I absolutely loved the ending to this trilogy. Little Thieves is one of the best YA books I have read in recent years and Owen's character work is unmatched. The second book kind of ended on a heart breaking cliff hanger so I was excited to see how the story played out. While the second book was a bit convoluted and even bordered on confusing at times when it came to plot, I thought Holy Terrors did a good job refocusing the story. I was a little bit disappointed that we didn't really get to see Vanja interact with her family after finally reconnecting with them in the second one. We do get little snippets about them here and there and one family member in particular is featured, but it would have been nice to get to see them as a family all together again. Overall, I really enjoyed this trilogy and I look forward to reading future work by Owen's.

Did this book feel like three separate stories rolled into one? Absolutely. Would I have rated it lower if the characters weren’t so incredible? Probably. But none of that changes how much I adored this conclusion. It gave me everything I wanted and more, and I already know I’m going to miss Vanja and Emeric deeply.

Margaret Owen deserves so much praise for crafting such distinctive and memorable characters. Vanja and Emeric’s relationship is truly one-of-a-kind—so real, full of highs and lows, yet brimming with love, respect, and humor. It stands out as one of the best romances I’ve ever read.

This book was a masterful blend of the epic, the heartbreaking, and the heartwarming. It’s rich with complexity, magic, and emotional depth. I can’t wait for the official release so I can add it to the library—it’s a story worth displaying proudly.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy!

I’ve decided to make this a combined review for both the short stories between books two and three as well as book three, because I don’t think you can jump straight into book three without reading the short stories. At the time I’m writing this 7/10 short stories have been released on the author’s ao3, and there’s a big part of me that wishes I’d been able to read all of them before book three.

Unfortunately, I got an advanced ebook copy of book three, and those have time limits before they expire. Whoever in publishing that made the decision to release the arcs before the short stories were completed really needs a stern DON’T DO THAT. EVER. That was so stupid, because the short stories are extremely plot relevant. I basically had to spoil myself for the short stories because of this. I am grateful I was able to read it early, but at this point, I almost wish I hadn’t read it early. You should not want your arc readers to feel like they wish they’d read the book after it was published instead of the arc. That should never be the goal.

So now that I’ve finished the series (aside from short stories 8-10), I can officially say that this is definitely one of my favorite YA series of all time. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel after book two had a bit of middle book syndrome, but now I can confirm that it’s worth it to stick the series out to the end, no matter how you felt about book two. Book two is sort of like a side quest that introduces new characters and really hones in on character development.

When book two first came out, many people who read it wished they’d just treated Little Thieves like a stand alone, because they thought it was totally unnecessary. After reading book three, I do think book two was absolutely necessary for the trilogy as a whole. I do think you can still look at book one as a stand alone if you want, but I do think it’s worth it to continue, because the main themes of the series as a whole don’t get introduced until book two.

This is really a series about what happens after you’ve been through a traumatic event, how you push people away, how you find healing, all that kind of stuff. If you just read book one, you get the fun story and it wraps up neatly, but you don’t get the entirety of the author’s vision. She uses books two and three to have some really great conversations about the themes, which I think is going to be really important for many teens reading this. I got the feeling that’s where the author was going with this in book two, but I couldn’t say for sure until I actually finished the trilogy.

As for the plot of the third book, there are a bunch of royal people dying, and our main character gets blamed for it. And then after the Empress is killed, all the royal families get called back to the capital to figure out who is going to be in charge next. It turns into a locked house murder mystery really quick. If I was only partially certain that the author had read Gideon the Ninth when I read book two, I’m absolutely certain of it now. She has clearly taken a lot of inspiration from my favorite series of all time, which of course made me love this so much more.

My favorite part of this series is that it’s so funny. Often in fantasy we get these really epic stories where it’s super dark and political, but this series manages to mix the seriousness of what’s happening with lighthearted moments in a way that’s so hard to do. I love how much this series really leans into humor when it can, because you’re also dealing with how these characters are healing from the stuff they’ve experienced and sometimes done to each other.

My other favorite part of this series is the main character, Vanja. She’s not a good character most of the time. She commits crimes. She does horrible things to people. But somehow you still want to root for her, because you love her when she’s doing good for herself. And even when she’s being evil, it’s really funny, so who cares if it’s evil? Certainly not me.

It’s really hard to find YA books where the characters’ morals aren’t held up to these extremely high standards. Do people think teens need perfectly moral main characters or else they’ll turn out like that themselves? How does that even work, exactly? Kids need to see characters who make mistakes and then later make up for it and find forgiveness, because that’s a universal experience we all go through at some point in our lives. And we have to learn to forgive ourselves as well. Being told that all these characters are perfect isn’t going to teach teens anything about how to move on from mistakes. It’s just going to teach them to be ashamed of the things they’ve done, and then they’ll hide it from adults and get themselves into even trickier situations because they don’t feel like they can talk to anyone.

This is what I love so much about this series. If I had read these as a teen, I would have eaten them up the same way I do now, and I’d likely have learned lessons from them I didn’t already know at the time. I just know these books are going to make teens feel incredibly seen, and for that I love them.

I’ve so far read every single book that Margaret Owen has written, and I loved all of them. She has such a unique mind for world building. This world has a rule where if enough people believe in a god, then that god becomes real somehow. Her other series has a magic system based on birds which has to do with the plague. It’s so fascinating to see her craft these worlds, because they’re unlike anything I’ve read before. Usually, fantasy authors like to keep their world building and magic systems totally separated, or they blend them completely into one concept. Margaret Owen has found a way to stand in between those two extremes without it feeling like soft magic or world building.

At some point after I’ve given this enough time to forget most of the little details, I want to go back and reread this trilogy all at once. There are so many details to remember from book to book. I think it would be really fun to binge it at some point, because then I’ll remember all the details from one book to the next.

If anything I’ve said in this review or my others for this series sound interesting to you, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. I cannot wait to see what else Margaret Owen will come up with next. I’d love to get a new series from her.

I had high hopes heading into Holy Terrors based on my reading experience with the first two books in the series and, as usual, Margaret Owens does not disappoint. It was a great return to the world and the characters and gives them a much more satisfying ending than book 2 did.

Vanya and Ragne remain some of my favorite characters, and we get plenty of the Vanya and Emeric banter. We also get to see many old characters and get to love some new ones. As usual with Margaret Owens, don't get too attached to any of them though. I did start getting a little confused with the story because we see some of the characters 'roads not taken', but everything came together in the end.

It's hard to give details without any spoilers so I'll keep it short - if you read and enjoyed the first two, this is a finale you will not be disappointed by. So don't skip this one, 4.5 stars!

First off, massive thank you to the publisher for this ARC copy! My heart is yours, forevermore.

Secondly, incredible amount of praise for Margaret Owen, who not only listened to me SCREAM in her DMs while reading this, but also shattered my heart and repaired it between the pages of this book.

If you're new here, hi, I'm obsessed with Margaret Owen's writing. If you've been here a while, then you should know I would walk over hot coals for Vanja & this book changed nothing for me. Incredible, iconic, she's that girl.

This book took me to hell & back with the emotions and the whiplash, and the PLOT. Dear God the plot. There was never a moment where I felt the characters were ever safe from the next looming dread, and I loved it. The arc, the growth, the feels felt, and the FIOSEHFIAEBSIUN;FO's screamed. I cannot wait for y'all to have and love this as much as I did

The audacious and complicated end to an audacious and complicated trilogy! I love the way Owen was not afraid of backstepping character growth and showing how learning often involves relearning. the dialogue was consistently funny and the characters are a joy to be with. I did feel a little unmoored or even utterly lost at times between shifting realities, but this was overall a satisfying ending to a series I would happily recommend!

I loved this book. It's a great ending to the trilogy and a really interesting murder mystery plot. I will miss these characters so much but I can't wait to see what Owen writes next!

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for an ARC.

Two years after taking down a cult, Vanja continues as the Pfennigeist, righting wrongs for people who can’t expect societal systems to be just. But someone starts murdering nobles and leaving the Pfennigeist’s signature penny on the bodies…

The Little Thieves books have become some of my absolute favorite fairytale retellings, taking the original story and doing something really interesting and entertaining with them. If I had to describe them in one word, that word would be ‘madcap’. Holy Terrors is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, and I think you’ll enjoy this one if you liked the first two.

In a departure from the other volumes, Holy Terrors is a sort of locked room mystery where these murders happen in a way that seems impossible, there’s a limited cast of characters, and some hints are dropped throughout that the savvy reader (savvier than me, at least) could conceivably figure out who the murderer is. It can be fun at times, but the mystery plot took an obvious backseat to the relationship between Vanja and Conrad, of course. The heartache, the bitterness, and the banter ring so true.

While I think I may have enjoyed the mystery more if I had reread the earlier books beforehand or had an excellent memory for side characters, this is still a five-star read for me. I’m looking forward to going through the entire trilogy again (along with the Fallow Year stories, which I haven’t read yet but are available on AO3) so I can appreciate it even more.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I was sucked in immediately and could not stop until the book was over. The plot was interesting and kept a good pace which is something I really look for in a book. Also the characters were unique and there journey kept me enticed the entire time. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

Vanya is back after running from Emeric nearly two years ago, returning to her role as the Pfennigeist, bringing justice to those that fall through the Prefects and Justice's cracks. Now murders of nobles with the Pfennigeist's signature making Vanya look guilty of murder bring them back together abruptly. Can they work together to find the killer before it's too late?

I loved this third book so much, what a way to cap off this trilogy! Margaret gives you multiple outcomes to consider that are quickly discarded because they aren't the decisions Vanya ultimately makes and they do not fit the story well, even if you thought you wanted them. The banter between these characters is excellent and a lot of fun. The ending certainly packs a punch that had me tearing up

Thank you to Macmillian Children's Publishing Group for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 4/1/25. I'll be posting to Instagram in the coming weeks.

I have absolutely adored the Little Thieves series from the moment I picked up the first book, and so I nearly fell out of my chair when I was lucky enough to be approved for an eARC of Holy Terrors. And firstly let me say: THIS is how you finish a series.

Vanja is easily in my pantheon of favorite characters I've ever had the pleasure to read about. She's complex, spirited, a little mean, and compulsively flawed. She's also so easy to root for. So much of Holy Terrors is about reckoning with your past and the way your decisions have impacted your present (and will impact your future) and her character sticks the landing in tremendous fashion. Margaret Owen continues to handle her demisexuality (as someone on the ace spectrum, it's so so special to me to see two characters at the forefront of a book and in a relationship/being desired by others and each other who are ace-spec) and relationship with Emeric with the utmost care and nuance, and the friendships we've watched bloom over the previous two books all continue to take root here. The plot is quickly paced with all the twists and turns you'd expect from Owen and the art, of course, is spectacular. I can't wait to do a re-read of all three books when I get my hands on a physical copy, but this might just be my favorite of the trilogy.

Firstly, read the acknowledgments. You ALWAYS should anyway but don't skip.

Secondly, thank you so much to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Margaret Owen for the eARC. (Had a complete freakout at Disney World when I saw the approval)

Now, to the review. Honestly I'm sad that this series has ended. I adore all of the characters and did not want to say goodbye to them (how am I to go on without reading about my favorite grumpy filing cabinet??).
HOWEVER, this BOOK. Margaret Owen really did that. Why do we love when authors put us through the ringer so much?? Despite being sad that it's over, Holy Terrors an amazing ending to this trilogy. In true Margaret Owen fashion this book puts you through all the feels. One minute your'e distraught and the next you're cracking up. Owen also did a wonderful job of tackling the heavy themes and making them feel real rather than preachy. Oh and I loved the murder mystery vibe! I will forever been insisting to everyone I know to read this trilogy.

In the thrilling conclusion to the series, readers are reunited with Vanja, who has yet again blown off Emeric Conrad due to her unresolved trauma and abandonment issues. Of course, there is no such thing as mundane for Vanja and hijinks ensue. She, along with a loveable cast of characters (and of course Emeric) must solve the crime before it destroys everything around them!

This is an excellent story. While the second book could be read as a stand-alone, the finale lacks the same depth to the explanations of past events. Read the other books first!

Additionally, this novel struggled a bit with pacing and had several points where it was easy to lose focus. Those areas were brief and well-spaced, so it does not derail the entire storyline. While not quite as perfect as the first two books, this is still a stunning YA fantasy. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

It will speak to many teens and should be in libraries and home collections.

Thank you to Net Galley, MacMillan Children's Publishing Group, and Henry Holt and Co for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Macmillan, Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.

I love this series. Vanja is such a special character. She is complex, fallible, and sometimes cruel. She is also caring, compassionate, and grows so much over this series. Watching her fight so many of her demons throughout feels real and raw. The characters were rich, the magic system was excellent, and I loved watching the dynamics play out. The series will make you laugh as much as it makes you cry.

One of my most favorite things about this series is the relationship between Emeric and Vanja. I started this book heartbroken, but loved watching them make magic together.

I will say I had a hard time keeping up with the murder plot in this book, especially in the second half. There were a lot of threads to follow, with many twists and turns, and the end takes a slightly psychedelic turn where I wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t. (I did also read this at work and after long shifts, so take that with a grain of salt.)

I think this story will be best when readers have taken the time to read The Fallow Years. I only had the strength to skim the chapters, because the end of Painted Devils broke my freaking heart and I couldn’t stomach reading more about Vanja and Emeric mutually suffering. The book does fill in the gaps of timelines and relationships, but they do feel a bit more threadbare without the full context.

Ultimately, this was incredible. I did feel a bit lost in the final climax, but this book still gutted me and then put me back together better than before.

A thrilling, gut-wrenching, and heartbreaking conclusion to a series I don't want to say goodbye to. With a slight tonal shift at the beginning, it was incredible to join Vanya on her journey of self-discovery and redemption while she solves a string of murders for which she's being framed. With trademark wit and twists that keep you guessing up to the last page, this finale is not one to miss. Now, to return and reread the first book so I really don't have to let go.

I can't believe this series is officially over with this book. This has been such a fun and wild ride.

Holy Terrors is honestly one of the BEST endings/third book to a trilogy that I have ever read. I didn't want to put it down. I frequently found myself reading so fast that I was jumping lines and had to force myself to slow down. So much happened and right when you think things are about to slow down, Margaret Owen proved you wrong. I felt like I was fighting for my life along side the characters. So much happened that I felt like I didn't have time to properly process my emotions. I didn't even have time to cry.

If you are a swiftie, I made a comparison to the performance for 'The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived' on the Eras tour (the performance, not the song!) where Taylor and her backup dancers are marching down the stage, the red lights flashing as they continue taking the hits. That's how I felt. (And I mean this in the BEST way possible!) If you are not a swiftie, or do not understand that reference, I highly recommend googling the performance. To summarize, Taylor and her backup dancers march down the stage, Taylor singing and her backup dancers drumming, like they are marching into a battle. Each time a red light flashes, Taylor jerks back like she is taking a hit and her backup dancers start going down one by one. By the end, Taylor is on the ground trying to hold on and finish the song. To me that is how this book felt. We go into it like we are marching into battle, thinking we know what to expect. But then the hits just. keep. coming. It's the kind of pain from a book that readers crave. Why do we love it when author's break our hearts?

Not to be too dramatic, but I wasn't just fighting for my life at the end of the book, it felt like I was the *entire* book, between the romance and other conflicts I won't go into detail on for the sake of spoilers. I didn't even have time to really let the emotions of what was happening hit me because there was just so much happening. It wasn't until I took a break that the emotions actually hit me... and there were some tears.

Finishing Holy Terrors was bittersweet because the book itself was incredible, but now the series is over. Everyone I know who read an ARC agreed they have never read such an amazing last book in a trilogy before. I'm so excited for everyone to read it!!! There probably are so many things that I didn't pick up on the first time, and I think it will be just as fun to reread. I can't wait to have a physical copy to annotate!!!!!

Good Luck guys! You're gonna need it ;)

IN TEARS!!!! I love this series so much. Thank you NetGalley for my review copy.

“It's been nearly two years since Vanja brought down the cult she started, and she’s still paying the price. As the Pfennigeist, she bucks the law in order to help the desperate and haunt the corrupt all across the empire—and no matter what, she works alone.

But an impossible killer is tearing through royalty, and leaving Vanja’s signature red penny on every victim. Suddenly the Pfennigeist is no longer a folk hero but a nightmare. When even the Blessed Empress falls, the empire’s seven royal families must gather to elect her successor within a matter of weeks, or risk the collapse of reality itself… even though it puts every house in the killer’s sights.

Vanja tells herself she’s wading into the royalty’s vicious games only to save the name she made, and the loved ones also in jeopardy. But the Order of Prefects has also put their sharpest official on the case, the one who swore he’d always find Vanja—until she broke his heart. Journeyman Prefect Emeric Conrad may no longer be the boy Vanja knew, but they’ll have to work together one last time to have any chance of surviving the deadly catastrophe coming for them all.

With bloody conspiracy, sinister magic, and old adversaries closing in, it will take everything Vanja has to save not just the people she loves, but the future she’s fought for. In this thrilling final chapter of the Indie Next series Little Thieves, New York Times-bestselling author Margaret Owen shows us the pain and beauty of choosing which demons to face, and which to forgive.“

I don’t want to give too many spoilers, I just want to say it’s worth it! It’s a worthy end to a fantastic trilogy.

Man, am I sad this series is done. Margaret Owen is such a talented writer, and these characters are so endearing. I would read a dozen of these books, at least.

One thing I will say about this one is that is does get a bit confusing. I'm sure I was confused at times because of things I just didn't remember from the previous two books. But there were a LOT of characters in this one (ie. the royalty) and a LOT of characters who died to keep track of. And sometimes something would be mentioned as if we already knew what is was, but even if it was mentioned previously, I needed a reminder.

But other than that, this book was a fantastic conclusion to this delightful series.

Holy Terrors is the final book in Margaret Owen’s trilogy starring Vanja and Emeric. These two…are some of my FAVORITE.characters and their banter did not disappoint this book. As always, Owen’s characters are so vivid and well done that they jump off the page. Regarding the plot, for the most part I enjoyed it. There was just a point where I was kind of like “we are STILL dealing with this?”. I liked the twist and how that was done, and overall it was a very good read! This is a trilogy I will continue to recommend to my friends and anyone who will listen. Great work!

I love this series with all my heart. Thank you to net galley for approving my request. It pained me to read Vanya and Emeric's final chapter especially as they were very and intensely at odds with each other, clawing at each other throats to see who could draw the most blood.
*SPOILERS*
Margaret Owens did a great job writing the drama that happens when your ex finds someone else or when you still have lingering feelings for one enough despite everything I really loved reading those tense, harsh moments between the both of them even though it really hurt. Also I usually don't like anything to do with time travel but Margaret created time travel and different dimensions in her own way and it was so PERFECT I loved it. I also really enjoyed the little stories about Vanya because at first I thought it was just a cool way of retelling the first two books but it's not until you get close to the end that it is so much more than that and you gasp as you realize it. I really enjoyed this series, it's my favorite and I am very grateful to have had read this early.