Midnight Thief

Livia Blackburne

Originally Written: 04/20/18

I had this book on my shelf for so long and just didn't pick it up, and I don't know why!! because I loved it. From the first page to the last I was never bored. This book has a mid-evil times/ early Victorian vibe to it.

This book is about a 13 or fifteen year old girl who is a orphan, a great climber, and a thief. And she gets approached by a member of the guild which is a secret society that existed quite a few years ago and is now back with a new leader. And they propose a job for her as they have a need for her skills. A job that they state could help the Forge. At first she's reluctant but than a event happens in which she agrees to join the guild. It is than that she trains and does some minor jobs in preparation for her final job. But than on a job she is forced to do something she’s never contemplated on doing, and while doing the tasks asked of her, she starts to notice some events happening else wear, that can't be coincidences. And she then realizes that she isn’t meant for the guild. But she is threatened to do one last job that leaves her to being captured.

We also have another character that is a palace guard. Who is faced with defending the outer villages of the Forge from raiders. And on a shift he and a friend encounter these so called raiders. And after has some decisions to make regarding his career. The choice that he makes leaves him investigating the raiders as well as some break-in’s around the palace, and he can’t help what wonder if the events are connected to the raiders or not. Until….. He captures an assassin.

These two characters are thrown together and with both of their experiences lead to some light on the situations. And evidently have to work together on stopping the raiders and the guild at the same time. They find themselves as well as reveal some shocking discoveries, not only about themselves, but about the government system and the Forge its self.

These stories were a joy to read. The characters were wonderfully written, and all of them had a purpose, and an importance to the story. they have lots of character development. But not as much world building as I would have liked to see. Kyra is a wonderful young main character. I really liked the way she questioned her actions and challenged her fellow characters, that Blackburne had the men in this story stand up for Kyra and help her with the troubles she had, but not to go as far as fixing her problems for her, that she had Kyra stand up for herself and show the men in this book that she wasn't just a " little girl" how was being used and allowed it to happen as some books have. Kyra has people she cares about and has responsibilities that she takes upon herself and stands up for others and she has a backbone.

I think the story could have went a little farther as to the other tribes and across the world just to give more of a sense as to the other customs and feel for the people other than than the small times that we encounter them such as at the ball and near the end. But other than that I loved this duology and wish there were more to it….. Maybe we will get a novella as to after the series and they’re lives after in the future.