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The Thief (The Queen's Thief #1)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 14,961 ratings · 2,493 reviews

The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the thief's abilities.

What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly...more

Paperback, 280 pages

Published December 27th 2005 by Greenwillow Books (first published October 31st 1996)

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Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, fantasy, 2011

My main reason for reading The Thief was so I could read the sequel - The Queen of Attolia - that I've heard is superb and far better than this first installment. I actually set myself up for quite an underwhelming experience with this book based on reviews and the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of more traditional fantasy with magical realms and such (I never could stand The Lord of the Rings). However, the story was interesting, the writing excellent and the protagonist was a witty, deviou...more

30 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Tatiana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Tatiana by: Kristin Cashore

Shelves: 2010, ya, fantasy, series-in-progress-still-like, ala-ya-1997, newbery, mythopoeic, 2011

Update 6/2011. Let me just say, if you feel so-so about this book (like I did), please give its sequel - The Queen of Attolia - a try. It made me forever and ever a dedicated fan of the series.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed it, but I think I spoiled the experience for myself a little bit.

The reviewers like to point to a huge twist at the end of the story as the biggest reason for enjoying this book. But if you know in advance that you should expect something, it is very easy...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Kay rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: road trip!

Shelves: fantasy, kings-queens-n-fools, teens-tweens-and-ya, journey-not-destination

This book was okay. On one hand, I can't deny that Megan Whalen Turner is a great writer. Her command of the English language, especially her rich descriptions of a pseudo-Greek landscape, is superb. On the other hand, I found the story very slow up until the very hasty end, and the ending felt a bit off.

I should have known to not let my expectations get out of hand. Reviewers did offer cautionary notes that the next book in the series, Queen of Attolia, was much better. From the book synopsis...more This book was okay. On one hand, I can't deny that Megan Whalen Turner is a great writer. Her command of the English language, especially her rich descriptions of a pseudo-Greek landscape, is superb. On the other hand, I found the story very slow up until the very hasty end, and the ending felt a bit off.

I should have known to not let my expectations get out of hand. Reviewers did offer cautionary notes that the next book in the series, Queen of Attolia, was much better. From the book synopsis and the author's writing style, this seemed like a blend of The Lies of Locke Lamora and partially Finnikin of the Rock. An arrogant thief caught up in a larger power game between empires, forced into performing an impossible task, and coming to terms with his own limitations. What's not to love?

To be fair, the story was less a swashbuckling adventure with extroverted plot twists, and more a contemplative and slow-moving character study. Most of the book read like a dysfunctional road trip with grouchy and unrelenting dads, uncles, and sullen cousins. The main focus was on the dynamics among Gen, the magus, Pol, Sophos, and Ambiades, with each revealing surprising complexities and individual quirks. Good thing too because once the journey begins all they do is travel, travel, eat, sleep, travel, travel...you get the gist.

It’s not until the party reaches the temple that things start to speed up and the plot actually starts to unfold. Secrets are revealed, some more surprising than others, and the book takes twists and turns to end up in a place that I'd never expected.

It just takes a while for them to get there.

Overall, the book wasn't bad. In fact, for the type of story it was, I'd like to give it more stars for being able to keep my attention for so long. I appreciate the effort put into developing the characters, but the beginning dragged on way too much. Plus, considering how the book progressed, I found the twists and turns at the end erratic.

A solid three stars, and recommended for those who like meandering, journeying plot lines. I was, however, impressed with the writing and will be picking up Queen of Attolia soon.
(less)

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Mar 07, 2010 Keith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was another book my wife insisted that I read. It was our before-bed read aloud book last month.

Reading 10-15 pages a night, the first half of the book was enjoyable, but unfolded rather slowly. I was a bit puzzled about why my wife was so enthusiastic about the book. Then, about half way through, the excitement and tempo increased a few notches, and it become a real page-turner.

This is a fantasy novel, but it is not your typical swords and sorcery adventure. There are swords, and even a co...more This was another book my wife insisted that I read. It was our before-bed read aloud book last month.

Reading 10-15 pages a night, the first half of the book was enjoyable, but unfolded rather slowly. I was a bit puzzled about why my wife was so enthusiastic about the book. Then, about half way through, the excitement and tempo increased a few notches, and it become a real page-turner.

This is a fantasy novel, but it is not your typical swords and sorcery adventure. There are swords, and even a couple of fights, but the closest we get to sorcery are some mysterious occurrences that could best be described as super-natural. Turner's alternate reality evokes the feeling of Greece. The landscape is rocky, somewhat mountainous, and filled with olive trees. The "old" religion has the feeling of Greek mythology although the divinities are mostly different. And the political backdrop is a set of small rivalrous kingdoms that could be stand-ins for the city-states of ancient Greece.

The story is told (first person) by Gen, a thief who opens the book imprisoned in the kingdom of Sounis. He is freed by the King's Magus---a wiseman-type councilor---who needs a skilled thief to help him recover a lost artifact. They set out on this expedition, accompanied by the Magus's two apprentices and a soldier. In the first half of the book, we slowly get to know the characters through Gen's eyes, and learn something of the world where this story is set. Turner does a good job developing and describing the mix of relationships between the members of this quest---rivalries, respect, jealousy---and as we get to know the characters better, it becomes apparent that there is a bit more to each of them than meets the eye.

Midway through the book, just when it seems that the entire plot is going to be character-driven, the tempo increases dramatically. There are fights, escapes, chases. Amongst this action there are still the puzzles of characters whose motivations we don't entirely understand---including our narrator, who carefully hides a few secrets of his own until the end.

All-in-all, a well-told story, with a good combination of plot, characters, and an interesting setting.

Once again, my wife picked a winner. I should pay more attention to her recommendations.(less)

31 likes · like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

I have very mixed feelings about The Thief, which was recommended to me years ago by another fan of Tamora Pierce. It wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't amazing either. The strongest aspects were the writing and characterization. Gen's voice came across clearly through the text because he takes the same arrogant attitude with the reader that he does with the other characters. Turner also manages to keep the reader at arms length despite writing in first person, which is a testament to her skill as...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: male-protagonist, fantasy

If you haven't read the book yet (however many of you there are out there) I suggest you not read too many reviews. If you're anything like me it won't ruin the book because it is a great book but it will make it less special. Some reviewers kind of spoiled the book without meaning to. If the blurb sounds interesting enough just take the book and read it.

I'll just say that I thought the character Gen was funny and the remaining characters that go on the quest are great too. The magus (did he ha...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Warnie B. rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, fantasy, young-adult, newbery, action-adventure

I'm giving up on this one. It's not BAD, just...excruciatingly BORING. To me, anyway. I found the main character obnoxious and all the other characters underdeveloped and uninteresting, and over half way through the book, nothing's really happened--they've started their journey, and then traveled, and traveled, and traveled, and traveled, and traveled, and...you get the picture. I've heard really good things about this series, and maybe at some point in the future I'll give it another try. But I...more

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Oct 04, 2007 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA history/fantisy buffs

Over the years I have become a bit of a book snob, especially when it comes to YA lit. Such was my attitude whrn I started this first book in a seies. However, by the time I reached the end of the book, I was a gibbering mess. The author has managed to make a simple action/adventure book into a wonderful lesson about assumptions. And boy did I make a you know what out of myself.

Fun, funny, and deep, this book is a must read for anyone who needs an attitude adjustment concerning a "kids book"

And...more

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Mar 22, 2010 Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, clean-enough, really-liked, addicted-to-ya

I have to admit that I started out with low ratings for this book. I had no idea what is was about and had no idea where it was going. I have to say that the author did an excellent job with this book. Gen has got to be one of the most likable lead characters that I have ever come across. He has some of the best comebacks and mostly says whatever is on his mind. He's stubborn most of the time too. I found myself laughing a few times when he displayed how stubborn he can be.

The supporting charact...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Maya rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: patient readers, fans of political fantasy and mythology

Shelves: political-fantasy

The Attolia-series is supposed to be amazing, but mainly starting from book 2. Which is why, when I started reading The Thief, I wasn't expecting anything very impressing.

And indeed, the main problem with this book is that the pace is extreeemely slow. The book is already quite short with only 280 pages, and the first half is nothing but traveling, with lots of landscape descriptions and mythology and pretty much nothing happening at all. I’m sure a lot of readers didn't have the necessary pati...more The Attolia-series is supposed to be amazing, but mainly starting from book 2. Which is why, when I started reading The Thief, I wasn't expecting anything very impressing.

And indeed, the main problem with this book is that the pace is extreeemely slow. The book is already quite short with only 280 pages, and the first half is nothing but traveling, with lots of landscape descriptions and mythology and pretty much nothing happening at all. I’m sure a lot of readers didn't have the necessary patience to get past the first half, and maybe I would have been more annoyed if I hadn't known that there was much more to come. There really could have been some more surprises "on the road" and I was quite disappointed with the actual "treasure hunt" itself (view spoiler).

Despite this, however, The Thief is actually better than a lot of other fantasy books. The author maybe didn't choose the best way to get readers intrigued by her story, but the character interactions are rather entertaining and main character Gen's voice is very individual. The writing was a bit weird, it seemed unpolished at times with some repetitions especially during the narration parts, but you also get very well constructed dialogues and smart, humorous one-liners.

The Thief didn't overwhelm me, but it shows a lot of potential. The ending mostly made up for the slow start and definitely convinced me to continue with the series. I'm positive that the next book will be just as good as everybody says. For book 1 I definitely recommend preparing yourself to be patient, the book is also perfect if you're looking for something that is rather easy to put down, when you're busy with real life.

Similar books I know are Dragon Sword and Wind Child (considering the mythological aspect, new vs old gods and the role of gods in the story) and Fire (as a similarly slow-paced political fantasy). If you liked these, The Thief is worth a try.(less)

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Feb 23, 2012 Mimi Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

4 stars

This was a solid 3-3.5 star book, until the last 20 pages or so, which I liked a lot and kind of surprised me.

So, the book begins with the infamous thief, Gen, at prison. He's there because a while ago, he bragged he could steal anything, even the king's seal. Someone, of course held him on that. So, he, of course stole it, after which he got arrested and tried. Not the magus has a proposition to make. If he travels with them and agrees to steal something, well, he gets to see the sun ag...more 4 stars

This was a solid 3-3.5 star book, until the last 20 pages or so, which I liked a lot and kind of surprised me.

So, the book begins with the infamous thief, Gen, at prison. He's there because a while ago, he bragged he could steal anything, even the king's seal. Someone, of course held him on that. So, he, of course stole it, after which he got arrested and tried. Not the magus has a proposition to make. If he travels with them and agrees to steal something, well, he gets to see the sun again. Gen agrees and the little group of the magus, Sophos, Ambiades and Gen takes off on an adventure.

I think the way the happenings and the trip were interwoven with the myths and the stories were nice. It's not the most exciting book I've read, but it's interesting and I was constantly curios about what comes next.

I also loved the world and the politics and Gen. He's awesome AND a thief. Or is it because he's a thief. Doesn't matter, he's a great protagonist and I enjoyed reading about him. The other characters were well drawn as well and I'm really curious about what comes next.

All in all, a good(albeit a bit short) start of the series!

I like this myth of the becoming of the world, it's a bit long, but I really do like it.

"EARTH’S CREATION AND THE BIRTH OF THE GODS

Earth was alone. She had no companion. So she took a piece from the center of herself and made the sun and that was the first god. But in time he left Earth. He promised to always send her light during the day, but at night she was still alone. So she took a piece from the edge of herself and made the moon, and she was the first goddess. After a while the moon too went away from Earth. She promised to send her light to keep Earth company at night, but the moon’s promises are worth nothing, and she sent only part of her light and sometimes forgot entirely. When she forgot, there was no moonlight at all, and the Earth was lonely again.
So she breathed out into the firmament, and she made the Sky. The Sky wrapped himself all around her and was her companion. He promised to stay with her always, and Earth was happy. Earth and the Sky’s first children were the mountain ranges, and Hephestia was the oldest. They had more children who were the great oceans and the middle sea, and their youngest children were the great rivers Seperchia and Skander.
One day the Sky wanted to know what he looked like, so the Earth made a thousand goddesses and spread them all across the world to hold mirrors for the sky, and those are the lakes. The Sky looked at himself in the mirrors. He was blue and white with clouds and sometimes black and spangled with stars, and when the sun set, he was beautiful indeed. He grew vain. He looked at the Earth, who was round and colorless, and he felt superior.
“I am quite beautiful,” he said to Earth, “but you are very dull. The only pretty things about you are your lakes.” And he spent all his time looking into the water and would not speak to Earth. So Earth swept up the dust from the mountains and made snow and the dust from the valleys and made dark black soil, and in the soil she scattered the seeds for forests and flowers and covered herself with green trees and bright colors and told the Sky that she was as beautiful as he. But he had eyes only for the lakes, who reflected his own glory. They bore him children, who were the smaller rivers and streams. Earth was jealous and made trees grow up around each of the lakes, hiding them from the Sky’s view.
The Sky was angry. He took up some of the black soil from Earth’s valleys and some of the snow from her mountains, and he mixed them together and blew hard and scattered them across the world. Every speck of dust grew into a human, some dark like the valley soil and some white as the snow. So, though we come from the Earth, we must thank the Sky for our creation, because it was the Sky that made man. But he was impatient and did not do such a job as the Earth would have done. Man came out small and weak and without the gifts of the gods. When the Sky sent men to clear the forest around the lakes, that he might see them, they were too weak to pull down the trees.
Earth looked at them climbing through her forests and said, “Why have you made these?”
And the Sky was ashamed, and he told her that he wanted to see the lakes, and the Earth was ashamed and said that she wanted the Sky to speak only to her. The Sky promised that he would look at the lakes only sometimes, and the Earth promised to hide only some of the lakes in the trees. And they were happy.
But Earth watched the humans that the Sky had made and felt sorry for them. They were cold and hungry. So she gave them fire to make them warm, and she gave them seeds to scatter on the ground. She made animals for them to eat, but no matter what gifts she gave them the humans were ungrateful. They thanked only the Sky for having made them. The Earth grew angry and she shook with her anger, and the houses that the humans had built fell down and the animals that they had gathered were frightened and ran away, and the humans realized that they had made a terrible mistake. From then on there were always some humans who thanked the Earth for her gifts and some humans who thanked the Sky for their creation."(less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Anne Toronto1 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

"The Thief" (#1 series) by Megan Turner is Eugenides, named for the God of Thieves in a Greece-inspired realm of guns and swords. He is arrogant, expert, forthright, tactless, smart in mouth and brain, almost unlikable; as are everyone, nearly forgivable considering he narrates all. He whines repeatedly of hunger and fatigue. The style is smooth, flowing, clever, almost supercilious. We admire from safe afar, smile amused, yet soldiers chase only footsteps behind without our hearts pounding in s...more "The Thief" (#1 series) by Megan Turner is Eugenides, named for the God of Thieves in a Greece-inspired realm of guns and swords. He is arrogant, expert, forthright, tactless, smart in mouth and brain, almost unlikable; as are everyone, nearly forgivable considering he narrates all. He whines repeatedly of hunger and fatigue. The style is smooth, flowing, clever, almost supercilious. We admire from safe afar, smile amused, yet soldiers chase only footsteps behind without our hearts pounding in sympathy. Sudden deaths out of sight blunts emotion.
Ambiguous wording initially allowed the possibility of a girl protagonist, until he scrubbed publicly. Although cliché was avoided, I was regretful. Kept secrets were conveyed in sense yet not betrayed in fact. I sympathized with Gen's dislike of horses and awkward seat. (I scraped my inner legs bloody, imbedded denim, discovering I preferred piano to Western gallop over English trot as a hobby.)
Clues are easy: a traitor hides a costly comb; an expert analyzes novice swordplay; an elite captain guards a VIP; hair braids over treasure; food vanishes. The finale still surprises. Myths of world creation by gods still powerful invoke deus ex machina indeed.
Gen boasted in Sounis that he could steal anything, even the king's seal. After flaunting his prize in a tavern "wineshop", he was jailed from spring to late summer in bleak dark solitary. The royal advisor, the never-named magus, frees Gen to steal a magic stone that conveys the power to rule Eddis, the country between Attolia and theirs, to consolidate all three against a coming invasion. His students and the younger's bodyguard complete the company. They quest through wild territory, to hallowed temple, past mortal and celestial barriers.
I dislike unnecessary made-up words. Etesians are late-summer winds (easterly?). "Red shank and green shank bushes" are mentioned twice. Supererogatory. But I want to read more, so 5* her for the series, for how Turner makes me care about people and place, want to solve her mysteries. I must like something.
After hours correcting my formats from ebooks and audio to normal paper, I am more careful to look past the matching cover. I tried one each audio and ebook; I have not the patience for either, till blindness forces me. My editorial eye (some call hyperlexia) finds typos and questions, so version matters. For instance, in this edition, why does Gen say "lower my arm" on the top of p236, when he never raised his limb in the first place?(less)

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Mar 25, 2008 Jean rated it 2 of 5 stars

A thief sprung from jail to help a Magnus steal an ancient treasure, warring kingdoms, political intrigue, sword fights, narrow escapes,a mythology invented especially for this fictional place, and a quest--everything, it would seem, to keep me reading. So I am wondering why I so disliked this book that I had to force myself to keep reading to the end. I think I hit upon the answer spoken by one of Turner's characters near the last weary lap of the book: "Oh, fine," I told him...but I didn't rea...more

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Apr 11, 2008 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-enough-to-own-and-read-over-ag

The main character of this story is mesmerizing. Turner has fleshed him out so fully, he's stepped right off the pages to join the ranks of characters the likes of Uriah Heep and Bertie Wooster. Gen is more likeable than either of them, though.

This is fantasy that doesn't feel like fantasy. From the moment you meet him in the king's prison, Gen effortlessly holds your attention as he slowly reveals himself without ever giving himself entirely away. He tells his own story and his observations of...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Virginia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Virginia by: Sarah

Shelves: young-adult, read-2011

At first, I quite hated the protagonist. It certainly didn't help that this was written in the first person POV. However, FINALLY, after about 2/3 of the book, the main character wasn't quite so loathsome. The two things that kept me going were: 1) It was YA so the font was large and the story moved quickly; 2) The story itself was interesting and kept me going.

I had a feeling that Turner was setting up more books in the series because near the end, so many new threads were introduced that there...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

For this and other fun bookish things, check out my blog: Natalie Reads Books =]

This is another one of those books that I probably never would've found without Goodreads, so let me just take a moment to send a shout out to all my friends on there who posted rave reviews about this series, even if this one wasn't your favorite. *cheers* *claps*

Now that that's done, on to the review.

I guess I'll start by saying that I have been a bit book depressed lately, because I've been in the mood for a serie...more For this and other fun bookish things, check out my blog: Natalie Reads Books =]

This is another one of those books that I probably never would've found without Goodreads, so let me just take a moment to send a shout out to all my friends on there who posted rave reviews about this series, even if this one wasn't your favorite. *cheers* *claps*

Now that that's done, on to the review.

I guess I'll start by saying that I have been a bit book depressed lately, because I've been in the mood for a series that would basically consume my life a la The Hunger Games or Harry Potter, and I haven't been able to find one. Seriously, check out my status updates on Goodreads if you don't believe me. It was bordering on pathetic. And while I've read some good books in the meantime, I am so glad that I started this one, because even though it has its weaknesses, I can already tell the series as a whole is just what I've been looking for.

The story starts with Gen, our narrator, being pulled out of his prison cell to go talk to the king and his magus about whether or not he really can steal anything. They are skeptical, you see, because while Gen did manage to steal something valuable, he didn't manage to keep his mouth shut long enough to get away with it. Hence his inmate status. Much snark and hilarity ensues, and before we know it, Gen, the magus, a guard, and two Uselesses (the Elder and the Younger) hit the road, off on a quest to steal an object unknown. Their journey is long, and Gen certainly sleeps a lot, but through his wry humor and their stories about the gods, the story keeps moving at a good pace, and it becomes obvious that not all is as it seems.

I feel like the best word to describe this book is fun. Gen's narration and the banter between the characters are the perfect balance between serious and light, and it makes the story flow so well. I know that some people had problems with their stories about the gods, but I didn't. I've always been interested in mythology, and I feel like it's important to have myths and legends established in fantasy series. It makes them feel more real and storied. And I love that most of the stories told focused on the Thief God. It just made things feel so mischievous. And that ending? Such a great twist! Everything falls into place, and it's like a major aha moment. I knew something was up, but I was still surprised when I got there, and that made all the difference.

Positive aspects aside, I do want to take a moment to talk about the negative ones. For me, it was really all about one thing: the first person narration. (Here's to you, Gaby, for putting my feelings about it into words.). The whole time I was reading, something felt just a little bit off, and it wasn't until I started book two and also had a conversation with Gaby that I realized the problem is with the focus of the narration. I found myself forgetting that it was supposed to be in first person, because it felt like it should be in third, so whenever I'd see an 'I' in the narration, it threw me off and I got confused. I don't know why, exactly, but I've found that for the most part, fantasy books work better for me when they are in the third person. I think it's partly because it seems like most of the time in fantasy, the story is really more about the world as a whole, and how the main characters are important to it, instead of the other way around. I'm about a third of the way into book two now, which is written in third person, and already I feel like it's moving much faster and the tone is a better fit for the story.

Still, that one negative, although it is a problem, shouldn't stop you from reading this series. I mean, really. It's so much fun, people! And I can already tell you that book two is so worth getting through book one, even if you don't like the stories of the gods and all that jazz. You've gotta start at the beginning, and this one is well worth it. It's a series you don't want to miss. (less)

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Aug 14, 2011 C rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, to-re-read, all-time-favorites

One of my favorite young adult books lately. Great story--lots of action and suspense and surprises. Some fantasy, but one of the most interesting things to me was that she made up this historical world, complete with countries, conflicts, religions,histories. Re-read with kid #2 and loved it all over again.

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Mar 01, 2013 ★RavenclawReader★ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to ★RavenclawReader★ by: Elevetha Houre and H99

Shelves: best-books-ever, favorites, five-shiny-golden-stars, read-2013, surprisingly-good, read-them-before-it-s-too-late, mind-blowing

WOW. Just WOW.

(view spoiler)

This book is extremely slow at first, but even if you're impatient (like me) I say give it a try.

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Jun 30, 2011 Cait rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novel, currently-to-shelve, all-of-my-reviewed-books

Pleasing and clever, especially with the use of the first-person to hide information, but probably not something I would have picked up on its own merits; what's been recommended to me is the series as a whole.

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Feb 27, 2009 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: belovedbookshelf, ya

This book has been sitting on my shelf for several (we won't go into how many exactly) years. I even *gasp* had both sequels sitting on the shelf next to it. And in the interest of full disclosure, I even started The Thief a couple of years ago, got 25 pages in, and stopped. For reasons I no longer recall. The fault, whatever it was, was clearly mine because this book is the beginning of something truly special. I completely understand why it won the Newbery Honor and am very glad it did.

Gen is...more This book has been sitting on my shelf for several (we won't go into how many exactly) years. I even *gasp* had both sequels sitting on the shelf next to it. And in the interest of full disclosure, I even started The Thief a couple of years ago, got 25 pages in, and stopped. For reasons I no longer recall. The fault, whatever it was, was clearly mine because this book is the beginning of something truly special. I completely understand why it won the Newbery Honor and am very glad it did.

Gen is a thief, and a rather boastful one at that. Claiming he can steal anything, Gen succeeds in making off with the King of Sounis' seal only to brag about it to the wrong man and get himself thrown in the King's prison indefinitely. Along comes the Magus, the King's senior advisor, who pulls Gen out of prison and sets him an impossible task. Journey to a hidden temple, steal a mythical artifact, and turn it over to the King. On pain of death. A long, slow, excruciating death. Not being a fool, Gen agrees to the terms and sets out on the journey accompanied by the Magus, his two apprentices Sophos and Ambiades (or as Gen likes to refer to them: Useless the Younger and Useless the Elder), and the inimical soldier Pol.

And thus begins the adventure. Set in a world that is not quite ancient Greece but looks very much like it, it is a story that builds up slowly, but surely and I won't say that I didn't wonder once or twice if it was ever going to get where it was going. But hindsight is 20/20 and I can see now just how methodically and craftily Megan Whalen Turner leads you down the primrose path into thinking it's a simple story about a simple thief. It's remarkable, really. Because the whole thing does build up into one humdinger of a climax and by the time you realize what's happened there's nothing left to do but doff you hat to the irrepressible Gen for he completely wins the day and the reader as well. Nothing in this story is what it seems and that is possibly Turner's greatest strength. She (and her Thief) have the ability to take on any guise and pull off any ruse in order to achieve the desired result. In this case, it was my unadulterated adoration and I gave it up without even a hint of regret. The Thief, for the two of you who haven't yet fallen victim to this wonderful series, is the first of three books in the Queen's Thief series. Word is Ms. Turner is at work on the fourth as we speak. Thank the gods.(less)

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Mar 30, 2011 Flitterkit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

I almost didn't actually pick this book up to start reading, the cover art and inner jacket blurb are pretty horrid. I had gotten it from the library on the recomendation of liking a short story of her's, and it has been sitting, neglected int he pile for 3 weeks.
Surprisingly enough, I really, really enjoyed this book. It was well written and interesting throughout, though it got a bit clunky at the end, I still enjoyed the story and the characters.

Oh, and the cover showing next to the title her...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, thieves

The Thief starts out deceptively simple. Gen is dragged out of prison so that he can steal something for the king. A good part of what follows is his journey to the place where the theft needs to take place, under the enforcement of a court advisor and his companions. The only change in focus is the telling of myth-like stories of the gods around the campfires. This portion of the story seemed a bit slow, and for a while I wondered if this was really it. It was almost too simple, with only the o...more

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May 19, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

English Conclusion:

The Thief isn't easy to rate. The first half of the book is very slow and you don't know much about the characters. Actually I had to struggle a bit, but I have to say it was very worth my time. Later on the second half of the book was so much better and fascinating. I would even say I am really impressed, but I can't go into details without revealing too much. So I have to say, if you are interested in solid fantasy, then give it a try!

German Review:

"Ich kann alles stehlen" -...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Karly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

OK, after bemoaning Cornelia Funke's moral standards, I feel kind of funny giving five stars to a book in which the main character is a lying thief! On that subject, though, I must say that moral character is a visible strand in this book. And when the characters come through showing their true natures, I think overall, the "good guys" come out well, displaying loyalty, sensitivity, honesty, love and respect for one another along with several other good traits. I especially like books in which t...more

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May 10, 2011 Nancy O'Toole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Gen is a thief who can steal anything, but that doesn't mean that he can't be caught. After spending months in prison he is summoned by the magus, the king's top adviser, who tells him that Gen can earn his freedom if he carries an impossible theft. If he fails, his future looks even more grim. Gen soon finds himself on a journey with the magus at his side, as well as three new companions. Will Gen be able to pull off the the greatest theft of his lifetime?

I feel that there are multiple ways tha...more Gen is a thief who can steal anything, but that doesn't mean that he can't be caught. After spending months in prison he is summoned by the magus, the king's top adviser, who tells him that Gen can earn his freedom if he carries an impossible theft. If he fails, his future looks even more grim. Gen soon finds himself on a journey with the magus at his side, as well as three new companions. Will Gen be able to pull off the the greatest theft of his lifetime?

I feel that there are multiple ways that you can enjoy a book. With some titles, caught up in the suspense of it all, you find yourself rushing towards the end to figure out what happens next. Other books prove to be slower pleasures. They lack the roller coaster fun, but you can't help but enjoy them from start to finish. The Thief is an example of the later. I tend to have a weakness for thief/trickster- type characters, so Gen really pulled me in from the start. I enjoyed his subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) way of undermining his captives. I thought that Turner really did a great job of crafting a great cast. Characters that probably would have gotten on my nerves in other novels turn out to be rather likable here, and I enjoyed watching them develop from beginning to end.

Also worth mentioning in the unique setting. The Thief is inspired by Greece, but not quite ancient Greece. The result is something not quite like anything I've read in fantasy literature, which is always a treat. One way Tuner develops her setting is through storytelling. The characters will share myths of ancient belief sets while on their travels. I really, really, enjoyed these chapters. They may not be the fastest moving in the book, but they are the most interesting as you really get to learn a lot about this new world. I know this sounds like a strange compliment, but The Thief is also a very economical book. I feel as if not a single paragraph or line was wasted, as every moment either told us something about the characters and their relationships, or the setting, or helped to move the story forward to foreshadow future events. The result is a short book filled with a lot of flavor. This is something I often try to do (emphasis on try) in my own fiction writing, so I really admire it.

The Thief reads like a good magic trick, filled with satisfying build up that really pays off in the final chapters. I'm happy that it was chosen as a book club selection, as the book has been sitting on my shelf for years. I'm glad that I finally picked it up and read it, and I look forward to continuing the series.
(less)

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Dec 07, 2009 Beanbag Love rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: frequent-re-reads

This is one of my favorite book series. It was one of those odd things where a book cover just grabs you and you just have to buy it. I'm so glad I did.

I read The Thief a couple of years ago and I'm not exaggerating when I say that I always leave all three books in this trilogy out and accessible for a quick fix. They sit on my desk and they don't get moved unless I pick them up to read them. I'm so thrilled they've come out in e-book form because I miss them when I travel.

It's actually kind of...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy lovers

Recommended to Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress by: Beanbag Love

Shelves: fantasy, owned-copy, spell-out-september, young-adult, greek-mythology, alternate-history, favorites, antihero, thief, gods-and-goddesses, unlikely-hero-or-heroine, hero-i-loved

What do you do when you want to gain possession of something that's nearly impossible to obtain? You hire a thief who can steal just about anything.

Gen has no disillusions about his abilities as a thief. He's actually named after the god of thieves, Eugenides, as a matter of fact. While his father wanted him to be a soldier, he knew that was not the life for him. Instead, he honed his skills at stealing, until he was one of the best in the land. Too bad he did a little too much bragging about st...more What do you do when you want to gain possession of something that's nearly impossible to obtain? You hire a thief who can steal just about anything.

Gen has no disillusions about his abilities as a thief. He's actually named after the god of thieves, Eugenides, as a matter of fact. While his father wanted him to be a soldier, he knew that was not the life for him. Instead, he honed his skills at stealing, until he was one of the best in the land. Too bad he did a little too much bragging about stealing the King's seal and ended up in jail. He's approached by the King's magus and offered a proposition, steal something for the King, and he'll be released from jail. If he refuses, he'll simply disappear (not in a good way). It's not a proposition an intelligent young man would say no to. So begins this story.

Gen is one of those characters that I couldn't help but enjoy. His irreverent, jaundiced, but very insightful view of human nature insinuated him into my affections. I like that kind of humor, so I tend to gravitate towards main characters like Gen. From the beginning, I knew he was a thief, but that didn't make him unlikeable to me. Instead, I wanted to find out what made him tick, and I was rooting for him to come out of this story for the better. I liked that I saw some character growth in him as this story progressed.

The Thief is a story set in an alternate world in which various gods hold the devotion of the populace. I liked how part of the story was hearing the tales of the gods who made this world; and those stories are very smoothly integrated into the plot, playing a crucial role in the narration, characterization, and the unfolding of this story. Reading the extra material at the end of this novel revealed Ms. Turner's thought process. I could see a heavy Greek mythology influence, but there were unique elements about the pantheon and the story-telling that showed the author's specific vision. There are also aspects that surprised me, in that the gods actually play a real role in this story. I liked how the fantasy elements didn't dominate, but the focus is Gen's character and his quest to steal something that has the potential to affect three kingdoms in this novel.

There was an interesting twist towards the end that I was not expecting at all, and I always give my respect to an author who can do that, and surprise me. I'm not a jaded reader, by any means, but I read a lot, and I've seen a lot of common plot devices; so a writer who can throw me a curve ball is always appreciated.

I have to say that this Newbury Award Winner did impress me. It's one of those stories that doesn't try to go elaborate, but has a richness that won me over as a reader all the same. Fortunately, this is part of a series, so I can look forward to more adventures in this interesting world. (less)

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May 19, 2008 Kirsti rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Intelligently surprising," posts Kirsti Meyer from the Meyer Sporadic Times. If I were a reviewer with clout and authors/publishers cared about my words enough to print them on the cover (or inside pages) of books, that's what my contribution would be, "intelligently surprising".

At first I was put off by the book. It took me a few days to get into the story and characters and I almost stopped reading it altogether, but decided to press forward because it was so short. I'm very pleased I kept re...more

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Feb 06, 2008 KJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 08, 2008 Vicki rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: middle school and up any gender

Recommended to Vicki by: kids from Kennedy

". . . I had bragged without shame about my skills in every wine store in the city. I had wanted everyone to know that I was the finest thief since mortal men were made, and I must have come close to accomplishing the goal. Huge crowds had gathered for my trial. Most of the guards in the prison had turned out to see me after my arrest,and I was endlessly chained to my bed when other prisoners were sometimes allowed the freedom and sunshine of the prison's courtyard."
You will be amazed by Gen,...more

1 like · like · see review

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topics	posts	views	last activity
The Nameless and ...: The Queen's Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner	1	12	Oct 15, 2012 03:02pm
The Nameless and ...: The Queen's Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner	9	12	Oct 15, 2012 01:41pm
Alera: The Thief	1	2	Oct 11, 2012 09:48am
Oh, schnapps! It'...: Wrap Up (Major Spoilers)	4	11	May 22, 2012 08:43pm
Oh, schnapps! It'...: * General Discussion/Questions	6	8	Apr 27, 2012 12:39pm
Romance Readers R...: Buddy Read: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner	18	26	Apr 05, 2012 10:42am
Endicott Mythic F...: The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1) - Discussion	20	27	Jan 27, 2012 06:26pm

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About Megan Whalen Turner

For those of you who have to write reports for school, I will say that I was born in 1965 and I have siblings, all of them older, which makes me the baby of the family. We had a pet cat when I was growing up. He died a long time ago, but I think he is living his next life with the author of Tithe, Holly Black. I have seen pictures and her White Cat appears too similar for mere coincidence. I moved...more

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Books by Megan Whalen Turner

The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #3)

The Queen of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #2)

A Conspiracy of Kings (The Queen's Thief, #4)

Instead of Three Wishes: Magical Short Stories

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Quotes from The Thief

“All I wanted to do was lie in the dry grass with my feet in a ditch forever. I could be a convenient sort of milemarker, I thought. Get to the thief and you know you're halfway to Methana.” — 118 people liked it

“You learn something new everyday."
"What are you learning?" Sophos asked.
"To keep my mouth shut, I hope.” — 77 people liked it

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