I found this story to start out really good, but then about half way through it sort of gets confusing and goes back and forth for the romance. I really like the characters and found them to be well written, but it seemed like the two main characters couldn’t make up their minds. I felt it to be a little indecisive and it wasn’t my cup of tea.

It was, however, a cute girl’s love/lesbian story that I think people who read that genre would enjoy. I was rooting for the characters and wanted to know more, even if I felt that they weren’t being decisive enough. I recommend for those who like a complicated love story.

This is a short story so it had the difficult job of creating and interesting story while giving the storyline and the characters some depth.

Unfortunately, this author tried to cram too much into this book and left me feeling completely confused because of the many different storylines that were happening at once and the fact that the main character seemed to have the most dull storyline out of all of them.

I think the author was a bit over ambitious in what she could do with a limited number of chapters because this story needed son fleshing out and a different POV.

*3 stars

The Lady and the Thief is my first experience with Megan Derr’s writing. I was immediately struck by the synopsis which offers us a taste of what the reader can expect: the story of a teenage orphan, Adeline, who, while in the care of her aunt and uncle, falls in love with her maid. Then the maid turns around and steals from them, including taking the only piece of jewelry Adeline has left of her mother. Now, older and wiser, Adeline is at a ball when she sees who other than her former maid, the love of her life. Only, her maid is no longer Lisette, as Adeline once knew her, but Lady Wisteria.

I expected a romance when picking up The Lady and the Thief, with a bit of mystery—and was pleasantly surprised that the mystery is quite strong in this one (you can’t take the mystery lover out of me, I’m afraid). This was a fun read. I really liked Adeline in her innocence and straightforwardness. She was not going to back down until she found out what Lisette/Lady Wisteria was up to. I can definitely see, too, why Adeline was drawn to Lisette. She’s charming and earnest in her concern for Adeline. Even I wanted to trust her even despite her past actions, wanting to at least hear her out. The chemistry between the two was palpable. The novella has a Victorian feel to it, time period wise, but I really appreciated, even with that, the fact that same sex marriages were not only acceptable, but encouraged in the world Derr has set her story in. If I had any complaints, it would be that it was too short, and so the characters weren’t as fleshed out as I might have liked (forever my complaint about short stories and novellas). I hadn’t realized this was part of a series, but I would like to go back and read the earlier books in the series.

I felt that there was something or a lot of somethings missing in the way that this story was presented. It had strange pacing at times and I just never really became engaged with the characters. I kept trying to read it but found that after several months of trying to get through it, it still couldn't keep my attention long enough for me to finish it all the way through.

Technically, I have belatedly discovered, this book is part of a series. It could be that a lot of what I’m about to say would be explained/built upon by reading the others, but I didn’t, so let’s go!

“And if one more bumbling twit trod upon her slippers, she was going to remove the shoes and start beating people with them. A quick glance around the ballroom provided nothing interesting, so she went back to quietly admiring Lady Honeysett's magnificent bosom.”

The Lady and the Thief follows Adeline, a young noblewoman left penniless by her parents and living with her aunt, whose love affair with household maid Lisette comes to a sudden and dramatic end when Lisette runs away in the night with the family valuables. Now I love a bit of period romance, but I can’t actually tell you when or where this book is set. I mean LOOK:

“It was an ugly fountain, depicting a creepy looking satyr scooping up buxom maidens who looked less than enthused about their situation. Sometimes she rather thought the ugly things were goblins rather than satyr, but woe betide the fool who mentioned that word in public. The Goblin Wars were a dark, ugly matter the world liked to pretend never happened, a stain covered up by heavy furniture and strong admonitions to avoid that particular room because there were much better rooms in the house, why bother with that dim, dull, old one at the very back that got poor light?”

There are literally no other mentions of anything inhuman or fantastical in this book. There’s candles and gas lamps and I think it’s meant to be sort of a timeless-but-old-pseudo-fantasy-setting. But don’t quote me on that.

"I am here to get married so I'm no longer a burden upon my aunt and uncle and Edith's parents. It's long past time I stood on my own, and since my parents left me without funds—" Lisette cut in with a sharp, cold laugh that caused a flutter of fear in Adeline's stomach. "Your uncle and aunt said that? With a straight face? Ask them—" Lisette broke off, shook her head sharply. "No, what am I thinking? You would actually do it."

My main issue with this story was that I didn’t like anyone. Adeline is incredibly annoying, Lisette is evidently not that good of a thief/spy if Adeline of all people keeps catching her and the assembled entourage of supporting characters are fairly one-dimensional in terms of depth. There was some attempt at a mystery element surrounding Adeline’s shady aunt and a fortune that she supposedly doesn’t have but it just didn’t stand the test against some of the mystery stories I’ve read in the past.

"I've saved up all of my allowance and sold off most of my jewelry and some other things. I've also been—" her voice dropped to a whisper "—doing work. Can you believe it?" She clasped her hands together. "I've been doing some embroidery for old Lady Weslow and tutoring some children in fencing. Plus, I won my last two tournaments, and they were good purses. I'm also signed up for several more tournaments coming this year."

I liked that the author created a world where sexuality is a complete non-issue, where men can marry men as easily as women and vice versa, and there were a few moments of humour that lightened the book a little for me but otherwise I’m afraid despite my best efforts, I just didn’t like this story.


Overall rating: 2 books out of 5



A Copy of The Lady and the Thief was provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I always really want to like lesbian romances, but I often find them disappointing. I gave this one a good shot, but halfway through I realised I just wasn't into it.

So, so much is missing from this. I didn't realize when I downloaded it that it was only a novella; there is an ok story in here, but it would have only benefited from more space. First, the world-building gets no treatment. It's pseudo-historical but obviously a bit fantastic. This is marked as book 5 in a series, and based on character interactions, I'm guessing it's one of those series that just takes place in the same world, since nothing seemed to depend on earlier events. It would be tempting to assume that all the world rules were established in previous installments. However, based on how short the book was, and how little world-building appeared in this installment (i.e., none), it seems unlikely that clear backstory was given in previous novellas.

The plot, too, is rushed. The characters lack depth, so their actions lack motivation, so the plot is hurried and pointless.

This was a fast and enjoyable read though it lacked some deepness within itself.

This is the first book written by Megan Derr that I read and I liked it. It was enjoyable and likeable though I whished it provided more deep, especially to the world building itself.

I really liked the historical setting of this story and its characters. Adeline has to find her place in this world full of openess for different lifesettings. Same sex marriages are legal and accepted. So that's not the topic of this book. It's more about love and trust because Adeline falls for a servant who isn't who she seems to be in the first place.

It was nice to follow this story and its characters. I enjoyed it but I did not fell head over heals in love with it. So 3.5 stars from me for this novella.

It can be difficult in the space of a novella for an author to create complex and complete character growth, but Megan Derr manages to just that with a compelling and engaging storyline besides. The reader will fall in love with Adeline and Lisette and want more of their adventures together once the story closes.

Pretty good fantasy with two young women and the heroes. There is some action, some intrigue and derring-do, and some romance. It is apparently part of a series I haven't read or likely will read, but this story was enjoyable and quick.

This was a nice novella. I liked the idea very much and the aesthetic the story worked with.
But it took me way longer to read it through than I expected.

In a way it feels like this story had on the one hand more content than I thought it would have for its length, but on the other hand wasn’t as captivating as I wanted it to be.

Lisette is a very interesting character, but we barely got to know her. And Adeline, the main character, isn’t bad, but also didn’t impress me as a main character. I know that she has been raised in this very controlling environment and she ends up in very dangerous and surprising situations, but from someone who’s greatest talent is something like FENCING I expected a bit more.

I think I would have liked it more if it was the story of Lisette. A young, fearless girl who is plotting revenge for her own family, who takes on all the pretentious opponents, comes into their houses in a disguise to work against them and falls in love with a victim of their intrigues in the process, which throws her off her initial plan...

Still, an alright read all in all.

While I fell in overwhelming love with the characters of this book, and the hints of worldbuilding that exist behind the scenes, I felt like the pacing could use a good deal of work and ultimately the ending left me wanting more.

I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In The Lady and the Thief we meet Adeline, a young noble lady living at her aunt and uncle’s after they took her under their wing when her parents died. Adeline is a fierce young lady with a secret: she is in love with one of her maids. As Adeline’s love for Lisette grows, she starts planning their escape, dreaming of a future where they could both live together, as equals, unrestrained by society’s standards. But the very next day, Adeline wakes up to find Lisette gone… and with her, all of the family’s silver and jewellery. When two years later, Adeline stumbles upon Lisette at a ball, she is faced with a multitude of questions: why did Lisette leave? why did she steal? Was their love even real? Adeline will soon find out that Lisette is playing a dangerous game and she should better stay out of it… but will she?
How refreshing to read a book featuring LGBT+ characters! I’ll be honest, I don’t stumble upon LGBT+ storylines very often and there is a serious lack of it in literature, so this was a little gem in itself, just for that reason.
I loved the fact that, in this specific historical setting, sexual orientation is not a divide. It is accepted and people are free to marry someone of the same sex if they so desire. The only prejudice in this case is the matter of class; hence why Adeline and Lisette’s love is so forbidden, not because they are both women, but because one of them was born in the nobility while the other one is a servant.
It is an interesting story with its parts of intrigue and young love. Because of her love for Lisette, Adeline gets tangled into situations that are beyond her control. She becomes an unaware pawn in the game played by her relatives and guardians.
I liked the fact that this book is mainly female fronted, and all the female characters in it are strong and powerful women who take matters into their own hands rather than expecting men to take charge.
The book is however really really short and only took me a couple of days to finish, and because of this, I felt a bit un-satiated. It felt more like a short story than an actual book, and it felt a bit rushed. I would have loved for all of the storylines to be expanded further into a longer book.
The Lady and the Thief is book number 5 in the ‘Deceived’ series, but it can be read as a stand-alone book.
If historical fiction and LGBT+ storylines are your cup of tea, then don’t hesitate to check it out, aswell as the rest of Megan Derr’s work, as most of her books are LGBT+. She has written an extensive collection of stories, so there is plenty for you to get lost into!

So, so much is missing from this. I didn't realize when I downloaded it that it was only a novella; there is an ok story in here, but it would have only benefited from more space. First, the world-building gets no treatment. It's pseudo-historical but obviously a bit fantastic. This is marked as book 5 in a series, and based on character interactions, I'm guessing it's one of those series that just takes place in the same world, since nothing seemed to depend on earlier events. It would be tempting to assume that all the world rules were established in previous installments. However, based on how short the book was, and how little world-building appeared in this installment (i.e., none), it seems unlikely that clear backstory was given in previous novellas.

The plot, too, is rushed. The characters lack depth, so their actions lack motivation, so the plot is hurried and pointless.

This book began nicely, and the main reason why I picked it up was the F/F theme, but then soon the story kind of started falling apart. Adeline was a strong character in the beginning, but then when push came to shove, she really did not stand up like I kept expecting of her to. That is the major reason I did not enjoy the book more. But the writing was quite good.

this was a quick and twisty novella - although perhaps not quite as twisty as i would like, seeing as there are very heavy clues about the major villains and nothing that's particularly surprising. but it was still a good read, and i thought that both lisette and adeline were very realistic and well-developed characters.

there was the tiniest, tiniest whisper of fantasy that seemed out of place because it was so much of a sidenote, but seeing as this is a a"standalone series" with each books being their own thing but set in the same world (i think?), then perhaps that fantasy aspect gets developed more in the other ones.

href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38615885-the-lady-and-the-thief" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Lady and the Thief (Deceived, #5)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519003150m/38615885.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38615885-the-lady-and-the-thief">The Lady and the Thief</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1427650.Megan_Derr">Megan Derr</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2448168113">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from Less Than Three Press/NetGalley for an honest review.<br />A quick, angst filled romance from Ms. Derr with Lisette and Adeline and a storyline of intrigue, drama and liberal doses of sword fencing. Just my delight. Ultimately there's a satisfying ending. <br />4 stars for sure!
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Ever read a story where fun and exciting mysteries and adventures and stuff are going on? Daring do, and all that? Like a James Bond novel or film, or even an Austen Powers film? There is a specific individual that comes to mind I wish to mention – he’s a fella that appeared in several Bond films, if I recall correctly he was a fatter man who may or may not be from either Texas or Louisiana, and may or may not be involved in law enforcement. I’m taking the time to mention him so I can note: in the films James Bond is doing these exciting things, speeding past in a boat, in a car, on a train. Texas dude watches with his mouth open clueless to what all is going on. Ah, there we go – Louisiana Sheriff J.W. Pepper, appeared in ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

Adeline is the lead character in this short work, and the only one whose point of view is shown. Adeline is like Pepper in Bond. Exciting stuff is happening, but Adeline is just getting whiplash from it occurring around her, and occasionally to her, but without her knowing why.

This specific story open with Adeline seducing James Bond, saving money, and letting the individual know of her plans to run away together to ‘have a life’. The next morning Adeline wakes up to wails – ‘my jewelry!’ – the person she had expressed her love to, James Bond, had left the premise with Adeline’s money and jewels (as well as her aunt/uncles stuff). James Bond is, of course, not James Bond, but the chamber maid Lissette. Think a moment as to why I’d mention Bond here in this way. I do not wish to be too specific.

Two years later, 21 year old Adeline is finally ‘out for a season’ (and yes, this book reads like a vaguely English Regency period romance, but it is close enough to give that vibe, while also be irritating at the obvious differences between the 800,000 Regency romances I’ve read, and this story here – which, and this should be or should have been obvious, is not a Regency romance). While at a ball, Adeline spots a newcomer pop in. It’s Lizette! In a ball gown! And . . . calling herself Lady something or other!

One thing leads to another and . . . the reader follows Adeline mostly locked in her room ‘grounded’ while stuff happens. Since we, the readers, are following Adeline, ‘we’ know nothing, since Adeline knows nothing. Well, we and Adeline do know ‘something’ is going on. But not much more than ‘something’. Meanwhile, as far as the reader knows, an intricate chess match between rival spies could be occurring, or a game of poker, or high-speed . . . horse races . . . or nothing at all. That’s all the information we and Adeline have of the activities. Nothing at all.

Picture reading ‘North by Northwest’, and we are the Hitchcock character (not the director, the character – Hitchcock popped up on screen as someone at Mount Rushmore, sees ‘weird things occur’ but has no clue what’s going on). That’s us and Adeline. We are Hitchcock, or Pepper, or . . . any of a million other people who are near action, can sense something is occurring, but has no inside knowledge and is only involved indirectly (well, Adeline is involved directly, in a way, but she doesn’t know it).

Because of all of that – this is one of the most frustrating stories I’ve read. Borderline boring. Maybe more than borderline.

Adeline is a skilled and trained swords-person (fencer). Isn’t stupid. Etc. etc. But spends the majority of the story, as noted, locked in her room, or without agency – having people do things to her. Either for or against her. Sure, occasionally she gets to stab someone, but super rarely. Mostly she’s locked in a room.

I do not really like reading stories where the character has no agency, and stuff just happens to them. Especially if most of the stuff is off screen and sometime near the end the character has to be sat down and have things explained to them because . . . they both had no agency to act, and had no opportunity to observe anything.

Adeline remained true to her first love, but this is not, by any means, a romance. I can’t even call it a spy story, even though everything that occurs is spy related – Adeline just isn’t involved in it. It’s like a Sherlock Holmes story, and we the reader are following . . . the person off to the side, who is both blind and deaf, who shines shoes for a living. Hears and sees nothing. Feels only shoes and shoe cleaning stuff. Yay?

Oh, and the main character is also overly emotional and angsty. Hehehe, gah.

Rating: …. I really have no idea. 2.75

July 3 2018

I liked the story enough. But there's so much more that could've been done, the concept itself is amazing,, I was waiting for more honestly since I expected way more. However, the author did well in writing, Furthermore, I was kinda curious in what sanctuary was this supposed to be. Everyone was ok with same sex marriage, fluidity was a thing of normalcy

I enjoyed reading this due to its subversion of heterosexuality. I appreciated the fact it was a solid romance novel between two women. However, I did have a hard time reading some of it due to the juvenile nature of the writing. I understand the audience this book is aimed at but there were many grammatical errors and in general, poor writing syntax that made it difficult for me to connect with this story and the characters in the way that I wanted to.

Overall though, I think it is a fun, whimsical read with a solid storyline.