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emilie_rose's review against another edition
3.0
Good continuation of the Last Magician series. Would have benefited from being a little shorter, but my main issue was the amount of POVs. It was a struggle to keep straight whose chapter we were in, and there were so many to keep straight.
There was also a lot of repetition, specifically in the terms of the way characters related to one another and some of that could have been pared down.
The end reveal also was a little jarring. I don’t feel like there was enough buildup and foreshadowing to warrant it, but it might also have been hard to keep track of due to the length of the book.
There was also a lot of repetition, specifically in the terms of the way characters related to one another and some of that could have been pared down.
The end reveal also was a little jarring. I don’t feel like there was enough buildup and foreshadowing to warrant it, but it might also have been hard to keep track of due to the length of the book.
z_bookfluencer's review against another edition
5.0
The Devil's Thief took way longer than anticipated to read due to various life reasons causing me to be very busy. Moving on to the actual review...
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Short Review (concise and straight to the point):
The Devil's Thief is an elaborate and compelling story set in a historically based setting(s), containing morally grey and complex characters, fantasy elements, political intrigue, and a bit of romance.
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Long Review (detailed):
There is a lot of information to digest and pick apart. The Devil's Thief is one of the books I felt I needed to write down my thoughts while I was reading it instead of writing down my thoughts after completing it. I will not be covering everything that I feel could be discussed but giving an overall basis of my thoughts for my review; there are things I would like to touch on, but won't so my review is spoiler free.
Like The Last Magician (I do have a review up for The Last Magician), the writing style is very straight forward but also is very dense. I can see how the dense writing could turn some people away from reading The Devil's Thief when accompanied with its massive size. I will say the intricacies woven in this novel are so intriguing and alluring, that I wanted to know where the story would go. There is so much that happens within The Devil's Thief, I do not think it could be told in any other way than how the author did so.
The Devil's Thief is told in multiple perspectives. I do enjoy reading stories when told from multiple perspectives. My complaint is that I wanted more time with the characters. I just felt like the time given with each character wasn't enough. Typically, but not always, the perspective would switch in a high stakes moment. While I understand this is a way to keep the reader engaged, I just also felt a slight annoyance. Not saying that not spending enough time with each individual character is a bad thing though, for you do get more of each of the character's stories as you read the entirety of the book.
There are so many characters to touch on and discuss, so I will not do so individually or have honorable mentions. A lot of the characters would be considered morally grey and a lot of them are very complicated and dimensional. Some of the villains are quite clear while others are more understated, the same statement equally affects what would be considered the 'good' characters. I did find myself rooting for a majority of the characters. I enjoyed seeing the character development in each of their perspectives of the story. I enjoyed how each character had their own journey and how all of their lives affected one another, knowing and unknowingly. I felt The Devil's Thief was very intriguing; I wanted to know who would do what and how would that affect someone else and the world that they live in.
Not only is The Devil's Thief told in multiple perspectives, but also in a fractured timeline. If you read The Last Magician, and I would hope so if you are checking out The Devil's Thief, you know the general idea of how this story is told.
There are a couple of scenes I could have done without, due to slight awkwardness of the scene and personal preferences. I did skip those particular scenes ('steamy/smutty/detailed' romantic scenes).
The settings felt very atmospheric and easily pictured.
There is an overall plot and several subplots, but it is slow moving. Page 433 (estimated), Esta and Harte finally do what they set out to do at the beginning of the book. The Devil's Thief is more character driven than plot driven.
I do feel like The Devil's Thief is on the older side of YA because there is a lot of information from multiple perspectives set in different timelines, all coming together to create one big elaborate story.
There are many discussions starters for events that happen within The Devil's Thief (like in The Last Magician) such as but not excluded to; racism, bigotism, fighting for equal rights, corrupt governing bodies, people being physically beaten, ect. There are some scenes involving those things listed that could be triggering for some people.
The Devil's Thief did take a direction I didn't expect, and that direction fit the story so well.
Overall, I did enjoy reading The Devil's Thief and could possibly see myself rereading it in the future. I felt the writing was very well thought out and creative. I would like to continue reading this trilogy with the next book, The Serpent's Curse.
My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my personal experience in reading this story. Everyone should read the books they enjoy!
-----
Short Review (concise and straight to the point):
The Devil's Thief is an elaborate and compelling story set in a historically based setting(s), containing morally grey and complex characters, fantasy elements, political intrigue, and a bit of romance.
-----
Long Review (detailed):
There is a lot of information to digest and pick apart. The Devil's Thief is one of the books I felt I needed to write down my thoughts while I was reading it instead of writing down my thoughts after completing it. I will not be covering everything that I feel could be discussed but giving an overall basis of my thoughts for my review; there are things I would like to touch on, but won't so my review is spoiler free.
Like The Last Magician (I do have a review up for The Last Magician), the writing style is very straight forward but also is very dense. I can see how the dense writing could turn some people away from reading The Devil's Thief when accompanied with its massive size. I will say the intricacies woven in this novel are so intriguing and alluring, that I wanted to know where the story would go. There is so much that happens within The Devil's Thief, I do not think it could be told in any other way than how the author did so.
The Devil's Thief is told in multiple perspectives. I do enjoy reading stories when told from multiple perspectives. My complaint is that I wanted more time with the characters. I just felt like the time given with each character wasn't enough. Typically, but not always, the perspective would switch in a high stakes moment. While I understand this is a way to keep the reader engaged, I just also felt a slight annoyance. Not saying that not spending enough time with each individual character is a bad thing though, for you do get more of each of the character's stories as you read the entirety of the book.
There are so many characters to touch on and discuss, so I will not do so individually or have honorable mentions. A lot of the characters would be considered morally grey and a lot of them are very complicated and dimensional. Some of the villains are quite clear while others are more understated, the same statement equally affects what would be considered the 'good' characters. I did find myself rooting for a majority of the characters. I enjoyed seeing the character development in each of their perspectives of the story. I enjoyed how each character had their own journey and how all of their lives affected one another, knowing and unknowingly. I felt The Devil's Thief was very intriguing; I wanted to know who would do what and how would that affect someone else and the world that they live in.
Not only is The Devil's Thief told in multiple perspectives, but also in a fractured timeline. If you read The Last Magician, and I would hope so if you are checking out The Devil's Thief, you know the general idea of how this story is told.
There are a couple of scenes I could have done without, due to slight awkwardness of the scene and personal preferences. I did skip those particular scenes ('steamy/smutty/detailed' romantic scenes).
The settings felt very atmospheric and easily pictured.
There is an overall plot and several subplots, but it is slow moving. Page 433 (estimated), Esta and Harte finally do what they set out to do at the beginning of the book. The Devil's Thief is more character driven than plot driven.
I do feel like The Devil's Thief is on the older side of YA because there is a lot of information from multiple perspectives set in different timelines, all coming together to create one big elaborate story.
There are many discussions starters for events that happen within The Devil's Thief (like in The Last Magician) such as but not excluded to; racism, bigotism, fighting for equal rights, corrupt governing bodies, people being physically beaten, ect. There are some scenes involving those things listed that could be triggering for some people.
The Devil's Thief did take a direction I didn't expect, and that direction fit the story so well.
Overall, I did enjoy reading The Devil's Thief and could possibly see myself rereading it in the future. I felt the writing was very well thought out and creative. I would like to continue reading this trilogy with the next book, The Serpent's Curse.
My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my personal experience in reading this story. Everyone should read the books they enjoy!
khrystn's review against another edition
3.0
J’avais beaucoup aimé le premier tome, et là, je suis assez déçue du tome 2. Déjà il s’est passé seulement quelques mois entre les deux livres et pourtant quand j’ai commencé le T2 j’étais un peu perdu au niveau des personnages. Il n’y a pas beaucoup de rappels sur ce qu’il s’est passé dans le T1 et il y a quand même beaucoup de personnages. Même si globalement j’ai aimé l’histoire, je suis extrêmement frustrée car j’ai simplement l’impression qu’on a pas avancé du tout dans ce T2. Je reste sur un goût d’inachevé finalement
sarag19's review against another edition
5.0
First, can we talk about that cover? The cover was what initially drew me to picking up The Last Magician in the library and this cover blows the other one away. The snakes coming apart, the flowers in the flames.
Harte and Esta have escaped the brink and are on the hunt for the stones Harte sent out. The book switches between what is happening in St. Louis and the chaos in New York now that power vacuum has been created with the death of Dolph in the previous book. It continues to follow Viola and Jianyu in New York as they work to find their place and keep themselves alive. Viola and Jianyu present a very interesting perspective on what the world was like for a young woman and a man from China in a world that does not like them. Lisa Maxwell does a great job with many of her characters in building a world that expands much further than just a magical struggle. The Mageus struggle is the primary driving point of the plot but the way the world treats them weighs heavy on their actions. There is a scene with Esta that truly illustrates this point, the downtrodden hating on their fellow downtrodden just because they look different or are recent migrants to the country. To ignore this would have done a great disservices to the overall plot.
There are a lot of characters in this story, not just secondary characters but those that are given chapters from their own points of view. These characters are both in New York and St. Louis. Normally, the more characters you add the more muddled the world seems to get. I never felt this way with The Devil's Thief. The characters are constantly interacting with each other so no one feels like they just show up only to disappear a few chapters later. I loved all the new characters, even when you may find yourself disagreeing with their approach Lisa Maxwell makes them feel real. You understand why they do what they do, how they may have come to have the viewpoint they do. Such as I may find myself disagreeing with Ruth and her approach but I still like her as a characters.
One of my biggest complains (but hey, this is pretty normal for me) is characters just not able to have a conversation. Esta and Harte could have solved so many of their problems if they could just sit down and talk.
Overall, I loved this book almost as much as I loved The Last Magician. The world is big but never feels overwhelming, the characters are vast but don't feel like someone gets lost in the amount. The ending is just enough of a "Oooh!" moment that I anxiously await the next book.
Harte and Esta have escaped the brink and are on the hunt for the stones Harte sent out. The book switches between what is happening in St. Louis and the chaos in New York now that power vacuum has been created with the death of Dolph in the previous book. It continues to follow Viola and Jianyu in New York as they work to find their place and keep themselves alive. Viola and Jianyu present a very interesting perspective on what the world was like for a young woman and a man from China in a world that does not like them. Lisa Maxwell does a great job with many of her characters in building a world that expands much further than just a magical struggle. The Mageus struggle is the primary driving point of the plot but the way the world treats them weighs heavy on their actions. There is a scene with Esta that truly illustrates this point, the downtrodden hating on their fellow downtrodden just because they look different or are recent migrants to the country. To ignore this would have done a great disservices to the overall plot.
There are a lot of characters in this story, not just secondary characters but those that are given chapters from their own points of view. These characters are both in New York and St. Louis. Normally, the more characters you add the more muddled the world seems to get. I never felt this way with The Devil's Thief. The characters are constantly interacting with each other so no one feels like they just show up only to disappear a few chapters later. I loved all the new characters, even when you may find yourself disagreeing with their approach Lisa Maxwell makes them feel real. You understand why they do what they do, how they may have come to have the viewpoint they do. Such as I may find myself disagreeing with Ruth and her approach but I still like her as a characters.
One of my biggest complains (but hey, this is pretty normal for me) is characters just not able to have a conversation. Esta and Harte could have solved so many of their problems if they could just sit down and talk.
Spoiler
Harte is struggling with Seshat, who I can't wait to learn more about, and her obsession with Esta. The closer they get, the harder Seshat fights for control and I just wished the two could have sat down and had an honest conversation about a very powerful entity that was probably going to destroy both of them. Yes, there is something big going on around them with the Antistasi but Seshat is going to destroy everything if she gets free, that seems pretty big in the grand scheme of things.Overall, I loved this book almost as much as I loved The Last Magician. The world is big but never feels overwhelming, the characters are vast but don't feel like someone gets lost in the amount. The ending is just enough of a "Oooh!" moment that I anxiously await the next book.
mapmurph's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. Can't wait to read the conclusion and see how it all ends.
My only complaint is that all of these pages were dedicated only to one artifact. I'm hoping the third book won't feel too rushed.
My only complaint is that all of these pages were dedicated only to one artifact. I'm hoping the third book won't feel too rushed.
upturnedroots's review against another edition
5.0
Maxwell says a lot can change in two years, and believe me, I know that's the truth.
Look, I'm going to be honest here, this is definitely a PATIENT read; the audiobook is 22 hrs after all. But it is well-worth it, and thoroughly researched, so seeing all the plot lines slowly converge was rewarding for me. I felt like I LIVED in this world for the days I spent reading both books.
Again, I recommend listening to this because there's at least 5 major plot lines and several other sub-plots that weave a story between 1902 and 1904. No complaints here though, I loved it all!
Maxwell's author's note at the end had me nodding through the whole thing in agreement. You can tell she put a lot of work into creating a rich fantasy world that depicts the plights of immigrants and the working class so thoroughly, and in a way that is remarkably realistic - and not a caricature.
For me, this is what I wanted The Gilded Wolves to achieve, but unfortunately, the characters didn't feel as real for me because I don't think Chokshi dove as deep and got as gritty with the social issues and backstories as she could have in my opinion - but everyone's taste is different, and I'm not trying to draw comparisons between different books, just stating this as a point of reference for folks who read that book and may want to read something in a similar vein.
Maxwell's characters are much more diverse and representative of a wider range of identities, and I think her world is believable because the magic system is so seamlessly woven into the background; it's effortless, and natural. Every character's unique affinity is fascinating and makes perfect sense for who they are as a character; you can see how naturally it is a part of them and their backstories.
I love love love that we got more of Jianyu and Viola in this book; I'm happy they get to share the center stage (yes I'm making a theater reference because of the story world haha) they are two of my most favorite characters.
And of course, there's plenty of Esta and Harte again, who I'm happy to report I still love - because usually I'm worn out on the protagonists by this point in a series if recent reads are any indication lol.
I did not really care for Ruby and Theo - they seemed more 2D to me. Ruby reminded me of the protagonist in Dangerous Alliance and I'm just over that precocious plucky debutante energy.
One of the most powerful storylines for me was Maxwell's discussion on extremists and zealots, two sides of the same coin in the fight for magic - every character must decide where they stand, do they want to control magic, or free it, or thrust it upon everyone. And what of the individual's choice in the matter? Should all people be without magic, or with it?
So many questions. I'm interested to see where the third installment goes.
Now I just need to decide if I want to buy the first two books now, or wait until I can get my hands on the whole trilogy/series at once...
Look, I'm going to be honest here, this is definitely a PATIENT read; the audiobook is 22 hrs after all. But it is well-worth it, and thoroughly researched, so seeing all the plot lines slowly converge was rewarding for me. I felt like I LIVED in this world for the days I spent reading both books.
Again, I recommend listening to this because there's at least 5 major plot lines and several other sub-plots that weave a story between 1902 and 1904. No complaints here though, I loved it all!
Maxwell's author's note at the end had me nodding through the whole thing in agreement. You can tell she put a lot of work into creating a rich fantasy world that depicts the plights of immigrants and the working class so thoroughly, and in a way that is remarkably realistic - and not a caricature.
For me, this is what I wanted The Gilded Wolves to achieve, but unfortunately, the characters didn't feel as real for me because I don't think Chokshi dove as deep and got as gritty with the social issues and backstories as she could have in my opinion - but everyone's taste is different, and I'm not trying to draw comparisons between different books, just stating this as a point of reference for folks who read that book and may want to read something in a similar vein.
Maxwell's characters are much more diverse and representative of a wider range of identities, and I think her world is believable because the magic system is so seamlessly woven into the background; it's effortless, and natural. Every character's unique affinity is fascinating and makes perfect sense for who they are as a character; you can see how naturally it is a part of them and their backstories.
I love love love that we got more of Jianyu and Viola in this book; I'm happy they get to share the center stage (yes I'm making a theater reference because of the story world haha) they are two of my most favorite characters.
And of course, there's plenty of Esta and Harte again, who I'm happy to report I still love - because usually I'm worn out on the protagonists by this point in a series if recent reads are any indication lol.
I did not really care for Ruby and Theo - they seemed more 2D to me. Ruby reminded me of the protagonist in Dangerous Alliance and I'm just over that precocious plucky debutante energy.
Spoiler
Of course she's also a reporter in this book. Eyeroll. Since Maxwell is precise in her crafting of characters, I have to believe this was a deliberate choice to make Ruby very naive, and perhaps she'll improve in the next book.One of the most powerful storylines for me was Maxwell's discussion on extremists and zealots, two sides of the same coin in the fight for magic - every character must decide where they stand, do they want to control magic, or free it, or thrust it upon everyone. And what of the individual's choice in the matter? Should all people be without magic, or with it?
So many questions. I'm interested to see where the third installment goes.
Spoiler
I wasn't quite sure whether to give this 4.75 stars only because I don't really know if I'll like the whole demigod direction of the series now, but we shall see. It just seemed kinda gimmicky to me because it was addressed in such a rush at the end. Perhaps it'll seem more natural in the next book.Now I just need to decide if I want to buy the first two books now, or wait until I can get my hands on the whole trilogy/series at once...
juliterario's review against another edition
4.0
¡Y FINALMENTE CONSEGUÍ LEER THE DEVIL'S THIEF, la secuela de El Último Mago de Lisa Maxwell! No lo había leído antes porque quería comprarlo en físico ya que MI NOMBRE ESTÁ EN LOS AGRADECIMIENTOS de algunos ejemplares, pero no pude resistirme, así que lo leí en ebook. The Devil's Thief es de mis novelas más esperadas del año, y no me ha decepcionado para nada.
Todavía no me decido entre el primer libro o el segundo, pero creo que El Último Mago me gustó más debido a cuál es la trama y el conflicto allí en comparación a en The Devil's Thief. Y tampoco puedo decidirme entre cuántas estrellas darle a esta lectura, si 4 o 5. ¡NO SÉ! ¡Es mucho que procesar! La he pasado de maravilla en este libro y no tengo nada que reprocharle. En serio que no se me ocurre nada que comentar salvo que en momentos me sentí abrumada por los muchos personajes que hay. Son bastantes... Y no sé si Maxwell supo controlarlos o hacer uso de todos ellos ya que tal vez algunos están de más y otros no se desarrollaron lo suficiente. No sé, hubieron algunos momentos lentos, pero nada de lo que diga en realidad tuvo un gran peso.
The Devil's Thief es una secuela increíble, llena de acción y que sin duda te deja con ganas de más. No sé qué más decirles para que lean estos libros tan asombrosos. ¡ESTA HISTORIA ES BUENÍSIMA! Viajes en el tiempo, una ladrona, un mago... Ay, sigo pensando que hay tanto que amé en el primer libro que no tuve en esta novela, pero aún así me encantó The Devil's Thief. ¡NO TENGO PALABRAS! ¡QUÉ PEDAZO DE LIBRO! Sólo puedo resumir las cosas en: LEAN ESTA TRILOGÍA. Lisa Maxwell sabe lo que hace y ha creado una historia asombrosa y afsdyghjiyok tiene todo lo que quiero leer.