TO DEAL WITH KINGS

Following the heist at the Great Exhibition in To Steal From Thieves (2025), alchemologist Zaria Mendoza finds herself at the mercy of another powerful figure from the London underworld.

Previously, Zaria failed an alchemological commission for Vaughan, the self-proclaimed kingpin of the Seven Dials slum. Now he offers her a chance at redemption: She must supply Vaughan with information that, in the wake of Ward’s death and the destabilization of his territory, will allow him to gain control of the dark market. If she refuses, Vaughan will reveal that she and Jules Zhao were involved in the Waterhouse necklace theft. Kane Durante, the new kingpin of Devil’s Acre, faces a similar dilemma. An alchemological device has been planted at the Great Exhibition in open defiance of the crown’s banning of alchemology. The Metropolitan Police inspector, who suspects Kane’s role in the Crystal Palace heist, threatens to arrest him and Fletcher Collins unless Kane uncovers the culprit behind the device. Once again, a desire to protect their friends draws Zaria and Kane into each other’s orbit. Their poorly suppressed longing for each other adds another layer of suspense to their fruitful investigation, which unfolds in an ethnically diverse alternate historical London. A dramatic revelation and tense showdown in the third act resolve the narrative and its emotional buildup, but the tidy conclusion may leave readers wanting more.

A duology closer that will satisfy returning fans who are invested in the characters.