I loved going on this adventure with Tom, meeting all the interesting characters along the way! Peter Burns did an amazing job making the characters feel real and created the perfect atmosphere when setting the scenes. Great twists throughout!
This book is aimed at a younger audience. However, it can be enjoyed by all ages. When I was reading it, I did feel it had a modern day, Oliver Twist meets Harry Potter vibe about it. So well written. I was totally disappointed when it ended and can't wait for the next instalment! Thank you, @NetGalley, for the advanced copy.

Peter Burns has created a compelling cast of characters, led by the determined and vulnerably strong Tom Morgan. As a streetwise former workhouse kid navigating an alternate London, Tom’s journey from struggling to survive to an elite school is both gripping and emotionally deep. His friendships and rivalries within Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts, alongside how he choices to handle them, add layers of intrigue to the protagonist, making him for sure the best person to front this story. Surrounded by the morally ambiguous nature of most of the cast, trained in deception but likeable on the most part, adds a fascinating complexity to Shadow Thieves and does a brilliant job showing that humans are more than simply good or bad.

Burns’ writing is immersive and incredibly detail orientated. There is not a fragment of this world Burns doesn’t understand, effortlessly moving readers through the grimy streets of London into the secretive town of the Shadow League and beyond. His prose is both sharp and evocative, balancing thrilling action sequences with moments of reflection and feeling. His ability to maintain a fast-paced yet richly detailed story makes every page is engaging and creates a world readers will fall into.

The novel’s plot is a masterclass in tension and adventure. And when I say tension, I don’t just mean from the action, I also mean from that perceived tension we can all create or imagine sometimes when reflecting. From Tom’s desperate attempt to save his friends from a brutal workhouse to falling into a world of espionage, deception, and high-stakes heists, the concept of Shadow Thieves offers an incredibly fresh take on the ‘boarding school for talented kids’ trope. All of this continued to build and build, leading to a thrilling climax that will have readers eager for the next instalment.

Additionally, a massive shoutout has to go to Zac Lowe-McAlly, whose narration of the novel is phenomenal and delivers so much gusto to the story. With expert level build up and landing of keep tension and payoff moments, it’s an absolute joy to listen along to the audiobook. Well produced and a delight to listen to, this is one I’d highly recommend to those book listeners out there or people, like myself, who like to juggle between physical and audio.

Shadow Thieves is a brilliant debut that blends adventure, mystery, and a touch of political commentary into an unforgettable read for young readers and adults alike. With a wonderful cast of characters, marvellous world building, and thrilling plot, it’s easy to see why there’s a lot of hype around this book and this series! Burns has written a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, a true must-read for any readers aged 10+. Now while I go daydream about being in the Alps, you should get to ordering your copy…