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Book Summary and Reviews of To Steal from Thieves by M.K. Lobb

To Steal from Thieves by M.K. Lobb

To Steal from Thieves

by M.K. Lobb

  • Critics' Consensus (5):
  • Published:
  • Mar 2025, 400 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London's Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it's about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming con man Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London's magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it's a job he can't pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London's greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father's death, Zaria's been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can't walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn't going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they've worked so hard for.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"The tension never lets up in this electric tale that's equal parts clever heist, searing romance, and pulse-pounding action-adventure with crossover potential that will entice fans of Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard Sequence." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A heist that unfolds in a flurry of nail-biting twists and turns...for patient readers seeking a moody, character-driven fantasy." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Insightful and fun, To Steal from Thieves spins a clever, unforgettable narrative about how desperation forges us into dangerous people—and how to reconcile and love those parts of ourselves anyway. M.K. Lobb has never heard of a sophomore slump. This new series opener is a sophomore success, in every sense of the word." ―Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of So Let Them Burn

"A fresh take on clockpunk London. Lobb takes us on a pulse-pounding tour of a criminal underworld filled with dark magic, desperation, and desire. To Steal from Thieves is a fantasy heist that will have you questioning if you're team Kane or team Zaria right to the very end. Fans of Six of Crows and These Violent Delights will be all over this!" ―Courtney Smyth, author of The Undetectables

This information about To Steal from Thieves was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

M.K. Lobb

M.K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark—whether literature, humor, or general aesthetic. She is the author of Seven Faceless Saints and Disciples of Chaos. She lives in Ontario with her partner and cats and invites you to visit her online at mklobb.com and follow her @mk_lobb.

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