Big shoutout to Net Galley and Macmillan Press for hooking me up with an early copy of "Medici Heist" by Caitlin Schneiderhan. Let me tell you, Schneiderhan doesn't hold back. She dives deep into the historical roots, especially focusing on the massacre at Prato, Italy, which fueled Cellini's quest for revenge. It's a tangled web of greed and power, with the Vatican and the Medici family at the center of it all. But let's talk Florence. Schneiderhan paints this vibrant picture of the city, its streets pulsing with life and its palaces hiding secrets in every nook and cranny. You can practically smell the opulence of Renaissance Italy oozing from the pages. And yeah, sure, the author takes some liberties with history (I mean, come on, a character pondering gravity in that era?), but it's all part of the fun. Now, onto the characters. Rosa is the brains behind the operation, Sarra's got heart, Khalid brings the muscle, and Giacomo? Well, he's just a riot. And then there's the cameo from Michelangelo himself. Usually, I cringe when authors try to cram famous figures into their stories, but it works here. It just makes sense. Overall, "Medici Heist" is a rollicking good time. It's got all the elements of a classic heist novel, with a sprinkle of Renaissance flair. So if you're looking for adventure, intrigue, and a dash of historical hijinks, look no further. This one's a winner.

This would make a good tv show. The chapters from different points of view would blend well for the screen. A lot of the writing is what is observable, and that adds to the TV quality, but the inner workings of the characters aren’t as obvious or compelling as far as stakes. The tension that would be built by watching this in a fast paced show is lost in a slower paced text format.

The tale of a daring heist unfolds.

In 1517, Pope Leo X of the Medici family returned to Florence, Italy, to host a banquet where the wealthy purchased indulgences. However, the people of Florence were unhappy as they saw it as a plan for the Medicis to regain control of the city. Around the same time, a 17-year-old girl named Rosa Cellini arrived in the town with a plan to execute the robbery of the century by stealing from the Medicis. She gathered a team of her friends, Sarra, Khalid, Agata de Rossi, and Giacomo, to carry out the heist. Will the group succeed in its mission, or will their emotions get in the way?

The book's setting is Renaissance Italy, a period of outstanding artistic and cultural achievements. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, which transported me back to a place filled with intrigue, beauty, and danger. The author has done an excellent job of bringing to life the people and places of the period with rich and detailed descriptions that make you feel like you are there.

The characters in the book are complex and well-developed, each with unique motivations and personalities. Pope Leo X, for instance, is portrayed as a charismatic man with a temper that can be provoked if pushed too far. Rosa, the crafty and intelligent young lady, is a force to be reckoned with, while Sarra is the group's inventive genius. On the other hand, Khalid may seem cold on the outside, but deep down, he cares deeply for his friends. Agata de Rossi may have had little chance to shine, but her contributions to the story are nonetheless valuable. And Giacomo, with his quirky and likable personality, quickly became my favorite character.

The book is a delightful blend of history and fiction, perfect for any history buff or anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging story. Its captivating plot, well-drawn characters, and vivid descriptions will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Pub date: 8/6/24

Thank you, @netgalley @mackidsbooks, for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Could not get into this one, I think I suffered from reading it at the wrong time, which is not the books fault. I would probably give it another try in a printed format

I loved the adventure and the sweetness in each character, and I think it’s hilarious and wonderful to imagine (spoiler) Michelangelo robbing the Medicis. I just had such a lovely time reading this and also enjoyed the relationships—romantic, platonic and familial

Thanks to NetGalley and McMillian Children's for an ACR copy of this book.

Overall - 2 stars. Gosh this book had so much potential. It's essentially a historical version of Ocean's 11, so I had really high hopes. It took me a long time to get into the book- there were a lot of characters and constant changes in POV, which made it hard to sort out who was who. This is written for a youth audience, and it definitely hit that mark with it's tone, dialogue, and plot line. I just kept forcing myself to keep reading on thinking things would all of a sudden come together and the plot would sudden get better, but it never did.

This grabbed me and did not let me go! It reminded me of that Netflix show and Seven Faceless Saints mixed together to form one epic, intriguing...well, heist! Mysterious and fun with a ton of twists, this is a definite must for anyone who loves a good found family gang, the streets of Italy, and a robbery.

I don't want to bog the reviews down with a negative review. It was a bit hard for me to follow, with being plunked straight into a scene with absolutely no context, and being given little to no context in following chapters. There were too many points of view for me to track, along with being hard to follow, and the lore of it all made for one confusing book. I'm certain that there are plenty of people that would love a book like this, but it just wasn't for me.

The title alone was enough to get me excited about this book: Medici being synonymous with Renaissance Florence, one of my absolute favorite periods of both art and history, and Heist, one of my favorite fantasy subgenres full of action and adventure. Yet, the execution did not quite live up to my lofty standard (measuring against Sanderson's first Mistborn book, or Robert Jackson Benett's Foundryside).
In my valuation, heist stories, at their core, have several components. The premise, what are they stealing and why are they stealing it. Here they point to the excesses of the first of the Medici popes (Leo X) whose system of indulgences was actually one of the seeds that grew the Reformation, but I digress. The Robin Hood-esque motives of taking from the rich [Pope] to give to the poor, makes for a reasonable basis. Then, comes assembly of the team. Here the story flails a bit. There is a fair amount of the story that meanders into a menagerie of side stories about the characters. I understand wanting to develop some depth in the characters, breath some light into them, understand why they fit for their role in a heist, and the motivations for joining the team. But these side stories were a bit too far and some of the details could have been pared down in my opinion. I also wasn't sold on the motivations of Michelangelo, an actual historical figure. I know that he returned from Rome after the death of Pope Julius II, but I don't think he bore the same animosity to the men whom he was raised with almost as a relation, albeit poor relation, as would motivate him to participate in a plot against them. And, since he was so familiar to the family, I would think that they would have some knowledge of his relations (or that someone wasn't a relation). The next component is execution whether successful or otherwise, this is where the action and suspense usually pick up. This was fairly well accomplished but I don't want to give anything away by elaborating further. And lastly, the reveal where the reader finally gets shown the player's hand, or the machinations that the accomplices went through off the page while we were distracted by the intended distractions. The author did a fair job of tying up these invisible strings while pointing to the clues laid previously and giving all the characters an appropriate ending. Overall, this was a decent historical fiction fantasy adventure and when not measured against a few of my all-time favorite book, I'd consider it a good read and would recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of action and adventure to escape into. (3.5/5)
I received advanced access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - Feiwel & Friends) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmilllan Press for an early copy of Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan

Rosa Cellini arrives in Florence, Italy looking for revenge in the form of a heist that will affect both the Vatican and the Medici dynasty of the 1500s. She will gather a small group with diverse skills to realize a monetary prize worth the risks.

Author Caitlin Schneiderhan has included facts from the massacre at Prato, Italy that was the basis for Cellini's drive for revenge. The massacre has been attributed to the greed and political power of both the Vatican and the Medici family.

Also included in this narrative is Michelangelo, who is a background participant in the heist. Because of Michelangelo's appeal as a character, the novel misses out on a learning opportunity featuring the famous artist.

Schneiderhan has made use of language and phrases not in use in the 1500s which is a deterrent to the overall mood of the times. For example, "slapdash" came into use in the late 17th century, "brain dead" was not used until 1968, and "skill set" came into existence in the 1970s.

Young adult audiences may enjoy the planning and execution of this fictional vengeance story.

Stories about heists are always fun. In this case, a group of skilled misfits are looking to steal from the powerful Medici family. I loved that the heist was planned and lead by a feisty young woman! However, I really struggled with the writing style. Each new chapter threw the reader into the middle of a situation that couldn't be understood until the end of the chapter when the backstory was explained. It left me feeling confused. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Medici Heist was a fun easy read, and different from my usual book choices. I really loved the 1500's setting, and the characters. I can't say I would put it on my pile 0f books I'd like to re-read, but I certainly enjoyed my time! 3.5 stars

Caitlin Schneiderhan's debut YA novel, "Medici Heist," whisks readers away to the vibrant and treacherous world of Renaissance Italy, where a sharp-witted teenage thief leads a team of skilled misfits in a daring quest for fortune, freedom, and revenge against a corrupt Pope. Set against the backdrop of Florence in 1517, this clever and captivating tale immerses readers in a world of intrigue, opulence, murder, and betrayal.

At the heart of the story is seventeen-year-old conwoman Rosa Cellini, whose arrival in Florence coincides with the return of the Medici Pope, Leo X, to power. Determined to thwart the Pope's extortion of indulgence money from the people of Florence, Rosa hatches a daring plan to pull off the Renaissance's greatest robbery. To accomplish her goal, she assembles a team of specially chosen misfits: Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo, the irrepressible master of disguise. With the reluctant help of the famed artist Michelangelo, they set their sights on the fortress-like Palazzo Medici.

As the heist unfolds, tensions rise among the group, and old secrets threaten to unravel their carefully laid plans. With the authorities closing in and the Medici's grip on power tightening, Rosa and her team must navigate a perilous path filled with danger and betrayal. What begins as a robbery soon becomes a fight for survival, and Rosa realizes that the fate of the city may rest in their hands—if they can overcome their differences and trust each other.

"Medici Heist" is a thrilling and fast-paced adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Schneiderhan's vivid prose brings Renaissance Florence to life, capturing the city's beauty, intrigue, and danger with stunning detail. With its engaging characters, gripping plot, and unexpected twists, this YA debut is sure to captivate readers of all ages. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction, heist stories, or tales of friendship and redemption, "Medici Heist" is an absolute must-read.

Think Ocean's Eleven set in the Italian Renaissance, so, basically, it's gorgeous and there are a lot of rich people who <i>need</i> stealing from and who better than the Medici Pope? I mean, even by Renaissance Church standards, he strayed quite a way from all that be humble and help the poor nonsense the Church was supposed to be about.

We follow a found family of young people who have a plan as well as a lot of baggage and it's a wild ride to see them try and pull of a heist of legendary proportions.

In 1517 Florence, amidst the reign of the corrupt Pope Leo X, seventeen-year-old conwoman Rosa Cellini arrives with a plan to reclaim the indulgence money extorted from the people. With a team of skilled misfits at her side, including the tinkerer Sarra, the fighter Khalid, and the irrepressible master of disguise Giacomo, Rosa embarks on a daring heist to rob the fortress-like Palazzo Medici. With tensions rising and old secrets resurfacing, the stakes are higher than ever as Rosa and her team navigate betrayal, danger, and the looming threat of discovery.

Florence comes alive in vivid detail, its streets teeming with life and its palaces brimming with secrets. Schneiderhan expertly captures the opulence and grandeur of Renaissance Italy, immersing readers in a world of art, intrigue, and danger. From the bustling markets to the shadowy alleys, every corner of the city holds the promise of adventure and discovery.

Medici Heist took me a little bit to get into (about 15% through), but once I did, I was hooked. I love the "Ocean's Eleven" meets Italian Mobsters vibe, and the characters are different and unique enough to keep you engaged the whole way. The world building was great and the descriptions had me feeling as if I was walking down an Italian cobblestone road myself. Really enjoyed this read once it picked up!

This has ALOT of world building in it, at first, I was worried we were going to get to lost into that element instead of the actual plot, but we slowly made our way into the story line and it was an overall great time!

This was a really good story! At first, I did not think that a story that took place so far back could be entertaining in a modern era. I am very pleased to say that I was wrong! It was a fun story that kept me guessing, that is uncommon, and I love when that happens! Characters were rich and well written, the plot was twisty turny and I loved that! Strong story!

I think this book was good. The cast of characters was interesting and all so different from one another. I love the setting and environment this book created it really helped to create well rounded and dynamic characters. I love learning about the Medici family because they are one of my odd historical obsessions so any book about them is a book I am going to love

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was excited about this as I love learning about the Medici and the havoc and pain they left in their wake everywhere they went. I also love a good heist.
This however, fell a little flat for me. I don’t know how much of it was hyping it up to myself before reading or just not loving it in general. It wasn’t bad, and would suggest reading it if you have an interest in history. But for a heist plot, it wasn’t super attention grabbing. It’s not a book I felt I had to devour to find out what came next. Part of that to me was also the lack of character depth. I felt they all could have been fleshed out more. But the vibes of the book overall were pretty nice.