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Heart of the Thief
(The Wardbreaker – Book 1)
by Katerina Martinez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Urban Fantasy
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
Down and Dirty
A decent Urban Fantasy that ushers in a new world, with new rules and intriguing dynamics – though not wholly original. Free on Kindle Unlimited.
What is it about?
(Blurb from GoodReads)
When you have an exceptional talent, you’re gonna attract the wrong people.
First of all, I don’t consider myself a thief. I’m a finder. I find things people have lost, things people have had stolen from them. The only problem is, some people don’t appreciate the distinction; especially once I’ve broken past their protective wards and… stolen from them.
Enter, Asmodius. I may have stolen from him recently, and he may have found out it was me. When his henchmen catch up to me and bring me before him, he gives me a choice. I can face the consequences of having stolen from one of the most powerful magical families in New York City, or I can work for him. It turns out I have a gift he’s pretty keen on exploiting, and as long as I play ball, I get to keep my head.
But there’s another problem with that: this guy is a legit crime boss, and what he wants me to do for him is suicide at best. The worst part? He puts his infuriatingly attractive son on babysitting duty to make sure I’m keeping up my end of the deal.
Despite the arrogant, controlling shadow hanging over me, I have to put together a team to help me pull off the most dangerous heist in history.
Either way, I’m probably dead, so I may as well have a little fun while I’m at it.
Thoughts on Heart of the Thief
Interesting
This urban fantasy feels familiar in plot, though it deviates enough to stand apart, if not presenting as 100% original.
Regardless, it’s a decent story with fascinating side notes, especially about the tempest and the origins of magic. I am intrigued to see where this goes.
Favorite Line in Heart of the Thief
…but he was about as good in a firefight as a blind racoon trying to work a slingshot. (37%)
Pros:
- Tempest.
- Drowned queen.
- Intriguing FMC.
- Alex is startlingly in his humanity.
Cons:
- Little too similar to others.
- Alex, while interesting, lacks a certain Alpha appeal …. but that will probably grow.
Perspective
First Person and Third Person, with limited Multiple POV
Ending Type
Cliffhanger
Rating
PG-13 to R
Romantic Dynamic
M/F
Character Age Range
24+
Verdict

This is a fun and fast Urban Fantasy sure to please. Free on KU!
Published September 27th, 2019
328 Pages
If you enjoyed this review of Heart of the Thief, please consider checking out a few of my other articles.
- The Cardinal Bird by Mia Smantz – A Book Review
- Warrior Fae Trapped by K.F. Breene – A Book Review
- Anyone But Rich by Penelope Bloom – A Book Review

Your Turn
What are you reading today? Have you read this book yet? What about other books by Katerina Martinez? Leave a comment, I would love to talk!
[…] Book 1 (read my review here) felt somehow reminiscent of other tales, Book 2 veers to the left and takes the story in an […]