A free copy of this book was provided thanks to NetGalley, Margaret Owen, and Hodder & Stoughton Publishing.
Dates read: 06/10/2021 to 12/11/2021
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Captivating
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
TW: Sexual Violence
Before reading this book I had never encountered the tale of the Goose Girl - a children's fairytale of stolen identity and a jealous handmaid. I had no idea what to expect with this retelling and now that I have finished I can agreeably say that this book was surprising.
Similar to the original tale, Little Thieves follows young Vanja, better known as Greta or Princess Gisele, who is desperate to escape the grasp of her adoptive mother's Death and Fortune. After stealing the identity of her close friend and master Princess Gisele, Vanja starts a new life as an upper-class maiden by day and The Penny Phantom thief by night. After being caught and cursed because of greed, Vanja enters a life of revenge, forgiveness, great evil, and great sacrifices. The plot in this book is unlike any story I have ever read before. With constant twists and turns, suspense, and breaks for character development, this book has everything.
This story perpetuates the necessity of survival. For Vanja, she is escaping both her past and a possible future in servitude. Her abusive childhood and general hatred towards others make her the perfect depiction of an outcast and perfect for this unique revenge story. Vanja's character is beautifully written. Her desperation for solitude and liberation creates a brilliant juxtaposition for her craving for comfort, family, and friends. Throughout this story, you are introduced to Vanja's past as a housemaid and grow to understand her desperation for freedom and how it evolved over time. She is a complex character with several layers, often contradicting her thoughts through her actions and creating a sense of pity for the reader. You want to protect Vanja from others but mostly from herself.
The slow-burn romance, enemies to friends to lovers, between Emeric and Vanja is so well written that for a moment you forget that their story began with Vanja plotting his demise. The relationship between these two characters has been so carefully crafted by Margaret Owen that it is easy to see how these two create a perfect pairing. The author's talent for creating beautiful relationships between their characters whether lovers, friends, or enemies show that they have truly understood the assignment when planning this book.
Overall, Margaret Owen offers a well-written book with many positives. Her characters are thoroughly explored each with their own personalities, the plot is fantastic with twists and turns to keep you engrossed in the story, and generally, this book is a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Margaret Owen, and Hodder & Stoughton Publishing for providing a free e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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