I LOVEEEE a good revenge story and S.V. Lockwood gave me the PERFECT one with ‘A Compliment of Scoundrels. This story is as beautiful as its cover.

I found A Complement of Scoundrels to be a lively, entertaining read packed with personality, humour, and engaging character dynamics. The pacing and narrative voice make it difficult to put down and resulted in me reading well after sleep time!

A thoroughly enjoyable story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If you like 'Six of Crows' then you will definitely enjoy 'A Complement of Scoundrels'.

I managed to finish this book within the day as it kept my attention the entire time. The main character was super interesting, a female lead who is head strong but not to the point were she makes dumb decisions.

The side characters are also interesting but I think there could've have been a bit more depth for the other crew members.

The second POV character is an interesting character arc, I really enjoyed his story as well.

Unfortunately, the ending seemed a little lack luster, it happened quickly and just kind of wrapped up quickly. I would've liked a bigger climax at the end but I am not fully disappointed.


Would recommend to those who are fans os 'a six of crows'.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Bindery Books for the ARC of A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood.

This was a very strong debut that is a perfect fit for fans of Leigh Bardugo. It's an engaging and fun heist story in an interesting fantasy world where everyone seems to be born with their own bit of magic. It definitely is Bardugo-esque in that you are immediately dropped into the action trying to sort our a handful of characters and what the magic system is, but if you hang in for a few chapters it does read a bit more sensibly and becomes much easier to understand and be entertained by.

The pacing was really well done, especially when set as a standalone. By the 50% mark our crew is ready to roll, but the time spent within that first half is spaced well allowing each needed character to gain their place within the crew and move the story forward. The remaining 50% is well balanced, keeping a lot of the action in the last 25% but enough so that as a reader it keeps you guessing and anxiously awaiting the outcome.

The book also does a great job at reminding us how anyone can be a villain or a hero, depending on the context their story is told. It was easy to fall into "Well, they're going to betray you!" but also recognizing that a lot of the time people think they're making the right call - I appreciated that things weren't entirely black and white.

I do wish that:
- The story read more Adult than YA. It's incredibly plot driven, and so there is no deeper nuance to the characters. Myria spends very little time actually conversing with her crew and we don't get to spend time with her in prison to understand her fixation, her motivation, her pain -- Felix talks with Myria and Gloriana and thinks minimally about his injury but not anything deeper. We don't see them interacting with other people in the city in-depth except when it's pushing the plot so we don't really know the overall feeling toward living in a city constantly overtaking its neighbors and basically relocating people for their powers. We don't know much about any of the crew besides their individual gifts and that they too want revenge and think of each other as family. I would have liked more of a sense of comradery and depth for each person, it just feels like we stay very surface level. We don't even get to see where Myria plots or makes machinations as she goes - everything just seems to magically occur within the plot and I wanted more depth to that.
- Myria had more interest in her own backstory. I think I understand what happened to her, but then, I think I'm also wrong. My original thought from the first chapter was that she was special because curses don't affect her at all, yet she is then affected by them throughout the entirety of the book, so...what makes her lack of magic special? And how did she break all those curses in the first chapter but not at all later?
- The magic system was way more fleshed out. By the end of the book I had an ultralight understanding, but I don't even know if I was right about what I was thinking. I'm not quite sure what faculties are, I don't really understand how the phoenix is formed or battles, I'm not sure what curses are and who can cast them and when they are in effect or not, etc. I don't know what the types of powers are, how many areas there are, and it seems like the people of this world don't either because the highest levels of power don't know about silverwalkers either. I just think the story would have been much better served if this was better explained. I think I definitely missed things.

I would definitely read the next book by this author and recommend this to anyone in need of a good fantasy heist.

I cannot begin to scratch the surface of A Complement of Scoundrels without gushing and spoiling it for everyone else. One of my best fantasy reads this year, and I can't wait to read more from this author. It has been far too long since I've liked a group of characters as much as these scoundrels. The story was told in dual POVs and featured two characters who were strong leads in their own right. They underestimated each other from the start, which made it fun as one character uncovered deceptions of the other. Over time, they became reluctant allies. They had great banter with each other and with other characters.

I wasn't familiar with arcane magic, so it was difficult for me to grasp the workings of the magic system. Still, the author did a splendid job of setting physical limitations and boundaries of certain magic abilities. The presence of magic was central to the world and swayed politics, economics, infrastructure, and more.

An outstanding book! I would recommend.

Absolutely loved this. Think Italian Job meets magic, and every twist and turn had me frantically turning the pages to find out what would happen next.. I could barely put it down! Loved the characters, loved the focus on friendship, and loved the end result!

I had a very fun time reading A Complement of Scoundrels. It gave a lot of "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo vibes (which I'm a huge fan of, so that was a win for me). I loved that we started right in it with Myria and her crew. I love arcane magic (I've read a few stories lately with that type, so I felt up to date from the start) as well. The supporting cast of characters (after being betrayed) were a good time. Also, I can be ALL about a revenge plot if done well. Which personally, I think can make or break a story at times. Ultimately, it had a fun cast, humor (i did laugh out loud at some parts) and the FMC was strong and well thought out. Which is important to me as a reader. I will say it took me a little longer to finish it than I usually do with other books... it wasn't an up till 2am read for me, but that's okay!

I rarely give 5 stars, but this was definitely a good time and right up my alley so a strong four!

Thoroughly enjoyed this! A Complement of Scoundrels starts us off mid-heist conducted by Myria and her crew from orders of their boss, in a setting where characters have just a bit of magic (because we started off mid-action it took a while for me to understand the magic in this world). However, Myria gets betrays and her original crew mates are really the one who pay the ultimate price. Myria's only life purpose after, is for vengeance, with assistance from her new crew and our MMC. All of the characters had great chemistry and communication, I loved how lively everyone was. A great story with a strong lead. I really appreciated how logical Myria's decisions were. Definitely wish the author went more in depth for some of the side character's backgrounds as well as Myria though.

I really enjoyed A Complement of Scoundrels. It was easy to get into and hard to put down. I liked Myria straight away and found myself rooting for her, even when she made bad decisions.

The crew dynamic and the morally grey feel made it fun, and the heist energy kept things moving. Overall, just a really entertaining fantasy read.

First of all — the atmosphere. You can feel the salt in the air. The ships, the political maneuvering, the underlying danger humming beneath every conversation… it all creates this delicious tension that never fully lets you relax. It’s romantic, yes — but it’s romantic in that storm-on-the-horizon way. The kind where love feels risky and a little bit reckless.

Myria is such a compelling heroine. She isn’t naïve, and she certainly isn’t fragile. What I loved most is how aware she is of the danger around her — and yet she steps forward anyway. There’s a moment where she essentially acknowledges that loving a scoundrel means accepting the shadows that follow him, and that quiet resolve says so much about her. She’s not trying to fix anyone. She’s choosing with open eyes.

And then we have our leading man — charming, strategic, and absolutely aware of the power he holds. He has that classic dark-romance edge: protective but possessive, confident but just vulnerable enough when it comes to Myria. There are several exchanges where he makes it clear that she unsettles him in ways no enemy ever has. Those moments? Chef’s kiss. The shift from calculated manipulation to genuine emotional exposure is subtle but beautifully done.

The finer details are what elevate this story. The way alliances are hinted at through small gestures. The coded language in conversations. The tension in scenes that don’t rely on physical intimacy but instead on proximity — the brush of fingers over a map, a whispered warning in a dim corridor, a look held just a second too long. It’s intimate without always being overt, which makes the eventual romantic payoff feel earned.

I also appreciated that the story doesn’t shy away from moral ambiguity. Choices have consequences. Loyalties are complicated. Love doesn’t magically erase the darker aspects of a person — it just asks whether you can live with them. As someone who loves both romantic sea adventures and a touch of darkness in my love stories, that balance really worked for me.

Why four stars instead of five? There were a few moments where I wanted just a little more emotional depth or an extra scene to fully sit in the aftermath of certain revelations. But overall, it was immersive, swoony, and deliciously tense.

If you’re a fellow grown woman who still believes in epic love stories — but prefers them with a blade hidden beneath the cloak and salt spray in the air — this one absolutely deserves a spot on your shelf.

If I could give this 6 stars I would. Everything I wanted in a fantasy heist novel - heroine with a wicked clever mind, an intricate plot that keeps you guessing, fantastic magic system, extremely likable side characters, and multi-layered baddies. The pacing was excellent, the writing was witty and humorous, and the heist was excellently executed. I loved it. I really, really hope for a sequel.

For this being S.V. Lockwood's debut novel, I'd say well done. The story follows Myria and her team of thieves after they're double crossed and they set out for revenge. I really enjoyed the book's unique magic system and the world the author created. It explores themes of friendship and loyalty, with a fun dose of hijinks and tomfoolery along the way. While the pacing felt uneven in parts, it still kept me entertained overall, and I'm glad I picked it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for my ARC copy and my honest review.

Expected Publishing date: September 22, 2026.

It has been a good long while since I've read a book this good, especially a new book. I was utterly DELIGHTED with A Complement of Scoundrels, I didn't want it to end!
First of all, the characters were brilliant. Myria was a heroine I was rooting for all the way through, a thief who made hard decisions but truly cared about her crew and never crossed the hard lines. She was brave and clever and yet realistically flawed and didn't fall into any of the usual main character pitfalls.

Felix made a good counter to Myria, with his nobleness and honor and general decency, but also a naivety that made the two of them play off of each other beautifully. Can we also take a moment to appreciate the fact that there were two POVs, male and female AND YET THERE ISN'T A STUPID POINTLESS ROMANCE SUBPLOT REJOICE! There are, however, some absolutely gorgeous friendships that develop marvelously, (both old friendships and new ones), a bit of brother-sister time, a fascinating relationship between Myria and the man who betrayed her and that glorious sort of found family that only comes from crews of scoundrels with hearts of gold.

The pacing was lovely, never lagging or meandering into meaningless subplots, and it kept me hooked all the way through, (and up past my bedtime!) I'm actually very sad that it doesn't come out until September because I want to shove this book into the hands of everyone I know and force them to read it so I can gush about it further. (And also because I need a hard copy. I am in LOVE with the thought of holding a physical version in my hands). I already want to reread it and I haven't even been finished for a full hour. Impatiently waiting for the day when I can preorder this.

I am 100% going to read anything else this author comes out with, thank you SO much to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the review copy!

I had literally no expectations of this book. I received it quickly from NetGalley and I couldn't see much about it but the cover was stunning and the description intriguing. I was literally worried I'd hate it.

Two days in, I finished the book. I could not put it down. It took over my life. Sure, there are flaws, but they fell by the wayside. The heists and tricks and plot had a chokehold on me.

Myria and her crew were fun though I wish I had gotten to know Cass and Leo better. Felix and Myria run this story, almost to the point of pushing other characters off the story and page, even though I found them delightful.

My biggest complaint is that Felix stays stupidly loyal much longer than feels comfortable to his intelligent character. I also wish we could have seen more of the world. When we get clear glimpses of it, I fall in love.

I highly recommend this for anyone who likes a fantasy heist or found families.

Myria grew up on the shady side and unapologetically embraces her circumstances, trying to be the best. When her former boss sold out her and her friends she spent three years of prison planning his demise and now she’s ready.
The first chapters not always made sense to me and I admit that it took me a while to immerse in the story, but by the time the group reassembled I was hooked. We all love a good old revenge, but the plotting, the camaraderie, the witty dialogues, the twists and turns made this one really enjoyable. There’s no romance in this book, but there’s a possibility and I liked this better too.
Thank you NetGalley and Bindary Books for the arc.

My Gosh. This is one of my favorite books of the year. Fast paced, HILARIOUS, immediately pulls you into the plot and just doesn’t stop with action, tension, theft and wits. I loved every bit of this. Would be hilarious as a movie.

Wow, what a romping good time! I thoroughly enjoyed this story, my first in the "fantasy heist" but certainly not my last! I thought the author did a wonderful job of creating some characters with unique personalities and voices. The interplay and banter both between the main character group as well as their relationships with external parties was really fun to read and I found myself chuckling many times at the various quips and one-liners. The world Lockwood built is unique and well thought out, and I found it very easy to imagine myself in that world. The plot was well paced and I was on the edge of my seat more than I anticipated. I loved how everything was wrapped up and overall this was a fantastic tale that I would recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling, fast-paced heist with fun, playful banter and excellent characters.

S.V. Lockwood turns a mastery of the detective novel’s classic style—think Dashiell Hammett—into a tightly focused piece of dastardly teamwork. The ensemble cast is handled with real finesse, their clashing motives and uneasy alliances recalling the best of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, but in a world that feels wholly original. The first third is all setup and ground rules, but it’s anything but slow: Lockwood fills those pages with atmosphere and tension, laying the groundwork for later twists that are genuinely unexpected and sometimes completely surprising—yet always rooted in what’s come before. For anyone who loves a clever heist, sharp team dynamics, and unpredictable plotting, this debut is a standout.

My first fantasy heist — and absolutely not my last.

This is a romping, fast-paced adventure with a cast of brilliantly distinct characters whose banter had me laughing out loud more than once. Lockwood has built a vivid, well-crafted world that's easy to lose yourself in, and the plot delivers genuine edge-of-your-seat tension alongside all the wit and playfulness you'd want from a heist story.

Everything wraps up satisfyingly, and the interplay between characters — both within the group and beyond — gives the story real charm and momentum.

If you're looking for something thrilling, fun, and full of personality, this one is an easy recommendation.

A Complement of Scoundrels is a fun, fantasy heist! The author created an immersive world with a wily crew of thieves who come together to get their revenge. This was an entertaining read, and a strong debut novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me with this ARC.

Wow. It took me a really long time to finish this book, and I’m not mad about it. I felt like I was thrust into a completely new world, with everything from the language to the descriptive writing and vivid imagery of magic… it was all very well done.

My favorite characters were definitely Myria, Felix, and Lysander.

Myria, as a character, was beautifully written, with her uncertain past and ambitious future; she carried the story and the characters' journey, as well as all the different heists! I loved the banter between her and her friends, especially Felix. And Felix’s unwavering loyalty was admirable, and his situation created a soft spot in my heart for him …same goes with Lysander…there was something special about him as a character.

The ending definitely increased my rating for the book…it was everything I could’ve ever asked for. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t say anymore, but you know when a character has a good heart just from their actions.

All the tension, betrayal, contingencies, etc., were so addictive to read about, and I constantly felt on edge as I read. While I enjoyed the writing (A LOT) and the old-timey vocab, the book would definitely benefit from a glossary. It felt like there were constant references, whether to a hierarchical or racial term or simply a location in the book; it would’ve been nice to have context or a reminder of those unique words. It would’ve helped the reader feel more connected to and familiar with the world and its language, especially given how unique it is.

Furthermore, I was wondering if it would’ve been better for the book to be a duology instead? Obviously, that’s up to the author and publisher, but I would’ve liked more background into the group and who they were as people, as well as what they meant to each other (the motive for all the heists would’ve been stronger and more meaningful). Maybe a prologue (other than the scene with the Elysius Vault) with the characters and their conversations would help familiarize the reader with the friendships, show how it was vs. how it is now, and how it ends. And just for fun... without spoiling, my favorite parts of the book were the descriptions of magic and healing in chapter 30, and the ending.

A Complement of Scoundrels delivers exactly what it promises: a fast-paced, morally gray heist story packed with sharp wit, betrayal, and just enough emotional depth to keep you invested beyond the action.

The world of Carintheum is intriguing and vividly described. The banter is a standout, often cutting through darker moments with humor that feels organic rather than forced. Plot-wise, the heist structure is engaging, with enough twists and reversals to keep readers guessing without becoming convoluted. Fans of found-family tropes, heists, and morally complex characters will enjoy this story!

Thank you to Bindery/Kist for the eARC !!

This is not for those who want their fantasy to bonk them over the head with an overarching theme via dramatic italicized lines. IMO, it's more fun this way.

There is just a LOT going on here. It depends on what kind of reader you are if this is a good thing or a bad thing. A Complement of Scoundrels is a fun fantasy heist romp with fleshed-out worldbuilding/plot and a sometimes-burdensome abundance of characters. I had a good time?

3.5

I received an ARC of this book. My review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.

The combination of the cover and the title of this book intrigued me. I was very curious to see if the quality inside would match (scoundrels? Revenge plot? So much potential!). It ended up being a very entertaining read, but not without some issues. The banter between the characters doesn’t read like natural dialogue. In terms of prose there are some awkward and clunky turns of phrase, and some overly descriptive sections that mar the experience. The author was trying too hard to be impressive. However, the steampunk magical setting is interesting and fun, if not explained very well. There’s a lot of vibes over concrete world building here, but the vibes are pretty compelling.

I liked the concept of magic, or “arcana” as it’s called in the book, as a consumable and commercial resource. Considering how that would impact politics, power, and class issues makes for interesting reading. There are also some thoughtful ideas about propaganda and political systems raised. I appreciated the author’s willingness to build a world where these big concepts are front and center, I just wish they had been executed with a little more subtlety. The plot is messy and full of holes, but I had fun regardless. The characters were entertaining and I liked the parts they were playing, either intentionally or unintentionally, and their scheming and adventures kept me engaged. The capers that this crew of misfits get up to was a blast! The story goes in directions that I wasn’t expecting. Some of them were fascinating, and built layers of interest into the plot. The ending was well done. The author chose to wrap things up in a creative and satisfying way.

In terms of characters, their development is hit or miss. Myria is too unflappable, too perfectly on top of everything, too skilled by half, and often unkind in her singleminded pursuit of her goal. It made her insufferable at times, although I appreciated the complexity it added to her character. Felix worked better for me. He was fallible, struggling, and has a real process of growth throughout the story. He makes choices that are questionable, but as a reader you understand why even as you wish he would make different ones. His journey was a satisfying one, and Myria’s as well to a lesser extent.

There were some funny issues with the writing and the logic. I’m not sure the author understands the principles of basic genetics. For example, a naturally blond character has her hair turn brown from not being out in the sun for a couple of years. Which is just hilarious.

I had such a fun time with this. The prose issues got better the further into the story we got. In some ways it reminded me of a budget version of The Lies of Locke Lamora. Not as beautifully written, not as cleanly and intricately plotted, but entertaining regardless.

Honestly, this book was the most fun I've had reading a book in a really long time. This was SUCH an unexpected delight. It's like Helm of Midnight meets The Night Circus meets A Discovery of Witches in a steampunk world. I loved the characters, every voice and personality was so distinguished and lived-in. I thought the plot and the magic system were inventive spins on well-loved genres! The dialogue was sharp and the book never stopped moving or slogged down. I did get a bit wrapped up trying to understand the magic system, which escaped me a little in the beginning, but I'm a big fan of suspending my disbelief and just letting things happen. It's magic. It doesn't need to be explained perfectly, it just has to be fun.

I loved this, I will absolutely buy a copy on release. What a fun time!

If you watched Oceans 8 and thought to yourself “I loved this revenge-heist plot and I support women’s wrongs, but I just wish there had been more magic involved in this movie” then boy is this the novel for you.

A Complement of Scoundrels is a very ambitious, multi-faceted debut. It’s a revenge heist set in a world that’s very Victorian steampunk-meets-classical antiquity, where humans have innate magical ability. The novel is set in Carintheum, a city-empire that reminded me heavily of Star Wars’ Coruscant. It’s a dense, towering city where the politicians and aristocrats corruptly reign on the surface, but a seedy underbelly criminal world lurks beneath.

The story follows two POVs, Myria Cadessa and Felix Aurelias. Myria, a woman scorned and ready to go full scorched earth, is our FMC. At the start of the novel, she and her team are double-crossed by their boss, leaving them taking the fall for the job they were working and resulting in their lives being completely upended. Years later, she’s ready to take her revenge by pulling off her biggest job yet. Felix, the MMC, is a war-wounded soldier, trying to rebuild his life as a lawman. Assigned to Myria once she is released from prison, he quickly suspects that she is up to something and sets out to discover what it is and to try to stop her. Eventually, however, they end up as begrudging partners to take down the boss that betrayed Myria all those years ago.

Likes:

The magic system. Having magic be something humans are born with, as a sort of an organ or system in their bodies, was really unique and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Magic being part of the human body itself and not some amorphous glittering fairy tale-type thing was fun to read and allowed Lockwood to develop a ton of world-building around it.

The world-building was fascinating, hard to follow at times but utterly entrancing to experience nonetheless. Carintheum is part Roman Empire, part Gilded Age steampunk. I really enjoyed the way Lockwood blended two very different time periods to create a new speculative world inspired by both. The city was plagued by both modernity and antiquity at the same time –social strife over corrupt political systems and imperial colonialist aspirations (very Roman Empire), while also plagued by anxieties of technological advancement (very Industrial Revolution). I really liked scenes such as when Felix expressed distaste for the Arcanic Grid, which seemed to be a parallel to advancements during the Industrial Revolution that replaced human work with machines. It was clear that there was a backdrop of anxiety about technological advancement in Arcana in this world and there were feelings that these technologies were impure or blasphemous. I thought that was a really nice world-building touch.

The tame romantic subplot: While there’s clearly a connection between Myria and Felix, it’s never the focus of the novel. This is by no means a romance story and it’s not treated as such. The revenge heist is always at the forefront. Personally, I like this a lot. There are little sparks here and there of romantic embers, just enough to satisfy, but it never detracts from the main plot.

Dislikes:

The character arcs and unbalanced attention to character crafting: To me, Felix underwent a much stronger, more overt and satisfying character arc. He starts the novel off a broken, wounded soldier who is filled with grief. The only life he’s ever known has been taken from him and he’s trying to rebuild himself. Throughout the novel, we see him come to a new understanding of the world, of himself, and of the empire he once blindly served. He opens his eyes to injustice that was always there in front him, he accepts people he would have previously rejected as criminal scum, and he grows immensely as a person. Myria, by comparison, felt entirely one-note to me. I did not dislike her as a character, to be clear. She’s witty, quick-thinking, and loyal. However, her entire story here is just revenge for herself (and her friends). She doesn’t have the dramatic twists and turns that Felix does, not really. Even when things go wrong, she’s almost always one step ahead. Her plans always work, she always knows what to do, we never really worry she will fail. Her character felt so defined by revenge and her brilliance in a way that did not endear me to her. There were side characters who felt much further fleshed out and crafted with care in comparison to her. Lysander, who was also betrayed and suffered <SPOILER WARNING>the immense loss of his great love, Hadria</SPOILER WARNING>, felt so raw and well-rounded, not defined by vengeance but certainly inspired by it. Even though he was a side character, he felt much realer to me than Myria did. Even Gloriana, by no means in the main cast of Scoundrels, felt like such a multi-faceted character who kept me on my toes. When she was in a scene, I was very interested in what she would say or do. Compared to the side characters and to Felix, Myria never felt as real and fleshed out. At the end of the book, Myria didn’t seem like she really changed or evolved. Her worldview wasn’t altered by the events of the book, her understanding of the world and motives were the same,<SPOILER WARNING> and she accomplished the one thing she set out to do</SPOILER WARNING>. Felix, by comparison, was totally changed by the events of the book.

Dense world-building and characters to learn: While I found the world crafted in this novel to be fascinating, I did struggle in the first third of the book to understand what I was reading. There were just so many terms being thrown at me, as well as characters, that I was rereading sentences to make sense of what was going on. Eventually, I got the hang of everything but there was a bit of a learning curve to absorb all the places, arcanic words, and characters. By the end of the book, I’ll be honest that I wasn’t entirely sure still what all the characters were supposed to look like. Most of the Scoundrels are in constant disguise throughout the heist, so at no point was I actually very confident in my knowledge of what any character other than Felix actually looked like.


Overall, I think this is a stellar, impressive debut that dedicated fantasy readers will really enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my genuine thoughts.

This is an incredible debut novel
A Steam punk heist, found family and an amazing world with a unique magic system, everything you want in one awesome story. Had me gripped from the first chapter and to have this slow reader hitting the last 80% in a day goes to show how much I enjoyed this. An fmc you can't help but root for and a great cast of supporting characters. If you like all the above with some added moraly grey for good measure then I 100% recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC.

A debut that absolutely delivers - 6 stars! I devoured this book, and what a title!

Calling this a fantasy heist undersells what’s really happening. This world, Carintheum, is not just imagined; it’s engineered. Systems of power, social structures, and moral trade-offs are all built with precision, and the story unfolds within that architecture seeking the ultimate revenge plot.

Myria is a scoundrel of upmost finesse —sharp, calculating, and has you grinning deviously. Felix, by contrast, brings a grounded humanity whose moral center becomes one of the story’s most interesting pressure points. Their dynamic isn’t just romantic tension—it’s ideological friction.

What stands out is the author’s control. The intricacy of the schemes, the layering of the fantasy/sci-fi elements, the attention to consequence—it all signals a writer thinking several steps ahead. This is a book that rewards attention.

It’s rare to see a debut operate at this level of confidence and complexity. You can already imagine it translated to screen with the kinetic, stylized edge of Guy Ritchie.

For readers who enjoy intelligent, immersive storytelling—this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC read. Thank you S.V. Lockwood for your amazing work, don't listen to any negative reviews, they don't know what they are talking about. Quit lawyering, you have a gift needed elsewhere in storytelling!!! Love LOVE love this book.

Beautiful cover? Check
Beautiful collection of hooligans? Check
Incredible story? Check.

All at once a "we're getting the gang back together" montage, revenge story & heartfelt found family trifecta. What more could you want?

I love a good heist book, and this is a great heist book! You have old friends, new friends, and scores to settle. There are underworld politics, interesting magic, and plenty of plots and schemes. I enjoyed the cast of characters, and the character growth of our main character as she steps into a leadership role and figures out just what kind of scoundrel she wants to be.

A must read for fans of 'The Dagger and the Flame', 'Tempest of Tea' and 'The Last Raven'

I chose to review this book because the cover is absolutely stunning. Imagine my surprise when the story was just as good!

I was sat and locked in from the first page. The world building is exquisite, characters are well fleshed out (I actually care about them) and the pacing is insane.

I would absolutely love from this world, I have been thoroughly entranced. I'd burn the world down for you Myria!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and the author for an e-arc!

I loved this! It was a lot of fun, and I really liked the main character. The novel felt very steampunk and gritty, and who doesn’t love a good heist. It was also interesting that we as the reader were never in on the plan, so we were truly along for the ride and didn’t know what would happen next.

However, I would have really liked a bit more world building and explanations around the magic systems. We were shown a lot but I never fully knew the rules of the world or the magic, so it was hard to know the stakes or even what was possible and what wasn’t. Certain events would happen and they just didn’t hit as hard because I never fully understood what was possible in this world in the first place (trying to be vague and spoiler free).

There were also a few times when I couldn't set the scene in my head because I didn’t have enough information on where we were, or even know who all was in the room or currently speaking. Thankfully I think a lot of those issues could still be fixed in editing.

That said this was an amazing debut, and I will definitely be reading whatever this author writes next!

Summary - When a group of scoundrel thieves cracked the Elysium Vault, it should have been their greatest achievement. Myria was ready to walk side by side with her Master, and the team she led was going to be the richest thieves alive. That was until her Master double-crossed them all. After plotting her revenge while rotting in jail for three years, she is out and ready to bring her master's world crashing down. First, she must reunite with her crew, steal what is owned, all while keeping a certain Prefect from finding out who she really is. Will he be a new ally, or are his loyalties to his master? Myria has already failed her crew once; she will not make that mistake again, and absolutely no one will get in her way—not even the new potential ally—as she will make it right at any cost.

Thoughts - This is not normally a genre I like to read. I am not fond of revenge plotlines because, typically, the story is really hard to digest (it’s frustrating and annoying for me), but the author did exceptionally well creating this story with just the right amount of revenge woven through it. I will say I struggled to understand what I was reading to begin with, and there were a lot of new words I learned. That being said, I managed to grasp the story, and the further I went, the better I understood. The words kind of threw me, and I was not sure where or when the story took place, and the magic system really baffled me. Trying to understand the government, the world, the transportation, and the way the magic is used within this story was difficult at times, but I managed, and while I have missed things I am sure, I really dove into this, and it was a fun adventure. My understanding of this world was a steampunk city with a mechanical industrial atmosphere, similar to worlds like Mortal Engines and Arcane.

The magic system is interesting; it’s an energy that builds up within the human body and is the central power that is exploited throughout the book. It is stolen and harvested from individuals to create the glamorous empire, which is built on stolen magic and blood by the devils who hide behind the empire. The whole subplot of harvested Arcane was quite dark and horrifying, and really showed what the main character had gone through. While we are trained to condemn those who are branded scoundrels in this story, it really sympathizes with the characters, and you empathize with what they have been through. It is always the case, I feel, that those who are branded bad are somewhat more ethical and honorable than those who seek power and influence. This story shows it. It was a very political read, and it shows the manipulation and deception that those in power can create.

While the main crew were not innocent, as they did steal for a living, it does provide the reason for their transgressions. In a world where you need to fight—fight for those who can’t, fight for yourself, and fight for the greater good—you sometimes have to make bad decisions. While I don’t believe that anyone is above consequences, which is what the crew had to endure, sometimes wrong and right are on the opposite sides of humanity. Sometimes those who fight for the right reasons are manipulated into thinking that they are on the right side, such as Felix. Those who fight to live and to fight for those who can’t sometimes do it in a very wrong manner, such as Vixius. Then there are those who are the power-hungry manipulators whose façade shows nothing but goodness, and that would be Gloriana. While she wasn’t exactly pure evil, she had those qualities. There are also those who simply wish to exist and be part of something extraordinary. However, they often veer off course and are morally complex, which can lead to negative outcomes. This was the case for the main character, Myria, and her crew.

Their whole revenge heist scheme was excellently executed, and Myria was a strong female character who showed resilience, was highly intelligent, and was skillful with a heroine complex towards her fellow team, always wanting justice for those who were wronged in the beginning. It was a very nuanced and intricate read, done in a way that kept you interested until the very end. While the start may have been complicated for me, I truly enjoyed it until the end. It was definitely something different from my normal genre, and for that, it helped broaden my taste. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants morally ambiguous and complex characters, rich themes, and a strong female protagonist lead.