To Sway a Rival
Tempting Thieves Collection
by M.J. Iorkighir

A low stakes rival to lovers, hybrid vampires, and friendly dragons fantasy romance

Two determined thieves, and a quest through a dragon filled forest.

If Morai Stoneheart loves anything, it’s besting a Heathrow. The rivalry between their thieving guilds started long before Morai and Luka, but if you ask her, they do it best. Their families live right next to one another, to keep the competition close. Neither is getting away with much unless they’re very clever.

So, when Morai falls for Luka, she doesn’t tell her family. In fact, she doesn’t even tell Luka. If she can just pull off one final job, she can establish her own guild, and live guilt free—with whomever she wants. But to pull off the heist, she’ll have to outwit her strongest rival—him.

Luka Heathrow is an excellent thief. But try as he might, he’s never quite been able to abscond with his true love’s heart. And it’s not just because she’s a Stoneheart. Luka has responsibilities. As the first born, he’s destined to take over the family guild. What’s more, if anyone discovers his healing magic, he’ll be carted off to the temple of Rapha, never to see the outside world again.

It feels impossible, but Luka can’t seem to let Morai go. So, when she tries to steal an elixir from the mage tower, he thwarts her plans. But thieving inside one’s own city is illegal. When they’re caught, as punishment, the head mage sends Morai and Luka on a wild quest.

Trekking through an enchanted forest filled with dragons and a plethora of magical creatures, Morai and Luka must work together to secure a rare ingredient for the mage. But the farther they stray into the woods, the more it becomes clear they need to be honest with one another. Because the forest isn’t as charming or innocuous as it seems. It’s breathing around them, literally.

4 out of 5 fairies

Take Romeo and Juliet, add magic, change them into thieves instead of nobles, and you’ve got this cozy romantasy. The characters are rivals, and while I wouldn’t say a lot of tension builds between them in the traditional sense, they reminded me of two teens who really like each other, but don’t want to admit it outright. It was nice to see characters in a world suffused with magic, who couldn’t use it themselves. We get a good idea of who they are within the first few chapters, and the story moves along pretty smoothly. I do wish the tension had been a little higher between the two MCs, but overall it was an enjoyable story.

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