go of the only person I thought I could be even a little human with either.”

A fantastic sequel to Thieves’ Gambit

What I liked:

This was a lot of fun, I love all of the heists.

Ross is a great FMC, and her friendships with the other kids from the gambit were great to read.

I could read a hundred books of this crew just going on heists.

What didn’t work for me:

I still found the romance a bit unnecessary for me, and I really did not care one way or the other if they got together or not.

Heist Royale: Thieves Gambit, Book 2 by Kayvion Lewis is a heart-stopping sequel filled with nail-biting action, making it a thrilling and satisfying read for fans of the genre.

This book is quite the sequel! It straddles the fine line from book one continuation to brand new stand alone plot. Leaning more towards continuation and picking up 6 months later. the pacing does seem a bit rushed though like all the things would be impossible in the time frame.

Our fantastic globe trotting thieves are slowly growing up. Not in any large, flashy way, no just subtle, like owning when they make a mistake. and their actions are unexpected, you see, with quirks and twists that make them all more interesting and human like and entertaining.

My favorite part was by far the Casino scene! It was a thrilling rendezvous with high stakes and more games of chance and drama, where tension and suspense swirl about like smoke on a French terrace. One can practically hear the roulette wheel spinning, feel the tension building, the slot machines dinging, it was a grand caper.

In conclusion, the boo is a solid 4 stars success! Not perfect, no, but certainly a most amusing little adventure that I could barely put down and I am glad it ended the way that it did.

Disclaimer there is some sweet romance and high stake shenanigans

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulson Books for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I enjoyed Thieves' Gambit a lot. It was a fun filled, action packed, story. Of course I wanted to see what the next adventure brought so I dove into this one. And I'm happy to say it was just as fun.
The first book definitely left you feeling there could be more, or it could have been done. So I'm glad the author decided to do another book.
This one was filled with action, adventure, unbelievable stunts, and a bit of romance (which started in the first book but never really blossomed).
We get a return of the old characters from the first book: Ross, Noelia, Deveroe, and others. But we are also introduced to a few new characters, which I enjoyed.
The story reminded me of Marie Lu's Stars and Smoke series. And if you like John Wick or James Bond, you'll definitely get those vibes here with the heists and shenanigans the characters are able to pull off. Reading this felt like a movie playing out in my head. But it's geared towards the younger YA crowd, in my opinion.
The plot is similar to the first book, but the stakes are set a bit higher with this one. I liked the twistiness of the story but I will say the ending felt a bit rushed to me. The writing is good but not fabulous. I had a hard time with some of the transitions the author made. I had to flip back a few pages to understand who was talking, what they were talking about, and why. Sometimes it felt like conversations were completely cut off other times it felt like the conversation switched gears in the middle or picked up on something I didn't even know was being discussed.
The only thing I would say for anyone who wants to read this, suspend your beliefs. Just like the first book, I had a hard time believing these young kids were basically spies sent to do unbelievable things in order to win a game.
Overall this was fun and I think a great book for YA readers who want a little mystery and thrill.

Thieves' Gambit was so thrilling and was easy to get into.
Sadly, Heist Royale was just a complete drag to get through. I even thought about DNF'ing a few times because I just couldn't get into the story.

Where TG was fast paced and enthralling, HR just seemed like a confusing cluster of a mess, with just not enough to back it up.

Even re-reading TG a few weeks prior to starting HR, I still felt lost.

We do get to see the return of some old characters, but we also get a new dynamic with the new group. However, what really kind of was not the wave was the relationship with Ross and Devroe at the end. It was a bit meh, especially after Devroe's betrayal in book 1.

HR really felt lackluster and the slow pace with nothing really happening until about 50% of the way through was just painful.

While I believe that Kayvion is an incredible storyteller, I just feel like book 2 fell incredibly flat and left me wanting more.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is my complete and unbiased review. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly**

Was this a duet, and it’s just not labeled as such? Because the story, in theory, could be finished. But there is also a possibility of more.

In the first half of the book, I often found the story a bit tedious. The level of detail on things that didn’t need such detail felt like filler.

However, I enjoyed the book on the whole. The friendships have grown stronger. Ross is a bit less self-centered, and she’s learning how to be a better friend. I appreciate the amount of character growth she’s having.

Overall, a fun and engaging read.

Such a fun read! I flew through the book and loved loved loved the different challenges. The friendships were heartwarming, the plot was engaging, everything felt just as good as the first book.Taking off one star because I felt like the ending could have been tied up a little neater

Thank you to the publishers, Kayvion Lewis, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own