The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #3) by Megan Whalen Turner

Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, fantasy, 2011, fave-ya

It's weird how I find the most difficult books to review are those that I knew were going to be amazing... and yep, this was amazing! I mean, what do you say that actually means anything? I could ramble on about fantastic writing, brilliant characters, excellent plot, this would all be true but the words are so empty and don't convey what I love about this series.

They don't say how this intricate fantasy world pulls you in with it's politics, it's culture and it's superstitions. It's like the e...more

It's weird how I find the most difficult books to review are those that I knew were going to be amazing... and yep, this was amazing! I mean, what do you say that actually means anything? I could ramble on about fantastic writing, brilliant characters, excellent plot, this would all be true but the words are so empty and don't convey what I love about this series.

They don't say how this intricate fantasy world pulls you in with it's politics, it's culture and it's superstitions. It's like the excitement of walking through a wardrobe into the strange land of Narnia and not knowing what's around every corner, but needing to find out. There is no map provided in these books (at least not in my editions) but the parts of the world that we have explored so far are completely imaginable to me. I can imagine Attolia by the coast and picture the mountains running through this world that forge geographical, political and cultural boundaries. Am I starting to waffle? That's because I am in love with this series; is this how Romeo felt? "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." Okay, all right, I'm stopping before it gets even weirder.

I don't understand how so many authors can write in 1st person and still fail to create characters that interest me as much as Megan Whalen Turner does so easily in her 3rd person perspective. Perhaps it is that she only reveals what is absolutely necessary and the characters we think we know can so easily surprise us. This book is told from the point of view of Costis (an Attolian soldier) who is assigned to be the King's lieutenant and witnesses much of the goings on around the palace. I'm starting to think that this is ultimately the more effective way to tell a story. Well, Wuthering Heights was told entirely from the point of view of secondary characters, for one!

The story was excellent, I loved visiting Eugenides again and seeing how far he has come and how much he is still the same little devil we met in book one. This is a novel full of palace politics, new friendships, conspiracies, assassins and a dash of romance. I wasn't sure how the relationship between the new King and the Queen of Attolia would work out, but Turner handled it perfectly and the chemistry between two such unlikely companions was very exciting to read.

Oh and, of course, this is Megan Whalen Turner so you can be sure that nothing is as it seems...
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Mar 08, 2010 Claire Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: re-reads, ya, speculative-fiction, high-younger-readers, middle-grade, love-love-love, totally-satisfying, want-to-own, long-ago-far-away-fantasy

I'm not a mystery reader, and I've never fully appreciated whodunits, so by rights I should have been irritated with the Attolia books rather than enthralled by them. Unguessable twists and turns are the hallmark of the series: the reader can't possible figure out exactly what is going on because we don't have the information necessary, but we're haunted by the certainty that something more is going on than what the other, non-trickster characters are seeing. This was a sick-day reread for me, a...more I'm not a mystery reader, and I've never fully appreciated whodunits, so by rights I should have been irritated with the Attolia books rather than enthralled by them. Unguessable twists and turns are the hallmark of the series: the reader can't possible figure out exactly what is going on because we don't have the information necessary, but we're haunted by the certainty that something more is going on than what the other, non-trickster characters are seeing. This was a sick-day reread for me, and I was just as captured by it this time, even knowing the upcoming twists (those that I could remember, anyway).

Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, has acceded to the throne of Attolia. He sleeps through official meetings, plays the fool, and generally convinces his attendants, Guard, and other members of the court that he is either weak or a buffoon. Most of the narrative is from the perspective of Costis, an honorable guard who's fallen into the unenviable role of being Gen's lackey. He's not the brightest, and his opinion of Gen is nearly as contemptuous as everyone else's, at least in the beginning. What makes the book interesting is that the reader knows better.

The King of Attolia is, IMO, the absolute best of the three books. What makes it so excellent is that Megan Whalen Turner's sleight-of-hand with the plot mirrors the complexity of the relationship between the new King and the Queen. Even through the cloudiness and uncertainty of the plot, there are glimpses of powerful emotion that kept me hanging on to every word and possible clue. The backstory of their relationship -- the Queen's torture of Gen, the uncertain coercion of their marriage -- plays a huge role, coloring every important element of the story.

There's been a lot of discussion about whether the narrative gaps in this book are an intentional plot tool or due to its being a sequel. Many people believe it could stand alone. I think it's clear that the narrative gaps are a tool, but I think the whole emotional web that gives the book such intriguing weight is dependent on the The Queen of Attolia. (I think The Thief serves primarily to show that Gen is more than he appears.)

I heard a rumor that a fourth book is on its way, and as there were several Sounis-related loose ends that weren't tied up in this book, I'm hopeful! These keep getting better and better. Please write more! (less)

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May 09, 2013 Elevetha Houre rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone on the planet and in the far reaches of space and all the possible alternate universes

Recommended to Elevetha by: Miss Clark

Shelves: quite-good, political-fantasy-adventure, fully-awesome, favorites, cons-spies-and-thievery, images-involved-in-review, 2011, shippy-otp-ship, own, all-night-reads, all-the-feels, bloody-brilliant, fan-mix, fangirl-alert, gorgeous-covers, lovely-briliance-of-awesome

Freaking brilliant!!! Mind blown. Every one should read this series immediately. And then re-read "King of Attolia." This book blew my mind like nothing else I've ever seen or possibly ever will. Excellence in book form. I will give no spoilers pertaining to the plot other than some small facts about the main characters if you've not read the first two. But do NOT read these out of order! That would be a huge mistake. Gen, Gen, Gen, only the most fully awesome, amazing, charming, sneaky little d...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Rosalee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: belovedbookshelf

I. Love. This. Book. So. Much.
Eugenides is back, and he's just as clever, sneaky, and conceited as ever! He is now the King of Attolia--well, in name, that is. Nobody wants to accept this queen-stealing, one-handed boy as king, especially Costis, a member of the queen's guard. But Costis learns that there is much more to this king than meets the eye...

Edit to add: just re-read it for the umpteenth time. Still made of awesome.

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Mar 03, 2009 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: belovedbookshelf, ya

If I tell you that each book in this series just gets more and more exceptional, will you believe me? Or will you believe that I, like Eugenides, am simply telling you a version of the truth to get you to do what I want you to do? (In this case, to get you to read these books yesterday). Both things are true, by the way. The King of Attolia is even better than its predecessor and I will tell you anything to get you to read these books. Yesterday. Plus, check out my favorite cover of the three. L...more If I tell you that each book in this series just gets more and more exceptional, will you believe me? Or will you believe that I, like Eugenides, am simply telling you a version of the truth to get you to do what I want you to do? (In this case, to get you to read these books yesterday). Both things are true, by the way. The King of Attolia is even better than its predecessor and I will tell you anything to get you to read these books. Yesterday. Plus, check out my favorite cover of the three. Look at the feather scar on his cheek. Her hand on his shoulder. His grip on the sword. So awesome.

Eugenides has just embarked upon his self-imposed life of exile in Attolia. And to any and all onlookers, he is ill at ease in his new home. The queen appears to despise him, the court thinks him an idiot of epic proportions, and the guard are ready to murder him on their queen's behalf. The story follows a young lieutenant named Costis who is having a shockingly bad day. In a fit of righteous indignation, he hauled off and punched the king in the face in front of several witnesses, including the captain of the guard. Certain he will hang in the morning, Costis is shocked and discomfited to find himself assigned to be the king's personal assistant. Forced to serve the man he hates, Costis soon finds himself on the receiving end of a most unorthodox education of a lifetime. Through his eyes, the reader gets an intimate, exquisitely poignant look at the relationship between the King and the Queen of Attolia.

This third installment is the big payoff in many ways. The Thief set up the key characters, briefly sketching out their backgrounds and motivations--all against a background of a grand quest--and it did it with humor and style. The Queen of Attolia delved into the complicated psyches of the two main players, word by artfully chosen word, making your heart ache for them, ensuring you fall in love with them. The King of Attolia cements the whole gorgeous package. This is where Eugenides comes into his own. This is where you realize he's smarter than you. And so is Megan Whalen Turner. And you wouldn't have it any other way. This book is the real deal. Every scene is choice. Every sarcastic exchange. Every vicious riposte. Every hidden glance. It's a rereader's paradise and, as Oscar Wilde said, "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all." The King of Attolia is so worth it. I can already tell I will be reading about these characters for the rest of my life.
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Feb 03, 2011 Kristine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-scifi

In book one we were introduced to our fictional Greek lands and gods - and to our hero Eugenedes. I wish I had paid more attention to that book. I must now go back and reread it. Book two saw political intrigue and the surprising alliance between two countries with a little romance thrown in.

Obviously just by reading the summary of this book you can see that Eugenedes has found himself King of Attolia. And quite the reluctant king is he. It seemed the first half of the book was so much conspira...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Tatiana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Kristin Cashore, Robin McKinley

Shelves: 2010, fantasy, ya, ala-ya-2007, series-in-progress-still-like, mythopoeic

With this book Megan Whalen Turner has cemented herself as one of my all-time favorite writers. I absolutely loved "The Queen of Attolia" and "The King of Attolia" is a remarkable follow-up.

Eugenides, the famous Thief of Eddis, is now the King of Attolia. He is married to the woman he loves but he doesn't enjoy the power that comes with it. Gen is despised by Attolians, they think him a lazy fool and a treacherous abuser of their Queen. But of course, things are not at all what they seem to be.....more

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Jul 13, 2008 Carmen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Clever and Cunning, The Thief is King

No one said marriage is easy. The one between Eugenides, the spy/thief of Eddis and his sworn enemy the queen of Attolia seemed doomed from the start, a marriage of political convenience, imposed on Attolia by their rival kingdom. For how could the thief possibly love the queen responsible for the loss of his hand?

But Eugenides is anything but predictable and has married the queen for love, even if by doing so he must leave his beloved Eddis behind.

As the t...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Maja rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites, all-the-right-choices, amazing-writing, fantasy, favorites, horrible-whiner, just-another-book-crush, own-a-dtb

YES! That is all.

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Oct 02, 2012 Brandi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this one so much more than I liked The Queen of Attolia! You can read my review here to see my thoughts of that one before digging into this one if you'd like.

One reason this is my favorite of the 3 is because Eugenides is so present. I'm a fan of his, even though I still feel like I'm missing something. I like stories that I don't have to work quite so hard to figure out. Don't get me wrong, I like having a book that makes me work, but for whatever reason, these ones made me work too h...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Kerry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Can I please give this book 6 stars?!!!! Just when I thought that the Queen's Thief series couldn't get better, Megan Whalen Turner stuns me with THE KING OF ATTOLIA!

At the end of THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA Gen found himself in a dilemma. All he wanted was to marry the Queen. However, he forgot to factor in that he would have to become King. He never wanted to rule a country. Gen had outwitted himself.

THE KING OF ATTOLIA picks up soon after Gen and Irene were married. The people of Attolia have not e...more Can I please give this book 6 stars?!!!! Just when I thought that the Queen's Thief series couldn't get better, Megan Whalen Turner stuns me with THE KING OF ATTOLIA!

At the end of THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA Gen found himself in a dilemma. All he wanted was to marry the Queen. However, he forgot to factor in that he would have to become King. He never wanted to rule a country. Gen had outwitted himself.

THE KING OF ATTOLIA picks up soon after Gen and Irene were married. The people of Attolia have not embraced him as their King. In their eyes he was the "goatfoot" thief who had forced their Queen into marriage. Gen's behavior in court did nothing to endear him to his subjects. If he wasn't looking thoroughly bored, he was acting like a total fool. However, we all know that Gen is anything but a fool. Something's up, and that something keeps us guessing throughout the book.

There were so many things that made THE KING OF ATTOLIA impossible to put down. MWT made the brilliant decision to tell the story from the point of view of Costis, one of the Queen's Guards, who is forced to spend most of his time with Gen while acting as his bodyguard. When the story began Costis's opinion of Gen reflected that of the Attolian people. He had little respect for the unworthy idiot who married his Queen. Much of the story unfolded through his ~~mis~~interpretations. There was no way Costis could know that his King was a master of deception.

The intricate plot was full of political intrigue while Gen and Attolia attempted to keep one step ahead of the devious barons who would stop at nothing to steal the throne. Just about every character plots and schemes their way through the book. TRUST NOBODY. Most of the story takes place in the palace and it's grounds, thus there is no need of a map *smiles*

Tempting as it is, I will refrain from gushing over Gen. We all know that he is pure awesomeness!(gushing, sorry!) In THE KING OF ATTOLIA Gen evolved from a clever little thief into a cunning man. It was also fascinating to learn more about Irene. And brave, loyal Costis! Even Relius had a fascinating story.

Nobody is better than MWT in her ability to use simple gestures and looks as subtle hints. She has a gift for creating witty dialogue which never borders on silliness. She can make me feel every possible emotion imaginable. The twists and turns in her intricate plots keep me guessing until the very end. I expect to be gushing more in the future.

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May 09, 2013 Elaney rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2013, fantasy, owned-books

This is probably my favorite out of The Queen's Thief series. I will say that my expectations for this book were low because it was told from the perspective of Costis, but I was pleasantly surprised when I finished and realized that I enjoyed this one more than the previous two. I think that the reason it was more enjoyable was because it was easier to see how Gen struggled when it was from the perspective of another. Because it is told from an outside perspective, you see how Gen is viewed by...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Levina C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mes-favoris, novels, more-than-otp, this-book-needs-a-medal

I love this book.

Usually, I can't think of anything to say for any of the books on my favorites shelf, mostly because they leave me speechless. This is no exception, but I'll give it a shot.

So. Each one of the installments in The Queen's Thief series revolves around a different theme; The Thief was an adventure, while its sequel, The Queen of Attolia, is about the politics of love and war.

The King of Attolia, however, is about hidden depths, and things that are not what they appear to be.
It's...more I love this book.

Usually, I can't think of anything to say for any of the books on my favorites shelf, mostly because they leave me speechless. This is no exception, but I'll give it a shot.

So. Each one of the installments in The Queen's Thief series revolves around a different theme; The Thief was an adventure, while its sequel, The Queen of Attolia, is about the politics of love and war.

The King of Attolia, however, is about hidden depths, and things that are not what they appear to be.
It's also about loyalty and trust; specifically, how Eugenides, the former Thief of Eddis, earns the loyalty of the court of Attolia. It's a bumpy ride: with silly pranks, more serious conspiracies, gossip, hatred and prejudice at every turn, Eugenides has dug himself a hole too deep to manipulate his way out of. Or has he?

Gen is an amazingly complex character, who appears on the outside to be inept, foolish, and weak; an idiot who in every way is unfit to be king. He falls asleep in court meetings. He can't handle his own misbehaving attendants. He refuses to punish even the man who hit him in the jaw out of rage. The court calls him the "one-handed goatfoot who abducted the queen and stole her throne," because they know nothing about him.
They don't know how wrong they are: he's a cunning chessmaster who knows exactly how to make them bow down, using careful planning, negotiations and mercy instead of his queen's preferred executions. In the course of time, Eugenides proves to each and every one of them what a king and warrior he can be.

But he doesn't narrate these revelations. The narrative of this novel is given to one of his personal subjects, a guardsman named Costis. I suspect this is a tool to let the readers see inside Eugenides and his wife Attolias' personal life while still giving them privacy, but it's all fine to me. As much as I love the romance of Gen and Irene,(view spoiler)I know it's dancing on the line between young adult fiction and children's fiction to give us more than the few sweet kisses we get. I heard there's two more books upcoming after the fourth - titled A Conspiracy of Kings - and I hope to see more of this interesting and complex pair.

Megan Whalen Turner is very witty. Two or three re-reads of this book revealed hidden jokes, subtext, and meanings that I was clueless about the first time through. Even a short sentence might hide something that flies by at first glance. For example, take this sentence from a scene between Gen and the queen, in the queen's bedroom:

"I can't keep on apologizing," he said.
"Why not?" she asked over his head.
"Well," he said pensively, "I think you would be bored."
It was vain to hope he might cease to have things to apologize for.
"What happened?" she asked.

At first glance, the sentence doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Then you wrap your brain around it, and realize what she really means: It was unlikely that Eugenides was going to stop doing stupid things, which means that it's just as unlikely he'll stop having stupid things to apologize for. (But, of course, Attolia can always hope.)

I'm really sad this book only has that many reviews. It sorely deserves more attention.(less)

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Nov 02, 2007 Shannon rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens and adults

Although this book is the third (and best) in a series, the twists and turns of this tale are decipherable, and enjoyable, without the background of the previous two books. It stands on its own. In fact, I read this book first and thoroughly enjoyed the "surprises" revealed since the characters were all new to me. The characters and political intrigue elevate this novel beyond the adolescent level to adults as well.

Eugenides, Thief of Eddis, just married the Queen of the neighboring kingdom, Att...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Dana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: meddling-gods, swords-and-sorcery, ya, thick-as-thieves, castles-and-courts, twist-that-knife-baby

It surprises me sometimes that this book is classified as a children's book. It wasn't even in the "teen" section of my local library--I had to jog over to the kids section to grab it. I find it odd, since none of the characters in this series are children, and the themes of betrayal, trust, politics, and love are a bit more towards the adult side of things.

That being said, I first read this when I was a kid and loved it; although I feel like I 'get' it a WHOLE lot better now. Like a good wine,...more

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Sep 13, 2009 Cecilia Burk Carter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fic, 6-star-books, j-and-ya-fic

If I could give this a 10, I would. I'm not a person who enjoys reading books more than once. Too many books and too little time. BUT, I will very likely read this one again, so that's saying a lot! Even more intrigue and delight than the first 2 in the trilogy and I love the author's subtlety and very cleverness. This book is definitely in my top 5 of all time!!!

OH. MY. GOSH. I was just searching for more books from this author and there will be a 4th in this series released in winter 2010! Hal...more

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Dec 26, 2008 victoria.p rated it 5 of 5 stars

And again, we get the clever use of POV - we are never inside Gen's head in this book, which is the one flaw, I think - but we see him from so many different points of view, most importantly, Costis's. I liked Costis, and it didn't really bother me that I felt like I knew way more about what was going on than he did, mostly because I'd had the first two books to give me a good sense of who Eugenides is, so I knew that nothing was as it seemed, that it was all feints and stratagems. I was also ha...more

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Nov 21, 2008 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-books

Once again Megan Whalen Turner presents a sequel in a completely refreshing way. The King of Attolia continues the story of Eugenides, who, in stealing the queen, finds himself as king – a role he does not relish. All the court can see that the marriage is a political alliance, and the king is not suited for the position; he is an incompetent, indifferent outsider. When Costis, a young guard expresses the contempt that all feel for the king (actually punching the annoying ruler), Eugenides does...more Once again Megan Whalen Turner presents a sequel in a completely refreshing way. The King of Attolia continues the story of Eugenides, who, in stealing the queen, finds himself as king – a role he does not relish. All the court can see that the marriage is a political alliance, and the king is not suited for the position; he is an incompetent, indifferent outsider. When Costis, a young guard expresses the contempt that all feel for the king (actually punching the annoying ruler), Eugenides does not have him beheaded, instead he reassigns Costis as his personal guard. Costis knows his punishment is the king’s whim, and that execution would have been more a more honorable sentence than serving the detested pretender. But the young guard is courageous and honor-bound. As he fulfills his duty, he begins to see beyond his own distress to the intrigues facing Attolia in the world-at-large. The barons of Attolia are plotting against the crown, neighboring Sounis is racked by civil conflict and the sympathetic heir-apparent is missing–presumed dead. Overshadowing all, the powerful Mede empire threatens a massive invasion, which would mean the overthrow of not only Attolia, but Eddis and Sounis, as well. It is against this web of deceit and chicanery that we see Eugenides character deepen even further, and stand amazed at his insight into character and his wisdom in dealing with his rivals.

The story, however, is told largely from Costis’s point of view, and the use of that limited perspecitve is both refreshing and frustrating. The reader knows there is much more to Eugenides than one assumes on first meeting him; therefore, Costis’s initial disapproval and then growing appreciation for the king is familiar – after all, we experienced the same process in The Thief. And yet, the king seems changed – trapped, perhaps, by his new position – no longer free to come and go unobserved as a thief is wont. Seeing only through Costis’s eyes, we do not view Eugenides clearly. How much has he changed? Is he still the Thief to whom we have become attached? What is there for Gen to steal now? Should a king be a thief? Which role will he ultimately choose? The craftsmanship of the storytelling keeps the reader anxious and a little off balance – demonstrating the author’s outstanding talent to explore familiar characters in a completely fresh way.

Less epic in scope, The King of Attolia focuses on character development – the perceptions, character, forgiveness, and wisdom, of the individual against the starkly contrasting backdrop of the court’s contempt, artifice, maneuvering, and subterfuge. Like is precursor, this story is for older young adults and adults who seek a story rich in relationships and the complexities of character without the graphic offal so common to the adult fantasy genre.(less)

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May 10, 2013 Felita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

seri Pencuri Eddis kali ini bikin aku bingung mau cerita apa. kekurangannya, ceritanya agak ke mana-mana. atau aku nya aja ngga mudeng dg bahasanya kali ini.

jadi aku review dg sudut pandangku sendiri....

di akhir cerita buku keduanya, Gen menawarkan dirinya menjadi Raja Attolia ke muka Ratu Attolia yg dingi tp anehnya menarik. Ratu setuju. Mereka menikah. dan sekarang dimulai kehidupan Gen sebagai raja.

sebenarnya Gen benci menjadi sosok yg diam dan duduk terus di kursi singgasana. kehidupan barun...more seri Pencuri Eddis kali ini bikin aku bingung mau cerita apa. kekurangannya, ceritanya agak ke mana-mana. atau aku nya aja ngga mudeng dg bahasanya kali ini.

jadi aku review dg sudut pandangku sendiri....

di akhir cerita buku keduanya, Gen menawarkan dirinya menjadi Raja Attolia ke muka Ratu Attolia yg dingi tp anehnya menarik. Ratu setuju. Mereka menikah. dan sekarang dimulai kehidupan Gen sebagai raja.

sebenarnya Gen benci menjadi sosok yg diam dan duduk terus di kursi singgasana. kehidupan barunya ini diperumit dg penolakan seluruh penghuni istana Attolia th statusnya. siapa yg mau nerima raja dari luar lingkungan mereka, apalagi mantan pencuri yg menghebohkan istana dulu.

jadilah Gen menerima kelakuan pahit dari dayang2 istana, dari ajudan2 sang ratu, bahkan dari prajurit2. tapi bukan Gen namanya klo ga ada aksi tersembunyi.

di buku ini, sudut pandang diambil dari Costis, si prajurit istana yg kali ini ketiban sial. Costis tau siapa Gen, semua prajurit membencinya. tak ayal, di suatu hari dlm keadaan mabuk dan disemangati teman2nya, dia meninju muka Gen di depan semua orang.

Costis, yg sudah sadar,hanya bisa menerima pasrah nasibnya, apalagi sang ratu tahu insiden itu. sudah siap dg hukuman mati yg dia kira akan terima, Costis justru hanya melongo ketika sang raja menjadikannya kapten pribadinya.

dari rutinitas barunya, Costis meliat semua tingkah sang raja. dan sadar, ternyata Gen tidaklah setolol yg dia kira. Costis juga meliat, kondisi fisik sang raja yg tidak sempurna tidak membuatnya menjadi lemah. dan daya pikirnya, Gen membuktikan dia mampu membuat semua orang melihatnya sebagai seorang raja.

kesimpulannya :
#cocok nih mantan pencuri menjadi raja, Gen memang diciptakan pengarang tampil sempurna dg kekurangannya

#sekali lagi, apa karena penerjemahanya kurang, jadi ngebaca seri ini ga seasyik yg seri kedua.

#suka juga interaksi Gen dan istrinya, sang Ratu Attolia. walaupun dikit

overall...ceritanya lumayan lah. bagi yg nyari bacaan tentang pencuri, seri ini jadi pilihan(less)

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Apr 26, 2013 N Islam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy, thieves-and-cons

Well. Well, well, well. Who would have thought that the perfect thief could become the perfect King, and perhaps even an Emperor? Miss Turner, this time,
you most certainly have done your series the justice it deserves.

I have to say, I loved this book, loved reading every single word of it. It was much better than the last book, where the whole love affair simply comes
out of no-where, and all of a sudden the cripple marries the Queen and they just happen to love each other through the dreams

...more

Well. Well, well, well. Who would have thought that the perfect thief could become the perfect King, and perhaps even an Emperor? Miss Turner, this time,
you most certainly have done your series the justice it deserves.

I have to say, I loved this book, loved reading every single word of it. It was much better than the last book, where the whole love affair simply comes
out of no-where, and all of a sudden the cripple marries the Queen and they just happen to love each other through the dreams of the “Gods”. I couldn’t buy
that. But I can buy this, elegantly told, it shows the rise of Eugenides, the favorite of the God of Thieves, the man who stole the Attolia’s heart.

The story is told through Costis, a member of the elite Queen’s Guard of Attolia. Through the book, just like the whole country, Eugenides wins Costis’
loyalty over. He wins power, no, he earns the power of a King, through sheer wit, and careful plotting. I can’t say too much, it will reveal too many
things. But this book is going to be the shining star in a series filled with mediocrity.

I assure you, you will enjoy this book. It comes close to my favorite, The Lies of Locke Lamora, but falls to it in one single category and that
is that it simply is not planned throughout. After winning the court, nothing much happens other than collecting the other pieces of the puzzle, after
two-thirds of the book. After the fall of the annoying Baron, the book tends to lose its charm and just becomes a loose collection of patching things
together. Perhaps, Turner is trying to set the stage for something in the future, but as far as I’m concerned, it does get boring after the assassination
attempt on Eugenides, and the exile.

But none the less, it was amazing for most of the book, with things you’d never notice coming up out of nowhere, it’s not like you don’t expect them, but
rather it does add a little bit of suspense. There are no “Dayyum” moments, where Turner links something innocuous she said to something at the end, but
all in all does have some amazing places.

Of all my favorite thief stories, of politics and power. I would have to say that this holds second place after The Lies of Locke Lamora.

4.5 stars.

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Apr 19, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sarah

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 06, 2013 E rated it 5 of 5 stars

This has to be my favorite in the series. Turner's writing makes the world seem alive. Her characters are sly, not one-dimensional. The pacing is very tight. I never felt like I was bored by parts of the book.

The book's about how Gen comes to grips with being king. To that end, using the perspective of an outsider as the narrator really works. I liked how the writing shows, not tell, you why Costis's opinion of Gen changes. Showing Gen's struggles in the court resonated emotionally because he's...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Grace rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone. Absolutely.

Recommended to Grace by: Goodreads

Shelves: owned, favorites

The Thief is King.

This book. This book. I just.. I can't.. Yes.

I'm writing this weeks after reading, because homework and other things have restricted my time, and I've spent all my free moments re-reading or ranting to my poor but considerate and patient little sister.
So I'm going to work my way through my notes, pace myself. So my points, from beginning to end:
No wedding? I'm both glad, and not. I don't think it would have been done quite right, but you never do know when Turner. She has the...more The Thief is King.

This book. This book. I just.. I can't.. Yes.

I'm writing this weeks after reading, because homework and other things have restricted my time, and I've spent all my free moments re-reading or ranting to my poor but considerate and patient little sister.
So I'm going to work my way through my notes, pace myself. So my points, from beginning to end:
No wedding? I'm both glad, and not. I don't think it would have been done quite right, but you never do know when Turner. She has the ability to spring things on you that you didn't realise were exactly what you wanted and how you wanted it. So, it may have been done wrong, it may have been done right, but she has left it to your own imagination. Love or hate that? I can't quite decide.. but I think I'm leaning more to like. It didn't take away from the book at all.
I suppose that's fine, because this book is about Costis (who I love by the way), and not about Eugenides directly (though, let's admit, to me all of these books revolve around Eugenides as the centre of their world).
Eugenides still seems himself, even as King. From prior knowledge, we can see the person behind the mask, we can try and see his reasons, and understand that he is not as dumb as he's making himself out to be. For example, training with Costis, all of the snide comments, all of Costis's fortunes (the notes, the life saving), and all behind the scenes fixing, it was all him, which we can tell all along when no other's, except the Queen, can. I spent the whole first three-quarters or so of the book just went for him to step up and be publicly amazing. But, he's still acting the blubbering, one handed idiot figurehead artfully.
The moment he shows his true colours, though, is so much better because of it. I nearly literally fist-pumped. He shows that he was the puppeteer, and they were all just puppets who thought they were real boys, ignorant of their master.
Seeing Gen from afar, looking at his through the eyes of his guard, Costis, was great. I think it added even more depth the his character, and the book. It pulled you in. Artfully written. Just purely amazing.
Once Costis starts to respect the King, to see him more for who he is, the humour returns. I missed Gen's remarks, gone for a long time. The return was just great, and I really appreciated it.
And even when I thought I knew everything there was to know Turner managed to pull something else out and leaving me thinking. These moments are never wild and outlandish, never unbelievable. Quite the opposite, rather, leaving me wondering how I didn't notice.
You can still tell, though, that he doesn't want to be King. In one scene, he cries, and I nearly did right along with him. This book pulls at all of my feels. ALL of them. My anger feels, for anyone that opposes the King, or puts him down. My love feels, for Gen and Irene (they are my favourite couple ever... no, wait.. yeah. Ever.), my fist-pumping feels for Gen and his genius, as well as his ability to hide said brilliance. Just all of them, name one and it was hit.
And the last line. Wow. Just wow.

So there were all of my notes through the book.
In short, this is probably my favourite series, ever. And out of that series, TKoA is my favourite. That, though, is always open to change. There are still many books to come. Yay!(less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Also posted on The Procrastinator's Corner

(view spoiler)...more

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Sep 02, 2012 shatine rated it 4 of 5 stars

At last, a book I can give a basic description of without spoiling things! I --

-- was really excited for a minute there, but even a basic description of this book would spoil the prior two, and I think I will save a spoilery writeup for after I've finished the series. Although I kind of want to write a completely misleading but factually honest reaction to each one outside a spoiler cut, in the spirit of the books.

Ah, well. I'll stick to commenting on the narration. I do like the choice of Costi...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Candace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, young-adult, series-author-in-process

*4.5 stars / 5.0 stars*

Another great entry to this series.

I have to admit, upon reading the summary and some of the reviews, I was a bit nervous about this book being in the third-person POV of a newly-introduced character (Costis). But, Megan Whalen Turner handled this marvelously, and just like with The Queen of Attolia, I was completely enthralled.

With that said, though, I will say that there were times where I *did* long for more than just Costis' peak into the lives of Gen and Queen Attolia...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Islaeria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reread

It's ok if you don't understand it the first time. This book deserves a second and third reading.
This book was filled with clever little plots and humorous situations-but not overly so.

I must admit that I didn't like this book the first time I read it. I didn't understand it. I didn't understand why the author put in so many little details and I didn't understand what was happening. I wondered "Why was Gen the main character? Who the heck is this Costis? Why won't Gen take control?".

The second...more It's ok if you don't understand it the first time. This book deserves a second and third reading.
This book was filled with clever little plots and humorous situations-but not overly so.

I must admit that I didn't like this book the first time I read it. I didn't understand it. I didn't understand why the author put in so many little details and I didn't understand what was happening. I wondered "Why was Gen the main character? Who the heck is this Costis? Why won't Gen take control?".

The second time I read it, it was incredibly frustrating. The character that I loved (Gen) was treated as a fool and usurper. It was very clear to me, the reader, that Attolia needed him and it was incredibly frustrating to read about the other characters and not Gen. There were little nuggets that pulled at me, that made me feel like "This is it. This is an incredible thing happening, even if I don't understand why". These nuggets made me keep reading. An example is when Gen gets rid of Sillanus. The way he does it, the feeling that the bystanders get when they watch him, and the utter unfolding of it all made me feel as if I had just read something akin to seeing a sun rise. Leading up to that moment was chapters of Gen being a fool and slowly becoming revealed as the king he truly is. When he was finally revealed, I cried.

This book leads up to two climaxes. It does it in a way that makes you fall in love with the characters, even the ones that seem like asses. I read it multiple times and each time I read it I notice little things that I didn't notice before. These little descriptions and dialogues are what give the characters their roundness and make them alive. The little moments lead up to big moments that you don't see coming and a new-found love for a character and a new appreciation for the subtlety of it all.

All in all, this was an exceptionally good read, even though I had to read it twice. I truly recommend that you do and that you pay close attention to the motivations behind the "good" and the "bad" guys.(less)

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Aug 04, 2012 Daria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-d-take-writing-lessons, beloved-fantasy

Although I usually reserve five stars for books that have drilled holes into my heart (for some reason or other), and I haven't really wept tears of happiness/angst over the Attolia series as of yet, Turner is so smart that, dammit, it's an insult to give her anything less.

Turner is so very clever, clever, clever. And real, too. I don't think I've believed in the reality of imaginary characters this much since, well, since in a while. You can't condemn or adore any of Attolia's players - they d...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Dawn Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I was browsing a half-off book rack when I found Megan Whalen Turner’s The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. I will admit that I picked them up because I liked the titles (I’m a sucker for royalty, although I think it’s a ridiculous way to really let someone run a country – genetics are dicey!) and because the covers were stern and handsome and alluring. (So I’m shallow, suck it.) As I also love to read books in a series in a big pile, I noted that I needed another book to complete the s...more I was browsing a half-off book rack when I found Megan Whalen Turner’s The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. I will admit that I picked them up because I liked the titles (I’m a sucker for royalty, although I think it’s a ridiculous way to really let someone run a country – genetics are dicey!) and because the covers were stern and handsome and alluring. (So I’m shallow, suck it.) As I also love to read books in a series in a big pile, I noted that I needed another book to complete the set: the first one, The Thief. It was a Newberry Honor Book, and therefore full price, but I had a good feeling and bought them all, hurrying home to cram them into my brain.

Technically, I am told that the Queen’s Thief series is aimed at kids 9-12. That’s kind of nice in the sense that these books aren’t pap: they are clever and intricately plotted and full of all manner of Greek-derived culture, politics and vocabulary, making them a groovy way to broaden any kid’s horizons. I should point out that they are not at all based in historic fact. In the countries of Eddis, Sounis and Attolia, the gods are forgotten, but still make themselves known. Turner has invented her own pantheon and I found that I was always longing to hear another story about Eugenides, the god of thieves, as well as his namesake, the wily Gen, our focal point for the first three books.

The first book, The Thief, is told in first person. It’s about a boy who is dragged from prison in order to steal an amulet that may or may not actually exist. I’m not sure Gen counts as an unreliable narrator; he brags that he can steal anything, and he does; he never tells an outright lie, but of course it’s what he hasn’t said that makes all the difference, and you are impressed all over again. While I love The Thief, I found the POV a little gimmicky somehow, and the book a little slow to start – but you need to climb the hill so you can roll right down the other side. Trust me, the worldbuilding and the gradual focus on Gen’s traveling companions (especially the Magus) is worth your while. It’s a tremendously satisfying read.

Which brings us to the second book, The Queen of Attolia. Even if you’ve never read any of the books in the series, the cover for this one gives a major plot point away. Ultimately, I think it added an atmospheric sense of dreadful inevitability, somehow – and the action it presages takes place very near the opening anyway. The Magus is back, and we get to spend some time with Helen, Queen of Eddis, with her broken nose, frizzy hair and mellow sense of humor. Again, the book hinges on a conceit that you may not buy, but it worked for me. We get to see more of the world in this story, and get some much needed perspective on Gen, who of course becomes more fascinating the more we learn about him.

I love me some Eugenides, is what I’m trying to say here, and book three might be my favorite in the series so far because it’s told from the point of view of Costis, a stoutly loyal man who has no idea who or what Eugenides is (the answer: A TOTAL. FUCKING. BADASS.), so we get to learn Gen all over, outside-in. The King of Attolia shores up any doubts you may have had about the verity of the second book. Plus, it’s full of court intrigue and kind of thrilling: Costis, hurtling through the garden, shouting ATTOLIA! ATTTOLIA! That’s the stuff! (Psst: Costis/Aristogiton 4EVA!)

A Conspiracy of Kings is the much-awaited next book in the series; Turner takes her time, man. The Thief came out in 1996, Queen in 2000, and King in 2006.
I had been fretting about Sophos, the sweetheart introduced in The Thief, since he went missing in book two. This is the story of what happened to him, and all the choices he made. Eugenides is only visible in the periphery of this one, but as always, he’s pivotal.

All told, these books are utterly engaging, and I would recommend them to anyone who likes a fully realized world with myths of its own and a trickster with a noble heart.

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Jun 14, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 8th grade and up

"The Thief" is the best of the series, but if you have an affinity towards the characters, you will want read the next books. None of them are as well written as the first, but the plots do keep you engaged. My biggest problem with Turner's writing is that she is too subtle - sometimes to the point of losing her readers. If this were James Joyce then I would blame my own ignorance, but this is not Joyce but young adult fiction, so the subtleties are either a product of poor editing or the author...more

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Oh, schnapps! It'...: The King of Attolia	1	10	Jun 20, 2012 07:13pm
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The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief #3)

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