Published By: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 384
Released On: 26/09/2023
Reading Age: 14+
Challenge: Join the Thieves’ Gambit, a cut-throat competition to crown the world’s greatest thief
Rule 1: Never fall in love with your opponent
Rule 2: The only thief you can trust is yourself
Endgame: Win the heist to save your family – and yourself . . .
Seventeen-year-old Rosalyn Quest was raised by a legendary family of thieves with one rule: trust no one. When her mother is kidnapped, her only chance to save her is to win the Thieves’ Gambit – a deadly competition for the world’s best thieves, where the victor is granted one wish. To win, she must outwit all of her backstabbing competitors, including her childhood archnemesis. But can she take victory from the handsome, charming boy who makes a play for her heart and might be hiding the most dangerous secret of all?
*****
Thanks to Nina Douglas PR for the gifted copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This was every bit as thrilling as I hoped it would be. I very much enjoyed it. I’d say it definitely hits the Young Ault (YA) market directly, and so if you’re into really hard-hitting, tortuous, adult literary pieces, it’s probably not your thing. But if you’re after fun and adventure and thrill, then this will definitely be up your street. I also read that it is book one in a duology so it will be fun to see how Kayvion follows up on this one. The ending is satisfying enough for it’s own book but it does tease the promise of more fun.
I read the bulk of this when I was in bed with COVID and my attention span was limited, but on the whole, it kept me involved and interested. It was a real escape. I heard that the film rights were bought even more the book was published, which says a lot about the story and I could visualise it almost instantly.
Rosalyn is a fantastic main character. At 17, she’s not your typical teenager. Lonely, no friends, little family, no schooling, and a world she no longer wants to be a part of. She felt very grown up, but at times we saw the teenager in her, the naivety and innocence that young adults have. The job she lives means she has had to grow up quickly, but the isolation means she can be a bit childish at times as she has no-one to emulate or work off.
As a reader who has white skin, I’ve never had to search for a relatable action star, and I fully appreciate that luxury. But for women, especially young women and girls, of colour, it has been harder to see themselves in these kind of roles, in positive and powerful roles, as the heroine. And that’s what Kayvion has managed to do here. Rosalyn is a young black woman, but her race is not an important factor, as such. She is just a character who happens to be dark skinned. But I can fully appreciate how important it is for readers to see this in mainstream book, and I thought she has made Rosalyn into such a powerful badass that she’s going to be the fictional idol for many young girls, no matter their race.
I like that Kayvion has kept bits in that make teenagers teenagers. Worries about school, flirting, grudges between friendship groups – when we get lost in the danger of it all, we’re reminded that at the end of the day, they are just kids.
I didn’t like Rosalyn’s mum, right from the off. I won’t say for what reasons for fear of spoiling, but as harsh as it seems, I was quite glad she was kidnapped. I felt there was clearly a reason she deserved it. Even though I had this immediate thought, she was also intriguing and so I wanted to see how she developed. It’s not much a spoiler, considering the blurb says she gets kidnapped, but she’s not in the book very much, so I didn’t get a huge chance to evolve my opinion on her, but I could see her influence on Rosalyn and I look forward to learning more about their relationship if possible.
There’s definitely a bit of Hunger Games about it, which shouldn’t have been a surprise really. I’ve heard people comparing it to these other series, such as Hunger Games, as well as Squid Games, Inheritance Games, and Ocean’s Eleven. I was worried if it would be too close to these stories, but whilst it does take successful elements, it is clearly its own work and it works very well. The more I got into it, the more I felt there was a hint of Stormbreaker and Alex Rider about it.
It’s not just about thrills and spills though. There is something much deeper in this book than “just” a thriving game. Everyone’s got their own secrets and wishes and reasons to play, and it was fascinating to dive deep into them. There is so much depth, so many twists and turns that just come out of nowhere. I was totally absorbed in this world.
Does it stretch reality a bit? Sure. Not everything is feasible I would say. But I’m not sure that’s a negative. It’s rooted in enough reality for the reader to acknowledge and recognise, but with enough twists and spark to make it a fun adventure.
I mean, I am more than double Amazon’s recommended reading age, and even I thought it was epic and thrilling enough to hold my attention, so I would definitely recommend this to readers in the + section of 14+ !
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