The Thief-Taker's Apprentice (Thief-Taker Series) / Deas, Stephen

 

Berren has lived in the city all his life. He has made his way as a thief, paying a little of what he earns to the Fagin-like master of their band. One day Berren goes to watch an execution of three thieves. He watches as the thief-taker takes his reward, and he decides to try to steal the prize—and fails. The young thief is taken, but the thief-taker spots something in Berren. Berren becomes his apprentice, and is introduced to a world of shadows, deceit, and corruption behind the streets he thought he knew. Full of richly observed life in a teeming fantasy city; a hectic progression of fights, flights, and fancies; and charting the fall of a boy into the dark world of political plotting and murder; this marks the beginning of a new series for all lovers of fantasy.