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seekaygee 's review for:

4.75
adventurous challenging informative mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Kierse is not just a thief--she's an incredible thief. Probably one of the best in New York. After learning her trade the difficult way (with a violent mentor who envied her skill), she's settled into a routine, living with her best friends Gen and Ethan at Gen's mother's brothel. Her jobs help provide her with a safety net, living in post-Monster War New York, now ruled by gangs and the extraordinary wealth gap between citizens. When she takes on an especially difficult mission, she's surprised at how easy it seems... until the owner of the house she's been hired to steal from confronts her... and offers her a deal that could give her the ability to get revenge for her ex-girlfriend's kidnapping, and to take her, Gen, and Ethan to a newer, safer home.

I devoured this book. The weaving of Celtic mythology, paranormal elements, and post(supernatural)war setting was very well executed, and the plot was thrilling. The heist aspects of the story are the most prominent, but the relationships between the characters are what really make the book shine. Despite the short time period in which it takes place, Kierse and Graves' relationship still feels honest, as they're both victims of various traumas, both external and self-perpetuated. The world that KA Linde has created, as well, is lush, dark, and hauntingly beautiful. Different gangs and goings-on in different boroughs and areas of the city made me feel that much more immersed in the locale, lending a supernatural/monstrous version of NYC more believability (keep in mind I do not live there and am not the biggest fan of the subway system, but Linde still makes it feel accessible in the book). While certain aspects of the story (read: certain hidden identities) felt obvious to me, other reveals were quite unexpected. The cliffhanger may seem light, but I absolutely NEED more. This universe clearly has so much to offer, and I can't wait to get further into it!

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