Q&A: M.J. Kuhn on fantasy heist book THICK AS THIEVES—“Diving into the darker side of human nature.”

With Thick As Thieves, the author once again writes a crime novel set in a magical place.

“The magic and epic wonder we sometimes associate with fantasy contrasts beautifully with the grittier, more immediate stakes and worldbuilding usually found in crime fiction.”

Author M.J. Kuhn is on a blog tour promoting her new dark fantasy heist novel Thick As Thieves. Her new book returns readers to the gritty world of heists, magic, and deception in this high-stakes fantasy follow-up to the bestselling Among Thieves—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and V.E. Schwab.

“Among Thieves is adult fantasy,” Kuhn told The Madpharmacist when the first book came out. “My characters are sailors and thieves, and dammit, they swear like them! It’s a fantasy heist full of twists and turns and snarky dialogue.”

She added that the series appeals to readers who like characters that are “morally grey.”

Below, find out more about the new novel Thick As Thieves and check out our interview with the author. Kuhn tells Monster Complex about the inspirations behind her magical crime series, shares her love of the genre(s), and reveals what she has enjoyed by other storytellers.

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About Thick as Thieves

Ryia Cautella, a.k.a. the Butcher of Carrowick, and her motley crew have succeeded in the ultimate heist...with the most dire possible consequences. A terrifyingly powerful tool has fallen into the hands of Callum Clem, the criminal leader of the Saints, who was already one of the most dangerous men alive. With the newfound ability to force magic-wielding Adepts to his will, he is unstoppable.

With their group scattered throughout the five kingdoms of Thamorr—and not all on the same side of the fight—things seem hopeless. But can Ryia get the gang back together for one last job? Or will chess-worthy power plays and shifting loyalties change Thamorr as they know it?

Find the THIEVES series on Amazon
Find the book Thick as Thieves on Amazon
Or you can ask for these books at your local bookstore.

About author M.J. Kuhn

M.J. Kuhn is a fantasy writer by night and a mild-mannered university employee by day. She lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Ryan, a dog named Wrex, and the very spoiled cat Thorin Oakenshield.

Find M.J. Kunh Online

Interview with M.J. Kunh about Thick as Thieves

Q: Your book combines two great genres—fantasy and crime fiction. What inspired you to combine them together?

I feel like it would be dishonest of me to answer this as though I came up with the idea to combine these two awesome genres on their own. I was inspired to write a fantasy heist—a story at the crux of fantasy and crime fiction—by Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora. I read the book when I was in high school and was absolutely obsessed. From that point on, I knew I wanted to write a fantasy heist, but with a twist that put my own unique spin on the subgenre.

These two genres play so well together because they complement one another. The magic and epic wonder we sometimes associate with fantasy contrasts beautifully with the grittier, more immediate stakes and worldbuilding usually found in crime fiction. As a result, you get a gritty fantasy tale focusing on rogues and thieves instead of kings and queens. It’s a beautiful thing!

Q: When and how did you become interested in writing your brand of dark fantasy What are your favorite things about this genre?

I’ve always been drawn to darker characters. That sounds bad, haha, I know. But it’s not because I am secretly a supervillain myself, I just think that when a darker character is done well, they’re often the most fascinating character in the story.

There’s something so interesting about diving into the darker side of human nature: selfishness, greed, betrayal. And what you find, often, is that at the heart of those dark emotions are two things: fear and hurt.

My childhood “gateway” to fantasy were the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. Though those books focus heavily on shining heroes and capital “G” Good Guys, there are some dark, violent themes in those stories—so much so that I was a bit shocked when I reread a few of them as an adult! I also was obsessed with the Lord of the Rings films growing up (and still am, to be honest).

When you combine those quasi-dark childhood influences with a uniquely adult sense of skepticism about human nature and what it means to be a “hero” or a “good guy,” you get Among Thieves and Thick as Thieves, I guess!

Q: What are your genre pet peeves that you’ve seen others do?

I don’t have a ton of pet peeves! I always say that “I love to love things”—meaning, if I can, I will always try to find the good in a piece of fiction so I can enjoy it rather than fixate on the things I dislike or I would have done differently.

If we’re talking about my personal preferences in fiction though, I am a sucker for breakneck pacing. I’ve been told the pacing in Among Thieves is fast, and that the pacing in Thick as Thieves is even faster.

None of this surprises me. I think often in fantasy we see a lot of hefty books filled with some really beautiful prose that languidly and luxuriously moves the plot along. There isn’t anything wrong with this approach to fantasy, it’s just not what I generally enjoy most in the genre, speaking as a reader.

Q: What are the best ways for fans to keep track of what you’re writing (and related author news about you)?

I am all over social media! Readers can find me on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook @mjkuhnbooks. I also have a website, mjkuhn.com. On top of all that, I cohost a podcast called SFF Addicts with Adrian M. Gibson! You can find the podcast page on Twitter and Instagram @SFFAddictsPod.

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