Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

It is the 1013th year of the Witchlands, a realm of three nations, Dynestra, Lost Lloryn, and Khas, and ten years since Spellfall, when all magic vanished from the realm. Jalara “Jal” Riago, a Llorynese refugee hosted by the Velmont family, the nobles of Fairhold Isle, is celebrating her birthday. She is also planning to leave secretly once she confesses a heavy secret to Galen Velmont, her best friend. However, she is unable to carry out her plans when Fairhold is attacked. She is forced to flee with Galen to the city of Silver Bastion. In the city, Galen’s elderly relations, the Ladies of House Lorcanthas, welcome the pair. They send them away to a shoreside city, claiming to be working on a plan to help the young noble Galen. However, behind their veneer of help is a clandestine agenda. They have hidden a precious item in Galen’s luggage, and Jal knows about it. But that’s not all. King Thealys Vorrine of Dynestra is facing a crisis. A new Fane has emerged following the death of the sitting one. He not only wields magic and sway over the masses but also seems to be serving a sinister purpose. Also, rumors of a monster roaming the lands abound, and Carrado, Thealys’ cousin, derelict in his duties, has been dispatched to investigate it. Find out how it all goes down in The Heresy of Thieves: Book One in the Spellfall series by Mia V. Moss.

If you are looking for an epic fantasy novel flavored with drama, adventure, humor, edge-of-the-seat suspense, jaw-dropping plot twists, and spell-binding cliffhangers, The Heresy of Thieves by Mia V. Moss is a must-read. Moss possesses a seasoned, tremendously gifted narrative hand. The impressive, expansive world-building and steady, intimate narration dropped me right in the middle of all the chaos and drama in the Witchlands. The cast is compelling and exciting, and Moss beautifully interweaved their arcs. As I followed each of them on their separate journeys, I was treated to shocking discoveries, betrayals, deception, sacrifices, danger, mystery, intriguing history, power gambits, and more. The balance between the plot’s development and the characters' personal struggles is so good that every page has depth and intrigue. For fans of The Witcher and those who crave sprawling, morally complex fantasy tales, this gripping read is up your alley. Nothing is as it seems in the Witchlands. Jal and Galen must trust the unknown, and Thealys and Carrado, their instincts, as they all navigate jarring realities. This is an incredible debut in the Spellfall Series. I loved it. I can’t wait to lay my hands on the next installment.