Thick as Thieves

Kuhn dials up the intrigue and magical mayhem in this gripping sequel to Among Thieves. Ryia Cautella, the Butcher of Carrowick, believes she destroyed the powerful and dangerous Quill of Declan Day, which allows the wielder to locate and subjugate magical Adepts, and sets off on a daring rescue mission to save her friend, Tristan Becket, aka Prince Dennison Shadowwood of Edale, who was nabbed by the law on their last heist. But in the process she’s captured and locked up by the king himself—and discovers that the quill she smashed must have been a fake, and that the formidable Callum Clem, the leader of her former gang, now possesses the genuine article. Ryia befriends her Adept cellmate, Joslyn, and together they break out of prison and reunite with Evelyn Linley, the former Captain of the Needle Guard, to hunt Callum before he masters the power of the Quill. Kuhn keeps the pages flying with twists and double crosses galore as royals and brigands alike concoct elaborate schemes to claim the Quill. This fast-paced, nail-biting romp will have readers hooked from the first page. Agent: Laura Crockett at Triada US. (July)