This was my introduction to M.K. Lobb and I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her writing.

To Steal from Thieves was a delightfully playful romp of a story. Kane, a skilled con-man who operates in London's hidden corners, is a lone wolf. His boss assigns him a task that can't be accomplished alone. He must recruit Zaria, the daughter of a late alchemologist, who is massively in debt and trying to keep her head above the water without her father, to assist in his heist of the Great Exhibition.

Full of enemies to lovers vibes with lots of swooning, To Steal from Thieves was brimming with chemistry and hijinks, sure to please fans of Leigh Bardugo, Ally Carter, and V.E. Schwab.

I thought this was so fun! A high stakes heist and I swoon worthy romance?! That is a power combo that i'll never say no to! I really enjoyed Zaria as a character as well. I think booktok will love this!

Thank you so much to Little, Brown Books for my ARC!

4/5

It’s been a long time since I read a book that hit all the boxes of things I love to find in a book, and this one didn’t disappoint!

Kane. My angry, sad boy Kane. *sigh* he made this book so dang good. Mr. Con man who didn’t want to drown in emotions..

“Perhaps he would have asked if she regretted it, that kiss.
Perhaps he would have told her that he didn’t.
Perhaps he would have apologized in advance.
He might have told her something that surprised them both if she hadn’t said merely, “Good night, Kane.”
By then, it was too late.”

Ugh, my heart! He was such a great character!

Zaria. I almost don’t want to admit how much I can relate to her 😩

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m careless, but also very particular. I’m too easily frustrated. I’m terrible at connecting with people, so everyone assumes I don’t like them, and I don’t bother to change their minds. I don’t want to change their minds because I’m terrified they’ll decide I’m not good enough, and then I’ll look like a fool. I’m constantly thinking fifteen thoughts at once, and yet I can’t remember a single one of them. I say all the wrong things at the wrong times, …”

I wanted to tell her to stop a thousand times and yet I also couldn’t help but agree or find myself believing her choices were right… and yet.

And yet.

The ending was deliciously perfect and I really really need to know where this all goes from here!!!

*if you loved What the River knows, you would love this!

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an eARC.

This was definitely a fun, fast read. The pace was fun, the plot was intriguing, and the characters were excellent. I mean truly, well-written, flawed, fleshed out individuals excellent. We have a charming, conniving con-man whose desperate enough to get his hands on a priceless necklace to rob the Crystal Palace in broad daylight, and a struggling alchemologist dying for a break who agrees to help him even though he infuriates her. Add in a found-family best friend each who are trying to keep their relatives bestie from dying, and you have a very unlikely heist crew. I was rooting for each of them and rolling my eyes at them simultaneously. The heist parts were well-crafted and I LOVED all the steampunk vibes and the magic/science system. It's not Six of Crows good, but tragically we can't all be Six of Crows

DNF at 27%. I like the idea of this book…the setting during the Great Exhibition is well drawn and the magic with “alchemology” is interesting. But the characters are a bit bland with a forgettable romance driving the slow “plot” more than anything else, so I’m struggling to care about anything.

I love the blend of technology and magic in this book! I really enjoyed that to create magic and blend it with technology it had a cost. The idea that you had to know exactly what you wanted something to do and have the fourth thought of what it would do how it would impact people and the area around it required precision and meticulous planning. The dynamic between the FMC and her best friend mirroring the dynamic between the MMC and his best friend was genius.

Instead of playing into opposites attract the author created two main characters that feel so misunderstood and so different from other people that when they found another person who mirrors them and their priorities, of course they would fall for each other, even if they hated each other at the beginning. We got to see two very similar people with identical, motivating circumstances, take two different paths and develop into who they were always meant to be.

The ending had me screaming, jaw dropped, loved the cliffhanger and cannot wait to see what happens to these characters next.

i’m going to need 29 business days to recover. because once again, m.k. lobb rips out my heart.

while seven faceless saints built its world through magic and politics TO STEAL FROM THIEVES keeps the focus tight on kane and zaria, letting their relationship shape the story in a way that feels effortless. the planning, the betrayals, the constant question of who to trust—it’s all woven together with a tension that never lets up.

the heist itself is thrilling, but it’s the chemistry and shifting dynamics between the leads that make this impossible to put down. and just when you think you can breathe, you realize it’s not a standalone. see you in a year when i’m spiraling all over again.

Reluctant co-conspirators team up for the heist of the century, full of charm and wit and betrayal.

This story had really good bones, and I did end up really enjoying it. It was a bit hard to get into, but I am glad that I stuck with it because it was worth it!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review

I love pretty much anything M.K. Lobb writes and this book is no exception. I was drawn in from the start with Zaria and Kane and their hate that might be attraction. Both of them planning to double cross the other, then maybe catching feelings? A guy who is bad to both of them threatening to kill her? Ugh, it was all fantastically written and I adored how the book ended (tho...cliffhanger?! rude). Overall, I really liked this book and the heist vibes mixed with people just trying to survive. We had a mix of morally grey as well as some golden retrievers, no one can be fully trusted yet I wanted them to all be friends and happy at the end. A+

I was SUCH a fan of Lobb's Seven Faceless Saints duology that I was simultaneously thrilled and nervous to read this new book, but as soon as I began chapter one, I knew my worries were for nothing.
Where as the Seven Faceless Saints duology had MUCH more in aspects of characters, worldbuilding, as well as the magic systems and politics, with To Steal From Thieves is much more focused on the two main characters (Kane and Zaria) and from them, I feel like everything else is added on in a very natural way. There is still magic and those in the story still very much draw you in, but the heist and Zaria and Kane truly are the focus and I loved every moment. The suspense throughout with everyone planning and plotting against one another, the tension when they realize what they have TOGETHER, the constant questioning who can who trust, all leading to the heist near the end and then realizing this is NOT a standalone.
I will be spiraling from this one for the next year when the next book comes out.

To Steal from Thieves by M.K. Lobb is the first book in the Thieves & Kings series and I have to say...I could not put this book down. Or...I did not WANT to put this book down. I love a good heist book and if the author can write great characters too...consider me sold!

In this book, we have two very complicated people trying to steal a rare necklace for very complicated reasons. Kane is the fmc in this book and he works for the infamous Kingpin of London's magical dark market. Everyone know him and fears him but Kane has grown up with him and everyone considers him to be like a son to Ward (despite the way he treats him) so he has a bit of grace in the things he does. But not with everything. He's been tasked with getting him a necklace and if he doesn't, Kane's best friend Fletcher is in danger so Kane decides to get some help from an alchemologist...enter Zaria.

Zaria's had a challenging life. She lives above a her best friend's pawnshop selling magical items but she is barely scraping by since her father died. He taught her the magic she uses but he also left her with a pile of commissions that she's at risk of not being able to fill. And when Ward's lackeys come by one night and threaten her best friend's life over their "protection fees" she knows she has to do something drastic to get them out of the slums. So when Kane comes to her and offers her a job with the payoff being that he will give her all the other jewelry in the case next to the necklace, she knows she has to do it.

This book has the perfect mix of action, tension, magic, bickering...there's some kissing too. I honestly loved it. I will say that the end of this does wrap up on a major cliffhanger so if you can't handle that you might want to wait until the next book comes out. I admit I really want to get my hands on the next book to see what happens for these characters because of that but I'm not mad about reading it. Just go in knowing you will have to wait for some resolution.



It's hard to pick a side here because based on their backgrounds and their reasons, you can justify supporting either one's case. When they team up



In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming conman Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked so hard for.

A heist mixed with romance that will keep you up at night desperate to keep reading. Absolutely enjoyed every moment of this. It’s a fast paced and easy read that keeps you wanting more. This is a delightful slow burn romance that centers around our two main characters taking on a heist together. The planning to get the necklace and the betrayals that evolve along the way were wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

I loved the premise - ADHD inventor and a con man have to team up to rob an exhibition - and for the most part enjoyed the story. Zaria was great, as a fellow ADHDer I really saw myself reflected in her. While I adored her banter with Kane, I struggled to buy their relationship, they went from hate allies to hate kissing really fast given that all of this took place over a few weeks at most.

I had a hard time getting sucked into the story, but I found that I kept reaching for it because I wanted to know what happened next. Definitely interested to see where the next book takes me! 3.75/5

high-stakes heist novel aren’t books I usually go for but this one seemed interesting.

The great exhibition has arrived. Two unlikely partners in crime are about to score big. Kane usually works alone but when he is given the task to steal a priceless artifact, he knows he has to ask Zaria to work with him. She knows she can’t say no, she needs to money to get out of debit and to leave London forever. Of course, things become complicated when they both realize they may have feelings for each other.

I loved all the relationships in the book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I loved how quick this book was to read. I’ve heard wonderful things about M.K.s writing so I was so happy to receive an eARC of this book. I also love how cool the cover is! I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley, M.K. And Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the eARC!

Publication Date: March 25 2025
Rating: 💎💎💎💎

#ToStealfromThieves #NetGalley

Ah this was so much fun! I love a good heist novel and the fantasy setting made this even more enjoyable. The character dynamics were good and the pacing was GREAT! Read it in one sitting I couldn’t put it down.

RATING: 3.75 Rounded Up

Kane Durante works alone. But his best friend Fletcher's life is on the line and being the son of the Kingpin isn’t easy. After the passing of her father, alchemologist Zaria Mendoza is trying to clean up his mess but it’s slowly taking away her life force. When Kane is tasked with stealing a necklace from London’s Crystal Palace he can’t do it alone and Zaria needs this job to finally escape the slums with her best friend Jules. Forming an unlikely alliance Kane and Zaria must work together to get the things they’ve always wanted. But things start to get complicated when Zaria and Kane realize they might have feelings for one another and lives are on the line.

I forget how fun heist novels can be and this was incredibly fun. It was easy, fast paced and I really loved how morally grey our characters were. I especially loved how they were morally grey right up until the very last word. The atmosphere and setting of this book was also phenomenally well done. I loved that it took place in the slums of London and that at least Zaria, didn’t have everything given to her. It made her character more realistic. Zaria was by far my favorite character. I loved the plot twist she threw into the story and really appreciated how feisty she was. The friendships in this book were a very nice addition to the story and I loved how Zaria and Kane had someone they could trust. I would love to see a book from Fletcher and Jules POV!

The only reason I didn’t rate this book higher was because things felt too easy for our main character Kane. Mostly concerning fighting and conning people. He was just too good at his job and I would have loved to see some more tension between Kane and the people he was fighting against.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It was fast paced, fun and overall had really great character friendships. I would definitely recommend it to fans of Six of Crows.

Thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Reader’s and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super fun read. Admittedly I didn't get to finish it, but it was a ton of fun. The characters had their trauma and their strengths. Zaira and Kan were fantastic characters. The magic system and the setting were fantastic. I am definitely looking forward to getting a physical copy of the book.

Usually heists are not my type of books but this one had me hooked from the start. I was curious since I did really like this authors debut duology. Pleased with this one too.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

M.K. Lobb's To Steal From Thieves is a YA historical fantasy following the reluctant alliance between an alchemologist and a con man as they plot and carry out a dangerous heist.

This was an incredibly fun story. Good banter between main characters has become something a lot of people look out for in books and this book masters it. The banter doesn't feel cheesy or unnatural at all. Zaria and Kane have chemistry that makes every little remark feels so perfect. Reading about these characters together is addicting.

One of my favorite elements of the book was the magic system. The world of alchemology was one that had me absolutely enthralled. Lobb does an amazing job building the magic system and incorporating it into the plot and the lives of the characters. The entire system was fascinating and I need more like it.

Along with the relationship between the two main characters, there are some incredible friendships within the book. Both main characters have one best friend that means the world to them. The friendships felt so real and personal. All the relationships in this book add so much to the story. Lobb has perfected the art of writing true, meaningful relationships between her characters.

Everything about the plot worked for me. It was quick, bingeable, and an unbelievably exciting. There was endless tension and action brought into the story in so many different ways. The plot was always moving, but never too fast. Every little moment of the ending kept my eyes glued to the story, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. It was such a beautifully emotional end to the story. I wasn't expecting this to be the first in a series, but I am ready to devour whatever comes next.

Although I did love the relationships and the plot, there were a few things that didn't completely work for me. The main one was Kane as an individual. I loved his relationships with Zaria and Fletcher, and I thought he had an interesting backstory. However, there are a few mentions in the book of how he's someone who always pushes people away because he doesn't think he's good enough. I'm sure a lot of people won't be bothered by that, but it's just a type of character I don't love reading about. I also wish there was more development within the side characters and the villains. Obviously the book should mostly keep its focus on the main characters, but I do think there was room for the other characters to give a bit more.

To Steal from Thieves is an action-packed and emotional ride through a dangerous heist with a promise of romance, friendship, and betrayal. Any fan of YA historical fantasy will find themselves having a wildly fun time with this one.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of 2/17/2025
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 3/25/2025

very fun book with badass protags (essentially artificer FMC and con man MMC) and some strong themes. i also loved the historical crystal palace themes. i loved the vibes throughout and would recommend it. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

4.25 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun heist novel full of betrayal, where the MC's truly feel like enemies! The magic system was really unique, and I loved to see how there were tangible costs and consequences to magic use that we don't often see in Fantasy novels when the characters are too overpowered or don't face consequences.

I thought this was an enjoyable quick read, and the characters felt very fleshed out. Their backstories and personalities were really able to shine through, and I'm glad that a book in which the characters are enemies actually feel like they are enemies. I love that the budding romance was not rushed, and with the timeline of the heist, their attraction feels believable, so if a sequel is in the works, their relationship still has time to grow and change. Thankfully this book did not fall into the insta-love category, and I'm excited to see where the story goes.

The pacing of the plot was a bit rushed in the end. We spend a lot of time reading about the characters planning of the heist, but the actual heist and aftermath happened very quickly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!