Holy Terrors

 Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen, 560 pages.

In the nearly two years since Vanja destroyed the cult she accidentally started, she has been trying to do as much good as possible. Even if it may never entirely make up for the things that she has done, or the way that she hurt Emeric. The reformed Pfennigeist is a Robin Hood type figure, answering prayers for the poor, powerless, and abused. Which makes it a real problem for Vanja when nobles start turning up murdered with her signature red penny in their mouths. When the blessed empress herself shows up murdered in the same way, Vanja is forced into the investigation to clear the name she worked so hard to make. Even if it means working with Journeyman Prefect Emeric Conrad again. 

This intense conclusion to the Little Thieves trilogy is a much more blood-soaked addition. I wrote about the first book here in 2021, and continue to endorse the series whole-heartedly. Even with the frankly slightly excessive amount of murders, this is still a very character focused book. More specifically, it's focused on characters I love, bringing back characters from the first book who were mostly absent in the second. I'm not sure I entirely loved the heavier tone of this book, but I did think the final act was phenomenal, and served as a worthy send-off for a beloved series.