Lily the thief

Lily is a young thief, eager to prove herself to the dismissive old men of the thieves' guild. After she takes the initiative, undertaking a high-profile thieving mission without authorization, she gets caught up in a mystical plot to resurrect an ancient evil king. Castles and crypts abound in Lily's gritty, vaguely medieval European setting, which Kukonnen conjures through striking color palettes and a softened realism that makes the fight scenes, which feature graphic violence, more palatable. An otherwise thrilling, cinematic sword-and-sorcery adventure is hampered by a reliance on tropes, expository dialogue, and an abundance of clichés, and the allure of a female thief protagonist ultimately results in disappointment. There's nothing female about Lily, who behaves, appears, and is treated as a boy, and there isn't a single other female character in the book. Still, strong pacing, exciting action, and appealing art will hook gamer fans of Skyrim or the Legend of Zelda as well as other readers in search of Arthurian adventure.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2020 Booklist

Tired of being underestimated by the master of the Guild of Thieves and trying to avoid a forced marriage, Lily, determined to prove her worth, steals information about a high-level job: the theft of a mysterious relic. Successfully swiping the ancient object, she ends up at odds with the guild, the powerful noble who owned the relic, and the sinister cult who has just bought it from him. To secure her life and freedom, Lily must steal two more relics, but the price of success may be steeper than the cost of failure. Kukkonen's world leans heavily on high fantasy tropes (swords, sorcery, clever thieves) but distinguishes itself in the details, mostly courtesy of the cinematic art that blends grimy, creepy set pieces with layered characters. Lily, the youngest and only female character, stands out as a likeable, impetuous heroine whose somewhat flexible moral compass, skill, and quick thinking serve her well throughout increasingly difficult enterprises that leave impressive amounts of destruction and a surprisingly high body count in their wake. Lily's adventures may feel familiar, but they amount to an enjoyable fantasy adventure. Ages 10--14. (Nov.)

It might be a man's world, but one young thief wants to change that.In this graphic offering from Finnish author/illustrator Kukkonen, Lily, a small, parentless girl with choppy dark hair is an extremely talented thief who bounds about her seemingly medieval village, picking pockets with panache. She works with elderly, gray-bearded Seamus, who treats her kindly, serving as her parental figure. Lily is determined to prove herself and secure a spot in the male-only thieves' guild. When the Guildmaster laughs off any chance of entry because of her age and gender, she steals one of the scrolls that act as the guild's job assignments out of spite. Lily soon finds herself facing corrupt nobility, the shadowy Brotherhood, and a mysterious legend as she dashes through dungeons and rushes among relics. Lily must now decide exactly how far she will go to get what she wants. A headstrong character, often blinded by her own impetuousness, Lily is a joy to follow as she wends her way through a male-dominated world (Lily is, in fact, nearly the only female character). Her sass, swords, and soaring arrows keep the pages flying and eyes racing over tidy panels colored by Bazot with a palette of cool blues countered by warm brown tones. Lily's adventures feel familiar and a bit well trodden, but they are as cozy and comfortable as a warm blanket on a cold day. All characters present white.A fun page-turner sure to steal readers' attention. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.