5/5 Stars!
Elves, dragons and the humans who are all but invisible.
The Dragon’s Thief is set in the world of the elves. People are servants or beyond acknowledgement, unless they get in the way of the elves. Dragons are little more than guards for the elves.
So, what happens when a thief, used to being invisible, finds herself noticed by a dragon who’s used to being essentially the same? Deals, plots, and surprising alliances are born.
The Dragon’s Thief is mostly told from the perspectives of Saskia the thief, and Castor the dragon guard. I greatly enjoyed the dual point of view approach by both main characters. Hearing both of their thought processes, assumptions about each other, and changing ideologies was fascinating to read.
The book’s synopsis is extremely clear as for the sequence of the book. We meet Saskia the thief, going about her everyday life of thieving and teaching others how to. One bad decision on who to steal from sets her in the sights of Castor, who has a sudden interest in the skills of a thief for his own reasons that we discovered. Their partnership, search for Saskia’s sister, and search for answers for Castor, lead them both to step out of their ever day drudgery and routines that life has taken on, and become aware of a problem for both races of people.
This isn’t a quick read of a book. A lot of the series that I’ve read lately probably would’ve divided it up into a separate book for all three parts in this one. I’m so glad that Ava Richardson didn’t though, because it’s one detailed but enthralling ride! The details and world building didn’t detract or slow it down. They added more color and kept the pacing perfect in my opinion.
I couldn’t put this book down! In fact, I stayed up all night just to finish it, because the what ifs were driving me crazy! I will definitely be continuing this series as it comes out!
Book blurb from author’s website:
The only way to free her sister is to make a deal with a dragon…
In a city where brutal elves reign, with powerful dragon shifters as their henchmen, street thief Saskia’s only hope to rescue her sister lies with the gruff dragon shifter, Castor. He needs someone to pull off a heist of mysterious item, and she’s the only one desperate enough to do it. With Castor’s help, she’s able to save her sister—but now she owes him a dangerous debt.
To pay him back, Saskia embarks on a perilous mission to infiltrate the palace as a lady’s maid. As she navigates the treacherous world of elf nobility, Saskia becomes entangled in palace politics and finds herself drawn to an elvish scholar, despite the dragon’s warning. But now, Saskia’s bargain has put her in the sights of the sinister elven Empress Eirana.
In order to survive—and to protect the brusque dragon shifter who means more to her than she’s ready to admit—Saskia must face off against a centuries-old empress, whose dark powers can destroy an entire kingdom.
In a world teeming with magic and political intrigue, Saskia must find the strength within herself to navigate false alliances, uncover the truth, and forge her own destiny.
