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Thief's Cunning

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

The companion novel to Assassin's Heart—an action-packed fantasy that Printz Award winner Laura Ruby said "will keep you turning the pages all night long"—Thief's Cunning picks up eighteen years later and follows Allegra Saldana as she uncovers the secrets about the line of killers she descends from.

Allegra has always had to look over her shoulder. As the niece of the infamous assassin Lea Saldana, Allegra is used to hiding from people who want her dead. Once the strongest clipper family in the Kingdom of Lovero, the Saldanas—or what's left of them—are now the most hunted. Their number one enemy is the Da Vias, whose thirst for retaliation is almost two decades in the making.

But lately Allegra's getting fed up with everything being kept from her—including her parents' identity. When she finally learns the truth about her family, though—that she's a Da Via—her world crumbles. Feeling betrayed by the people she trusted the most, Allegra turns to Nev, a Traveler boy whose presence makes her feel alive in ways she's only dreamed of. But getting caught up in Nev's world has consequences Allegra never saw coming.

In this dark and enthralling fantasy that fans of Sarah Maas and Leigh Bardugo will devour, one girl must decide if she's destined to pay for the wrongs of her family's past—whether Saldana or Da Via—or if the future is hers for the taking.

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    • Kirkus

      April 15, 2017
      Allegra Saldana, from Assassin's Heart (2016), is full-grown and plunged into new dangers.An invitation comes from the king of Lovero, summoning the Saldana presence out of exile, to swear fealty as one of the nine clipper Families to his daughter now that the princess has come of age. Allegra's especially excited at the chance to finally learn more about her parents, whose fates were covered in the first book and whom Allegra's aunt Lea refuses to speak of. When Allegra learns the truth, however, she's devastated, and her whole sense of identity is undermined. The repetitive prose from the first book is more effective here when read through the lens of a conflicted character who's replaying what she knows to try to make up her mind. She also throws herself into the arms of a handsome traveler boy, Nev, for comfort in steamy hook-ups that feel like a deep connection--until Nev spots Allegra's pendant, a gift from her half-traveler uncle, Les: it's sacrilege when the singura's worn by a nontraveler. Thematically, love and freedom are set in compelling opposition. The climactic battles thrill. Allegra's a blonde, white woman, and, borrowing further from Romani tropes, Nev's olive-skinned, a traveler characteristic; otherwise both racial and sexual diversity are common and unremarkable in this fantasy. A well-realized fantasy with strong action and romance. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

      COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      May 1, 2017

      Gr 9 Up-Set 18 years after Assassin's Heart, this work features Allegra Saldana, the niece of Lea Saldana, the protagonist of the first book, as she becomes involved in a more mature relationship with Nev, the Traveler boy who is free from the chains of Allegra's world, where she is a hunted assassin. While the Saldanas were once the most feared assassins, now they are the most sought after. This companion novel reveals the answers to Allegra's questions about being part of one of the most infamous families of assassins. As the truth about her family is exposed, readers, along with Allegra, will be surprised at the outcome. The Da Vias are still the number one enemy of the Saldanas and are seeking revenge, but this time their vengeance comes with a price as Allegra is kidnapped and taken to a land where secrets about her family are uncovered. Just as the first title was full of fantasy and adventure, this companion does not disappoint. While the previous volume may have been appropriate for a middle school audience, this one will appeal to older teens. VERDICT Older fans of the previous installment will tune in as it becomes clear how Allegra and her family became such legendary assassins. Purchase where the author's debut is popular.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

      Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2018
      Allegra, niece of hunted assassin Lea Saldana (Assassin's Heart), has constantly felt out of place in her family. An unexpected romance blooms with traveler boy Nev after Allegra learns the truth about her identity, which leads to her kidnapping and more revelations. Set eighteen years after its companion novel, Ahiers's latest YA fantasy contains strong world-building, plenty of plot twists, and a sympathetic heroine.

      (Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

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Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:640
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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