The Traitor and the Thief
Age 12+
General Fiction
Creators
Gareth Ward (aka The Great Wardini) is a magician, hypnotist, storyteller and bookseller. He has worked as a Royal Marine Commando, police officer, evil magician and zombie, and as a writer and compere of Napier City’s inaugural steampunk murder mystery evening. Born near Oxford in the UK he currently lives in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, where he runs two independent bookshops with his wife Louise. His first novel The Traitor and the Thief, a rip-roaring steampunk adventure, won the 2016 Storylines Tessa Duder Award.
Reviews
The Traitor and the Thief should delight readers at the younger end of the YA spectrum who enjoy quirky worldbuilding and stories that are more adventure and mystery than coming-of-age and romance (although there are hints of both).
Books+Publishing
I loved every moment of this book, and will be sure to recommend it to both male and female readers. With predominantly spy drama, military-style training and impossible ‘special-effects’, it will appeal to action-lovers, but there is also a hint of the teen-relationship and coming-of-age personal discovery that will endear the characters to readers.
Read Plus
This is a fantastic young adult novel with the right amount of action, mystery, and even a little romance all packaged with a stunning atmosphere that crafts the experience to send you into another world.
Bookish Kirra
With quirkiness and elements of imaginative realities, as well as a touch of budding young romance and navigating teenagehood, this fantasy novel suits those readers out for a good mystery mixed with adventure.
Boomerang Books
Featured
GisborneHerald.co.nz
The Traitor and the Thief is like a steampunk mashup of Harry Potter and Alex Rider, and it’s more fun than either series. I’m sure I’m not the only one hoping for sequels.
Jack Heath - Goodreads
Featured – Interview
Harwks Bay Today
This book should delight readers at the younger end of the YA spectrum who enjoy quirky worldbuilding and stories that are more adventure and mystery than coming-of-age and romance (although there are hints of both).
Books and Publishing
Steam punk should be a couple of them but also ingenious, thrilling and enormously clever would be others.
Bobs Books
A steampunk tale with a gripping storyline.
Magpies Magazine
