60 pages • 2 hours read
The Thief Lord
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Book Brief
350
Novel • Fiction
Venice, Italy • Early 2000s
2000
Middle grade
9-14 years
700L
Super Short Summary
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke follows runaway brothers Prosper and Bo as they escape to Venice and join a group of orphans led by the enigmatic Thief Lord, Scipio. While evading their wealthy but unkind aunt, they get embroiled in a heist for a magical object. Along the way, they uncover secrets about their new family and face moral dilemmas about trust, loyalty, and identity.
Adventurous
Mysterious
Fantastical
Nostalgic
Heartwarming
Reviews & Readership
100,523 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord enchants readers with its atmospheric portrayal of Venice and a captivating storyline. Praised for its vivid imagination and well-developed, diverse characters, the novel entertains both young and mature audiences. Some critics find the plot predictable and the pacing uneven, but overall, it remains a beloved adventure.
Who Should Read The Thief Lord?
A reader who loves adventure, mystery, and magical realism in a rich, atmospheric setting would enjoy The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. Fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy will appreciate its engaging storytelling and relatable young protagonists who navigate complex, fantastical worlds.
100,523 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Boniface Hartlieb (Bo)
Boniface Hartlieb (Bo)
The five-year-old brother of Prosper, he is adventurous and impressionable, idolizing the Thief Lord, which leads to both trouble and pivotal moments in the story.
Scipio Massimo (The Thief Lord)
Scipio Massimo (The Thief Lord)
A wealthy boy who assumes the identity of the Thief Lord to assert independence from his powerful father, he leads a group of street children and steals to provide for them.
Victor Getz
Victor Getz
A detective, hired to find Prosper and Bo, who becomes empathetic towards their situation and helps them out because of his own sense of morality.
Ernesto Barbarossa
Ernesto Barbarossa
A secondary antagonist, he is a shady dealer known for cheating others, who becomes embroiled in the story's central mystery.
350
Novel • Fiction
Venice, Italy • Early 2000s
2000
Middle grade
9-14 years
700L
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