This may be the first book I've read by Mary E. Pearson and not being familiar with the Remnant Chronicles universe (um - getting on that right away!), I really enjoyed Dance of Thieves. It was a bit confusing at first (maybe because I hadn't read previous Remnant books), however I immediately picked up on Kazi's story -- an infamous child thief who becomes one of the most elite guards for the queen of her realm. Directed to look into mysteries in the Ballenger empire, Kazi enters into a dangerous game when she meets Jase, the new Ballenger leader. Romance, lies, loyalties are all tested as these two grow closer together (or apart). I'm definitely reading more of Ms. Pearson's books -- turns out, I've had them on my wish list!

I can’t tell you how excited I was to see that Pearson was revisiting the Remnant Chronicles universe! This book takes place several years after the conclusion of the original series. You definitely don’t have to have read the original series to understand what’s going on in this one, but I LOVED it, so I highly recommend reading it for the background history. Some of the characters make appearances in this book.

What Fed My Addiction:

Thief turned warrior.
Kazi is an accomplished thief who crosses the queen. I love that, instead of punishing her, the queen sees Kazi’s potential and puts her into her elite royal guard. Kazi has a tragic backstory that we learn as the story unfolds. Her sense of loyalty to the queen combined with her own search for vengeance against the man who sent her tragic story into motion—and anyone who would take advantage of the weak—make her an incredibly strong and dynamic character.

A complicated history.
At first glance, Jase’s people are glorified gangsters. They run their unofficial empire with an iron fist. But, once again, as the story proceeds, we learn what’s behind that fierce sense of entitlement and we discover that Jase and the rest of the Ballengers might not be quite the bullies they seem. I love this sense of gray morality in a book—you’re never quite sure whose side you should be on or whose actions you should condone. The Ballengers have a rich history that has had a profound impact on their society, and they’re not willing to just let that history slip away.

Jase and Kazi together.
Once Jase and Kazi’s paths cross, neither of them are ever the same. I LOVED every minute of this match-up because these two had chemistry beyond belief (and I’m not even referring to just romantic chemistry, though that was definitely a part of it). The point where they met was the moment that the book sparked for me and I didn’t want to put it down. I even had to put the book down for a while (because of the Make Me Read It Readathon), but when I picked it back up a full week later, I was able to jump right back in and I was immediately immersed in the story again. That says a lot to me.

Lots of twists and turns.
As expected with Pearson, this book takes several detours I didn’t see coming. (Sure, there were a few predictable elements too—especially where the romance was concerned—but I was okay with that.) Even better, Kazi and Jase didn’t see them coming either, so we got to be blindsided right along with the characters.

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Took a little while to warm up.
Part of this might have been my own issue. I spent the beginning of the book straining to remember details from the original series. Every time a name or a piece of history was mentioned, I found myself trying to remember if this was a detail I should already know or if it was new. It took me a while to get over this and to just move on to enjoying the story. But once Jade and Kazi were thrown together (which really wasn’t all that far into the book), I was all in!

Too neat of an ending?
Or maybe that’s the wrong way to say it. I was pretty happy with the way it all ended up, but it was the manner in which we got to that finale that left me feeling a tiny bit cold. It happened a little too quickly and easily, in my opinion. However, never fear because Pearson gave us a nice little hint of danger to come at the end of the book—just enough to get us itching for book two!

Pearson never disappoints, and this book was no exception. With a pair of protagonists fighting for opposite goals and a rich history that adds depth to the story, Dance of Thieves is a spectacular start to a new series!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (but I loved it so much, I also bought a physical copy for myself!). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

I was afraid this book wouldn't live up to all the hype. Surprisingly, it did. I loved the angsty feels. The incredible world-building and characters are making me want to read the other books by this author.

I read hundreds of books a year, and I rarely leave one unfinished. However, this is one I just couldn't get into, after multiple attempts. I've never read any other books by this author. Perhaps this would've made more sense if I'd read the other series. In what I did read, I found the character development lacking, and I just didn't feel a connection to any of them. The pace wasn't what I was hoping for, and, even reading about half the book, I really couldn't follow much of what was going on. It was just confusing to try and follow.

I started this book and was really enjoying it, but then I realized it was a spin off series for one of her other books. So when I found that out I put this one down and decided to start reading that other series first. I can't wait to get to this one later though.

Dance of Thieves is the first book in a brand new duology by Mary E. Pearson, and is also a spin-off of The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, which happens to be one of my most favorite series ever! Dance of Thieves was one of my most anticipated reads for 2018, and I was SO very excited to finally read this book. Having finally read it, I definitely was not disappointed, and I think it’s a perfect start to what should be a really awesome duology!

Before I started Dance of Thieves, I decided to re-read The Remnant Chronicles to refresh my brain before starting this new book, and I’m so glad I did. Not only did I enjoy diving back into that series again, but it also gave my brain a nice refresher, and reminded me why I love the series so much. I definitely plan to re-read the series again soon, and if you haven’t yet checked it out, you totally should!

Dance of Thieves was full of a LOT of awesome new characters, and I fell in love with SO many of them, including Kazi, the main character in the story, and her crew. They definitely made the book special, and I’m super curious to see what’s going to happen next in the series for them, as well as Jase and the Ballenger crew, who we also get to know really well in the story. And while all of these new characters are great, one of the things I loved most about this book was getting to see some of my most favorite characters from the previous series! You don’t get to see them much, but definitely enough to put a happy smile on my face, and I’m hoping we get to see them more often in the next book.

The setting of the book reminds me a lot of the previous series, yet it feels completely different as well, which was fun. Mary did an excellent job with the world-building for the book, and I could picture everything so perfectly in my mind. The storyline was very addictive, and I found myself flying through the pages a whole lot quicker than I expected to. The book ends with a pretty massive cliffhanger, one that kind of made my jaw drop open, and I’ll definitely be pining away until I can get my hands on the next book to see what’s going to happen next!

Overall; I really, really enjoyed Dance of Thieves, and I do believe it’s a great beginning to what should be another awesome series by Mary E. Pearson! I will definitely be pining away until I can get my hands on the next book in the series, which is currently untitled, but set to release sometime in 2019, which is definitely not soon enough for me. *grin* I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more information on the sequel, and I can’t wait to check it out when it’s released!

Happy Reading!

"We were alone, we had each other, and we had a whole wilderness ahead of us."

Dance of Thieves was a wish come true. I absolutely loved The Remnant Chronicles, so I was more than happy to read a novel set in the same universe. You can call it capitalism, but I'll read anything that has something to do with my beloved Lia and Rafe. Their special cameo was so satisfying that it almost made me forget about the one and only problem that I had with this book: instalove.

Fellow fans of Mary E. Pearson were probably surprised, too. After all, the romantic relationships in The Remnant Chronicles didn't have any trace of frivolity (or impossibility). In other words, Kazi and Jase's love story was a far cry Lia and Rafe's. I knew that I had to avoid making comparisons, but I couldn't help it since the characters came from the same human brain and lived in the same fictional world. The author set the bar so high, so how could I settle for less? xD

To be fair, Kazi and Jase's interactions were outstanding in that they made me feel many emotions like happiness, frustration, and surprise. Their banter was often the highlight of the story, and I couldn't get enough of it. I just wished that they hadn't kept so many secrets from each other. They would've spared themselves from a lot of stress! It was funny how their fights effectively demonstrated that open communication could be a matter of life and death sometimes.

Moreover, I loved how the author emphasized the importance of personal history. Most of the time, Kazi's and Jase's actions were a result of their respective pasts. Kazi was robbed of her childhood after her mother was taken by a slave trader. Jase, on the other hand, wanted to make up for not being able to save his younger siblings from a deadly fever. Their obsession with the past was saddening, but it was a significant contributor to their character development. By overcoming their traumatic experiences, Kazi and Jase were able to move forward and create a promising future together.

In the end, I genuinely enjoyed Dance of Thieves. It had a character-driven story that taught me valuable things about life (i.e. human relationships). If you enjoyed The Remnant Chronicles, you can look forward to another series about the beauty of exposing royal conspiracies and finding love in the process.

Dance of Thieves is set in the Remnant universe with some familiar characters and politics, but it is not necessary to have read that series to enjoy this book. Kazi is an orphan, who has risen in the ranks of the new Queen's elite guard, due to her abilities as a thief. When she is sent to Tor's Watch in search of a war criminal, she meets Jase Ballenger who has just inherited his father's position as leader of an outlaw nation that doesn't recognize the Queen. Jase and Kazi are snatched by slavers and chained together, so when they escape, they must work together to make it back to civilization. Although at odds politically, Jase and Kazi are drawn to each other, despite constantly lying to each other about their true motivations. The complex tale of warring territories, competing kingdoms and changing loyalties is sweetened by the star-crossed romance between the two. Told in alternating chapters from Kazi and Jase's points of view, this action-packed fantasy is a page-turner, which is sure to have readers anxious for the next book in the series.

1. TRAVEL BACK TO A RICHLY DETAILED WORLD
Dance Of Thieves will get you exploring beyond Morrighan, Venda, and Dalbrecht to an outpost beyond the Cam Lanteaux called Hell’s Mouth and Tor’s Watch. You know how fantasy books always have maps and there’s countries that you never set foot in while reading? So, this book takes on one of those countries on the maps from the Remnant Chronicles and girl, I am here for it.

2. LEARN MORE HISTORY ABOUT THE REMNANTS AND A WHOLE NEW SIDE OF THE ORIGIN STORY
Well, that kind of says it all. Kazi has this habit where she enjoys listening to origin stories and she has found herself listening to how people in different cultures describe what happened with the Remnant and how they survived and got to where they are today. I love these bits of history and it just makes that world Pearson created so much richer.

3. A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH
Kazi of Brightmist and Jase Ballenger are my new favorites and I will fight everyone who says otherwise. The two are from very different worlds than Lia, Rafe, and Kaden. Kazi grew up poorest of the poor and had to make her way in the world as a thief when her mother was abducted in front of her when she was kind of young. Now Kazi is part of the Rahtan and we see her resilience over and over again. Jase is someone we would suspect is a dick, only he’s not. Instead, he’s the new Patrei of the Ballenger clan and at first I had the impression that they were like a mob and horrible. BUT THEY ARE NOT. AND I LOVE THEM ALL OKAY.

4. SPEAKING OF LOVE, ALL MY FAVORITE TROPES ARE HERE.
There’s hate to love. There’s the fact that Jase and Kazi are literally chained to each other and have to rely on each other to get out of a sticky situation. Oh and there’s a slow building of trust and some slow burns yes sir. There’s NO love triangle. Also, Kazi and Jase have lead very different lives but at their core, they are more alike than you would think.

5. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
You know, sometimes I love books that are set in the same world as previous series because I get to see where all my precious faves are now. Like, I know what Lia and Rafe are up to. I know how Kaden is doing. Pauline seems well too. It just makes me happy to be able to get glimpses of what goes on after the last book ends.

6. GIRL GANG!
Okay so Kazi is traveling with two other elite Rahtan warriors, her best friends Wren and Synove. I love them both. I want them both to get their own books. Anyways, their friendship is tight and non competitive and just so supportive. I love them.

7. THE ENDING IS NOT A PLOY JUST TO SELL MORE BOOKS.
Yes, so after reading this book I had to check to see if the next book was still about Kazi and Jase or Wren or Synove. As it turns out, the book is about Kazi and Jase again. Yet, when I finished I felt satisfied. I didn’t feel like there was an obnoxious cliffhanger. I felt like the book ended in a really good spot. Like I could just be satisfied with that being it for Dance of Thieves.

Good afternoon readers! Today, I'll be reviewing Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, the next installment in the Remnant Chronicles universe, which I reviewed awhile back! It was such a delight to return this world with the same intrigue and slow-burn romance that I've come to know and love from Pearson! Note: I received an e-galley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions below are my own.

Dance of Thieves totally cured me of the book drought I'd been having! I was struggling to get through anything for awhile now and to be honest, I was a bit apprehensive when I started this book. I considered if I was cut out to start a sequel series and if I needed to reread Remnant Chronicles to fully enjoy this book. Nope! As soon as I was immersed in Dance of Thieves, I realized that it was a story totally separate from Lia, Kaden, and Rafe's journey in the original trilogy. We have two new protagonists: Kazi, a former street thief and now dedicated Rahtan to the queen, and Jase, the new Patrei of Tor's Watch- a land with its own mythology that we haven't explored yet. Similar to the original trilogy, we alternate from their points of view and get a holistic view of the story's events from all angles.

I LOVE KAZI AND JASE. These two thieving, conniving, cunning sweethearts just stole my heart with their banter, deep and complex backgrounds, and of course, the slow burn romance that Pearson is so well-known for. Their relationship is anything but insta-love, and we truly see some character development out of them as the relationship develops. To be fair, I think that plot development fell to the wayside in favor of their developing relationship, and while that might bother some folks, I found Kazi and Jase lovable enough that I didn't mind the laser focus on them.

Though it took awhile for the political plot to unfold, I was totally captivated once all of the pieces were on the board. We get cameos from old characters in Remnant Chronicles- but just enough of a tease to make the inner fangirls in us squeal without being totally integral to the plot.

Last but certainly not least, the ending is EVERYTHING. I reread the last chapter probably five times and it sent chills running down my spine. I absolutely can't wait for Vow of Thieves, currently set for release on August 6, 2019.

Get ready to meet two new irresistible characters in DANCE OF THIEVES. Set in the same incredible world as Mary E. Pearson's The Remnant Chronicles, readers are introduced to Kazi, a reformed thief who is now a member of the queen's elite group known as the Rhatan, and Jase, the fierce new leader of the Ballenger clan—an outlaw dynasty that governs by its own set of rules.

I was once again reminded why I love Mary E. Pearson's writing.
I found myself falling into a story filled with vivid worldbuilding and characters that I adored. I was not anticipating loving the romance as much as I did but it was completely addicting and swoon-worthy.

My only complaint is the beginning's pace was slow reading as we are introduced to the characters and setting. With that said, however, everything is written with such depth and intensity—you can't help but want to turn the pages to find out what is going to happen.

Told through the dual POV of Kazi and Jase this book starts off immediately catching your attention with an exciting new territory to discover and cast of characters to fall in love with.
Kazi is sent by the queen to investigate rumors of a traitor ( a certain captain who betrayed Morrighan ) who is taking refuge on Ballenger land. In route, Kazi and her two sisters-in-arms travel through the infamous Hell's Mouth—a trading town set within Tor's Watch and on Ballengers' contested land.

Here, the story really picks up with Kazi and Jase meeting for the first time and it's definitely a situation of hate on first sight, in fact, there's a scuffle, some mistaken identity going on, and even a kidnapping that takes place leading to them being taken hostage by a slave trader! Readers—let's just say things get a bit feisty and I loved the banter!!

There is so much pull and tug between Kazi and Jase. I love these kinds of stories which make for an angsty, but romantic read filled with lots of romantic tension.

The plot unfolds with plenty of action and danger. Secrets are being revealed, deadly encounters of duals, fights, and overall fierceness in an open range territory abound. Readers are going to love meeting the members of the Ballenger clan as well as getting to know Kazi's Rhatan-Sisters.

DANCE OF THIEVES is an exciting new chapter set in the world of The Remnant Chronicles with a new territory painted in a vivid landscape and complex characters to root for. A few familiar faces appear which is definitely a bonus but this story really can stand on its own for new readers as well. A slow beginning gives way to a fantastic story filled with danger, romance, and plenty of fierceness. DANCE OF THIEVES was all that I had hoped for. Definitely recommended to fans of the Remnant Chronicles!

Thank You, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the review copy!

I love Mary Pearson's Remnant Chronicles and how she has expanded its universe. This is mostly a slow-burn romance with enemies to lovers and a wide mix of deception and power struggles. I really liked it and want more!

First Comment: Wow, that was one intense, intense, story!!!
I will admit that at first I was a bit confused at the opening pages of the book. That was caused by my trying to keep track of the all the people in the story. The world building was also great but that even took me a while to sort through. It was a bit overwhelming for me at first, I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to finish the book.BUT I'm glad that I kept going because it was so work it. It helped even more when the story began to narrow down a bit more into two people. The legendary street thief known as "Ten" who became the fierce Rahtan premier fighter, Kazi will be one of those people focused on. Jase Ballenger is that son thrust into leadership as the new Patrei. And boy, is his plate ever full and he has no idea how more danger that there is lingering around him. There is a lot of enemies out there and they are bold!
Two other women of the special guard go with Kazi. Two VERY skilled warriors named, Synove and Wren. They not only supported Kazi but also added so much more to the story. As did a few other people as well. The Ballenger also had their family members to add to the story and there were quite a few of them.
This book is FULL of action, deceptions, dangers and even some good moments too. It's not all death and destruction but there will be plenty of that too.
I will also add that it is one long book, and well worth the money that you pay for it.
It "ends" with some happiness but I guess it a H.E.A. for now kind of ending. Why? Because the door is left wide-open for further adventures. And looks like it's going to be a dangerous one at that.

I underestimated how amazing it would be to immerse myself back into the world of the remnants. Dance of Thieves starts a new series set in the same world as The Remnant Chronicles series by Mary E. Pearson but follows a new cast of characters in a new location in that world. If you haven't picked up the Remnant Chronicles yet, then you need to fix that right now by binge reading all 3 books and then devouring this one (ugh, the wait for the sequel is going to be killer, please come join me in my misery).

As with the first series, the world building is solid and gives us a new legend of the remnants from when the stars fell (and more glimpses into what this world was before). We get to explore Tor's Watch and learn about what happened after the events of The Beauty of Darkness (and check in with some of our old friends). However, it's the new characters that drive this story and I loved them, each and every one. I adored the Ballengers and would join their family in a heartbeat but I also would do just about anything to join the Rahtan and ride with Kazi and her crew! We get dual points of view - Kazi and Jase Ballenger - as they both try to accomplish their own agendas after being forced to work together to survive. The story is engrossing, the action is exciting, and romance is just as frustrating/swoon-worthy as that from the previous series. The majority of events are brought to a conclusion but there is definitely set-up and excitement/burning desire for the next book.

While I don't feel you absolutely have to read the first series in order to enjoy this one, it would definitely help give you a solid foundation in the world and help to better understand the few references to previous events/characters. Plus, it's an outstanding series that you really should read, trust me!

Overall, love love love this start to a new series and hate hate hate that I have to wait for a sequel.

My rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars. This review is based off an arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for honest reviews.

Dance of Thieves was everything I hoped it would be and more! From start to finish I was captured by the world Pearson has created. The characters were so layered and complex. I was rooting for Kazi and Jase throughout the book, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The romance when it came into fruition was beautiful. The end of the book had me craving for more, I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!

I received an ARC of 'Dance of Thieves' via Netgalley thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Star-crossed lovers meets outlaws and thieves, 'Dance of Thieves' kept my attention throughout. Though the world building could be more fleshed out, it was an interesting premise: A group of the Queen's Guard has been tasked with finding an enemy of the Queen. Along the way there is kidnapping, an escape involving being chained together, meeting the love interest's family, betrayal, and miscommunication galore.

Secrets play a major part in 'Dance of Thieves' in which miscommunication, or lack of communication, is a theme throughout. Personally, I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope, but if you don't have an issue about the entire plot being drenched in it then I'd say this book is for you.

The romance also plays a major role in the plot. The heroine and hero are thrown together early on by being chained together and 'making the best of it'. The hero's judgement is clouded because of this, despite them barely knowing each other.

I'm more of a fan of subtle, slow burn romance in fantasy, and them hooking up early and continuing to betray each other yet still remain enamored confused me.

A fan of thieves in fantasy, I found the title slightly misleading. Though the heroine used to be a thief, and steals a few pieces during the book, I thought thieves would play a bigger role throughout than it did.

Overall, I enjoyed the journey, despite my issues with miscommunication and rushing the romance, the plot was intriguing enough that I wanted to find out how it would all play out.

I love Mary Pearson's writing style and the characters are always well rounded. I was a bit late to the game for the Remnant Chronicles, but the world is so well developed it it easy to fall right into. Dance of Thieves is an excellent addition to the world.

"My thoughts jumped, my own words taunting me, The thing about a mark is they’ve created lies in their head, a story they’ve invented that they desperately want to believe, a fantasy that merely needs to be fed."


Kazi grew up on the harsh streets, becoming a thief to survive- a dang good one, at that. But now, she was chosen by the Queen to be one her elite guards, but an impulsive move may coast her that. Kazi has the opportunity to redeem herself by going on a mission of importance for the Queen, the person who has so much undeserving faith in her. Jase has just lost his father and now became the ruler of his people, spending his first night as ruler wallowing in his grief and alcohol. When the two have an altercation in streets, they never anticipated being kidnapped by slavers. Banding together (both emotionally and literally by shackles- even though they are enemies- Kazi and Jase have to find their way home and to the truth of their people's conflict.

The world building was amazing and layered, with all the regions and wars as well as histories and people so lovingly craftes. I really wanted a map so I could place all the locations mentioned in the story physically since I am a visual person. This is a book that I would love a map for! And yes, this is a spin-off, but it was such a complete world, plot and characters that there was no need for previous books (but you should read the Remnant Chronicles because they are fantastic!). This was such the perfect blend of court politics and intrigue, betrayal, lies. adventure and feels!

Oh my gosh, Dance of Thieves ended up being so romantic! Seriously, I had no idea what this story was going to be like, but I knew I was going to read this new spin-off series because I enjoyed the Remnant Chronicles so much. Gah, it was so freaking romantic and hug worthy at times, I felt like I needed to swoon- or at least force Kazi to (so not her style though but appropriate for the situation, I think).


“I love you. I love you with every breath, with every thought that’s inside me . I’ve loved you from the first time I kissed you on that ledge. Even before that.”

I shook my head trying to pull away. “Jase, no—”

But he pulled me closer and didn’t stop. “When I asked, What is this? I already knew. I knew what I felt, what I was certain you felt, too, but I was afraid to say it, because it was all new to me. It seemed too soon, too impossible. But everything about us didn’t just feel right, it felt like something rare, something delicate that I was afraid of breaking. Something that only comes along once in a lifetime.”


I loved Kazi, but let's be honest- she may be a kleptomaniac. The girl did have an interesting habit of collecting the most random of trinkets of all varieties. Sure, she is a product of her upbringing, and you do what you need to to survive, but really she is a master thief. She has the most prickly of shells, but inside she was a lonely sad little girl. I loved her riddles, people maneuvering skills and her loyalty. The banter and love between Kazi and her 2 sisters in arms was perfect, you could see the love and bond between the girls and that they would gladly go into battle for each other, no questions asked.

Jase had such a strong moral compass that always pointed true- even though the morals of his people did not always line up with what other thought was right. I did really enjoy the dynamic between Jase and his family, you could see the love as well as the ruler boundaries that were probably hard to hold at times. He was just given a new, terrible and great responsibility yet he held up like a champ (for the most part). He was so caring towards Kazi, even though their purposes were at odds. (sniff sniff)

Ps I loved seeing "the Queen", who I know as Lia be her insightful, protective, queenly self. I will admit after the ending of The Beauty of Darkness, I was hoping for at least a little mention of a romantic connection with a certain wonderful guy, so the ending made my heart ever so happy...


“Do you suppose,” he finally whispered, “that this could be part of making … the best of it?”
...
"I was as loyal to her as he was to his family, and I would betray him when the time came. I would bring his family and dynasty to their knees. His world was about to end.
The best of it.
We were only making the best of it.
For now."

The story felt magical and epic and I never wanted it to end. But as per all of Mary's books, the heartbreak and betrayal was strong too. There were moments where I thought my heart was ripped out of my chest, all I hoped for was a HEA...that may not be how this story ends. That last chapter though! I seriously do not know how such a beautiful and real moment could fall apart into such utter heart-wrenching chaos. Sorry for all the words, but I feel like I have a lot to say when it comes to my love of this book, this author and this world. I am so tied in knots, wanting to know where the story will go next. There is no doubt that I will be picking up the next leg of the adventure in this duology as soon as possible.

Review can be found at Smada's Book Smack Blog

Dance of Thieves was a wonderful addition to the Remnant Chronicles world. It got off to a bit of a slow start but once the pace picks up, it’s a wild ride. Dance of Thieves is full of lovable characters, exciting action, and intriguing riddles.

Although the beginning was slow, the pace allowed the reader to really get to know the two main characters. I actually liked both of the MCs equally, which is rare in a dual viewpoint novel. Kazi and Jase were such diametrically opposed individuals at the beginning. Watching them navigate their relationship and find similarities was so much fun. Plus I could always understand why they each took certain actions (even if I was screaming “No, don’t do that” on the inside). If you enjoy a good hate-to-love romance, you’ll adore these two.

Pearson did an excellent job with fleshing out the secondary characters as well. The girl gang and Jase’s family were just fantastic. There were also glimpses of characters from the original trilogy. While Lia and the others weren’t main characters, they were included enough to satisfy the curiosity of any fans of the original trilogy. I loved that Dance of Thieves introduced the reader more to the non-royal sphere in this world. It was fascinating to see that different perspective. Particularly because most of the characters here weren’t the most law abiding sort.

The world was so well-developed, I could clearly picture everything. Plus who doesn’t want to read a book that essentially takes place in a den of thieves? I loved how Pearson presented each side of the issues she brought up. From the rights of the settlers to the morality of the black market trade, she doesn’t paint anything in black and white terms.

Dance of Thieves was an engaging, fun read with surprising depth. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment (Particularly after that cliffhanger ending.)

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It kills me to leave this at a DNF. I knew that this was a spin off to a series that I have already begun but not finished. I regret that deeply. As I started this book I realized there is absolutely nothing that makes me remember the world I've already been introduced to.

This is supposed to be a stand alone and yet it doesnt do that. It starts off where something left off, im sure of it!

I will certainly come back and finish this once i read the first part of the series. But for now this is where i leave it.