Among Thieves

Among Thieves follows Drothe, a professional criminal who works as a "nose" - gathering intelligence and secrets for crime bosses in the underworld of Ildrecca. He operates in a complex network of thieves, smugglers and enforcers bound by a strict code of honor and hierarchy known as the Kin. The story centers on Drothe's investigation into a mysterious ancient book and encrypted messages that various dangerous factions want to acquire. His pursuit leads him through the city's dark underbelly while forcing him to navigate shifting alliances and betrayals within the criminal organization he serves. Magic, swordplay and imperial intrigue feature prominently as Drothe becomes entangled in schemes larger than street-level crime. The Renaissance-inspired fantasy setting comes alive through details of the criminal underworld's customs, slang, and power structures. This debut novel explores themes of loyalty, power, and the moral compromises required to survive in a world where trust is currency and violence is a daily reality. The criminal society's complex honor system raises questions about the nature of justice and morality in a corrupt system.

Readers describe this as a fast-paced fantasy heist with memorable characters and tight action sequences. The criminal underworld setting and thieves' cant (slang) create an immersive atmosphere. Liked: - First-person narrative style and voice of protagonist Drothe - Complex relationships between characters - Detailed fight scenes and fencing sequences - Rich criminal underworld culture and terminology Disliked: - Complex plot can be hard to follow - Heavy use of thieves' cant requires adjustment - Some found the middle section slow - Character names and relationships confuse some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (160+ ratings) Sample review: "The criminal cant is perfect - just enough to give flavor without being incomprehensible. Fight scenes are some of the best I've read." - Goodreads reviewer "Lost track of who was betraying whom halfway through." - Amazon reviewer

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🗡️ "Among Thieves" was Douglas Hulick's debut novel, published in 2011 after he spent nearly a decade writing and revising it. 📚 The book's unique "cant" (thieves' slang) was inspired by real historical criminal dialects, particularly those used in Renaissance Europe. 🏰 The fantasy city of Ildrecca, where the story takes place, draws inspiration from medieval Venice and Constantinople. ⚔️ Hulick holds a degree in Medieval History and is a trained practitioner of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), which helped him create authentic sword-fighting scenes. 🎭 The protagonist Drothe's role as a "Nose" (an informant and spy) was inspired by actual historical criminal hierarchies, particularly those in Victorian London's underworld.