Book Review: To Steal From Thieves by M.K. Lobb

Official Synopsis: 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 conman 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.

If you have been here a while you know I am huge M.K. Lobb fan, and have adored pretty much everything I've read by her. This book is no exception.

To Steal From Thieves takes place in a fantasy version of London, where a The Great Expedition is about to take place. Zaria Mendoza is struggling to keep up with orders that her father left piled up for her after he passed away, with his clientele being some of the most threatening of the city. When she is approached by a known criminal, and con artist, Kane Durante, to help him steal from The Great Exhibition, she isn't in the place to say no. The magic she uses to create takes a part of her each time, and if she doesn't find another way she will die sooner than her father did.

Kane is the star student of the most dangerous Kingpin in London, and if he doesn't succeed stealing a necklace, his best friend's life is in danger. He asks Zaria to help him because she is the best at making the devices he needs, but also would be easy to double-cross. At least he thinks. Zaria and Kane don't see eye to eye on much, but also can't seem to keep wanting to protect their friends and selves from the dangers around them. But there are a lot more things in motion then either of them know about, and the closer they get to the day of the heist, the more dangerous everything seems to be getting.

This story has magic that takes part of our soul to make, there is a heist by two characters with questionable morals, and there is hate kissing by the same characters who think they can't stand each other. It has everything I truly want in a book but in a fun young adult way. The book is well paced, with the characters becoming a lot more complex as time goes on. The ending is shocking and I'm still not over it. (I'm going to need a good 4-5 business days). The big bad in this book is in fact, big and bad, and his ways of control are really well written.

I love a good heist novel, see Six of Crows being one of my favorite books ever, I also like characters who are willing to do anything to keep their friends safe, even if it pushes the bounds on their own safety. This version of London is really great too, with having a black market magic system under a normal time period of London. I spent a lot of the book going 'no not my murder child' about Kane and laughing at the way Zaria acted towards him. They are both chaos and I adore them. Fletcher, Kane's best friend, is also a great big murder teddy bear and I love him as well. There is a way they all go about protecting each other, even when they aren't fully trusting, that I really liked as well.

There were a lot of moments that I really wanted to highlight what was written, but the NetGalley web app won't let you. Alas, I will probably end up rereading it at some point just to find some of my favorite quotes.

I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars, as probably expected.

To Steal From Thieves comes out March 25, 2025 and you should definitely check it out!

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