THE QUEEN OF DAYS

A ragtag band of thieves joins forces with a mysterious stranger to steal a precious idol.

Balthazar Vadalen, his half brother, Kai, his cousin, Zeelaya Agodzi, and her husband, Edik, along with Balthazar’s younger sister, Miraveena, haven’t always been outlaws. Years ago, Balthazar was the heir to the governor of the great city of Cothis. But when Balthazar’s father’s second-in-command, Paasch, betrayed him to seize power, Balthazar’s parents and most of his family were killed. Now he and his remaining family steal to live, until they’re offered the job of a lifetime: Steal the idol to the sea god, Karanis, that Governor Paasch plans to reveal to Cothis in a great ceremony celebrating the new temple. If they pull it off, the payoff from Balthazar’s mysterious patron will be enough to set them up with new lives away from their painful past. The catch? Other than the immense difficulty of stealing the idol, the crew’s patron insists they work with a legendary thief, known only as the Queen of Days. When Balthazar meets this strange figure, who introduces herself as Tass, he knows instantly that Tass is not what she seems. Though he’s reluctant to trust her, he desperately wants the money to ensure a safe, comfortable life for Mira, so he agrees to Tass’s strange price: 30 days of life from each of the crew members. But how can someone be paid in time? And what makes the idol worth stealing, anyway? Kelly is an efficient storyteller, instantly establishing the relationships among her close-knit characters, and crafting thrilling action scenes. If the world Balthazar inhabits isn’t all that immersive, readers who love themes of friendship and community will still appreciate Balthazar’s tension between his own desire for revenge against Paasch and the needs of the little family he has left.

A heist adventure with magical twists.