HEIST ROYALE

Ross Quest must compete against internationally renowned thieves with the help of her friends.

In this heart-stopping sequel to Thieves’ Gambit (2023), Ross, an 18-year-old professional thief, once again finds herself at the whims of the organization, competing in something that’s “less like a gambit, more like a gauntlet” to help their leader retain control after a takeover attempt puts the Quest family at risk. From New Orleans and Antarctica to Monte Carlo and Cape Town, the returning cast of beloved characters, including Ross’ friends Noelia, Mylo, and Kyung-soon, among others, find themselves competing against Devroe, Ross’ former crush, and his mother, Diane, who deeply hates the Quest family. Ross must continue to face the uncertainty of choosing to trust her friends’ loyalty, despite her mother’s continually urging her to do the opposite, all while she attempts to remain one step ahead of her opponents. Much of the same nail-biting action continues here, making for a fun and satisfying read. While Ross and Devroe’s relationship falls a little flat, losing some of the sparkle from the earlier entry, Ross’ other relationships bloom as she grows confident in her own personhood, building a future for herself. New readers will want to start with the first book to grasp the plot and get to know the internationally diverse cast.

An entertaining and worthy follow-up.