(Posting my full review of this book, because I loved it so much.)

**Many thanks to Henry Holt and Company/Macmillan Publishing Group LLC and Edelweiss for an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book. Thank you o NetGalley for a sample of this book**

As of 12/9/2022, I work at Barnes and Noble. In spring of this year, I was on-shift with my coworker, Erin (please check out her blog, where she reviews YA books, Gateway Reviews! https://gatewaybookreviews.blogspot.com/?m=1), and I asked her "What book should I buy and read? Which one would you recommend?" The first one she thought of was Little Thieves (LT) by Margaret Owen. I bought a hardback copy then, I read it in June, and though I'd never read a book by her before, Ms. Owen has now become an insta-buy author for me.

Vanja and Emeric are back in this sequel, and though you don't have to read LT first, it's a whole lot sweeter if you do. I almost had to read it over again but thought, "No. I want to just jump in headfirst."

HEADS FOR THE WHITE PENNY
1. The plot of this one is ABSOLUTELY BONKERS in the best way possible. Vanja finds herself in the middle of a cult she inadvertently created, and Emeric is on the case. But, like in LT, nothing is EVER as it seems. The twists and turns I went through to get to the end of this one kept me up until 1:30am. I was never bored, and I was very anxious to see where it all landed.

2. Emeric. I cannot, CANNOT, champion this prefect's kindness, thoughtfulness, and absolutely gentlemanly care more if I tried... And he's even better in this book. Emeric is one of those beautifully written males in book history that you think is too good to be true, but has too many flaws to think he's imaginary. He makes mistakes, he says the wrong thing, he appears to be one thing but then turns what you know about him on its head... Then he shows you just how imperfectly perfect he is. He is one of the BEST examples of a non-toxic person that I've read about, and if Vanja doesn't want him, I WANT HIM. It's his budding relationship with Vanja from the first book, which carries over into the second, that makes me believe in love again.

3. Ms. Owen's sparkling use of the written word is a whole amusement park of imagery and sarcasm that makes you laugh the moment you step into the ride. So many times, I was bemused by Vanja's descriptions and antics in certain moments. I caught myself thinking "Man, I would say that in real life." The deep parts hit deep. The funny parts didn't pull their punches and knocked me out laughing. Ms. Owen's way of writing has the beautiful capability to be relatable and entertaining. Reading these two makes me really, REALLY anxious to read the two Merciful Crow books she wrote, because I know that I will not be disappointed.

TAILS FOR THE RED
(This is the part of my ARC review where I provide constructive criticism for the book I just read. Unfortunately, I am not able to do that, because this book is near flawless, and the tiny irksome bits I could somehow drag out of it are negligible at worst. One of those points is really a publisher's formatting thing that has nothing to do with Ms. Owen's text, so I'm not even going into it. Instead, I am going to leave 3 reactions I had by the end of it.)

1. Ms. Owen, YOU ENDED IT LIKE THAT?!?!! WHAAAAAAAT?!?!??

2. THERE HAS TO BE MORE. CAN I HAVE IT NOW?!? HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME WAIT!!!!

3. Thank you for writing what I never knew I needed. But seriously... I want another one.

VERDICT
...in 5/2023, buy it. Read it. Love it. Flawless ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. While you're at it, buy Little Thieves, read it (if you haven't already), love it.

Painted Devils will be a HUGE hit with ages 10-16, and anyone else also! The initial installment was SO enjoyable and this next book will be exciting to read! Just the opening alone for this book made my hungry for more. Youth will LOVE it!

I LOVED Little Thieves, but is a sequel necessary? I thought it was prefect as a stand-alone…BUT THE SEQUEL IS NECESSARY GIMME MORE

Omg this little chapter sampler was a blessing to find but also a curse. It gave me just enough to pull me in and then ended way too soon with a mini cliff-hanger! I can't wait for my physical copy to come, though May 16th feels decades away.

Only go the sampler for this and I have not read Little Thieves, but it was enough for me to want to read this and Little Thieves. The first chapter was enough of intrigue to get me hooked.

This is just a sample so take this review so far with a grain of salt. After reading the first few chapters, this book seems like a great book. I am looking forward to possibly being able to read the whole book soon. It is hard to rate just a few chapters however these chapters look quite promising for the book. I would say my rating is very preliminary and not a reflection of the full book. I enjoyed this sneak peak.

Thank you!

Simply put: I am waiting for this book like an absolutely feral, wild creature and I will be completely unstable until it's in my hands. I'm grateful for this morsel and yet it only made the wait that much more brutal.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this sequel, since the first book wrapped up so nicely. From this short sampler, it looks like we’re going to get an exploration of the gods and the folklore, which I’m super excited for. This is only the first chapter, so I can’t say for sure how it’s all going to play out, but so far I’m intrigued. After having read this author’s older fantasy duology, I can definitely tell that her writing keeps improving with every book she writes. I’m often nervous about sequels beyond the main plot of the series, because they often end up feeling like they’re just tagged on for no reason other than to sell another book. I think as long as this sequel feels like it’s a necessary story to tell in this world, it’ll be great.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of the chapter sampler.

I fell in love on the first page of Little Thieves and the same happened wirh Painted Devils. I honestly can't wait to read the entire book once it is out!! Margaret Owen is a genius with words and spinning tales!!

This is a brilliant opening, giving the reader a full sense of the conflict and punching us in the gut with Vanja's very real and relatable emotions. It's a strong set up and I cannot wait to read the rest!

The devil in person must have decided that we only could read the sampler. It's so good, like I need the following chapters and even a bit more of the story (bookS)

Really good to start to the second book; I am a huge fan of Margaret Owen's writing, and I am excited to continue this duology. As it was a sampler, not a lot to review, but so far the premise of the book and what's going to/what may happen really dragged me in, and I can't wait for the full book to be available.

AHHHHHHHHH please give me the book fast AHHHHHHH I can’t wait to read my vanjameric getting reunited in more detail. I already love the sarcastic wit Vanja displays throughout the whole of one chapter and how Emeric’s first thought when he was definitely in danger was to say “I’m a Prefect”

If there is one thing in this world I want, it's this full book in my hands right now. Margaret Owen's insane little gremlin characters make me feel feral, and I am always left in awe of how well she writes these atmospheric, supernatural mysteries.

I just finished the chapter sampler on NetGalley and I could not be more excited for this book!

What an amazing start, Vanja is such a sarcastic chaotic mess in the best possible way and I think the character development in this book is going to be incredible!I can’t wait to see where Owen takes the story in this sequel.

I absolutely loved Little Thieves, so I was very excited to get this little sample. Normally, I worry about sequels not matching the tone or feeling unnecessary, but I really enjoyed this! I'm very much looking forward to Painted Devils!

I absolutely loved Little Thieves by Margaret Owen, the first book in this series so I was excited to read a sample of the upcoming Painted Devils. In just a couple chapters, I was hooked. The characters drew me right back into their world and stories.

I was a little hesitant to start this book, since I enjoyed Little Thieves so much. But I have to say this excerpt of Painted Devils impressed me, it kept up the witty tone from the first book, and the first few chapters were fast paced, immediately throwing the reader into the action without wasting time recalling the first book or reintroducing characters.

WHAT?! THAT'S IT?! I am SO lucky I got a full ARC of Painted Devils right after I finished this because UM WHAT. SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP. Seriously, how are these books this perfect? How does Margaret develop her characters in such a vivid manner? How do I both laugh and cry in the same chapter? Just how! I can't. My level of excitement for Painted Devils was already sky high but now, the limit doesn't exist. Seriously, this book is going to a masterpiece and I am both ready and not ready for it. If you haven't read Little Thieves what are you doing???

Vanja's story could be considered closed in the first installment of the Little Thieves series, but I'm grateful it was not.
Vanja is one of the most well crafted characters in literature that I have seen in the last years, her traumas can be seen reflected in her actions and she is believable, and while she may not be the best person, she is trying. And this sampler shows it.
After the events of the first book, Vanja is aiming to become a better person, but she is not having much luck on it.
Painted Devils start strong, and I'm excited to see the rest of the book.