Little Thieves

Okay, I am soooo in love. It's been a long time since I've been obsessed with a book like this. I'll try to sort out my feelings by making a list.

Why I loved it:
1. Not to judge a book etc but have you seen the cover? So gorgeous.

2. I'm no expert in German culture but I loved its influences in the book. The language of course and I think I recognized some of the mythology and customs? Apparently the OG Goose Girl is also a German story, which is really neat.

3. The storytelling was so compelling, not one boring moment! I could not put it down, other than when I had to walk off my feelings or something. When I couldn't read it, I'd switch to the audiobook (which is also amazingly narrated, btw). The ending, which was probably tricky with so many threads, was satisfying as well, for the most part.

4. Vanja herself! All this time when I prayed for an anti-heroine, she's who I meant. The story starts with her slipping into her different alter egos to pull off a heist, but even so, it surprised me how layered she was as a character. The gist of it is that she's a high-profile thief, she's a con-woman, she's a princess, she's a maid, but she's also just a heavily traumatized kid, trying to survive. She wrestles with her morality and her trauma throughout the story. She's insecure, she's badass, she's smart. And she's funny. I love love loved her.

5. Death and Fortune trying to co-parent killed me. They're kinda terrible because they don't really understand humans, but that also makes them so funny. The resolution of that whole 'You need to pick one of us to serve' thing was a bit too simple, maybe? But it's fine anyway, because this way they can actually have a good relationship with Vanja, which I'm so looking forward to. Hope to see more of them in the next book (which I will be ordering ASAP!!!).

6. Actually good queer rep? The MC and the love interest are het but it's heavily implied that they're demisexual. 2 prominent side characters are sapphic - and they weren't done in a boring-yawning-sloppy-lazy way either; they're well-rounded, complex characters (though one more than the other, I guess).

7. Which brings me to the next point, Gisele and Vanja's crazy ass friendship? I loved it so much. It was like their hate and love and resentment and longing and shame and everything was just stacked one on top of the other like a pile of pancakes... and I ate it all up. And both of them developed and got so much better as people. Loved the part where Gisele tells her parents to fuck off, so cathartic. It will be interesting to see what their actual friendship looks like after the dust settles. I know in like the epilogue they were sitting in a group of friends, but still.

8. Emeric was so sweet!! So smart and respectful and he and Vanja fit together so well. He also communicates and emotes like a normal person, very refreshing after having to slog through those ‘cool, silent, mysterious' types. An adorably perfect love interest, no notes.

10. Ragne!!!!!! I love her.

11. The whole scene with the Godly Courts council or whatever they were called was funny. I'd love to see more of the gods.

The list of what I didn't care for as much is super short and kinda minor - there were some anachronistic expressions (‘in this economy?' stopped me cold. it was funny tho), and I felt that the characters would have been more believable aged up a bit ? Like the MC and Gisele are 16 in this book, and Emeric is around that age as well. Ehh, I don't know, it just seems like a lot for teenagers, but I feel that about most YA I guess.

Overall, this is easily the best fiction book I read this year and I can see it becoming a favorite to re-read. Easyyy 5 stars. Thank you for writing this lovely book, author Margaret Owen!