Did you love the demisexual YA fantasy Little Thieves by Margaret Owen? Of freaking course you did. Which means this post is for you, since we’re revealing the cover of the sequel, Painted Devils, which releases from Henry Holt and Co. on May 16, 2023! I know, I know, it’s a long wait, but on the bright side, you don’t have to wait one minute more for the cover! First, the story:
Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.
After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now, that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate, and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.
For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud, or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—are genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that may be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?
And now, the beautiful cover, designed and illustrated by M.S. Corley!
Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | IndieBound
Margaret Owen was born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, and has worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned. She now spends her days in Seattle, Washington, writing and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her monstrous cats. In her free time, she enjoys exploring ill-advised travel destinations and raising money for social justice nonprofits through her illustrations. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @what_eats_owls (truly, a question for our time.)
Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.