SOLVED. YA Fantasy series. Girl's mother is murdered when she is young, then she starts to steal & lives in abandoned old library. Has powers & eventually becomes protector of boy from powerful family. Sea monster under bridge. Read around 2016-2017. [s]

[Joanna]

I remember that the main character was a teenage girl who had lost both of her parents. Her mother was killed in a fire when she was young. If I remember correctly, the girl's mom was murdered when the girl was getting some ice cream. She then moved into some kind of abandoned old library and started stealing things and making money that way.
I also remember that there was a bridge and when you crossed it, it was polite to give money for the "sea monster" who lived underneath the bridge. There were also some other small creatures living in the town.

One day the girl went to this boutique where she always took all the stolen items and the owner (old friend of the girl's mother) gave her money. The same day this boy walks into the shop and then they are all attacked and the girl helps to fight against the attackers. I think the boy was the son of some important ruler (women) or powerful family in the kingdom. And the girl also had some specific powers and she eventually became the protector of this boy.
I read this book series maybe 4-5 years ago. I think there was at least three books in this series. I just can't remember the author or the name of this series.

[Kris]

Joanna, did you mean her father was killed in fire when she was young? Where was the fire and how did it start? Who killed her mother and why?

Does she have any companions or a romantic interest?

I added a few details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it.

[Cupcakedoll]

[Joanna]

OMG Yess!! I think that's the book series. Thank you <3