I was ready for heartbreak and Owen really keeps us on the emotional roller coaster. I can't even fully express how many times I needed to continue to read to make sure my heart wouldn't shatter into a million pieces. Holy Terrors was perfection in a series ender. While the action continually forces you to read, the true star is, of course, Vanja. The action and cleverness in this series always astounds me. I love being stumped. Holy Terrors challenges everything you knew about this world and breaks it.

Vanja ran. She tried to make a life worth living but something keeps her life in ruin. She keeps hurting the ones she loves when all she wants is to protect them. As she tries to figure out the cause of her string of never-ending disasters someone frames her alter ego, the Pfennigeist, the Penny Phanom, for a string of royal murders. To save her name, and most likely the whole country, she has to team up with those she’s hurt the most. Together she discovers more about herself than she could ever dream.
I absolutely LOVED this book. The whole series is fantastically layered with capers, romance, family drama, fabulous side characters, fables made flesh, low gods trying their best, and an empire that’s one supernatural crisis away from utter collapse. Vanja and Emeric are a study in flawed characters learning about themselves so they can love fully and be loved fully. They are perfectly imperfect and the only problem I have with this series is that I didn’t read it sooner. What’s wrong with you self?!
The writing is fabulous. The story tackles deeply traumatic and terrible incidents with care, insight, and a slow and steady dose of support, healing, and reality. The whole world is wrapped in layers of magic, humanity, humor, banter, swoony moments, snark, folklore, heartache, and so much more. I think I felt every feeling with this series and Holy Terrors griped me in a way that only a few other books have.
Comp titles? I’m bad at this, I think. But it hit all the right notes so I was like what is this reminding me of… It’s right up there with Starling House with the life-altering relationship and personal growth. It has the flavor of Gilded & Cursed, the relationship drama of Heartless Hunter, the MCs are like all of the Six of Crows mashed into two people, and it has that build of plot within each book and the overall series like Holly Black. Basically, it’s word magic and I have been changed for good.

A very satisfying ending to one of my favorite series! I laughed, I cried, I finished this book within 24 hours of receiving the ARC. This book had a brick on the gas pedal because it did not slow down once. It is a very satisfying, emotionally charged ending, well-worth the wait. My only critique is that I wish there was a list of the imperial houses and members because the names were a lot to keep track of while reading (but that is a small critique). If you love Vanja, Emeric, and the little thieves crew, grab some tissues and prepare yourself for the ride!

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | Macmillan Young Listeners for this ARC Copy!

Such a great conclusion to such a wonderful series. I have enjoyed this series more and more with each book and I am so sad that is is over, but I am also really happy with the final conculsion to the characters that I have completely fallen for through this series.
I really enjoyed how much of the character growth that we saw in book 1-2 really comes into play in this final book. The characters truly grew immensely throughout the series and the author did such a great job of making sure that the growth was believable and really reflected in the characters behaviors and decisions.

Margaret Owen never misses! This was a delicious continuation of the series, so happy to be back with these beloved mischief-makers!

Thank you Morgan Rath, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Little Thieves is one of my favorite series in the world and I am so, so lucky to be able to read an early copy of the final installment. Holy Terrors picks up almost two years where Painted Devils leaves off, and while Owen has published a series of short stories that covers the time skip it still makes sense without having read that prior (I think that it absolutely enriches the experience, however, and also I love these characters so more is always better). It’s great to see the ways that Vanja has changed and how she has stayed the same in that time period, and as always the extra side stories that are accompanied by illustrations provide more insight to Vanja as a character.

Owen does a great job creating and maintaining tension and keeping you on your toes, and while this book is definitely long—especially so for a young adult novel—it reads fast and it’s easy to get lost in the pages. I think if you’re not too big on large casts this might be more difficult to manage, but I thought Owen made it easy to understand who is who. The tension between Vanja and Emeric is wonderful and had me biting my own fist, but the actual plot is also incredibly engaging. Holy Terrors is a wonderful conclusion to one of my favorite series, and I will definitely keep revisiting them over and over.

Margaret Owen, you beautiful, evil soul. Each book in this trilogy drew me in from the dedication:

"To the terrible girls, maybe you weren't soft and lovely, Maybe you weren't obedient and kind, Maybe, when the wolf's teeth closed, you weren't concerned with being digestible. The good news is: There is so much more to your story."

These books and Owen's writing has a way of cutting deep into your core. There are moments, in this book and the entire trilogy, where her words hit so spot on that I had to just stop and stare into oblivion for a minute to process. The emotional aspect is always well developed, and this book is no exception. It also continues along the trend of incredible banter and wit, little hints into Owen's real-life social commentary, and an overall captivating plot. The characters continue to be incredibly loveable despite (maybe because of) their faults.

I won't elaborate too much since this is a third book in a trilogy, but I will say that it does not disappoint. If you've enjoyed the Little Thieves books so far, you will love this finale as well.

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love Margaret Owen's books. Holy Terrors, as the third installment of the Little Thieves series, did not disappoint. Margaret keeps you on the edge of your seat hunting the assassin and following the twists and turns. She often manages to surprise me as a reader. I also love how Margaret writes these complex characters that are entirely true to themselves, and the morality struggles she portrays. This one is a dangerous one to crack open at bedtime, as likely it will capture you and make you read way too late a night.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC 🩵 I read the first two books and knew that I was absolutely going to love this one. This is such a strong conclusion that takes place 2 years after Painted Devils when Vanja is being framed for murders. And wouldn’t you know… our favorite prefect is assigned to the case. The pacing was really good, there was a murder-mystery vibe to it that I liked, and I think that it depicted the trauma experienced by the character(s) really well. I highly recommend this book if you liked One Dark Window!

The Little Thieves series will go down as one of my all time favorites, and is definitely making my top reads of 2025 list. It’s hard to review the third book in a series without spoilers so I will try and convince you to start the series if you haven’t yet. This is a german inspired folklore retelling, with death personified, a cat (sort of, most of the time) familiar, orders and secret societies, and a nerdy awkward pretentious MMC and a super sarcastic thief. Or as the main character calls them: “You’re a walking morality lecture with something to prove, and I’m a scoundrel with an unflinching sense of entitlement to other people’s property.” This author’s prose is unlike any other I’ve ever read. Hilarious and witty with a sense of humor that had me smiling ear to ear and laughing out loud. The romance was phenomenal. This couple is so relatable and had me in my feelings from start to finish. This is such an amazing end to the series and I can’t recommend it enough. Now I need to read everything else Margaret Owen has written!

This book takes place 2 years after the events of Painted Devils, and when I tell you that was the most painfully emotional journey, please believe me. But the good kind of painful.

The book begins with the Penny Phantom being accused of murdering royals, which means Emeric hunts Vanja down after 2 years of no contact between them. Trust, it is a painful reunion, made even worse because Emeric went and got engaged in the time between. The love they feel for one another is still so present, and the entire first half of the book I felt so icky about it all. Emeric's fiancee is one of the sweetest characters and I hated wanting her to go away because I needed Vanja and Emeric back together.

I am so completely enamored with this book. It made me cry a total of SEVEN times. Anything I had questions/thoughts about in the previous book, this book met those and answered my questions. I thought the character-work was done MARVELLOUSLY and even though I love Vanja and Emeric together, I just couldn't bring myself to dislike the fiancee either.

The plot was so fast-paced and twisty, I could not put this book down. The day I started it, I meant to only read 50 pages, and ended up 60% of the way through the book without realizing it. Vanja's journey through self-discovery and self-love is so SO important, and even as an adult this book was so needed for me. I'm not a big fan of using <spoiler>time travel</spoiler> in books, and while that occurred I will say my head was starting to hurt trying to wrap itself around what was going on, but I still think this book did it in a great way.

Margaret Owens is an immensely talented author, and has been an auto-buy author for me ever since I read The Merciful Crow. I cannot wait to see what else she writes.

A fantastic conclusion to a trilogy I highly recommend for older students.
Entertaining, suspenseful, and emotional with fantastic world building and wonderful relationships.
I will absolutely read more by Margaret Owen in the future.

I didn't want this to end! I love Vanja and Emeric so much. This was just as good as the other two books. I was cracking up at some points, upset at others and just trying to savor the book while devouring it as well. Also the illustrations for these books never disappoint!

Are we shaped by the circumstances of our birth, or do our choices determine who we become? Throughout The Little Thieves trilogy, we’ve seen Vanja wrestle with this question, confronting her imperfect childhood, her struggles, and the weight of her past decisions. She’s never been perfect—and that has always been part of the problem.

In Holy Terrors, Vanja is forced to reckon with every choice she’s made and the countless possibilities that could have unfolded if she had chosen differently. What I loved most about this book is how much Vanja has grown since Little Thieves. She has learned, she has changed, and she has come to understand that every choice—no matter how difficult—can be a lesson. There is always a way forward; it’s never just one path or the other.

One thing I struggled with, though, was Vanja and Emeric’s relationship. After Painted Devils, we knew Vanja had left, and in The Fallow Years, we saw how both of them tried to move on. And honestly? I hated it. I didn’t like them acting like strangers, and I didn’t want them apart—it just didn’t sit right with me.

That said, this trilogy is hands down one of the best YA fantasy series I’ve ever read. A solid 5-star series from start to finish!

Vanja is back! And she's being hunted down by her beloved, no HATED, hear me, hate, hate, hate! ex (who is now engaged to be married, btw)...for a murder she did not commit.

We're off at the gallop, and this book never lets up. It's such a terrific blend of humor, snark, horror, and high-octane emotions! I don't want to say much else, except that once more I adored the inventiveness of this world drawing heavily on the tales of the Grimm Brothers. The characters so so vivid, the villains truly horrible, our protags lovely. The emotional twists and turns make a lot of sense, justaposed with the total crazy of the magical razzmatazz, a great blend. Almost perfect--the plot got mighty convoluted in the last third; the political scheming, complicated prodecures, and weird magic threatened to overshadow the character lines, but then it all drew together in a crash!

Very satisfying closure to a series I shall read again!

The much anticipated finale to the Little Thieves trilogy did NOT disappoint! This book is filled with the banter, angst, and jokes I’ve come to expect from this series.

The plot immediately took off and didn’t slow down. Once again, we’re thrown into the midst of a great politically charged murder mystery that keeps you guessing the entire time. Were there also a great number of new characters introduced? Yes. And while it may have been confusing at times, the characters I already knew and loved were there to keep me grounded.

Emeric and Vanja continue to be two of the most individualistic characters, except now they have so much history between them. Their relationship has evolved, but that growth captures the essence of young love. In fact, the whole series feels like a coming of age. Vanja learns and grows so much over the course of the trilogy, truly capturing the essence of the YA genre. This series captures so many important themes, including navigating the process of forgiving other people for their mistakes. Recognizing and shedding the poor habits of youth. Learning who you are and who you want to be. This felt like a perfect conclusion to such a beautiful series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for granting me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you didn’t already notice from me raving about the first two books, this series is one of my new favorites. It somehow manages to have the perfect balance of wit, humor, action, and emotion. I spent a solid amount of this book with a broken heart, and the rest of the time I was laughing out loud at Vanja’s antics and the absolute shenanigans she constantly pulls everyone into. Vanja is the best kind of heroine. She’s brash, snarky, fearless, a little selfish, completely morally grey, and secretly has the biggest heart. I loved watching her grow and change throughout these books, and this was the perfect ending to her story. Emeric continues to be one of my favorite fictional men ever written. He’s stalwart, loyal, pedantic, reads law books for fun, and would burn down the world for Vanja. They have the most raw, honest, and beautiful story, and it healed something in me to watch them learn to accept themselves for who they truly are and to find the love they really deserve. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced listener’s copy, and the audio is flat out amazing! Sasha Maarleveld nails the accents and fully embodies each and every character by giving them their own voices and pronunciations. I highly recommend listening, because it made me love the book even more. Please go read this series and this book immediately!
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Read if you like:
▫️snarky, sassy heroine
▫️con artist and thief
▫️minor gods, goddesses, and magic
▫️opposites attract
▫️found family
▫️court politics
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Thank you to Fierce Reads, MacKids books, Macmillan Audio, and Margaret Owen for the ARC and ALC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

What can I even say!? I think Margaret Owen has done it. She’s written the perfect trilogy. All three books were flawless and Holy Terrors built on everything the characters went through in the first two books perfectly! There was never a dull moment, never anything that felt out of character for our main cast.
What I love most about these books is how Owen handles trauma and the healing of it with so much grace and sensitivity. It’s really beautifully done. She also deals with lots of other heavy topics including abuse, sexual assault and poverty in a way that is accessible and appropriate for a YA novel.

Vanja and Emeric’s relationship is one of my favourites out of any book I’ve read! The demisexual rep is top notch and all their firsts with each other are handled so well. This is the kind of series I would want my children to read once they are old enough because it deals with so many important topics in life and first relationships in such a healthy way.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the eARC!

Holy Terrors was a phenomenal conclusion Vanja's story and this series as a whole, and I loved it so much.

GO FREAKING READ THIS SERIES NOW!!!

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this much anticipated third installment of the adventures of the Pfennigeist (and friends!). It has been awhile since I read the first two books in this series and I was worried that because I did not recently do a re-read that I would be a little lost. One of the things that Owens did really well was to include a lot of subtle call backs to the previous books without a lot of lengthy exposition or awkward dialogue. I found I did not have any issues remembering much of the details at all. Many favorite characters (and some not so favorites) made appearances, so it was fun to see some of those again and it tied the whole series nicely together.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the series and gave me everything I was hoping for and expected in terms of humor, intrigue, and witty banter. We still get plenty of tension between Vanya and Emeric while they try to sort through their issues during various hijinks. Vanja is such a great character and I absolutely love how petty she is and quick with her insults. If I had one criticism to levy it would be that the plot got a little convoluted for me toward the end. The dense politics of the empire’s government procedures, and some of the complicated scheming went on longer than I’d prefer. I just wanted resolution and to get back to finding out how it would end between Emeric and Vanja!

All in all though, a solid 4.5 for me. Definitely a YA book I wish I’d had around when I was younger and I think a good place to leave the penny phantom. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for sending me this book for review. All opinions are my own.