Thief in the Castle is a work of fantasy fiction penned for young adults by author B. B. Morgan as the opener to the Stars and Bones series. Written for mature young adults due to the violence, language and some sexual content, this exciting and dynamic adventure centers on Juniper Thimble, a thief who is condemned to die. The young Juniper has only one way out, and it’s to pull off the biggest fraud she can. Posing as a lover for the crowned Prince Adrian, she must find out who is trying to kill him and get to them first, thus saving his life and hers in the process.

An emotional journey with high stakes action, a little romance and plenty of highs and lows, author B. B. Morgan crams every second of drama in that a YA fan could possibly wish for. Juniper and Adrian take center stage with plenty of quarrels, faux pas and heaps of responsibilities put upon them, but they are also very keenly developed into realistic young people who feel the pressure of the brutal world in which they must operate. The action scenes were some of my favorite moments, as Morgan gives a visceral description which certainly earns the book its mature YA rating, but it’s also a physical and powerful reading experience for us to enjoy. As a series opener, it holds much promise for future books and the continuation of the tale, and overall I would highly recommend Thief in the Castle for fantasy fans, YA and adult alike.

Thief in the Castle: Stars and Bones by B. B. Morgan is a real treat for anyone who loves storylines containing restorative elements. Clearly heading for a series, it has lots to get any reader addicted. The author has crafted the character of Juniper with skill and compassion. She’s not just a victim of circumstance, but also of her own choices. She didn’t start life as a thief, but a willful and determined personality constantly leads her off the beaten track and into challenges that give her something to prove. In her professional life, she loves the thrill of the inaccessible. In her private life, she’s terrified of emotional pain.

This novel has all the elements of a fairy tale; a castle, a king, a handsome prince along with a healthy dose of magic. But there the resemblance ends. It’s much grittier than the concept of rags to riches and Juniper is absolutely plausible. The reader will love her enough to follow wherever she leads and when she makes her big reveal, they won’t have seen it coming. At several points in the story, I had my suspicions about where the trouble was really coming from. Just a whisper here and there to make me doubt particular characters. It was enough to keep me turning the pages and wanting to leap to the next piece of well-written drama. I can wholeheartedly recommend Thief in the Castle (Stars and Bones). B. B. Morgan is an expert tale spinner. I forecast that this series will be in hot demand. Watch for the ending because the punches just keep on coming.