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City of the Uncommon Thief

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( 341 ratings, 125 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
City of the Uncommon Thief by Lynne Bertrand is set in a unique city enclosed by an enormous wall, where teenagers are forced into a life of intense labour to uncover precious artefacts. The story follows an outcast boy who becomes entwined in a web of secrets and conspiracies, as he tries to uncover the truth behind the city's dark forces and the mysterious thefts. This tale combines elements of adventure and mystery in a richly imagined world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're captivated by thrilling, imaginative adventures set in a world filled with mystery and danger. It's ideal for young readers who appreciate fast-paced plots and resourceful, relatable characters embarking on epic quests. If you adore getting lost in richly constructed fantasy realms, this might be the perfect read for you.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A dark and intricate fantasy for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Philip Pullman, City of the Uncommon Thief is the story of a quarantined city gripped by fear and of the war that can free it.

City of the Uncommon Thief follows a city wrapped in mystery and danger. "Guilders work. Foundlings scrub the bogs. Needles bind. Swords tear. And men leave. There is nothing uncommon in this city. I hope Errol Thebes is dead. We both know he is safer that way."

In a walled city of mile-high iron guild towers, many things are common knowledge: No book in any of the city's libraries reveals its place on a calendar or a map. No living beasts can be found within the city's walls. And no good comes to the guilder or foundling who trespasses too far from their labours. Even on the tower rooftops, where Errol Thebes and the rest of the city's teenagers pass a few short years under an open sky, no one truly believes anything uncommon is possible within the city walls.

But one guildmaster has broken tradition to protect her child, and now the whole city faces an uncommon threat—a pair of black iron spikes that has the power of both sword and needle on the rib cages of men has gone missing, but the mayhem they cause rises everywhere. If the spikes are not found, no wall will be high enough to protect the city—or the world beyond it. And Errol Thebes? He's not dead, and he's certainly not safe.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

City of the Uncommon Thief is praised for its imaginative storytelling, drawing comparisons to authors like Frances Hardinge and Philip Pullman. Critics highlight its ambitious narrative structure, noting its ability to weave complex plots and characters into a cohesive whole. It's described as a genre-defying literary work with elements of a fascinating and strange adventure, receiving recommendations from several notable reviewers for its masterful and epic qualities.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780525555346

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 141.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 363g

Pages: 400

About the Author

Lynne Bertrand is the author of two books for very young readers. This is her first book for young adult readers. She works in A&R for a music label and lives with her family in Northampton, MA.

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