The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids, by Michael McClung 4.5 stars

[Joanne]

The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids 4.5 stars

A smart, attention-grabbing fantasy that I loved falling into.

Amra Thetys is an established thief in Lucernis. She has a handler who schedules her jobs, and she is professional, keeping her personal life private. These two things not only keep her alive but also mark her as one of the best.

However, when a dear friend is murdered in the streets, Amra embraces revenge to find justice for her fellow thief and confidante. She enlists the aid of another friend, a mage, and sets off to uncover the truth of what happened and why.

McClung's sharp wit and snappy writing style had me captured on the first pages. Though the world is fascinating, this story is more character-driven, and he leaves you dangling on certain subjects relating to the magic system and the Gods. No problem, I found out, as at the end of the story, there is a section The known world: A slightly less-brief overview and history which fills in the gaps. That this entry is written by one of the very best characters is a huge plus. I suggest leaving this until you read the book, as not knowing these things was not troublesome, and kept the mystery of the story at a high level.

I recommend this to anyone who likes "light" Fantasy and mystery. I am looking forward to reading more about Amra and the world she lives in.

[Olivermagnus]

I read the occasional "light fantasy" and like mystery so I'm going to give this a try.

[Joanne]

I think you might like it, Lynda. As I said, the world-building is pretty minimal, but the characters are great. It should be a quick read for you.