I adored Little Thieves, and I was so happy when I heard the story would be expanded. For some reason I thought this was a duology, so by the end of Painted Devils I was screaming into a pillow as it became clear that that..... was not the case. Margaret Owen's writing remains enchantingly beautiful, and I delighted in every moment. The developing relationship between Vanja and Emeric, and between Vanja and her hunt for her birth family, were so beautiful. There's so much depth to these characters that even their flaws are realistic rather than frustrating, and I want to help them, befriend them and protect them. This plot follows on from Little Thieves well, and I am impatiently waiting for the third instalment. I have utter faith in Margaret Owen to complete this series on a perfect note and can't wait to see it.

After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief.

RTC

Unfortunately this book was a bit of a disappointment, It felt like the characters were having the same conversation over and over about their relationship and though I was initially interested in the cult plot line, the progression of the novel was not compelling enough. It is a shame since I really enjoyed the first book.

Starting a sequel to a favorite book is both terrifying and exhilarating. The fear of disappointment looms large, wondering if it will live up to the expectations we've built in our minds. Yet, there is also the joy of reuniting with beloved characters and finding answers to lingering questions from the first book. It's a stressful time, but thankfully, Painted Devils, one of my most anticipated reads in recent years, did not disappoint. It exceeded all my expectations and delivered on every front. It was just as funny, heartwarming, thrilling, and captivating as the first book. While there were a few elements I missed from the previous installment, the introduction of new elements more than made up for it. I particularly enjoyed the accidental cult storyline. From the very first line of the opening chapter, I found myself laughing out loud, and my enjoyment of the book never wavered. Now, all I have to do is endure the wait for the next installment, which I am more than willing to do.

I really enjoyed this book, it was the perfect sequel to Little Thieves - one of my favourite books! Would definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. I wanted to read this because of how much fun I had with Little Thieves. For me, this duology is a feel good kind of story. I love the world building and the atmosphere. It reminds me of the stories and fairytales I used to read when I was little and I love it for this. Highly recommend it!

I read Little Thieves last year and absolutely adored it, so it was safe to say that Painted Devils was one of my most anticipated reads this year. Going back to this world to spend time with Vanja and Emeric was everything and I loved every moment!

The author has a way of just fully drawing me in, and I was so engrossed in the story I barely noticed time passing and completely lost myself in the book, something I've found hard to do recently. As with the first one, this book is full of humour and heart and it made me tear up several times - both from laughter and how touched I was by certain scenes. I loved that in this book we had the chance to find out more about Vanja's past and her family: seeing her talk about - but also confront - her fears and feelings of abandonment was truly emotional and made me feel all the more connected to her.

The way that the various relationships were developed in this book was fantastic. I particularly appreciated how Vanja and Emeric grew together, and the demisexual rep was a breath of fresh air. Intimacy and sex were approached in an extremely respectful and dignified way, which I found to be really well done, particularly considering this is a YA book that managed to speak so meaningfully to a young-at-heart adult like me.

This book managed to have everything I loved in the first one (heists! gods! curses!) while building on it in new and exciting ways. The worldbuilding and lore are also expanded on and enriched, known characters make a comeback and there are plenty of new ones to get to know. There's also a fair bit of battling social injustice, which is never amiss.

My only negative comment on this book is that after having enjoyed these characters' company for so long, and with that bombshell of an ending, I honestly don't know how I will wait for the next one to come out!

I just loved this, this is an example of a sequel done well - I didn't feel as though it was any less of a book than the last and wow, what a book it is! I honestly think that Owen depicts the most authentic characters, I had built a little space in my heart for both Vanja and Emeric and I just find the writing so intricate in a simple way, if that even makes sense.

The story was separate in terms of the characters as it was when they were woven together and I fully appreciated the entwine and also the separate branch of each story. I think its essential to be able to chuckle and experience all the emotions when you read and Owen just has a knack for that!

I'm now here for Little Thieves book three please!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so good! I loved how it started off, not long after the events of the first book. Vanja is a character that is deeply flawed, but still manages to do the good thing regardless. I feel like her character was further developed on in this, and i found myself understanding the decisions she made. I also loved the development in her relationship with Emeric. It was honestly so cute to read, and I definitely ship them. That being said the subject matter of this book was discussed well and I found myself at the edge of my seat sometimes with the reveals. Again this was another magical book, and I cant wait to read the next one and journey with Vanja and her friends again!!

Great book. Margaret Owen is becoming one of my favourites. Her writing is so easy to devour and is one of those books you just can't put down once you start.

I loved the characters and thier whole dynamic
A fun and thrilling book. I wish I had this type of YA book around when I was growing up!

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Painted Devils" by Margaret Owens continues from Little Thieves following Vanja after those outcomes.

I would give "Painted Devils" by Margaret Owens a 2 star review because the concept was interesting but while reading I just couldn't get into this one.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this title in exchange for this honest review.

Enjoyable, but not as fun and memorable as the first book was. It's been a while since i read it and i honestly do not remember much of what happened. Had fun with it though.

Painted Devils is the sequel to Little Thieves, continuing the story of Vanja, who can't quite accept her happy ending from the last book and sets off on a detour of self-destruction and accidentally starting a cult.

Owen's humour once again lets the flawed heroine remain likeable even when she keeps making such terrible choices. I'd say the content is more adult in this one than the previous, as the relationship between Vanja and her prefect develops.

Overall, I felt the story ends up weaker than the original novel and the strongest part was the opening where Vanja is alone and navigating a tangled web of her own making, but also demonstrating how she's able to blag her way up from rock bottom with a combination of wit, sheer audacity, and a bit of luck. By the time Emeric arrives, the novel turns over to their relationship which takes so much air out of the room that, despite their relationship being one of my favourite parts of the first book, here I felt berefit of anything else.

But if you liked the first book as I did, you will almost certainly find things to like in this one too. Well worth a read.

I absolutely loved this book, just as much as the first one in this series.
The world building is amazing throughout this book. The story picks up right where book one finished. I did feel that this book showed a slightly darker side to it but still showed plenty of the emotions and hurt that Vanja went through In book one. Vanja is determined to find her family, the same family who gave her up thirteen years ago. She also ends up accidentally inventing a god which Intern creates a cult in a village. I love how absolutely chaotic Vanja is as a character, she is wild, funny and loyal. You can definitely see how she has grown from the first book .
I really like the slow burn of the romance blossoming in book one and in book two I liked seeing it grow and evolve between the two.
I loved meeting the new characters in this book, each one feels so unique and well written.
I felt the plot flowed nicely throughout the book. I loved all the action and magic too.
I really enjoy the authors writing style and find it easy to follow along.
This book does end on a cliffhanger!!
Desperately awaiting the next book

I absolutely can’t wait for the last book in this trilogy to be released.

Thank you to Netgalley, Publisher and the author for and advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will always and forever love Vanya and Emeric. This book started out SO strong. Accidental cult? Sign me up. My only criticism is that this book /felt/ long, which I don't love. It took me ages to get through it and we were introduced to so many characters I felt I didn't get to know them as well as the ones in the previous story. Thankfully, Ragne returns as I love her as well.

I've seen some people criticise the ending however I will say I do think we are seeing a lot of growth in Vanya still, and I look forward to seeing them all again in the next one!!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I give this 4.5 rounded up to 5.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for my gifted copy of the book.

Another brilliant book from Margaret Owen!!

I wasn’t sure where book 2 would lead as a lot of things seemed wrapped up after Little Thieves. But Painted Devils is a whole new adventure and with some links from the first book it’s a further opening on the world of Vanja and the mischief she can’t help but get herself into!

This book stole my heart for Vanja and Emric and that ending made me a little mad I have to say!!! But to know there is to be a book 3 has made me so happy as I wasn’t ready for it to be done!!

Margaret’s world building is fantastic and how all the little threads are pulled together at the end is just amazing!!

I don’t know how the author is going too too Painted Devils but I just KNOW she will!! And I for one cannot wait to see it!!

I loved the first book on this series, I loved the plot, setting the characters everything was so cool and i had a blast reading it. I was so hyped for this book but i am so sad how this book turned out to be! Some of the old characters make a cameo but the new ones I did not care for it. The same goes for the plot what could have been a cool concept it was poorly executed i could care less about it and it moved so fast i could at least pass fast but it was very slow for me. the plot-B also was not the most interesting for me yes it was cute but not enough to save this book for me. and the end ohhhh whyyyyyy it could retain the plot for the 3rd without creating extra conflict we saw that is going to happen between her and Emeric.

I absolutely love this series, in fact I think it is one of my favourite fantasy series and I would recommend to everyone! I am so glad that this is a trilogy so I get even move of this world. This author rights some of the best sass and banter scenes that will have you laughing out loud.

This book had some fantastic points on sexuality and navigating relationships, something I wish was around when I was younger but am over the moon to see so prominently in YA literature now. I thought Vanja's journey to accepting herself was beautiful and something that we all need to learn regardless of age. I did think the speech with Emeric was questionable, I could absolutely see the point the author was trying to make but I am just not sure it was done in the best way but that would be the only criticism of the whole book!

After her adventures in Little Thieves, Vanja embarks on a search for an honest trade. Before long, she spills her priceless rubies into a river and employs the villagers to retrieve them while promising the blessing of a local deity in return. What she did not expect was to create a cult of Scarlet Maiden that grew out of proportion and control. Soon, she is investigated for serious fraud by no one else but Emeric Conrad. And when she explains the situation, the Scarlet Maiden herself manifests, claiming Emeric as a virgin sacrifice...

Painted Devils is an amazing lecture, full of action, adventure and humour. We follow Vanja as she pursues an alternative way of appeasing the Scarlet Maiden while learning more about her own past and the family she lost as a little girl. There are some emotional scenes in this novel, as the book blends heart-warming and heart-breaking in a surprising manner. There are a lot of new, exciting characters, and familiar faces pop up when you least expect them. And, of course, Vanja struggles to stay out of trouble, so there’s a lot of intrigues, lies and some crime involved.

Thank you for accepting my request to read Painted Devils.

A fantastic sequel. It made me feel everything.
Fantastically written