Super fast read. Read it in a day. I enjoyed this one. Went into it looking for a motorcycle romance. Got a little bit of it, but I wanted more time with the main characters. I feel like the characters needed to be more flushed out. The plot was fun and I enjoyed the magic system in this book. Overall, it was a fun, quick read.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO DEVILS & THIEVES BY JENNIFER RUSH?
Devils & Thieves by Jennifer Rush sounded like such a cool book. Also? Rush seems to have a great writing reputation. I know quite a few people who were into her previous series. I have not read it, myself. However, you all know how hype works. I decided to give Devils & Thieves a whirl as I had not listened to urban fantasy in a long time. Plus, it is on my Netgalley queue and as I say this over and over and over in my reviews, I am making bettering my ratio a priority. Thanks to Hoopla recently adding this audiobook, it was TIME.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Jennifer Rush’s Devils & Thieves is the first book in a new series. It follows this teenage girl named Jemmie Carmichael. Jemmie lives in this town called Hawthorne which if I remember correctly is in upstate NY. She is surrounded by magic and people who use magic – called Kindled. However, Jemmie herself does not seem to have the ability to cast spells without feeling pain. What sucks even more, she was dating this guy named Crowe who is a super powerful Kindled. Crowe leads a motorcycle gang called the Devils’ League. This is very important and comes into play with the book later on.

Anyways Hawthorne gets invaded by all kinds of Kindled for a festival. Also, Jemmie’s dad comes back and that’s a big deal because he has been kind of absent. Of course, Jemmie blames herself. Meanwhile, different Kindled people go missing. When one of Jemmie’s best friends go missing, she has to reluctantly team up with Crowe to find out what is going on. Ultimately, it may be that Jemmie has the most powerful magic of all.

HOW DID I LIKE DEVILS & THIEVES?
So, as it turns out, I am not much of a biker fan. I suppose there’s not much that is appealing to me about motorcycles. However, I am a fan of books about magic users and was hoping for something unique in that aspect. What I got with Devils & Thieves was a whole lot going on. There’s family drama. There’s some self consciousness issues. Also, there’s a love triangle. Then there’s drama between the Kindled. There is a lot to keep track of while listening to this book. At least, it felt like a lot to me. I think that this was an okay read, but I won’t pursue reading any further in the series. It is just not for me. I’ll stick to Holly Black and Ilona Andrews when I need an urban fantasy fix.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook is narrated by Devon Hales. Hales is a new to me audiobook narrator. I think she did a nice job with the book. She did not have any annoying voices or habits. I was easily engaged by her reading. On the whole, I think this is a well produced audiobook. It is crisp and professional and easy to understand. I listened to this audiobook at 1.5 and 2x speed depending on mood.

DEVILS & THIEVES by Jennifer Rush (Oct., 2017; Little Brown; SLJ: Grade 8 up) is filled with plenty of magic – most characters have their own special traits and world building explanations are necessary. Many are members or affiliated with competing motorcycle gangs in a "kindled world" that exists alongside humans and doesn't deal in money – it deals in power. Jemmie is a strong female character who is attracted to Crowe Medici, brother of her friend Alex and leader of the Black Devils. Once Alex is kidnapped, adventures really begin and secrets abound as Jemmie (often muting her sensitivity to magic with alcohol) and Crowe attempt to rescue her. DEVILS & THIEVES is the first in a planned series which I would describe it as a not very demanding, relatively fast read; Booklist gave a starred review to this twist on urban fantasy.

Wow was this a fresh and unique take on magic, blending some of my favorite magical aspects into one awesome book! It felt like Harry Potter meets motorcycle gangs meets Ilona Andrew's Hidden Legacy series. Harry Potter came in with the magic being secret and not allowed to be used in front of norms, as well as a villainous plot reminiscent of Voldemort. The motorcycle gang part is pretty self explanatory and all the more fun for it. And then Hidden Legacy comes in with the use of different magical bloodlines. The overall package made for an incredibly enjoyable and fascinating read. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and I'm so glad this is going to be a series.

That being said, as much as I wanted to rate this book a resounding five star read, the heroine's character held me back. She's so standoffish and weak. Mad at the world, and unnessesarily hiding so much. Especially when it's obvious to the reader from page one that things she's hiding are an asset rather than a detriment. It just made it rather hard to connect with her at times, and despite the incredible world and nail biting plot, I just couldn't completely immerse myself as deep as I would have liked to. HOWEVER, by the end she started to change and grow a bit and I actually feel like this path will be an asset to the series in the end. She has so much potential now to grow, and I can't wait to see it.

All in all this was a fascinating read that truly stands out in the sometimes saturated paranormal YA genre. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this one, and I can't wait to see what's next!

Devils & Thieves gave me old-school YA vibes, which I’ve been craving lately. I loved the idea of bikers and magic, and was curious to see how Jennifer Rush would weave them together. Though the book wasn’t without its flaws, I found to be quite enjoyable, and by the end, I was definitely invested enough to want to continue on with the series.

The magic system in Devils & Thieves was quite interesting and was was what predominantly got me going through the book. It’s a world in which some people have magic and some don’t. Jemmie, the protagonist, has magic, but hasn’t been able to use it for a while now because it makes her grotesquely sick. This leads her to feeling isolated among her friends in the biker gang, and the story goes deeper into her struggles with this. Her relationship with her father is also a highlight of Devils & Thieves. It’s a contentious relationship as Jemmie is still hurting and angry that her father left her and hasn’t made much of an effort in his daughter’s life. We see that change in Devils & Thieves, and though Jemmie is still incredibly wary, she attempts to repair her damaged relationship with him.

Then, there’s her relationship with Crowe, her best friend’s protective older brother, and someone she clearly has history with. Though we’re not immediately privy to the nature of their relationship, it’s slowly and steadily revealed as the story progressed. Crowe himself was a mysterious boy, with a lot of intensity and gruffness surrounding him. We only get the see glimpses of his personality, so I’m hoping we get to know him better in the subsequent books. I honestly can’t say that I was that invested in this romance as there seemed to be a lot of hurt between the two. There was also a pseudo love triangle at play here, and though it’s quite obvious who Jemmie will most likely end up with, I still found it to be an unnecessary addition.

Speaking of things I didn’t like, I also thought the plot could have done with a little bit more tightening. It’s slow-going and involves a mystery that I found to be quite predictable. It didn’t entirely hinder my enjoyment of the story, but I would have liked to see it executed better. I also would have liked to see more in terms of the history and world building of the motorcycle clubs and their rivalries.

In the end, I found Devils & Thieves to be an entertaining read that offered something fresh in YA this year. I’m excited to see where Jennifer Rush takes the story to next.

You ever just know that a book is going to be for you but that you have to be in the right mood or frame of mind for it in order for it to work out that way? That's me and this book. I'd wanted to read it since I first heard about it, having loved Jennifer Rush's Altered series. But I read some mixed reviews and so I put it off. And put if off. Until yesterday when I decided I was ready for a little magic and some hot bikers. I was not disappointed! It's a little predictable and the characters are a little cookie-cutter, but I loved how the magic of the world was explained. There were a lot of different types of magic to keep track of, but it wasn't overwhelming, especially with the main character's sensitivity to it. And that ending! I would totally be okay with leaving off on that creepy note, totally left wondering, but I'm also glad to see that GR shows this is only the first book. This was such a fun story and I can't wait to see what's next for the Devils' League and their cohorts!

Devils & Thieves falls more on the upper middle grade, younger YA age group. It is certainly a fun read with similarities to Beautiful Creatures. If you are looking for something different and don't mind books for a younger audience, this is a great one to check out!

It's not a bad book, but it leans more toward the younger and melodramatic tone of YA. Not really for me.

2.5 stars

I had been looking forward to this story for the longest time and it breaks my heart to rate this so low.

I liked Jemmie well enough. She’s got some issues with her magic and because of that, she spends the first half of the book getting drunk. The other half of the book is her figuring things out and the entire time she’s obsessing over Crowe.

Plot wise, it was interesting, but I was so bored so quickly. Things do happen, but there wasn’t any sort of urgency until the last 50 pages. And it doesn’t seem like Jemmie has any growth. She goes from not being able to use magic, to having loads of power and it felt clunky to me. She even makes a comment about needing to practice, but goes home and takes a nap.

My main complaint is that there is a lot a lot a lot of information. There are a loads of characters and like 12 different types of magic and it was a lot to try to keep track of. So, yeah, most of the time I didn’t know who had what magic or what it could do or what club they were from.

Overall, it was an interesting concept and had an awesome ending. I will probably read the next one out of sheer curiosity.

**Huge thanks to Little, Brown for providing the arc free of charge**

GRADE: C+

Favorite Quote: “I was going to throw myself into the sea and take the devil with me.”

Reviewed by Tori

Another reviewer remarked this story is as if Harry Potter had joined the Sons of Anarchy rather than heading to Hogwarts. And they were right. Angry, convoluted, suspenseful, and angsty, Rush’s newest series takes readers on an adventure into a secretive world where motorcycle gangs dominate, magic is currency, and the fate of them all rests on the shoulders of an eighteen-year-old alcoholic whose sensitivity to magic has left her almost powerless. Taking some liberties, Rush builds an engaging fantasy world with plenty of potential and room to grow. While it is being marketed as an urban fantasy, there is a strong romantic element that isn’;t normally this prevalent int he beginning. The magic itself is interesting and I enjoyed that Rush doesn’t just dump the information on us. She takes her time explaining the nine main branches of magic-Venemon, Animalia, Animus, Invictus, Inlusio, Locant, Arma, Terr, and Omnias-as they are each introduced into the storyline; allowing for easier comprehension.

Heavily character driven, the story is revealed to us through the eyes of Jemmie Carmichael, your everyday average teenager with a penchant for melodramatic behavior and a huge secret that affects her own magic. Strong narrative helps us to understand Jemmie and the world she lives in. We are privy to all her thoughts, good and bad, as she struggles to find her own path.

Rush portrays Jemmie honestly, allowing her to grow at her own rate. She carries a huge chip on her shoulder, angry at the world, and at times I found myself rolling my eyes at something she does or says. A reluctant hero whose love for her best friend and loyalty to the MC is what finally compels her to straighten up and work through her magical issues.

A varied secondary cast offers readers plenty of food for thought though they are merely there to prop up up Jemmie. I hope we see them evolve into more than just information bearers and place setters. A small but steamy love triangle is presented but you can tell it is half hearted and used only to heighten the conflict between Jemmie and her crush. The main conflict is an intriguing situation that develops well though Rush overdoes it on the foreshadowing and you can pretty much predict the rest of the story from the halfway mark. It didn’t impede my enjoyment though. I did have some issues with the character jumping. Rush brings in everyone towards the end and it was hard to remember who was who. The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger that left me gasping at the implications and wanting book two immediately.

Devils and Thieves definitely has potential and regardless of my issues, I am looking forward to seeing where Rush takes Jemmie and this world.

Jemmie lives among the kindled but, despite the fact that she has magic, she doesn't fit in. She is so sensitive to magic that it makes her sick. She drinks to mute the effects of being surrounded by magic. This year her town is hosting the annual gathering of the magical familes and Jemmie knows it won't be a good time for her.

The leader of the Black Devils kindled motorcycle gang is Crowe Medici. He's her best friend Alex's older brother. Jemmie has had a crush on him for years but after a couple of kisses he set her aside for another girl which really raises the tension between them. Crowe has recently taken over the club after the suspicious death of his father. Because he thinks a rival club caused his father's death, there is even more tension at the annual gathering.

Meanwhile, to get over her attraction to Crowe, Jemmie has been texting, skyping, and otherwise communicating with a boy named Darek from the rival Deathstalkers club. They met at the previous gathering and have become friends. He is really into her but she still has Crowe on her mind.

Things start going wrong at the gathering when people start disappearing. One of the missing is Jemmie's best friend Alex. Jemmie and Crowe have to work together to find the missing people and along the way they learn a number of secrets about each other and their magical world.

This book ends with a cliffhanger that has me very eager to read the next book. It had a slow start with lots of world building, Jemmie's relationship with her magic, and setting up the tension between Crowe and Jemmie but, once the action started, it was a fast-paced, exciting story.

This book just wasn't for me. I was hoping for shades of 'Sons of Anarchy' with magic, but after reading 35% of the story, it was more about a love triangle, angst, and the main character continually dwelling upon an incident that happened between her and Crowe a year ago. I generally enjoy fantasy books, but this one leaned a little hard in the romance direction, a genre I don't read. I'd recommend it to readers who prefer more romance in their books.

Devils and Thieves is for those looking for something different to read. Some reviews I've read compaired it to Beautiful Creatures and in some ways I would agree with that. A bit of magic, an underdog, gangs and of course romance. What more can you ask for?

I don't think I liked Jemmie much in the beginning, I thought she was whiny and immature, and kept way too many things to herself. But she grew on me, especially in the end. I think she has potential to be pretty awesome.

Jenmie is allergic to magic and in her world that's not a good thing, when magic is everything. So she avoids using it. Her best friend, Alex, is part of the most powerful family and Jemmie also happens to be in love with Crowe, her best friend's brother. But that's a very complicated relationship, so they pretend they can 't stand each other when it's really the opposite. There is kind of a love triangle, but not really.

When Alex and others from the magical community go missing, Jemmie has to team up Crowe to figure out what's happening and face her fear about using magic.

I really liked the concept of the magic here, and how everyone's magic specializes in something. Jemmie's ability to see and smell it is also very interesting. While there was some romance, the book doesn't focus too, too much on it. I do hope that it develops a bit more in the next one.

This book is Holly Black's Curseworkers series meets Sons of Anarchy, and I had no idea that was something I needed in my life. It's dark and full of magic and motorcycles and a ship that killed me with feels.

Confession: I love anything to do with motorcycle clubs - anything to do with gangs, mafia, or organized crime, really. I'm fascinated by it all. So this book was a must read for me. The book definitely delivered on this front, with the threat of a gang war and politics within our main club. The tension was palpable, and I loved every second.

I do feel I need to mention that the book is full of tropes. There is (1) a love triangle, (2) a bad boy who secretly has a heart of gold, and (3) the 'chosen one' MC. Now, none of those are dealbreakers for me, but even so, I think Jennifer Rush handled them all well. And really, Jemmie and Crowe's relationship in general was just so push-and-pull and full of tension that I hardly noticed there being another guy anyway.

Finally, I loved the worldbuilding. This is being sold as an urban fantasy, but it feels more like a contemporary fantasy to me (though that line is so blurry, it's hard to distinguish the two sometimes). The magic system is well planned out, and the conflict between the clubs/families is great. Feuding families is one of my favorite tropes, y'all. I also loved how Rush used famous families of history; I mean, Crowe and his sister Alex are Medicis. Like of the Italian, Catherine de'Medici variety. That fact alone carries so many implications and puts the perfect picture in your head of this cutthroat world.

My only complaint with this book? It's too short. It also takes place over only a few days, which means everything is moving very quickly. There's a lot of history between characters, and we only get glimpses of it because the plot is moving so quickly. That made for a fast read, but I also just wanted more scenes of what Rush was doing so well - mystery, magic, and romantic tension. Also Crowe.

Also, the book ended in the worst possible cliffhanger (that was totally unexpected). It leaves you with so. many. questions. I obviously made a very grave mistake reading this pre-publication, because now, I'm going to have to wait *even longer* for book 2.

Fun paranormal romance for older teens. I like the combination of magic, motorcycles and gangs. Jemmie has all the troubles of a teen dealing with her unknown powers. I will definitely look for the next installment of the series.

Interesting. I had some trouble with the plot, but it had its clever moments.

I'm a big fan of spooky small town mysteries. Devils and Thieves also has magical motorcycle clubs which is even better. And I did like the world of magical family legacies that Jennifer Rush created. Each family has a predominant power that they pass down through generations, though not everyone inherits it. And there are about a dozen possible types of magic that can manifest, like controlling animals or manipulating the body.

The MCs are made up of people from several different families, though the leadership tends to pass from father to son. Each club runs their own businesses and feuds with other clubs just like on Sons of Anarchy. The book has a very different vibe from that show, but I did feel like it was helpful to have watched it because I might not have known some of the MC vocabulary otherwise.

As interesting as all of that was, what kept me engaged was the book's compelling mystery plot. It was a really fast, hard to put down, one sitting read. Because Jemmie's trying to find her missing friend at a festival, I also got a Scooby Doo kind of vibe, though not in a bad way.

But there's something that bugs me. It's more a comment on the publisher than the book itself so I'm trying not to let it affect my review, even though I found it distracting. I keep wondering why it's YA. The main character is eighteen and has graduated and her love interests are twenty, which I think technically makes it new adult. The only explanation I can see is that the romance never goes any farther than kissing and NAs tend to be more graphic, but there's no reason they have to be. And I felt like Crowe's motivation in particular was pretty mature. I'm an adult, though not a particularly new one, and still found it relatable.

I'm curious about how Jemmie and Crowe's relationship will change as the series goes on since Jemmie is very different at the end of the book than she was at the beginning. That makes Devils and Thieves feel like an origin story and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

Really enjoyed this one. Although it's a little predictable and there's little mystery as to who the "bad guy" is, that didn't detract from what is still a fun and compelling story. The cliffhanger ending also had me excited for the next book in the series. Ultimately, despite a lack of mystery I still had a lot of fun reading this one and I think teens will too. Definitely worth a purchase.