Review by Booklist Review
Kelly (The Frozen Crown, 2021) channels her love of Dungeons & Dragons into a boisterous story told in alternating voices. Balthazar Vadalen does not believe in magic, demons, or gods but will do anything for his teammates. He has returned home, bent on revenge against the man who murdered his family, and the payout for their current job will satisfy that goal and set everyone up for life. That is, if his friends do not abandon him first for taking on a recklessly dangerous job from an unidentified patron and for agreeing to bring in an unknown accessory. Bal's nonbelief is shaken when their new accomplice appears out of nowhere right in front of him--in a locked cell. Tassiel, the mysterious Queen of Days, never works for the same person twice, only takes short-term contracts, and does not accept money as payment. Her payment is time--a month of life, thirty days from each crew member. The fast-paced adventure and snarky characters will have readers wishing to join this disreputable band of thieves.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Kelly (The Seventh Queen) invites readers along on a high-stakes heist in a secondary world populated by gods, demigods, and plenty of wily rogues. A mysterious patron hires the Talion crew, headed by Balthazar "Bal" Vadalen, for their biggest score yet: stealing the idol of the god Karanis from his newly restored temple in the middle of the temple's consecration ceremony, but before the consecration is complete. Though Bal is sure that he and his scrappy crew can handle the job on their own, their patron insists they work with the legendary thief known as the Queen of Days. As payment, the Queen of Days demands a month off the end of the lives of each member of the crew. Bal agrees, thinking she couldn't possibly collect this fanciful price. But she does, which is just the start of everything that could go wrong with the heist going wrong--until the Talion crew find that if they want to survive the war between gods that they've accidentally stumbled into, they'll need to rely on the Queen of Days just as much as they do on each other. In Kelly's hands, this band of rogues becomes a lovable found family. Fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora will find much to enjoy. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Balthazar has lost his parents to the governor and will do anything to protect his sister and the family of thieves he has put together--plus sticking it to the governor wouldn't hurt. Enlisted by his quirky benefactor to steal a statue during a celebration for the god Karanis seems easy, even with the mysterious, masked Queen of Days brought into his group. But when the celebration turns deadly, opening a door to allow the gods into the world, Bal and his friends find that it is more than their money at stake--it's also their lives, their city, and their beliefs. Now they must hunt down half an idol that's missing so that they can retrieve their pay and stop the gates from another reality from opening. Incredible worldbuilding takes Bal across realities, fast-paced action makes the story move quickly, and alternating viewpoints between Bal and Tassiel ground the plot in its landscape. VERDICT Kelly (The Seventh Queen) writes a fantasy heist novel filled with interesting characters, a vivid world, and protagonists trying to find their way through.--Kristi Chadwick
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A ragtag band of thieves joins forces with a mysterious stranger to steal a precious idol. Balthazar Vadalen, his half brother, Kai, his cousin, Zeelaya Agodzi, and her husband, Edik, along with Balthazar's younger sister, Miraveena, haven't always been outlaws. Years ago, Balthazar was the heir to the governor of the great city of Cothis. But when Balthazar's father's second-in-command, Paasch, betrayed him to seize power, Balthazar's parents and most of his family were killed. Now he and his remaining family steal to live, until they're offered the job of a lifetime: Steal the idol to the sea god, Karanis, that Governor Paasch plans to reveal to Cothis in a great ceremony celebrating the new temple. If they pull it off, the payoff from Balthazar's mysterious patron will be enough to set them up with new lives away from their painful past. The catch? Other than the immense difficulty of stealing the idol, the crew's patron insists they work with a legendary thief, known only as the Queen of Days. When Balthazar meets this strange figure, who introduces herself as Tass, he knows instantly that Tass is not what she seems. Though he's reluctant to trust her, he desperately wants the money to ensure a safe, comfortable life for Mira, so he agrees to Tass's strange price: 30 days of life from each of the crew members. But how can someone be paid in time? And what makes the idol worth stealing, anyway? Kelly is an efficient storyteller, instantly establishing the relationships among her close-knit characters, and crafting thrilling action scenes. If the world Balthazar inhabits isn't all that immersive, readers who love themes of friendship and community will still appreciate Balthazar's tension between his own desire for revenge against Paasch and the needs of the little family he has left. A heist adventure with magical twists. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
