The Diamond Thief

Apparently this is a YA & Middle Grade book? Do middle graders really get to read so much awesomeness these days? For sure made me pause for a moment and ponder “Why didn’t we this kinda stuff at the local library when I was that age?” (I’m getting ‘old’, I know! :P )

The reason I picked up this book, is simply because the cover’s twinkling in the light. Even now I’m still playing around with it, trying to suppress some kinda song “it’s so prettyyyy, oh so prettyyyyyyy”! What has become of me? Anyway… I quickly scanned it and when I read ‘Victorian London’ on the back, I knew I had to have it.

Rémy Brunel is a trapeze artiste at the circus and a jewel thief at night. She’s ordered to steal the Darya-ye Noor show more from the Tower of London but when she returns with a fake, things start to go awfully wrong and she’ll have to collaborate with the detective Thaddeus Rec, to stop Lord Abernathy.

Even though the characters are very lovable and I got totally sucked up by this fun read, I didn’t really get the Victorian London vibe and guess I could say the same for the Steampunk aspect so many of you talk about. Let’s just say I expected more. But don’t let you mislead you! Even though I might sound disappointed, I am defo NOT! The lack of it did not harm the actual story!

No matter whether you like the Victorian Era, Steampunk, the circus, none of the above or when in doubt: go for it! show less

A little bit Steampunk, a little bit Sherlock Holmes. A quick read with lots of character--although I'd like to see Thaddeus' character developed a bit more. Looking forward to book 2!

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I liked all of the main characters: 16 year old Remy Brunel who is an orphan, trapeze artist, and skilled thief. Thaddeus Rec, a policeman for Scotland Yard who is out to turn Remy in. J, loveable scamp and Dickens-esque orphan. I loved the steampunk elements, as I always do, and the suspenseful edge as Remy's adventure progresses through the story. However, I thought parts of the book were rushed and/or underdeveloped. I didn't feel like I completely understood the villain's motivation nor was Remy's background fully explained. Remy's being a circus trapeze artist was emphasized by the author, yet it played a minor role in the book. Additionally, the reader is not fully introduced to Thaddeus or J.

The show more romance between 16 year old Remy and 20-something Thaddeus (I'm guessing here. The author doesn't give us Thaddeus' age and I just assumed he was in his 20s since he was interested in a 16 year old girl yet he was already working at Scotland Yard.) bugged me a bit. I know this is Victorian England and people married much younger than they do in the present day, but still. Aside from that, I oftentimes had a hard time remembering Remy was only 16. Again, I am aware of the setting, but it felt like Gosling made Remy 16 solely so that she could call this a young adult novel.

So, maybe it sounds like I didn't like this book, but I really did. It was a fun book and for being young adult and steampunk, it was unique and by no means a cookie cutter YA novel. It's impossible not to like Remy, Thaddeus, and J and you root for them to make it out alive and overcome evil. I think this would be a great book for a middle school child. show less

I actually really enjoyed this, mostly because of the circus aspect. If the author had just stuck with that plotline, I probably would have enjoyed it more. As it stands, it is a bit too much with the circus, gem thievery, and curse. However, it's a fun, quick, light read!

I’m a bit torn about this one. I liked the story for the most part, but there were some elements that did seem a little cheesy and cliché, like the deal with Remy’s parents and the curse. The beginning of The Diamond Thief with Remy performing was interesting, but soon after I thought the story seemed to begin to falter a little. The name of the mysterious circus, Cirque de la Lune, seemed too familiar or again like a cliché.

As for the writing, despite some issues of originality, it was relatively good and sometimes interesting from the style alone. The characters were okay. Some did seem to be there just to be there like cardboard props on a stage. Overall, I just feel ‘meh.’

I was a little disappointed by this book.

I loved the premise and couldn't wait to start the book, but then I had a hard time finishing it. The plot was ok, for the most part. There were some parts that were hard to follow or didn't make sense to me. But more than that I was distracted by something in the writing style.

The book started off with a huge BANG, with an extremely fast paced first chapter. After that the pace would slow right down, and then you would get another part where it was hard to keep up with the fast pace. It's an ok book, but I think it could have been better.

I was a little disappointed by this book.

I loved the premise and couldn't wait to start the book, but then I had a hard time finishing it. The plot was ok, for the most part. There were some parts that were hard to follow or didn't make sense to me. But more than that I was distracted by something in the writing style.

The book started off with a huge BANG, with an extremely fast paced first chapter. After that the pace would slow right down, and then you would get another part where it was hard to keep up with the fast pace. It's an ok book, but I think it could have been better.