...a brilliant story with amazing larger-than-life characters, and I cannot wait for the sequel! - Anya, An awful lot of reading blog. * An awful lot of reading blog *
I adored this novel. The characters were clever and daring and Ms. Gosling has a talent for description. She put me right there in Victorian England along with wonderful steampunk elements. a wonderful mystery. - Dotti Enderle, Goodreads * Goodreads *
Sharon has the great ability to paint a picture for you to visualise...this author is certainly one to watch in the future. - Bookzone 4 Boys Sprint 2013 * Bookzone 4 Boys *
...the most fun, whimsical novel I've read in quite a while...The lovable characters, the lovely writing, the British setting - all these contributed to the pure joy that is The Diamond Thief. I was completely enamored by the adventure and the historical intrigue...Gosling's writing did such an admirable job of painting Victorian London and staying true to historical accuracy, while at the same time juggling the steampunk plot line...A highly satisfying blend of historical and fantastical themes, The Diamond Thief truly is an entertaining read. - Summer, Goodreads * Goodreads *
The Diamond Thief is one of the first books from new fiction publisher Curious Fox, and they couldn't have chosen a more exciting or involving adventure story with which to launch... Remy herself is appealing and well described. If the other characters are less so then it is of no real matter when the story is so engrossing, the action scenes so varied and full of drama. - Matthew Martin, Books for Keeps online magazine. * Books for Keeps online magazine *
This is so well written I clearly imagined all the details of each scene. I can't wait to read more in this series. I highly recommend this to young readers and those looking for a fun adventure! - Kathy, Goodreads * Goodreads *
What I like about The Diamond Thief is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a fun book... It's straightforward and an absolute enjoyment to read.- Y.C. Goodreads * Goodreads *
Romance, political skullduggery and fantastical inventions giddily complicate a jewel heist. Sixteen year-old French circus performer Remy Brunel, a daredevil trapeze artist (and accomplished thief) in Victorian London, is tasked with stealing the Darya-ye Noor, a gem of extraordinary size and beauty. Remy-nimble, clever and uncannily lucky-pulls off the feat on her first visit to the gem's exhibition in the Tower of London, thanks to elderly Lord Abernathy, who accidentally smashes the gem's security case as he collapses to the floor. Remy assumes she's been efficient, but the gem she's stolen is a fake, a revelation that launches her into a caper more complex and dangerous than any she's undertaken before. She must navigate dangerous, filthy London, enter into an uneasy (yet increasingly affectionate) alliance with Thaddeus Rec, a police detective also suspected of stealing the jewel, and outwit wealthy villains armed with steampunk-y weapons. The whole affair often feels like an episode of Doctor Who: It's filled with running and exhilarating physical danger, many quippy, colorful characters and even some titanium suits strongly reminiscent of Cybermen. This is no bad thing. The plot groans a bit under the weight of all the twists and piled-on characters, but, like Remy, it sticks a fairly satisfying landing in the end. Readers will happily strap in for the ride, if only to see where it takes them. Advance Kirkus Reviews (don't have the source yet) Reviewed: The Diamond Thief Date: 08/05/14 * Advanced Kirkus Reviews *
...great story, great characters, feisty heroine, a plot line with so many twists and turns it leaves you breathless. A great page turner, kept me captivated all through the story.- Sarah, Goodreads * Goodreads *
Gosling is gifted in her world building. Reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes...the book is full of intrigue. - Kate, The Book Bee * The Book Bee *
Little Bird Remy Brunel is a high-wire circus performer with a devious side job as a jewel thief. When circus owner Gustave instructs her to steal the Darya-ye Noor, one of the world's most valuable diamonds, from the Tower of London, where it is being displayed, her success is thwarted by naive, young Scotland Yard detective Thaddeus Rec. In events worthy of a Marx Brothers movie, the two are thrown together when the diamond is stolen and both are blamed for its disappearance. This is a pleasant, entertaining tale populated with well-developed characters, particularly Remy herself, and the fantasy elements are well interwoven with sweet romance. The Victorian setting, the traveling circus trope, and a fantastical underground cave for evil intent all signal steampunk; the bending of historical time lines also pushes it more toward fantasy than historical fiction. If readers are comfortable with all of this, they'll find it a rollicking good story. - Frances Bradburn
This book was an amazing mystery book and whenever you turned a new page, well something completely unexpected happens. It's very realistic and well-written...Very, very good book! - Bigbooklittlebook * Bigbooklittlebook *
From the first few paragraphs you are instantly transported to the circus, set in a dirty Victorian London. Remy literally flies into the scene, stealing the hearts of the audience and instantly grabbing the reader's attention...The characters are engimatic...an Indiana Jones style adventure...a book filled with wonder and adventure, thrilling and exciting, with a delicate love story blossoming at the heart of the story. I really enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. Well done Curious Fox and Sharon Gosling for bursting onto the publishing scene with such a magnificent debut! - Serendipity Reviews * Serendipity Reviews *
Like a child stepping into a circus tent for the first time, the book grabs you and entertains you from beginning to end. The plot runs at a speedy pace, with witty dialogues and enough insight into the characters to justify their positions and decisions in life. With ingredients like these plus an equally promising sequel coming out in April 2014 (The Ruby airship), there is absolutely nothing stopping these series becoming little steampunk classics in their own right... - The Travelling Librarian * The Travelling Librarian *
Amazing contraptions, an intriguing mystery, Victorian London, the circus, a hint of romance between a detective and a cat burglar - this book combines so many elements brilliantly. The result is a riproaring adventure that will appeal to a wide range of readers...I'd absolutely recommend this. With its dual protagonists, its blend of mystery, adventure and character development, it's definitely a book that will be enjoyed by readers of either gender and fans of many genres. - Goodreads, Beth Kemp * Goodreads *
Gripping and imaginative read...the story still weaves its magic on the reader and will leave you wanting more...didn't want to stop reading it...It has shiny amounts of storyline and a sparkle of creative ideas which are full of promise...this author is certainly one to watch in the future. - Vincent Ripley, Goodreads * Goodreads *
I LOVED this book. Victorian setting, adventure and high-jinx, a hint of romance, a bit of Steampunk-iness and fabulous characters...This is a real winner - read it! - Tiff, Goodreads * Goodreads *
...a truly entertaining book that captured both my heart and imagination and I for one cannot wait to read more books by Sharon Gosling. - Shelly, Book Angel Booktopia * Book Angel Booktopia *
...delivering on all counts. A great setting that's vividly illustrated? Tick. Engaging hero/heroine? Tick. Steampunk aspects that are actually incorporated well in the story and not a mere afterthought? Tick. It's not easy to find good YA steampunk fiction, but I can happily say that this is good. - Hannah, Goodreads * Goodreads *
...gripping...With equal amounts of mystery, suspense and romance, The Diamond Thief is a YA take on Sherlock Holmes. - Danna, Goodreads * Goodreads *
I flew through this book as Sharon Gosling uses her skill with prose and plot to quickly pull in the reader, and I revelled in the multiple plot twists...It is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure story with a pair of lively and completely likeable protagonists, who you will find yourself rooting for almost from the very first page. - Amy, Spreading UKYA * Spreading UKYA *
A great adventure! Once I started reading I couldn't bear to stop! - Hilary, Goodreads * Goodreads *
Remy (a lovely young aerialist) is the thief, much abetted by her preternatural skills. Thaddeus (once a Victorian street child) is a nice, scrupulously honest policeman. When the nefarious master of Remy's circus commands her to steal a fabulous Indian gem during a heavily guarded event at the Tower of London, she nicks it, only to find it's a fake. The story hurtles on, with plot turns involving circus folk, an Indian man with news of Remy's tragic past, other diamonds, and Remy and Thaddeus's budding romance. It turns out that an evil someone is about to take over London with an array of slave-constructed underground machinery designed by the Professor, who's also Thaddeus's mentor. Action is the word here, and it's both vivid and engrossing, with much of it in a steampunk technological realm entered from the Thames via a nineteenth-century sewer and controlled, in part, by the (real) diamond's magic. The narrative reads like a film dramatization, with bit parts that might be enlivened by an actor and the sort of anachronistic, informal dialogue that can propel a suspenseful romp on screen. An entertaining light read. joanna rudge long * The Horn Book *
Remy is totally awesome...Discovering the inventions of a certain Professor is a delight...I wasn't just in awe of Remy, I was in awe of the way technology was thought about, experimented with & would come to be a real invention. I can't believe the standard of this debut.- Amy, Amy Bookworm * Amy Bookworm *
