Heirs of Infamy

by Kyla Zhao

Beneath the neon glare of postwar San Francisco, Chinatown is ruled by two rival crime families. East Phoenix deals in secrets and stealth, West Dragon in fists and fear. But amid rising anti-Chinese hostility, both empires are bleeding money—and the fragile truce between them frays by the day.

As the daughter of Chinatown’s most powerful crime boss, Alexis Sung can do almost anything—except join the family business. When her first job for East Phoenix goes wrong, her father shuts her out for good. Across town, Zachary Ren—a brilliant orphan raised by West Dragon—is desperate to escape a life he never chose. Their paths weren’t meant to cross again, not after he destroyed Alexis's one shot to prove herself.

That changes when a daring heist surfaces—one score big enough to save both families. Defying her father’s orders, Alexis seizes the chance to redeem herself by striking an uneasy alliance with Zachary.

Old wounds reopen. New sparks catch. And survival means trusting the last person she should.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Kyla Zhao’s books have been spotlighted by CBS, NBC, Good Morning America, Vogue, Elle, Buzzfeed, South China Morning Post, and more.

She has also been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, named a Tatler Leader of Tomorrow, and awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the California State Assembly for her contributions to Asian media representation.

Across genres and age groups, Kyla’s stories center women and girls of color who explore ambition, identity, and belonging in vibrant settings.

Reviews

[Mai H.]

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ (slump era)]

ഒ·˚ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

pre-read: AHHHH ( ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ഒ thank you to the author, kyla zhao, for sending me a widget!! so freaking excited!

[Olivia💜🗡️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me this arc!

I honestly don’t know how to feel about this book. Because on one hand, it was immensely entertaining and easy to read. But on the other hand, I felt like some of the aspects fell flat in my opinion.

Let’s first start out by saying that I had no expectations going into this book. I just found it interesting and knew it was something that I would like. And while I did like it, I definitely didn’t love it. There was just some things that either felt off or I simply didn’t understand.

Some of those things are the setting. I don’t know how to describe it but this book is set in the 1940s with two rival gangs. And while the vibes were there, I felt as if I wasn’t fully immersed in the setting. Either it was the writing style or maybe just the content in the book, but I just never felt connected. Another thing is that sometimes the characters actions didn’t make sense to me. Especially at the end, one character made a decision that I think didn’t match with the rest of the story. On the topic of the ending, it honestly felt a little bit rushed and some decisions or actions were made wayyyyy too quickly in my opinion. Lastly the me and the romance in this book had a love hate relationship. There were sometimes where I was OBSESSED with them but there were also times where I was like “meh”. I am not a person who likes spice/lusty types of romance and I felt like there were definitely some of these moments throughout the story, which is where the “hate” part comes in.

Now for what I liked. This book was definitely very fast paced and also VERY entertaining. I freaking loveeee heists and I think that this author paced the heist really well. I loved being able to watch all the puzzle pieces come together.

I know it sounds like I hated this book but I genuinely didn’t. It kept me entertained and invested even with a busy week and I think it’s honestly perfect for a no thoughts kind of read.

[Sarah]

Everything about this sounds amazing 😍🫶🏼

[brontësaurus]

i think i may need this a tiny bit more than oxygen.

[er · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Penguin and Kyla Zhao for giving me the opportunity to red this as an arc!

Heirs of Infamy is set during the 1940s in San Francisco and follows the story of Alexis, East Phoenix’s princess, and Zachary, member of the West Dragons.

First of all, this is clearly inspired by Romeo and Juliet. But the main reason why I picked this up is that it reminded me of These Violent Delights and I’ve been on the hunt for something similar since I read it. Well, I can say I enjoyed this and it definitely satisfied my need for something similar to TVD.

I mostly liked our main characters. i liked that Alexis isn’t afraid of recognising her privilege but she is a little reckless and immature at times. Zachary is great, he is more on the quiet side and sometimes I wished we got a little more from him.

The story was captivating but in some points it felt a little slow, but overall the pacing wasn’t bad. The heist element draws you in, and I think it’s the reason why I kept reading even during the slower moments. The ending felt a little rushed, I wish we got a little more about Alexis and Zachary’s future together.

[Maddie Metzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for this advance copy!!

first of all, i really liked kyla zhao’s writing. this was my first book by her and i enjoyed her style and prose. i’m very excited to read more of her work in the future!

i thought that this book moved along pretty well and was overall a good story. i liked both main characters and the world building really interested me throughout. i hadn’t read anything like this before, rivals to lovers aside. the gangs set up in chinatown was fascinating and the 1940s time period added even more intrigue.

so why the low-ish rating if i liked everything?

honestly it feels forgettable for me. it didn’t blow me away, and the romance didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. the story was good, but not incredible. i think that it was done well, but i don’t see it sticking with me for a long time. it was a great vacation read and easy to move through. however, it’s just not necessarily something that i would read again.

that being said, i’m definitely eager to read more of kyla’s books, and i would even recommend this one for a fun and unique read!


•pre-review•

rating and review to come once i gather my thoughts!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

8.2.2024 I’ll write a real review when I read the finished product, but beta reading is reading, and I’m trying to hit that GR goal.

6.12.2025 The way Kyla got rid of my favorite side character, and I still like the newer version more 😩

[Andrea Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC

4 stars might even round to 5. One of my favorite romances I've read this year. 🤍

I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page, it completely pulled me in and never let go. It was incredibly fun, fast-paced, and so addictive. One of my favorite aspects was the setting. Since I'm from the Bay Area, it was such a fun experience seeing San Francisco woven into the story. Recognizing places I've grown up visiting made the world feel even more immersive and added such a personal touch to my reading experience.

The romance was easily the highlight for me. The tension, the chemistry, the longing, and even the betrayal were all fantastic. Every interaction between the main characters felt meaningful, and their relationship developed in a way that felt genuine and earned. I absolutely childhood friends to lovers. I honestly haven't read a romance this believable and emotionally compelling in a long time. You could just feel the tension and chemistry dripping. It was delicious to read.

I really liked the characters themselves. They're both flawed, layered, and incredibly well-developed. Neither of them felt one-dimensional, and watching them navigate their own struggles while growing together made them easy to root for.

The ending?! Makes me think there will be more to explore. I’m excited to see if Kyla will write a sequel I really hope so. The only thing that took me out of the story were their names lol since Zachary and Alexis were not common names in the 1940s.


This comes out OCTOBER 12

[Lily Smol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader’s Copy from NetGalley

Thank you so much to Kyla Zhao, Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC of Heirs of Infamy to review!

What started out as a solid 4-4.5 star book, ended up being a perfect 5 stars after those last ten chapters. Wow.

Heirs of Infamy is a wonderful YA debut which explores themes of identity and belonging amidst the backdrop of post-war San Francisco Chinatown, delving into the difficult lives of two teenagers caught in gang crimes. Kyla Zhao paints an atmospheric picture of what it's like to grow up as an immigrant minority during the 1940's in America, while also struggling to figure out one's own desires and place in the big vast world.

I started this book with no expectations, and I was completely blown away by Zhao's ability to convey the protagonist's emotions in such a nuanced, real, and raw way, that made me personally feel their entire spectrum. I felt all of Alexis's fear, anxiety, indecisions, and heartbreak in my own chest, holding my breath as the heist was taking shape, and feeling butterflies during Alexis and Zachary's intimiate moments.

I truly felt for Alexis and the way her relationship with her dad was so intricately layered and complicated really shattered my heart, because it’s so easy to “know” how to act in different situations as an outsider looking in, but seeing Alexis truly do her very best to show and prove herself and earn her place in this gang and continue to be undermined and overlooked… I felt for her. The desperation she had which, I think many people might take as stupidity or ignorance, really just stems from wanting to overcome prejudice and stereotypes, not just the daughter of a crime boss, but also as an immigrant living in post-war America. I’d never read another time-piece before, but the way the author communicated exactly what minorities faced during these times made Alexis’s journey even more emotionally engaging.

And of course there’s Zachary, who is also so layered despite his perfect outward appearance. Someone who, at first glance, seems like a good-looking gang-member steadily rising through the ranks without a second thought, is actually an orphaned kid who was forced into this difficult criminal life which stripped him of all innocence much too early. I really loved his dynamic with Alexis, the bickering and the palpable tension was chef's kiss. And the way the author wrote their intimate, heart-felt moments was just so so beautiful! During those last ten chapters when all feelings were heightened and tension was at an all time peak, I would start crying at random moments just from the thought of these two babies hurting each other and hurting themselves. Their circumstances were so goddamn complicated and convoluted that there was no clear way out no matter how I thought about it, so I cried such big tears of joy when I read the last chapter and saw how they not only reconciled but stood up for themselves and their dreams and wanted to build something only they could have together.

Overall, a beautifully rich and intricate heist story, with a nuanced point of view and an innocent, butterflies-inducing love story.

[maria]

Kyla Zhao’s YA debut dives into a new side of San Francisco’s vast history through a novel filled with high stakes and thrills that will keep you turning the pages.

I first discovered Kyla’s books a few weeks before her debut novel, The Fraud Squad, was published. Since then I’ve talked with her on Instagram DM’s several times and when she asked for beta readers for her newest project — her debut YA novel about rival crime families set in San Francisco during the 1940’s— I jumped at the chance, and had the honor of being one of the first people to read this novel and see it transform from a first draft to the final product that is now in our hands.

Alexis Sung is an amazing protagonist. She is in such a unique position that makes her hyperaware of how her family is treated and the way Chinese-Americans and Chinese immigrants are viewed in a time period where the ideologies of their birth country were opposite to the ones of the country they came to build their lives in. But she is also ignorant due to her privilege as the daughter of a crime boss, often being unafraid to use her name to her advantage or speak her mind without fear of repercussions. While Alexis has the best intentions at heart, her own need to stand out and be respected in a world run by men, make up for past mistakes, and help her East Phoenix family sometimes leads to her making mistakes.

On the other hand, Zachary Ren is more tame, calculating and quiet. He and Alexis live such opposite lives where they each have what the other wants, and them having such opposite goals creates an interesting dynamic throughout the novel.

I thought the pacing of the story was well balanced between high stakes moments and the day to day lives of the characters that let us get to know them better. Apart from Alexis and Zachary, we have other characters that are integral to the plot like Alexis’ father and his right hand men, Zachary’s West Dragon boss, and their classmates at Galileo High.

While there is not a lot of worldbuilding since the story is set in a real city in a specific time period, San Francisco is a city that I love very much, holding many memories of summers spent in the Bay Area. Being familiar with the city helped me appreciate the research and attention to detail Kyla put into building her own version of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1940’s. It was interesting to see how much the city has changed culturally from stories like Kyla’s made through research, or from people who’ve seen it grow like my extended family there.

Exploring San Francisco through Kyla’s eyes was such a joy. The love she has for the city translates through the book’s pages, and seeing her grow as an author has been such a privilege. From her debut novel The Fraud Squad to her first historical fiction novel, Heirs of Infamy, it’s been such an honor and privilege to have been here along for the ride so far, and I know there is so much more to come.

Thank you, Kyla, for trusting me with your story. I can’t believe that after years I have the finished version in my hands!

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

Alexis is the daughter of the East Phoenix boss. Zachary, Alexis' ex-friend and brilliant classmate, works for West Dragon. These two gangs have been rivals in San Francisco Chinatown for decades, but the red scare has caused their resources to dry up. When a heist job surfaces that could save both gangs, Alexis, desperate to take the opportunity to prove herself to her father, teams up with Zachary behind her father's back. Taking on the biggest job of their lives, the two must overcome their past in order to guarantee their families' futures.

This was a sweet and exciting coming-of-age romance novel. I loved Alexis and Zachary's chemistry, and I thought that the internal and external conflicts heightened the tension between the two very well. Both teenagers were very clever. I was always looking forward to seeing how they'd tackle each new obstacle in their own unique ways.

The dynamic between the Chinatown residents and the wider San Francisco community was hard to read sometimes, since Zhao did not shy away from depicting the racism of the time. I think it's important for us to remember this side of our history and recognize how it shapes where we are today.

While teenagers executing high-stakes heists for powerful gangs is not very realistic, I still highly enjoyed the story. This setting makes for an engaging and accessible YA story that introduces 1940's San Francisco Chinatown and complex themes of identity, racism, and relationships.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book on the first page, but the main character drew me in, and the writing became addictive I liked Alexis character she was well rounded, and had depth she wanted to become a phoenix like her father, and prove herself she was the only girl in her father’s business, and I liked that part she stood out for me as a character the heist part in the book was good it wasn’t predictable and the conflict was there. The story is set in the 1940’s, but I didn’t see much in that timeline it could’ve been set in any other time for the lack of it. I liked the dialogue it fit the gangster vibe the story had the other characters fit in it too it all molded into the world making it seemed whole the story raises questions in the right places, and makes you wander the gang family aspect shines in this book you see what each of them do, their history, and the details of it all and what it all means to Alexis who wants to be part of it see what it means to her, and the contrast of it when she’s a woman, and her father believes she has no skills to be one of them. It gets you sucked into the story the romance added to the story Zachary was a good character he was from the rival family, and he added tension to the story. I wanted more of the ending it ended too abruply for me an epilogue knowing what happened to Alexis and Zachary later would’ve been nice. This was a story that gripped me from the beginning I recommend it to others and to give it a chance.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher for the arc.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friends-to-rivals-to-lovers YA novel set in mid 20th century San Francisco, Heirs to Infamy caught my attention in all aspects including the title and the beautiful cover art. I really liked the relationship between the two main characters, their differing backgrounds, and their reasonings for growing closer. Both characters have their individual motivations for why they want to take on this specific job, and I also especially appreciated the highlighting of Alexis's privilege and explanation for how she uses those privileges both consciously and unconsciously.

The setting carries a lot of the conflict, serving as a backdrop for anti-Chinese sentiment in America and the changes in relationships between Alexis's dad and higher officials does a good job of showcasing that downfall of public opinion at the time. A lot of current media involving anti-Asian hate comes from a more modern setting, so this book being set in one of the most influential times of Chinese-American history is all the more impactful.

Story-wise, I think the introduction chapters were attention-grabbing, the set-up a little slower for me, but then once the heist process began, I was hooked all over again. I found myself binging the entire second half of the book just so I could see Alexis and Zachary's relationship develop and also find out if they would succeed in their heist and their personal goals. Overall, the conclusion of the novel was very satisfying to me, and I even ended up loving an unexpected character. 4/5 stars :)

[blackcatbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. My feelings are just kind of mid on this book. I liked the start and the tension between the two characters at first but my interest kind of fizzled out halfway through the book. It felt like things on the heist aspect were moving too slow and then at the halfway point it felt like the romance went too fast. By the time the heist actually happened I wasn't really invested any longer and it just kind of happened. It didn't really feel like a heist to me either (I mean it was one but our main characters played a more minor roll at that point)

I will list some content warnings that could potentially be spoilers but I do feel like they should be mentioned.

Violence: obviously this is between gangs so there are a lot of mentions of violence. Guns, stabbing, taking of lives, ect. Not too much happens on page. But there is a attempted s***** assault that happens on page that ends with another character stepping in, followed by more violence.

Language: lots of slang from white people referring to the Chinese. One use of the f word. Several s***** innuendo. Some other minor language.

Sex: happens off page but you know what happened. To me always kills the tension between the main characters.

Alcohol/drugs: the main characters don't take part but there are references to both drugs and alcohol on several occasions.

[Maddie ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ✧.*

thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for this advance copy!!

first of all, i really liked kyla zhao’s writing. this was my first book by her and i enjoyed her style and prose. i’m very excited to read more of her work in the future!

i thought that this book moved along pretty well and was overall a good story. i liked both main characters and the world building really interested me throughout. i hadn’t read anything like this before, rivals to lovers aside. the gangs set up in chinatown was fascinating and the 1940s time period added even more intrigue.

on the other hand, honestly it feels forgettable for me. it didn’t blow me away, and the romance didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. the story was good, but not incredible. i think that it was done well, but i don’t see it sticking with me for a long time. it was a great vacation read and easy to move through. however, it’s just not necessarily something that i would read again.

→ overall, i’m definitely eager to read more of kyla’s books, and i would even recommend this one for a fun and unique read!


RATINGS ♡ ↓

overall rating - 3.5 stars
writing - 4 stars
characters - 3.25 stars
plot - 3 stars


•pre-review•

rating and review to come once i gather my thoughts!

[Haleybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heirs of Infamy was an incredible ride. It’s a historical romance at its core, but the thriller undertones and the high-stakes heist kept me flipping pages long into the night.

The Plot:
We follow Alexis, the daughter of a powerful crime boss in 1940s San Francisco. When she has to pull off a massive heist, she finds an unlikely partner in Zachary—a high-ranking member of a rival gang who also attends her high school.

What I Loved:
The Romeo & Juliet Vibes: The "star-crossed lovers" trope was handled so well. The tension between Alexis and Zachary as they navigated their rival families while trying to work together was top-tier drama.

The Setting: I loved the Chinese-American perspective. It was fascinating to see the 1940s through this lens and see how the characters navigated the social and political climate of the time while dealing with the underground crime world.

The Pacing: It’s a true slow-burn romance, but the heist plot keeps the energy high so it never feels slow.

Read this if you like:
🔥 Slow-burn romance
💎 High-stakes heists
⚔️ Rivals-to-allies
📜 Diverse historical fiction

[kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realized I can actually enjoy a mafia story, all that tension, forbidden love, gang feuding, from enemies to allies to lovers. YES, PLEASE, double it and give it to me ASAP.

Zachary and Alexis were once friends, but now all that remains between them is tension and bitterness from a shared history. There is no turning back for their relationship... or is there?

Alexis is desperate to prove herself, so without her father's permission or even knowledge, she starts working with Zachary on a heist, and perhaps along the way they'll find something even more valuable

Aside from a great love story, Heirs of Infamy explores themes of racism, sexism, unfairness, and underestimation so powerful that I was kicking myself. GET 'EM ALEXIS. In this house, we stand for cool, badass women; misogynistic men are NOT welcome here.

My first book by Kyla Zhao and I have absolutely no complaints, it was such a delightful read. I definitely recommend checking out Heirs of Infamy if you enjoy books about heists, friends to rivals/enemies to lovers, and if you've previously enjoyed Red City by Marie Lu or The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee

I received an eARC from NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

[ObscureVi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Heirs of Infamy, what a ride you were. Imagine Romeo & Juliet, but make it happen in 1940s San Francisco Chinatown and throw in two rivaling mafia houses/families/gangs.

I absolutely loved this one, like really, really much. I feel like it was a perfect example of: you found the right book at the right time.

The plot immediately hooked me and I didn't want to stop reading (to the point I was tempted to pull an all-nighter). The chemistry between our two main characters was done so good. The influence they had on each other? It actually made me smile. Zachary & Alexis deserve everything and I was rooting for them from the very start. I really enjoyed the heist part itself too and in a way I wish it was a bit longer, because we would get even more scenes full of tension between the two.

I haven't read anything by Kyla Zhao before today, but I think she just got herself a new fan (especially, since I was having an eye on The Fraud Squad for some time now, and I need to get it, like fast).

If we ever get a second book? I would read it in a heartbeat.

[tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Heirs of Infamy is a story of rival crime gangs in 1940s San Francisco that spotlights two prominent young people from the respective gangs who are forced to work together for their mutual benefit. For the most part, it was fast-paced and had high stakes, although it did have some flaws.

Alexis as a protagonist who enjoys a life of great privilege but does not escape misogyny. Contrastingly, Zachary who grew up poor, had different opportunities presented to him. These upbringings would then lend itself to being a point of contention between the two, but instead it was not explored as deeply as I would’ve expected.

I did feel that the build-up and trajectory of Alexis and Zachary’s relationship needed some more work in believably transition then back into friends. It didn’t make sense to me that after four years of not speaking, they were remarkably civil towards each other. It was unfortunate that their reconciliation had to be speed-run in one book and couldn’t be more fleshed out.

The discussions of class and the anti-Chinese sentiment in this post-war time introduced additional obstacles for the main characters to face, and it gave reasoning for the existence of the gangs that may have otherwise been superficial.

Overall, I would recommend this to the right reader that is intrigued by this premise and setting, even if I didn’t personally enjoy it as much as I anticipated. That being said, I will always be appreciative of historical tales like this.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.

I love historical books, even more so when we have teens in a historical setting. In this case, seeing that the two teens are Asian descent and it takes place in 1920's California, with gangs and what not? That's fun. Even better that the kids are involved in the gangs and one wants to leave and the other wants to prove their worth.

The plot is simple, the drama comes from the whole aspect of the two gangs working together to steal the items that had been "acquired" by the US and are up for auction. They steal the items then split the loot. However, given the two gangs and their histories, it makes it a treacherous alignment of goals.

I liked the main characters, the male and female lead were really well done and both had their lives plus the added discomfort / disadvantages of the time (and still going on) of being people of color. Once friends, their paths diverged four years ago only to return again after involvement from the gangs. I liked that slow kindle of friendship to lovers.

But there was something missing, and that's why I gave it two stars down. I think it being that I'm used to other problems, villains, issues, and this book just had a pretty clean cut (and at times a little too off the mark of coincidental) story and that for a book that had to do with gangs, there wasn't more ... issues? Police issues:? Something hindering or throwing out road blocks so to speak for the main characters.

All in all, it is a book for teens, but I guess it really depends on how mature you are and what constitutes as a good read. It's a good book, I just wanted more.

[Zara Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEIRS OF INFAMY was everything I wanted from a historical heist novel and more. It blends action, romance, family rivalries, and high-stakes crime beautifully! This story kept me completely hooked from beginning to end.

One of my favorite aspects was the relationship between Alexis and Zachary. Their families may be on opposite sides, but their chemistry is literally everything. I also loved the Chinese-American perspective woven throughout the novel. Even though the romance is a slow burn, the heist plot never lets the momentum slow down. There was always another twist, another secret, or another impossible situation waiting around the corner, which made it such a page turner!

If you love historical fiction, clever heists, slow-burning romance, and stories filled with twists and suspense, HEIRS OF INFAMY is one you won't want to miss!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the E-Arc.

[Leslie Ammann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, GP Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and Kyla Zhao! This book was immensely entertaining. I was worried that it would feel too much like historical fiction; I would love that, but my high school readers would not. I could not put this book down! Two rival gangs set in post-WWII Red Scare California with. Romeo & Juliet-esque love story, AND a heist!!!! What could go wrong? The two MCs, Alexis & Zachary, have a great deal of chemistry, and are quite believable. I wanted more of the heist, however. It felt rushed, and severely lacking in details on the inside. Some suspension of disbelief is needed with these gangs too because one or both of the MCs would have probably been killed by their rival gang for some of their actions. I loved the story for what it was, and the characters too, but I thought some of the details were lacking that would have taken this from fantastic to incredible! We will definitely be purchasing this one for our library!

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Kyla Zhou for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

San Francisco, Chinatown, 1948. Alexis Sung is the daughter of the East Phoenix leader. Her greatest desire is to follow in her father’s footsteps, but unfortunately he doesn’t want that for her, and he doesn’t have any faith in her.

Zachary is a member of the West Dragons, and Alexis’ former friend, before she knew who he was. Together they have to pull off a huge heist, Alexis to gain her father’s approval, and Zachary to gain his freedom.

The chemistry between Alexis and Zachary is so palpable, you can’t help but root for them to get together, despite being from different gangs. I really love how they make each other better people.

I greatly enjoyed reading this, and stayed up past my bedtime to finish it. Would recommend!

[Teralyn Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this book from the very first iteration (I beta read it). I can’t even begin to count how many times I read the first five chapters (Kyla knows I didn’t mind) and then reading a few drafts until the next to final one I think. This book was such a blast. I LOVE a heist book and Kyla crafted an amazing story that was historical, action, romance, and drama that’ll have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, another twist will have you saying, “NO! What just happened?”

I adore a Alexis and Zachary ♥️🥰 I know they will always hold a special place in my heart and I cannot wait until everyone else gets a chance to read Heirs of Infamy and fall for these two as well!

[nerdy.bookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I beta-read the new final manuscript, so I am incredibly excited for this book to see the world.

It is a wonderfully crafter heist book, with characters I want to hold dearly and protect. I think this book can take your attention and captivate it in ways you wouldn't even expect. When I was reading I barely could stop reading during the middle of the night, I was attached, and I still think about it sometimes.

If you like heist books, brilliant and sassy characters, drama and some sadness (but in a good way, like my heart hurts), this book is for you!

[Myka Gilliam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. The characterization is done well as is the setting, both time and place. The plot is high interest and the stakes are large. My only critique is the amount of romance. It is a slow burn with lots of pining which makes the ages of the characters feel authentic. However, it will put off some readers not looking to read that intense of a romance. Specifically, those wanting more of a heist novel. This isn't that.

There is a closed door romantic scene, just fyi. I think this would be best for grades 10+.

[A Girl Called Crow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much NG for an early access of this book!

I did definitely enjoy the book, and it reminded me of Asian underground gang games like Sleeping Dogs and Yakuza. I found the FMC to be fierce and unapologetic as she forces her way through patriarchal spaces, which I loved. The setting felt familiar through vivid descriptive detail of the world, but overall I found it to be “good” - not extraordinary, but far from awful or bad.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Heirs of Infamy is a character driven romance between two Chinese-American teens from rival crime families in 1940's San Francisco.

Alexis Sung is the daughter of the East Phoenix's crime boss & Zachary Zen's late father was a member of the West Dragons. Alexis is desperate to prove to her father she deserves a spot in the crime family & Zachery wants nothing more than to get out of the West Dragons & go to college.

I was immediately drawn into the story & raced through to finish in one afternoon. My quibble would be that I felt the two characters felt older than seniors in High School. The premise of two teens being allowed to conduct what is described as a "daring heist"—"one score big enough to save both families" in the book description--even though others were involved in the heist stretched disbelief a bit.
I still very much enjoyed this title & can't wait to see what this author writes in the future.

[Sonido Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been in a crime family in San Fransisco during the 1940s, but Heirs of Infamy sure did have me holding my breath and stressing out like my life depended on this heist! With heart-pounding stakes and characters so intriguing I couldn't help but turn the page, Kyla Zhao has done it again.