The Thief of Roseland by Jim Pugmire tells the story of Bertran Hawk, heir apparent to Renard Hawk, Duke of Eastcastle. Bertran meets Colin, operating under the direct command of King Anthony. City Guardsmen Neal, Lieutenant Ben, and Barnes report to Captain Devoe, Captain of the City Guard. Bertran bumps into “Golden Cuffs” Arianna, a member of The Thieves Guild in Old Towne. Arianna must escape from The Guild House after losing her anonymity but is hunted by Trusk, the sociopathic Master of The Guild. Brianna and Arianna, twin sisters, are both orphans and Arianna supports them by stealing. King Anthony meets with his Council to discuss the capture of The Mummer and the eradication of The Thieves Guild. The King's Council is comprised of Dukes Harrington, Lennox, and Richard, each ruling over lands on the city’s borders. The Merchants' Guild is represented by three merchants, Miles, Stock, and Thelan, who control the majority of the commerce coming in and out of Roseland. The king declares war on The Thieves' Guild and instructs Colin to hunt them down, but things don’t always go according to plan.

I am thrilled at the opportunity to review another Jim Pugmire book. The Thief of Roseland is a fantastic novel filled with intrigue, twists, and turns as Bertran and Colin work together to find The Mummer. The story is filled with surprises and keeps the reader enthralled from beginning to end, eager to find out what Ari, Colin, and Bertran will do next. Sometimes there’s a cost to knowing and standing up for the truth of things, and sometimes the payment is a bit higher than one imagines. The interesting array of characters is well defined and easy to relate to, including the king and his men. The story is smooth flowing and a pleasure to read. All round, a great novel that is highly recommended for everyone.

The Thief of Roseland is yet another installment of the Quinn Hawk Series by Jim Pugmire that follows two minor characters of the previous books. While traversing the streets of Roseland, Bertran Hawk, cousin of Quinn Hawk, runs into a mysterious figure who he later learns is none other than Golden Cuffs, Arianna, an infamous thief. After mistaking her sister Brianna to be her, Bertran forms a burgeoning bond with the sisters. Meanwhile, Colin, the former guide to Bertran's uncle, is under orders to seek the identity of the Mummer, the shadow figurehead behind the Guild of Thieves. As Bertran and Colin inch closer to revealing the Mummer, they must be wary as enemies follow their every move, putting all of their lives in danger.

A gripping coming-of-age drama filled with courtroom intrigue, suspense, and mystery, The Thief of Roseland is an absolute blast to read. With guilds of thieves, conniving merchants, and young adults trying to find their place in the world, author Jim Pugmire's medieval tale hooks you in from the first page and refuses to let go until the end. The characters are genuinely likable, and you don't find it too difficult to root for them. Bertran, Colin, and Arianna are the three main protagonists driving the narrative forward. The dynamic between the three was one of the primary highlights of the book for me. I also enjoyed Colin's relationship with King Anthony. If you're a fan of young adult books set in medieval times, I can't recommend The Thief of Roseland enough.

The Thief of Roseland by Jim Pugmire is the fifth book in the Quinn Hawk series. The story ventures back to Roseland through Bertran who is Quinn's cousin. Bertran is living a peaceful and contented life after he joined the King's Academy, which has given him plenty of solitude, as he prefers to spend his time alone. His peaceful existence receives a rude awakening when his path crosses with Arianna. Their chance encounter sparks a series of events that attract the attention of the Guild of Thieves and soon they have a target on their backs by the thieves' leader, the Mummer. To save their lives, Bertran and Arianna must work together and determine whether or not they can trust each other.

Jim Pugmire pulls you into this fantasy world through the crisp writing that creates a vivid setting and brings the story to life. Pugmire has an exceptional world-building skill that shows through the characters and the plot, which makes this high fantasy shine. The story weaves between Bertran and the characters he interacts with, which peels back various layers of the city and the world. Pugmire creates well-rounded characters through subtle details of who they are and dialogue. Each of the characters plays a significant part in how their stories progress. Suspense and action stem from the cat and mouse-like chase that is created with the Guild of Thieves pursuing Bertran and Arianna, sending them on the run. The plot revolves around the Guild of Thieves with the mystery of their leader. This pulls these characters from their previous existences and pushes them into a coming-of-age journey. The Thief of Roseland is action-packed and well-written with a stunning setting, endearing characters, and an epic adventure.

The Thief of Roseland is the fifth book in the Quinn Hawk Series by Jim Pugmire. Set in the medieval kingdom of Dalatia, we follow Bertran Hawk well into his first year at the King’s Academy. Given his cousin’s move to the Maldrian barony of Elksheart as Baron Petric’s heir, attending the King’s Academy has been an obvious choice for Bertran. Things are going well for Bertran until he encounters the thief, Arianna, that sets both of them on a perilous path as they become targets of the Guild of Thieves under its leader, the Mummer. Arianna has become a liability for the Guild. A thief’s life depends on anonymity, and the fact that Arianna’s name has been revealed to the thief lord is terrifying. Bertran and Arianna must set aside their differences and learn to trust each other if they are to survive.

Do not fret if you failed to read the past installments of the series. The Thief of Roseland works as a stand-alone, a well-written and character-driven young adult adventure that ticks the boxes when it comes to providing new twists in a proven formula that is popular in young adult fiction. Jim Pugmire takes the boy meets girl element to a different level and his plotline will strike you as a cross between John Wick and Robin Hood. Pugmire’s characters operate well in his action-driven narrative and you can feel the quivering of knives, the coiling of ropes, and the jarring impact of body weight. It goes out of its way to illustrate how show, don’t tell should be done, and it’s impressive. The narrative in Bertran and Arianna’s relationship finds a new way to sustain excitement because it doesn’t hinge on the damsel in distress trope. The Thief of Roseland is an exciting adventure that is worth your reading time.