Thieves' Gambit - by Kayvion Lewis

It didn't take me long at all to be intrigued by Ross and the unconventional upbringing she has had to become a master thief. Even though she was raised to believe to never trust anyone but a Quest, there were breadcrumbs being left that her family may have secrets she doesn't know about. Why the estrangement from her grandparents? Why is the Quest family being cut off by other associates? Is Ross's father really dead? The mom seems to have a lot of secrets. I love the idea of the Thieves' Gambit with some tension already there with a past rival and some other strong personalities. The combination of urgency to rescue the mom, complete heists, and compete against other experienced thieves, made this a page turner and I was so curious to see how it would all go. This book gave the same feel as Ocean's Eleven and Now You See Me, film franchises that I love, and I could easily see this being turned into a film. I think I saw that the rights have been sold, so this will be amazing to see. The beginning was fast paced, but then I hit a sort a lull when the gambit first started. By the middle of the second phase, I could not put this book down. The backstabbing and cons and secret motives. Everyone has their own reason for doing things and right when you thought you could trust someone or you hated someone, they did something to change your mind. I was so surprised by the ending. Oh my goodness. The absolute pain that Ross must be feeling, I wouldn't blame her one bit if she cut that person out of her life forever. After she was starting to come out of her shell, trusting other people and making friends, she's reminded why she can't trust anyone. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely can't wait to see what happens next with Ross, the rest of the Quest family, and Devroe.

Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest plans to run away from her life as a master thief, but plans change when her mother’s life is threatened. Ross enters an international heist competition, the Thieves’ Gambit, which grants the prize winner a wish for anything – a wish Ross could use to save her mother. The Gambit is trickier than Ross ever thought. Can she win? THIEVES’ GAMBIT is billed as “The Inheritance Games meets Ocean's Eleven.” Though I have yet to read The Inheritance Games to comment on that comparison, I can say that there are definitely Ocean’s Eleven vibes throughout this fast-paced YA mystery/thriller. If you’re into heist plots, this book will be right up your alley. Lots of twists and turns keep the reader entertained and engaged. I was eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next. The diversity among the characters is great. The pacing and easy flow of the writing made for a quick read. The ending wraps up one plotline but leaves a cliffhanger on something else. THIEVES’ GAMBIT was a fun fast-paced YA mystery/thriller that I’d recommend. It’s the first book in the Thieves’ Gambit series by Kayvion Lewis. I look forward to the next book.

Ross Quest, at seventeen years old, is already a master thief, especially at escape plans. However, her mother's life is left hanging in the balance after Ross's plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves. In a desperate ploy, she enters the Thieves' Gambit, which is a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn't technically off limits. The grand prize is a wish for anything in the world - a wish that could save her mom. Winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined when she discovers two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talker who also might want to steal her heart. Ross is determined to stick to the family motto of: trust no one whose last name isn't Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to trust and who to con before time runs out. After all, only one can win. I really enjoyed this one up until the end. The suspense kept me very interested but the ending fell very flat and left me disappointed.

Thieves' Gambit is a mixture of The Inheritance Games and Ocean's Eleven, but I wish it was a bit more Six of Crows in terms of twists. We follow Ross (Rosalyn) Quest as she enters thieving competition against other teens in order to gain a wish. The stakes are high because she's being blackmailed over her mother's recent kidnapping. However Ross has to learn to work with other thieves and figure out who she can trust or follow her family's motto: Trust No One - except a Quest. I liked the writing style. It's quick with short chapters and very much like Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Ross is an interesting character, caught between wanting her own experiences and staying with her legendary thieving family. Her growing relationship with Devroe is a highlight and you're never quite sure who is playing who. I only wish that this book hadn't been quite so predictable. It promises heists, but it lacks in the twists and buildup. Everything was so easy to see coming. I just wish there had been more tension or surprises. With that said, I'll definitely read the sequel to see what happens next.