When searching for new books, seeing that a title is the first in a new series can often make me hesitate. If I read the first book and love it, then I am locked in and eagerly waiting for the follow-up, which is great. But if I end up less than interested in what the book offered and where the story is heading, it can feel weird to stop there with no intention of finishing the series. It is a gamble, but I took the chance of Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis. An elite competition between some of the world's best thieves sounds like a lot of fun, and the promise of more books to follow allows for a wide range of possibilities.
The Situation: Right now, 17 year-old Rosalyn Quest only wants one thing, and that is to save her mother. Before this, she wanted nothing more than to escape from her mother's grasp and live her own life, but that was before things went terribly wrong in the middle of a job. The Quests are legendary and are known for being the best thieves in North America. But that legacy may fall apart if Ross cannot come up with the insane ransom her mother's kidnappers are demanding. There is only one hope, and that it the Thieves' Gambit: a competition where the winner is granted one wish, for literally anything they want. Ross knows that winning will not be easy, but she has to try. What other choice does she have?
The Problem: Before the competition even begins, it is clear to Ross that the mysterious organizers of the Gambit are in complete control, with access to money, resources, and information. That was to be expected, but what Ross did not expect was to have to go up against her longtime rival, Noelia Boschert. The other competitors are from all over the word, and include a tech-genius from Japan, an impulsive gambling trickster from Las Vegas, and a charming boy named Devroe who may be fun to look at, but Ross is still hesitant to trust him. Each challenge proves to be more intense, and seemingly impossible, than the last, but the cost of losing is simply too high.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult thriller/adventure novel that takes place in various locations all over the world. While the Quest family is mostly known for pulling jobs in North America, and the Boschert's seem to have cornered the market in Europe, the competitors are from all over. Every participant of the Gambit was chosen for a reason, and each one has skills and advantages that are unique to them. And while trusting people is usually not something thieves are used to doing, Ross finds herself having to do just that if she wants to win, while also questioning what she has always been told by the people who raised her.
My Verdict: This book is definitely for those of us who love stories that feature intense, if unconventional, competitions between an ensemble cast of characters, but are not necessarily too interested in watching it all go down in yet another post-apocalyptic or dystopian landscape. The Gambit takes their competitors to places like Egypt and Paris, and in style. But just because private planes are featured, it does not mean that things are more comfortable, less tense, or that the stakes are not still incredibly high. Questions of who to trust, who to believe, and and what is really going on are a constant, and little gets answered until the very last page. I am certainly excited for this series to continue. Anyone else looking for globe-trotting adventure and high-stakes heists with magnetic characters will love it.
Favorite Moment: It has been drilled into Ross that she cannot trust anyone unless they are family, and that she must be ruthless if she wants to survive. There is a moment early on when she decides to go against these lessons, which makes her character admirable and endearing.
Favorite Character: Kyung-soon is a competitor from South Korea who makes a habit of swiping silverware, and then selling it back to people when they need it to eat their meals.
Recommended Reading: For some reason, I feel like recommending The Reader by Traci Chee. It is a completely different kind of book, but it has a similar fast-paced intensity and colorful cast of characters that was found in today's book.
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