There was a slap of soft leather on stone as she hit the next ledge. She pushed off just before the drop, clearing a gap of three strides before softening her body for the landing. Ten steps, then she drew a breath and sprinted forward.

The jump ahead was two body lengths long, so Kyra backed away from the ledge. She stared a few moments more before forcing her gaze back up. A false step in the darkness would be deadly, and even if she survived the fall, Red Shields would finish her off. Kyra peered off the ledge, squinting at the cobblestone four stories below. When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival-and vengeance-might be to join forces, even as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease. After his best friend is brutally murdered by the Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. But he is persistent-and darkly attractive-and Kyra can't quite resist his pull.

She knows how to get by on her own, and she's not sure she wants to play by his rules. But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. And when that's not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. Growing up on Forge's streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra's past that threatens to reshape both their lives.Intrigue prowls around every corner-and danger is a way of life-in this arresting YA fantasy novel. When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival - and vengeance - might be to join forces.

But he is persistent - and darkly attractive - and Kyra can't quite resist his pull.

Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne