The high fantasy action in Thick as Thieves by M. J. Kuhn picks up right where Among Thieves left off, plunging readers back into the gritty world of heists, magic, and high-stakes deception. Ryia Cautella and her crew find themselves facing the dire consequences of their successful yet perilous heist from the first book, with a terrifyingly powerful tool now in the hands of the ruthless Callum Clem. As the group is scattered across Thamorr, alliances shift, betrayals loom, and the fate of the kingdoms hangs in the balance. It’s a thrilling sequel, the characters we’ve grown to love are tested like never before.

Characterization is a standout aspect of Thick as Thieves. Kuhn deepens our understanding of each character, making them feel more real and multifaceted. The familiarity we have with them from the first book allows for a deeper emotional investment in their individual journeys and collective struggles. The dynamics within the crew, characterized by conflicting priorities and shifting allegiances, create a tension that propels the narrative forward and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

While the plot is engaging and full of twists, there are some shortcomings in its execution. The narrative, while gripping, occasionally feels overstuffed with subplots and character arcs, leading to moments where the pacing lags. Additionally, certain plot developments may feel predictable to readers familiar with the genre, detracting from the element of surprise that is crucial to a story of this nature.

Despite these shortcomings, Thick as Thieves shines in its strengths. The world-building remains rich and immersive, with Kuhn expanding the scope of Thamorr to include new locations and cultures. The heightened stakes and escalating conflicts keep the tension high throughout, ensuring that readers remain invested in the outcome until the very end. Moreover, the introduction of new characters injects fresh energy into the narrative, adding depth and complexity to an already vibrant ensemble cast.

Overall, Thick as Thieves is a satisfying conclusion of the duology, delivering on the promises of its predecessor while setting the stage for possibly future adventures. Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows series will find much to love here, from the intricate world-building to the morally ambiguous characters and pulse-pounding heists. While it may have its flaws, the sheer entertainment value and emotional resonance of Thick as Thieves make it a worthy addition to any fantasy lover’s bookshelf.

A worthy successor to Among Thieves, with deeper characterization, darker secrets behind the magic and world, and a satisfying ending for the team. I loved every minute!

Picking back up almost immediately after the end of Among Thieves leaves our main characters scattered and at odds with each other, all of them pursuing hopeless quests they don't actually believe in. This leads to quite a bit of whining in the beginning. Also, having the characters separated means that one must diligently go back and forth between groups for POV chapters, even if one group isn't really doing much. One of the characters is even more whiny and insufferable than he was in the previous books. Two of them are lovesick morons who have no better reason for risking their necks than "well, the person I like is doing it" (and neither of them are very convinced of the "like" part). One character is besieged with doubt about everything she does and everything she has ever done (which is a vast departure from her characterization in the previous book and honestly gets very tedious very quickly).

I spent so much time thinking "just get to the point already" that by the time we did finally get to the point, I was indifferent.

M. J. Kuhn continues her tale of Ryia Cautella, a thief whose father had given her sensor and kinetic abilities by drinking the blood of adepts. In Among Thieves (paper) , she and other thieves did the impossible and stole the magical quill that kept adepts under the control of anyone who could buy them. They thought they had destroyed the object, but unfortunately only had a duplicate and one of their group has the original and hopes to activate it. For that he needs a heavily hidden knife. Ryia Cautella and new friends, including a pirate queen, must get Thick as Thieves (paper from Gallery / Saga Press) to try and stop him before he tries to conquer their world. This is a dirty world and the plot is filled with as much fun melodrama as the first. I really enjoy this series

Thick as Thieves is the installment in author M.J. Kuhn's Tales of Thamorr series. The author takes a very interesting approach with the storyline as she weaves the plot through multiple POVs, each taking on their own chapters, and giving you their perspectives of the happenings throughout all of the trials. Ryia Cautella aka Butcher of Carrowwick spent 6 years running and hiding from the dangerous Guildmaster after what her father forced her to go through in his diabolical experiment.

Ryia and her crew did the unthinkable by invading the powerful Gildmaster's Island and stealing the fabled Quill that is said to have power over the Adepts. Adepts are humans born with supernatural powers, but taken from their parents before their first birthday. Evelyn, the disgrace Captain of the Needle Guard, has found herself falling for the diabolical Ryia who seems to be carrying more secrets than she is willing to tell. Secrets what will be exposed after she's captured trying to rescue none other than the betrayer himself, Tristan Beckett aka Prince Dennison Shadowwood.

The one good thing that comes from Ryia's capture, and subsequent escape, is that we meet a new character named Joslyn who looks eerily similiar to Nash. Joslyn is also a powerful pirate who gets under Ryia's skin, and forces her to accept that what her father did to her, was perhaps the best thing to happen to her since it makes her more of a scary badass which can stand up to Callum and the Guildmaster. Meanwhile, Nash, and Ivan chose to hitch their fates to Callum Clem who actually ended up with the Quill (a magic item that lets its owner control the Adepts) after Tristan's betrayal and double betrayal by Clem of another character.

Ivan, it should be told, has his own reasons for following Clem, which I won't spoil. But I will say that Ivan's motivations are from the heart, and anyone else would have walked the same path to help rescue someone who was left behind in a devilish prison where nobody ever escapes. I will say this to avoid the questions, this is very much a character driven story, and the world building takes a back seat for most of the story. I think that is okay in this instance because the key characters plus Clem, and Joslyn give the story an even deeper depth to it.

The ending is a bit on the curious side. In all honesty, it seems like a duology, but there could be more to come if the author wanted to focus on other characters in this book. Also, I am not a fan of intentionally doing bad things to primary characters for the sake of entertaining the audience. Especially after said characters just reunited with family members they have either never seen, or lost and though they would never find them again. That's just rude.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

........I honest liked this one a lot better than it predeccessor.
Thick as Thieves by M.J. Kuhn is the sequel to Among Thieves. Which is basically a higher fantasy version of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. Ryia ‘the Butcher’ Cautella has earned her reputation as the quickest, deadliest blade in the city – not to mention the sharpest tongue. But Ryia Cautella is not her real name. A deadly secret has kept Ryia in hiding, running from city to city, doing whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of the formidable Guildmaster – sovereign ruler of the five kingdoms. But even the most powerful men can be defeated. One last impossible job is all that stands between Ryia and her freedom – but even the Butcher can’t do it alone. She teams up with the Saints, a crew of uniquely skilled miscreants, smugglers and thieves, to carry off a death-defying heist into the most tightly guarded island in the kingdoms – the Guildmaster’s stronghold.
Unfortunately for Ryia, her new allies are nearly as selfish as she is, and they all have plans of their own . . .

Not to spoil anything, but YOU NEED TO PICK UP THIS SERIES IMMEDIATLY.
I really liked

I absolutely loved Among Thieves, and was thrilled to find out that it was getting a sequel. Being able to re-enter the world M.J. Kuhn has created and see familiar characters again was wonderful. This story was just as action packed as the first book, and I love that that was kept within this one. Through twists and turns I was on the edge of my seat reading this book. I never wanted it to end.

Thank you so much NetGalley for an arc of this book.

It’s a fun book two. The world building is solid and the characters interesting and well written, I also liked that the book ended solidly and could either be a stopping point or a place to launch future books from. I do like a nice genre classic of the scrappy underdogs out to stop evil not necessarily because it’s the righteous thing to do but rather for their own varying motives. Enjoyable author and I look forward to their third book whether in this world or a different one.

What if Ocean's 11 was set in Baldur's Gate, and everyone in the crew was scheming to screw each other over?

That's the premise of MJ Kuhn's fantasy heist Among Thieves and its forthcoming sequel, Thick as Thieves.

The five kingdoms of Thamorr are ruled over by the ironfisted Guildmaster and his army of Adept: brainwashed soldiers gifted with superhuman strength, speed, and senses.

After six years of running from the Guildmaster's agents, master assassin and renegade Adept Ryia Cautella allies herself with the deadliest crime boss in the port city of Carrowick: Callum Clem, the Snake of the Southern Docks.

Together with runaway conman Tristan, disgraced city guard captain Evelyn, master of disguise Ivan, and Nash, a smuggler with sharpened teeth, Ryia is tasked by Clem with an impossible job: steal the legendary Quill of Declan Day, the artifact that grants the Guildmaster control over the Adept. A power the ruthless Clem desperately wants for himself.

I received a free e-ARC of Thick as Thieves from MJ and NetGalley. Since this is a sequel, spoilers for the first book will follow. Consider yourselves warned.

Thick as Thieves picks up shortly after the first book ends, with the crew having been broken up following the fallout of their theft of the Quill.

Ryia and Evelyn's attempt to rescue Tristan quickly results in Ryia's own capture, an ordeal which forces her to discover new sides to her Adept powers, as well as finding an unlikely ally in her fellow prisoner: the legendary pirate Salt Beard. Meanwhile, Nash and Ivan find themselves dragged along in an increasingly unstable Callum Clem's quest to bend the Quill of Declan Day to his will, and in doing so conquer all Thamorr for himself--a quest that sets them on a collision course not only with their former allies, but the Guildmaster and the kingdoms of Thamorr. Mayhem, Violence, and backstabbing ensue.

My favorite thing about both these books is their twist on the found family trope. Our band of rogues all have their own motives and agendas, and none of them would hesitate to stab one another in the back (and often do). But being forced to rely upon each other through numerous deadly scenarios engenders a grudging affection between them, as each of them almost inadvertently contributes to making the others a better person. Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way.

If you love Six of Crows, The Lies of Locke Lamora, or the DnD movie, check out Among Thieves and Thick as Thieves, which comes out July 25!

Thanks to Saga Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

Among Thieves pulled me in with a fantasy heist story and now Thick as Thieves comes along to finish it off in fine style!! Fast paced, full of twists and turns and then it hits you full on in the feels for a terrific wrap up to this duology.
All of your favorite characters are back as are the villains we love to hate. However, everyone is spread out throughout Thamorr, with individual agendas, attempting rescues and generally trying to figure out how to save the world. No biggie. The tension builds throughout the story as each thread is brought together for the final confrontation which has so many unexpected consequences. This story was quite entertaining and the overall duology should definitely be on your radar if you love a good heist with multi-layered characters and excellent LGBTQ rep. Hoping there are more Thamorr stories in the future!!!

Thank you to gallery books / saga press for this eArc!

Unfortunately, this just hasn’t hit the mark for me the same way book 1 did. I found myself wanting to skim through entire chapters, which is quite unlike me as a reader typically. I think intimately it just does not have the same sense of threat/danger that book 1 has, and while I was looking forward to learning more about the world at large, it felt like when we finally encountered new pieces of this, nothing was all that fleshed out or explained, leaving me feeling like I had no stake in what was going to happen from there. I also think the largest downfall is that the relationships between characters feels much thinner than it did before. I was invested in the Tristan/Ryia dynamic, which didn’t pick up. Evelyn/Ryia took much too long to connect on page. Nash & Ivan also lost their charm for me. I did really enjoy the first book in this series, but this just ended up not being for me.

Thick as Thieves by M. J. Kuhn is the fabulous sequel to Among Thieves.
I loved the world Kuhn created here. This is a world of magic, action and adventure.
With superb characters, brilliant plot twists, a courageous world of heists, magic, and deception in this win or lose fantasy.
It’s full of interesting characters. Very well written story with lots of twists and turns.
M. J. Kuhn has crafted some of the most fascinating and unique characters I’ve come across in adult fantasy.
The writing was beautiful and the prose was just great. The pacing was done extremely well.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Gallery/Saga Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The follow up to Among Thieves crowns MJ Kuhn as the queen of the fantasy heist. An absolutely worthy sequel that expands the world and characters, while also building to a sensational end. I couldn’t have wished for more.

If you missed Among Thieves, first of all — what are you playing at? And secondly, if you want to avoid spoilers for book one in this two-book series, go and buy a copy and read it before continuing with this review. Because I’m about to wreck that book in five, four, three…

Thick As Thieves picks up right where things left off. Callum Clem — AKA, a seriously intimidating villain who I loathed in the first book and detested even more in this one — got away with the quill that can make him master of the Adepts. Scary stuff, right? The book wastes no time in planting us straight in the middle of the action as Ryia and Evelyn attempt to rescue the duplicitous little teenage swine that is Tristan.

Meanwhile, Nash and Ivan are with Clem, and there’s tension over whether they should even be helping him. Every character is stretched to their limit by the sum of their choices, and what I loved about this sequel was how the events in book one had a payoff here. Whether it’s Ivan’s actions to protect his brother, or Nash’s unswerving devotion, or the wavering of Ryia’s merciless streak — it all feels totally relevant to the arc each character goes through. And in terms of where they all end up, it makes the book all the more satisfying.

Some quick questions you may be wondering:
-Does it have the same level of witty banter that made the first book such a joy? You can bet your axe it does.
-Does it retread the same old ground as the first one? Not at all. More on that in a second.
-Will you want a replica of Ryia’s hatchets for your wall by the time it’s done? Absolutely.

Where the first book was more heist than fantasy, Thick As Thieves switches things up by going darker. There are jailbreaks, stand-offs, high-seas piratical misdeeds, double-crosses, and all the criminal ingenuity you could hope for. It’s an exhilarating read. But there’s also something more deliberate, more thoughtful, and more introspective about Thick As Thieves.

Ultimately, it’s a book about relationships, loyalty, and choice. How we become what we choose to be. How we’re bound to the people around us. But it manages to remain fast-paced, frenetic, and fun. There will be moments of heartbreak and moments of elation, moments of terror and moments of relief, moments of laughter and more moments of laughter. It hits you in the feels in a deeper way than Among Thieves, and it isn’t afraid to do things a little different. And speaking of going deeper, like all the best sequels, it delves into the history of Thamorr and answers questions you didn’t even know you needed answering. I love those kinds of stories — the kind that go beyond your expectations.

MJ Kuhn could so easily have given us Among Thieves 2.0, and rehashed that winning formula of snark and sorcery, hatchets and haberdashery. We’d have all been happy to read a dozen books where Ryia and Evelyn bicker, Nash and Ivan play the “will they won’t they” game, and Tristan gets away with being an absolute muppet. But instead, she’s given us something more. She’s given us an ending which is so much richer than I anticipated, and new characters that are every bit as compelling as the ones you already know and love. By the time the final page is turned, you’ll have experienced a genuine journey across this series. And that’s mightily impressive.

In terms of comparisons, it’s still got that Arcane: League Of Legends vibe, but I was getting flavours of The Count Of Monte Cristo, and even Pirates Of The Caribbean in places. It straddles so many different influences, but definitely recaptures that unique charm which made Among Thieves such a standout.

Thick As Thieves will steal your heart. It’s endearing and powerful, charismatic and captivating. If you enjoyed book one, you’ll relish this conclusion. It really is a perfect sequel.

This is another exciting sequel coming out soon to Among Thieves, which is a high stakes fantasy about well, you guessed it, thieves. It follows our same group of characters as they go on a dangerous journey. It’s a very gritty world full of magic and backstabbing, a lot of readers are excited for this continuation so be sure to check it out when it lands in bookstores on July 25th
Full review coming to YouTube

Thick as Thieves is a brilliantly surprising edge-of-your-seat sequel filled with raw emotion and endless danger. This is one story that will bleed and embed itself into the very depths of your heart and soul. There is no running from these wickedly magnetic characters who find themselves caught up in a vicious plot of selfish ambition. Your heart will sour at their triumphs and plummet at their near misses. Truly, there is a never a dull moment, and once you start this story, you are utterly compelled to see it through.

Ryia has fought tooth and nail for the life she had found. It wasn't perfect, but it was hers. Now, that it is been decimated, she has a new goal. Driven to right the wrong that has been done to their world, she finds herself once again pulling together her old rag tag team of thieves, con men, pirates, and street rats to eliminate the deadliest threat in history or die trying. Can such a group of individuals get along long enough to agree on anything, or will their already frayed loyalties be too much to overcome? Only time and the heart can answer that question, but in the meantime new lines are drawn and what awaits them is a lion's so fierce and deadly it threatens to consume and incinerate them whole.

Within the pages of this book, we see a group of people that defies logic and have no business working together much knowing each other. Something beyond them has drawn them together for one last impossible mission, and we get the pleasure to observe on the sidelines the beauty of their madness and chaos. The heart knows the true worth and beauty of a person not our eyes and mind. If we let our heart lead us, this would be a much brighter and happier world.

M.J. Kuhn is a breathtaking author whose writing is both fascinatingly raw and breathtakingly magnificent. Her story speaks to me on a very visceral level and pulls forth deep and hidden emotions that leave me drained and invigorated. This is such a unique and vibrant tale that refuses to be ignored, and with each word we find ourselves endlessly challenged and delightfully encouraged to live, to change, to experience, and to feel.

this was a strong sequel with the Among Thieves book, I enjoyed every part of the story. It worked overall as a fantasy genre and I enjoyed how good everything worked overall. The characters were what I was hoping for and felt like they belonged in this universe. M.J. Kuhn does a great job in writing this and I'm glad I read this.

Thick as Thieves is the second instalment in M. J. Kuhn’s YA series. I read her first novel, Among Thieves, last year and enjoyed the cast of characters, the magic system, and the heists.

In the second instalment, our group of characters has split up. Ian, Nash, and Callem are on a boad with the Quill (a magic item that lets its owner control those with magic). Ryia and Evelyn are trying to break Tristan out of prison. Over the course of the novel, the characters journey across the map, and we get to explore more locations in Kuhn’s world—including Ian’s homeland. Just like the first novel, each character has their own plan, and must balance their personal motivations with those of the group without being found out.

However, I liked the first book better. These books have a large cast of characters, and in this second book they are spread out into three—sometimes four—different groups, so it takes a long time for the action to build. I liked the first novel because there was a central heist that the group was working on together. In this second one, their goal shifts often and the main heist doesn’t really come together until the last chapters. Like the first novel, this story also switches between character perspectives, but I didn’t find the characters’ voices very unique. Often, I had to go back to the chapter heading to remind myself which character I was reading about. The characters’ unique qualities—like Ian’s role as master of disguise and Tristan’s pickpocketing skills—seemed to be swallowed up in the very expansive plot. Speaking of the plot, it takes a while for the book to pick up momentum. The events in this book take place over a longer time span since they have to travel. And while Ryia and Evelyn are chasing down the Quill, there’s no centralized purpose that the characters seem to be working towards. The book also ends almost the same as the first one, with the Quill still elusive and one of their group members a traitor.

I enjoyed learning more about Kuhn’s world, but I hope the next book goes back to just being a heist novel.

I received a complementary e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second of two books was a satisfying adventure that hit all the stops: lost family, found family, adventures, tragedy- a great read.

tl;dr
Recommended for anyone who wants gritty fantasy heists with high stakes and lots of backstabbing.

Thoughts
I've been looking forward to sinking my teeth into this sequel ever since I read the first book. There are a lot of stories that end on a "it's gonna be so big next time!" cliffhanger that don't always seem to quite hit the same highs, but this one very neatly ties a lot of the threads set up in the previous volume (BTW, these definitely need to be read in order). The blurb promises more gritty, and more gritty is what we get. Bigger fights, more drama, and a serious death toll. Just like the first book, expect lots of twists, conflicting intentions, and betrayal. There's definitely more relationship-building here, with a pairing that I've been cheering for actually getting their moment in the sun, which felt like a welcome bit of fresh air compared to how dark the rest of the book is. One of the new characters introduced is also a total badass delight. The ending is open-ended enough to leave room for future installments, but I'd also be satisfied to see the adventure end here.

Spoiler: Unfortunately, my favorite character Ivan gets an utterly lousy deal. He makes terrible choices, everyone he cares about dies, and he's never even given a shot at redemption afterwards. I was really looking forward to seeing more of him after the first book, but alas, he was destined for tragedy.

Overall, follows through on the first book pretty solidly, but I can't help but be mad about [name redacted].

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review