Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis isn't the typical story I read, but the description was so intriguing, I was excited to dive in. I'm so glad I did because this was a great book! I loved the premise of the story and the mystery and action of it all. I didn't want to put it down, which is a great thing to capture my attention so fully. Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out slow but it had ,e gripped once the story started rolling. I loved the characters and their development over the story. I think that Ross is an exceptional main character and I can’t wait to see where her story goes in the next book. One of the best YA books I’ve read in a while and one of the best storylines as well.

This was book was just ok. It didn't grab my interest enough to warrant reading any more of the series though.

Thanks Penguin Teen via NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange of my honest opinion.

I tried to push through but I just couldn't read it anymore. The dialogue and writing style was attempting to sound like gen z slang but only resulted in sounding cringy and aging the book. Many of the scenes felt unrealistic and rushed. The relationship between Ross and Devroe was forced, there was no chemistry between them whatsoever. The characters felt flat for me and the plot moved much to quickly.
Ross also came off as an "I'm not like other girls" kind of character. If you're interested in a main character like that, good for you, it's just not my cup of tea.
All in all I don't think I will be picking up this book again.

Y’all need to read this YA heist novel ASAP! Thieves Gambit was SO much to read and I’m thrilled there’s a sequel (Heist Royale) coming out on 11/12. This action-packed book takes you all over the world and features a cast of diverse and intriguing characters; some of the best thieves in the world, and all of them are desperate to win this cutthroat competition. It even has a slowburn rivals-to-lovers romance that you’ll be swooning over. This book is perfect for fans of the Inheritance Games, Oceans Eleven and heist novels like Six of Crows. It was voted Waterstones teen book of the year AND it’s already been optioned. Thank you Kayvion Lewis for writing this book and thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me the ARC!! I literally cannot wait for the sequel!!

This book was so much fun; it definitely falls in the unput-downable category. It is fast paced with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing on what is going to happen next - and just when you think you know what is going down, you are left reeling from the unexpected.
The characters are well developed and I can see how development will continue in the next instalment. The characters are likeable and the relationships that develop between them are layered and laced with conflict, you never know who to trust.
This is an entertaining heist read, however, I would have liked more build up to heists, as is an even closer look into the plan or even more detail in the execution of the plan. I think that I was hoping for a little more puzzling out since it is marketed to readers that enjoyed The Inheritance Games.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys YA with adventure and untrustworthy characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Penguin Group for a digital arc of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Kayvion Lewis’ The Thieves' Gambit offers a fast-paced and intriguing look into a world of high-stakes competition, where young master thieves vie for the ultimate prize. I was immediately drawn in by the premise—who wouldn’t love a high-octane, heist-filled adventure featuring clever characters? However, while the concept and some of the action sequences are thrilling, there were a few elements that kept this book from reaching its full potential for me.

What I Liked:
The book does an excellent job of building tension. The various heists and challenges were creative and fun to follow, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The protagonist, Ross, is a likable and resourceful character, and the supporting cast adds depth and variety to the story. The pacing is also generally strong, moving the story forward with plenty of energy.

What Didn't Work for Me:
Where the story falls a little flat is in its character development and emotional depth. Many of the characters felt one-dimensional, and I found it hard to connect with them on a deeper level. The relationships between the characters, especially the friendships and rivalries, could have been more fleshed out to add emotional weight to the story. Additionally, while the heists were exciting, some of the logic behind them seemed a bit far-fetched, which took me out of the experience at times.

Overall:
The Thieves' Gambit is an enjoyable read for fans of action-packed, high-stakes adventures, but it lacks some of the character depth and emotional resonance that could have made it truly great. If you're looking for a fun, light read with plenty of twists, this book might be right up your alley!

At only seventeen, Ross Quest is already a master thief, carrying on a long line of thieves in her family. She is especially good with escape plans, until her hope to run away from her lifestyle goes awry and it leaves her mother kidnapped with her life at risk.

In a desperate attempt to raise ransom money, Ross enters the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn't exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world--a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn't Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.

I really liked this book, with its similarities to The Inheritance Games, Ocean's Eleven, and If Tomorrow Comes. It was a fast paced book that kept me interested all the way through and I connected to the characters well. Definitely enjoyed and will look forward to reading the next book as well! Particularly with the ending - the twist of not knowing who is really on your side!

Thanks to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ross Quest comes from a long line of well renowned thieves. At only seventeen Ross is ready to strike her own path in life, to live like an ordinary teenager. However, fate has intervened when Ross’ mother is taken hostage during a heist gone wrong. Now Ross has no other choice but to join the Thieves’ Gambit, an ultimate heist game with a grand prize awarded to only one winner. The prize…….one wish….any wish.
As a thief Ross has been taught to never trust anyone no matter what. But Ross realizes in order to win this game and get her mother back she must learn to trust others in order to survive. Can she save her mother in time? Will she have to betray her friends in order to win?
Overall rating 4/5
For younger fans who like high stakes, found family and enemies to lovers. I enjoyed an Ocean's Eleven type plot line that was geared towards a new age audience. The family and friendship struggles that Ross has to go through is relatable with younger readers. A refreshing coming of age drama laced with romance and thrilling adventures.

*Thank you to Kayvion Lewis, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Ross Quest comes from a legendary family of thieves, and her skills prove it—she’s been trained her entire life to be the best. But when her mom lands in serious trouble, Ross has no choice but to risk everything and enter the Thieves' Gambit.

The Thieves' Gambit is no joke—each round is a dangerous heist, with the best thieves in the world competing to survive and steal the impossible. As the competition gets fiercer and the stakes get higher, Ross has to decide who she can really trust as the finish line draws near.

I’ve heard amazing things about Thieves' Gambit, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I loved the high-stakes heist thriller, and the twists kept me hooked. I’ll definitely be grabbing the next book because I have to know what happens next! If you're into YA mystery/thrillers, this is one you won’t want to miss.

This book is a fun, escapist read! It does require one to suspend disbelief at times, but if you go along with the plot, it is entertaining and reminiscent of The Inheritance Games. Plus, since they're traveling so much, there are brief snapshots of different parts of the globe, which creates a fun background for the characters to work in. There are enough plot twists that the book will keep you on your toes. Some of the twists are genuinely surprising but manage to have a good pay-off and make sense in retrospect. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book!

Thank you Penguin Random House @penguinrandomhouse , Nancy Paulson Books, Netgalley @netgalley and Kayvion Lewis @kayvionclewis for this free ebook!
“Thieves’ Gambit” (Thieves’ Gambit #1) by Kayvion Lewis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: YA/Middle Grade Heist Thriller . Location. Andros town, Bahamas and several international locations. Time: Present.

THE SERIES: “Trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest.”
Rosalyn (Ross) Quest (17) is a thief, especially adept at escape plans. She wears braids and loves custom Chucks. Her weapon-a meteor bracelet with a heavy weight on the end. She lives with her mom Rhiannon (39) and Aunt Jaya (32) on an island in the Bahamas-so rural convenience stores are in people’s living rooms. Her family of thieves has a private plane and a black box/deep web email account. Mama Quest is a glamorous, diamond tennis bracelet-wearing master thief who trained her daughter well.

THIS BOOK: Stuck on an island with no friends, no dad, no siblings, Ross needs new experiences and friends. Unfortunately, her plan to run away takes a wrong turn, leaving her mother’s life at risk. Desperate, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t off limits. The grand prize is a wish for anything in the world—a wish that could save her mom. She learns 2 competitors are Noelia Boschert (her childhood nemesis) and handsome, smooth-talking Devroe Kenzie (who might steal her heart). Ross has to decide who to con and who to trust.

Author Lewis has written a page-turner of a heist novel perfect for middle grade and YA readers. (And adults will enjoy it too.) If you can imagine “Ocean’s Eleven” mashed up with “The Hunger Games”, you have a sense of this book. She has Ross narrate the book, and we begin to learn the stories of her rivals as well. Lewis’s characters seem on point for their ages and backgrounds (remembering they are all experienced thieves). If you like fast-paced action, strong young women, personal and professional tension, and a tiny bit of romance, pick up this book. Oh-the book taught me a card game called BS where everybody cheats! It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️🎀

This reminded me a lot of The Inheritance Games, a YA story mostly action-packed with a little potential romance on the side. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and totally had me shocked at the end. It slowed a bit in the middle but picked up again for the end. I'd recommend!

Fast paced, fun story of clever crooks one cannot help but adore. Teens engage in clever heists, but still manage to bring drama to their every decision. Fans of Oceans 11 will love this caper!

Fast paced and alluring. Gave off divergent and America ninja warrior vibes and I loved every minute of it will definitely be reading more by this author

I was very excited to read this, as it felt like it could be a nice book to start out the fall season with. I must say that the beginning was really interesting. However, once I hit the 20% mark it just started to get boring for me. The ending did leave a bit of a cliffhanger, so I do want to read the second one. I think that the hype was what let me down because I was expecting a story that I did not get.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my arc copy of this!

This book was a combination of the Hunger Games and the Natural Series. I was hooked. I thought the plot was so unique and I loved the diverse set of characters. There is a great mix of thrill, action, suspense, mystery, and even a tiny bit of romance throughout the book. I can't wait to finish the series!

Thieves' Gambit is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thriller that throws readers into a world of high-stakes heists and fierce competition. At the centre of the story is Ross Quest, a seventeen-year-old master thief born into a legendary family of thieves. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her mother’s life is put at risk, forcing Ross to enter the Thieves’ Gambit, a dangerous competition with international criminals, where the prize is a wish for anything in the world.

What makes this book stand out is its relentless energy. From the very first chapter, the stakes are high and the pace rarely slows. Ross is a skilled and resourceful protagonist, and her talent for pulling off audacious heists keeps the action fresh and exciting. The series of international heists adds a globetrotting appeal, as each new setting brings with it a different set of challenges and dangers. The competition itself, where anything goes—even murder—is thrilling and dangerous, with plenty of twists to keep readers guessing.

Ross’s character is engaging, with her sharp mind and internal conflict over the family creed, “trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest.” This mantra becomes harder to follow when she’s faced with competitors like her childhood nemesis and a charming rival who might be after more than just the prize. The tension between survival and trust runs through the entire story, forcing Ross to navigate not just dangerous heists, but complicated relationships as well.

The addition of romance adds an intriguing dynamic without overshadowing the action. The smooth-talking love interest brings a spark of chemistry to the story, but Ross is smart and wary, keeping the romantic subplot from becoming predictable or distracting. Instead, it enhances the stakes as Ross grapples with her growing feelings and her need to protect herself—and her family.

One of the highlights of Thieves' Gambit is its diverse cast of competitors, all with their own motivations and backgrounds. It gives the story a rich, dynamic quality as Ross tries to outwit them while also questioning who she can trust. The competition is ruthless, and the constant push-pull between betrayal and alliance adds complexity to the plot.

While the book excels in action and tension, some of the character development feels a bit rushed, especially when it comes to Ross’s relationships with the other competitors. A deeper exploration of the characters’ backgrounds could have added more emotional weight to the story. That said, the focus on heists and survival is what drives this narrative, and it delivers on that front.

In short, Thieves' Gambit is a rollercoaster ride of a novel, perfect for readers who love high-octane action, clever cons, and the thrill of danger around every corner. It’s an exhilarating story that will leave you breathless until the very end.

A YA heist novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. Between the great action and the ending that leaves you waiting for book #2 you can't go wrong with this one!

this is exactly the type of book i love. it was addicting, fun, hilarious, entertaining, and unputdownable. i loved everything about it! the heists, action, mystery, and competition had me completely immersed in the story and i loved seeing how friendships and bonds started to form between the characters! the ending had my jaw on the floor to say the least… i can’t wait to see how this continues!! 🙂‍↕️