Painted Devils

By: Margaret Owen

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

A scrappy former maid and jewel thief must outwit gods, injustice, and her own past in this sequel to the Indie Next Pick, Little Thieves by Margaret Owen.

Let's get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn't trying to start a cult.

After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous junior prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family . . . and whether they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.

For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—is genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that could be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but also the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?

From the indie bestselling author Margaret Owen comes to the thrilling next installment in the Little Thieves trilogy.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

©2022 Margaret Owen (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Love these stories

Disappointed that I have to wait until the next book is released to find out what happens.

Refreshing, funny, brilliant

I love the way this authors writes! Canna is hilarious and so easy to love I can’t wait for the third book!

Absolutely adored this book!

“Little Thieves” stole my heart in 2021, and “Painted Devils” is keeping it.
Vanja didn’t mean to start a cult. She meant to go straight, to prove she was worthy of the boy she loved, but with a single, drunken mistake, she ruined everything. Desperate to reclaim the rubies she dropped in the river, Vanja weaves a story of the Scarlet maiden and the vision she was given to trick the villagers to help her. Suckered into staying longer than intended, Vanja is caught by Emeric, who was sent to investigate this new cult. Things are only complicated further when the Scarlet Maiden actually appears and demands a blood sacrifice, either Emeric himself or the blood of seven brothers. Desperate to save her protractor boyfriend, Vanja sets out on a quest to retrieve this blood, and in the process, discovers the family that abandoned her.
One thing I really loved about this book (other than Vanja’s creative ways of describing Emeric) was how much of a big deal they made about sex being consensual and pleasing to both parties. Since Vanja was abandoned as a child, no one had bothered to teach her about sex, and though the act itself was off screen, Vanja and Emeric discussed it thoroughly, making sure each was ready for that next step and respecting when they weren’t ready. It was a wonderful example of the consideration partners should have, and one very rarely seen in books.
I also loved meeting Vanja’s family, and the story they revealed that both fit with the one Vanja remembered and contrasted with it. It was beautiful to see the gremlin of a girl be accepted for who she is, just as she is, and helped to love herself.

Can’t wait for book 3!

I got the first book out of curiosity and then fell in love. Book 2 did not disappoint and I can’t wait for 3!

Easy 5 stars

The way I laughed AND cried in the same page. I can’t get enough of Owen’s characters. I can’t wait for book 3!

Book Three When???

Amazing. Loved it. Rabid for the next installment. You know a book is solid when you're simultaneously rooting for the main character and wanting to shake them.

Obsessed with this series in the best way

This is one of the best books I've read in so long, with such lovable characters, great humor, a beautiful setting, and amazing storytelling. This series deserves so much more attention!

A perfect sequel

Firstly, if you get to read along just know certain parts of this book have smaller font due to their… illicit nature (wink wink).

That said this book is so cute and perfect. Which isn’t to say the content is light! In fact there are ~a lot~ of heavy topics discussed with care and precision (see my reference to teenage sex above). Margaret Owen had a brilliant way of making me cry in one moment and laugh in the next before making me cry more. Vanja and her Protractor are everything.

It was okay

I absolutely LOVED the first book and was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, the author spent way too much time talking about teenage characters sex lives. While it was done with gentle tact and wonderful conversations about consent, it still took over way too much of the novel and slowed down the plot.

There was also bad communication and hand wringing angst that seemed a little uncharacteristic from the first book. Overall, this was fine enough but I’m not sure I’ll complete the series.

1M stars!!!!

This book is freaking PHENOMENAL. Both the writing and narration are out of this world amazing. I cannot wait for book 3!!