THE GRAVE THIEF

A 12-year-old grave robber is conscripted as the royal spy.

Spade is a Joolie, a member of a traveling people known mostly for theft. Unlike many of their relatives, Spade’s family makes their living through robbing graves. When Spade’s dad sends him after too valuable a prize, Spade ends up being captured by Queen Carmelia herself. There’s not much poor Spade can do when the queen orders him to steal a magical stone from the Moor Mage—Carmelia is keeping Spade’s brother captive, and Spade is scared of her henchman, Henchcliff. Against his will, Spade is joined on his quest by the queen’s niece, Ember, a redheaded spitfire seemingly modeled on every other ginger girlboss fantasy sidekick. Ember might be a pest, but she’s also clever and brave—and she’s helpful as Spade learns more about what makes him special. Spade, born with a limp that only appears when he needs a moment of poignant drama, works with Ember to save himself, his little brother, and the kingdom from the terrifying Woegan. The serious drama is peppered with some moments of silliness. All characters read as White in this European-style fantasy world. Unfortunately, the portrayal of swindling, thieving, willfully ignorant Joolies treads extremely close to real-world bigotries about itinerant travelers.

Derivative but entertaining.