Shadow Thieves By Peter Burns I Book Review By Satyavrat
Shadow Thieves By Peter Burns I Book Review
Book : Shadow Thieves
Author : Peter Burns
Shadow Thieves by Scottish author Peter Burns was published in 2025.
About the Book
It was absolutely gripping, unputdownable and thus it is not surprising that it has gone on to become one of my favourite reads of all time!
This terrific thriller is set in an alternate world of danger, deceit and deception within a fictional 19th century London. The three main world powers of that age are the Grande Republic de France, the Kingdom of Russia and the Japanese Empire.
Story
The story follows Tom Morgan, the 13-year-old orphan protagonist who lives with others who have escaped from workhouses. He makes a living by polishing shoes and pickpocketing. One day, while shining a man’s shoe, a workhouse agent tries to kidnap him. A stranger defends him and Tom escapes. That same day, he is spotted again and tracked to the warehouse where he lives with his friends. During the raid, Tom and his friend Maxine are the only ones able to evade capture. The next day he meets his protector, the Corsair.
The Corsair is from Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts, or Thieves School, and he wants to recruit Tom to train there. Hoping that this will provide him with a means to save his friends, Tom agrees to attend the school. And it is not long before he finds himself in a zeppelin and then a plane, flying to start a new life as the school’s latest recruit.
And so begins an exhilarating, explosive adventure as Tom finds himself adapting to life in a school where there are those who accept him and offer friendship, but also those who look down on him as he’s not a legacy student, one who comes from a well-off, powerful family. Whilst learning to navigate friendships, Tom makes a discovery that leaves him feeling betrayed and unsure who he can trust, but is there even greater peril from dark forces intent on bringing change to the Shadow League and the world!
Five Apprentices are selected from the House Challenge to represent the school in the Shadow Cup.
When the International Shadow Cup prize is awarded, the headmaster opens the prize case. He ends up inadvertently releasing a deadly pathogen. Deaths follow!
The book ends with the League placed in a precarious position! Tom uses his new skills and the Corsair’s reward to free his poor friends from the workhouse and give them a new and better life.
Like about the book
I absolutely loved this intricate, richly woven adventure brimming with intrigue, peril, twists and revelations that compelled me to eagerly keep turning pages to discover more. I really enjoyed the alternate world with three empires who are held in balance by the Shadow League incorporating schools of Thieves, Assassins, Politicos and Spies who compete against each other during the International Shadow Cup which has real effects and consequences on what happens within the empires.
Tom is an incredibly strong, resilient and courageous protagonist who never forgets the friends he has left behind at the workhouse. He uses his quick wits, resourcefulness and determination to survive on the streets, avoiding capture, traits that enable him to survive in the Thieves School, a place where failure could have dire consequences for him!
He makes for a most inspiring hero!
My sole complaint is that Tom’s past could have been explained in greater depth and detail.
All-in-all this is a thrilling, high-octane adventure with numerous cliffhangers.
Age Group
It is perfect for kids aged 10+ who enjoy fast-paced, action-packed reads.
Rating
I rate it 5 stars out of 5 on my special ‘Satyavrat Scale’
This is the start of a series, so there are threads within the story that I really hope are followed in the next adventure.
Readers can expect a nail-biting sequel in 2026.
Book Review By Satyavrat Singh
FAQs Shadow Thieves By Peter Burns I Book Review
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the plot of Shadow Thieves by Peter Burns?The story follows Tom Morgan, a 13-year-old orphan in an alternate 19th-century London who lives on the streets after escaping a workhouse. When his friends are captured by workhouse agents, Tom is recruited by the Corsair to join Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts (Thieves School). Tom agrees to attend in hopes of learning skills to rescue his friends, leading him into high-stakes adventures, school rivalries, and a global conspiracy involving the Shadow League.
- Who wrote Shadow Thieves and when was it published?Shadow Thieves was written by Peter Burns and published in June 2025.
- What setting and world-building features are in the book?The novel is set in an alternate history version of London where power is balanced among three major global empires (the Grande Republic de France, the Kingdom of Prussia/Russia, and the Japanese Empire) controlled behind the scenes by the Shadow League. The League operates four specialized schools for criminal disciplines: Thieves, Assassins, Politicos, and Spies.
- What age group is Shadow Thieves recommended for?It is a fast-paced middle-grade action thriller recommended for readers aged 10 and above (or 9+).
- What did Satyavrat like about the book in his review?Satyavrat gave the book 5 out of 5 stars, praising its intricate world-building, high-octane plot, gripping cliffhangers, and Tom’s inspiring, resourceful character.
- What minor criticism was noted in Satyavrat’s review?The main criticism was that Tom’s backstory and past could have been explained in greater detail.
Where can you buy books?
You can buy books at Bookosmia.com and Amazon.
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