CHILDREN OF THE FOX

In a world of Spellweavers and airships, a team comes together for a legendary heist.

Callan’s a gaffer—a con artist who pulls gaffs—in desperate need of money to escape his life of crime when he receives an offer that sounds too good to be true. Mysterious Mr. Solomon invites him to his mansion, where Callan’s introduced to the rest of a recruited team of kid criminals, including acrobatic knife thrower Meriel; Lachlan, who can procure any necessary supplies through his networks; Gareth, a researcher gifted with sleight of hand who stutters; and a cat burglar called Foxtail who wears a solid metal face mask and never speaks. The job? Stealing a magical jewel from not just any Spellweaver, but the High Weaver himself, a dangerous opponent who is already on guard following failed attempts to retrieve the Eye—and they only have three days to do it. Callan is an excellent narrator, constantly observing body language for tells that reveal secrets as the kids plan an elaborate, multistage operation to break into a seemingly unbreakable location, all with a life-changing financial prize on the line. He provides clarity through the twists, reveals, and the growing bonds of the team. By the end, interludes while the team plans give readers breathing space between increasingly weighty action sequences, leading to a cliffhanger. Most characters default to White; Foxtail has brown skin.

A page-turner filled with charming rogues and expert plots.