I am obsessed with Kayvion Lewis' writing and need to read every book they have ever written. This story was well paced with well rounded and interesting characters and also just a whole lot of fun. None of the twists seemed too unrealistic and i really loved how all of the characters came together in the end to help each other out. I wish we had gotten more of a story of what happened between Diane and Rosalyn, but I think their ending wrapped up rather nicely.

This book was a joy to read and is probably the best heist based thriller i have ever read, which is high praise, considering i never really enjoy them. Can't wait to read more of Lewis' future work.

Would love a spinoff story of Natalia and her family's antics.

4.5 Stars

I was so glad I was able to get this sequel! I didn’t realize how tense I could get reading the higher stakes (I didn’t realize the stakes could get higher!). I love Ross. She’s who I want to be. The relationships in this, between her family, and Devroe and everyone else involved just make this so compelling!

I was excited to read this sequel, but it just didn't do it for me. I wanted more out of the second book and it felt like a sort of repeat of book one. It was still entertaining but I need more.

A solid and satisfying expansion and conclusion to a most impressive duology.

Everyone returns from the competition in book 1
But, like in life, they're not all still on the same team.

Smart.
Treats YA readers with respect.

I expect a series of one offs of different cons for .99 cent e book reads but will be satisfied if this author has finished this fire and look to see where they go next

I enjoyed Thieves Gambit so I was excited to receive an ARC of the upcoming sequel.

Basically, it’s another Gambit. The middle heist - 5 stars, no notes. The other two? Meh.

I really enjoyed learning more about the characters and seeing their personal growth. The problem though is that I really dislike that YA action/thrillers often seem to rely on “the girl is hopelessly/distractedly in love” trope. Obviously the Ross-Devroe entanglement was going to be a major part of the plot as a proxy war between their mothers.

I wish we could have seen an ending where Ross explores a different direction in life in more ways than one. The ending we got was fuzzy and abrupt.

However, I would absolutely love a book about Hart’s casino and the secrets they deal in. That would be a spinoff with incredible potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Heist Royale was a satisfying conclusion book to the Thieves Gambit series that promised readers a mission full of twists and a heart clenching romance. I really enjoyed the first book I had read like a month before and this book had about the same vibe but it didn’t quite resonate with me as much as the fist book did. Starting with the aspects of the book that I really enjoyed was the reprisal of many of my favorite characters like Mylo and Noelia, and the action was paced in a way that kept me engaged, I liked that we got backstory for Ross’s mother but some of the plot twists were a bit predictable.

With the romance aspect in the first book the tension was off the charts and every interaction you could feel the chemistry. In this book however they were separated because of a main plot and because of that I wasn’t really feeling their romance like I was in the first book, I wanted there to be yearning and pleading and while we did get some I was expecting a little more after a betrayal that deep. All in all it was a good book with a solid plot and likable characters that I wouldn’t mind reading again.

I loved Thieves’ Gambit and was eagerly awaiting Heist Royale, but sadly it fell pretty flat for me.

The story picks up 6 months after the end of book 1 and I probably should have refreshed my memories before diving into this one. The author doesn’t really use any page time rehashing what occurred in book 1, which made me feel a bit disconnected from the characters. The pacing was also very slow in the beginning and really didn’t pick up until another gambit begins (around a third of the way in). Even with this new gambit, all of the mystery, excitement, and high stakes from book 1 were missing. The second chance romance felt very forced between Devroe and Ross and honestly, I’m not sure how she got past his betrayal in book 1. The ending was also pretty anticlimactic and didn’t leave me feeling 100% satisfied with where our characters ended up.

Jade Wheeler did a great job with the narration and I’m not sure I would have continued reading this if I didn’t have the audio.

Audiobook Review
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 2.5 stars

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

A giant thank you to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the early access audio and digital copies of this book! I truly couldn’t wait for this to get in my hands! In a world where it feels like every YA book series is a trilogy, I applaud this one for knowing it’s a duo and standing true to it and not trying to plod out a third book. Because of that fact, this book has great pacing and like the first book, it kept you racing through it to the end!

I loved getting to spend more time with these core characters, while also getting a deeper look at Ross’ mom. I did want just a touch more depth when it came to Baron and Diane but they’re side characters so I get it.

This book had great heists and gambits and I loved seeing it all come together in a battle royale! Highly recommend this sequel!

Heist Royale is releasing 11/12 💥 Big thank you to Kayvion Lewis, Penguin publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC! ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.75 stars) This is set 6 months after Thieves’ Gambit, following Ross and her friends as they get swept into a new competition. I loved the heists they had to pull off, as most had even higher stakes than in the first book. My favorite part was the casino, which had such intricate planning—it was fun to see their plan unfold 💸 Things were pretty hardcore in this, with lots of action and crazy adventures.

You love the characters even more than in book 1, but there are fewer twists. I loved how the relationships developed in book 2, enjoyed the witty banter, and was enthralled by Ross’s plans—but the twists in book 1 make that one my fav so far 🤗 I kept expecting more backstabbing in book 2 since that’s how book 1 was, but the ending of this was feel-good and a great conclusion!

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Will be posting to @cocos.book.nook on Instagram on 10/15

This page-turning sequel keeps the Gambit going. Ross Quest is busy with a series of three heists, while also trying to determine what friendship, framily, and family means, and how they intersect.

Will recommend for acquisition to both middle school and high school libraries

When I first read Theives' Gambit, I knew that this was a series that I would fall in love with. After reading Heist Royale, I know I wasn't wrong. While not as great as the first book (though many reviews on Goodreads swear this one is so much better), this was still a thrilling and fun read with SO much romantic tension that I felt like I was going to die. In my review for Heist Royale, I'll talk about my favorite characters, the plot, pacing, and a few random things here and there.

With the characters, you get to see almost everyone from the first book. I loved seeing Ross grow in her friendships and finally learn to trust people (even after the hell that everyone put her through in the first book). She still has a very rocky relationship with Devroe, but it honestly made me so invested in the book that I didn't want to put it down. My least favorite characters were probably Ross' mom (easy because she is seriously bonkers), and the newest addition, Baron (because he is also bonkers and seems to have no depth). My favorite? Devroe. All the way. Even after the shit he pulled. 

As far as the plot goes, you're basically set up in a NEW gambit where there are teams vying against each other. I won't spoil who is on whose team except that Devroe and Ross are on opposing sides (like I said, this book had some serious reasons to be invested). They are followed through a series of three tasks that they have to win the majority in order to win the gambit. What's at stake is their lives and I honestly felt like none of the characters were that worried except maybe the actual adults. It felt... odd that none of them cared that much that they could potentially die if they lost. The ending itself was okay... but I was honestly hoping for another cliffhanger like the first book. This one was kind of tidy and didn't really feel that satisfying because the third and final task was so lackluster. All in all, though, it was a super fun plot. 

With the pacing, the beginning is slow for the first 25% of the book, I think? After that it picked up so much that I finished it pretty quickly after getting past that point. There were moments when I just stayed up (even though I definitely should have gone to bed because I ended up late to work... lol) just to find out what happened next. The pacing was on point after the first quarter of the novel. 

Random things that I want to mention: 

-The family dynamics are absolutely insane and not a single one of these kids have healthy family relationships (which I guess is understandable since they're all thieves?)
-Devroe and Ross' relationship doesn't really heat up that much in this novel, but the tension is absolutely crazy. I often continued reading just for the little snippets of time they got together. So worth it. 
-The final showdown, while the third task was lackluster, was extremely high-anxiety-inducing. Very well done. However, the secret that Ross' mother reveals really didn't make sense to me. Can anyone explain it??

Overall, this was such a fun addition to the series and I am so thankful that I got to read it before its official release!! A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity. Solid 4/5 stars and I'm going to be honest, if I don't get more of Devroe and Ross soon, I'm going to have withdrawals!! Next book quickly please 🫶🏻.

I love this series! The first book was so good that we used it for our summer reading program. In this program, we give away copies of books for the express purpose of getting kids to read. There is no homework, no assignment. As such, we want to pick the very best books. Thieves' Gambit was such a book and the kids loved it. This led to high expectations for book 2. Kayvion Lewis did not let readers down, Heist Royale is just as much fun as book 1. The only complaint is that this book is the end of the series. Actually, there are minor issues here and there. I am not sure I understand Ross and his behavior. Why would anyone trust you after the events in the first book? However, that is a minor quibble because this is a very good sequel and readers will be more than happy to pick it up.

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book.

Heads up! This is the 2nd book in a series (duology? I don't know) so be warned that there will inherently be spoilers. Be warned!

General Description: Ross has been unhappy for the past 6 months. Forced to work with her enemy, for an organization she doesn't particularly like, hasn't been enjoyable. However, when someone is vying for the top spot in the agency against Count, Ross finds herself in the middle of it. Ross would rather support the devil she knows instead of the devil she does not, so Ross will be on Count's side while Ross's enemy, Devroe, will be on The Baron's side. The teams aren't necessarily expected, including one unexpected adult on each side. Who will come out on top? Will Ross finally get to be freed of the organization?

The goods:
- I love all the tasks in this new gambit style and I felt like the timing of each tasks made much more sense than the first book.
- I was not expecting the book to lead to a second gambit, but I liked it.
- The twists in this book, TO ME, were all unpredictable and I loved the ride.
- I really liked the team aspect and seeing how the dynamics of the team changed throughout the book.

The loss of a star:
- First half star off to me: I wish there was a bit more refresher information in the beginning to the 1st gambit. I was a bit confused, which is obviously a me problem.
- Second half star off to me: The ending felt like it lacked explanation, I feel like I could draw the dots together myself, but I wish the ending was a bit more fleshed out.

Overall, if you liked Thieve's Gambit, I think you'd enjoy Heist Royale!

While I loved Thieves' Gambit, the sequel fell a bit flat for me. There was not much new in this book...same on/off romance, same distrust, similar heist. I really enjoyed the story, but I read it very close to finishing the other so I suppose my review is somewhat biased.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC for my honest review :)

3.5 star read

Fast paced, easy to read, and a fun read. I do think that I would have enjoyed this book even more if I had read the 1st book in this series, however I still found it enjoyable.

This feels like a good late fall read so I am excited to see more and more reviews come in on this one!

Oh and don't let my reading dates deter you, I started this book in June but then had a bunch of ARCs to read that were coming out before this one :)

Heist Royale is the sequel to Thieves' Gambit, taking place around 6 months after the events of the first book. It has the same fast pace and nonstop thrills that kept it interesting and exciting. I was happy to see the return of several characters from the first book while still meeting some new characters too. I did find that I didn't love this book quite as much as the first one... I felt like a few parts of the book just didn't seem to piece together like I thought they should. Plus, some of the reveals were things that I saw coming, so it just didn't have the shock factor. By all means, Heist Royale was still a good read that I enjoyed, but maybe my expectations were a little too high going into this one.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for the early review copy of Heist Royale! All opinions are completely my own.

Heist Royale is the exciting, can't-put-down sequel to the bestselling Thieves' Gambit. Six months after the events of Thieves' Gambit, Ross has yet to find a way out of her predicament, meaning she is still forced to work closely with Devroe, the boy who betrayed her and broke her heart. Just when Ross thought things couldn't get worse, she finds herself in the center of a power struggle within the Organization. Now, forced into a higher-pressured gambit, Ross finds herself fighting not only against her archnemesis but also against people she once thought were friends. Can Ross and her team win this high-stakes gambit? What is she willing to sacrifice to ensure a win?

Heist Royale brings back all of the amazing characters from the first book. I was so excited that Mylo, Kyung-soon, Noelia, and Taiyou were all included in the sequel. I was initially afraid that the book would only focus on Ross and Devroe. All of the scheming and trickery of Thieves' Gambit was quadrupled in Heist Royale. I absolutely loved the chapters set at the casino in Monte Carlo. In addition to all of the old favorites, several new and equally interesting characters are introduced. While I wish this was a trilogy and not a duology (totally want another book), it was a perfect and satisfying conclusion. I hope these books are turned into movies someday. Both books are easy five stars! I will definitely continue to recommend this series to anyone who loves a great heist tale!

Kayvion Lewis delivers in the second book of the Theives' Gambit series. I enjoyed the book just as much as the first, and thought it was well-written and superb storytelling. I loved the characters, and read this book in one sitting. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the young adult genre.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for providing a copy to review.

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

Heist Royale is the thrilling conclusion to the Ocean’s 11-esque duology that was Thieves’ Gambit. I absolutely adored the first book of this series and I was so excited to start the second one. While I really enjoyed this book, I wasn’t as wowed as I was with the first one, before I get into that though, a quick recap of the first book…
Ross Quest is a master thief from a family of thieves. She is invited to join the Thieves’ Gambit, a dangerous and mysterious game that pits the best thieves in the world against each other, the winner receiving a single wish. Ross teams up with other thieves, including Devroe who later betrays her. With her life and the lives of her family hanging over her, Ross has spent the last six months unwillingly working with Devroe as thieves for the Organization. Okay, now that you’re all caught up let's get into the (mostly) spoiler-free review.
First, what I liked about the book…
Heist Royale was fast-paced, exciting, and brought back all of my fav characters from the first, including Mylo and Noelia. I really enjoyed the added information about the Organization in this book. While they are still super mysterious and creepy, I enjoyed the little bit that we did learn about them and how they work, it made the story more interesting. I also really enjoyed Ross’s growth throughout this book. I felt like she really grew into her own person, finally breaking that hold her mother had on her. Speaking of Momma Quest, her story was interesting but predictable in this one. I enjoyed the ending she was given, but totally saw it coming. Devroe was as charming as ever and his relationship with Ross is so cute. However, their relationship leads me into what I did not like about this book.
Devore is hardly in this book, like literally. A little ways into the beginning, Ross and Devroe are caught on opposite sides of something I am not going to say for spoiler reasons. After this they have like three interactions, kiss exactly two times and that is it. Like I was so invested in their relationship and this is what I got…disapointing. Another thing I did not love about this book was the heists. Don’t get me wrong, they were exciting to read, but there were just too many of them, they were too rushed, and a lot of them didn’t even matter.
I enjoyed this book, I really did, I just thought it could have been better. I loved the first one, and I just liked this one. It was good and I think it is important to finish the duology, but I was left a little disappointed.

So excited to be approved for the arc of book 2 in the Thieve's Gambit series! I really enjoyed the first one, and this was no different. I think that the characters showed a lot of growth and really started to become themselves throughout this book which was really fun to read. Of course, this wouldn't be Thieve's Gambit without a heist or two and they just became more exciting and wild. I'm hoping there will me more in the series because I really liked how this one ends and would love to see how it continues.