Among Thieves

Among Thieves follows Ryia Cautella, a skilled criminal and the notorious "Butcher of Carrow" who operates in the dark underbelly of a fantasy world. She works as a dancer in a club while secretly serving as a member of The Saints, an elite crew of thieves. The plot centers on a high-stakes heist involving a powerful magical object and multiple competing criminal factions. Ryia must navigate shifting alliances and betrayals while keeping her own deadly secrets hidden from both enemies and allies. The story takes place in a gritty, magic-filled setting where rival crime syndicates vie for power and wealth. The world features a complex system of magic that remains strictly controlled by the ruling class. This fantasy heist novel explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the moral compromises people make to survive in a harsh world. Through its criminal underworld setting, it raises questions about power dynamics and social inequality.

Readers describe Among Thieves as a fast-paced heist story with morally grey characters and strong found family themes. Readers appreciated: - Quick pacing and action sequences - Complex relationships between crew members - LGBT+ representation without making it the focus - Dark humor and banter between characters - Magic system integration into the plot Common criticisms: - Character development feels rushed in places - World-building lacks depth - Some plot points rely on coincidence - First 50 pages can be confusing for some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.87/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (550+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 Several readers compared it to Six of Crows but noted it's less complex. One reviewer called it "Ocean's Eleven meets grimdark fantasy." Multiple readers mentioned struggling with character names and keeping track of allegiances early in the book but found it worth pushing through.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo A group of skilled criminals undertakes an impossible heist in a fantasy world filled with magic and political intrigue.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch An orphan leads a secret organization of con artists who target the wealthy elite in a dark fantasy Venice-inspired city.

The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes A master thief assembles a crew to steal a priceless artifact from an impenetrable vault in a floating city.

Priest of Bones by Peter McLean A crime boss returns from war to rebuild his criminal empire in a gritty fantasy setting with gang warfare and political machinations.

Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan Two professional thieves become entangled in a conspiracy when a simple job reveals a plot against the kingdom.

🗡️ Among Thieves was M.J. Kuhn's debut novel, marking her entrance into the fantasy genre with a story that blends elements of heist narratives and dark fantasy. 🏰 The book's setting, Denfaire, draws inspiration from various historical European port cities, particularly during the Age of Sail, creating a rich atmosphere of maritime commerce and criminal underbelly. ⚔️ The magic system in the book, known as "Saints' magic," features unique limitations where wielders must sacrifice their own life force to use their powers. 🎭 The protagonist, Ryia Cautella, was partially inspired by the author's love of morally ambiguous characters in video games, particularly those featuring choice-based narratives. 📚 The novel originally started as a writing exercise for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) before being developed into a full manuscript.