Review of Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Total chapters: 62

Writer: Mary E. Pearson

Update status: Complete

Synopsis: The Patriarch of the feared Ballenger family dies, and his son, Jase, takes the helm. Meanwhile, the young Queen of Venda sends Kazi, a former street thief and member of the Kingdom's elite guard (The Rahtan), to investigate the Ballenger family. Upon meeting Jase, she realizes he is far from an ordinary thief and that there's more to him than meets the eye. This snowballs into an intimate relationship marred by secret political motivations.

Author Introduction | Mary E. Pearson

Mary E. Pearson is a New York Times bestselling writer who has penned eleven YA novels. She is known for being the author of the renowned "The Remnant Chronicles" trilogy, as well as its successor: The "Dance of Thieves" series.

Theme: Dancing Around Between Love and Duty

"Dance of Thieves" showcases a strange dichotomy where political enemies progress into becoming lovers. You'll witness a dialectical tension between family duty and romantic love, as well as a "slow burn" scenario. You may also find a myriad of other tropes, such as "found family."

While the "political intrigue" aspect of the story is not wholly irrelevant, the main focus in "Dance of Thieves" is undoubtedly on the romance plot points.

Characters: Meet the Thieves

"Dance of Thieves" is packed with mesmerizing and loveable characters, though the main ones are arguably Jase and Kazi (to the point where they almost rhyme!). Both have compelling arcs and a lot of depth to them.

Let's outline these a bit:

Jase

Jase Ballinger is the male lead in this story. He's the heir to the Ballinger empire and becomes the "Patrei" upon his father's death.

Jase can be described as a very family-oriented person with a knack for detecting deceit. However, he can also be overly proud and egotistical. He first meets Kazi while she steals oranges from a merchant n Hell's Mouth.

Kazi

Kazi was born in Brightmist, Venda. She lost her single mother when she was six years of age. As an orphan, she ended up turning into one of the most accomplished thieves in the region. Ironically, her rise to the Queen's elite guard came after spitting in Queen Lia's face.

Point of View: From the Thieves' Standpoint

At first, it's not very clear who's speaking, though the novel does begin with one of the characters narrating in first person. Soon, we learn that it is Kazi! Overall, the entire plot is related by both Kazi and Jase, and the perspective shifts frequently from one protagonist to another.

Plot: Great Thieves Think Alike!

The novel sets off with Kazi, accompanied by a band of guards, riding through the ruins in Sentinel Valley. Kazi can sense some of the "ghosts" of the Great Battle and is reminded of the 20,000 soldiers killed there.

Then, we get into a flashback scene where Kazi meets Queen Lia in the dirty streets of Brightmist. There and then, she spat in Lia's face, but, unexpectedly, the latter responded with a smile. She'll then be onboarded to the Rahtan, which is one of Venda's elite guards.

Once in the Rahtan, she's ordered by the Queen to make her way into the Ballinger region and investigate some recent misdeeds against the Kingdom, which would amount to severe treaty violations. She's tasked with gaining access to the Ballenger family's stronghold, which had been deemed impenetrable for so long.

The Two Lovers Meet

While in Hell's Mouth, Kazi holds a knife up Jase's throat. However, as soon as she learns he's the new Patriarch (or "Patrei"), she follows him into a back alley, where he gets beaten up by enslavers. Kazi tries to intervene but is hit in the head. They both end up chained, and Kazi is forced to find a way out for both.

They barely escape as Kazi steals the chain keys from the driver. She hands the keys over to Jase, but he forgets to untie the ankles, so they remain chained together while attempting to make their way through the wilderness.

Not long after, they both fall in love with one another. Nonetheless, their newly-found love interest will ultimately collide with their sense of duty.

Hottest Chapters in Dance of Thieves

Chapter four represents a pivotal moment in the story as that's the point where Kazi and Jase first meet. However, it would be a slow buildup, for the couple would not interact with each other until chapter six when they meet in the market scene. Chapter nine is where things get mellow as the protagonists begin to show signs of their mutual affection.

While the entire novel is full of memorable moments and breathtaking plot twists, these first few chapters set the stage quite nicely.

Writing Style: A Language That Steals Hearts

The narrative in "Dance of Thieves" is rich with metaphors and vivid descriptions of the characters, settings, and actions. Pearson (the author) exhibits remarkable writing skills as the bestselling novelist she is, and the book guarantees to engage readers with the oniric atmosphere it exudes.

Does Dance of Thieves Make the "Right Moves"?

"Dance of Thieves" by Mary E. Pearson is definitely a blast to read from cover to cover. It does present some evident pacing issues, especially midway. However, its rather tedious middle section is sandwiched between some of the most amazing moments in modern literature.

This is, without a doubt, a piece of fiction you should read right away!

FAQs

Q: Are there any LGBTQ characters in "Dance of Thieves"?

A: The book doesn't portray any LGBTQ characters, or at least none that are open about their sexuality.

Q: Can "Dance of Thieves" be read by people of all ages?

A: "Dance of Thieves" can be read by people 13 years old and up.