When a friend posted images of the launch dinner she had attended for this new read on Twitter/X, and spoke about it with huge enthusiasm, I immediately checked it out on the Waterstones website and, loving the sound of it, replied that I hoped the publisher would be kind enough to send me a copy. When they sent me a DM a week or so later to offer me one, which was swiftly followed by a proof, I could not have been more thrilled. A fabulous adventure, set in a brilliantly-drawn alternative world, and filled with excitement provided by a plot that races along until the breathtaking ending, this is very much my sort of read – one which has left me with all sorts of questions about just what will happen next, and one that will undoubtedly be one of my very favourite middle grades of the year. When we meet Tom, he is touting for business on London’s Rue Notre-Dame, formerly Oxford Street, polishing shoes in an attempt to earn a few francs. Approached by a potential customer, Tom casts his eye over him in an attempt to satisfy himself that the man is not a policeman, or someone else who could prove a danger to him, before starting to make his boots more presentable. When his work is interrupted by the appearance of workhouse agent Borthwick, who threatens to take him away, Tom hurriedly collects his things together and is assisted in his escape by his customer, before making his way back to the safety of the old warehouse he shares with his friends. When their hideout is raided by the authorities, Tom again manages to evade capture and soon finds himself making his way to the Guttknot – the terrible institution in which the others have been incarcerated – to watch over the building from a nearby rooftop in the hopes of finding a clue as to how he can liberate his companions. But fate has other plans for Tom and when he reencounters the man with the badly scuffed boots, he is offered the opportunity to leave London to train at an elite boarding school for thieves. While he is welcomed by some of the school’s students there are others who make it clear that they do not want him there and are prepared to take any steps they can to get rid of him. As he starts to settle in and takes advantage of all the school has to offer in the hopes it will lead him to being able to free his friends, Tom learns of the secret world of the Shadow Thieves and others like them – others who have murderous plans that will impact on not just the school but the entire world. Thrown into a situation not of his making, will Tom be able to work out just what is going on and prevent a catastrophic event from altering the path of history? Tom is a protagonist who is both believable and incredibly likeable. From the off, it is clear that although he is prepared to steal, lie or con his way into earning enough to feed himself when necessary, he has a strong sense of right and wrong, is deeply loyal and is prepared to work – and work hard – for what he and his friends need. When he finds himself attending the school, at first he cannot believe his luck, but he swiftly learns that not everyone there is on his side and his lack of not just a family but the right sort of family, is held against him by many of those he encounters – something that some readers will be acutely aware of in their own lives. There will be those who compare this new series with J. J. Arcanjo’s Crookhaven books and I think that that’s fair. Both are absolutely brilliant but while they each feature a school for criminals, that is as far as it goes. This is far darker in tone and the events here have implications for the future of the whole world, making it an entirely different kettle of fish. I absolutely adored it and can highly recommend it to confident solo readers in Year 4 upwards or as a shared read in upper KS2, where I guarantee adults will enjoy reading it just as much as their classes.

Non spoilery review ⬇️ A parallel world where Britain has been absorbed by the French empire. Tom Morgan our 13 year old protagonist is living on London’s Rue Norte-Dame trying to earn a few francs, along with a few other children. When their hideout is raided by the authorities. Tom manages to escape capture and soon finds himself making his way to the Guttknot - where the others have been incarcerated. In the hope he can somehow rescue them. But Tom is offered an opportunity to leave all this behind to train at an esteemed boarding school for thieves. At the boarding school Tom has to learn about a new to him world and try to fit in with his peers who don’t think much of him as he’s from the streets. Tom slowly learn about his new world of “Shadow Thieves” and is thrown in to things far above his understandings. Will Tom be able to work out what is going on and prevent a disaster from changing the path of history forever? I loved this book from the very beginning to the end. The characters were all believable and it was a well paced book that kept you wanting to read on and on. I highly recommend that all upper middle grade readers who loved Skandar by A.F. Steadman

Shadow Thieves is a terrifically thrilling adventure set in an alternate world of danger, intrigue and high-risk that kept me on a tightrope of tension and excitement throughout – an absolutely gripping, unputdownable read! Thirteen-year-old Tom Morgan was born in the workhouse, no stranger to its harsh and brutal conditions, so he is determined never to be incarcerated there again. When Tom is almost caught by a workhouse agent, he is helped to escape by the man whose shoes he is shining. Tom returns to the abandoned workhouse he lives in with his friends, street children who survive by, amongst other things, pickpocketing and shoe-shining, hopeful that he has escaped the workhouse snatchers … When the snatchers track down the warehouse, Tom is helped to escape their clutches by one of his friends but the other children are taken. Tom suspects that they have been brought to Guttknot workhouse and climbs on to the roof of a nearby print house to seek proof … but someone is waiting for him, someone who offers him the opportunity to change his life and the hope that one day, he will have the means to rescue his friends. The Corsair is from Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts, or Thieves School, and he wants to recruit Tom to train there. Hoping that this will provide him with a means to save his friends, Tom agrees to attend the school. And it is not long before he finds himself in a zeppelin, flying to start a new life as the school’s latest recruit. And so begins an exhilarating, explosive adventure as Tom finds himself adapting to life in a school where there are those who accept him and offer friendship, but also those who look down on him as he’s not a legacy student, one who comes from a well-off, powerful family. Whilst learning to navigate friendships, Tom makes a discovery that leaves him feeling betrayed and unsure who he can trust, but is there even greater peril from dark forces intent on bringing change to the Shadow League and the world? Can Tom unmask the culprits behind a long con before it is too late? Can he save both his fellow pupils and rescue his friends from home? I absolutely loved this intricate, richly woven adventure brimming with intrigue, peril, twists and revelations that kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to discover more. I really enjoyed the alternate world with three empires who are held in balance by the Shadow League incorporating schools of thieves, assassins, politicos and spies who compete against each other during the International Shadow Cup which has real effects and consequences on what happens within the empires. This is the start of a series, so there are threads within the story that I really hope are followed in the next adventure, especially relating to Tom’s family history and something else that I can’t mention for fear of spoilers but what if? Tom is an incredibly strong, resilient and courageous protagonist who never forgets the friends he has left behind at the workhouse. He has had to use his quick wits, resourcefulness and determination to survive on the streets of an alternate London, avoiding capture, traits that enable him to survive in the Thieves School, a place where failure could have dire consequences for him. A breath-taking, action-packed, high-octane adventure set in a richly imagined alternate world of danger, daring and deceit, perfect for readers of 9+

I loved reading Shadow Thieves. This book is SO up my street! With Dickensian steampunk vibes, really cool world building (in this parallel world Britain has been absorbed by the French empire), and a main character who's tough as nails and that you absolutely root for, this story has so many fantastic aspects. I loved the setting - a town for thieves hidden in the mountains and the idea of the mysterious and powerful Shadow League. Gripping, exciting and cinematic, it's definitely not one to miss!

13 year old Tom has made the best of it living on the streets of an alternate London with his rag tag crew who are like family. While Tom shines shoes he’s also learned to picks pockets which in the harder months makes ends meet. But London is fraught with workhouse agents who would love to round up Tom and his friends and throw them in the brutal workhouses, Tom knows all to well how these places work and will do anything to keep him and his friends out of them. But after a late night outing Tom and his friends safe house is raided and all but Tom are captured. Desperate to save them Tom makes his way to the workhouse rooftops in hopes he can come up with a plan but instead he meets the mysterious consair who offers Tom the chance to train at the elite school for thieves and in doing so he might just learn how to save his friends. Can he learn to become a master thief and save his friends you’ll need to read it to find out! I absolutely adored shadow thieves! Tom was so easy to route for and his determination to rescue his friends and never leave anyone behind made him so loveable. And the setting/school were so fantastic and fun i loved learning along with Tom all about his new world the challenges, the shops, the school, the friendships the villains all just kept me flipping the pages. It’s brimming with atmosphere and fast paced tension kids will absolutely eat this up I certainly did! Peter has created an absolute amazing world in here and I can’t wait to see more of Tom’s amazing adventures! 10/10 recommended Thank you so much to farshorebooks for kindly gifting me the book all thoughts are my own.