20 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Heist Books That Will Steal Your Heart

Within the five kingdoms of Thamorr, Ryia Cautella's deadly blade is infamous.

When unexpected circumstances force her to team up with a crew of smugglers and murderers fueled by their own self-interests, she must protect her secret as they set off on a perilous quest to steal the corrupt Guildmaster's source of power.

This high fantasy novel is great for readers who are fond of sharp-tongued, quick-witted characters always looking for a chance to betray each other.

Set in an alternate history New Orleans, this novel follows a desperate thief with a god-gifted secret, and a tough-minded captain with a coveted airship. The pair must work together to foil a treacherous plot involving a deadly weapon that may endanger the entire city.

In contrast to most books on this listicle, this steampunk novella is a fantastic read if you’re interested in stopping a heist instead of planning one. I personally recommend listening to its audiobook format for a more immersive experience.

In a city steeped in tradition, five teens attempt to expose government corruption among oppressive high priests through the ultimate heist. However, they soon find themselves trapped by an impossible choice: destroy the wicked, monstrous entity dwelling underneath the citadel, or help it destroy the corruption above.

Told through multiple perspectives, this YA fantasy standalone offers queer representation, political intrigue, and a gripping exploration of moral complexities, destiny, and predestination.

Marketed as Orphan Black meets post-apocalyptic Avengers, Deal with the Devil follows an ensemble cast of mercenary librarians and rogue super-soldiers who must secure a treasure trove of lost 21st century data. All this is set against the backdrop of a crumbling society wrecked by solar flares.

Teeming with action, romance, and potential betrayal, this near-future dystopian is an engaging and gripping ride—with an incredibly unique premise to boot! Who wouldn’t be interested in a story with libraries, genetic engineering, and two found families?

Following a shocking terrorist attack on Ellis Station Academy, a team of school dropouts is framed for atrocious crimes and forced on the run. Desperate to clear their names, they must pull off a perilous heist to share the truth throughout the galaxy.

True to its title, this book offers a disastrously fun space romp filled with messy queer characters, high-stakes adventure, and interstellar shenanigans.

The Skaa have been hopelessly enslaved by a powerful tyrant for centuries. When Kelsier acquires magical abilities, he sees an opportunity to achieve his ultimate dream of freedom for his people. This vengeful thief and his elite criminal crew must attempt to overthrow the Lord Ruler and end his reign of terror.

The Final Empire is a masterful fantasy saga from highly acclaimed author Brandon Sanderson, who is lauded for his epic worldbuilding and incredible writing style.

When the dangerously powerful Order of Babel coerces Séverin Montagnet-Alarie into finding an ancient artifact hidden somewhere in the glamorous heart of 1800s Paris, he and his dynamic crew of unlikely experts just might alter the course of history altogether. 

Aside from offering incredibly atmospheric storytelling, this YA urban fantasy offers much-needed nuances regarding colonialism, historical revisionism, and cultural erasure.

Within a city depleted of its magic, Esta is a valuable resource. Her ability to manipulate time and unparalleled skill in stealing magical artifacts makes her the perfect candidate for a dangerous quest: traveling back in time to protect an ancient book from being destroyed by a fearsome enemy.

The Last Magician is a good pick for readers who enjoy time travel stories, slow-burn romance, and secret societies. 

Vanja leads a double life as princess and jewel thief, until an attempted heist goes terribly wrong. Now cursed by a god as punishment for her greed, she must pull off the most ambitious grift of her life to save it.

For fans of reimagined fairy tales and morally complex protagonists, this YA fantasy novel is sure to become an instant favorite!

In futuristic Taipei, a group of frustrated teens seeks to infiltrate and expose an intimidating, influential corporate giant for intentionally producing pollution.

Want is perfect for readers who prefer their dystopian books with thoughtful dissections of socioeconomic divides, capitalism, and man-made environmental degradation. 

Locke Lamora was born to be the world's greatest thief. A liar from birth, orphaned at a young age, Locke is raised and taught by a gifted con artist. Years later, Locke and his Gentleman Bastards have made a reputation for themselves in the island city of Camorr. They are not afraid to take on the most hardened criminals, or even the most powerful rulers. Anyone and everyone can find themselves the victims of his elaborate cons—even Locke, who must choose between his morals and his ambitions. 

There are currently three entries in the Gentleman Bastard series, which is currently on hiatus. 

Those in the mood for a lighter fantasy heist can check out Rachel Aaron’s The Spirit Thief, the first book in her The Legend of Eli Monpress series. It’s not uncommon for heist novels to be defined by the magnetic charm of their thieves and con artists, and Eli Monpress is no different. In addition to being a talented wizard, he’s also full of charms and tricks, and with the help of two of his trusted teammates, he’s all set to steal a king. To find out what happens next, you better add The Spirit Thief to your TBR pile. It’s guaranteed to be an immensely fun and fluffy read with a fantastic magic system that will surely get you out of your reading slump.

The Portalist has covered Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and the popular Netflix adaptation Shadow and Bone, but if you haven't experienced the underworld of Ketterdam, here's one more reminder. The story follows antihero Kaz Brekker and his crew of extraordinary young adults: A convict who seeks revenge, a spy known as the Wraith, a sharpshooting prodigy, and more. 

Every single member of the crew gets a chance to shine, and the relationships between the protagonists will keep you as riveted as the heist caper plot.

Finnish author Hannu Rajaniemi’s The Quantum Thief is the first novel in a trilogy, introducing readers to the legendary Jean Le Flambeur, a post-human gentleman thief inspired by the character of Arsène Lupin, created by Maurice Leblanc. The heist adventure unfolds in a futuristic solar system with some stellar worldbuilding, unique characters and a dynamic high-concept plot. The author trusts the reader and doesn’t try to spoon-feed what’s happening—which is exactly where the fun lies, and you may have to read it twice or thrice to fully grasp everything. Bristling with so many novel ideas, The Quantum Thief is an inventive foray into what society and technology can be like post-singularity. In short, it’s a marvelous and thoroughly satisfying feat of the imagination. 

If you’re looking for a heist novel with an epic fantasy backdrop and featuring dragon feces (yeah you read that right), you’ll certainly be captivated by Tyler Whitesides’s The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn. The eponymous Ardor Benn is a “Ruse Artist Extraordinaire” hired by a priest for the ultimate heist—he has to carefully assemble a team to rob from an insanely powerful king and get away with it. Along with the heist elements, the novel includes a compelling magic system and intricate worldbuilding, and the story often heads in unexpected directions, thoroughly surprising you at every turn. 

Pitched as “Oceans’s 8 meets Blade Runner,” Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto promised to be the ultimate heist novel with a chaotically enjoyable plot and a diverse set of characters. This Hawaiian-tinged debut sci-fi thriller tells the story of Eddie and their “one last job”. After being in prison for eight years, Eddie has more or less sworn off a life of crime. 

But when their toxic ex, Angel, returns—the same person who once betrayed them—with a plan to rob an Elon-Musk-type trillionaire tech CEO and an opportunity for early parole, Eddie can’t bring themself to say no. What follows is a thoroughly engaging heist caper with a lesbian enemies-to-lovers arc and some sappy family drama also thrown in the mix. So, if you’re in the mood for a deliciously queer cyberpunk novel, Hammajang Luck can be your next comfort read.

Can’t get enough of cyberpunk heist novels? Then pick up a copy of Corey J. White’s Repo Virtual that skilfully blends the boundaries between what is real and what is virtual in a thrilling, action-packed novel. It unfolds in the vividly-imagined futuristic city of Neo Songdo—where virtual and augmented realities overlay the real world, concealing its seedy underbelly of poverty and crime. 

Like Hammajang Luck, the plot here involves robbing from a tech billionaire but when Julius Dax, our skilled thief and online repoman, successfully steals the first sentient AI, things get even crazier. This book also features diverse characters, stunning worldbuilding and since it’s a standalone, it will definitely leave you longing for more. Tightly plotted with a frenetic second-half, this science fantasy novel even has an AI character that you may actually like. 

Those who love Indiana Jones movies and sci-fi heists should check out Yume Kitasei’s second novel, The Stardust Grail that describes itself as an “anti-colonial space heist to save an alien civilization." The main player is Maya—one of the best thieves in the entire galaxy who has stolen countless artefacts and returned them to the alien civilizations they originally belonged to. Now she’s in hiding, wishing to live a quiet life as an anthropology student. But an old friend reaches out and offers her a job—steal an object from a museum that could save an endangered alien species from extinction. The novel carefully delves into themes of imperialism, repatriation and conversation, with a high-stakes, action-filled, page-turning plot. 

If you enjoy heist novels because you have a soft spot for charismatic thieves who can pull off seemingly impossible missions with quick thinking, a sleight of hand, some daring and a pinch of luck, you’ll fall in love with Gen, one of the main players in The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. 

The first book, The Thief, introduces readers to Gen—a thief who claims he can steal anything—and he is enlisted by a magus to journey to an ancient treasure site and steal a valuable artefact. The book details their arduous journey to the site, Gen’s solo adventure within the bowels of the ancient temple and lastly the nature of Gen’s true mission, which is sure to make the readers gasp and read the next book. Turner’s worldbuilding doesn’t draw from medieval nor renaissance elements, but goes further back to Grecian times, and is infused with rich myths and folklore that makes her fictional world come wonderfully alive.  

Finally, one can always go back to the classics and revisit the wondrous world of Middle Earth by rereading J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings that laid the foundation for high fantasy. At its heart, The Hobbit is a charming adventure story detailing the journey of a group of thirteen dwarves, a wizard and a hobbit as they endeavor to recover dwarven treasure from Smaug, a ferocious dragon. 

But it can also be read as a heist story where the wizard Gandalf enlists the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to help steal the Arkenstone. At first, he isn’t quite sure why he’s even on this quest as a burglar but later on, his quick thinking, wit and nimble skills make him the most important player in the plan to reclaim the dwarven homeland and set the stage for the eventual defeat of Sauron.