I've read a few of Ms. Durst's books and enjoyed them -- as I did with Fire and Heist. I've tried reading other were-dragon (wyvern) themed books without being thoroughly invested but this book was so much fun to read and I read it in one sitting. To me, it just makes sense for were-dragons to be thieves! Sky's mother is missing, her boyfriend breaks up with her, and her family due to its secrets has lost rank among the wyvern community. As much as I had hoped for romance, this book was more about Sky coming into her own as a thief, beginning her wyvern hoard, as well as her family and the mysteries of the wyvern. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Durst (especially if this is a series :D).

This book was fast paced and I loved every minute of it! Can't wait to reccomend this book to all the avid readers that I know. THank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of "Fire and Heist" by Sarah Beth Durst. I loved this book and will likely be purchasing it for the library. It felt like a more conventional fantasy version of a heist story which will please fans of "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo. Also, the writing style of fantastic. The author has really grown as a writer since the last book I read by her.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange of my honest opinion.
Fire & Heist is, well, a heist story as evidenced by the title. Sky Hawkin is a teen Wyvern (dragon). Wyvern’s are like famous people in human society, and tend to have an affinity for shiny and expensive things, like gold. Wyvern’s pride themselves on their ability to steal such valuable objects, and it’s view as a big step into adulthood in Wyvern society if you are able to pull off a heist without getting caught.
Sky’s family was exiled when her mother attempted to steal something from another Wyvern and got caught and disappeared. Sky’s family does not want to know what happened to Sky’s mother, and instead, keeps their heads down and tries to move on.
So the one positive note this story has is that it’s a stand-alone. I’m tired of reading a book and finding out at the end that it’s the beginning of a series. Fire & Heist was a cue and light read, but I found myself wishing that it was more mature. Yes there are teen dragons and that likely comes with teen drama, but it lacked nuance and character development that would make me care about the characters. Unfortunately, I’d say to pass on this one.

A really cute stand alone YA fantasy, this is one you won’t want to miss. It’s got action, dragons, a hint of romance, and great characters.

Sky is a wyvern and her mother is missing. Having three older brothers, Sky is used to fending for herself. She takes it on her own to lead her first heist, and plans on using what she steals as leverage for info on her mom. Little does she know the secrets and conspiracies she’s about to unravel.

The highlight of this book is the relationship between Sky and her family. She’s got three older brothers who annoy her but are there when it counts, a dad who is missing his wife but still involved with his children. It’s refreshing to see family dynamics in YA fantasy, most of the time it’s an orphan who steals the show.

There is some romance, it’s not great but it’s also not the point of the book. The point of the book is the heist, which is a lot of fun. This book is firmly young adult, the voice is young but not grating. It will be a great addition to school libraries.

Oceans 11 with dragons. If that sounds like fun to you, this is a book you’ll want to check out.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley and the opinions are my own.

Having never read anything by this author, I was not exactly sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by Fire and Heist. There is teenage drama, but it is tempered by real emotional depth in other situations. The heist scenes were well done and the world-building was too. I found the ending satisfying, but open-ended enough to continue if it becomes a series.

Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst is a young adult fantasy read that is a standalone story. The author described her idea for this one as wanting to write Ocean's Eleven with Were-dragons so of course this odd description definitely got my curiosity aroused. It's safe to say when done too this doesn't really remind me of anything I've read before which for me is a good thing.

Sky Hawkin is a teenage Wyvern, a human with the ability to shift into a dragon, although the Wyvern here on Earth have lost the ability to shift and can only conjure fire. Wyvern's also have a fetish for shiny expensive things, especially gold so how do they go about acquiring it you ask? By stealing of course.

Sky's family however is on the outs in the Wyvern community after her mother went on a heist and didn't return. Obviously something went wrong but Sky's brothers and father refuse to do anything to find out what happened so Sky intends to plan her own heist to try to find her mother.

Now, with a book about dragons I wasn't quite expecting to jump into what reads more YA contemporary with family drama but the story started a little on the funny side and piqued my curiosity regardless. As the book went along and I'm beginning to wonder if the world is basically ours with these supposed "dragons" that aren't more than humans without a lighter to create fire what was the point to including Wyverns but thankfully the story eventually got around to more dragon-ish things to satisfy my curiosity. In the end I found it a rather cute mostly contemporary with a dash of fantasy read and would suggest giving it a try.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read Fire and Heist by Sarah Durst because I love reading and watching stories about crime. This book sounded right up my alley and in ways, it was.

Let's start with the characters. I have both admiration and annoyance for the main character, Sky Hawkins. She is the "baby" of one of the were-dragon (called Wyverns) families. Sky and her family used to be super wealthy, and over this last year, it seems as if they lost everything. Their wealth and mother, which has made the family on edge with each other. Sky likes to take matters into her own hands, which I respect, but at moments, she does it and takes the lead in entirely unreasonable situations. If a character is like that in the beginning, I am okay with it. However, it never really seems like Sky learns the proper time to take the lead and when it is the right time to take a step back and allow someone to take the lead. So considering what she does and goes through in Fire and Heist, I expected some change in her tactical planning. As for the other characters, they are your typical run of the mill type. You have the older brothers who think they know everything but still care for their sister, the father who becomes distant when his wife disappears, and the ex-boyfriend who maybe still has feelings for his ex. While all these characters are essential, no one really stood out as remarkable or memorable.

For the most part, the world was pretty believable. I mean, as believable as a society with people who can transform into dragons is. I appreciated how Durst talked about how the Wyverns are seen in the community and how their kind effects "normal" life. There were definitely places where I had to pause and consider how somethings were possible considering how other things weren't. The balance of the world just seemed off, if you know what I'm talking about.
I do wish that the world was explained more as the book continued, it seemed like the information was dumped on the reader in the first couple of chapters and then the reader is expected to be an expert in everything Wyvern. Yes, there is a small bit of more description in the middle of the book, but I always feel like semi-constant bits of information about the world makes it much more cohesive and understandable.

I loved the premise of this book so much! A world where heists are considered milestones, a jewel that can restore a family's lost wealth and status, and a group of people that have the ability to transform into dragons. It sounds like such an action-filled book with lots of suspenseful moments, but it isn't. The story just fell short for me. Yes, there were some parts that were suspenseful, but I feel like a lot of the time in the book was busywork, getting ready for what is to come. There's maybe two or three chapters to get everyone ready and one chapter to execute the plan or action. While the story itself is unique, the storyline that it follows seemed pretty standard. I wanted so much from this book (which was a mistake) and ended up with something just okay.

To summarize, I went into Fire and Heist with huge expectations. I guess that I should know by now that if I set my expectations too high, the book always falls short. And unfortunately, Fire and Heist was no exception. I went into the book expecting an exciting book about heists and people who can breathe fire and change into dragons, and I didn't really get that from the story. I also wish there was more character development. It didn't seem as if the characters learned from their experiences and mistakes, which is infuriating. I can't say that I would recommend this book as the action and heist filled books as it is portrayed. I would say that if someone is looking for a lighter, somewhat quick read with slight suspenseful moments that this book might be for them.

Sky Hawkins and her family are earthbound wyverns--half-human, half-dragon beings that have been banished from their homeland and live with humans on earth. With three older brothers, Sky is the sheltered youngest. When her mother fails in a heist--the worst shame that can befall a wyvern--the entire Hawkins family is stripped of their high rank and wealth. The entire community shuns them, lead by none other than Sky's boyfriend! Now Sky is ready to embark on her first heist to find her missing mother and restore the family name.

Sarah Beth Durst's FIRE AND HEIST is a fun, light-hearted fantasy rooted in a modern but alternate earth. The story read a bit young at times, so it's perfect for readers who are moving from middle grade to young adult. The wyvern mythology that is uncovered throughout the story was a rich surprise, and the heist aspect was fun.

What a letdown for me. We got teenagers, disappeared mothers, family dishonor, and among other things, just super simplistic high school drama crap. This read like the books I read in middle school/high school before I started to really get into reading. I did not feel any connection to the characters and I can tell you right now that I don't remember any of this book other than it's about "dragons" and this heist.

Mind you this story might be more targeted towards the younger crowed, but unfortunately it was not for me which is sad because dragons are my favorite and I felt as if they weren't what they could have been.

This book, seems like it has it all. Were-dragons and heists, what more can you need? It turns out, you need characters that are more than one-dimensional stereotypes.

The premise is amazing . Dragons like shiny things, so it makes sense that in modern times they would have a hoard of gold. It also makes sense that they would be super paranoid and protective of that treasure, thereby employing high-tech security systems. Of course, dragons want more gold, so were-dragon thieves seems like just about the coolest thing ever.

Except I hated Sky Hawkins, the main character. Her mother disappears during a failed heist, and her family loses status and wealth as a result. So she moans about her loss of wealth as she and her brothers are driving recklessly in a Ferrari. It makes it a wee bit hard to empathize with the main character when really she's still better off than 99% of the human race and whinging about her lack of wealth.

Sky is just so bland. She's the only girl in a family of boys and that trope is played to the extreme. Really, that's all she seems to be. Gabriela is the smart one obsessed with magic. Except, you really never see Gabriela being smart, you just hear her described as smart. Ryan is perhaps the worst. I kept forgetting his name, he was that vanilla. Worm was the only character I was actually interested in, but we got almost no page time with him.

The book picks up a lot around halfway through, after Sky's heist, but by then I honestly had lost a lot of interest. It's not an unexpected twist, and I wish we would have spent more time focusing on that part of the book, rather than the parts that took place in Aspen.

Man this book was so much fun! This was the perfect read when I needed something I could just easily get into and enjoy. I really enjoyed "The Queen of Blood" by Durst and was excited to see how she would do a dragon heist story. She does a cool take on wyverns. Sky is an awesome heroine who has great wit, observation and heart; she was always relatable and easy to root for. The details of the heists are a lot of fun and even the side characters had me giggling. *I also caught a Shannara reference that made me so happy* I just loved that while Sky still has feelings for Ryan, their relationship never stole center stage from the main plot which was very refreshing. The ending was kinda cheesy and a bit rushed (wanted more from it) but it's still such a fun story. Younger teens will love this story especially, or anyone who loves both dragons and heist stories. I wish this was a series. I'm very excited to see what Durst writes next!

My review will be published on November 20, 2018 at https://thebaronessofbooks.weebly.com

In possibly the most creative dragon--excuse me, wyvern--book I’ve ever read, Sarah Beth Durst brings magic into the 21st century. I enjoyed the connections between modern wyverns and mythical dragons, especially how respect and society placement is based on stealing and then hoarding gold. That was a fun set-up for Sky’s heist, which would present her as a member of wyvern society if completed successfully. I’m easily ensnared by heist novels: I love the suspense and intricate plans, a la Six of Crows and Leverage style. I don’t want to spoil the second half of the book, but I did like the direction it took plot-wise.

Fire and Heist was promising in terms of thieving potential, especially since the fire affinity of wyverns leads to some new features, like fire-breathing and heat resistance. I had fun reading about Sky putting together her crew, pulling off her first heist, dealing with the aftermath, and working things out with her family but that was pretty much where my enjoyment stopped.

I would say that plot is where the book excelled, and character is where it fell flat. I read all the way through to find out what would happen next, but had a hard time sympathizing with the characters, because they all felt flat and played-out to me.

First, Sky, the only girl in a family of brothers with a missing mom and an overprotective dad. She’s not that much younger than her brothers, but the rest of her family keeps information from her “for her protection.” I’m super glad Sky didn’t buy into it, but I can’t stand that trope.

Then, there’s the crew. Other than Sky, there’s Ryan, her ex-boyfriend; Maximus, a wizard; and Gabriela, a normal human who wanted a taste of adventure. Ryan shunned Sky at his father’s instructions, leading the way for the rest of her wyvern friends to do the same. I think a lot more could have been done with his character and the turmoil Sky felt when he was the person who destroyed her, but also the only person who could help her pull off the heist.

As far as wizards go, Maximus was… kind of lame. I thought he would have super-magical powers, but alas, I was mistaken. In a world where wyverns can breath fire, I was kind of disappointed with Maximus’ range of magic.

I really enjoyed Gabriela! She is human, as I am, and longed for adventure, as I do. I liked that she had value to the rest of the team even though she doesn’t have the same skills as they do. It goes to show how everyone can find something to be good at, and nobody should feel useless, which is a philosophy I personally subscribe to.

Overall, definitely worth reading if you’re into action more than characters. I never considered DNF’ing the book, because it was compelling, but in a different way than Six of Crows or Heist Society. Overall, 4/5 stars, because despite my issues with the characters, Fire and Heist managed to be a fun read. The world-building and connections to historical dragons were amusing and ultimately, made me want to finish reading.

This was very short fantasy read. It was full of action and adventure! I enjoyed it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I am slightly torn about this book, on the one hand, the story was definitely engaging, creative and quite original. I loved the dragons, the sense of adventure, the speed and even the romance(usually not my cup of tea in these kinds of books). My only issue was with the world building, which felt a little overdone and forced at times, but that could just be a matter of personal preference. All in all, this was a fun adventure I would recommend to fans of Renee Adieh or Naomi Novik.

I've loved everything I've read by Sarah Beth Durst and I love heist stories. Forget Ocean's 11, this was wyverns 4. The world-building was on point, and the characters were well developed. I love that neither "Home" or our world was a perfect utopia and the characters recognized that from the beginning. My one complaint is that I hate when characters keep secrets "for your own good." Just have a conversation!

Sky Hawkins' family are wyverns, were-dragons without the ability to transform, but who can breathe fire. Some of the stereotypes about dragons are true - they really, really like gold, so much so that social ranks centers around the size of one's hoard, and making a first heist is an important rite of passage. Unfortunately, things haven't been going so well for Sky's family ever since her mother disappeared during a heist and her family lost most of their status, causing her boyfriend to dump her and her friends to turned their backs on her. Can Sky fix things by planning a heist of her own? Sky is fun and capable and the conception of wyverns is interesting.

I enjoyed how different this plot was than usual YA. A teenage girl who comes from a family of were-dragons and goes on heists to steal gold is not something you see everyday. Our heroine Sky, has a very distinct voice. The downfall of this story is that it’s very young and full of teen angst. I know it’s not fair to judge a YA book for being too YA, but I always look for YA books to transcend age.

Book: Fire and Heist
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers, for providing me with this ARC.

I will admit that I did find this one rather difficult to rate. I was going somewhere between a three and a four star rating. It was good in some parts, but rather dragging in others. I did go with the higher rating. I found the writing to be decent and the characters developed.

The plot was very original. I wasn’t expecting the main characters to be the dragons. I was expecting them to more or less work with the dragons. Maybe I should have read the summary a little bit closer. Anyway, I do have to give Sarah a lot of credit for coming up with such an original plot. I mean, think about it. How many young adult books are out there about dragons? Not a lot. I think those who are looking for something very different in young adult fantasy will pick this up and really enjoy it.

So, the actual moving along of the plot was just okay. I really did feel like that some parts of the plot moved along rather nicely, while others just seemed to drag on forever, and others just seemed to be so rushed. I don’t know if anyone else has commented on this, but it just made everything seem a little bit sloppy to me.

The characters were developed, but they just weren’t as developed as some of the other young adult books that I have read. I was able to get a sense of who they were and what they were like, but I just didn’t bond with them like I do in books that I give a five star rating to. I know it’s hard to develop characters for a stand alone, but this just felt like they weren’t as developed as they could be.

In terms of the fantasy, yes, we do have an original plotline, but it just felt like it wasn’t as developed as it could had been. Maybe the book should had been longer or it should had been extended into a series. I mean, I did enjoy it, but I just felt like it could had been better. However, I will admit that I did like the fact that the world really wasn’t that complicated. Sometimes we get some fantasies that the world is so complicated that it is next to impossible to keep everything straight. I know a lot of people are complaining about this, but I personally liked it.

I liked the simple writing as well. Sarah’s writing just flowed, which made me look over a lot of the issues in the book. Personally, it was the writing that actually made me give this one a higher rating.

Fire and Heist comes out December 4, 2018.

(Review is already on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon on publication day.)

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Fire & Heist was a fun, creative, STAND ALONE, modern-fantasy hybrid full of action. The history behind wyverns, their existence amongst humans, and gold obsessed genetics was so enjoyable to read about. I blew through this so quickly. So, I commented earlier about it reminding me of Oceans 8... in the acknowledgement the author says she thought of Oceans 11 and dragons. 😂 I KNEW IT!
My favorite part of Fire and Heist was the family dynamics and new friendships. Everyone was just bad ass! This is a book I will definitely be buying in hardcover and lending to anyone who will listen. 😘