To Steal From Thieves is an incredibly immersive story! I immediately felt like I stepped into Victorian England with its advances in science, technology, and art, and the extreme divide between its rich and its poor. I loved the inclusion of the Great Exhibition and the Crystal Palace as the scene of the heist, and thought the author did a great job balancing historical fiction with fantasy.

I struggled a bit with the first half of the book due to its slow pacing, but with two distinct POVs to balance and flesh out, the story doesn’t suffer thanks to excellent character development. Kane and Zaria are two very distinct and different characters, but who are motivated by the same thing: the survival of their friends. 

I appreciated the ADHD rep through Zaria and how she struggled to live up to her father’s reputation. Though he was present in her life, it’s clear she struggles from the  indifferent behavior he showed her while alive, and continuously wonders why he taught her a magic that would eventually kill her the same as him.

Kane, on the other hand, is in constant internal conflict with his feelings of love and hate for the man who raised him. This relationship defines his entire character - wanting to rise above it and also knowing he is exactly the monster he was created to be. I emphasized so much with his self-loathing!

Although this story is about a heist and a magic system based on alchemy, I would hesitate to classify it as plot-driven action novel. This story is defined by its characters and their relationships with one another. It’s about survival and betrayal and their internal and external conflicts. The ending was thrilling and I’m excited to see what happens in the sequel, including learning more about Zaria’s potential and her magic. This story is perfect for lovers of historical fantasy with character-driven plots, reluctant allies to enemies, and unique magic systems. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.