Margaret Owen

A scrappy maid must outsmart both palace nobles and Low Gods in a new YA fantasy by Margaret Owen, author of the Merciful Crow series. Once upon a time, there was a horrible girl... Vanja Schmidt knows that no gift is freely given, not even a mother’s love—and she’s on the hook for one hell of a debt. Vanja, the adopted goddaughter of Death and Fortune, was Princess Gisele's dutiful servant up until a year ago. That was when Vanja’s otherworldly mothers demanded a terrible price for their care, and Vanja decided to steal her future back... by stealing Gisele’s life for herself. The real Gisele is left a penniless nobody while Vanja uses an enchanted string of pearls to take her place. Now, Vanja leads a lonely but lucrative double life as princess and jewel thief, charming nobility while emptying their coffers to fund her great escape. Then, one heist away from freedom, Vanja crosses the wrong god and is cursed to an untimely end: turning into jewels, stone by stone, for her greed. Vanja has just two weeks to figure out how to break her curse and make her getaway. And with a feral guardian half-god, Gisele’s sinister fiancé, and an overeager junior detective on Vanja’s tail, she’ll have to pull the biggest grift yet to save her own life. Margaret Owen, author of The Merciful Crow series, crafts a delightfully irreverent retelling of “The Goose Girl” about stolen lives, thorny truths, and the wicked girls at the heart of both.

Little Thieves

Liz Walton

“Vanja,” he says, voice roughening, “what I was thinking of… did not involve the pearls.”

Elissa Young

Caitlin Johnson

Courtney Passio

Ellie M.

The Princess and The Pauper gets a little twisted in this breathtaking first installment of Little Thieves! Margaret Owen’s fairytale-like prose is very entertaining as we learn more about Vanja Schmidt, the little girl abandoned in a forest by her mother to the two gods of old, Death and Fortune. This fantastically inviting setting has its own magic system rooted in German folklore bursting with thrilling heists and robbery in each page. Our main character’s thievery gives off morally grey or anti-hero, making her a very unique person. On the other hand, her love interest is of the complete opposite, being morally righteous bound by law. They’re literally perfect for each other. Overall, this story boasts a very fun, diverse, and queer cast and there was never a dull moment in this savory tale of found family, retribution, and revenge.

Krys C.

4.5 🌟

I adored this retelling as well as the writing! A little qualm I had with this one was that it could have been either shorter or a bit more fast-paced, but otherwise I loved it. The characters and their respective arcs and dynamics with one another were interesting and provided us with character studies alongside the plot.

Tatiana

Little Thieves: 4/5

If I'm honest, I haven't been enjoying YA books too much lately, but this book may have brought me back into the genre. Little Thieves has an amazing & unique story with personality-rich characters. The motives, plot, and character arcs are executed wonderfully all wrapped in an entertaining world.

I thought the book was a bit slow toward the middle, but overall I was incredibly entertained and I cannot wait for Painted Devils to release later this year!

J Nieto

This book really was so sooo fantastic! I don’t know if I can put in to words just how much I enjoyed it. And at first I wasn’t really feeling it, but it picked up so quick, and the story got so exciting and fun and dangerous… I had to finish it quick!

So first of all, the characters. The character building and growth was definitely the most enjoyable part of the book. Because Vanja should be the blueprint for morally grey characters. She does bad things, she steals and lies and she hurts people, but she does out of a pure and unbridled need to survive. People HAVE hurt her… badly. And by the time you get to know her scars, you really can’t help but relate. But the thing that actually makes her a great character is that she actually makes up for her bad actions: she apologizes to the good people she hurt, she makes amends and she grows up to be such an amazing person. She comes to the realization that she is deserving of love (from others AND herself) and that she didn’t deserve all the bad things that happened to her. 

The characters fight, and they hurt each other, but then they apologize (a really great and proper apology, admitting their mistakes and making up for them), and at the end they HELP each other grow to be better people. It’s such a healthy and realistic character dynamic that I absolutely loved with all my soul.

The romance? I loved ALL OF IT. I won’t say much, but Vanja and Emeric’s slow burn relationship, enemies to lovers, forced proximity … etc. gave EVERYTHING it needed. It was so nice to see ace/demi representation, and actually seeing it build up slowly and naturally. It was so cozy, and lovely. Plus, Ragne and Gisele? They were soooo cute together, such a nice surprise.

The world building was also very well done. There is political intrigue and corruption, but there is also magic and gods and powers beyond comprehension. The gods DO feel like people, with personalities and relationships with each other and the mortal world. You can tell that Death and Fortune love Vanja and actually see her as her daughter. But they’re gods, and can’t comprehend this mortal feeling, so they do the best they can to protect her, even if it might end up hurting Vanja in the long run. The magic system feels complete and fantastic.

I really like how queernormative the world is. Like in the first pages we learn of a gay gorvernor with a husband, and then later we learn about how Gisele likes women and that her parents would disapprove (not because they’re homophobic, but because it would limit her choices to bear an heir to the few Trans women in noble ranks). And then, even the gods themselves are queer. Like obviously Death and Fortune being basically married with a child, but also with the god Truth being gender fluid because truth itself is fluid, and so Justice asks them how to refer to themselves during the trial. It’s all small stuff, but I think very important overall.

Finally we have the plot. Like I said, it was slow at first but it picked up so quick! There were so many twists and turns I was always on the edge of my seat. I can see why SoC fans would like it, with all the intricate plans and heists and then adapting when the plan inevitably goes wrong. It was all so exciting and fun with beautiful writing.

was a little slow at the beginning but when it got good it got good!! loved how everything/ everyone came together!

Hannah Williams

Sparrow Hall

This took a while for me to get through, and I'm still going through my thoughts. Full review to come later.

Beatrice

As often happens when I utterly and totally love a book, I am struggling to write a proper review for this one. Little Thieves was an absolute blast to read and, while I had a feeling I might like it, it completely blew my expectations out of the water! I read this towards the end of 2021 and it easily earned its rightful place as one of my favourite reads of the year. 

Starting from a lesser-known fairytale, The Goose Girl, Little Thieves manages to craft a wholly new and original tale, maintaining all the key elements from the original without simply re-writing it. In short, it masterfully does precisely what a retelling should do, and it was so refreshing. The Germanic medieval-esque setting worked beautifully as a backdrop to this story, and its society, traditions and lore were essential in making this book so great to read, complementing the plot in an exquisite manner. 

But where the book really shines is in the cast of characters. All the characters (including some of the minor ones) were drawn in an incredibly realistic manner, and our main character and narrator, Vanja, was one of the best I have had the joy to read about. She is deliciously complex, snarky, resourceful, witty, and of dubious morality but in a way that is always understandable, if not always justifiable. I loved the inclusion of seven tales throughout the book to give background, explain past events, and give some context as to why characters would behave a certain way. They may not have always made the best decisions, but it made complete sense for them to do so, and this is something I really enjoy seeing. 

The rest of the cast was also fantastic, with a wide range of characters, some lovable and some utterly despicable. Shape-shifting half-goddess Ragne, who is assigned by her mother to guard Vanja after she is cursed, definitely earned a spot in my heart! But so did (almost) everyone else to be honest... The character development in this book is *chef's kiss*! I also loved the inclusion of low and high Gods and their interactions with humans, and Vanja in particular. 

The plot was intricate enough to keep me gripped, with never a dull moment despite the book's size, but it never became so complicated that I felt lost or like it was going off on a tangent. Instead, every moment felt absolutely necessary within the overall scheme and it all came together beautifully. Plus, there were tons of elements I loved, such as a bit of heist and cons; magic; glorious food descriptions; friendships, betrayals, and love; and even a dash of courtroom drama! 

In short, 
  Little Thieves
 is sheer perfection and I am so, so happy it found its way to me. I look forward to re-reading this one soon!

For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

This book was fun and easy to read. It fit the vibe I wanted well and made me laugh! 

Kerry McHugh West

Catarina Silva

Dropped in the first 20 pages. It's just not for me. I didn't like Vanja from beginning to end (I might have read the end to make sure I didn't like it).

ThyThy

I've never read “The Goose Girl" fairytale, so I wasn't familiar with this story before going in, but I enjoyed it. I thought the setting was great. I loved the woodsy, cold feel of it. It took me a bit to warm up to Vanja since she isn't the greatest, and while I still didn't love her by the end, I liked her growth. My favorite was all the secondary characters, especially Ragne. I enjoyed how they all formed this little family. My only issue was that it was so long and some parts felt dragged out, so I was a little bored. That said, I'm still interested enough to pick up the next book.

Heather Harrington

Livia

4.5 but rounded up

i can't thank el and aaku enough for making me read the book this month because it's so GOOD. and i know there will be a sequel but honestly i think this book stands well on its own

Carlee Edwards 

Elizabeth Hagenlocher

Adored this book. Review to come.

~I spent 20 minutes trying to find a depiction the traditional way to eat weißwurst and I can see why Vanja was disturbed lmao~

-------------------

I'll admit, I'm not very familiar with the Goose Girl story in general. As in, I haven't read too many retellings, though I get the gist of the story. 

That being said, I found this to be a fantastically layered retelling. The book is broken into numerous acts, disrupting the typical 3-act structure that is commonplace in books. Within each act, we're given a snippet of our main character's (Vanya's) story that gives us greater context into her thoughts and actions. I found this to be a really compelling way to tell the story, and let the plot unfold. 

I thought the plot was really interesting and increasingly complex. Just when you thought you had figured things out, there was another curveball. And as the book progresses, some of the underlying threads get more and more ominous, adding to the dark atmosphere of the story. 

I loved the characters dearly, including the vibrant cast of side characters. Even if they made some questionable decisions, I'll give them a pass because, you know, trauma. 

I cannot wait for the next book!

I read this by recommendation of my sister and can I just say... WOW. Fairytale retellings are having their moment in the spotlight now and I was wary of a Goose Girl from the villan's perspective since in the original material she is a pretty selfish villain but Margret Owen executes this perfectly. 

The plot itself deviates significantly from the original tale, though you can see nods throughout. 

If you like morally grey protagonists paired with righteous love interests I would definitely recommend you check this book out. I appreciated the ways in which the main character was unique and fundamentally flawed but you get flashbacks to how her character developed into the girl she is today. 

The magic in this world was fantastic and was explained throughout the book without being an info-dump onto the reader. I cannot wait for Owens next book in this world!

Minnie Mazuera

I read this by recommendation of my sister and can I just say... WOW. Fairytale retellings are having their moment in the spotlight now and I was wary of a Goose Girl from the villan's perspective since in the original material she is a pretty selfish villain but Margret Owen executes this perfectly. 

The plot itself deviates significantly from the original tale, though you can see nods throughout. 

If you like morally grey protagonists paired with righteous love interests I would definitely recommend you check this book out. I appreciated the ways in which the main character was unique and fundamentally flawed but you get flashbacks to how her character developed into the girl she is today. 

The magic in this world was fantastic and was explained throughout the book without being an info-dump onto the reader. I cannot wait for Owens next book in this world!

Fleur Heikens

I was really surprised by this book. I thought the story was very original and I did not expect the ending. I really liked the romance that was sprinkled in it and how in the end she didn’t settle down for a man. If you want a book a bit of romance but also an interesting mc and storyline I would really recommend this book

Samantha Chavez 

I had so much fun reading this book. The characters, dynamics, world building, and romance were incredible. I slipped so easily into this world and will miss it so much now that I’m through. Highly recommend this to everyone.

Once upon a time, there was a horrible girl . . . Vanja Schmidt knows that no gift is freely given, not even a mother's love. The adopted goddaughter of Death and Fortune, Vanja has long made her own way in the world as the dutiful servant of Princess Gisele. Until a year ago, when her otherworldly mothers demanded payment for their care, and Vanja decided to steal her future back . . . by stealing Gisele's life. With the help of an enchanted string of pearls, Vanja transformed into her former mistress and took her place, leaving the real Gisele a penniless nobody. Now, Vanja leads a lonely but lucrative double life as princess and jewel thief, charming the nobility while emptying their coffers to fund her great escape. Until, one heist away from freedom, Vanja crosses the wrong god and is cursed to turn into jewels, stone by stone. With a feral guardian half-god, Gisele's sinister fiancé, and an overeager junior detective on her tail, Vanja has just two weeks to pull off her biggest grift yet, or she risks losing more than her freedom - she could lose her life. In this delightfully irreverent retelling of 'The Goose Girl', Margaret Own crafts an unputdownable tale about stolen lives, thorny truths, and the wicked girls at the heart of both.

This is definitely a book that took me a while to get into. In fact, it took me half the book. I didn't like the writing style [especially the 'fourth wall' breaking], the characters weren't all that likeable, and the plot wasn't really doing it for me. However, then the angst began - and I'm an angsty reader. Despite this, it didn't really go anywhere. You had a really good chapter that punched you in the chest but then, by the next chapter, most was resolved - it kind of lessened the impact. Nevertheless, the second half of the book pulled through with some really immersive scenes and better chemistry between characters. Thus, this book gets a 2.5 - because this isn't a bad book but it's not a great book either. 

Dilayra Verbrugh

If I could give it 10 stars, I would. 
This book was SO good. 
It’s a little goose retelling. The maid steals the princesses life and is now cursed by a god because of her greed. While breaking the curse she has to take down someone with the worst people to work together with… 
Will she break the curse?

Found family trope 
Enemies to lovers 
A surprise lgbtq couple 
Character that uses they/them 
Mystery

Liz Griffin

All of you who told me I would love this book? YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! I blazed through the audio in about 3 days and loved every minute. The stakes!! The cute banter!! The sassy, irreverent protagonist (think Lou or Nina, but ace/demi and absolutely perfect). The worldbuilding and system of gods, presented brilliantly through Vanya’s voice. And Emeric!!! Where do they make him and how do I get one? Rounded out by a diverse supporting cast and a bone-chilling villain, Little Thieves is going on my 2022 favorites list for sure. (The author has kindly and thoughtfully provided a content notes warning in the beginning of the book. Please refer there and feel free to ask me any questions you may have!)

lauren carla

“There’s only room in this town for one smug bastard. That smug bastard is me.”


This book was a lot of things and a page turner was definitely one of them. I was already into it within the first few pages.

We follow Vanja, a thief, a maid, a princess and above all a friend, someone who makes sarcastic remarks and bullies others and would probably die before admitting how vulnerable she is. We follow her as she fights a curse placed upon her while ALSO denying her feelings towards the Sanctimonious Coatrack. Throughout the story I could see her character gradually developing and I loved her utterly. She tries to fight her anxiety and the scars of her past and I adore her for it. Not only is she clever and throws quips after quips but she also has a soft heart that you get to see slowly unravel and you can’t help but fall in love with her.

On the other hand, the Sanctimonious Coatrack, Emeric, is a walking morality lecture with something to prove (Vanja’s words not mine) and who seems to be quite attached to the law. And Emeric’s character is equally lovable and sweet. The other characters, mainly Ragne was the scene stealer with her childlike curiosity and her pure heart. And I loved the dynamics between Ragne and Vanja. Gisele and Joniza also contributed to the story and I have complicated feelings about the former. The two godmothers were very interesting as well. Also yes you won’t find any shortage of some disturbing villains in this story. 

Enough about the characters, let’s talk about the storyline. It was so well crafted and the world building was amazing. The plot kept on getting better and better and the dialogues were so engaging. Sometimes I felt like I was right there between the pages.

Let’s not even get started on the ROMANCE because it was the sweetest thing what Vanja and Emeric had with each other. They slowly built their trust in one another and had so much adoration and love stored in a single glance. I would prolly give my left kidney to have something like what these two had. I was completely blushing and smiling and crying with these two. 

One of the things I loved and I find worth mentioning is the inclusion of LGBT characters who aren’t just there as bland background pieces but actually have depth and some contribution to the storyline. However, I found the ending kind of rushed and felt like the last chapter should’ve included a little more something. But the way it leaves with endless possibilities is something totally thrilling. 

The writer did such an amazing job and I’m totally in love with this book (if you hadn’t figure it out already with this lengthy review). I miss the characters already. This was such an amazing read and I could go on and on about Vanja and Emeric.

(Also idk how to feel about a second book because I thought this ending was perfect plus THE SYNOPSIS IS SCARING ME.)

Wiktoria Balcerak

As You Wish Books

The first fantasy of the year. The artwork was stunning. The story was a little predictable at times, ultimately beautiful and unique. I loved the connection between the tales and the story, and the bits of self-reflection thrown in to remind us that this narrator knows herself better than anyone else could, and that she’s the only one who could tell the story this way. I also very much appreciated the descriptions of the low gods, Death in particular.

Little Thieves

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