A fantastically FUN romp of a YA heist, with plenty of pining and the best kind of angst! I loved the way the heist was written--that's really difficult to pull off! Heists are notoriously easier on screen, but Schneiderhan does a great job. The banter/language is more modern than the setting, but that didn't pull me out of the narrative. The setting is so incredibly vivid. I wanted to leap through the pages!

Medici Heist will make a wonderful movie. It’s full of fast action scenes, cinematic descriptions, a relatively short timeline, and diverse characters. Usually, that would be a good thing. But the medium of a novel didn’t match the story. Scenes that would’ve felt incredible were they filmed felt choppy and distorted written down. Character descriptions that would’ve been amazing notes for an actor to bring to life instead fell flat. Whip-smart dialogue that would’ve been hilarious to hear on screen ended up feeling repetitive without vocal tonal shifts. As you might’ve guessed, my main issues with this novel were the writing and the characters.

First, there were too many repetitive characters. One thing you’re taught as a writer is to cut/combine characters whenever possible. If two characters have the same skill set, it’s okay to make them into one person. Sarra and Rosa were essentially the same person with different skills and the book would’ve been better had they actually been one person. Most of the interpersonal conflicts they dealt with could have easily been simplified into one storyline instead of two separate arcs that weren’t needed and slowed down the pacing. The author didn’t spend enough time developing them as separate people, so I was bored every time I read from their perspective.

As for Giacomo and Khalid, they got more character development, but not enough. Readers could’ve used more time getting to know their individual backstories and motivations instead of a few flashbacks. Again, this book will work well as a movie. Every written scene would be more powerful on screen with more than words to bring it to life because the words alone weren’t enough to transport me into the characters’ minds. To me, flashbacks serve a purpose when they’re charged with emotional resonance. Here, there were a ton of flashbacks that showed an event rather than making the audience feel it.

That brings me to my next issue: writing. Medici Heist would make an excellent blueprint for a film, yet as a novel, I grew bored. It was like reading the black-and-white outline of what the story should be: the color hadn’t been filled in, nor had the depth or emotion. The author spent more time describing the architecture than she did developing her characters’ emotions and thoughts, leaving readers feeling like spectators rather than immersed participants.

Even the plot structure was set up like a movie instead of a novel. There were training montages (literally), scenes of scheming that needed flashy transition music, and a storyline that followed the three-act structure down to a T. Every twist was obvious because it was foreshadowed the way you would foreshadow something on screen—flashy dialogue and dramatic threats meant to grow suspense rather than to plant the seeds of a possible twist.

Don’t get me wrong, the plot was amazing. It was easy to follow without being boring, and though I took significantly longer to finish the novel than I usually do, I always remembered what was going on because the characters would refer back to past events. The historical setting was fun without being overdone and the pacing was perfect. Whenever Medici Heist becomes a movie, I will be first in line to see it. But until that day, the story left me hoping for more.

An engaging heist story set amidst the backdrop of Medici Florence. Filled with historical detail and peppered with real historical figures. The exciting plot to steal from the Medici keeps the story moving, but it is the engaging characters, who you really come to care deeply for, that make this a must read!

The only thing harder than pulling off a good heist....is writing one this well. Though the first 40% is slow (though still enjoyable and necessary to set up the rest), this heist set in renaissance Italy hit every story-beat, closed every character arc, and had me squealing at the conclusion (no spoilers). From her distinct and flawed characters to the minor twists that kept me guessing, Schneiderhan did so much right that I could forgive a few missed opportunities to explore the beautiful setting.

If you enjoyed Six of Crows and are intrigued by teenager stealing from corrupt clergymen (ie THE POPE)...this is your next favorite read. Highly recommend.

I love a good heist story with an ensemble cast. The historical setting of 14th century Florence, in which a group of thieves develop a scheme to rob the powerful Medici family. The rewards are twofold: eye-watering wealth and revenge against the family which has overthrown the Florentine Republic and taken control of the Catholic church.

The story was engaging enough, if a little unevenly paced. The actual heist doesn't begin until two thirds of the way into the book. Much of the planning and preparation happens off page, leaving the first two thirds of the book to develop the backstories of the heist crew's main figures: Rosa the mastermind, Sarra the Tinkerer, Khalid the muscle, and Giacomo the conman. I would classify this book more as a political drama, as the simmering unrest in Florence takes larger focus than the heist itself. The heist itself also comes across as a more elaborate magician's trick than a slickly satisfying plot in an Oceans film.

Even so, this was enjoyable enough.

This book was everything for me. A thrilling heist story, complete with a stunning setting and delightful nods to history and art. The cast of characters (because every heist story needs a large, well developed crew) was fantastic, each having their own backstory and believable goals. I was completely sucked in, rooting for them and waiting for the inevitable catastrophe-turned-twist (because again, it's what every heist story needs). Even knowing the twist was coming, I was second guessing myself and going back to previous chapters to see what I might have missed. I was truly along for the ride with this one and I want a billion more. I don't care if it was maybe a bit predictable - again, it's a heist story - and a well done one at that.

Thanks for the e-ARC! I have links here on NetGalley to my Goodreads and Storygraph reviews for this title, and I will review on Amazon when it's published.

The year is 1517, and the Medici family has a stranglehold on the city of Florence. Though not everyone agrees with the Medici family’s choices, their money, power, and influence keep them on top. When an industrious youth learns of a chink in the Medici family’s armor, though, she begins to bring together a team of like-minded comrades to develop a plan. Their ultimate goal is to infiltrate the Medici family’s stronghold to recover their ill-gotten money and unseat them for good. But there is no easy way to accomplish their mission, and they must capitalize upon each of their unique strengths in order to have any chance of success.

This engaging story is captivatingly written, incorporating a wealth of details within its distinctly written narrative. The story is told from the perspectives of several characters in the third person, which allows readers to directly understand each character’s drive and ambition. Though young, the characters in this novel have lived complicated lives, and they each have a compelling reason to want their heist to succeed. Clever dialogue, LGBTQIA+ elements, and what diversity might have been possible in 1500s Italy all help to create a robust tapestry within which this novel can take place.

While this fictional novel reads as a story written for young adults, its historical components are well-researched and blend well with the narrative. After the novel’s conclusion, readers will be inspired to discover more about Italy in the 1500s to understand exactly where the line between fiction and reality can truly be found. Some liberties are taken, of course, but it is intriguing to wonder about whether something like the events in this book might have ever taken place. Though there are moments of slowness as the heist is being developed, the story ultimately keeps readers engaged, and the novel is left open for a potential sequel. Well-written and filled with depth, this story will appeal to readers who enjoy young adult novels with a touch of history, adventure, romance, and rebellion.

This was a fun and interesting book to read, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the main characters. There was also a lot of info dumping in this one, but I did like the heist aspect. Maybe would have liked this more when I was younger!

This is an interesting heist story that almost reads more like a screenplay than a novel. Given the author's background, I could easily see this translated into a TV show or movie. Unfortunately, as entertaining as this story is, it does make it harder to read. I had a hard time at first differentiating the characters from one another. While we do get many points of view as the buildup to their plans goes on, allowing us a wide view of the situation as it develops, it makes the story feel disjointed and confusing. I felt like some of the more interesting characters didn't get as much screen time as I would have wanted, and it took longer to understand and like the more focused characters. Since the heist takes place in the second half of the story, it makes the book feel long as we wait for that climax and makes some parts in the middle feel boring. Maybe I'm too old these days, but these characters felt and acted too young to be able to even think of pulling off a plan of this magnitude. The story overall is well written, and I would recommend it to those looking for a historical standalone heist novel, but something about it didn't fully work for me.

I feel like this has warrior girl meets six of crows vibes and it was so good! I loved the characters and the banter between some of them!

Medici Heist plunges readers into the opulent yet dangerous world of Renaissance Florence in 1517, following the exploits of seventeen-year-old conwoman Rosa Cellini. Rosa arrives in Florence on the same day the Medici Pope, Leo X, returns, not by coincidence, but as part of her grand plan to reclaim the wealth extorted from the Florentine people.

Strengths:

Historical Setting: Schneiderhan vividly recreates the atmosphere of Renaissance Florence, immersing readers in its intricate details and historical backdrop. The setting is rich and colorful, adding depth to the narrative.
Unique Ensemble: The diverse team Rosa assembles—Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, Giacomo the master of disguise, and even the reluctant Michelangelo—adds variety and interest to the story. Each character's unique skills and personalities contribute to the dynamics of the group.
Intriguing Premise: The idea of a heist during the Renaissance, targeting the powerful Medici Pope, is an original and compelling concept that immediately captures interest.
Weaknesses:

Pacing: The novel suffers from pacing issues, particularly in its middle sections. The story sometimes lags, making it difficult to maintain engagement throughout. A more streamlined narrative could have enhanced the reading experience.
Character Depth: While the characters are diverse and interesting, their development feels somewhat superficial. More in-depth exploration of their backgrounds and motivations would have made them more relatable and emotionally resonant.
Predictable Plot: Despite its intriguing premise, the plot unfolds in a rather predictable manner. The twists and turns are not as surprising as they could be, which diminishes the overall impact of the story.
Conclusion:

Medici Heist is a decent historical novel with a strong sense of place and an interesting cast of characters. However, its pacing issues and predictable plot prevent it from being truly exceptional. For readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of adventure and intrigue, it offers a worthwhile, if not outstanding, journey through Renaissance Florence.

This is a slow building thriller as young Rosa Cellini plans the most significant and dangerous con of her life with people she does not necessarily trust and who, in turn, do not trust her or each other. The author does a great job building the tension between these characters as she brings them toward their one uniting factor - desire to succeed against the mighty Medici family and their current leaders, Pope Leo X (née Giovanni de Medici) and his nephew Giulio, a Cardinal. While I appreciated the backstories of the main characters, they, at times, were significant distractions from the forward movement of the main plot. The author did tie it all together in the end, but it felt like it took a really long time to get there. I loved the work with the historical setting - the descriptions of clothing, smells, and sights brought the time alive. While this is a YA book due to the ages of the characters, it did not feel like a YA book in terms of themes - it leans much more heavily to the historical fiction genre, which was its strength.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel and Friends, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this interesting thriller.

If you like historical fiction and six of crows, this book is for you.

Set in Florence during the time of the great artists, this book has political intrigue and a heist that keeps the readers hooked. With multiple POV from characters that are complex and well written, this book is perfect for anyone need their Crow fill (disclaimer, this is still historical fiction).

DNF AT 25%

I really tried with this one but I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, the plot moved quite slowly, and it really took a lot to engage me and I just wasn't having it unfortunately!

Thanks so much to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

The book cover is a solid 4.5 star, and the second version of this book cover is an absolute 5 star. I always judge books based on covers, and I went into this thinking I'd finally love a heist book NOT written by Leigh Bardugo. Sadly, it is yet another mid book based around a heist, just like the past three I read. Maybe this trope isn't for me unless written by Leigh Bardugo. None of the characters had originality that separated them, so all these characters bled together into the same one-dimensional figure.

I was originally really interested in this book because I knew this was one of the screenwriters from Stranger Things. The plot seemed fun and intriguing- kind of Six of Crows-esque? Unfortunately, that wasn't at all what was going on here. I'm not even positive who this book was really written for? I can't see any young adults sticking around for the massive amount of 16th century Italy info-dumping that was going on. I barely hung in there as an adult reader. There were peeks of really fun plot points, but other than that, everything was flat. The characters had no personality (and were all strangely similar to each other? I had a hard time differentiating them) and it was overall hard to keep reading. Good idea, not so good execution.

At 30% mark i realized that I didn’t care about whatever happened at all. The characters weren’t appealing enough, despite one of them being THE Michelangelo. The plot, in hindsight, basically just a bunch of people teamed up for a “very hard, almost impossible” heist. Definitely not an original idea, and there’s already a good famous heist story out there. But i kept on reading. And then came character flashbacks that threw off the pace and make it harder to keep up with the plot. So i decided to stop. I might revisit this book someday, but idk. Sorry!!

DNF at 16%. I like the setting, but there are so many POV characters and none them grabbed my attention. I felt no investment in these characters were meant to care about going against the Medicis, who I know a lot about.

Medici Heist is a very well-written book with a great premise but I don't think it was my cup of tea. The book seemed to read as a script rather than a book and finding out the author was a screenwriter makes so much sense. The book has great building blocks to make it an amazing book but I feel like throughout the book was very boring. There were loads of dumping: historical facts, character backgrounds, etc. I kept waiting for it to get interesting but it never did for me. This story had a good atmosphere; the descriptions, especially of the city and the setting, were excellent, and I could tell there was a lot of thought put into them. In my opinion, the romances did seem very unnatural as well, I found myself in disbelief whenever romances were hinted at in the book. If the amount of thought had been put into the characters and romances in the book's setting, I think it would have read better and would have brought the readers into the story more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story definitely has a great premise but reads a bit stiff for my liking but the author has a screenwriting background and I can't help but feel like that explains it. I found it hard to follow and some of the language a bit chaffing. Maybe the book just wasn't meant for me, I don't know, but in the end I couldn't get through it to the end.