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4.5/5 STARS

Genre: YA mystery/adventure

Similar Books:
The Inheritance Games

Synopsis:
Raised in a theiving family, a girl enters a gambit to pay her mother’s ransom.

This was such a fun book! It has the puzzles of The Inheritance Games mixed with the heists of Oceans 11. I love books with competitions and this one did not disappoint. It is fast paced and so full of twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down. The different heists were very creative and very enjoyable to watch unfold. The ending leaves potential for a sequel and I really hope there is one!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted copy! 🥷

4.5 stars

This was such a fun and entertaining read! Action, adventure, mystery, and a bit of romance too! The Gambit was like a cross between the Italian Job/Ocean's Eleven and the Amazing Race (and a little Hunger Games too). I loved the variety of characters and how diverse they all were. You never knew who was truly working with you or against you. The secondary characters added great tension and humor to the story. The book was fast paced and kept me engaged and guessing. I did figure out one of the plot points earlyish, but even that one I didn't realize the full extent of until the big reveal.

Ross was such a fantastic character. She was smart, quick on her feet, and showed so much grace under pressure. She was also a wonderfully relatable teen, who wanted to spread her wings and leave the nest. It was her complex relationship with her mother that really intrigued me and set the emotional stakes very high. I wasn't as invested in her connection to Devroe though and the romance aspect felt a bit forced between them.

I both listened to and read the ebook of Thieves' Gambit and the narration by Jade Wheeler was amazing! She did such a fantastic job with the variety of characters and accents. I had no problems differentiating between all of the characters. Definitely recommend enjoying this one on audiobook if you can!

Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4.5 stars

Note: Thieves' Gambit is part of a series (maybe a duology, but probably a trilogy). Readers should know that while the main action of this book is wrapped up, the larger storyline is not complete. The book does end on a cliffhanger, but not a gut punch/rip your heart to shreds cliffy.

CW: violence (guns, knives, etc), fighting, life threatening situations, kidnapping & ransom, theft, death of parent (past), grief

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

The Thieves' Gambit was such a fun read! Lewis did a fantastic job of creating a tense and action-packed story that is hard to put down. Everything about this book was intriguing: the plot, the characters, the setting. What I liked most about the Thieves' Gambit were the characters. I liked the complexity (and diversity) of the characters and not knowing who to trust. The ending was WILD and I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for the ARC.

I’ve been hearing nothing but amazing things about this book so I couldn’t wait to pick it up. Thankfully, it lives up to the hype. This book started off with a bang and grabbed my attention immediately. I couldn’t stop reading. It’s very fast paced and very easy to read and I really loved our MC, Ross.

I was so excited to receive an early copy of Thieves’ Gambit. It sounded right up my alley. I was right!

Ross is part of of an infamous thieves family. Who knew there was such a thing. Anywho…Ross gets herself in a pickle and needs to win the Gambit competition for the prize money to save her Mom (who has been kidnapped).

This was such a fun ride although a bit predictable. The games were super fun and enjoyable. It’s a blast and obviously there’s another book coming. I will be reading it for sure.

Yes this one does read YA and there’s a bit of romance here too.
A fun and entertaining read.

4.5 stars rounded up. I've seen a lot of early buzz comparing Thieves' Gambit to The Inheritance Games books, and if I'm honest, that's really what intrigued me in the first place. And to be fair, I totally get the comparison. The plots are completely different, but the essence of the books are similar. Honestly, I kind of got some Caraval vibes as well, without the fantasy elements. And once I started this one, I did not want to put it down. It was the epitome of a fast-paced, action-packed read.

The Thieves' Gambit (event, not book title) is basically an international competition aimed at crowning the best teen/new adult thief in the world. Entrants will perform outlandish and spectacular feats of thievery as part of the competition, with the winner granted one wish. And in a competition amongst thieves, you know there are going to be lies and deceptions, as well as twists and turns. Loyalties will change. What you think you know will turn out to be false. And the betrayals will leave you reeling. So basically, this book was awesome. Based on the ending, it's clear that Thieves' Gambit is meant to be the first book in a new series, and honestly, I'm totally here for that. I'm glad things didn't wrap up with a nice pretty bow, because I totally want to spend more time in Ross's world. I'll be on tenterhooks waiting for the release of book 2.

Than you so much to Lewis, Penguin Teen, and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I don't think I've ever read a book before where the media comparisons are spot on PERFECT. Inheritance Games meets Oceans Eleven absolutely describes this teenage heist competition novel. But I should warn you, make sure you have plenty of time to sit down with this one because you won't be able to put it down.

You can't trust anyone, the rules of the game are constantly changing, and nothing is as it seems... Just a completely delectable book and I can't wait to read more!

Thanks to #netgalley and #penguingroup for this ARC, my first!
Described as The Inheritance Games meets Oceans’s Eleven, this book is non-stop action. I don’t know that i would categorize this as a mystery//thriller as indicated but nonetheless, this book does have some suspenseful moments. The story is told through the eyes of Rosalyn”Ross” Quest. A Bahamian girl who comes from a long line of Thieves. Being that much of my family is from the Bahamas, it gave me a personal connection to the storyline. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters. Lewis does an excellent job of character building with less attention paid to world building. I wish there was a bit more puzzles/riddles/etc throughout the book. Sometimes it seemed as though the characters would find a solution to an issue offscreen or with very little detail for the reader. However, this still made for an enjoyable read and each heist brought a new element of suspense. I’m assuming there will be a sequel given the ending so I look forward to reading more about The Quest Family and their partners/enemies in crime.

I suspected I would enjoy this book, but I didn’t realize how much. The competition is fierce and fast-paced. I love the characters, even the ones you love to hate. I empathized with Ross. Her mother exerted such absolute control over her family that Ross had no one. She didn’t know how to let down her walls, to trust people, or even let them in just a little, which is exactly how her mother wanted it.

Ross was so much more than an expert problem solver and thief. Each new task in the competition was creative. With something always going on, it’s a tense read, and Lewis never lets the readers rest easy. Seriously, this book was such a blast. And while it’s not labeled as the start of a series, it’s clear there’s more to come. The only problem is having to wait for more from these characters. I hope everyone stays in touch, especially the ones Ross befriended, because she deserves that and so much more in life.

Thank you, Penguin Group, for the advanced copy.

Thieves Gambit is a thrill ride from start to finish. It's diverse cast of characters are well developed. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire book, and keeps you wondering who will win the Gambit. Lewis has a fantastic writing style that gives just enough information but doesn't give too much away. The heist's are clever and well thought out, and the reveal at the end catches you off guard. This is a fantastic story that I will highly recommend to others.

4.5 stars! Mv first ebook and mv first ARC! I loved this book so much. I had to make myself put it down. It was so easy to just keep going. I loved the diversity of the characters and the background for them. Such a unique read too! I had never read anything like this. My only two downfalls: it was a little high school-ish at times, which makes sense with the characters' ages, and the ending... left for more to be desired. I am crossing my fingers that there is another book to follow!! So adventurous and great twists! Again, such a truly unique and amazing plot. Themes of family, friendship and trust. Would definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gripping and cunning ARC!

I need a movie about this book ASAP!!! This book gave me Money Heist vibes along with a mixture of Hunger Games! I loved the main character she was a no-games type of person! Amazing debut novel and I can't wait to read more from Ms. Lewis!

What a captivating, fast paced read! I read somewhere this has already been optioned, so I’m looking forward to seeing this as a movie. The characters were all interesting and I had a good time seeing which way out MC was going to go. I was able to guess one part of the ending, but not the other. Looking forward to a book 2!

It is fast paced with non stop action.
There were so many revelations, twists and turns that I did not see coming. It was slightly predictable but a fun, quick read. The last 20% felt rushed that I had to reread a few times. But overall I did enjoy the story. I will most likely read the sequel if only to know what happens next.

There are a lot of characters that I forget who is who. There is no true development of any of the other characters outside of what Quest knows. I did not feel connected to any of the characters.

This book was a lot of fun with twists and turns up until the end. If you like YA and Ocean’s Eleven type media, this is for you!

Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis was an amazing book. It was a very clever and interesting plot setup and very enjoyable to read

Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest tries her best to live by the family credo, “A Quest can’t trust anyone in this world - except for a Quest.” She works with her mom taking on jobs for clients that involve stealing. She really wants to be a normal kid and attend a High Performance Gymnastics Summer Camp. But when a heist goes wrong and her mom’s life is on the line, she instead accepts an invitation to The Thieves Gambit, essentially an international thieving competition with major consequences, but also a major reward if she wins: she will be granted a wish. If Ross can is win the competition she can ask for the cash needed to save her mom’s life. The novel really takes off once Ross accepts her invite to the competition. This is a fast-paced, page-turner that has so many great unexpected twists and turns. Ross is a protagonist that is easy to root for. It reads as incredibly cinematic and fans of heist novels, Bond films, and high-stakes competitions will love this novel. As I did. Thank you to NetGalley and to Nancy Paulsen Books for the advanced review copy.

What a rollercoaster! This was such a fun read that had me hooked from the beginning. Thieves’ Gambit has everything: action, twists and turns, family drama, secrets, betrayal, a little bit of romance, international jet setting, and a bonkers ending that perfectly sets the stage for a sequel. I loved this book and can not wait for the sequel (it hasn’t been announced but I’m just going to assume).

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was amazed to learn that the film rights for this book were snapped up even before its release, and after reading it, I completely understand why. Kayvion Lewis has crafted an incredibly thrilling and cinematic YA action mystery-heist that will have you hooked from the first page. Drawing inspiration from beloved movies and books like "Six of Crows," "Inheritance Games," and "Ocean's Eleven," while infusing elements reminiscent of the less dark aspects of "The Hunger Games" or "Squid Games" (keeping in mind its YA nature), this novel offers a delightful blend of adventure and diversity.

One of the highlights for me was joining the 17-year-old protagonist, Rosalyn 'Ross' Quest, on her high-stakes journey. Ross is an exceptional thief, comparable to the legendary Danny Ocean, and her invitation to join an underground thieving competition sets the stage for an exhilarating ride. Driven by the desire to rescue her kidnapped mother, Ross fearlessly embraces the outrageous and outlandish challenges of the Gambit. Throughout the story, I found myself constantly questioning the motives of each character, which added to the suspense and enjoyment. Deciphering who to trust in the midst of the "Thieves Gambit" became part of the thrill, and the formation of rivalries and friendships within the competition added an extra layer of intrigue. I'm delighted to report that the book easily passes the Bechdel test, featuring strong and diverse female characters engaging in meaningful conversations.

While some plot points felt a tad too convenient, requiring a generous suspension of disbelief, and the ending packed a flurry of twists that left me breathless, these minor flaws did not overshadow my overall enjoyment. If you're a fan of similar genres, I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a captivating and effortless page-turner.

The conclusion tantalizingly leaves room for a sequel, which I eagerly anticipate adding to my to-be-read list as soon as it's announced.

I extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and author Kayvion Lewis for providing me with the opportunity to read this captivating work, set to be published in October 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thieves Gambit is one of the best heist stories I've ever read! I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend to teens and adults. The mystery element was also nicely done. I look forward to more books by this author.