To Steal from Thieves

Lobb (Disciples of Chaos) imbues a classic heist with magic, romance, and intrigue to form a richly imaginative fantasy adventure. When Zaria Mendoza’s famed alchemologist father dies, he leaves Zaria strapped with bills to pay and a long line of clients demanding the completion of their contracts. Soon she finds herself brushing shoulders with London’s criminal underground, where she meets Kane Durante, a con artist employed by Alexander Ward, the crime lord in charge of London’s black market for magical items. She’s not prepared for Kane’s request that she use her alchemological talents to help him steal a famous necklace from the Great Exhibition for his terrifying boss—or for the explosive chemistry between them. But as powerful forces put the duo in harm’s way for their own ends, Kane must decide whether to trust Zaria, and what that trust will cost. Lobb conjures a fascinating alternate-world Victorian London via blazing prose and tried-and-true fantasy elements. The tension never lets up in this electric tale that’s equal parts clever heist, searing romance, and pulse-pounding action-adventure with crossover potential that will entice fans of Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard Sequence. Main characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management. (Mar.)