Thank you to NetGalley, Highbridge Audio & Mailan Doquang for an audio arc of Blood Rubies in exchange for an honest review. I requested an audio arc because I love a heist novel. A jewelry heist, even better.! The settings also seemed appealing.

Unfortunately, like other reviewers, I had a really tough time getting into the story and staying engaged with it. I'm still not sure if that's because of the pacing of the plot, the character development, or the narration itself. Based on other reviews, probably the former two reasons more than the latter.

Rune is a jewel thief. She's just stolen a bunch of rubies when the unthinkable happens. Her boyfriend's fifteen year old sister, Madee, is missing. Since Madee is the only family Kit has left, finding her becomes Rune's priority too. But her recent theft has put her in the sights of an infamous smuggler, Lemaire. Now it's not only a race to find Madee, but also one to outrun Lemaire.

This book has a good premise, and the writing is good, but the story is kind of all over the place. It requires a lot of suspension of disbelief here. Also, I felt like Rune wasn't fully fleshed out until it was too late. We learn the most about her at the end of the book, and by that time it's too late to sympathize with her. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't particularly love it either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Cindy Kay is my favorite narrator of all time, and once again, she does not disappoint.

In the book Blood Rubies, author Mailan Doquang follows Rune Sarasin who is a thief that steals the wrong persons jewels. Now she is on the run for her life as the owner is a powerful jewel smuggler. Will Sarasin survive? And when her partner is taken as leverage, will she be able to save him? This was a good story idea, but the story seemed to lack focus at times. And the ending left it open to start a series but the ending left a lot of holes in the story line. I would recommend this book. The audio-book narration was ok. The reader act4ed like she was whispering most of the time. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. The storyline was interesting but parts of it felt so slow. Overall, it was an ok read but probably not one that I would recommend. I’m sure others will love it but it’s just not for me.

How do you typically find your next read? I've developed a range of techniques to discover the next book that will capture my interest. Whether it's browsing bookstore shelves, listening to book review podcasts, or relying on trusted recommendations from fellow readers, each method has led me to some of my favorite reads. Recently, I've added TikTok to my repertoire. It took longer than expected for book-related content to appear on my "For You" page amidst the flood of puppy videos and cooking tutorials. But finally, it's there. One of my favorite creators on the platform offers an insider's look into book cover design, showcasing how he brings publishers' visions to life. His captivating process, particularly evident in a video where he designs the cover for Mailan Doquang's debut thriller Blood Rubies, inspired me to pick up the book.

Rune Sarasin has always understood the risks of her chosen lifestyle as a thief, but nothing could prepare her for the whirlwind of trouble that ensues in just seven days. It all begins with a daring heist of rubies from the luxurious confines of a Bangkok hotel room owned by the affluent smuggler Charles Lemaire. With the help of her boyfriend Kit, Rune narrowly evades Lemaire's relentless pursuit. However, their triumph is short-lived when they receive distressing news: Kit's sister, Madee, has vanished without a trace. Tracking Madee's cell phone leads them to the perilous Khlong Toei slum, where Rune's own mishap compounds their troubles – she inadvertently loses the stolen rubies while searching for Madee.

Charles Lemaire has set his sights on recovering his prized rubies and won't hesitate to resort to violence to achieve his goal. He captures Kit, holding him hostage until Rune returns his stolen jewels. If she fails, Kit will be killed. Now, Rune is thrust into a race against time, torn between reclaiming the lost rubies and rescuing Kit from Lemaire's clutches. Yet, amidst the chaos, Rune cannot ignore the pressing need to uncover the truth behind Madee's disappearance. Delving deeper into the shadows of the Khlong Toei slum, Rune soon discovers a sinister underworld of crime, where the stakes are far higher than a mere collection of stolen jewels or the fate of one missing girl.

I judged Blood Rubies by its cover, and I'm happy to say that the story within was just as captivating as its visually striking exterior. Mailan Doquang immerses readers in a world rife with crime, deception, and high-stakes action, crafting a narrative that unfolds with relentless momentum. This thrilling, globe-spanning tale expertly balances the allure of a daring heist with a protagonist whose personal stakes add depth and resonance to the narrative. Despite some moments of exaggerated action as the plot unfolded, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the story, enjoying every twist and turn it had to offer. Blood Rubies is a delightful, pulse-pounding heist adventure that is sure to satisfy any fan of the thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting and intricate book. I enjoyed the heart pounding beginning and felt on the edge throughout the whole book.

2.75 ⭐ ARC from Netgalley, these are my own thoughts and opinions. I get that it was a thriller, but it was an incredibly unrealistic thriller. It was difficult to follow all of the characters that were introduced, and there were so many plotlines happening at once that it was just confusing. The concept of time was nonexistent? I could not tell you the timeframe this book happens in if my life depended on it. Maybe it just wasn't for me, but I wasn't a fan.

Great thriller, a solid 4 stars.

Mystery Thrillers are not my usual cup of tea but I had to make an exception for Blood Rubies because the premise sounded too interesting (and who doesn't love a heist book). Let me tell you I was not dissapointed.

From New York to Bangkok, the book progresses at a pace so fast, I couldn’t put it down. It felt very much like a classic 2010s thriller movie, keeping me on my toes for the entire adventure. The writing style fits the plot perfectly, and the audiobook narrator really does justice to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 rounded up for solid writing and excellent narration. This is the story of a female jewel thief who is almost caught at her latest job, whose boyfriend's sister is missing, and who must pull off the heist of her life to free her boyfriend, but stumbles across a dark secret.... In other words, it's quite a bit messy! Some story lines are hinted at but not resolved. Nevertheless, it's full of unrelenting tension and high-stakes action that take us around Bangkok, to Singapore, and New York City.

The main character is delightfully quirky - self-assured in her safecracking abilities, always hungry, persistent, unafraid. She's a thief, and she stole my heart! I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

2.5 ⭐️ didn’t love this one. The progression of the story was slow with what seemed like unnecessary parts, the book didn’t flow and seemed clunky.

I just couldn’t get into this audio. I soft DNFd it for now and may try to pick up the physical book in the future!

Thank you @mysteriouspress #partner for gifted copy of this book!

Jewel heist. Fast and dangerous motorcycle chase. Missing boyfriend. Rich and connected people. It was like watching a movie! This was such a fast paced adventure as we watch Rune, a jewel thief, lift some rubies from the wrong man. Normally it would not be a big deal as she would escape…this time it’s not so easy! She is being tracked before she knows it and she finds it is not an easy task to stay hidden when such powerful people that have access to endless resources are tracking you! Too bad she’s lost the rubies and she must get them back before her life completely unravels. This was such a wild ride around the world! From NYC to Bangkok you’ll see it all. Doquang does a great job painting the picture of a wicked, dark and seedy life! It is intense from the very first chapter and didn’t let me go until the end. If you’re a fan of heist books this one was exceptional and fierce tale!

jewel-thief, jewelry-heist, Y/A only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica, NYC, Thailand, siblings, sisters, international-crime-and-mystery, action, revenge, human-trafficking, abduction, smuggling, debut-novel, partners, thriller, suspense, teens****

Fast paced with shifting locations and occasionally I got sidetracked, but looks to be a great series once the kinks get ironed out.
Voice actor Cindy Kay has an excellent range for emotions and characters, but that whispery delivery made me sleepy.
I requested and received a temporary audio from HighBridge Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!

I had high hopes for this book, and don't get me wrong it wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I expected. It read more like a YA thriller, and wasn't advertised that way. Again YA thrillers are fine, it just wasn't what I expected when I started this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Highbridge Audio & Mailan Doquang for an audio arc of Blood Rubies in exchange for an honest review.

I fell asleep while listening to this one if that says anything. I reluctantly went back this weekend & found my spot of what I last remembered & finished the audiobook, but it was just not good to me.

Even though it had a great premise & was touted to be suspenseful, it was not in the least bit suspenseful. Obviously, I was bored to sleep.

I liked the idea of a jewelry heist gone-wrong. I guess I was hoping this story would be a bit more similar to Kayvion Lewis's Thieves' Gambit.

Kit was ridiculously boring. I honestly didn't care about Madee. And Rune was just as drab. All of the characters were just so BLAH. They seemed very monotone & completely uninteresting. Aside from that, the story was all over the place and not really cohesive.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook.

The narrator for this book did a lot of the work of getting me to keep going, since she was so great. The story was fine, but not as cohesive as I'd hoped.

Rune Sarasin has a checkered past. Now she is finding out that life as a jewel there can be hard as well. Her boyfriend, Kit, is being held hostage while his little sister Madee is missing. Oh yeah, and Rune stole and then lost a criminal mastermind’s treasured rubies. Can she possibly get everything straightened out and save Kit, Maddee, and her own life too?

I got this novel as an arc audiobook from NetGalley, and I loved the audiobook format. The narrator, Cindy Kay, was great with a fantastic sense of timing, perfect pace, and of course, unique voices conveying personalities for all of the speaking characters. Not an easy feat! I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the future.

The plot was super engaging. Audiobooks usually take me at least 3 days, sometimes many more depending on the length and amount of time I can devote to listening. I listened to this one in about 24 hours. I could not turn it off! It was just the right amount of danger and violence. The main character had such a backstory that it could support its own book! The pace was quick, the characters drew me in, the story was engaging - what more could I ask for? A sequel? Or could this be the start of a great new series? 🤞🤞

This was a good book! It was full of action and kept me engaged. I wanted to keep reading! Great book for a debut novel!