Such an amazing series. I absolutely loved these two books. Such a great follow up to the first novel! Recomend to all ❤️❤️ full RTC!

10 stars!!
I absolutely loved everything about this book,!

I was sucked in from the first page, and from the moment Vanya accidentally starts a cult I knew I would love it. The plot of this is great, emotional, serious, and so funny in all the right places. In fact, for most of the book while Vanya was just being her awesome self I had a smile on my face and I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud. This also tackles some serious emotional stuff to do with how Vanya feels about herself and it made me connect with and love her even more. I love her relationships with her friends and Emerick. I just love those two together!

I have so many favorite moments and scenes from this book, one in particular involves a possessed doll, which is made even better because of the discussion Vanya and Emerick were having before the doll shows up. We get to see some old friends again and meet some amazing new ones, and so many amazing and crazy things happened in Painted Devils that I can't to see whats going to happen in the final book!!

This sequel to Little Thieves was well done, action-packed, and quite funny. I normally hate it when characters do really dumb things and make super bad decisions, but in this series it's entirely in character and the character is self aware, and it works. I didn't realize this would be setting up for further sequels; I never really appreciate a cliffhanger—I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment.

I absolutely adored Little Thieves! Vanja is one of my favorite characters and I loved her character ARC in the first book. I was absolutely thrilled with the announcement of the second installment. After accidentally and potentially summoning a low god called the Scarlet Maiden and starting a cult, Vanja Schmidt during a drunken escapade accidentally starts a cult and finds herself at the center of trouble, once again. Romance, Adventure, and Shenanigans ensue wherever she goes! Familiar faces appear and sparks are rekindled. But will Vanja be able to save the one her heart may need?

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to review this exceptional novel by one of my favorite authors. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this wonderful, utterly perfect book.

From the moment I delved into its pages, I was captivated by the profound exploration of demisexual love (it seems so rarely explored in novels) and the persistent impact of childhood trauma and how it shapes a person. Vanja's journey, entangled in the creation of an unintended cult, added a layer of complexity to the relationship as Emeric is assigned to investigate her. It is a book that resonates deeply with those who struggle to accept themselves and grapple with their past. The unwavering bond between Vanja and Emeric, choosing each other repeatedly despite the inadvertent pain they inflict, is nothing short of remarkable and beautiful to read.

This book weaves together the bonds of family, the fierce love between the two leads, and so much humor. It left me in awe of the author's ability to craft such a breathtaking and meaningful story. The characters, so complex and richly portrayed, continue to become deeply ingrained in my heart. Their journey evoked a range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, and expanded my love for both the author and their remarkable creations.

This sequel is a true masterpiece. It celebrates the power of love, resilience, and self-acceptance. It is completely unforgettable and I cannot wait for the third. I would be concerned about the ending, but I have complete confidence in Margaret Owen.

Margaret Owen does it again. And by “it” I mean “rips my heart out and throws it away”. I love this series, I love these characters, I LOVE THIS WORLD! I also GREATLY love the subtle yet VERY MUCH THERE ace and demisexual representation.

Vanja and Emeric both deserve all the hugs.

Hilarious! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars! I actually enjoyed this more than the first one! First off I love Vanja, she is so sarcastic & I love her response to everything.
“His next words come out strangled: “You started a cult?” “No! I mean… a little?” My hands ball up in my billowing sleeves. “It’s cult-adjacent? Cult-ish?” 😂
I was cracking up this whole book. The way Owens keeps in the folklore setting but mixes in Vanja’s sarcasm & hijinks is incredibly entertaining & endearing. I felt like the first book gave us a taste of this but she went all out in this one. And all the awkward sexual situations between Vanja & Emeric are a cross between sweet & innocent, heartfelt & insightful, & then down right embarrassing & humorous. I also thought this one moved a lot faster. The story line was really compelling & fast paced. And the ending!!! Major twists & turns the whole way & then the cliffy! Ughhh way to rip a girl’s heart out! I will definitely be looking forward to book 3!

Painted Devils begins with Vanja causing chaos (as per usual) by accidentally starting a cult while in search of her long lost family and honest work. But when the god she invented, the Scarlet Maiden, shows up and claims Emeric as a sacrifice, Vanja and Emeric must work together again and see if there can be a future for a prefect and a theif.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love that Vanja was still a morally gray character even while she was trying to make better choices. I felt the characters remained true to how we met them in Little Thieves, even as they continued to grow and change. I also thought the plot was engaging and I never fully knew what would happen next. This book also still had Vanja's hilarious narration which made it a delight to read.

I did have a few issues with this book. First, I found that I really missed some of the side characters from the first book. While Painted Devils had great new side characters, I really missed the wonderful characters from the first. Second, I felt that parts of this book were pretty slow when compared to Little Thieves. Third, there are a few uses of modern language and slang that I found pulled me out of the story, like Vanja saying "Roasted". Lastly, I did get a bit tired of the will-they-wont-they between Emeric & Vanja.

While not perfect, I did really enjoy this book, and I'm definitely looking forward to more Vanja chaos in the third book.

This was a HIGHLY anticipated read for me, since Little Thieves was one of my favorite reads last year. Right from the jump, this one had the same signature voice and humor, and surprised me with beautiful, thorough conversations about consent. While I struggled to follow the plot a little along the way, the depth of these characters and their relationships are well-worth the read. I need more fantasy books like this one- they are adding something much-needed to the genre.

I really loved Little Thieves and though it didn't on a cliffhanger I loved the characters so much I wanted more so this was a no-brainer.

Now, Vanja did learn from the last book but her morally gray character is always a part of her and I was LIVING or it! She didn't mean to start a cult and create a God, she didnt mean to summon the real god and have them capture her beloved Emeric, but here we are!

This whole book had me on a chokehold for absolutely way too long and I was so grateful. I was afraid we were not going to live up to the last book but I think I love this one a little more for entirely different reasons!

The plot was right where it needed to be, and what is beautiful is that each book has its own plot, although now I am in desperate need for the next book!

The characters continue to wow me, Owen has a GIFT for writing amazing characters who make questionable choices but who make you love them regardless!

So excited I ordered a special edition of this before even reading because I KNEW Owen wouldn't let me down!

Finishing up my videos and will add links once I am done!

It's gonna be five stars for me.

Vanja Schmidt is back and letting old habits die hard as she finds a teensy lie about serving a Red Maiden growing wildly out of her control and accidently starts a feverish cult in a small town. When the Prefects of the Godly Courts hear about a potential new Low God emerging they send one of their best and brightest to investigate, none other than Vanja's boyfriend himself, Prefect Aspirant Emeric Conrad. When the Red Maiden actually shows herself (much to Vanja and Emeric's chagrin) she claims Emeric as her servant --and next human sacrifice.

Painted Devils was nothing short of amazing --an absolute thrill of a read I simply couldn't put down. Much darker and more harrowing than its predecessor, Painted Devils is a marvel. Rich with action and adventure, romance and fear, and all emotions in between it is not a book to be forgotten easily. Intelligent and funny, Owen's writing style creates a place in which readers can find themselves immersed in a world where you don't see what's coming next. Like Little Thieves I thought that this novel handled sensitive subjects with grace, while not glossing over tough subjects.

This is a story about many things, but especially, love. there are discussion of physical intimacy, abusive environments, and the road to loving yourself when you have spent so long walking a path of thorns. I can't say if this will bring comfort, only that it is brought with care. In the end, this is a story of love --so above all, care for yourself.

In reflecting on finishing this novel, I wasn't sure where to begin. I saw so much of myself in Vanja that it was like looking in a mirror at times. The idea of love and acceptance permeates every facet of this novel --romantic, familial, physical, and self. A friend just recently quoted to me Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I couldn't help but immediately think of this novel. "We accept the love we think we deserve." Painted Devils really drives home that we are more than what the world around us gives us credit for, and while we can look for love and validation from other people, we won't be able to experience the fullness therein until we learn our own value. It was a message I needed when I was a teenager, and certainly a good reminder now.

Now, even though the main through point of this novel is love --it is a far cry from a fluffly novel. Poltergeists, human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, cults, murder, abandonment, and more are nestled between the pages. (Definitely reminiscent of a Brothers Grimm fairytale). I loved both Little Thieves and Painted Devils desperately, and recommend them to anyone who reads fantasy, anyone who loves fairytales, and anyone who could use that little reminder that we are more than the circumstances of our birth.

This is a worthy sequel to Little Thieves, messy and satisfying as Vanja tries to work out her place in the world (and accidentally starts a cult that unexpectedly wakes something up). Readers of the first book will be familiar with the way Vanja's schemes and contrivances are never quite successful in the way she intends, and the book will be most satisfying to those who have read Little Thieves, but it is completely possible to get swept up in Painted Devils without reading that novel first. It isn't all capers; Vanja has some serious things to work out, starting with her own sense of self worth.. Be prepared to be swept away.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a free earc in exchange for an honest review.

Owen leads us on a merry chase in this stellar follow-up to Little Thieves. She expertly weaves the story in a way that kept me guessing, even as I started to see the threads come together.

I also love how seamlessly she includes queer characters. Vanja and Emeric's demisexuality continues to be explored, but there were also trans and non-binary characters, and a few f/f proposals.

A fantasies mystery with a colorful cast that met all of my highest expectations.

<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 500/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

<i>Special thanks to FierceReads, Colored Paged Blog Tours, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>

Margaret Owen is one of my favorite authors of all time, and Painted Devils has only confirmed that fact. This book was SO GOOD!
This is a road trip fantasy featuring Vanja and Emeric, of course, as well as some other old favorites—and some new ones.
This book deals with trauma and grief, sex and virginity, and so many other important topics. It will make you cry, and it will make you laugh so much.
I can honestly say I’ve never heard of a book featuring a male sacrificial virgin before, but I thought it was iconic, and it opened up some important conversations. Sex and sexuality play a huge part in this book, and I love the way it’s handled. It’s honest and sex positive and exactly what YA needs more of. It addresses these important topics in a way that is accessible and appropriate for teen audiences. I would say it leans a little more towards upper YA in these areas of discussion, but it’s never explicit, and anything beyond making out is fade to black.
I will admit, I found the plot and pacing of this one to be a bit lacking in comparison to Little Thieves. There were a lot of little “side quests” that I loved and were important to the characters’ growth, but they did slow down the forward momentum of the book at some points. Not enough to take me out of it, or to dock a star rating, but enough that I took notice. Similarly, there was a reveal that I figured out pretty early, however that didn’t stop me from shrieking when it was officially revealed and getting way too excited.
Unlike Little Thieves, this one doesn’t wrap up perfectly. Luckily, there is a guaranteed third book! The plot itself is self-contained in this book, but let’s just say, if the whole series ended this way, I’d riot. However, for the ending of the second book in a trilogy, I like it.
I genuinely cannot recommend this series enough.

This book was more than a worthy follow-up to a fantastic first book. It had just as much humor and heart, and lots of healthy communication between the characters. Vanja’s journey is a pleasure to watch, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an eARC in one of my most anticipated reads of 2023.

Wait. What? This all started because Vanja girl bossed a bit too close to the sun?!

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen is the sequel novel to Litt Thieves, that follows Vanja as she girl bosses a bit too close to the sun and starts a cult. Which in turns awakens a sleeping low god, and starts a whole mess in itself. With Emric's help, and a little bit of pinning, Vanja must track down the sleeping low god and resolve her issues by summer's end. All while trying to find her way back home.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! And I can't believe Own left us with that ending. I need book three like right now.

Vanja, you magnificent devil, you’re at it again.

Anyone who’s read Little Thieves (which should be everyone) will know that Vanja is incorrigible, so it’s no surprise that within the first ten pages she’s started a cult. By accident! She swears! And sure, it’s very convenient to be the prophet of a local god she’s decided to call the Scarlet Maiden, but the perks aren’t really the point. Vanja is trying to cope with the events of the last book and not doing the greatest, and she needs a quiet spot to process her trauma.

Too bad more trauma is on the way.

Fortunately, Vanja has old friends and new ones to help her out of what turns out to be a very complicated situation. The Scarlet Maiden is real—or at least she better be, because creating a cult is a crime against the gods. But the Maiden’s demands are their own kind of dangerous. She has her sights on Vanja’s no-longer-junior prefect Emeric, and promises that an entire town will be destroyed if she doesn’t get a sacrifice. Vanja now has to circumvent the sacrifice, figure out what’s going on with this god run amok, and maybe also get some leads on the family she was separated from as a child.

Owen manages multiple strands of plot with confidence and ease, shifting between Vanja’s search for her family, her deepening relationship, and her quest to appease the Scarlet Maiden, which itself has multiple layers of myth and legend. I never felt like any of the sub-plots was getting short shrift, which had me nodding appreciatively while I read in public. What can I say? Owen writes the kinds of books that make you forget where you are, or not care if other people hear you chuckle aloud. They’re too good.

Maybe at times did the side quests felt a little tacked on, but I promise you, not only are they relevant to the central plot, that feeling of extraneousness is itself an important clue. Owen is just as careful and tricky as she’s always been. And not only was the payoff so, so worth it, I would read a whole book of side quests as a collection of short stories, just because Vanja is so cheeky and clever and cool.

And as Vanja chases all this down, she also has to contend with navigating her first-ever romantic relationship. Owen handles it absolutely beautifully, getting candid about anxiety, physicality, awkwardness—and the intimacy and joy that makes it all worth it. This book made me feel extremely seen.

Painted Devils is also clearly a book written in the pandemic but not about a pandemic, and I valued that so much. Among other references, it incorporates the Evergreen incident—you know, the briefly-transfixing and then promptly forgotten tale of the cargo ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal? A similar thing happens in Painted Devils, and it feels like an in-joke that everyone can share. It’s delightful.

The whole book, really, is delightful from start to finish—or, well, almost. Unfortunately, we have to talk about the ending. This is not the climax, which is spectacular, but just the falling action. As much as I want to like it, or at least that I understand the narrative choices being made, it simply doesn’t work for me. Vanja’s decisions in the last five pages undermine 500 pages of emotional growth and character work. And while there is some justification based on her newfound sense of responsibility, it feels much more like a quick and easy way to create a cliffhanger for book three. But the thing is, I would have picked up book three regardless. I’m in it for the worldbuilding, the characters, the humor, and the clever plotting—not for this kind of unnecessary twist. I felt like Vanja betrayed me, the reader, by her final series of choices, a cruel succession of unilateral decisions that undid not just Owen’s careful examination of Vanja’s psychology, but also Owen’s emphasis on mutual consent. It was a really disappointing end to an otherwise spectacular novel.

Perhaps you’ll feel differently, that the bittersweetness (with emphasis on the bitter) was proof of positive growth on Vanja’s part and a shrewd willingness to eschew the expected on Owen’s. I hope you do! I want people to like this book—I myself want to like this book! But the ending is really sticking in my craw, and if you’re reading this review, perhaps by knowing a bit more you will be better prepared to expect the unexpected.

I will be picking up the follow-up volume of Vanja’s story in spite of this ending, not because of it. I’m already not looking forward to the inevitable retread of a lot of the same emotional ground covered in Painted Devils. Or who knows, maybe Owen will surprise me! She’s certainly capable of it, and I still have faith in her ability to create a nuanced and compelling story. I still think everybody should read Painted Devils, too, even with a caveat about the ending. It’s a smart, insightful novel with beautiful themes and some first-rate heists and battles that’s definitely worth reading.

Jewel thief turned cult leader? All in a day’s work for reformed jewel thief Vanja who in an attempt to be better before meeting her nemesis-turned-suitor Emeric, finds herself accidentally starting a cult around a Low God, the Scarlet Maiden. Vanja does end up running into Emeric again after he finally finds her and then the Scarlet Maiden does reveal herself and claims Emeric as her virgin sacrifice. Vanja, wanting to save the only mane she’s ever loved decides that she’s going to do whatever it takes to break the claim. In order to find an alternative solution, Vanja goes on a quest to bring the Scarlet Maiden seven drops of blood, one from each of the seven brothers for the midsommer festival. On top of that there is also the issue that Emeric and Vanja are still trying to work out their relationship, with Emerica having to decide whether or not Vanja has committed fraud as his final test for prefect-hood arrives and Vanja must also deal with the fact that her dark family secrets are going to come out. Can Emeric and Vanja work out everything and save each other before it’s too late or will the Scarlet Maiden claim the only man Vanja’s ever loved? I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much of an improvement this book was compared to the first one. I definitely found it more interesting and the plot was moving faster, and I grew to like Vanja more and I was happy we got to see Ragne again ( Love her so much). I am curious to see where the third book goes, I was a bit sad that we got a cliffhanger that wasn’t so happy because if I’m being real honest, the book series could have ended on this book with a happy ending instead of dragging onto a third book but oh well, I am curious to see how the story goes next and what will happen to Emeric and Vanja’s relationship.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I didn’t love this book quite as much as I loved the first book. It had a little bit of Second Book Syndrome going on, to be honest (I’m hoping book 3 will make up for it). It started off strong – lots of action and hijinks, Vanja being her amoral incorrigible self, and the humor and sarcastic banter that I loved so much about the first book. But at the 50% mark it started dragging, and my attention waned. It was a bit slow from about 50-75% through, until it finally picked up again [spoilers removed]

I loved the introduction of new characters – namely Brunne and Ambroszia – but it was a bit overwhelming. I honestly couldn’t tell the brothers apart and they were all the same to me. I did like Helga, though!

“I want you to remember that, as long as you’ll have me, I will choose you every time.”

I thought Vanja was an idiot in this book. Look, I get why she ran away in the beginning. She has trust and abandonment issues for obvious reasons. But after everything, you’d think she’d realize that Emeric wasn’t going to abandon her and that he truly cared about her. The fact that she constantly expected him to spurn her drove me bonkers! He was never anything but caring, gentle, and understanding. And yet she STILL assumed the worst in every single situation (always a simple misunderstanding that communication could fix) and STILL didn’t trust him. She was so dead set on sabotaging her own happiness, and there were quite a few times I wanted to throttle the shit out of her! [spoilers removed]

THAT ENDING?! Umm what? I don’t know why, but I thought this series was a duology for some dumb reason, so imagine my surprise when it ended in a cliffhanger. When I clicked to the next page and there was nothing I legit yelled “WHAT!” because helloooo I’m missing the rest of my copy thank you very much.

P.S. Brownie points for the casual Backstreet Boys reference in Emeric’s poetry!

Original review posted on Novel Heartbeat.

A return to the creative and satisfying world of Little Thieves. The plot is essentially what's on the tin: Vanja accidentally starts a cult, potentially awakens a very old Low God, and she and Emeric must once again solve an increasingly complex and circular high-stakes puzzle -- but this time, starting on the same side -- while also working through their own complex emotions.

Things that really worked for me: Seeing the puzzle unfold with Vanja as she works her way through interconnected sidequests, and watching her pull off her con-artist genius with snarky running commentary, continues to be the biggest hook for me. I especially enjoyed the bits where Vanja has to think about what justice really means, and how she and Emeric approach it differently. Loved watching Vanja and Emeric grow closer and fumble their way through the early stages of their relationship. Vanja figuring out what matters to her and how to act on those things now that she's not just conning to survive was a key theme in this book, and was a solid development from where we left off after the first book. And finally, Owens has a great sense of pacing, and how to most effectively and creatively weave folktale into plot, and that really shone through.

What didn't quite work for me: There were a couple of anachronisms in the way Vanja and others talked that really took me out of the world harshly and immediately ("roasted" used as in being insulted jokingly, Vanja saying "let's take this down from a ten down to a four," and several others) -- expressions that we use in our society today, but that don't feel in line with Owens' fairytale-old-Germanic worldbuilding. I didn't really enjoy the intensity of the will-they-won't-they trope between Vanja and Emeric, and it got old, fast. Some of Vanja's issues and the way they tie into the plot were just as well-handled as in Little Thieves, but others were so repetitive, and it was so frustrating to see her not learn from her own experiences.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book, I was completely hooked and had a hard time putting it down, and I will certainly be sticking around for the final installment in Vanja's world and continuing to recommend this series to others. Painted Devils just didn't quite live up to the Little Thieves as much as I was hoping it would.

3.5 rounded up to 4.