Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Historical Fantasy
Length: 400 pages
Author: M.K. Lobb
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: March 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming conman Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they’ve worked so hard for.

I LIKED IT.

I would read the next book. Which honestly could be the review in its entirety. Did I think this was anything ground breaking or like I have to shout at every person to go read it? No, but I had a good time and I have been craving all things fantasy and this hit that mark while ALSO having historical elements too! I had no idea (because I don’t often read summaries) that this was historical romance and I loved that world/magic elemental addition.

I enjoyed the characters and the back and forth of not knowing who was going to betray who as the heist loomed closer. I thought the slow burn romance was enjoyable and I hope to see more of that in the sequel too. It’s an easy read with a good premise.

Overall audience notes:

• YA Historical Fantasy
• Language: mild – moderate
• Romance: kisses
• Violence: moderate

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