Publisher: Aladdin/S&S
Release Date: June 6, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Ages: 8-12
Pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9781481472746
ISBN-10: 1481472747
Rules for Thieves
Now Available!
After twelve-year-old orphan Alli Rosco is cursed with a deadly spell, she must join the legendary Thieves Guild in order to try and save herself in this high-stakes debut.
Twelve-year-old Alli Rosco is smart, resourceful, and totally incapable of keeping her mouth shut. Some of these traits have served her well during her nine years in Azeland’s orphanage, and others have proved more troublesome…but now that she’s escaped to try her luck on the streets, she has bigger problems than extra chores to contend with. Surviving would be hard enough, but after a run-in with one of the city’s Protectors, she’s marked by a curse that’s slowly working its way to her heart. There is a cure, but the cost is astronomical—and seems well out of her reach.
Enter Beck, a boy with a gift for theft and a touch of magic, who seems almost too good to be true. He tells Alli that the legendary Thieves Guild, long thought to be a myth, is real. Even better, Beck is a member and thinks she could be, too. All she has to do is pass the trial that the King of Thieves will assign to her. Join the Guild, collect her yearly reward and buy a cure. Plus, Alli hopes the Guild will be the home—the family—that Alli has always wanted. But when their trial goes wrong, innocent lives are put in danger, and Alli has to decide how much she can sacrifice in order to survive.
Purchase:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Books-A-Million IndieBound Book Depository
Simon and Schuster Target.com Walmart.com iBook Kobo Google Play
Praise for Rules for Thieves:
*A 2018 Oklahoma Book Award Finalist*
“Alli’s southern European–inflected fantasy world is built carefully and tightly, complete with class structures, customs, and a patron saint–centered culture. The ending isn’t squeaky clean but provides a sense of closure as Alli makes a meaningful discovery about her heritage. A smooth debut.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“This debut novel introduces readers to a fantastic world of orphans, thieves, magic, and adventure. Characters are well developed and balanced… The plot is fast-paced and addresses ethical dilemmas… This compelling debut fantasy novel with complex themes, lots of action, and a good cast of characters will appeal to fantasy readers across the spectrum.”
—School Library Journal
“Alexandra Ott’s funny, thrilling debut, Rules for Thieves, will have readers flipping pages from the very first scene. Alli is a lovable, whip-smart protagonist. The growing bond between her and Beck as they wisecrack their way through their dangerous Guild task will make the surprising conclusion all the more heartbreaking even as it leaves her with a sense of hope she’s never experienced.”
—Shelf Awareness
“There is plenty of excitement built into this novel even before the race for time kicks in. Alli’s ferocious desire for independence and competence is heart-wrenching as it’s clear that it’s as much coping strategy as personality. The world building is magnificent and intricate. … Alli and this inviting setting both deserve another outing.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Publisher: Aladdin/S&S
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Ages: 8-12
Pages: 400
ISBN-13: 9781481472777
ISBN-10: 1481472771
The Shadow Thieves (Rules for Thieves #2)
Now Available!
Alli must risk everything to save her new family from a rogue organization that is threatening the Thieves Guild’s existence—and the lives of all its members—in this high-stakes sequel to Rules for Thieves.
Alli Rosco, former orphan, is free after her disastrous Thieves Guild trial, which left an innocent woman dead while Alli’s partner-in-crime, Beck, fled.
Now Alli is getting more than just a fresh start: Her long-lost brother, Ronan, has come forward to claim responsibility for her and let her live with him on a trial basis. They try to mend the rift that started when Alli was dropped off at the orphanage while Ronan became a lawyer in Ruhia. But as determined as she is to make things work, Alli can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
To make matters worse, Alli finds a surprise guest on her doorstep one night: Beck. He’s on the run and brings news of the Shadow Guild, a rogue organization that is trying to overthrow the current king of the Thieves Guild. Their friends are in real danger, and Beck needs Alli’s help one more time to bring the Shadows down. Once again, Alli is forced to make a hard choice: save her friends, or lose her last chance to have a true family.
Purchase:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Books-A-Million IndieBound Book Depository
Simon and Schuster Target.com Walmart.com iBook Kobo Google Play
Praise for The Shadow Thieves: