I loved this series so much. I’m sad it’s over. Vanja is such a wonderful character and to see her growth throughout the books was wonderful. This series had me laughing and crying. It is the story of learning to love oneself, and the power of friendship and love. Perfect ending to a wonderful series.

This is the book I never wanted to end. Luckily it’s a brick and took me forever.

The little thieves series has done something for my soul. And Holy Terrors did not fall short. This book is for the people who want to run away, it’s about standing up and sometimes finding out the biggest enemy is yourself, it’s about being afraid of love and fighting for it anyway, and most of all it’s about finding yourself instead of being who others think you are.

This was beautifully written. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It was the perfect conclusion in every way.

Special shoutout to Margaret Owen’s team for this ARC. And an even bigger shout out to Margaret Owen replying to every one of my screaming instagram messages this past week. It takes a special author to make readers feel so seen (and hurt by this emotional rollercoaster).

I cannot get enough of this series! Owen has an incredible gift of being able to develop a cast of characters while still maintaining a fast-paced plot. I binged these chapters in a few days.

Little Thieves is now officially one of my favorite series and Holy Terrors made for the perfect ending! I’m always nervous about the last book in a series I love, but I honestly can’t imagine a better ending for Vanja and Emeric! In Holy Terrors we see the culmination of the character development Vanja, Emeric and their friends undergo and I was all for it. It was especially nice to see Ragne and Gisela again after they were absent for most of book 2. As with the previous books, Holy Terrors was full of Vanja’s escapades, a host of surprises, gut wrenching moments and lots of humor. I wanted to savor this book, but I just couldn’t put it down!

I can’t recommend this book enough! If you enjoy heist books, Robin Hood vibes, found family trope, morally grey characters, snarky protagonist and nerdy love interests then I think you need to pick up this series

I went into Holy Terrors a little nervous. I loved the first two books in the trilogy (and Margaret Owen's AO3 story about the year between Painted Devils and Holy Terrors). I adore our main characters. I knew their road to the conclusion would be bumpy. How much would it hurt? A LOT. How much would I cry? A LOT. How much would I laugh? A LOT.

Buckle up, friends, this is quite a ride!

The first 50% of this book follows a rough format that anyone who is familiar with the previous books would be expecting. Vanja, our wounded heroine tries to carve out a life for herself after the events if the second book. She finds a way to help others while also nursing wounds left by abandoning Emeric. Despite the fact that she's a thief at heart, we see her righting wrongs and looking out for the underdogs she encounters. She dates a few people. And then Emeric shows up. It's no the satisfying reunion you expect. This early phase gives way to one where Vanja is a suspect and it's plunged into political intrigue while surrounded by royalty and prefects.

At 75%, you will think it's done. That the last 25% will be settling all your beloved characters into their happily ever afters. Oh, friend, you will be so wrong. The last 25% is when you'll be catapulted into a wild, what-is-even-happening-right-now dimension where the roller coast you were on from the first three quarters of the book will look like the It's a Small World ride. The last quarter is bonkers in all the best ways.

Yes, you will get your happily ever afters. Yes, you will be satisfied. But you will be gob smacked by the last quarter of this book. And the you'll want to read it again to make sure you understand what happened.

Also, there's an adorable kitten.

I was so excited to be approved for this novel! The first two books were wonderful and I was so excited to see where Owen would take us next in the world. Vanja is so complex and wonderfully morally grey. Seeing the fallout after book two really just showed the stakes Vanja is up against. Plus, who doesn't love a good murder mystery?

Things this book has, with spoilers but no context:

- divorce
- the plot of the film twister (1996)
- a dick-biting kitten
- a lesbian throuple
- hannah montana jokes
- the plot of the film cinderella 3: a twist in time
- miscommunication to an almost debilitating degree
- a roast of the concept of seasons
- retroactive justification for painted devils, a book i did not particularly care for
- the plot of the film conclave (2024)
- a meat throne
- emeric conrad's tramp stamp
- the wrong lessons learned from harrow the ninth
- what does, in fact, eat owls
- a remarkably satisfying emotional throughline and conclusion to a remarkably emotionally satisfying YA series

although this book is overlong, overcomplicated, and at times really REALLY repetitive (and broke my brain more than once), i was all in from the very first page. objectively, this book should not work. if i think about it for too long, i want to pick it apart, and it's structurally insane. but somehow, still, i loved it? like stayed up into the wee hours of the morning giggling and kicking my feet and blushing like a little kid loved it. thank you, margaret owen, for your human civics primer and the gremlin girl he loves. my life is much better for them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up Holy Terrors on April 1, 2025.

I will say that from what I read it was very very good. Problem I have is that I didn't read the first two books. So I will need to read those books before this one.

I also feel like this might be a little too young for my liking. I love YA but this is firmly YA.

The final book in the Little Thieves trilogy does not disappoint.... bringing in all my favorite (and some despicable) characters for one final world ending epic showdown...
There was a LOT happening here. Vanya and Emeric are reunited.. sort of.... I mean they are back in the same city... and Emeric is engaged to another woman who is unfortunately wonderful. Somehow they manage to adopt a kitten, Junior, who is not at all relevant to the plot but also manages to be the most important character ever!

HOW. how are you gonna tell me it’s over with that ending?! i’ve been along for this ride and eagerly anticipating this conclusion yet simultaneously dreading it for eons now, and it was completely and utterly satisfying (although i’m incredibly heartbroken this is the end of this story HELLO??) one of my favorite fantasy trilogies without question

This is another absolute stunner from one of my favorite authors. It’s hilarious and heart-wrenching, and I love watching these babies learn and grow from their trauma while absolutely driving each other crazy. Definitely read the collection of short stories published by Margaret Owen on AO3 (called THE FALLOW YEAR) first.

I really, really don’t want to write this review because Holy Terrors was not what I was hoping it would be. I absolutely LOVED Little Thieves, it got me back into fantasy when I was in a rut, but Painted Devils didn’t wow me, and unfortunately neither did Holy Terrors. The bad thing is I can’t pinpoint why neither of those books worked for me when Little Thieves was in my top faves of the year that I read it.

"Holy Terrors" delivers a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the "Little Thieves" trilogy. Margaret Owen masterfully weaves together political intrigue, forbidden romance, and supernatural elements to create a captivating and unforgettable story.

The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. The mystery surrounding the killer is cleverly constructed, and the stakes are constantly raised, culminating in a dramatic and suspenseful climax.

The characters are complex and well-developed. Vanja, the enigmatic and rebellious protagonist, is a compelling figure who grapples with the consequences of her past actions and the weight of her responsibilities. Her relationship with Emeric, her former love and now her sworn enemy, is a central focus of the novel, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.

What makes this book stand out:

Compelling World-Building: Owen's world is richly imagined and meticulously detailed, with a unique blend of magic, history, and political intrigue.
Intricate Plot: The plot is intricate and engaging, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Complex Characters: The characters are complex and well-developed, with compelling motivations and internal conflicts.
Themes of Redemption and Forgiveness: The novel explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the consequences of our choices, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.
Minor Criticisms:

Some readers may find the pacing slightly uneven in the first half of the book.
The resolution of some subplots might feel a bit rushed.
Overall:

"Holy Terrors" is a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the "Little Thieves" trilogy. Margaret Owen's masterful storytelling and captivating characters make this a must-read for fans of fantasy, historical fiction, and intricate political dramas.

Recommendation:

Highly recommended for readers who enjoyed the previous books in the "Little Thieves" series and are looking for a thrilling and emotionally resonant conclusion.

I guess I didn't read the fine print and this is a series on the longer side (4 books) I'm doing my cleanup of the TBR for 2024 to 2025 when I realized that. so my confusion when starting this last year makes since with that in mind I will not be reattempting.... unfortunately, this will be a DNF for me. as a Mom I feel like I cant commit to any more than a 3 book series nowadays (preferring to keep it a duology level. ) Thats a me thing so I wont be posting any reviews

3.5 stars! After falling in love with Little Thieves but being very disappointed by Painted Devils, I wasn’t sure how this final book was gonna go. I’m happy to report that I enjoyed this finale, though it never reached the level of Little Thieves for me.

My biggest gripes with Painted Devils was the at times confusing and snail-paced plot, and the lack of the main core including Gisele and Ragne. I was much more pleased with Gisele and Ragne being included in this one, but unfortunately the plot still caused me frustration. I definitely enjoyed the first half of this more than the second. I wasn’t a big fan of the timeline plot, and there seemed to be soo many characters to try to keep track of! I honestly couldn’t tell you who got killed when or what was happening in the alternate timeline. I started to skim through the last few chapters because it just seemed to be going on forever.

It was nice to see where Vanja ended up and I do adore her as a character. Emeric actually frustrated me a bit in this book, and I didn’t really like how his whole relationship with Lilja was handled. The ending was cute, and I especially loved the final illustration!

Overall, I really think LT was the strongest of the series. The plot throughout the rest just seemed too confusing and long. I do really love this cast of characters though and wouldn’t object to some short stories or something in the future!

Holy Terrors, had me chuckling, my heart racing, and feeling melancholic, sometimes simultaneously. With deeply flawed characters who were perfectly written, Margaret Owen finds that nuance between whimsy, immersive setting, empathetic storytelling, and nostalgia that I look for in a great book.

I don’t know if this is where the series ends, but I’m so glad I went on this journey with Vanja.

I’m so sorry to have finally reached the end of this series that is so close to my heart. I reread Little Thieves and Painted Devils in preparation for this book. I also read The Fallow Year on AO3 which I believe is really necessary to understand a lot of the new characters and events mentioned in Holy Terrors. (Lilje, the lens, Benno..)

Like with the rest of the books in this series, Margaret Owen immediately snares the reader by dropping you right in the middle of one of Vanja’s schemes. I love Vanja so much and I live for all her clever antics and hilarious quips. We get a lot more involved with the Blessed Empire’s political hierarchy and uncover more about the complex world of Gods and their abilities. Every scene with Emeric had my heart in a vise - I love him so much and I wanted to scream at him and Vanja to just communicate better. We get to see a lot our friends from the previous adventures and how they’ve changed over the years, which is always wonderful. The character growth of Vanja especially is amazing and definitely one of the things about this series that will stay with me the longest.

While I love the vibes of this whole series and could not stop turning the pages of this book, I still found some issues. While I understand it was going to be more somber in tone, I was still disappointed we didn’t have as much humor as before. The kitten did provide a lot of comic relief, but I missed the banter a lot. Emeric seemed to do things so out of character, and I found myself being distracted by that (Ie: what Lilje comes to realize he did etc). But the two things I found to be the biggest issues were the length of this book and the ending. Toward the finish I started to get so confused by who was getting killed, who was taking their place, who was actually doing the killing, if we were dreaming, if we were awake, how the villain was able to do what they did, etc etc. There was so much talk of alternate worlds and timelines I was very tempted to skip ahead. I think if a lot of that plot and the final battle scene had been edited better to be easier to understand it would solve the length issue as well. I love the narrator of this series and I’m going to ‘read’ it again when that comes out, so hopefully I can grasp it a little better then.

I still 1000% recommend this series and would love if Owen continued to write short stories about Vanja and Emeric forever. I will buy anything they're a part of.

Thank you to MacMillan Children's, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I picked up this book and instantly sank back into this awesome world. VANJA I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I loved the themes and character development. With each installment of this series, Vanja's journey deepened and became even more meaningful. I was thrilled to see favorite characters reenter the story (Ragne!!!) and kept laughing my head off. Things got kind of complicated after the midpoint and stuff was happening so fast that I got a little disoriented, but ultimately everything landed and made sense and I am so absolutely satisfied with the ending. I still maintain that Painted Devils is my favorite of the trilogy, but I loved this final installment.

While I enjoyed myself for the most part reading this book I will say one thing and that is that it was too long. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have read the whole thing, but especially the end just felt tacked on and unnecessary. I adored the first book in the series and I think it would have stayed perfect as a standalone, I feel like with each book I enjoyed myself a little bit less.

That being said, here are my positives:

The humor was still there (though not as much as the previous two)
The way the relationship drama was handled was well-done in my opinion
The writing was still solidly enjoyable to read

I was genuinely terrified that this might not live up to my love of other Margaret Owens books. But I shouldnt have been worried. As always she delivers. This is the perfect culmination of this trilogy with heists and funny off the cuff moments and Vanyas character growth throughout has been tremendous. This is so descriptive and builds on everything laid out in previous books. And I LOVE that this series has queer characters and isn’t a coming out story. And the enemies to lovers plot line has been one of my favorites. I hope someday there will be more in this world because I am truly bereft to see these characters go.