ARC Review--Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Kazi and Jase have survived, stronger and more in love than ever. Their new life now lies before them―the Ballengers will be outlaws no longer, Tor's Watch will be a kingdom, and the two of them will meet all challenges side by side, together at last.

But an ominous warning mars their journey back, and in their rush to return to Tor's Watch, just outside the fortress walls, they are violently attacked and torn apart―and each is thrust into their own new hell.

Unsure whether the other is alive or dead, Kazi and Jase must keep their wits among their greatest enemies and unlikeliest allies. And all the while, Death watches and waits. 

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

I was happy to return to Mary E. Pearson’s Remnant Chronicles world with Vow of Thieves. I was most excited to see how Kazi and Jase’s story would end and whoa. I could not have imagined a better story than what was written! It was truly remarkable and spellbinding. I can only hope that Mary will write another story in this realm for I truly never want to leave it!

Kazi and Jase are making progress in getting Tor’s Watch to be recognized as a kingdom, negotiations are going well with our favorite queen. In the meantime, Kazi and Jase are returning home to his kingdom, but instead of a happy reunion with his family, they are met with attackers. Something terrible has happened to Jase’s home and invaders have taken over. We’re met with a battle to end all battles, Jase is shot multiple times with arrows and Kazi is fighting to help him but is soon overtaken by the enemy.

It’s not long before Kazi is told that Jase is dead, she sees the proof with her own eyes, yet refuses to believe it. King Montegue seems to have made himself at home in Jase’s kingdom. I struggled with trying to remember how things are geographically laid out, who rules which territory/kingdom/country. I couldn’t understand why it was somehow legally okay that Montegue just took Jase’s kingdom as his own, but that’s beside the point.

Kazi, ever watchful and waiting, knows how to play this game. Let the enemy think you’re on his side before turning the tables against him. She stays his “guest” in the castle mostly to watch out for Jase’s younger siblings who the king seems to be using as his personal shield in case there were any enemies amongst the crows. The Ballengers have gone into hiding when the takeover started happening, hence the reason behind their absence. But she will not let Jase’s kingdom remain in enemy hands for long.

This book was truly exciting and breathtaking! I don’t think my heart started beating normally again until about ¾ into the book because omg!! Kazi and Jase were separated pretty much at the beginning of the novel and we’re left wondering of Jase’s fate for a good time. I mean, in a sense, you know what it will be, at least in the beginning. But man…Kazi is totally badass! Oh my god, I love this girl! She would so have to be on my team for any sort of heist because she has got serious skills! She’s got a strong sense of honor too and her loyalty knows no bounds. This girl has got game!

While there were a few faces I couldn’t quite remember in this one, I was happy to see plenty of familiar ones! The characters in this series were all amazing! They all have their own personality and no two are alike, from Kazi’s best friends, down to every sibling Jase has. The villains were villainous and you just wanted to see them burn alive! Lol. I get very passionate about characters when they are written so well! I was also elated to see some of our favorite characters from The Remnant Chronicles make an appearance as well! I was in tears at this reunion of sorts and seeing them all in their happy ending roles! Eep!!

I still see plenty of possibilities with this series! I feel like if Mary wanted to, she could easily pick up another character and spin us a new story or two or three! This world is vast and amazing, whether the characters be new ones or ones that were overlooked beforehand, I would easily pick up another book set in this world! Mary is an incredible storyteller and if you haven’t picked up one of her books yet, I would highly recommend doing so! As a side note, you can pick up this duology without having read the previous trilogy, while they are in the same world, the first set of characters only play minor roles in this duology so you wouldn’t be missing key details. But I would highly recommend reading that one anyway because it was freaking amazing too!

Vow of Thieves was a page-turning book that I never wanted to end, but like all good novels, end it must. This was a story filled with action, adventure, romance, a cast of characters you will love and hate with a burning passion. It’s a story you can easily wile away the hours with and leave reality behind. This is not a story to be overlooked or missed!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Vow of Thieves releases August 6, 2019