{"product_id":"0756400589-take_a_thief","title":"Take a Thief","description":"\n\n\u003cp\u003emercedes Lackey's Triumphant Return To The Best-selling World Of Valdemar, Takes A Thief Reveals The Untold Story Of Skif-a Popular Character From Lackey's First Published Novel, Arrows Of The Queen. Skif Is A Homeless Orphan Who Lives With A Gang Of Juvenile Pickpockets...until He Is Chosen By One Of Valdemar's Magical Horses And Becomes A Herald Serving The Queen.\u003c\/p\u003e\nvoya\n\u003cp\u003eyoung Skif Is An Orphan Living With A Cruel Cousin In The Ghettos Of Valdemar. His Cousin Gives Him Shelter—a Space On The Floor—but Not Much More, So Skif Is Forced To Rely On His Wits And Skills As A Thief. While Out Stealing Food One Day, Skif Runs Into Another Young Thief And Is Introduced To A Gang Of Pickpockets And House Thieves. The Gang Becomes The Family Skif Has Never Known And Provides Him With The Food And Shelter His Cousin Did Not. Everything Goes Along Well Until Skif Reaches The Age Of Twelve And Loses His Thieving Family In A Mysterious Fire. Armed With His Anger And Grief, He Sets Out To Avenge His Adopted Family And Gets Mixed Up In Far More Than He Imagined. Readers Familiar Will Recognize Skif From Previous Works, But They Will Not Find A Typical Valdemar Tale Of Magic And Fantasy Here. A Prequel Of Sorts, This Previously Untold Story Is A Good Introduction To The Rest Of The Tales. Knowledge Of The Series Is Unnecessary To Appreciate This Particular Novel But Would Enhance The Experience. The Story Moves Quickly And Easily, Although At Times Skif's Dialect Is A Little Difficult To Understand. Some Aspects Of The Story Are A Bit Unbelievable—skif Happens To Fall Into A Gang Of Thieves That Treat Him Better Than His Own Family Did—but These Details Do Not Detract Too Much From The Overall Story. Voya Codes: 4q 4p M J A\/ya (better Than Most, Marred Only By Occasional Lapses; Broad General Ya Appeal; Middle School, Defined As Grades 6 To 8; Junior High, Defined As Grades 7 To 9; Adult And Young Adult). 2001, Daw, A\/ya351p, $24.95. Ages 11 To 15. Reviewer: Jennifer R. Rice Source: Voya, February 2002 (vol. 24, No.6)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCategories:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScience Fiction \u0026amp; Fantasy\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFantasy\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\u003cli class=\"category-tree\"\u003eAction \u0026amp; Adventure\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n","brand":"DAW","offers":[{"title":"Used - Good","offer_id":48838608355518,"sku":"0756400589-4","price":12.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0640\/9689\/5166\/files\/81QgmlndZ3L.jpg?v=1788465615","url":"https:\/\/shop.sustainablebooks.com\/products\/0756400589-take_a_thief","provider":"Sustainable Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}