Vow of Thieves: Dance of Thieves, Book 2
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Explosively exciting end to romantic fantasy duology.
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What's the Story?
In VOW OF THIEVES: DANCE OF THIEVES, BOOK 2, Kazi and Jase are on the long journey back to Hell's Mouth to tell Jase's family the good news: The queen has made Tor's Watch a kingdom, and Jase and Kazi have vowed to be together forever. Kazi is not sure how Jase's family will take the second piece of news, considering that she staged Jase's capture at the end of Dance of Thieves. The Ballengers think she's the enemy. When they arrive at Tor's Watch ready to explain, they never get the chance. An ambush ends in Jase riddled with arrows and fleeing on his horse and Kazi captured and taken to prison. The Ballengers are no longer in charge, and signs of a struggle for the town are everywhere. Tor's Watch is in ruins, and bodies hang in the town square. While Kazi prays that Jase is alive, she fights for her own life as a prisoner in the new regime.
Is It Any Good?
This duology finale excites until the last with so many obstacles for Jase and Kazi to face that they are the very definition of star-crossed lovers. By the time Kazi endures imprisonment a second time, readers will think that the couple's trauma must be nearly over. But after that, Jase still has to face the ruler he foolishly underestimated and his army of mercenaries and their massive stash of weapons. If he doesn't, his whole family hiding in the mountains could starve or be crushed. A lot is at stake.
Author Mary E. Pearson weaves a thrilling tale, but could have trimmed it a little. Once Kazi is captured, she learns about the source of violent upheaval in Hell's Mouth pretty quickly. When Jase works it out much later in his narrated chapters, it's redundant for the reader. More could have been added about the magical elements, however. Their significance feels overshadowed in an already tightly packed story. Overall, the ending is satisfying in the way that only a really good star-crossed lovers' tale can be.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Kazi's resilience in Vow of Thieves. What are her most important tools of survival? What does she tell herself every time she faces Zane?
How does Jase's relationship with his family change? Which family member's transformation is the most surprising?
If there is another spin-off series, will you read it? Will you want to see Jase and Kazi again, or new star-crossed lovers?
Book Details
- Author: Mary E. Pearson
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date: August 6, 2019
- Number of pages: 496
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 13, 2019
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