Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis (Thieves’ Gambit book 1)

“At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother's life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn't exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world--a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn't Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.” - taken from Goodreads.

Ross Quest just wants a tiny bit of normalcy in her life. When her getaway plan goes awry, her only option to save her mother’s life is to take her chances in the Thieves’ Gambit to win an unattainable prize. Can Ross keep her eyes on the prize or will her heart get in the way? Needless to say, that ending was a shocker!

Book two is due out in 2024.

Visit Kayvion Lewis’ website.

The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman (The Ivory Key book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Ivory Key, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The search for the Ivory Key has brought royal siblings Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya closer than they have been in years as they try to restore magic and stability to Ashoka. But despite finally getting their hands on the long-lost key, uncovering its cipher has proved more complicated and dangerous than they ever expected.

Their missions force them to split up and disperse them across Ashoka and beyond. When a rash decision by the council strips Vira of her power, her journey to reclaim her throne takes on new meaning. Kaleb travels to the neighboring country of Lyria to uncover its emperor’s motives and meets a prince seeking answers of his own. Ronak’s efforts to escape his arranged marriage and exonerate his brother lead to a series of risky deals that only bring him closer to what he’s running from. And Riya’s newfound power has turned unpredictable, but her search for answers only raises more questions.

When their attempts at decoding the key release an ancient power, the siblings must align to face the past and save their future once and for all. In a quest that culminates in a deadly labyrinth, there’s only one way they will succeed: together.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fantastic finish to this duology. Never missing a beat or dragging the storyline, our four siblings split up in order to save Ashoka. When an unimaginable complication occurs, can the four siblings put their differences aside to save their kingdom?

Visit Akshaya Raman’s website.

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahruin (The Scarlet Veil book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT! The Scarlet Veil is set in the same world as the Serpent & Dove trilogy. Be warned for possible spoilers!

“Six months have passed since Célie took her sacred vows and joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. With her fiancé, Jean Luc, as captain, she is determined to find her foothold in her new role and help protect Belterra. But whispers from her past still haunt her, and a new evil is rising—one that Célie herself must vanquish, unless she falls prey to the darkness.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book picks up several months after the conclusion of the Serpent & Dove trilogy and allows the reader to see how our beloved characters are doing. The story focuses on Célie and what happens when she stumbles upon a series of murders involving magical beings. Readers would enjoy this book more if they are familiar with the previous trilogy even though several new characters are introduced. Fans will be clamoring for the final book after that killer cliffhanger ending.

Book two is expected in 2024.

Visit Shelby Mahruin’s Instagram.