[CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR LITTLE THIEVES, PAINTED DEVILS, AND THE FALLOW YEAR]

“Blessed be the crown / Sacred be the bearer / Righteous be the spirit / And holy be the terror”

Vanja Ros, widely known as the Pfennengeist (penny thief), has been framed for the murder of several noblepersons – including the Empress. Prefect Emeric Conrad, her former lover and all-around Type A cliché, has been tasked with finding her and using her expertise to uncover the real assassin. Even with the help of old friends and new acquaintances (like Emeric’s betrothed, Lilja), Vanja may have met her match. This adversary is cunning, resourced, and knows enough about the Pfennengeist to be dangerous. And, of course, there’s a deadline looming – elect a new Emperor in the fastest turnaround in history or the throne will be filled by a Great and Terrible Evil, dooming the country and its Low Gods. Is the assassin aiming for the throne, or are they out for Vanja’s blood? Will Vanja and Emeric reach an understanding, or will their raging emotions rip each other to shreds? And will the adorable little kitten Junior ever learn how to behave himself around sausage?

As with the first two Little Thieves books, Holy Terrors is filled with irreverent humor and slapstick comedy. But it’s balanced against some deeper themes, like – what is justice, and can vigilantes be trusted to mete it out? How do we hold those in power accountable? Can love conquer all, or are some obstacles just too high to surmount? And how do we stop hurting the ones we love with our failures?

Vanja continues to struggle with her family trauma and deep-rooted belief that she is unlovable and hurts the people around her. Emeric continues to struggle with finding the shades of gray between the black-and-white letter of the law. They clash over the smallest of slights and differences because, in some part of their hearts, they are still the people who loved and separated from each other eighteen months ago. It is heartbreaking as the reader to watch the pair clash, push, pull, claw, and shred each other to pieces because they are each hurting so much. My heart was in pieces by the end of the book, but in the best way.

All of the characters – not just Vanja and Emeric, but Gisele, Ragne, Lilja, Death, Fortune, and others – experience massive growth in this book. The characters are so rounded and believable, and this fantasy is as much about the relationships as it is action-driven. Well-written queer diversity, including the most exceptional and clear description of demisexuality I’ve ever seen in literature. There’s a fully fleshed-out fantasy world with unique system of magic, and the author does not skimp on the visual details to immerse the reader.

The audiobook narrator was an excellent choice for Vanja’s POV. The slight raspiness and dry tones matches Vanja’s personality and sardonic sense of humor. The characters were well differentiated in tone and pitch without grandiose exaggerations or bad accents, which I appreciate. Saskia Maarleveld was also spot on with her pronunciations of the Germanic words and phrases, blending these in seamlessly with the English.

This title is perfect for existing Margaret Owen fans (she also authored the The Merciful Crow duology), those who love Naomi Novik (readalikes: Spinning Silver, Uprooted, and the Scholomance Trilogy), and anyone who enjoys a morally grey FMC, heaps of witty banter, and German-Russian-Old World fairytale retellings. Please read both books and the novella (free on Archive of Our Own) before embarking on Holy Terrors!

wow. wow wow wow wow wow.

I love this trilogy so much. I love all the characters and the banter and the representation and the magicalness. I love love love that this book got a little bit of complexity when it comes to our main character romance situation in terms of internal complexity. we all know that both of them have hoards of complicatedness happening outside of themselves individually.

I will say that this one of the three, was a little harder to follow for me. A lot of that comes down to how many characters there are and how many people there are to remember. I have a feeling that there's some sort of map situation or character chart in the physical books or at least I hope there is but for the audios that's not an option. A lot of the names also sound very similar and so I did struggle a little bit to kind of keep everybody straight (hehe) and organized.

That being said, My mind is blown by the ending of this and I absolutely finished this with a giddy little smile on my face. I cannot recommend this enough.

This book was wild. I wasn't sure where the story was going to go after the last book and the imagination of this author and her world is superb. My heart was broken to see Vanya and Emeric had one their separate ways, but I LOVED the concept of the Pfennigeist. It honestly felt so right and who Vanya was meant to be. I so enjoyed the premise of someone impersonating her and bringing her back into drama, danger and intrigue. This book is HEAVY on the political intrigue and court politics, so if you like that storyline then you will love this book (along with murder, magic, and romantic angst of course). Though I had an idea about the culprit I could not predict everything that was happening and all the mind-spinning secrets and action that occured. An epic conclusion to this series!

I somehow didn't realize this was the end of a trilogy, but I plan on reading the others now. Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to listen to this on audiobook, and I was immediately drawn in by the voice of Vanja, the main character. And when I talk about her voice, I mean the actual voice of the narrator and the way Vanja expresses herself. Vanja was likeable, smart, and so interesting, and the narrator really felt like her.
Vanja is also strong and independent, spending her time working for good, when she gets drawn into an investigation where a serial killer is trying to frame her. She has to work with people from her past, and those relationships were so interesting. This was a little long but it never felt long, and the story was never dull.
One of the best things was how well the world was developed-- the society and magic system were different but understandable, and Owens does a great job of teaching about this world by showing not telling.

Margaret Owen delivers a gripping and emotionally charged finale in *Little Thieves' *sequel, weaving together high-stakes intrigue, razor-sharp wit, and a protagonist who refuses to be defined by her past.

Vanja, a deeply flawed yet fiercely compelling heroine, is thrust into a deadly game of political maneuvering and magical peril, forcing her to confront the very system she has spent years defying. The mystery of the impossible killer is expertly crafted, with twists that keep readers guessing until the very end. The tension between Vanja and Emeric crackles with unresolved emotions, making their reluctant partnership all the more engrossing.

Owen’s worldbuilding is as rich and immersive as ever, seamlessly blending dark fairytale elements with sharp social commentary. The novel balances its thrilling plot with poignant themes of redemption, identity, and the weight of past choices. With its breakneck pace, complex characters, and emotionally satisfying conclusion, this book cements the *Little Thieves* series as a must-read for fans of dark fantasy with heart.❤️

*update for audiobook*

The narration for the audio book was excellent as always. The speech was clear concise and the German pronunciations were well executed. Saskia Maarleveld also narrated the two previous installments (little thieves & painted devils). Her voice is excellent for this adventure.

This was a phenomenal ending to the trilogy! And, it sets up more adventures for Vanya and Emeric and friends. I do hope we get more of them

It does start with quite a bit of angst for Vanya and Emeric, but they quickly settle back into their investigating partnership (and annoying one another). The plot twists and turns and is a little hard to keep track of towards the conclusion, so that I never knew what was really going on. It made for a very satisfying read, especially when it all clicked into place and all the hints and tidbits from the other books made sense.

Even in the midst of the confusion and plot twists and angst it was a satisfying read because of Margaret Owen's command of her writing. She is absolutely one of the best YA writers out there and by rights should be a household name alongside Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas. (To be clear, her writing is much better than either of those, but they're the names people always think of.)

Vanya and Emeric also show quite a lot of personal growth in this book which was also very satisfying to read.

The audiobook narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters and situations to life. I absolutely loved listening to her.

Absolutely phenomenal and I will be reading these books again and again.

*Thanks to Henry Holt & Co and Macmillan Young Listeners for providing an early copy for review.

An entertaining conclusion to the series, if a bit disappointing when weighed against the original book in the trilogy.

On the whole I think this was a good series, though there has been a notable slide from the first book to those that followed it, and I think it’s because the series migrated so far from its original premise. This was originally a Goose Girl reimagining, but that aspect of the plot is largely gone in the second and third novels, replaced by a lot of Will they/Won’t they romantic subplot nonsense that mostly annoyed me.

Romance readers might enjoy this, as it’s typical of the genre, but as these were originally fairy tale retellings, it winds up being a bit of a bait and switch for readers not looking for that specifically. It’s easy to root for Emeric and Vanja as a couple, but there’s a lot of manufactured drama that eats up pages and distracts from the better parts of the story.

There is also markedly less humor as the series progresses, which is too bad, as Owen really did well with this at the beginning. I think the whole series is still worth reading, but the first book is both differently plotted and far better in quality than those that follow.

This was a wonderful conclusion to the series 🥹🤍 Full of characters we all know & love, the tension- My goodness. The perfect balance of Fantasy & Romance w/ a dash of MYSTERY. I was locked in fr, like I had to be sat through this. Beyond the Gods & Goddesses, the unique magic system, & the court intrigue- There was just such beautiful character development. Vanja really been through it all!! My favorite was probably the bickering over Jr. 😹 It was just one of those reads that you’re sad to see end.

This is how you write the third book in a trilogy!
I was so lucky to have been granted an arc of both the ebook and audiobook, which made for a truly immersive reading that this story deserves.

Vanya'a life has taken a turn, and now she has to fight against things she's started herself.
The stakes are high, and especially in the last third of the story I could barely catch my breath.

There are twists and turns along the way - so much when I got whiplash at times. There's also a kind of multiverse and timey-wimey stuff. And boy,I do love a multiverse and timey-wimey stuff.

I have to admit, in book 2 I lost trust in the story for a while. But oh was I wrong.

There is so much character growth, heartache and pain. But also humor and a kind of tone that really got me.

If you haven't started this trilogy yet, now is the best time.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio and @panmacmillan for the eARCs.

#HolyTerrors #Netgalley #Bookstagram

"I love you. I'll say it better in the morning."

The third installment of The Little Thieves series follows Vanja as she and Prefect Emeric Conrad try to hunt down someone killing royalty and leaving behind Vanja's signature red penny on the victims.

Honestly, I didn't love this book as much as the first two, First of all, the book starts with a time jump, and it had been so long since I read Book 2 that I was a bit confused for a while. More than that, I couldn't ever really settle with the why of Vanja leaving Emeric. I just had a really hard time with that part (even if I did really enjoy his new gal). I'm also just now learning there's a Book 2.5, which maybe would have made things easier. After that, the other thing I didn't like was that this book got real convoluted at points, and I had a hard time following it. There were a lot of characters, a lot of pages, and a lot going on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Saskia Maarleveld was, as always, a spectacular narrator.

First of all, Margaret Owen is hilarious, and I’ve laughed so hard reading this whole series. Considering how frequently this book ripped my heart out, I needed the humor to sustain me through the emotional devastation. I knew what I was getting myself into after the Fallow Year (iykyk), but man, this book was a hard hitter (especially coming fresh off a reread of the first two books). We go from enemies-to-lovers in book one, to lovesick teens in book two, to lovers-to-enemies in book three, and the transition was ROUGH for everyone involved (including myself). Vanja and Emeric spend the first third (half??) of the book lying so hard to themselves to protect their wounded hearts. I literally felt like it was giving me chest pain because I was so sad about everything they were going through. You don’t have to read the Fallow Year before this book because Owen covers all the important elements of it again. That being said, you should absolutely read the Fallow Year before this one; If you are going to get your heart broken, you might as well go all in.

Prepare for… a lot. Twists and turns, murders (like, a LOT of murders), political intrigue, lost memories, alternate realities, Irmgard (unfortunately), unionizing magical creatures, eating the rich, general confusion, etc. Every time you think you get a handle on the plot, the stakes completely shift. This book was a ROLLERCOASTER, and I could not put it down. I am obsessed with Vanja and all the morally-gray chaos she brings with her. I seriously love her so much and she deserves EVERYTHING.

I think the first book is still my favorite of the three, but I’m excited to reread this one because I think I’ll appreciate it even more without the pressure of trying to rush through to know how things will end. I can already feel the book hangover coming on now that I’m done with this series, so a reread is definitely in order. I am going to miss these characters!

Thank you, Margaret Owen, you absolute sadist!

Fun fact: In addition to being an amazing writer, Margaret Owen is also a gifted artist and does the illustrations in the books herself. If you haven’t looked up her Illumicrate cover illustrations, do yourself a favor and check them out.

“Some people don’t just leave your life; they change the landscape.”

“Because life by life, choice by choice, world by world, the truth is, I can’t stop finding him”

*4.25 Stars*

What a great end to a great series. I was in from the first page to the last. I love these characters and the intrigue was so good. I really had no clue the entire time. It was a great time and I just wanted to find out more. I read this pretty much in one go. I was truly so into it. I just loved how the characters grew throughout the series and I would definitely read it again!

4.5⭐️

I'm more emotional about finishing this series than I expected. Vanja and Emeric are both such special characters to me, and the handling of adolescence and intimacy in this series is probably my favorite I've ever read in YA fantasy.

After I read Little Thieves, I wasn't quite sure why it needed a sequel at all. We had a mostly happy ending, and while we didn't get to see it play out, it felt like a complete story. Then Painted Devils poked holes in that pretty ending. As much as I loved spending time with Vanja and Emeric, it hurt to see everything that hadn't been dealt with—Vanja's self-destructive habits and trust/communication issues, and the damage they did.

Holy Terrors was a satisfying ending to this trilogy for me, because it helped me reconcile with the events of Painted Devils, accept why they made sense and were in some way necessary regardless of how uncomfortable they were. The happy ending we get in this book feels much more stable than before, and all the more satisfying for it. The material circumstances may not have changed dramatically by the end, but who Vanja and Emeric are has, and that makes all the difference here.

I read this book via audiobook, and that admittedly may have been a mistake, knowing that I don't process audio information particularly well. There were times where I had some trouble keeping track of the plot, and I do suspect that was in part due to the format. While the first half of the book seems primarily focused on character and relationship dynamics, the pacing and plot start to sprint in the second half, and I had trouble keeping up.

Despite the time that has passed between Painted Devils and Holy Terrors, and how much Vanja and Emeric's situations have changed in that time, these characters are still so recognizable and so human. I was screaming in frustration half the time and giggling and kicking my feet the other half, but I still loved every moment I got to spend with them.

I will love this series until my dying day. Margaret Owens has a fan for life. This is such a dynamic and amazing series. The audio brings the characters to life in such a dynamic and incredible way!

The Little Thieves trilogy has become one of my favorite YA series in recent years. The first book is my favorite by far but the series as a whole is fantastic. It has a great cast of both main and side characters that are flawed but it adds to their personalities and manages to engage you into their story. Vanya is far from perfect she is harsh, snarky and selfish and just not the best when it comes to making decisions but I can't help to root for her after all she's being through. And Emeric is her opposite, trying to be responsible and a rule follower, I just adore him. I read this as an audiobook and I highly enjoyed the narrator, she has great cadence and pace and manages to create enough distinction between characters. If you like stories about gods and magic with slight Russian elements and amazing plot definitely give this series a chance. Overall this was a terrific conclusion to the series and a bit sad that it ended but equally exited to see what else is in the works from the author.

Thank you to NatGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

“Maybe what makes us human is the way we call to each other, and the way we choose to answer.”

I’m going to miss these characters something fierce.

What I liked:

I enjoyed going on one more adventure with these characters. Seeing side characters from earlier books in the series was so fun.

Vanja is one of my favorite characters of all time. She is witty, strong and brave with a super soft inside. I could read a million more books with Vanja and I would never tire of her.

I love the weaving of the fairytales in this series.

What didn’t work for me:

I feel that I may be being a little too picky, but everything was wrapped up so well…maybe a little too well?

• Fantastic conclusion to the Little Thieves series! I really enjoy Margaret Owen's lighthearted style of writing juxtaposed to more morbid topics of people dropping dead left and right. It opens as a whodunit with our favorite The Red Penny thief being framed for murder, and obdurate Vanya ends up thrown in a jail cell by our very own Junior Journeyman Prefect Emeric. Gasp!
• I liked how the pacing really picked back up again in book 3, similar to how it was in book 1. Book 2 suffered a bit from dwelling a bit too much on feelings between the actual guts of the fake-Low-God-Red-Maiden plot, it felt a bit mawkish, imo. Not so in book 3, where we're back to a better balance of emotions and plot--I was getting mild butterflies on some of the Emeric/Vanya parts, undoing the mess from book 2.
• This was nearly a 5 ⭐️ read for me for 80% of the book. However, Owen MO didn't quite stick the landing for me in the last 20% of the book, largely because we started including the hijinks from dealing with the god of Time and the multiple reality situation started to make the plot and stakes a bit convoluted. Like...Holy Terrors I felt like was a great abstract painting with multiple colors, but MO went and over-mixed up all the colors together and it started to turn mush brown instead of stylistically abstract and off-beat, is how I feel. Idk if that makes sense to others 😅. It really felt like a whole separate book in the last 5th of the book, because of how different it was.

Anyways, great series overall. Look forward to reading more MO in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series overall is incredible. I love the humour and the characters. They are all so great and REAL. The growth of Vanja in this book is great. She really realizes and accepts herself. It is a great YA / NA series. The romance in this is incredible and so well done!!

I will say that some of the magic kind of lost me — especially with the timeline concept (I think the author is a Loki fan?). Overall though, it ended well.

The audiobook narrator is great for this! She delivers the humour so so well! I will have to search others she’s done because she’s excellent and I’ll miss her now that this series is done.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

I have already submitted a review for the book itself, so I will keep this review strictly on the audiobook.

The audiobook was impeccable. The narrator is the same across the trilogy, and honestly I don't think anyone could do it better. Her voice is perfect for the role, she does a great job of changing tone for different characters, and she is a delight to listen to. Saskia Maarleveld does an excellent job and I have no negative notes.

4.5/5 stars for the book/story
5/5 stars for the audio/narration

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.