Thief's Covenant

Gr 9 Up—Adrienne Satti, an orphaned thief turned "adopted" upper-class darling, witnesses the murders of her closest friends at the hands of an indescribable beast. Unable to explain her survival from the slaughter, Adrienne goes on the run, becoming master thief Widdershins. With a minor god invisibly perched on her shoulder to guide her, she accomplishes heists that the others in the Finder's Guild can only dream of undertaking. Now, with the Guild's second in command out to get her and the City Guard looking to imprison her, Widdershins once again faces the evil demon that she tried to forget from years before. Who is controlling the beast and why do they seek to kill Widdershins? Marmell's debut YA novel is a dark, brutal fantasy set in a complex and engaging world. It's not for the faint of heart. The citizens of Davillon seem to die often and in gruesome ways. Widdershins is an intriguing heroine, able to handle herself on the streets, though her naïveté shows at endearing moments. Readers seeking out a strong heroine in a well-crafted fantasy world will enjoy this title and look forward to the second.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT