I really enjoyed reading the Thieves' Gambit, packed with tension, thievery, and lots of backstabbing! I was really looking forward to this sequel, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I expected more from the second book, and it felt a bit like a rehash of the first one. It was still enjoyable, but I wanted something more. This one had a bit less of those elements but leaned more into family drama. I really enjoyed the casino heist and the chaos that followed, and Devroe and Ross's evolving romance. The competition in this book seemed a little lacking, even though the stakes were raised significantly.

The beginning of this novel left me a bit confused because it had been so long since I read book one and the writing didn't help me get back into this world. I enjoyed the first book and couldn't wait to continue planning heists with these characters. After the first few chapters, I fell right back into Ross' world and loved her intelligence, cleverness, and courage to stand up for herself, her family, and friends.

The dangerous tasks Ross and her friends take on are full of high stakes and suspense that kept me reading. I enjoyed the character arc of Ross as she learned how to be a better friend, how to want something more than the life her mother chose for them, and how to trust others. The romance was swoony at times with lots of snarky banter. My favorite side plot was the friendship between Noelia and Ross. I'm hoping these characters or at least some of them get another book or duology because I have grown to love them.

This was a fun read but missing some of the spark that made the first book so special! I still enjoyed the heists and characters, but found the pacing and relationships a little less strong. I think the emphasis on three heists in each book makes each feel a little less important/ takes away the stakes, especially when you miss out on some of the prep that could give you strong moments with the characters. Overall I enjoy this world and would certainly read another in this series!

*Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I was such a huge fan of Thieves' Gambit - tension, thievery, and backstabbing galore! This one had a bit less of those, but more family drama. I quite enjoyed the casino heist and the chaos that ensued, and Devroe and Ross's burgeoning romance? So delightfully complicated! The competition in this book was a little lacking, despite the stakes being higher than ever. I almost would've rather seen Ross strike out on her own, defying the organization. But I may just be overly picky. Just felt more like Oceans Twelve than Oceans Eleven.

I was excited to get back into this series after the end of the last book. I loved the twists in this one and the return of the side characters, Milo is hands down my favorite, his crush on a certain someone had me kicking my feet and giggling. The found family trope in this series has been one of my favorites, I wish we'd gotten more Kyung-Soo but she came through regardless. I will say Ross was a bit irritating in this one, I feel like her issues with her mom and Devroe kind of made her really whiny. She has a terrible case of tunnel vision and trips herself up a lot because she refuses to listen. I would have loved more of a resolution between her and her mom, it was a little upsetting how they let things. I enjoyed the end with the exception of a few things. Overall the book was pretty good and I had fun reading about the heists and the antics of the characters, I feel like for the most part the characters had decent development and the pacing was good.

Thank you @penguinteen #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Bring me all the books with games in them. I cannot get enough! As a follow up to Thieves Gambit we have some of the same characters just a different predicament and some new characters too! This time Ross is trying to save her family but also has to make a deal with the head of the criminal underworld. No big deal. Just another day in Ross’s world! 😅 The entire book was a mad dash across the world all while thievin with the best of ‘em! I really enjoy this duology and aside from the gambit and games the characters friendships were really amusing and interesting. I really felt like this book explored their friendship more and developed the characters in a very satisfying way. They had funny banter and I just enjoyed the overall sass! If you love fast paced, action packed, thrilling books with twists and turns the whole way through then make sure to add these books to your cart! You won’t be disappointed.

I loved Thieves' Gambit and was concerned about how book two would compare. But I need not have worried because this was fantastic in its own right! Per my review for book 1 it took me a bit to get into the book whereas with this one I was sucked in from the beginning. The character development is some of the best I have ever seen and the fresh take on a new challenge was exhilarating!

This book picks up 6 months after the Gambit ends and Ross and Devroe are working in their new assignments. But all the old problems are still there and while Devroe may still flirt and try to charm her back it is not sticking. How could it after everything that went down at the Gambit and all the truths that were uncovered. Ross has a few needed confrontations in this book and also learns a few hard truths about herself.

Relationships are a huge part of this book; however, the focus is more on the platonic ones versus the romantic ones. While I would have loved a little more romance the rest of the story swept me up and I didn't even notice. Seeing the whole gang come back together was amazing but then being on different sides made me very sad. I turned each page with bated breath, so unsure what would transpire on the next page.

Kayvion Lewis's writing style is on point! Just like the heists in the books, she is the master of illusion and sleight of hand. You get so focused on what is happening in the forefront that you miss some of the smaller moves she is making in the wings until it smacks you in the face. There were quite a few things that took me by surprise and made me gasp or giggle out loud!

If you have not tried this duology, you are absolutely missing out! It is so much fun and keeps you wanting more with each page. Give it a try. If you regret it, try again because you definitely missed something. Happy Reading!

I received an arc through Netgalley for an honest review.

Oh I loved this! This was a wonderful sequel and ending to the duology. The romance wasn't as prominent in this book as the first and instead other relationships felt more fleshed out. Especially the parent/child relationships. Mylo remains my favorite and I want more of him. There is so much more to explore in this world with spinoffs if it is ever revisited. Looking at you Hart Casino.

Heist Royale is a high speed, high octane sequel to Thieves Gambit. This book is just as exciting as the first one. In Heist Royale, Ross and Devroe are pulled into another gambit, but this one has higher stakes. The winning team determines who will be in charge of the Organization. Not only that, but Ross's life is literally on the line. Ross and Devroe's teams must race through three stages of the gambit, in new areas they haven't been to before (Antarctica, Monte Carlo, South Africa). Despite being on different teams, Ross and Devroe are still drawn to each other, much to Ross's dismay, as she desperately tries to fight off her feelings for Devroe. Different about this gambit than the previous one, is that Ross is working side by side with her mother, which presents a new set of challenges. In addition, Ross' friendships are put to the test.

I loved this book. It is just as fast paced and attention grabbing as the first one. Ross's character development is taken even further as she deals with her life being on the line and her relationships being threatened. Kayvion Lewis' writing style keeps you on the edge of your seat. Her clear imagry allows you to feel like you are really in the places Ross and her crew are traveling to. The storyline keeps you guessing at each twist and turn.

I am obsessed with Kayvion Lewis' writing and need to read every book they have ever written. This story was well paced with well rounded and interesting characters and also just a whole lot of fun. None of the twists seemed too unrealistic and i really loved how all of the characters came together in the end to help each other out. I wish we had gotten more of a story of what happened between Diane and Rosalyn, but I think their ending wrapped up rather nicely.

This book was a joy to read and is probably the best heist based thriller i have ever read, which is high praise, considering i never really enjoy them. Can't wait to read more of Lewis' future work.

Would love a spinoff story of Natalia and her family's antics.

4.5 Stars

I was so glad I was able to get this sequel! I didn’t realize how tense I could get reading the higher stakes (I didn’t realize the stakes could get higher!). I love Ross. She’s who I want to be. The relationships in this, between her family, and Devroe and everyone else involved just make this so compelling!

I was excited to read this sequel, but it just didn't do it for me. I wanted more out of the second book and it felt like a sort of repeat of book one. It was still entertaining but I need more.

A solid and satisfying expansion and conclusion to a most impressive duology.

Everyone returns from the competition in book 1
But, like in life, they're not all still on the same team.

Smart.
Treats YA readers with respect.

I expect a series of one offs of different cons for .99 cent e book reads but will be satisfied if this author has finished this fire and look to see where they go next

I enjoyed Thieves Gambit so I was excited to receive an ARC of the upcoming sequel.

Basically, it’s another Gambit. The middle heist - 5 stars, no notes. The other two? Meh.

I really enjoyed learning more about the characters and seeing their personal growth. The problem though is that I really dislike that YA action/thrillers often seem to rely on “the girl is hopelessly/distractedly in love” trope. Obviously the Ross-Devroe entanglement was going to be a major part of the plot as a proxy war between their mothers.

I wish we could have seen an ending where Ross explores a different direction in life in more ways than one. The ending we got was fuzzy and abrupt.

However, I would absolutely love a book about Hart’s casino and the secrets they deal in. That would be a spinoff with incredible potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Heist Royale was a satisfying conclusion book to the Thieves Gambit series that promised readers a mission full of twists and a heart clenching romance. I really enjoyed the first book I had read like a month before and this book had about the same vibe but it didn’t quite resonate with me as much as the fist book did. Starting with the aspects of the book that I really enjoyed was the reprisal of many of my favorite characters like Mylo and Noelia, and the action was paced in a way that kept me engaged, I liked that we got backstory for Ross’s mother but some of the plot twists were a bit predictable.

With the romance aspect in the first book the tension was off the charts and every interaction you could feel the chemistry. In this book however they were separated because of a main plot and because of that I wasn’t really feeling their romance like I was in the first book, I wanted there to be yearning and pleading and while we did get some I was expecting a little more after a betrayal that deep. All in all it was a good book with a solid plot and likable characters that I wouldn’t mind reading again.

I loved Thieves’ Gambit and was eagerly awaiting Heist Royale, but sadly it fell pretty flat for me.

The story picks up 6 months after the end of book 1 and I probably should have refreshed my memories before diving into this one. The author doesn’t really use any page time rehashing what occurred in book 1, which made me feel a bit disconnected from the characters. The pacing was also very slow in the beginning and really didn’t pick up until another gambit begins (around a third of the way in). Even with this new gambit, all of the mystery, excitement, and high stakes from book 1 were missing. The second chance romance felt very forced between Devroe and Ross and honestly, I’m not sure how she got past his betrayal in book 1. The ending was also pretty anticlimactic and didn’t leave me feeling 100% satisfied with where our characters ended up.

Jade Wheeler did a great job with the narration and I’m not sure I would have continued reading this if I didn’t have the audio.

Audiobook Review
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 2.5 stars

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

A giant thank you to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the early access audio and digital copies of this book! I truly couldn’t wait for this to get in my hands! In a world where it feels like every YA book series is a trilogy, I applaud this one for knowing it’s a duo and standing true to it and not trying to plod out a third book. Because of that fact, this book has great pacing and like the first book, it kept you racing through it to the end!

I loved getting to spend more time with these core characters, while also getting a deeper look at Ross’ mom. I did want just a touch more depth when it came to Baron and Diane but they’re side characters so I get it.

This book had great heists and gambits and I loved seeing it all come together in a battle royale! Highly recommend this sequel!

Heist Royale is releasing 11/12 💥 Big thank you to Kayvion Lewis, Penguin publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC! ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.75 stars) This is set 6 months after Thieves’ Gambit, following Ross and her friends as they get swept into a new competition. I loved the heists they had to pull off, as most had even higher stakes than in the first book. My favorite part was the casino, which had such intricate planning—it was fun to see their plan unfold 💸 Things were pretty hardcore in this, with lots of action and crazy adventures.

You love the characters even more than in book 1, but there are fewer twists. I loved how the relationships developed in book 2, enjoyed the witty banter, and was enthralled by Ross’s plans—but the twists in book 1 make that one my fav so far 🤗 I kept expecting more backstabbing in book 2 since that’s how book 1 was, but the ending of this was feel-good and a great conclusion!

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Will be posting to @cocos.book.nook on Instagram on 10/15

This page-turning sequel keeps the Gambit going. Ross Quest is busy with a series of three heists, while also trying to determine what friendship, framily, and family means, and how they intersect.

Will recommend for acquisition to both middle school and high school libraries

When I first read Theives' Gambit, I knew that this was a series that I would fall in love with. After reading Heist Royale, I know I wasn't wrong. While not as great as the first book (though many reviews on Goodreads swear this one is so much better), this was still a thrilling and fun read with SO much romantic tension that I felt like I was going to die. In my review for Heist Royale, I'll talk about my favorite characters, the plot, pacing, and a few random things here and there.

With the characters, you get to see almost everyone from the first book. I loved seeing Ross grow in her friendships and finally learn to trust people (even after the hell that everyone put her through in the first book). She still has a very rocky relationship with Devroe, but it honestly made me so invested in the book that I didn't want to put it down. My least favorite characters were probably Ross' mom (easy because she is seriously bonkers), and the newest addition, Baron (because he is also bonkers and seems to have no depth). My favorite? Devroe. All the way. Even after the shit he pulled. 

As far as the plot goes, you're basically set up in a NEW gambit where there are teams vying against each other. I won't spoil who is on whose team except that Devroe and Ross are on opposing sides (like I said, this book had some serious reasons to be invested). They are followed through a series of three tasks that they have to win the majority in order to win the gambit. What's at stake is their lives and I honestly felt like none of the characters were that worried except maybe the actual adults. It felt... odd that none of them cared that much that they could potentially die if they lost. The ending itself was okay... but I was honestly hoping for another cliffhanger like the first book. This one was kind of tidy and didn't really feel that satisfying because the third and final task was so lackluster. All in all, though, it was a super fun plot. 

With the pacing, the beginning is slow for the first 25% of the book, I think? After that it picked up so much that I finished it pretty quickly after getting past that point. There were moments when I just stayed up (even though I definitely should have gone to bed because I ended up late to work... lol) just to find out what happened next. The pacing was on point after the first quarter of the novel. 

Random things that I want to mention: 

-The family dynamics are absolutely insane and not a single one of these kids have healthy family relationships (which I guess is understandable since they're all thieves?)
-Devroe and Ross' relationship doesn't really heat up that much in this novel, but the tension is absolutely crazy. I often continued reading just for the little snippets of time they got together. So worth it. 
-The final showdown, while the third task was lackluster, was extremely high-anxiety-inducing. Very well done. However, the secret that Ross' mother reveals really didn't make sense to me. Can anyone explain it??

Overall, this was such a fun addition to the series and I am so thankful that I got to read it before its official release!! A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity. Solid 4/5 stars and I'm going to be honest, if I don't get more of Devroe and Ross soon, I'm going to have withdrawals!! Next book quickly please 🫶🏻.