Many thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group—Feiwel & Friends, author Caitlin Schneiderhan, and NetGalley for providing me the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: August 6, 2024

Set in Renaissance-era Florence, Medici Heist follows an ensemble cast of thieves as they prepare to raid the Palazzo de Medici. Meanwhile, political tension is boiling as Florentines buck against the Medici occupation of power and end of the Republic.

PROS: The setting is lush and grand. The author seems quite capable of imbuing atmosphere and history, along with delivering competent writing. The author draws out the historical fantasy by making Michelangelo a side character!

CONS: I struggled at first to fully immerse because the POV shifts every chapter, as we swing from one heist crew member to another. My only other nitpick is the tone. I admit to being picky regarding heist books. Heist books by nature should have plenty of action if not be altogether described as action/adventure novels. The tone should be buoyant for the most part, with a steady pacing. I fear that Medici Heist’s tone and pace both got bogged down by the baggage-laden relationship drama and political dialogue. The madcap antics and dazzling surprises and pay-offs—which I expect from heist stories—were shortchanged.

Very slick and superficial, too much like a novelization of a film. If this were to be a film, I'd gladly pay to see it, especially the sumptuous setting, but in a book I want more complexity of character development, which just was not the case here. Also in films I don't mind predictability--filmmakers only have an hour and a half for their story--but it takes longer to read a book, and I want more payoff for my reading time.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and Macmillan Children's for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

It's Florence, 1517, and the Pope has returned to Florence. His arrival, on the tail of a bloody war to gain him entry, signals what may be the end of the fragile Florentine Republic. Rosa Cellini has also returned to Florence. She is gathering a group of other teenage misfits to pull off the heist of the 16th Century: rob from Pope Leo X his ill-begotten (in their eyes) gain and disgrace him in the process. But the question is: can they do it? And can they do it without betraying and destroying each other first?

I was sucked into this story from the first. It has real Ocean's 11 heist inspo vibes, and an absolutely fantastic set of characters, all fleshed out and multi-dimensional. I can easily see that Schneiderhan is a screenwriter--each character is an individual but fits into the overall whole, and the whole shines vividly. The set of events that this story is based in is real, and there are even some real people involved (think: Michelangelo!). This was an extremely satisfying read

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan! (I rated this 3.5 stars on storygraph).

This book was a little disappointing because I wanted to enjoy it. It had a great premise and I really enjoyed the writing style, however, the plot was so confusing. Between the main plot and then the storylines for each character (6 POVs), it got confusing fast while also not moving fast enough. Additionally, this meant that they glossed over some of the major points (such as motivation for each character). However, there was a lot of action involved, which was good. There was a lot of potential here, unfortunately, I don't think it was executed well.

*I received this book (Via eArc by Netgalley) for free from the Publisher ( Macmillan Children’s publishing group / Feiwel & Friends) in exchange for an honest review*

Medici Heist is an intriguing read with a captivating premise that keeps you turning the pages. However, the novel often feels like it was meant to be a film rather than a traditional book, which makes sense given that the author has a background in screenwriting. This influence is evident in the writing style, which is more visual and action-oriented, but at times this comes at the expense of deeper character development. One of the book's drawbacks is its sprawling cast of characters, which, combined with the frequent shifts in perspective, can make the narrative difficult to follow. There were moments when I had to go back and re-read sections to fully grasp the plot, as the connections between the events and the characters weren't always clear. The logic behind the heist and the way the plot threads come together could have been more tightly woven to enhance the reader's understanding and engagement. Despite these issues, the novel does have its strengths. The setting, particularly the church and pope-related elements, reminded me of Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons," which added an enjoyable layer of intrigue and historical depth. The motivations behind the characters' actions against the Medici family are compelling, though the ending felt a bit rushed and left me wanting more exploration of the story's resolution. This novel has its flaws, it is still an engaging read with an interesting concept and some memorable moments. I would recommend reading it more than once to fully appreciate the intricacies of the plot. I also look forward to reading more from this author in the future, as there is clear potential for even more captivating stories to come. If you are a fan of Dan Brown, Six of Crows (the heist aspect) and Gilded Wolves this is definitely a book for you.

Thank you so much to [ Macmillan Children’s publishing group / Feiwel & Friends ] and NetGalley for the ARC

I adore Italian history, and the sordid history of the medicis in particular, so I thought for sure this was a win! There were many fun historical details and ways to twist the usual jobs in a heist film to be historical, but at its core this was a heist story like any other. I kept wishing I didn’t see every move coming.
It was a fun setting, and if you enjoy heists and YA you’ll enjoy this, but it was ultimately a bit too predictable for my tastes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Caitlin Schneiderhan for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Medici Heist coming out August 6, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was really intrigued by the summary of the book. I am obsessed with Medici history and I pretty much love anything about Italy. It’s an amazing country with a vast history. I also love heist books. There were a couple characters I was getting mixed up. I feel like they could’ve been a little more fleshed out. I think this would’ve been an amazing movie or TV series. It was a little difficult to picture parts of the book. Some of it was a little dry for me. I think another format would’ve been easier. I would definitely check out other books by this author.

I'm not gonna lie: I couldn't make it through the first few pages of this. It's such an interesting premise but my brain has no desire to read this. Maybe I will try again later.

Thank you to the author, Net Galley , and the publisher for an ARC of Medici Heist in exchange for an honest review.
Medici Heist is a fun historical heist with a found family. I liked the quick pace and the characters. I thought it was fun to have Michelangelo as a character in the heist. If you like action, friends, and twisty plots give this a try.

Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan, 421 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $21. lgbtq
Language: R (106 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Not everyone in Florence is happy to see the Medici return as Pope and head cardinal to replace the blossoming Republic Fiorentina. With a crew of five others, Rosa (17yo) is determined to rob the Medici family blind—but when your home is being threatened, keeping things strictly about the money is near impossible.
Schneiderhan balances perfectly the building of anticipation, with the right amounts of success and hurdles, and the absolute delight of watching how everything actually turns out. The setup drops a good amount of hints without being obvious or boring, and the inclusion of a last-minute crew member gives Schneiderhan a legit reason for explaining what happened after the fact. There are a couple parts I still have questions about, but my bits of confusion do not take away from my overall enjoyment of this heist. I can even see myself reading it again.
Most of the characters are explicitly or implied Italian, and Khalid is Tunisian. A couple of the main characters are members of the LGBT community. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, partial nudity (and mentions of nudity in art), kissing, innuendo, and mentions of charlatans and rape. The violence rating is for blood, assault, mentions of suicide, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I vacillated between giving this a 2.5 or 3 stars. There was just enough I liked to make it 3 stars, though I'm still debating this. I wanted to like this more than I did. The premise sounds so good, but the execution was off. It's not terrible, but it could have been so much better.

The first thing I noticed was the writing style, which I think is something many readers noticed. It reads a lot like a script at times, which makes sense as the author is a screenwriter. The story doesn't flow quite right, as some scenes are written completely in a screenwriting style, while others are written more for what you'd expect in a novel. The interactions the characters have with each other at times would have been much better displayed on a screen, while their personalities are lacking. I had a hard time differentiating between Rosa and Sarra, as they read like the same character. I would be thinking I was reading about one when I was really reading about the other. They would have been much better as a single character, or as two characters with different personalities and such. Another thing I noticed was the speech. For a book that takes place in the early 1500's in Italy, the characters speak a lot like modern day people. I get that it can be hard at times to convey the proper speech of a region or time period in a novel, but there didn't seem to be much effort in this regard. If it hadn't been for the descriptions of Florence and the use of Italian honorifics, you would never know where or when this book took place.

As far as the heist goes, I was rather let down. I was expecting something along the lines of The Italian Job, but there really wasn't a lot in regards to the actual heist or the parts the characters play. We get a brief description of each character and what they're supposed to do, who they planning on robbing, and then a couple hundred pages of random storylines and events. We're left in the dark about how the actual heist is supposed to happen, and then when things go wrong, they still miraculously pull it off without much explanation as to how. It all seemed to end a little easily for what occurred.

I will say that the descriptions of Florence and the many buildings are well done. It made me want to go back to Italy and see more of the country, as I didn't make it to Florence when I was there before. While I didn't love Sarra or Rosa, I did enjoy Giacomo and Khalid. The inclusion of Michelangelo was an interesting touch as well.

Like I said earlier, this isn't terrible, but it leaved a lot to be desired.

DNF at 29%...I wasn't feeling this one; heist novels have started to feel the same to me, and the only thing about this book that I found interesting was the 1500s Florence setting. I'd consider picking it up again for that element alone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian for sending me an ARC to review!

As soon as I saw heist + band of misfit criminals + renaissance Italy + Michaelangelo is there?? Of course I had to check this one out.

This book opens up with a fun scene that really sets the stage and puts you in the moment, feeling the tension of Florence under Medici rule. We get introduced to each of the characters one by one in a really fun way. You definitely get the Oceans Eleven vibe as the two partners are assembling each role ("ok we need a player, an apothecary...") You can also tell there's some tension simmering beneath each character's surface as the planning begins.

Unfortunately, this book did lull a bit in the middle for me. It seemed like each character had to go on a bit of a side quest or have some backstory unfold, and we lost the central plot. It felt like we lost some of the urgency that makes a heist novel so exciting.

BUT - it did really came together in the end. Like any good heist story, the usage of different perspectives kept me on my toes as it seemed like things weren't going to plan, or they weren't going to pull it off, but with just the right twists and turns everything was revealed in the end and it was so satisfying. Also, there were a few threads of romance that tied up right at the end that actually felt like a fun surprise, rather than something that was forced.

We can't do partial stars on Netgalley, but I gave this one 3.75 stars!

Welcome to the renaissance. The scene is Florence, 1517, and the Medici family rules the city with a puppet Pope at their side. Extorting the people of Tuscany, the Medici’s sit upon an exorbitant pile of indulgence money. Con-woman Rosa Cellini hopes to steal it right from under their noses, *if* she can pull off the greatest heist of all time.

Medici Heist introduces us to a diverse cast of characters, each getting their individual times to shine. Rosa will need to rope the best of the best into her crew if she wants to steal a mountain of money and live to tell the tale. Her team consists of Sarra the tinkerer, Agata the apothecary, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo the master of disguise. To top it all off, Rosa even enlists the reluctant help of Michelangelo (yes, THAT Michelangelo).

This was a super fun read that solidly sets the scene in historic Italy. It does a fantastic job of incorporating the setting into the story and has beautiful descriptions, great scheming, and entertaining action scenes. This was truly the foundation of a terrific book. What knocks this down a star is the lack of dimension. I’d liken the experience to reading a play. The play loses something in the written form without actors adding in the depth and emotion. Actors bring a lifeless script to life by adding emotions and tone to the text. My favorite authors craft characters that jump off the page and while Medici Heist was descriptive, cinematic even, the characters fell a bit flat. I was not surprised to find out after reading that Schneiderhan is a script writer.

If you love a good setting with a great atmosphere, I’d still recommend this read! It has great vibes but could have benefitted from deeper character work. 4 out of 5 stars.

Originally I worried this book wouldn't be for me, but it very quickly grew on as one of my favorite reads this year purely for the fun and whimsy I felt while reading it! The characters and the plot are so enjoyable and this felt so easy to read and find myself swept away in everything!

I wanted this one to be for me as any book with a comparison to Six of Crows I will pick up. However, I feel like the author took that comparison and tried to go far with it and it didn't work. I wish I had loved this one but I didn't.

I love books like this. I love it when people from different backgrounds come together to pull the perfect heist. This book has it all. It will sweep readers off their feet and suck them in right away on a great endeavor to bring down the Medici family. This story is fast paced and has so many lovely twists and turns. I also love all of the representation and growth portrayed with different characters. I can’t wait to get it into readers’ hands.
Thank you to Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title

From the moment I started this book, there was something about it that felt strange to me. Once I went back and read the Author’s summary, I realized what it was: this read very much like a script. t’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it also wasn’t something that I enjoyed. The pacing felt off, like it was too quick. It felt like every time I started to fall into the plot, I was yanked back out with a change in character POV. Several times I got confused with who was who, because the characters were sort of thrown in and out quickly, and left character development to be desired.

The book wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a favorite of mine.

Thank you NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends, and Macmillan Young Listeners for an eARC and advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of a heist set during the Renaissance was catnip to me, especially because the Medici family are perfect for intrigue and court politics.

Schneiderhan knows how to write a scene, and I thought the action in this was very well done. Her writing reads smoothly and I think she’s got a good grasp on basics. Despite the fact this is easy to read, the overall story and characters felt flat to me—I struggled with differentiating the characters from one another and at times it kind of just felt like a collection of scenes rather than a novel.

The descriptions are cinematic in nature and I came as close as I could to “seeing” a scene in my head (historically, it’s just dark up there for me. there is no movie playing in my head, but sometimes I can get the vaguest impressions). I think this would make a really solid miniseries and actors could really bring the characters to life, but based on the writing alone it felt like a standard YA heist novel. The plot beats were solid but there’s a missing spark, I think, and if Schneiderhan’s writing hadn’t been so digestible, I would’ve gotten really lost.

The audiobook was well done, and I think Sara Alexander did a good job at trying to bring little quirks to each of the characters, even though I had a hard time telling them apart. It definitely contributed to the overall movie-like feel of the book, so while this won’t stick with me, I did have an overall positive experience.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

3.5/5 stars

This was perfectly fine - well written with interesting characters. It just wasn't anything new or exciting enough to make me go "Wow! This is fantastic!". I thought the setting was interesting and I appreciated the use of Michelangelo and Da Vinci, but that was really just a new front on a heist story we've all ready 10000 times.

I don't mean to be negative - it really was well done and I did enjoy it. I simply wasn't blown away, thus the middling rating.