thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this arc.

3 stars.

DNF @ 75%

soooo you're probably wondering; if i dnf'ed it, why am i still giving it three stars?

well, because i probably would have finished this if i'd had more patience because this wasn't insanely bad. i actually quite enjoyed it up until a certain point, and then it turned into every cliché romantasy book you've ever read, and i just got tired of it. that's why.

it took so long for me to even get to the 75% mark for this exact reason. i would power through certain parts to just get stuck at others because i wasn't enjoying it anymore.

maybe i would've liked it better if i'd read it at a different time. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I went into Realm of Thieves not knowing much, and wowwww ; I was hooked! A heist involving dragon eggs? Yes, please! The dragons were such a cool part of the story, and I loved how they tied into the world.

Brynla was great, but Andor totally stole my heart. The dual POV made the story even better, and I couldn’t get enough of the banter and action. Plus, Andor’s brothers? I need more of them! Some parts could’ve gone deeper, but overall, this was such a fun, fast paced read.

Karina Halle delivers a high-stakes fantasy filled with danger, betrayal, and sizzling slow-burn romance in Realm of Thieves. At its heart is Brynla Aihr, a hardened thief who has spent years stealing dragon eggs—an illegal and deadly profession that puts her at constant risk. But when she’s kidnapped and blackmailed by Lord Andor of House Kolbeck, she’s forced into a treacherous game of power, politics, and prophecy.

The world-building is immersive, blending the intrigue of warring dynasties with the ever-present threat of dragons. While the novel starts off a bit choppy in its pacing, Brynla’s character truly shines in the latter half, evolving from a hardened survivor to a force to be reckoned with. Andor and Brynla’s dynamic is electric, delivering a molten-hot slow burn romance that crackles with tension and intensity.

With twists, betrayals, and a plot that keeps you turning pages, Realm of Thieves is a thrilling fantasy read that will appeal to fans of morally gray characters, intricate political schemes, and fiery romance. Just be prepared for the heat—both from the dragons and the romance.

i loved this book!! I was so fortunate to receive this book early - thank you netgalley & berkley!! i had an amazing time and am looking forward to reading more books by Karina Halle

so unfortunately i find myself very underwhelmed by this one 😭

i typically love karina’s books for how fast paced and thrilling they are, i feel like her stories are always super unique and addicting and while i felt that way for the front half of the book i certainly did not feel that way about the rest 😭

somewhere along the lines this book hit a plateau in almost all aspects for me, the characters and the romance became very one dimensional… almost boring? i kind of only stayed in it for lemi and to finally figure out where the plot was taking me.

as im super bummed out this book didnt hit for me the way i hoped it would i definitely do see myself giving it a try through the audiobook in the future… see if that helps bring some dimension and excitement back into it for me.

When it comes to high stakes plotlines with heavy twists and turns, we can depend on Halle to deliver!

A thief — captured by a rival house who wants to use her abilities for their personal gain. I feel like Brynla’s character truly blossomed in the second to last third of the novel and the first bit was a hair choppy and could’ve used some extra care. Little things like details that could have been explained further or better.

Brynla and Andor though? Chef’s kiss. Red hot, molten lava slow burn heat. Their chemistry was off the charts and at times had me reeling.

Overall this high stakes, slow burn fantasy had a great pacing that had me devouring this book quickly.

Thank you Karina Halle, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-arc of Realm of Thieves! Let me start by saying, I am a Karina Halle fan through and through. You cannot deny how talented she is at dreaming up stories and writing. This book is unique and stands apart from any of the other books I've read by her.

I think the premise of the book is so interesting. A dragon egg thief who steals for the highest bidder and is captured by a rival House who wants to use her skills for their gain. The twists and turns kept me invested and turning pages, but it felt like there were some essential details that were glossed over that I'd love to see cleared up or elaborated on.

While the first chunk of the book was a bit tough for me, the last 30% or so absolutely did a 180 and had me hooked. Brynla's internal growth, and the romance between her and Andor felt especially magical.

"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒇, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒔."

By the end of my read, I felt like this book delivered on what I had wanted and more. Fast-paced plot, high stakes, unique world-building and a romance that lingered past the last page.

I'm eager to see where the Thieves of Dragemor series takes us next.

I absolutely love Karina Halle and will read anything she writes, across any genre! This is a great fantasy with dragons and romance and should not be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

From the very first page, this book grips you with its dangerous, intoxicating world where survival is a game of wit, risk, and ruthless ambition. Brynla Aihr is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for—sharp, fearless, and walking the razor’s edge between power and peril. As a former cult escapee turned dragon egg thief, her life is one of constant danger, but nothing prepares her for the treacherous web of crime and politics she’s forced into when Lord Andor takes her captive.

The tension between Brynla and Andor is electric, simmering with a slow-burn intensity that keeps the pages turning. Their dynamic is one of sharp banter, mistrust, and undeniable attraction, making every interaction crackle with energy. But romance is just one layer of this beautifully intricate story—there’s also pulse-pounding action, morally complex characters, and a world so richly developed you can almost feel the heat of dragon fire and the weight of the prophecies that loom over them all.

The novel’s pacing is flawless, balancing high-stakes heists, courtly intrigue, and moments of deep emotional resonance. Each twist and betrayal keeps you guessing, and the dragons—both feared and revered—loom over the narrative like mythical shadows of an ancient past waiting to reclaim their place.

This book is an exhilarating mix of danger, desire, and destiny. If you love fierce heroines, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a world teetering on the edge of chaos, this is a must-read.

As soon as I saw dragons in the description I knew I had to read it. I freaking love dragon books and two thieves fighting over dragons eggs? I’m gonna eat that up. I really enjoyed this one. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before. Loved it.

Brynla is a survivor. Having escaped from an influential cult that controls the government of her country, she lives underground and works for a crime family stealing dragon eggs to spite the cult. In the course of her work, she is kidnapped by a thief from crime family who wants her to work with him. Andor is the younger son of a noble family and is constantly trying to prove his worth by doing the dirty work that keeps their family in riches and influence. When he hatches his latest plan, he knows he wants Brynla's talents, but can he resist his feelings for her?

I love Karina Halle's contemporary and paranormal romances. I was excited to see what she would do with this romantasy genre, and I wasn't disappointed. While there is political intrigue and magic, adventure is more central to the plot of this fast paced love story. I know most fantasy readers enjoy detailed settings and descriptions of creatures and magics, and that is what keeps me from loving the genre. This book managed to build a world with a map and quick descriptions while keeping the plot centered. I will definitely recommend this to people looking for more romantasy, or looking to dip a toe into the genre but don't want to commit to 800+ pages. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I am a public librarian. Thanks to Karina Halle, Berkley and Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. I was not paid for this review. It is my honest opinion of the book that I was given.

I wanted to fully immerse into this world but I didn’t believe the romance and the progression of events.

I’m not even sure what else to say other than the pay off for a few reveals wasn’t worth it to get to.

I just wanted more from the premise I was promised

I really loved this book Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle. I was excited to read this because I've read other books by this author and have loved them. I think Brynla and Andors story was full of everything you want in a fantasy/romance. I would love to see a prequel /novella to this book about Brynlas time in the convent and how her aunt helped her escape. The only thing I would change is how often its mentioned that shes had other suitors.

I am a sucker for anything with dragons and Karina Halle delivered here. The world felt immersive and I enjoyed how information was discovered. My only complaint is that Brynla seemed to get over being kidnapped a little quickly but I did enjoy her dynamic with Andor. And of course, Lemi was the best character. I'm excited to see where this series goes next.

This romantasy was stunning and i am so happy i got to read it early!!
I really love this authors writing style, it was so immersive and easy to read.
This book was so much fun with the detailed world and the political intrigue it was perfect for me.
Brynla was such a strong and very independent character and she became my favorite character almost immediately. She is incredibly stubborn which i can definitely relate to and she is unapologetically flawed but she knows how to own it. Andor was such a great character to pair with Brynla and i just loved how vulnerable and strong he was throughout this book. his character growth was perfect.
The tension in their romance was stunning and i loved every minute of it!!
The story was fun and really interesting with the dragon eggs. I also really liked the representation for chronic pain that was in this book. You don't see it very often in books especially when it has to do with a womans monthly cycle.
This book was great and i will definitely be picking up more books by Karina Halle.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of this book. 5 stars are you kidding me this was amazing!!! This story has everything a romantasy book should have: it was full of action, adventure, heists, romance, and dragons! And a magical canine companion! I never wanted to put this book down and it had me intrigued from the start. The writing was beautiful, the plot was interesting, and the romance gaze me a buzz!

The flow of the story was so satisfying from start to finish and I read this whenever I got the chance to. Karina wrote such a compelling fantasy novel and I am fully drawn into this world now!

This book is wild. The world building and the magic was so original to me, as well as the history behind it. The humans trapped the dragons in the midlands, trapped by a powerful ward. However, the humans discovered they could get magical powers by consuming the yolk of any kind of dragon egg. But not anyone can get their hands on dragon eggs. For that, various thieves need to steal eggs from the continent of the dragons.

Brynla is a freelander and a thief of dragon eggs. I absolutely loved her character. She has suffered, endured, survived and still moves one. She is a very strong FMC. When she gets “kidnapped” by Andor the story takes a turn. We learn of another continent which is mostly ran by Andor’s family. I very much enjoyed reading about Andor but his character needs some work. He is impulsive, also smart and adventurous but when Brynla comes into his life is when you really see him change. I very much liked their relationship and how they start and how their love story evolves.
I truly think the bookish people will eat this book up, it was entertaining, full of twists and it has all the tropes most people like. Let’s not forget about the dragons.

Kendra here, your notorious Netgalley peruser! I, obviously, found this intriguing book during one of my Netgalley searches, was captivated by the book description and requested it! Special thanks to Netgalley and Ace Publishing for the advanced E-Arc!

For Brynla Aihr, crime and survival have always gone hand in hand. Ever since she escaped the fanatical dragon-worshipping cult that controls her homeland, she’s had to carve out a life doing the stealing dragon eggs. Egg theft is illegal and, in most cases, fatal. To breach a dragon's nest means a harrowing journey through the ancient wards spelled to keep the monstrous beasts confined. Dragons can’t get out and only those with a death wish can get in.

You all know I am a sucker for fantasy romance, but especially following the recent release of “Onyx Storm” I was looking for some dragons too. This book fit the mark and put in a fun twist with dragon egg heists!

I enjoyed my time in the universe, if you are looking for your next fantasy romance–her you go!

I really loved reading this book and I can not wait for more by this author!! I flew through this book because it was that good. The author did an amazing job keeping the plot interesting without it getting boring or slow. I will be recommending this book to all of the family and friends.

Karina Halle proves once again that she’s a master of her craft. Having enjoyed several of her books, I loved seeing her return to mafia-like dynamics in a fantasy setting. She seamlessly blends action, intrigue, and courtly romance, creating a world so immersive I devoured this book in one sitting.

Brynla is a fierce, headstrong heroine—flawed yet deeply relatable. Unlike the typical waif-like fantasy lead, she’s fuller-figured and strong in a way that feels real. Andor, despite being raised in a crime family, is intense, thoughtful, and deeply principled. Their chemistry is raw and compelling, striking the perfect balance between realism and intensity.

One of the standout aspects of this book was its portrayal of chronic pain. Brynla’s struggles were depicted with honesty and depth, making her journey all the more authentic and emotionally resonant. This rare representation in fantasy added an extra layer of meaning that many readers will connect with.

This book delivered everything I love in a romantasy—fast-paced quests, high stakes, vivid world-building, and a romance that lingers long after the last page. If you love mafia dynamics, dragons, and rich characters, this is a must-read. The series is just beginning, but it already feels like it belongs alongside romantasy titans like Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for the ARC!