Now THIS is a good book!! I was surprised with how good the second book was, since the first book was much slower and less thrilling. I continued the duology just to read more about the FMC Kazi and because I was already familiar with the world and the writing. This book was everything I missed in the first book. Action-packed from page 1, such a page turner!! and filled with tension and plot twists. I had the time of my life reading this!!! Even the romance was much more believable, everything had more meaning, I loved it. It honestly makes me want to read the first book again, because I think I misjudged it.

Why didn't I read this duologie sooner? It is perfection and I wouldn't only recommend it to everyone, but this book will be my present to every birthday party and every other occasion. Until EVERYBODY I know has read these books. That's how much I loved it. Normally I don't enjoy a second book as much as the first. The couple usually struggles in this one, because in the first novel they've found each other - now there needs to be some plot. In "Vow of Thieves" the author breaks with this principle. Kazi and Jase aren't even together for most of the time (I don't think this is a spoiler, because you can also read this in the blurb). At first I thought I might not like the story like this, because I need romance in my books. But the romance and love of Kazi and Jase surprisingly didn't suffer from this. It just grew stronger and I would never have expected to enjoy their time apart as much as I did. It gives them time to develop another story of their own and I got to know them individually. Kazi was already familiar from the first book, but Jase got his own POV in this one and that is the best thing that could have happend. I got to know many different sides of him - the protector (as we already know him), the brother, the patrei and a partner to Kazi. He struggles to keep all his roles under control and it doesn't always work out. Familiy is very important to him and through his eyes you can see how the love and support of family can overcome many obstacles. The story in itsself is never ever boring and I was on the edge of my seat (okay, I sat very upright in my bed) for most of the book. There is so much sceming going on and you don't know who to trust. I just didn't know where the plot was headed and I LOVED IT! So few books manage to surprise me as much as this one did. Kazi plays a big role in all of the intrigues and her thieving skills come in handy. It was amazing to "see" her work and wrap everyone around her little finger (is it everyone though? Just read this book and find out!). SOme of the time Kazi gave me major Kaz vibes, which is a very very very good thing. I would recommend this book to lovers of the Six of Crows series and people who love a great plot with still some romance to it.

gotta say, i liked the first book a little better. here, there was soo much time where the MC's were apart and even though the storyline was still good, I was missing their dynamic second read: this took me way to long to finish, but I am a busy woman.. anyways, how I will continue without immediately re-reading the whole series (including the RC) i will never know... but oh do I love these books. The second time around I was able to pay much more attention to detail and i am still obsessed, if you couldn't tell. Mary E. Pearson is my roman empire.

Rating: 4.25⭐️

<blockquote><b><i>“Maybe some lies, maybe most of them, were lies we only told ourselves.” </i></b></blockquote> I'm so sad to leave this book and these characters behind! I'm barely finished with it, but I already miss this world. I'm so happy with what Mary E. Pearson did here, how she truly elevated this final book to a breath-taking, fast-paced and twisty finale, with secrets I couldn't see coming and a tension that left me on the edge of the seat the entire time. While the first novel was introductory, but with its fair share of adventure and twists and lots of action-packed moments, there were more soft, 'down' moments where we could catch our breath and simply enjoy Kazi,Synové and Wren's friendship, the Ballangers being a family, sweet/angsty scenes between Kazi & Jase. Here, stuff blows up from the first chapter and we're only able to 'rest' when everything is over and done with and we have only the aftermath and the ending of our characters to get to. Despite the pace, the author manages to tie all the loose ends, answer the questions we had since the previous novel in a satisfying way, present our true villain in a very scary but competent fashion and give a proper ending to all our cast. I especially loved the glimpse into the 'Ancients' and what might have happened during the Fall, how the Ballangers came to be and the origin of the bunker, the Ballanger crest and the word "Patrei". I am so happy with the whole duology, much more so than I was with the original Remnant trilogy, and am pleased that I decided to pick it up, after all. Definitely on of my favorite reads of the year.