Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
Three years after fleeing the canal city of Varenza, Serafina returns with a single goal: bring down Dominico Valeri, the powerful merchant lord who destroyed her life. Reuniting with her former partner Rafe, she assembles a crew of specialists: a brilliant locksmith, an acrobat and strongman, and a rogue alchemist, to strike at the heart of Valeri’s empire. His vault. Before they can take on the vault, they need to learn to work together and raise enough funds to finance their plans. Uncertain about each other and Serafina’s vision, the pressure mounts as they attempt more and more daring heists. As they work together, this disparate group of thieves becomes something more than just strangers; they might become a family. In the end, the question is: will they succeed or will they fall to the Valeri family and the inspector hired to track them down? And eventually, Serafina has to decide just what she’ll do to protect her crew and get her revenge. At its core, this is a story of revenge, identity, and found family, set against a richly imagined city of lies and secrets, where every victory comes at a price.
Is Masks of Varenza: A Fantasy Heist Novel in a City of Masks and Lies (Thieves of Varenza Trilogy) appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
A heist-driven fantasy with themes of revenge and found family. Contains moderate action violence during heists and confrontations, but no sexual content or strong language. The moral complexity of thieves as protagonists may warrant discussion.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include violence, betrayal, and vengeance-driven hero.
Who'll love this
Teens will enjoy the Ocean's Eleven-style heist planning, crew dynamics, and the satisfying revenge plot against a corrupt merchant lord.