As I was trolling through my libraries bookshelves recently, I came across THE MIDNIGHT THIEF by Livia Blackburne. The cover intrigued me and the book blurb carried a lot of promise. It didn’t disappoint. But before I dive in, here is a recap of how I structure my reviews:

• Plot Structure: How well the story was put together.
• Character Development: Level of growth a character achieves and how well the author makes them feel “real.”
• Language: Level of swearing, innuendos, verbal abuse, and other triggers.
• Violence: Level of fight scenes and gore.
• Sexual Content: Level of physical intimacy.

Now for the review.

THE MIDNIGHT THIEF is a Young Adult novel about a girl named Kyra living on the streets of Forge, scraping by as a thief for hire. Her latest job, to steal a ruby from a rich man residing on the main wall of the castle, turns out to be more of a test. After she is unable to locate the ruby, she returns to her friend and the man who hired her with a few other trinkets to prove she got in and got out.

As the story progresses, we discover the man is the head of the Assassin’s guild, most thought extinct. He hires her to do some thievery for him with the promise of better pay and steady work. Soon, Kyra is in over her head, and is desperate to get out. The question is whether she gets out of the guild alive.

This book is fast paced with plenty of action. The violence is not overdone and neither is the language. Kyra is a strong character, proactive in her decision making, and compassionate. She’s everything we hope for with a female protagonist. The antagonist, James, is equally thrilling with his unyielding temperament and prowess as a leader and fighter.

The only spot in the story I felt the ends were still loose was during Krya’s final battle with James. It felt a bit forced to make the ends meet and predictable. However, this fact didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book as I came to the ending which left me with plenty of questions on how things will shake out in the next book called DAUGHTER OF THE DAWN. (Please note: I have not read any of the following books in this series, but when/if I do, I will post their reviews on the blog).

Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars and would put a reading level/ maturity level at high school age. The rankings below are on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being poor or none, and 10 being high or excellent.

• Plot Structure: 8 – I thought in general the book came together very well, if following a bit of a prescribed cause and effect structure.
• Character Development: 7 – Krya went from a lowly thief to one willing to take risks to save her friends. Good character growth was demonstrated throughout.
• Language: 3 – language in general was mild.
• Violence: 6 – Animal attacks, murders, and mishaps were prevalent. Luckily the author does not go into great depth in details.
• Sexual Content: 3 – There is definitely some attraction between Kyra and James that comes through most of the book, but nothing really comes of it. Kyra kisses another man.

If you’re looking for a next read, I would check this one out. But be warned, you will stay up late reading if you get started on it, so plan accordingly. 😁

For a full book description, you can read the Amazon blurb below. If you check out this book, dm me on Instagram and let me know what you thought, or you can comment belowe.

As always, keep reading my friends and I’ll catch you next week!

Vanessa Thurgood

I’m a Young Adult Epic Fantasy author who loves to read as much as write. I strive to write clean and exciting books for anyone looking to escape in an adventure in lush landscapes and love recommending other books I think you’ll love.

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THE MIDNIGHT THIEF by Livia Blackburne

Intrigue prowls around every corner—and danger is a way of life—in this arresting YA fantasy novel.

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he is persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by the Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces, even as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point.

Find it here on Amazon, or check with your local library.