Thieves’ Gambit was an exhilarating and tightly plotted debut novel that really scratched my itch for YA action/adventure. With a thrilling heist and large and intriguing (if slightly unwieldy) cast of characters, Kayvion Lewis’s debut is sure to be a hit for anyone looking for a refreshing action-packed YA read.

Main character Ross was a well-developed protagonist, and I especially appreciated how, despite that high-stakes heist plot, her characterization and flaws felt authentically YA/teen. Her insecurities were relatable, and I think Lewis did a great job of using her trust issues to explore deeper themes of emotional abuse and parental toxicity. While Ross’s constant distrust could get repetitive at times, it never felt formulaic.

While most of the side characters were just serviceable to me (ie they served their purpose to the plot but could have been further developed), I thought that both Devroe (Ross’s love interest) and Noelia (Ross’s ex-friend) added additional tension that amped up the emotional stakes of the story. It was refreshing to see a heist story place equal emphasis on the external stakes as well as the emotional ones. Devroe was the perfect YA love interest: charming, mysterious, and with a secret affectionate side. His backstory was fascinating and I’m looking forward to learning more in the sequel! Noelia added some additional emotional depth to this story and heightened Ross’s personal growth, and I really enjoyed how Lewis was able to address the racial aspects between her and Ross.

Although I expected this book to be plot-heavy, I actually found the plot to be on the thin side when compared to the emotional story. Many things felt a hint too convenient, and while a healthy dose of suspension of belief is necessary for heist stories, I found the miraculous getaways a bit too much of a stretch. However, Thieves’ Gambit is a YA novel, and I’m sure my skepticism isn’t reflective of the more general YA reader. The pacing of the Thieves’ Gambit competition and various heists was well done, though I felt that the final reveal could have been stretched out a chapter or two more so that the plot implications could land as equally as the emotional ones did.

Overall I really enjoyed Thieves’ Gambit! This fun, compulsively readable heist action story was the book I never knew I needed!

3.75/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Teen) for the e-ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. I loved the premise but I just felt like I couldn't get into the story! I think that mainly had to do with me and not the book or the author! I am looking forward to picking this book up again though.

Oh this was so fun! The characters, the plot, the cliffhanger!! I heard the author speak on a podcast and knew I would enjoy reading the book. Definitely recommend this YA read to anyone interested in a good heist. I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley (THANK YOU) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fun YA story. I am typically not the biggest fan of this genre but this was such a fast paced and easy to read story. I think this would be a good book for someone who just needs a simple story to get reading again!

So unfortunately I guess I didn't download this to my Kindle and the archive date hit, which meant I lost my chance to download it. I do have plans to read this book, as I have it on hold from my library. I will post my honest review on Goodreads and my bookstagram account when I finish.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
I lost interest in this story due to the fact the main character and others involved in the Gambit asked little to no questions about the tasks they were on. I was having a harder time with suspending belief as I watched the characters continuously work towards a prize that I didn't believe any of them truly wanted or needed outside our main character. But I was also having an incredibly hard time buying anything about the main character's mother's kidnapping and sole reason for competing. It all screams fishy to me, and the foundation of the story was quickly slipping. While the heists themselves were interesting, I was missing the stakes since the kidnapping seemed suspicious. This may be more enjoyable for younger teens.

I'm making a point to DNF books I feel like would be a 3 star or below, this one was feeling very solidly in the 3 star range. It wasn't awful, I just wasn't impressed enough to continue on.

Ross is a member of a famous family of thieves, and she finds herself having to play a dangerous game against other teen thieves in order to save her mom. However, not everything is as it seems, and through all the twists and turns, Ross has to decide who (if anyone) she can trust. I enjoyed the fast paced plot and the witty characters, but I didn't like how things ended with an obvious setup for the next book and unresolved issues. I’m not sure that I’m invested enough to read the next book in the series. However, if you’re a fan of heists, spies, or drama and betrayal on a teenage scale, you’ll probably enjoy this book.

For those of you who know me, know I love movies where the premise has to do with spies and thieves. No clue why I waited so long to look for books with the same tropes, but fret no further, the first one has been found and wow…..it did not disappoint! In Thieves’ Gambit we learn about the main character Rosalyn Quest, who is part of a very well known family of thieves from the Bahamas. Thieving is all Rosalyn (Ross) knows, however she’s seventeen and wants to start acting like one. On her own ‘quest’ to escape from the family line of business, things go awry and Rosalyn finds herself needing a hefty sum of money to pay off her mothers ransom. In comes Thieves’ Gambit, a competition where the best thieves around the world compete for the title and a wish. Ross enters the competition, knowing absolutely nothing about what each phase entitles, but she is sure of one thing, and that is to get that wish.

The competition was actioned packed! The challenges or how they called it ‘phases’, had me on the edge of my seat. The characters, especially the other competitors were so fun, even the ones you're not supposed to like lol and diverse which is appreciated! We saw some turmoil between competitors and some romance as well, although I could've done without the romance to be honest lol. This book is YA but the only time it truly felt YA was anytime there was a romantic scene. There were some good unexpected twists and the ending left the readers on a cliff-hanger. Even though I was hooked throughout the entire read, the final sentences were a bit anticlimactic. After all that hype it just came to a screeching halt, that I felt could’ve been worked on. Overall the book was very entertaining and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and author Kayvion Lewis for sending me this arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

I was really looking forward to reading this book and it did not let me down. I was even more excited to receive a physical copy of the story. I would definitely say that there was some good action in the book and I would say it’s good for a buddy reed as well.

This is like a cross between Oceans Eleven and Survivor - and I liked it a lot. The story moves quickly and is well-written. Although one of the main twists is not much of a surprise at all. A non-white main character and supporting characters of different diversities make for a well-rounded cast. The ending almost certainly guarantees a sequel.

This was a quick and fun ride. I enjoyed the world we get thrust into, the wondering of who our heroine can trust and what the whole gamit is even about.
What I wasn´t the hugest fan of was the love story aspect. I found it wasn’t needed and was introduced too quickly in an almost agressive way. The connection with the love interest could have been established slower and thus a bit more authenticly.
The ending, also, was very abrupt. I would have liked to get more of a reaction - not only to her new situation but also in regards to the betrayal. I´m sure we will get more of that in the sequel, but I wanted a reaction of some kind in this book as well.

A fun YA heist mystery that will keep readers in their toes. I recommend this one to readers of fans if mystery lovers 12 and up.

This was a great book! I thought it was everything that it was built up to be. I think this book is a perfect book to read by the fire and chill on a cold evening. I did not want to put the book down so for me I finished it quite quickly.

Love. Love. Love. Anything that puts a female lead in the driver’s seat is something that I’m going to check out. I couldn’t be happier with this selection. I can’t wait to put this in the hands of my students. Alex Rider, move over. This book (& the presumed sequels) deserve a place right next to Enola Holmes. I would love to see a graphic novel version. The setting shifts and fast pace certainly lend themselves to that medium!

An absolute romp of a heist, "Hunger Games" kind of novel! It was fun, engaging, and effortless read. An easy yes to our collection!

After reading this book I realized that this book is genuinely interesting and well written the only problem was that the pdf I got wouldn't open so when the copy arrived to my library off order I was happy to finally get to read it.

Initial Reaction: Jaw is on the floor

Can't believe it took me this long to write this review. This book was one of my top reads of 2023. If you are like me and LOVE the heist genre, this is the book!! Six of Crows, Ocean's Eleven, whatever you're a fan of, this is your next stop. Kayvion nailed the suspense and anticipation of any good heist, while still writing such fun and complex characters and so so much tension. The concept of a competition to see who's the best thief was so intriguing and it was done so well. Go get this right now I'm serious.

Sadly due to some unfortunate events that took place I was unable to read this before the archive date. However I do look forward to purchasing the book because of course I still have to dive in after losing many giveaways and missing this opportunity!

As any great crime family does, the Quests rule over their domain, the Caribbean Islands. Being the daughter of the unstoppable Rhiannon Quest has her daughter Rosalyn ("Ross") ready to try her own thing, but she's thwarted and the only way to fix things is to join The Gambit.

The Gambit is like the Olympics-meets-the-Hunger-Games for the best teen thieves in the world. The winner receives one wish - and the losers, well, we don't talk about them.

Ross doesn't trust anybody, but she has to in order to make it through all the stages.

This book is a true thriller, with exotic locales, epic heists, and elaborate hoaxes. Ross and her competitors slash teammates are unique in their skills and techniques and turn, turn, turnabout is fair play.

I cannot wait for the sequel AND the adaptation!

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rosalyn “Ross” Quest is a master thief at seventeen, having learned all the tricks of the trade from her family who are in legendary in the business. But she has always wanted more than just the lonely life of a thief and makes a plan to escape for a while – only, that plan goes sideways, ending up with her mother being captured by some very dangerous people. In order to save her, Ross agrees to take part in the Thieves’ Gambit, a deadly competition involving international heists, with a grand prize of one wish for the winner. Ross knows that she needs to stay focused and trust no one, just as her mother taught her, but winning is easier said than done however, as an old enemy turns up as a competitor along with some equally skilled thieves from around the world.

I absolutely adore heist novels, so I didn’t have to think twice about adding this to my TBR, especially when I got an eARC.

The premise was such an intriguing one, heists in combination with a dangerous competition where the stakes for the main character couldn’t be higher. Each challenge in the competition was thrilling and it was fascinating to see how the competitors would solve it, by hook or by crook. There was no shortage of plot twists, unexpected alliances, scheming and backstabbing, making this a book that easily holds the reader’s attention. As a side note, I feel like this would be a fantastic choice for getting out of a reading slump – such an engrossing read is sure to be beneficial in restoring an interest in reading.

One thing I would have liked to see more of from a plot angle were the smaller details of the heists. A lot of the planning seemed to happen off screen, and while that made things more exciting when it unfolded, I thought it also left several aspects of the plan kind of vague.

There certainly wasn’t a dull moment in this book! With the gripping plot and non-stop action, it’s definitely a story that would be fantastic on screen and it’s no surprise that the film rights have already been acquired for this book. This was a such a fun ride and an easy, quick read that had me at the edge of my seat from start to finish.

Ross was an interesting protagonist and her arc was very well written. Honestly, I’m more impressed that the author managed to work in a rather nice character arc in the middle of all the excitement and chaos of the plot. The other competitors were equally fascinating and though they didn’t have POVs, I felt like we got to know them a lot. It was fun trying to predict their motives and figuring out who was going to betray the others next.

The final chapters brought with it multiple twists and while I had begun to suspect one of them, the other was a complete shock. I also didn’t realize that this was, at the least, a duology until that point, but after that cliffhanger ending, I’m glad there’s more to this story.

Thieves’ Gambit did not disappoint at all, and I’m looking forward to see what Ross will do following the revelations at the end. This book reminded me a lot of Six of Crows and The Inheritance Games, so if you liked either of those, I would highly recommend this book!