This book had me STRESSED. I definitely had a moment of "CAN EVERYONE PLEASE STOP DYING" which was a little ironic considering the heavy murder mystery aspect of the plot.

It was so incredibly lovely seeing Vanja and Emeric come back together and eventually be all the stronger for it. After reading the Fallow Year I was absolutely ready for some healing for them and I'm glad we got it in the way we did. Vanja also stayed a hilarious troublemaker throughout and I will always adore a gremlin girl.

I loved our new characters and seeing the strengthened friendships and relationships between the old ones. The plot had me hooked throughout, even when everything started feeling balls to the wall insane and mildly overwhelming. It was cool to relate to the characters actually experiencing the plot that way. It was so cool seeing the previously mentioned alternate options for Vanja end up an actual part of the book. I loved seeing her make peace with these other selves and that we all got to realize that her running actually ended up working out in the end.

I don't know how much I can say this being the third and final book in the Little Thieves series other than I would die for every single one of these characters. This is not where I thought this final chapter would go and there were so many times my heart was just stomped on, but I honestly should expect nothing else from the brilliant mind of Margaret Owen. I hope she continues to write amazing stories with compelling characters that give me all the feels for many years to come.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), for this eARC to review.

10000/5 stars!

Margaret. MARGARET. This book was all gas no breaks and laughing even through the pain, and I wouldn't have it any other way. An absolutely immaculate finish to one of my favorite series to exist. The different "pre" stories throughout the book giving you different timelines/perspectives without quite knowing why until the end, had me a MESS. The world was so well fleshed out, everything felt vivid and real, and I've never been so attached to so many characters in my LIFE. I 110% cried for the last chapter/epilogue, solely because I was so sad to finish it knowing there wouldn't be any more books. Also, on behalf of the general public I'd like to thank Mac/BYR for allowing Margaret to use her talent in art to really bring the story alive throughout the book! It took everything to the next level and really immersed you in what was happening in the story. and Junior. JUNIORRR MY BABY MY BOY, thank youuuuuu for giving him so much character with the superscripted "mep", "meeh", and just about every single meow somehow being a different word. It had me dying laughing through the entire book, even when things were dire (because Junior doesn't give a damn lmao). Margaret Owen is an automatic auto-buy author for me for the rest of time.

Holy Trinity! Margaret Owen knows how to keep us coming. I loved book 1, book two was okay, and lastly i enjoyed the ending to this series. I am excited to see where Owen goes next and can't wait. The side characters and banter are always the best but keeping tracking of who's doing what with the pacing was a struggle. The writing got better at over halfway through. The ending and conclusion for this series was worth the wait! Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

3.75 ⭐️

Me the first 2/3 of this book: We are SO back babyyyy!

I seriously couldn't put it down and was reading my ARC on mobile, so that's saying something because I'm not a fan of reading on a device. I was so thrilled that Ragne, Giselle, and Joniza were back as supporting characters. Also enjoyed getting to know new characters we briefly met in The Fallow Year. (Loved Lilje and was so thankful she didn't turn out to be evil)

Loved the toxic bantering, but I'm a bit of a sucker for enemy and angst shit. I was very thrilled to be swept up in the plot given how much Painted Devils disappointed me. I went from Little Thieves (a 5 star read) to Painted Devils, which I gave 1.5 stars. I was super wary about the 3rd and final book to the series.

The final act went a bit off the rails and I found it pretty difficult to follow. However, the end itself I did enjoy and found the characters really grew from when we first met them in book 1. Despite not loving this book as much as Little Thieves, this redeemed the series after book 2 tarnished it for me. Finally, I will miss the gremlin and her encyclopedia of a boyfriend.

Huge thanks to NetGallery for the ARC and giving me a week headstart on one of my 2025 anticipated reads!

4.5 Stars A fitting end to a most beloved series, Holy Terrors is everything it needed to be to give Vanja and Emric the ending and the character development they deserve. I fell in love with both of these characters years ago with Little Thieves. Vanja's journey brought me to tears then, and it continues to do so now. Whereas Little Thieves explores their adolescence and Painted Devils finds them on the cusp of adulthood, in Holy Terrors we find them again as hurt, but not broken, fully formed adults. I must admit I was not a fan of the cliffhanger ending of Painted Devils, and hadn't quite forgiven Owen for leaving me in such a state, after reading this conclusion it makes much more sense. Each still needs to grow up a bit more, experience different relationships, and confront their own demons before finding their way back to each other. Without giving spoilers I will just say how Owen does this is a master class in character development and plotting. There would have been easy ways to get to the end that I feared we might go that would have left me far less satisfied and compromised their growth, Instead this is a cohesive, but distinctly different third act to the the tale, where each book is its own vital part.

These books are exceptional character driven stories, but they do also pack in a lot of fast moving plot. If I had to quibble a bit and explain why I rated this a 4.5 as opposed to 5, it is that the plotting of the latter 1/4 of the book was a little difficult to follow- we get into some magic and time travel that I am not quite sure I could fully explain. But even so, it works, it kept me on the edge of my seat, and it brings the story arc of these most beloved, insecure, genuine hot messes to a closure that fully satisfies. If you like reimagined fairytales, angsty YA, magic, friendship and romance, this is one of the best YA series you will ever read! Bravo Margaret, and thank you! Vanja and Emric will live in my heart rent free as one of my most cherished book couples ever.

<I>Holy Terrors</I> didn’t need to make me fall in love with Vanja, Emerick, and their supporting cast. <I>Little Thieves</I> had already done that. What <I>Holy Terrors</I> did instead was grant them a terrific conclusion.

Margaret Owen is an incredibly talented writer, in pretty much every way one can be. Her greatest strength lies in the empathy, insight, and complexity of her characterization. But let’s not undersell her ability to craft and unfold an intricate plot, winding up the tension ’til it bleeds and knocking the reader out with every revelation. I consider myself a pretty smart reader, and I did not see a number of her twists coming. At the same time, those twists are very well foreshadowed and perfectly fitting in retrospect. To help matters, this book had basically everything I love, from affecting romance, to political intrigue, to twisty god bullshit, to heists and schemes (my favorite!)

And all through this, Owen never lost sight of her characters’ souls and fallible glory. To give one subtle example, which I loved: Giselle’s already had her redemption arc and earned the readers’ affection. So the readers are somewhat inclined to forget that her greatest flaw lies in her tendency to capitulate. You know who hasn’t forgotten, though? Margaret Owen. Damn, I want to know how she learned to write this good!

This is a book which pulls on many, many threads established in <I>Little Thieves</I> and <I>Painted Devils</I>, wrapping up a great many arcs without ever dragging. And given that this book could be used as a bludgeoning device, that’s an accomplishment in and of itself. When I finally reached the conclusion, I found myself enormously satisfied. The leads I loved got their happy endings, the villains got their comeuppance, but neither felt pat or simplistic, and most importantly, neither felt unearned.

I loved this book. It made me happy. It read at a breakneck pace - or at least as breakneck as one can go through 560 pages while working full time. Five stars! I want more! (But I also don’t. Because Vanja deserves some fucking rest and uncomplicated happiness, thank you and goodnight.)

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Kids/Henry Holt & Co for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

A glorious ending to a beautiful trilogy. Broke my heart and then pieced me back together. Margaret Owen is an amazing author and she did not disappoint.

Holy Terrors concludes one of my favourite YA trilogies with just as much heart and humour as the first. It is such an inventive fantasy series with a focus on introspection and character development, as well as fantastically constructed and twisty mystery plots that make you race through the pages.

This trilogy has such a fantastic protagonist at its heart. Vanja really is the driving force—you fall helplessly in love with her. The snarky, sharp and scheming protagonist from Little Thieves is still there and making disastrous decisions, but you understand her much better now. She is so caring and loyal and fiercely protective of those she loves. Her narrative voice is arresting and infused with such a quick wit that catches you by surprise. She has always had to think ten steps ahead, which shows in the spiralling narrative voice Owen gives her. It is always on the defence, always thinking about what her next move will be. Her trajectory over these books has been nothing short of transformative. She is probably one of the most memorable YA protagonists I have read about for a while and feels like she will have always stolen a sliver of my heart.

That is all a defensive mechanism built from years of trauma. The previous two books have delved into her past and battling the demons within in such interesting ways that allow for her character to develop (and regress) as the situation changes. We come to the pinnacle of that theme in this book with a bold and brilliant move from Owen. The way this book depicts grappling with your trauma and facing your past is nothing short of inspired. I will be vague here to avoid spoilers but it is a showstopper. Everything in this trilogy has been centered around Vanja’s journey and it peaks here. This feels like such an evolution of the previous books in every way.

Owen has created such a fascinating world with a magic system that is innovative and thought-provoking. I still have such a soft spot for Death and Fortune who get some brilliant moments here. Their relationship with Vanja is wonderful to witness even as it is tested and fractured. The world they inhabit is so rich and layered with all these great details. Vanja has often been entangled in these complicated mystery plots that unfold around her, with the meddling of gods and men alike. This is no exception with a tightly woven plot that keeps you glued to the pages. It is bloody and does not hold back. We get a vaster sense of scope in this book, with the various royal families coming into play. It adds geographically to the world but also in terms of the political scheming that Vanja has dabbled in throughout becoming more prominent. There are many games of chess going on here with fraught dynamics and shifts in power, as well as the murders. The stakes are sky-high and you feel that tension build around you. Owen really digs into these themes here—giving nuance and sensitivity in the handling of the overarching themes the series has been grappling with. The classism that has permeated each book is on full display as well. The actions of these elite will affect everyone, as Vanja well knows, so resolving this is vital.

Overall, Owen levels up in every aspect in this firecracker ending to the trilogy. This is such a grand book, giving Vanja’s story a fitting ending. It feels like an epic conclusion and it is well deserved.

Holy Terrors is the culmination of a spectacular YA trilogy that is constantly tricksy and thrives most in its incredible characterisation and mysteries.

This series has a way of being unputdownable no matter what is happening. I loved how high stakes this installment was, that the main character gets a cat, and the points it made about how society views people by the way they look.

Ahh I dislike a drawn out separation + miscommunication trope SO MUCH especially in the LAST BOOK. Like 75% of the book. NOO. We already did this in the second book 😭. It’s what second books are for. I wanted them to actually work through their issues in the first half so we could see them fight the villain together. Which we still get but it could’ve been so much more. Because the story shines when Vanja and Emrys are truly working together. It’s still four stars because the plot is captivating and really comes full circle from the first book. And the found family I adore. Thanks to the publisher for the eARC, thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Fierce Reads and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

What a conclusion to this series! I absolutely loved this one. I think Margaret wrapped everything up so well. I was glued to my seat trying to finish this. I adored this story, these characters, and how unapologetically queer they were. I can’t recommend this series enough!

Margaret Owen does it again! This book delivers a stunning, heart stopping finale to the Little Thieves trilogy. Like the first two books, this story has intricate worldbuilding, compelling characters, and a captivating plot. Vanja's journey is a whirlwind of emotion and she continues to be a force of nature in this book. I love the banter between Vanja and Emeric, it's so entertaining. And the themes! This book isn't just a fantasy; it's a profound exploration of humanity, justice, and the messy, glorious business of being alive. I loved this book and would highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the digital arc.

I really enjoyed this one! Vanja is always one of my favorites. I was a little upset about the beginning of the book, but I was very happy by the conclusion. This one had a different feel than the others in the series and it got a little confusing towards the end, but I’m so glad I held out. I would absolutely recommend this!

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Henry Holt, for providing the ARC.

To begin my review, I want to state that I have loved this series in a way I had not thought possible. For so long, my favorite trilogy was The Folk of the Air, but this indie set has stolen my heart and I can't even fully articulate how. All I know is that Vanja feels too real. Her pain is my pain. Her relationship struggles are my relationship struggles (and in fact, they did call to mind memories of past hurdles I had to overcome with my partner). I have given Little Thieves and Painted Devils 5 star ratings. So why did Holy Terrors only get 4?

Holy Terrors does a good job establishing the stakes and the pace, just like the first two installments. We start the story with over a year having passed since the end of book 2, and the pain for both Vanja and the reader is tangible. It's clear that she isn't over what happened that year ago, but she tries to keep her distance anyway and continue on with her life. Except, she can't, because people are turning up dead and Vanja is the first suspect. Naturally, who ends up on the case, investigating her for murder? Emeric Conrad, who isn't very pleased to see her.

Their past and their present and their future is agonizing. It is delightful. Owen did so well drudging up all their memories, their pains, their complications, and their bickering that you expect a lengthy and satisfying resolution to their story. Why did I give this book 4 stars instead of 5? Because I didn't get what I wanted. Not completely.

Is the ending satisfying? Yes, it is. But at about 100 pages left, I had to stop and do something else for a few days because I was so frustrated with how particularly unsatisfying it was when we watch Miss Ros and Emeric take about a page to resolve what had been going on for 400+. They didn't even talk about everything the way they should have.

The plot is fast-paced, twisty, twirly, magical and a tad reality-bending too, and that still made it a fun read. The emotions in this book run high, and based on the smashing reviews from others, this is a buy if you enjoyed the first two installments in the series. But having read The Fallow Year beforehand and then Holy Terrors, my heartstrings were pulled for a full month and I came out of this story feeling less than replenished.

4/5 stars. The book is still pretty great.

4⭐️
I LOVE THIS SERIES AND I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS
was absolutely foaming at the mouth to start this after reading the end of painted devils and it delivered! vanja's battle with self worth, trauma, and just the meaning of life is so well done and i'm so glad my girl was able to find some peace
the romance plotline for this book was a bit rocky at times, and i didn't love some of the choices made-but these two will always have my heart! (emeric is just top tier)

so sad for this to be over

thank you netgalley for sending this book for my honest review

What a wonderful conclusion to this series, the growth of the characters from beginning to end is so real and organic it makes you reflect on things. The witty banter between vanja and emeric is fantastic. This is an emotional Rollercoaster of a book. There were twist and turns more world building. The coparenting of Jr is a delightful comic releaf. The reflection on the power belief has in the world is so good.

I read this book via audiobook purchased on Libro.fm, so this may have affected my ability to follow the story when it became most complicated. I was approved for the review copy before I read Books 1 and 2, so by the time I finished Little Thieves and Painted Devils, I no longer had access to the review copy. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan/Henry Holt & Co, and the author for the review copy, nonetheless!

I have mixed feelings about this book. The first 75% had great emotional depth, and an exciting and compelling plot. Although other reviewers were daunted by the amount of new characters, I didn't find the introduction of new characters too off-putting. I mostly stuck to the "main idea" and that allowed me to enjoy the book much more. The angst and heartbreak that Vanja (protagonist) felt toward Emeric (main character & primary love interest) kept a strong tension going and it added an interesting energy throughout the book. The humor was spot on like the previous books, and I laughed aloud many times. I liked the whodunit aspect of the book and it kept me on edge, so I finished the book quickly to find out who was killing the royals.

However, in the last 25%, I felt very lost in terms of the magic system and the introduction of the new timelines concept was hard to grasp. I tried to think of it as the series' multiverse of madness, basically. It essentially ruined my original 5 star opinion of the book. While I commend the author for throwing a plot twist in there, I don't find the introduction of such new concepts appropriate for third & final book in the series. I was also confused about Oskar's characterization, motivations, and basically his whole involvement with the overall scheme.

The ending was anticlimactic but showed the emotional growth of the main character. Since the last 25% is not the majority of the book, I would rate it 4 stars all around, but in actuality, the first 75% is maybe 4.75 or a 5, while the ending 25% was more like 2 stars. I plan to reread this book and series again and I'm so happy that I was able to get a copy to review.

Obsessed. I love this series with my whole heart and this was the perfect book for the series. These characters are wonderful, the story is fast paced and I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s very unique and more people need to read this.

I looked and I know for a fact I’ve never rated every book in another YA book series five stars. There’s always one (or more) that loses a star or two. Not in the case of the Little Thieves series. This series is absolutely perfect, from start to finish.

The second book, Painted Devils, may have started with Vanja accidentally starting a cult, but Holy Terrors starts on a more low-key note, which just goes to show you should never believe the beginning of a book will set the tone for the rest of the book because this book will turn you inside-out and sideways with an absolutely devilish plot that will keep you guessing (and then becoming delightfully vexed when you are wrong) who the real villain is, frustrating but intriguing court politics, yearning/pining/longing/wanting/ohmygodjustkiss dynamics between Vanja and Emeric, interesting and complicated issues with Vanja’s Pfennigeist powers, and and incredibly complex and long-range game of Find the Queen.

Vanja has had so many questions, worries, and doubts on her journey (not to mention pain), and the central question that this book seems to want to answer is: Would she do it all over again?

There is a huge cast of characters in this book, but the plot definitely calls for it. A lot of them are colorful and some of them will endear themselves to you more than others. There is worldbuilding in new locations for the series and new magic to see. Even through all of that, it’s the dynamic between Vanja and Emeric that shines, blazing like fire. 5⭐️



I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Action-Adventure/Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/YA Book Series/YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy/YA Fiction