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.

Review: The beginning of this novel is fairly confusing with regard to the characters. They eventually work out their individuality so you can parse based on personality. You know the drill. The characters build with the movement which resides within an interesting storyline.

Relentless movement within an expanding world with just a touch of Steampunk. The magic is so varied and down to earth that it wears the users personality. You constantly root for the band of Graysiders and the lone Prefect.

This is the writers first novel from down under which is pretty amazing. Really, watch for this writer as she is astounding in talent.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

4.7/5

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!