I really LOVED this book! I was hanging on word for word and finished this in a little over 2 days. The whole idea of a thieves competition was done so well and I was rooting for the characters. Didn’t expect the “twist” at all. I’m going to for sure to be reading book 2. Action packed page turner!

The Thieves’ Gambit definitely surprised me because I tempered my expectations for it given the average ratings it got from Goodreads. The novel definitely matched my mood when I was reading it; no dilly-dallying, straightforward, and packed with action.

The story immediately introduces us to our narrator, Ms Rosalyn Quest, thief extraordinaire and a member of a large thieving family in the North American Continent. She is very close to her likewise thief extraordinaire Mom and Aunt who seemingly had retired from thieving. While Rosalyn definitely has all the material things her illustrious can afford her, her deepest desire is just to live life like an ordinary person: go to school, attend gymnastics class, and have friends. Unfortunately for her, that is not going to happen as she was forced to participate in a game called The Thieves’ Gambit, hence, the title of our novel and the start of our series.

Right off the bat, we already know how the game’s gonna go. It’s either go big or go home. And Rosalyn could only afford to go big as a beloved’s life is at stake should she fail the game. And thus the starts the adventures of our feisty heroine clashing and fighting with the other participants whose thieving credentials are also as stellar as hers.

If one is really to scrutinize the Thieves’ Gambit, one could not say that it’s an outstanding masterpiece of a heist story because there are better heist reads out there like Leigh Bardugo’s Six Of Crows series or Benedict Jacka’s Alex Verus series. But I enjoyed this novel nonetheless. The writing is simplistic but not juvenile making me breeze through the pages faster, the characters were easily relatable and easy to remember, and there was just balance to everything. The romance, although a bit instant, was cute and not suffocating, the conflict between the participants was nothing too melodramatic (although I did wish for some slapping and hair grabbing) and the twist in the end was actually surprising. Well, I hope that Rosalyn would finally be her own person now that everything has been revealed to her.

My only gripe about the Thieves’ Gambit is how little character development does Rosalyn undergo all throughout the book. But anyway, books 2 and 3 are still coming so there’s a lot of room for her to grow. As much as she is an excellent thief, it’s kind of hard for me to believe that she lives in a shell instead of being someone who could just fly free.

With the way this book end, I cannot wait for how the second book will develop. That ending did put my mind at ease but on the other hand, I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2 because OMG, Rosalyn is not yet free from the game. Hahahaha.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Heist Novel
Subplot: Romance (quite a strong romance too)
Audience: Young adult (adults will have fun with it too)
Spice Level: Kissing
Language: Some cursing
Representation: Black main characters, secondary characters in a variety of different races, and one kid reads as gay though nothing is overtly said in the text

*THIEVES' GAMBIT* is a fun and wild ride.

Note that this book already has film rights purchased. It will be a fun movie!

INHERITANCE GAMES meets OCEAN'S ELEVEN is a great description of the match up. There are thieves you're rooting for and others you want to fail. And the stakes are HIGH! There's such a tangle of events to tease apart.

I loved Ross and her tug between wanting to find independence and meeting her family's expectations. Such a great way to develop a young adult character.

Ross's nemesis is in the gambit too—and oh, I hated her (just like you should). Having a nemesis really worked in this book that works around themes of trust. These two girls have a background that shades every action they take.

TWISTS!
That's right—there are multiple twists, and I don't think you'll guess all of them. There is a big of a cliffhanger, but because so much was resolved, I could forgive it. I definitely want to read the next when its out.

Happy reading!

I enjoyed this book, and thought the plot moved quickly. I really liked Ross the main character and enjoyed being inside her head. There were parts I found predictable but still enjoyable. I loved the diverse cast and the twist. The beginning read a little slow but once the Gambit was going I sped through it. I really enjoyed Noelia and Ross being friends again as well!

This was a thrill of a book! I didn’t realize it had already come out, but I’m eager to read the next installment.

This book was *chef's kiss*. You can find me counting down the days until Heist Royale comes out! The quick blurb describes it as Inheritance Games meets Ocean's 11 and I completely agree. Honestly one of the best books I've read in a while. If you haven't picked up this book yet, STOP what you're doing, DROP everything, and ROLLLLLL to your nearest bookstore.

There is suspense, betrayal, brilliant thinking/planning/scheming, a romance that shouldn't, and I loved following along, trying to figure out what was going to happen before it was revealed.

It's been a while since I was in a high school library, but I hope this one is on the shelves because I imagine this would get a lot of people interested in reading again!

A fun rad with a quick pace! So excited that film rights have been picked up because as I read I could see this playing out on the screen. The characters are diverse, the setting is worldwide as they travel, and the energy is nonstop .


"At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother's life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn't exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world--a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn't Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win."

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis is a first person-POV YA thriller about a group of ten teens who are recruited into an international game of heists. Ross Quest is the youngest of the Quest family, the most famous and accomplished family of thieves in North America. When her mother is kidnapped and held for a billion dollars, Ross gives up her goal of going to a gymnastics camp for the summer to make friends and joins the Gambit to get enough funds to save her mother. The cost is that Ross will be under the employment of the organizers for a full year.

Ross and Devroe’s enemies-to-lovers slowburn romance was done really well. Ross is aware that Devroe could be playing her and is cautious despite her attraction to him. She analyzes his movements and slowly starts to realize he might actually be sincere the more time she spends with him and the more she learns. But her trust is never fully there because she was raised to trust no one except her family. For his part, Devroe is extremely charming and comes across as genuine when he discusses his feelings or his family.

Ross has a long term rivalry with Noelia, a Swiss young woman who comes from the European equivalent of the Quest family. The pair were childhood friends but a betrayal turned them into rivals. Noelia knows how to use all of her advantages, including her class and white privilege, which can be at odds with Ross and Devroe who are both Black and don't come from high European society. To her credit, Noelia is aware of her privilege and even makes note of how it is unearned, but it still is a point of contention that she could more easily move in certain circles.

This was probably one of the most cinematic books I have read in a long time. It felt like an Ocean’s Eleven for teens but with a competition set-up that ups the stakes and tension. I loved how there were teens from all over the world and different backgrounds involved and that we got a lead from the Bahamas to really showcase different viewpoints and end goals. Taiyo, for instance, wants to create a legacy of thieves because there is no family like the Quests in Asia while Myles grew up in Vegas and is a gambler at heart. It's a really fun cast that could play very well on screen.

I would recommend this to fans of heist narratives, readers of YA contemporary that prefer higher stakes, and those looking for an Ocean's Eleven meets Hunger Games book

Thank you to Kayvion Lewis, Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book! I saw the twist coming from the start, though. I found little to relate to in Ross, except perhaps in wanting to pursue to her own interests in life, but I liked and admired her. She was mature and intelligent. I struggled to keep track of who was who among the contestants, but I liked the friends Ross made. I didn't like Devroe, the apparent love interest, not just because he [spoiler] but he just didn't seem like a strong person. No self-confidence. Ross can totally do better.

Did we ever find out if the contestant who got shot survived? The narrative had to have said and I just wasn't paying attention.

Overall, I'm not super into thieving and heists, but I can get behind a strong character who'll pull me through the plot. Add a bit more humor to book two and I'm there.

The reviews I’ve seen for this book have been mixed and I honestly don’t understand why. With the comparison to The Inheritance Games and Ocean’s Eleven I decided to give it a shot anyway and I’m definitely glad I did.

This book was such a FUN ride! Imagine a large rock rolling down a hill… starts off slow but steady, picking up speed as it’s moving and barreling to the finish. I feel like that is a pretty good analogy for this story. The ending gives you some answers but also leaves things open for the sequel - which I absolutely plan to read. I know reviews tend to give summaries of the story but I think going in mostly blind for this one makes it a more entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books - I’m off to put in a request for book two!

Tagline: The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven
A perfect fall action story soon to be a film!
A super fun book about heists, thieves, and family.

Rosalyn "Ross" Quest is part of the well known master thief family. When her mother's latest heist goes wrong, she is forced to enter into a competition to win enough to free her. The Thieve's Gambit is an International heist competition and invite only. Ross has been told by her family not to play, but at this point what other choices does she have?

Thus sets off a series of heists and dangerous actions with competing thieves actively working against her and double crossing her. Ross doesn't know who to trust and each heist brings her closer and closer to potential death. Should she continue? Does she have a chance? Is there anyone she can trust?

If you loved The Inheritance Games, Bank Heist or any adventure around the world you will love this scrappy heroines and her story! Thieves Gambit for the win!

#Penguin #KayvionLewis #TheivesGambit.#penguin #penguinyoungreaders #thievesgambit #kayvionlewis

I loved Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis. I really cared about all the characters and I did not see most of the plot twists coming. As someone with trust issues, I found the protagonist extremely relatable. The book grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it with all the exciting twists and turns, and impossible scenarios that needed to be overcome. I am looking forward to the second book in the series!

This was such a fun read! If you like The inheritance games, heists, games with deadly twists and turns, teens pitted against each other, then this is the book for you! I’m going to dive into the second book immediately.

A thrilling, enjoyable fast read. The young heroine is the latest in her family’s multi generation line of thieves.. She must enter into a famous yearly contest for professional thieves in order to save a family member.
The other contestants are vividly portrayed, and sharply delineated. The heists are entertaining and enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers, Nancy Paulsen Books Group, for the copy of Thieves Gambit by Kayvion Lewis. I had no idea I would love this book as much as I did, and if you love YA books or have a YA reader in your life, get this book! Lewis has written an immersive and exciting story. She obviously knows what readers are looking for, and Thieves Gambit delivers. If you're looking for a well-written book with three dimensional characters and an engrossing story with a little romance, this is the book you have been waiting for. 5 stars.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

rivals to lovers, slowburn, and heists. this book is fast paced, the hook is so amazing, and the romance!!! highly recommend!!

Rosalyn 'Ross' Quest has been brought up as a master thief by her mother Rhiannon and the Quest family. However, she is beginning to find her life stifling and has planned to leave to take up a gymnastics course. She and her mother are on a heist and Ross is about to desert her family when it all goes wrong, her mother gets captured (and recognised). The captors demand a ransom of $1 billion and the only way Ross can see of getting that kind of money is by entering the Thieves Gambit, where the winner has one wish granted, no matter how big.

The Thieves Gambit is an annual competition, invitational-only, where a group of hand-selected thieves compete in a no-holds-barred competition to steal priceless artifacts, art, etc. Imagine Ross' horror when one of the first competitors she runs into is her former BFF turned nemesis Noelia, who wastes no time in forming an alliance with one of the other competitors, guess its true what her mother says, you can't trust anyone other than a Quest.

There's subterfuge, violence, double-crosses, romance, and high stakes car chases.

Loved it. Others have compared it to The Inheritance Games and/or Oceans Eleven and it does have those vibes. I felt some of the 'twists' were a bit obvious, although I suspected a Bodyguard-style plot. In the subsequent books I would like Nicholi (Noelia's younger brother to play more of a role, dare I say love interest?

Anyway, a fun read with lost to keep the reader interested.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Honestly this is a rip off of the Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The story is honestly dull and predictable and I was bored the entire time reading it. It’s also way too long for what it contains. I think it’s not a great book and do not recommend reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast page-turner! The planning, the heists, and the plot twists and turns all combined to provide a thrilling tale of criminal adventure.

I particularly liked that the protagonist Ross was intelligent and loyal while also questioning the advice long bestowed by her mother, "Trust no one!" Her sense of cool style meshed seamlessly with her teenage self but also meshed seamlessly with her family's criminal activities, even if some of that style, her stylish kicks, had to be kept under wraps for most situations. Ross had never had a social life as a result, and when thrust into a social situation, she is able to quickly adapt. I really appreciated her resourcefulness, adaptability, and cleverness. Even though she is engaged in criminal pursuits, she has a deep moral center that guides her, an interesting juxtaposition.

While it may be tempting to call this a coming of age novel, it appeared more like the protagonist had her life together but just had to adapt to a challenge. She clearly already knew herself well.

Overall, the novel was fun and equally surprising. One might think ahead and see some transparent plot moves, but there were enough twists to keep my interest piqued. I truly wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next!

I look forward to the sequel, and genuinely recommend this as a fun read.

For teachers looking to add this to their bookshelves, there was kissing and cursing and violence, but no other explicit sexual activity.

Enjoy, my friends!

Thieves' Gambit is the first installment in author Kayvion Lewis's The Thieves' Gambit series. 17-year-old Rosalyn Quest is the heir apparent to the Quest family of thieves who appear to have North America wrapped up as their hunting groups. However, Rosalyn, who is a master at escape plans, has other ideas. Other ideas like going to a high performance gymnastics summer camp by creating an entire new persona without her mother knowing.

But things get interesting when she gets an invitation from something called the Gambit. The Gambit is run by a group called the Organization, and the face of the group is a woman named Count. Things get even more twisted when during a heist onboard a yacht, things go badly and her mother is taken by an unknown group. Ros quickly learns that the only way to get her mother back, is to accept an invitation to the Gambit.

The Gambit explained simply is a thieving contest between 12 contestants from all over the world. I won't bother you by listing all 12, except two. Devroe Kenzie of England and Noelia Boschert of Switzerland who has a past with Rosalyn. In this competition, contestants will face 3 phases. After each phase, contestants will be eliminated until there is only one winner. The winner gets the prize of a lifetime. The ability to wish for whatever they want without restrictions.

The winner could literally wish for an entire family to be killed without any consequences. For Ros, winning the wish means saving her mother. Ros tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest. But with the stakes this high, and Devroe seemingly making a play at being her love interest, Ros will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win. Here's a hint: Don't let your eyes pop out of your head when you read the final chapters. Just wow.

In the end, the author has created a book that will bring back memories of certain movies and books like Six of Crows, Inheritance Games, and Oceans Eleven with young adults of incredibly diverse backgrounds spanning many cultures and continents. Coincidentally, I was just approved for the second book in the series which releases in November. Can't wait to see what happens to Ros and whether she gets back at her mother and others who really shredded her attempt at winning the game to pieces.