Little Thieves

I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and exciting. The magic system and the ties to Germanic folklore were so interesting, I really liked all the creatures. Cute love story and engaging to read.

So this book has presented an interesting conundrum from me. Is it good? Yes, it’s a really great story (and really quite funny)! Did I force myself to finish it? Also, yes.There are some technical issues I have with the book: if you have a glossary put it at the front or at least make mention of additional information being available; the writing is incredibly dense especially for a YA book; the book is fantasy, but has things too close to real world, just enough to make it confusing- the language was especially grating while reading (again-glossary in the front).I love reading. I love reading YA, but it drives me crazy when authors make the MC’s age young to be in line with that genre. The characters’ ages play a part in the plot, sure, but could this book be just as believable if they weren’t 16/17? Absolutely, and actually, more believable in certain instances. There are multiple conflicts between different aged characters that just don’t make sense specifically due to the age gap.Also, there was another point that really stood out to me in the book as a technical issue. This book is “political” with partner choice, being asked pronouns, etc- all points that aren’t an issue. However, there is a point where the author discusses Gisele’s preferences and alludes to F/F childbearing. The technical issue here for me is that it isn’t clear if that is meant to be a fantasy plot point or a modern day political point of contention. As this IS a YA book, I feel like this particular subplot point does the book a disservice (that whole paragraph could be missing from the book and you’d never even remotely wonder why it wasn’t discussed).Personally, I feel like this book shouldn’t be YA and I think being in that genre does it a disservice. The writing is great, but very dense (it took nearly a quarter of a way through the book for the writing style to really feel rhythmic/cohesive). The characters are great, but a lot of them you wouldn’t read and assume they’re teenagers. This book is great, but… and that’s the problem. Definitely worth the read, but not something I’d jump to read again.

The dedication sets the tone for the bookTo the gremlin girls,I would like to tell you something inspiring,but the truth is,when life closes a door for us,it doesn’t always open a window.The good news is:That’s what bricks are for.Little Thieves is the story of an imposter, a wicked maid, Vanja, who switches places with a princess and pretends to be her. Given the title of the novel, it should come as no surprise to you that Vanja is also a thief. The title comes from this saying, "Little thieves steal gold, and great ones steal kingdoms, but only one goes to the gallows." Vanja is a splendid character. She is clever, but she is not so clever as she thinks she is. She is selfish, but not so selfish as she thinks she is. She finds herself in trouble almost immediately and spends most of the novel trying to maneuver her way out of it.Little Thieves is ostensibly a retelling of The Goose Girl. I forgot that until it was mentioned in the acknowledgements, so I looked the story up last night after finishing Little Thieves. I would advise you, too, to forget about The Goose Girl when you read Little Thieves. Little Thieves is for the most part a completely original new novel whose characters and plot are unrelated to those of the original Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale. A few characters and incidents can be identified with things that happen in The Goose Girl, but only a few, and they are mostly unimportant.Little Thieves is, overall, a delightfully transgressive novel.

Cannot recommend this enough. I inhaled this book. Vanja is hilarious and clever and has absolutely stolen my heart, little thief that she is.

Main character is a survivalist who is able to steal gems from the vacuous upper class. Her bigger theft is stealing the identity of a Princess. The Princess has a pending marriage to a narcissistic murderer so she may not b interested in resuming her former role. Clever, witty unique cast of supporting characters.

Adored this book! Its a bit of a chunky baby with its 500 pages but its split in 3 parts and 7 tales which helps. The first third is slower and harder to get into but its totally worth it. As soon as the second part starts, it moves, you're more familiar with the caracters, the titles and context. It gets funny, and thought you expect the happy ending, you don't see it happening this way. I smiled, laughted, gasped, etc. When i finished it, I felt, hapiness, sadness, wonder, all at once. Took me a minute to collect myself. Caracters and storyline are thought through. Doesn't feel like reding and adaptation or twist of 15 other books you've read before.I am getting more books from that autor for sure.

Loved this one and can't wait to read the next. Fast-paced and wonderful characters. Couldn't put it down. X x

That book was s brilliant. It's just WOW.The plot is so interesting and there are so many twists and turns I (mostly) couldn't foresee. It was never dull or boring. All scenes are calculated (in a very clever and mind-blowing way)... I just can't say how much I loved this book. I can recommend it to everyone who prefers individual and special characters, plot twist, magic here and there and Gods !

I wish they had refrained from using that mock-German language. As a native speaker it's annyoing and simply shattering every hint of immersion to constantly stumble over words that are either spelled wrong, used wrong or just wrong.

Such a great book! Couldn’t put it down