Thief Liar Lady is a nuanced retelling of Cinderella. I love a good fairy tale retelling and this book did not disappoint. What if the story of Cinderella that we all know gave Cinderella more agency? What if she knew what she was doing all along? Ash did grow up with two stepsisters and a scheming stepmother- but their plan was always for Ash to leave a shoe behind. Enchanting the prince of the kingdom to fall for her was all Ash’s idea. After the engagement, Ash must decide just how far she will take the treasonous scheme. 

Thief Liar Lady has elements of classic fantasy, mixed with a hint of YA and imaginative world-building. I liked how much agency Ash had and how ambitious she was. I also appreciated her relationship with her stepsisters and how it was far more complex than the original tale. The magic system was creative, yet at times it felt overly convenient due to the flexible rules. The morally gray nature of lustre was definitely a strong choice and I think some readers will enjoy how it was used and others will not. This book seems torn between trying to be YA and adult, with the romance pushing it into adult and the plot/characters reminiscent of YA. 

Overall, this was an entertaining and fun fantasy. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings, morally gray magic, and strong characters who refuse to wait for a prince to rescue them. 

Thank you to D.L. Soria, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.