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Six months after the Gambit (the story of Thieves’ Gambit), Ross (short for Rosalyn) Quest isn’t much better off. She has a few friends now, which is an improvement, but thanks to the bitter mom of one of the Gambit competitors, she and her family are under the threat of being killed. It doesn’t matter that that competitor is Devroe, who continues to insist he cares for Ross and that he won’t let his mom succeed in getting the Quests wiped out. Ross just can’t trust him.
Now, an ambitious member of the Organization is making a bid for control, and Ross and her friends, as well as Devroe, are being pulled into a second Gambit, this one with even higher stakes (it seemed that wasn’t possible, but, well, it is).
Ross and her crew have three assignments in which they have to figure out ways to win in impossible situations. First, she has to get the jobs done, and then maybe she can figure out how to save herself and her family. She’ll need all her ingenuity and experience to survive.
I really enjoyed Thieves’ Gambit, and this sequel has lots of action and clever conning, but it didn’t work quite as well for me. I think Heist Royale felt like it was trying too hard, checking boxes, rather than it being as organic as the first. (I did like how the ending came together here, though.) Entertaining, and good if you really wanted a continuation of the first, but not as satisfying as that one.
Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes about 10 instances of moderate profanity, about 75 uses of mild language, and about 30 instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content includes a couple of intense kissing scenes. Violence includes talk about the threat of being killed, fights and face-offs and some injuries. Characters are older teens/young adults and their lives are intense: pulling cons, facing danger, doing what it takes to win.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
