At only seventeen, Ross Quest is already a master thief, carrying on a long line of thieves in her family. She is especially good with escape plans, until her hope to run away from her lifestyle goes awry and it leaves her mother kidnapped with her life at risk.

In a desperate attempt to raise ransom money, Ross 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 really liked this book, with its similarities to The Inheritance Games, Ocean's Eleven, and If Tomorrow Comes. It was a fast paced book that kept me interested all the way through and I connected to the characters well. Definitely enjoyed and will look forward to reading the next book as well! Particularly with the ending - the twist of not knowing who is really on your side!

Thanks to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ross Quest comes from a long line of well renowned thieves. At only seventeen Ross is ready to strike her own path in life, to live like an ordinary teenager. However, fate has intervened when Ross’ mother is taken hostage during a heist gone wrong. Now Ross has no other choice but to join the Thieves’ Gambit, an ultimate heist game with a grand prize awarded to only one winner. The prize…….one wish….any wish.
As a thief Ross has been taught to never trust anyone no matter what. But Ross realizes in order to win this game and get her mother back she must learn to trust others in order to survive. Can she save her mother in time? Will she have to betray her friends in order to win?
Overall rating 4/5
For younger fans who like high stakes, found family and enemies to lovers. I enjoyed an Ocean's Eleven type plot line that was geared towards a new age audience. The family and friendship struggles that Ross has to go through is relatable with younger readers. A refreshing coming of age drama laced with romance and thrilling adventures.

*Thank you to Kayvion Lewis, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Ross Quest comes from a legendary family of thieves, and her skills prove it—she’s been trained her entire life to be the best. But when her mom lands in serious trouble, Ross has no choice but to risk everything and enter the Thieves' Gambit.

The Thieves' Gambit is no joke—each round is a dangerous heist, with the best thieves in the world competing to survive and steal the impossible. As the competition gets fiercer and the stakes get higher, Ross has to decide who she can really trust as the finish line draws near.

I’ve heard amazing things about Thieves' Gambit, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I loved the high-stakes heist thriller, and the twists kept me hooked. I’ll definitely be grabbing the next book because I have to know what happens next! If you're into YA mystery/thrillers, this is one you won’t want to miss.

This book is a fun, escapist read! It does require one to suspend disbelief at times, but if you go along with the plot, it is entertaining and reminiscent of The Inheritance Games. Plus, since they're traveling so much, there are brief snapshots of different parts of the globe, which creates a fun background for the characters to work in. There are enough plot twists that the book will keep you on your toes. Some of the twists are genuinely surprising but manage to have a good pay-off and make sense in retrospect. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book!

Thank you Penguin Random House @penguinrandomhouse , Nancy Paulson Books, Netgalley @netgalley and Kayvion Lewis @kayvionclewis for this free ebook!
“Thieves’ Gambit” (Thieves’ Gambit #1) by Kayvion Lewis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: YA/Middle Grade Heist Thriller . Location. Andros town, Bahamas and several international locations. Time: Present.

THE SERIES: “Trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest.”
Rosalyn (Ross) Quest (17) is a thief, especially adept at escape plans. She wears braids and loves custom Chucks. Her weapon-a meteor bracelet with a heavy weight on the end. She lives with her mom Rhiannon (39) and Aunt Jaya (32) on an island in the Bahamas-so rural convenience stores are in people’s living rooms. Her family of thieves has a private plane and a black box/deep web email account. Mama Quest is a glamorous, diamond tennis bracelet-wearing master thief who trained her daughter well.

THIS BOOK: Stuck on an island with no friends, no dad, no siblings, Ross needs new experiences and friends. Unfortunately, her plan to run away takes a wrong turn, leaving her mother’s life at risk. Desperate, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t off limits. The grand prize is a wish for anything in the world—a wish that could save her mom. She learns 2 competitors are Noelia Boschert (her childhood nemesis) and handsome, smooth-talking Devroe Kenzie (who might steal her heart). Ross has to decide who to con and who to trust.

Author Lewis has written a page-turner of a heist novel perfect for middle grade and YA readers. (And adults will enjoy it too.) If you can imagine “Ocean’s Eleven” mashed up with “The Hunger Games”, you have a sense of this book. She has Ross narrate the book, and we begin to learn the stories of her rivals as well. Lewis’s characters seem on point for their ages and backgrounds (remembering they are all experienced thieves). If you like fast-paced action, strong young women, personal and professional tension, and a tiny bit of romance, pick up this book. Oh-the book taught me a card game called BS where everybody cheats! It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️🎀

This reminded me a lot of The Inheritance Games, a YA story mostly action-packed with a little potential romance on the side. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and totally had me shocked at the end. It slowed a bit in the middle but picked up again for the end. I'd recommend!

Fast paced, fun story of clever crooks one cannot help but adore. Teens engage in clever heists, but still manage to bring drama to their every decision. Fans of Oceans 11 will love this caper!

Fast paced and alluring. Gave off divergent and America ninja warrior vibes and I loved every minute of it will definitely be reading more by this author

I was very excited to read this, as it felt like it could be a nice book to start out the fall season with. I must say that the beginning was really interesting. However, once I hit the 20% mark it just started to get boring for me. The ending did leave a bit of a cliffhanger, so I do want to read the second one. I think that the hype was what let me down because I was expecting a story that I did not get.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my arc copy of this!

This book was a combination of the Hunger Games and the Natural Series. I was hooked. I thought the plot was so unique and I loved the diverse set of characters. There is a great mix of thrill, action, suspense, mystery, and even a tiny bit of romance throughout the book. I can't wait to finish the series!

Thieves' Gambit is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thriller that throws readers into a world of high-stakes heists and fierce competition. At the centre of the story is Ross Quest, a seventeen-year-old master thief born into a legendary family of thieves. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her mother’s life is put at risk, forcing Ross to enter the Thieves’ Gambit, a dangerous competition with international criminals, where the prize is a wish for anything in the world.

What makes this book stand out is its relentless energy. From the very first chapter, the stakes are high and the pace rarely slows. Ross is a skilled and resourceful protagonist, and her talent for pulling off audacious heists keeps the action fresh and exciting. The series of international heists adds a globetrotting appeal, as each new setting brings with it a different set of challenges and dangers. The competition itself, where anything goes—even murder—is thrilling and dangerous, with plenty of twists to keep readers guessing.

Ross’s character is engaging, with her sharp mind and internal conflict over the family creed, “trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest.” This mantra becomes harder to follow when she’s faced with competitors like her childhood nemesis and a charming rival who might be after more than just the prize. The tension between survival and trust runs through the entire story, forcing Ross to navigate not just dangerous heists, but complicated relationships as well.

The addition of romance adds an intriguing dynamic without overshadowing the action. The smooth-talking love interest brings a spark of chemistry to the story, but Ross is smart and wary, keeping the romantic subplot from becoming predictable or distracting. Instead, it enhances the stakes as Ross grapples with her growing feelings and her need to protect herself—and her family.

One of the highlights of Thieves' Gambit is its diverse cast of competitors, all with their own motivations and backgrounds. It gives the story a rich, dynamic quality as Ross tries to outwit them while also questioning who she can trust. The competition is ruthless, and the constant push-pull between betrayal and alliance adds complexity to the plot.

While the book excels in action and tension, some of the character development feels a bit rushed, especially when it comes to Ross’s relationships with the other competitors. A deeper exploration of the characters’ backgrounds could have added more emotional weight to the story. That said, the focus on heists and survival is what drives this narrative, and it delivers on that front.

In short, Thieves' Gambit is a rollercoaster ride of a novel, perfect for readers who love high-octane action, clever cons, and the thrill of danger around every corner. It’s an exhilarating story that will leave you breathless until the very end.

A YA heist novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. Between the great action and the ending that leaves you waiting for book #2 you can't go wrong with this one!

this is exactly the type of book i love. it was addicting, fun, hilarious, entertaining, and unputdownable. i loved everything about it! the heists, action, mystery, and competition had me completely immersed in the story and i loved seeing how friendships and bonds started to form between the characters! the ending had my jaw on the floor to say the least… i can’t wait to see how this continues!! 🙂‍↕️

Thank you to Kayvion Lewis, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was good. The twists kept me guessing. I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen and I was wrong.

The romance wasn't the best. It was like there was zero chemistry. I know I am probably one of the few who feel that way. The pop culture references at first were entertaining, then they just got annoying to be honest.

Firstly, I received an arc from NetGalley.


The blurb says it all. I love the characters and diversity of names chosen. Read it and let your imagination take you for an action packed ride.

Fast paced YA book that brings together friends, family, theft, heists and one massive game designed to pick the best young thief. Trust nobody is a lesson Ross Quest has heard all her life; but sometimes you have to trust, the question is who? One thing to keep in mind is not everything is what it seems. This would be good for fans of Ally Carters “Heist” series or Jennifer Lynn Barnes “Inheritance games” series.

Dramatic and cleverly written for the most part; although I found the last part of the book a bit confused and rushed in preparation for book two. Even with this i’m looking forward to the next instalment and thankful for a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my review.

Ross is a teenager, but not your average one. And neither are the other 7 teenagers going against her in the annual high-stakes competition, Thieves' Gambit. A competition where teenage thieves have the chance to win the ultimate wish, except, only one of them can obtain it. And when your a thief, you know this isn't going to be easy...

When I first began this book, I wasn't sure. I wasn't used to the writing style and I often felt confused about where our MC was as it kept jumping from one place to another, making it difficult to imagine the setting and be emersed in the world. But then I realised, I'm just not used to fast-paced action thrillers as I haven't read one in a while. I'm used to reading lots of world building in long fantasy books.

BUT, and this is a big but, when the story started going, when the plot began plotting, I was in. It was so addictive, I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen. And that made it so fun, because Kayvion Lewis, wow, she really took us on a ride, she really kept us guessing who was going to win each challenge! I still had no idea what was going to happen next.

The fact that this book is set all over the world, from Paris to Cairo, it made it so vivid and just, so iconic. Like wow, these kids are world-master spies in this deadly competition, how fun, how intriguing!

This book's ending though, I can't even begin to explain how amazing it was. Because it made me want to pick up the next book although it's not even out yet. I actually cannot wait for what's going to go down in 'Heist Royale'.

ALSO, Thieves' Gambit is going to be adapted into a film and I am so excited! I can't imagine a book that needs to be a movie more than this one.

Thank you Netgalley and the Penguin Group for this amazing arc!

I went in without knowing anything about the book. Imagine growing up in the family business but the business is theft. Is this a story about heists? Yes but the real story is about family, trust, forgiveness, and personal freedom. No spoilers from me. Just know that you will identify with Ross so much if you were raised by a toxic parent. I’m 51 years old and saw so much of myself in Ross. Being raised by a mother with BPD affected my entire life. Watching Ross struggle with loving her mom while realizing the toxic hold she has over her and then fighting to protect herself and who she wants to be made me so happy to see. I wish I could have been as brave.

Thank you net gallery for the free copy of this book. The story was fast, and action packed, and I got sucked in quickly. I liked the story and the characters. I could just imagine it playing out like a tv show in my head I cannot wait to read the sequel.

3.5/5 rounded up. Extremely fast paced. You could almost picture it as a show or movie while you were reading.