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.

Okay, all I can say about this book is Wow! Like, actually! It did have far more language than I like (87 cuss words including hell, b**ch, ass, damn, d**k, and a few references to the middle finger— + multiple uses of omg)… but man it was a really interesting ride.
Something a appreciated was that it was not dirty (except for a joking reference to getting “laid”), but still had romance. Prayerfully the next book is that way too bc after that ending I really wanna read it!
Honestly, my favorite character was either Noelia (towards the end) or Mylo (dude made me laugh so freaking hard the whole book).
I can honestly say that if you do read this, you shall be thoroughly entertained.
Another thing I didn’t like was the couple of references to Lgbtq couples or sexualities… but I was able to look past that because it was an under-toned part ( Ross’ mom having some sexuality that is not explained, Mylo saying “last time a guy looked at me like that I got laid”, and mention of a kid having two moms).
I don’t recommend reading the description of the next book until you finish this one though… that’s all I’m saying. I made that mistake 😅 (it still didn’t prepare me for what happened).

3.5 ⭐️

The cover was what drew me in at first. But then I got to reading and I was hooked from the get go. A family of thieves, but Ross Quest just wants to have a normal teenage summer. So she planned to run away, just as she was about to leave something happens to her mother. And she has to enter Thieves Gambit and she hopes she wins a no question asked Prize to help her Mother.

If you're into high-stakes heists, cunning competition, and a bit of romance, Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis is a must-read. The book dives into the thrilling world of professional thieves, where the stakes are high, and trust is a rare commodity.

The protagonist, Rosalyn "Ross" Quest, is a skilled thief with a complicated past. When she decides to compete in the Thieves' Gambit—a notorious competition that could change her life forever—to save her mother.

Lewis creates a fast-paced story with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. The plot balances intense action with moments of character development. Ross is a compelling character—smart, resourceful, and emotionally complex. Her motivations are personal, and her journey through the competition is both thrilling and heartfelt.

The supporting characters add depth, each with their own unique skills and secrets. The relationships between the competitors are tense and unpredictable, creating constant tension. One thing I especially appreciated was its world-building. Lewis creates a vivid setting, from the opulent venues of the heists to the gritty underground world of thieves. The attention to detail makes the world feel alive and raises the stakes of the competition.

The romance subplot adds a nice touch without overshadowing the main plot. Instead, it complements Ross' character development and adds emotional depth to the story. The balance between action, suspense, and romance keeps the book engaging from start to finish.

Overall, this book delivers a gripping tale of ambition, loyalty, betrayal, and survival that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next heist. If you love a good adventure with complex characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is definitely worth your time. Personally, this story took some time to grab my attention, but once I did, my eyes physically would not leave this book until I read it all. On my way to binge read the next series in this book, as should you!! I cannot stress how much I loved how Ross and Devroe’s romance not being the primary attraction. I love how the book focused on the plot rather than them, and if they were focused on, it would highlight how they’d work together as well as their individual flaws and strengths as well as their genuine fluff. There was absolutely no smut, just a whole lot of flirting, candid dialogue, fluffy moments and feelings and it was just everything it needed to be 🤍🤍

An exhilarating and addictive read, this novel follows Ross (Rosylan) Quest, a master thief whose legendary family background shapes her every move. Despite her desire to distance herself from her family's notorious legacy, she finds it hard to escape their influence.

Raised in isolation on a remote island, Ross was cut off from everyone, including other kids her age. Now 17, she longs to connect with others outside her family and experience life beyond her secluded upbringing.

Planning to double-cross her mother on their next heist, Ross intends to escape—not permanently, but just long enough to live a more 'normal' life and perhaps make some friends. However, things go awry when a routine job turns chaotic, leading to a shot fired and her mother, Rhiannon, being captured. Rhiannon is now held for ransom for an astonishing ONE BILLION dollars. If Ross fails to pay, her mother will be lost forever.

Faced with no other options, Ross must compete in The Thieves’ Gambit to secure her mother's release. The real game is about to begin.

I was captivated by every twist and turn in this novel and impressed by the intricate layers and interwoven characters. Rhiannon’s words, 'Trust no one,' echo throughout this brilliant story.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group for an e-copy for an honest review.

Thieves' Gambit is an incredibly strong debut that will keep guessing every page until the final reveal. Kayvion Lewis was not only able to create a large cast, but was also able to maintain the individuality and voice of each character through the eyes of our main character, Ross. I applaud the use of a single point of view, as it kept me guessing as information was revealed.

While there are several twists, they all felt believable in the context, and not like there was one twist too many. Lewis kept me in the dark until the very last chapter where she masterfully ties the loose ends for this story, while also setting up a cliffhanger leading into the next book. I am eagerly awaiting Heist Royale and the high-paced adventure that is sure to continue!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

I really liked this book! The description said it was a mix of The Inheritance Games and Oceans Eleven and I couldn’t agree more. It was action packed, had my heart racing at times, and kept me on my toes. I cannot wait for the next one!

A huge thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Thieves’ Gambit - Kayvion Lewis
5✨
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, I haven’t read The Inheritance Games or seen Oceans eleven. And I was pleasantly surprised, I do love suspense books, ones that keep me on my toes and those with twists I didn’t see coming. This book has all of that and more! I must say that one of the twists at the end had my jaw drop to the floor because my gosh I did not see that one coming!
I loved that they traveled around the world for the game/heists it made it all more interesting and fun. The fact that they had these well known crime families that sort of “ruled” each continent was also a nice touch! I am personally NOT a criminal so I can’t tell you how authentic all of the stealing and criminal enterprises are, but from my obsession with the Despicable me and Minions movies that I have watched way to many times, I can say it seems legit. Anyway here is what I would say you will get from this book,
💎Suspense
💎Betrayal
💎May the best thief win
💎Heist competition
💎Kidnapping
💎Action packed

I can’t wait for the next book, because hello? You can’t just leave us hanging like that!
Thank you NetGalley, Kayvion and Penguin young reader’s group for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily 💕

This was such a fun read! The blurb intrigued me because Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Eight were two of my favorite movies growing up. I also really enjoyed The Inheritance Games trilogy, and this book definitely gave off some of those vibes.

I adored all of the characters. This book gave off major found family vibes that I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to see more of this friend group in the next book! I’m also looking forward to reading more about Ross and Devroe after that insane ending! The tension between those two is going to drive me crazy.

Those heists were so much fun to read about! I couldn't put my Kindle down, I was so anxious to see what would happen next. Some of the plot was predictable, but that didn't stop me from being shocked by the plot twist at the end. It definitely made me want to immediately pick up the next book! I'm sad that I have to wait until November 12th, but know that I'll be waiting impatiently.

4.5 stars Excellent, fast-paced heist/quest/contest story, with multiple well-developed characters. One point of view narration. Light romance, family drama. I appreciated all the twisty turns of the plot, including several that will likely surprise readers who aren't as familiar with the tropes of the genre (which were winked at throughout—very fun.) Clever, punchy dialogue and very Oceans-11 vibe. Loved all the diversity, with characters’ heritages & histories woven smoothly into the text. Impressive levels of complications in the tasks they have to perform and how they handle it.
I only struggled with two things: 1. Sometimes I had to work to keep up my suspensions of disbelief. I’m not talking here about the action-stuff, either. If you’re going to read a thriller about teenage master thieves, you’d better be prepared to nod along at their ability to jump from balcony to balcony or whatever. I had a harder time accepting the likelihood of our heroine being such a decent person at heart when raised the way she was. However, it did make for a heroine I could root for. 2) The other issue for me was for the suddenness of the ending. I read this in one day—page-turning writing—and the abrupt ending felt jarring. I wanted more of her reaction to what she's learned. But I know not everyone wants as much wrap up as I like.
Overall, by the end, the main plot was wrapped up, we got our answer of who won and lots of other neat reveals at the end… all great! And the last line is perfect. Luckily, there was definitely a book 2 set up nicely here. In fact, I just learned that it is coming out in November, so I’ll definitely pick it up to see what happens. So I guess the emotional cliffhanger ending worked. Lol Good job, Kayvion Lewis!
(PS - DO NOT read the blurb of book 2 before reading book 1 if you want a totally unspoiled read.)

En bref, j'ai aimé l'intensité des personnages et de tout ce qui leur tombe dessus, Ross est une voleuse, menteuse et manipulatrice efficace mais elle va se mesurer à des personnes de son acabit. J'ai apprécié de la voir se battre pour ce qui compte pour elle, les mots nous entrainent très facilement à sa suite et je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde, bien au contraire. Certaines choses se devinent assez facilement alors que d'autres vont nous scotcher et j'ai hâte de voir ce que la suite va donner étant donné les choix finaux. Vivement mais en attendant, foncez en librairie le 1ier février !!

3.5⭐️

Fast paced book with thieves and heist, and an inter plot line, perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The ending of this book has me gripping for the next one, and I can’t wait to see the direction this book series takes.


*Spoiler part of review*

I would have really liked more content with Mylo and I wish he had more scenes since he and Kyung-soon were my favourite characters. I also feel like Nicholi could have been a great character if he was more involved, rather than a decorative piece to give the FMC a mission/ person to protect. The ending/ ‘big plot twist’ was HIGHLY predictable, as was most of this book, but still didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

A question I had when I finished was what was going on with Taiyō? How did he get so good with no mentors and why was his target the same as Ross? Hopefully that’s answered in the second book.