Lily the Thief

Tired of being underestimated by the master of the Guild of Thieves and trying to avoid a forced marriage, Lily, determined to prove her worth, steals information about a high-level job: the theft of a mysterious relic. Successfully swiping the ancient object, she ends up at odds with the guild, the powerful noble who owned the relic, and the sinister cult who has just bought it from him. To secure her life and freedom, Lily must steal two more relics, but the price of success may be steeper than the cost of failure. Kukkonen’s world leans heavily on high fantasy tropes (swords, sorcery, clever thieves) but distinguishes itself in the details, mostly courtesy of the cinematic art that blends grimy, creepy set pieces with layered characters. Lily, the youngest and only female character, stands out as a likeable, impetuous heroine whose somewhat flexible moral compass, skill, and quick thinking serve her well throughout increasingly difficult enterprises that leave impressive amounts of destruction and a surprisingly high body count in their wake. Lily’s adventures may feel familiar, but they amount to an enjoyable fantasy adventure. Ages 10–14. [em](Nov.) [/em]