#fantasy heist

[alpacaparkaseok]

Beta Readers Wanted (last call)

Hello! Just a quick pop in to give a quick update. For the last three-ish years I've stepped back from fan-fic to pursue a lifelong dream: publishing a novel. Now, I'm here to ask a favor of some of you. Beta read my novel for me?

I've rewritten it four times, and I'm hoping to begin the querying process this summer. Beta readers that can provide well-thought out feedback and pinpoint potential plot holes or issues, as well as encourage (because I'm a struggling author here, please encourage me so I don't collapse into a heap lol) would be so much help. I have a handful of other betas already from other sites, but I thought I'd come back to my roots and see if there's anyone still out there from this world that enjoyed my writing enough to give this a go. Below, I have a quick synopsis for any interested. If you are, please comment below and I can work on sharing a google doc for you beta.

I'm also more than happy if you'd like to beta the opening chapters, as well! I know a full book can be a bit commitment, and the opening chapters are critical.

Thanks everyone!

HOW TO SELL SUNSHINE complete - 82k Fantasy/Heist

Helena Cano seeks revenge. After uncovering the illegal relic trade that claimed her sister's life, the Ossuary, Helena and three unlikely allies have a target in sight. They pledge, some more firmly than others, to bring down the Ossuary and dismantle it before other lives can be claimed. Utilizing relics blessed by ancient gods, they wield power, wit, and political prowess in equal measure. Destabilizing the Ossuary piece by piece until they infiltrate it at its heart: the auction, where the country's wealthiest men and women gather to bid on slivers of godly power. But justice is absolute, and it exacts a price. And Helena stands to lose more than she dares if she's to bring the axe down. Complete with beloved tropes such as found family, slow burn romance, and fast-paced heists, it's a novel loosely based off of my beloved "How to Sell Sunshine" and "How to Steal Moonlight" series published here, on Tumblr.

Content warnings: mentions of abuse, death/grieving, attempted murder

[thegrimmlibrarian]

I'm excited to announce my book FLAPPERS, FINS, AND FABULOUS FELONIES will be coming out 2nd May 2026! If you like glamour, the 1920s, mermaids, found sisterhood/family, and heists, then this is the book for you. Thanks so much to the amazing LazyFoxArt for the gorgeous cover. Blurb is down below.

The book is now available for pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Flappers-Fabulous-Felonies-Clare-Packard-ebook/dp/B0GHZJZY4D/

"Irene Fisher is cursed, not that it is much of a distinction. Anyone around her age or younger has been cursed by the Council, a group of evil magicians that overthrew the monarchy years ago. Irene transforms into a mermaid whenever she touches water. She makes the best of it by helping the local sea captains… and it’s the only thing that saves her when her godfather tries to kill her. Desperate to escape danger, Irene seizes upon an advertisement asking for cursed young women with flapper-like dispositions to help with ‘activities of an educational and profitable nature’. Upon arriving at the advertisement’s location, a mansion deep in the countryside, Irene discovers these ‘activities’ are heists. The flappers of Heyington House go out to glamorous parties and steal valuables from Councillors’ mansions for fun, reselling or returning them to their original owners when possible. Irene’s fellow flappers (and felons) include Estelle Dormer, their eccentric leader and even more eccentric getaway car driver; Katherine ‘Kitty’ Heyington, Estelle’s wholesome girlfriend who transforms into a cat when the sun rises; the stylish Ruth Browning, a childhood friend of Irene’s cursed with a deformed hand with a tendency for violence; Sarita Mallick, a descendant of a famous political family from the neighbouring country of Shirvast with a tongue that secrets venom; and her brother Nalin Mallick, a charming bartender and mixologist, whose legs have been turned to wood. Irene experiences many narrow escapes and surprises during their heists but is happy for a chance to strike back at the Council’s injustice. The appearance of a presumed-dead member of the royal family offers an opportunity none of them could have anticipated – a heist of magical jewels that could mean the end of the Council’s tyranny for good. How hard could it be? It’s just a small matter of breaking into the heavily guarded palace full of dangerous magicians completely undetected…"

[innocentlymacabre]

finally responding to @thebearthatreads' find the word tag! From The Crescent of Fools and Forgotten Time (a movie!) ~

chaos

Amidst the chaos, Jayce slips through the crowd and slinks towards the stairs. He rushes to the guard, feigning a blind panic, the guard too distracted by the chaos to notice Jayce’s palm beginning to glow. He pushes his palm to the guard’s chest, his purple magic soon spreading across the guard and enveloping him in streaks of glowing purple wires. The guard is soon covered in purple wires. His eyes roll back in his head and his eyelids shut. He sways unsteadily and passes out and falls. Jayce catches him and lays him down gently.

blood

Jayce (with a careful, measured cadence): It was your job, Lucille. You didn’t rat yourself out. You saved yourself, not me. Lucille: Be that as it may, you’re the one who actually carried it out. And who do you think they’re going to come after when they demand their blood? Lucille steps closer, her feathers beginning to ruffle in the sudden wind. Lucille: Me? She extends a long, claw-like finger to Jayce, tilting his chin upwards. Lucille: Or you?

Didn't have anything for poison or cold, unfortunately!

[howlsmovinglibrary]

So, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is pretty fab huh?

An even *more* woke Six of Crows, with a bunch of (queer disaster) misfits reverse Indiana-Jonesing a bunch of magics artefacts a European secret society has stolen from other cultures? Postcolonial shade on practically every page? A bisexual love triangle between an Autistic Jewish girl and two men of colour, with one of said men of colour being the centre of the love triangle in question? The amount of yearning between our two main characters....?

I want The Silvered Serpents, like, yesterday.

[yourheartonfire]

Wood snapped beneath the thief's exploring foot and the hero gasped at their ally's sudden, desperate grab for purchase. The flimsy carved screens high on the castle windows bowed outwards under the sudden weight, but did not break under the thief's slight frame.

The hero let out a silent breath of relief - until the call of the guard went up. Not the full hue and cry, just a shout from someone who must've heard the crack of the decorative carving snapped off. There was a rush of movement along the top of the crenallations, heading straight to where the thief clung less than 10 feet from the top.

The hero panicked and did the first damn fool thing that came into their head. They burst into song:

"A sailor spied a right stout maid, a maid of strength and grace!"

There were a handful of pebbles on the ground. The hero scooped up a dusty handful and chucked one up at the palace wall, adopting a duneven stagger down the street - away from the thief and their precarious perch.

"He asked for her for her strong smooth hand and she slapped him 'cross his face!"

A much larger chunk of rock smashed to the ground at the hero's feet. "Oi, you drunk!" yelled a guard, perched on top of the wall. "Buzz off!" A second guard leaned out next to her, his crossbow aimed squarely at the hero's heart.

The hero dropped the act and ran. They knew damn well how many hours castle guards had to spend training with those things. Behind them they heard faint, mocking laughter. But - more importantly- they didn't hear any further alarm.

By the time the hero had looped back around to the castle walls, the thief was already waiting for them at the newly opened sewer grate.

"You never told me you could sing," the thief said with a broad, shit-eating grin. "Next job, it'll be me hiring you to be my distraction."

"Shut up," the hero hissed, squirming their bulk down and through the small opening.

The thief laughed and scuttled ahead, as quick as a mongoose down its hole. The hero grunted and followed as best they could. The thief was just a means to an end, a necessary evil for the greater good. The hero couldn't let themselves forget that and start liking them. Or this was going to end badly for them both.

[coasttocoastreads]

Hello! Welcome Back Lovelies! Its week 3 of Self Isolation and I’m slowly going insane but this book saved me!

The Gilded Wolves//Roshani Chokshi

★★★★ / ★★★★★

Summary in One Gif: 

Pros:

HISTORICAL FANTASY HEIST

Diverse Characters

Angsty Boi 101 Taught by Professor Severin Montagnet-Alarie

Cons:

A trope that I have a personal dislike for

?????

Plot: 4 / 5

In a shocking surprise, I was… not fooled by the plot twists. I got these one’s pretty early, its not like expert level hiding, but again, for me, figuring it out doesn’t take away from my enjoyment, and oh boy oh boy oh boy did I LOVE this book.

Pacing 4 / 5

There were some lulls in the middle between the action, and several moments that felt like the climax before the actual climax, but I read it in about 48 hours, so clearly it wasn’t too much of a problem.

Worldbuilding 5 / 5

I think the atmosphere really came through in this one. I really felt like I could picture things in a very distinct way. It isn't an 'aesthetic' book per say, but I think the time period and Paris really came through in the atmosphere in ways authors sometimes fall short of, and it really added to the story.

Chokshi expertly navigates a fantasy/crime/ya adventure set in a historical rather than fantasy setting. I have often found in the past, that setting these sorts of plots in a historical setting can be very hit or miss, but when it hits, oh does it hit, and Chokshi does it magnificently.

The Paris Setting is awesome, easy enough to follow for someone who's never been there, but has a general cultural understanding. I was also mildly concerned toward the beginning about the religious tones, the whole basis on the Towel of Babel being a biblical story and all that, as someone who is incredibly non-religious, and has very little understanding of any biblical stories etc etc, I was worried I would miss things, and not understand stuff. But while Chokshi is drawing from there, I definitely did not feel like I was missing out on inside things, or not able to follow anything at all and other than the origin of the story itself, it didn’t ultimately feel religious in nature.

Characters: 5  / 5

Severin oh Severin, another angsty boi for my collection. That being said, I hope in the sequel we get Hypnos' POV and more of the other characters, I feel like I knew Severin and Zofia much better than Laila, Enrique and Tristan, despite having POV from all five of them. I think I very much felt like Severin was the main character, rather than all five of them. Which don't get me wrong, I have no problem with, I LOVE Severin, but I do like to see things a bit more spread out if I'm getting multiple POV. 

Also for the love of god, give me more Hypnos or give me death.

I’d recommend for:

Anyone! Fantasy Heist Lovers come!! I can’t wait for the sequel!

Would I travel here?

1000% Flight to Paris = Booked.

Overall Thoughts:

I could see this being up there with my favorite books of the year and I am EAGERLY awaiting the sequel.

The only reason it isn't five stars for me, is because of personal preference of tropes, I just didn't quite like a few of the choices, and the fact that I had easily predicted the plot twists.

See you next week!

Katya

(Spoiler-ish rant below the cut)

SPOILER RANT:

I SWEAR TO GOD I HAVE NEVER SHIPPED THREE PEOPLE MORE THAN I SHIP ZOFIA HYPNOS AND ENRIQUE GOOD FUCKING GOD ROSHANI CHOKSHI YOU BETTER NOT BE PLAYING ME HERE OR I WILL RIOT. 

[innocentlymacabre]

Trick or treat?👻

I'm in a giving mood, so let's have another treat!

“Let me just get this straight,” Jayce said, exasperated. Lot snorted. “Yeah, right.” “Much as I appreciate a good pun, mate, especially a gay one, now is really not the time,” Jayce said to him, fixing him with a pointed expression. Lot put his claws up in the air in surrender. “So,” Jayce resumed, turning back to Parrispex, “we need to attempt a jailbreak?” Parrispex laughed. “God, no.” Jayce sighed with relief. “No, that would have been much easier,” Parrispex said, interrupting Jayce’s ill-informed levity. “Prisons are far less guarded than this place. You’re going to heist. A state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line, half-a-wrong-step-and-you’re-dead heist from some of the most powerful people in the world. Got to say, I’m glad I’m not the one going.” “Oh, that’s great! That’s just great. Fantastic! No, I much prefer this version of events.”

~~ The Crescent of Fools and Forgotten Time [x]

[halfbloodlycan]

Oh hey, guess who has no idea how Trev is going to get into the building to burn some papers.

heist chapter, help.