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.

The audiobook is easy to follow and the narrator does a good job expressing emotion. It is easy to follow even at a higher speed (I listened at 2.5x).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Medici Heist is an exhilarating YA historical fiction with fantastic characters and an engaging plot.

I had so much fun with this one! It was sweet and entertaining, with wonderful characters, character development, and plotting. I loved the different settings, relationship dynamics, pacing, and romances. The historical incorporations were also very fun. Fans of Six of Crows and The Gilded Wolves will enjoy this one!

The audiobook narrator for Medici Heist did a lovely job. Her voice and accents fit the characters wonderfully, and she immersed me in the story.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

"Medici Heist" offers an engaging premise set in the opulent and treacherous world of Renaissance Florence, featuring a young conwoman, Rosa Cellini, and her crew of skilled misfits. The idea of a heist targeting the wealth of the Medici Pope, Leo X, immediately captivates, promising a blend of historical intrigue, action, and drama.

Strengths:

Setting and Atmosphere: The vivid depiction of 1517 Florence is a standout element. The author successfully transports listeners to a time of grandeur and peril, capturing the essence of the Renaissance with its rich details.
Diverse Characters: The team Rosa assembles is intriguing, each member bringing unique skills and backgrounds. Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, Giacomo the master of disguise, and even Michelangelo as a reluctant ally add variety and depth to the narrative.
Narration: Sara Alexander's performance is commendable. Her ability to differentiate between characters and maintain a consistent tone adds to the overall experience, making the story more engaging.
Weaknesses:

Pacing Issues: The story sometimes drags, particularly in the middle sections. While the buildup is necessary, it could have been more tightly woven to maintain momentum and keep listeners fully engaged.
Character Development: Despite the diverse cast, some characters feel underdeveloped. Their motivations and backstories, while hinted at, could use more exploration to create a stronger emotional connection with the audience.
Plot Predictability: The plot, though intriguing, follows a somewhat predictable path. While there are moments of tension and surprise, the overall trajectory of the heist and its complications can be anticipated by seasoned listeners of the genre.
Conclusion:

"Medici Heist" is a decent historical heist novel with a strong sense of place and an interesting ensemble of characters. However, its pacing issues and predictable plot prevent it from being truly standout. Sara Alexander's narration elevates the material, making it a pleasant listen despite its shortcomings. For fans of historical fiction and heist stories, it offers a worthwhile, if not exceptional, adventure in Renaissance Florence.

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).

I LOVED this audiobook. The narrator not only read the words, but inserted the right amount of spunk and sass that comes with a heist story. Love, love, love. If you enjoyed Ocean's 8, read this book

This was a highly anticipated release, and I'm so disappointed that it just … never hit. The heist itself felt quite lackluster and I never knew what any character was doing to help their goal. And the characters themselves felt somewhat charmless. Their backstories all came so late, aside from Khalid's, and they didn't really stand out from each other voice-wise, aside from Giacomo. I so badly wanted to see what they could do but they never reached their full potential. The one character enlisted *the* Michealangelo to the cause and I felt absolutely nothing.

DNF @40%

This was simply was not for me. I really struggled to connect with the characters and the story that was being told.

I loved Sara Alexander as the audiobook narrator. She has a knack for vocal inflections and accents to go with multiple characters. Sara helped keep me engaged in this book. I agree with another reviewer that having a male narrator alongside Sara to cover all the male characters would have been a nice touch. Nonetheless, Sara narrating the Pope was funny at the beginning.

Sometimes the descriptions feel a little too long for an audiobook format. Even though I'm an avid details/background lore fan. It almost felt more fit as a printed book to remember all the details. Only the beginning was initially a little confusing for me to know who the main character was. At first, I thought it was the girl who threw dung towards the Pope. Then the story revealed it wasn't her. Point-of-view switches happen a bit too frequently for me to keep up, so I think decreasing the number of main/secondary characters would have helped a bit.

The rest of the story and characters were good despite some pacing issues. No particular character stood out from the rest, but I always admire old European settings with female protagonists. Nonetheless, it was a good story to listen to my long work commute. If Caitlin Schneiderhan makes another story, I'll give her another try. Thank you again for "Medici Heist."

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!!

I love the narrator’s voice, it’s nice to listen. But i just didn’t click with the story so I couldn’t continue. Also, an additional male narrator would be nice since this book has several male POV.

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 Audio for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.