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The Thief (The Queen's Thief #1)

by Megan Whalen Turner (Goodreads Author)

3.91 · Rating details · 44,996 Ratings · 5,132 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

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Library Binding, 220 pages

Published January 28th 1998 by San Val (first published 1996)

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Dec 15, 2015 Lola Reviewer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 1st-person-pov, high-fantasy

Oh, thank gods, I thought. They’re going to leave me. All I want to do was lie in a dry prickly 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 are halfway to Methana. Wherever Methana might be.

The Thief is a high fantasy with, like any other high fantasy on this planet, a journey the characters undertake. Gen, the main character was a pleasant surprise. While I first thought he was a feminine character, I was prov
Oh, thank gods, I thought. They’re going to leave me. All I want to do was lie in a dry prickly 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 are halfway to Methana. Wherever Methana might be.

The Thief is a high fantasy with, like any other high fantasy on this planet, a journey the characters undertake. Gen, the main character was a pleasant surprise. While I first thought he was a feminine character, I was proved wrong quite early in the story. Oops! That’s because many have compared this to Graceling and, as we know, that book’s lead character is a girl.

But I loved male Gen. I was enchanted by his quick-witted personality and humour. He wasn’t boring or tedious but instead full of surprises and… skills! I liked how he never listened to anyone telling him how worthless he was and how he was someone who would open up to others who earned his trust.

His looks were never widely described, which leaved place to some imagination digging, heh! As for the plot itself, it was long, slow and eventless. The only things that really saved it were the ending, which held many secrets and Gen himself… because he was that charming. Now I remember why I don’t read tons of high fantasy books. Oh well.

I feel like the author wanted to create a special world building filled with history and linked to the background of the characters, but it failed miserably. It’s all about the GODS people believed or did not believe in… Who they were… How they became gods… But I wanted to know more about the people themselves, the places and the kings and queens.

On a side and possibly spoiler-ish note…

I’ll have to admit I was really disappointed when I discovered that Gen was not gay… because there were TONS of signs throughout the story! Clearly, I thought he would end up with Sophos. Every time Sophos blushed… Every time Gen touched him… THERE WAS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

Grr.
...more

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Dec 08, 2009 Tatiana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Tatiana by: Kristin Cashore

Shelves: ya, fantasy, 2010, favorites, newbery, mythopoeic, 2011, 2017

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.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 11, 2011 Emily May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 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

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Mar 25, 2015 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ (of badger and SNAKE) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, favorite-male-leads, fantasy, my-kindle-challenges-me, 2017-reads

Huh. I really, really liked this? True enough, I've decided to start The Thief in order to get to the sequels - that all my friends adore - and somehow I was at peace with the probable boredom I would feel during this first novel and... My enjoyment felt so effortless? From the characters to the world and the writing, I've been enchanted. Truly.

"I hate horses. I know people who think that they are noble, graceful animals, but regardless of what a horse looks like from a distance, never forge

...more

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Nov 07, 2008 Keith rated it really liked it · 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 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. ...more

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Nov 03, 2016 Bibi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library

Yes, it starts off slower than molasses. Yes, you will be perfectly misdirected by Ms Turner. Yes, you will wish to set it aside for these reasons.

And all I can say is, Don't. Persevere.

Because you absolutely need to read this book in order to get to the sequel, The Queen of Attolia, which is one of my fave books as well as having one of the best male protagonists of all time. Seriously, I love Gen to bits.

Read this series.

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Dec 09, 2014 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Robin by: Kerry *Soulcaster*

Shelves: ya, fantastic-fantasy, buddy-read

Buddy read with some friends at Buddies Books and Baubles

I am a master of foolhardy plans, I thought. I have so much practice I consider them professional risks.

EVERYONE told me not to expect much from this book and to be patient. They said the beginning isn’t very good but the second half is pretty good and the next two books are amazing…so just hang in there. Well I found that to be true and false at the same time.

It is true the second half of this book is much more interesting, there is more going on action wise and the last 100 pages just fly by. But the first half isn’t that shabby either if you are paying attention. The only reason parts of it felt a little long are the backstories to the gods feathered in a little like info-dumping. They are interesting lore stories but it is unclear how they fit into the book until later and almost felt like filler while I was reading them. However with Gen the Master Thief there are clues to be found and double meanings to a few things that don’t become clear until the end of the book. I found it to be quite entertaining trying to figure out who/what Gen really is and what his true purpose was.

But even if you find the first half a little dull this is a short book at only about 215 pages so it really doesn’t take that long to go through and figuring out Gen’s story is totally worth it. He is a lot of fun to read as he is antagonizing his traveling companions.

While we ate, I picked at the magus. I liked to watch him lose his temper and then regain it when he remembered that I was supposed to be beneath his contempt.

I did guess quite a few things about Gen correctly, but I also guessed just as many wrong so there were still some surprises to be had and enough interest generated about the three kingdoms in the story that I’d be interested in continuing.

Even though this book is listed as MG/YA it didn’t really read that way and I hear the later books are more adult than this one. Overall a really quick fun read that had action, mystery, betrayal and a few unexpected surprises that made it all the more interesting to read.
...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, ya-fantasy, fantasy, i-own

Review originally posted at Fantasy Literature. Reread July 2015 with the Buddies Books & Baubles group.

Megan Whalen Turner’s award-winning 1996 YA fantasy The Thief, set in a fantasy world that has very strong echoes of ancient Greece, follows the adventures of Gen, the eponymous thief, as he is yanked from a filthy prison cell to go on a journey with a group of four men who hope to steal an unnamed object. The magus, who is leading the group, is the only person in the group who knows what Review originally posted at Fantasy Literature. Reread July 2015 with the Buddies Books & Baubles group.

Megan Whalen Turner’s award-winning 1996 YA fantasy The Thief, set in a fantasy world that has very strong echoes of ancient Greece, follows the adventures of Gen, the eponymous thief, as he is yanked from a filthy prison cell to go on a journey with a group of four men who hope to steal an unnamed object. The magus, who is leading the group, is the only person in the group who knows what they are searching for and where it is hidden.

In honor of the deep importance of mythology and the panoply of Greek-like gods in the tale of The Thief, several Greek gods and goddesses have graciously agreed to make guest appearances in this review, to add their brief thoughts and opinions regarding this book.

description

ARTEMIS: “Actually, when you think about it, the whole plot of The Thief revolves around a hunt. Okay, it’s a hunt for a hidden object, not a wild beast, but still. It’s really quite fascinating.”

Gen spends most of the lengthy journey recovering from his months-long stay in prison, whining about their current conditions and the limited food, and sassing the magus and other members of the group. Although the journey is a rocky one, in more ways that just one, gradually Gen begins to gain respect for most of the group, and they for him.

description

POSEIDON: “The role of the river Aracthus in protecting the treasure was a high point. But the story needed more bodies of water and less wasteland. Sea of Olives, pfft. Poor excuse for the real thing.”

The characters are well-drawn and believable, with intriguing layers.

… Ambiades was not going to move a step at the request of a worthless and insolent petty criminal. Ambiades, I realized, was the kind of person who liked to put people in a hierarchy, and he wanted me to understand that I was at the bottom of his. He was supposed to treat me politely in spite of my subservient position, and I was supposed to be grateful. For my part, I wanted Ambiades to understand that I considered myself a hierarchy of one.

The tale of their journey is also interspersed with mythological tales of their world, such as the creation of the earth and birth of the gods, which give additional depth to the overall story.

description

ARES: “I liked the sword fighting and the importance of the art of war in the plot of this story. Recognize! Too bad most of the fighting scenes were so short. But the conflicts between the countries of Sounis, Eddis and Attolia! Yeah, that has potential.”

The first half of this book is somewhat slow-paced, as the group journeys to their destination, but once they arrive the pace quickens and the plot takes some unexpected and fascinating turns. The Thief has joined the list of my favorite YA fantasy novels.

description

APHRODITE: “Why does the most beautiful woman in the book only make a brief appearance? Where is the love?” *pouts*

The Thief is the first book in a series of four books, with possibly more books to come, but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. By the end of the book, I was a huge fan of the characters and of Megan Whalen Turner. I’ve bought all four books in this series and will probably automatically buy anything else she writes. THE QUEEN'S THIEF series should not be missed by anyone who enjoys YA fantasy.

description

HERMES: “I love how Eugenides, the god of thieves like *ahem* yours truly, is worshipped and honored by the main character. And did you notice how Eugenides doesn’t have to do any of the messengering crap? How about that, there, Zeus? Best book ever!”

4½ stars, and a big "thank you" to my guest reviewers! ...more

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Jul 18, 2013 Lois Bujold rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Lois by: e-mail correspondent years ago who loved it so much she mailed me a copy

Having dutifully tried a few new things to my lack of satisfaction this past week, I turned instead to an old favorite that I knew would be a pleasurable read. This is a book that re-repays a re-re-read, not only soon, but after finishing its sequels once they widen one's view of its world and characters.

There is not too much one can say about The Thief that is not a spoiler, and this is a book that should NOT be read with preconceptions. Set in an alternate fantasy world loosely inspired by Gre ...more

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Mar 13, 2008 Jean rated it it was ok · review of another edition

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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Jan 04, 2017 Emily (Books with Emily Fox) rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book seemed promising but I ended up a bit underwhelmed.
I'm still planning on continuing the series since it apparently gets better!

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May 21, 2009 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fantasy lovers

Recommended to Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) by: Beanbag Love

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

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 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. ...more

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May 09, 2014 Kaya rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: not-interested

I can't say this book is bad but it isn't great either. Boring interactions and dull protagonist with the plot I couldn't care less about. Nothing even slightly exciting happens. The start reminds me a bit of "Throne of Glass" series and that's the only good thing about this book. I'm not even a big fan of Throne of Glass.

A thief named Gen got out from jail in order to help a Magus steal an ancient treasure. When the identity of the thief is finally revealed I was occasionally interested in the ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ (of badger and SNAKE) marked it as on-hold · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, favorite-male-leads, fantasy, audiobook, 2017-reads

Me : I need to stop with that obsession with The Queen's Thief series and Eugenides.
Also me : *downloads the first audiobook on Audible*

Really though, I had no idea that Steve West narrated this book! Is it reason enough to listen to this less than a week after having read the book? Absolutely.

My review of the novel : here

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Aug 16, 2011 Kay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: road trip!

Shelves: teens-tweens-and-ya, fantasy, kings-queens-n-fools, 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 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.
...more

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Nov 20, 2009 Lara rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, abandoned, 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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Mar 13, 2012 Jenna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, gods-and-goddesses

I've been told by so many people that this series is amazing, but that the first book is kinda lackluster. I didn't know much more than that going into The Thief, and perhaps that's why I enjoyed it more than others seem to. Importantly, I didn't know there was a twist at the end and so I didn't see it coming and also didn't spend my time trying to figure out what it was. I just enjoyed the ride.

The Thief follows Gen, the eponymous trickster, as he is forced to journey through multiple countries I've been told by so many people that this series is amazing, but that the first book is kinda lackluster. I didn't know much more than that going into The Thief, and perhaps that's why I enjoyed it more than others seem to. Importantly, I didn't know there was a twist at the end and so I didn't see it coming and also didn't spend my time trying to figure out what it was. I just enjoyed the ride.

The Thief follows Gen, the eponymous trickster, as he is forced to journey through multiple countries with the king of Sounis' advisor and his apprentices to retrieve the mythical Hamiathe's Gift, said to bestow the right to rule Sounis' neighbouring kingdom of Eddis on whomever posseses it. The bulk of this book is taken up with the journey itself, and I've seen multiple reviewers complain of the slowness of the narrative as a result. Perhaps because I was using this book as a break from the snail's pace of Picnic at Hanging Rock, I actually didn't find it particularly slow. Sure, there's a lot of description of winding roads, meals of bread and cheese and a helluva lot of olive trees, but thanks to Megan Whalen Turner's strong writing, it all managed to maintain my interest.

The characters also helped negate the potential tediousness of the journey for me. Gen is an unreliable but compelling narrator. His voice is strong, and his cheeky arrogance is somehow endearing. His travelling companions are a curious bunch, each hiding their own secrets. I only wish there had been a girl or two as part of the party - it was very male-centric for most of the story. But at least this is somewhat balanced by the fact that the women who do appear are all very powerful.

Maybe I'm getting stupid, but as I already mentioned I didn't see the twist coming, and there are a few threads that left me a bit confused.(view spoiler) Nevertheless, The Thief was an enjoyable read that has me excited for the rest of the series, especially as it apparently gets even better. Now excuse me while I go hunt down some olives and cheese. All that reading about them has made me hungry... ...more

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Sep 10, 2014 Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: meh-boring-dragged-blah, fantasy-high, written-review, 2015

Buddy read with Buddies Books & Baubles July 2015

Three stars feels a bit generous, but oh well. It was pretty good for what it was. I'll call it 2.5 rounded up.

I found the interweaving of Grecian names interesting, although the book could definitely have benefited from having a map in the front pages. Between Sounis, Eddis and Attolia I found myself getting a bit confused about what was where. I liked Gen's selfishness (reminded me of Meda from Cracked) and he just had a cool laid-back sort ...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Catie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya, fantasy, series

This book has a very slow pace, but I think that’s intentional. The slowly building suspense adds a lot to the big reveal at the end. This is going to be the weirdest comparison ever, but this book actually reminds me of the beginning of American Psycho. Reading the beginning of that book is like, “boring…boring…boring...wait a minute, did he just say that he was going to disembowel someone?!” This book has the same feel of repetitive setting and story progression, sprinkled with little tantaliz ...more

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Aug 05, 2009 Beanbag Love rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 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 difficult to get people to read this series for some reason. Maybe because it's not a romance -- or rather it's not an obvious romance -- and the first book is written in the POV of a young teen. A thirteen-year-old boy (age is a guess -- we're never told) named Gen tells the story and he's a great narrative character.

But it's so worth reading them. But don't looking at the back covers. Seriously, you do NOT want to be spoiled with these books. The twists and surprises are excellent.

This is the first book of Turner's YA Queen's Thief series, followed by The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia.

It's actually a quick read if you sit down to it. Her self-created mythology is engaging, and challenging. Some have said they had trouble 'getting into it.' To that I can only say 'stick with it.' If you read all three books, I can nearly guarantee you'll want to go back and start over at The Thief to see all the subtle clues as to what was going to happen later.

Um ... have I mentioned I really love this series? ;^)

UPDATE: I recently found that this series is finally available at Audible so I downloaded all of them (there are five now) and started listening to this book. It's amazing how much you pick up listening that you don't when you're reading. Even if you've read the book multiple times like I have. Such as, Gen telling a story that includes promises from the moon that aren't worth anything. In a later book, a character says something like, "don't give me your moon promises." I love that!!!!! And I never noticed the connection before.

*sigh* I love this series. *sigh* ...more

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Jul 18, 2009 TheBookSmugglers rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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It is safe to say that I spend most of my free time reading. I read three to four books every week, sometimes more. I am very careful with what I choose to read which means that most of the books I read, I end up enjoying at least to some degree. But it is rare, extremely rare, to read a book that falls in that category of Books for Life. You know the ones: those that take over your heart and your mind, that even when you are reading you know that you are experiencing something u ...more

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Aug 14, 2017 ✿Katherine Elizabeth✿ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: imaginative, average, 3-stars, owned, young-adult, fantasy

3.25/5

This one was really difficult for me to rate. But I've decided to finally give it 3.25 stars. Mainly because the strength of the writing and story went hot and cold so many times that I lost track. For example, the beginning of the novel was probably 4 stars, then somewhere around the middle it fell to 2 stars, and then moved back up to 3 stars. It was confusing and not steady. Regardless, the story was still decent - though not without its flaws.

Firstly, the mini-stories about Gods and th ...more

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Jul 23, 2017 Emma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya, historical-fantasy

Well written story and enjoyable in a meandering way. I enjoyed the mythology woven into the story. Gen was an engaging unreliable narrator.

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Apr 29, 2010 Felicia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I enjoyed this book a lot! Definitely young adult in tone, but immensely entertaining and the end was a fun twist. Recommended especially for teens.

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Aug 30, 2017 Zoha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2017

Well, now that was a pretty good read. Freaking loved it! Also I think I have spoiled myself a bit for the next books. I really hope this isn't the case. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF???!!!

I am thinking to ditch reviewing this and diving straight into the book2 because how can I not!!!
THIS WAS SO ADVENTUROUS! SO FUN!

description

AND I have heard that this book is nothing compared to the rest of the series!!! WOWOW

Mini Review
This book takes you from the plains of Sounis to the veldts of Eddis to mountains of ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 Kristen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-is-my-jam

2.5/5

The Skinny:
Gen, a young thief, has bragged for the last time. After telling the wrong people (AKA anyone he could) about his most recent theft, he is thrown in the King's prison. Thinking that is where he will remain, Gen is surprised when the King's scholar comes to fetch him. Unbeknownst to Gen, the magus wants him to steal something for him in return for his freedom. Thinking he has an easy way out, Gen quickly agrees. What he doesn't realize is that this task might be far more difficult ...more

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Aug 12, 2009 Steph Su rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, writing-learn, best-of-12, favorites-2

Every time I think of this series, I kick myself for not having started it when I was younger. Not exactly because I’d enjoy it more as a younger reader, but because I would have had more years to crush on Eugenides and the masterful storytelling that Megan Whalen Turner is capable of.

To be honest, in the beginning I wasn’t very impressed with THE THIEF. The story starts in prison, and Gen is sick and scrawny and cranky. Not quite the most endearing character at this point. Even when Gen, the ma Every time I think of this series, I kick myself for not having started it when I was younger. Not exactly because I’d enjoy it more as a younger reader, but because I would have had more years to crush on Eugenides and the masterful storytelling that Megan Whalen Turner is capable of.

To be honest, in the beginning I wasn’t very impressed with THE THIEF. The story starts in prison, and Gen is sick and scrawny and cranky. Not quite the most endearing character at this point. Even when Gen, the magus, the magus’ two apprentices, and their guard set off on their journey to steal Hamiathes’ Gift, I was less than pleased by Gen and the apprentices constantly ragging on each other.

But gradually, my vision expanded beyond Gen’s pettiness and immaturity and began to appreciate the, shall we say, “surroundings.” The majority of THE THIEF is a quest, and I can’t pinpoint when I began to fall in love with these quarrelsome characters, but fall in love I did. As their personalities became clearer to me, I was often forced to revise my previous judgments on their character and even like them—or, in some characters’ case, feel more suspicious of them. Turner draws heavily upon the setting and stories of Ancient Greece for her story, and I could imagine the rolling landscapes, the endless olive trees, and the sunshine as I read.

THE THIEF proves extraordinary in the last third or so, as Gen attempts to figure out how to steal Hamiathes’ Gift. I have heard that Megan Whalen Turner is a master of surprising plot twists, and was so delighted at what was revealed to me in the end. (Which I’ll not spoil for you, no way.) There are few things in books as exciting as a well-executed plot twist—but they also run the risk of being unbelievable. Thankfully, in retrospect, you realize that Turner sets up her revelations excellently, subtly yet memorably.

THE THIEF is a fantasy adventure that should appeal to readers both young and old. Rich with Mediterranean influences, stories-within-stories, and characters whose hair you really, really want to ruffle, it is no wonder that this book has withstood the test of time. I will be returning to you, Gen, when I need another dose of your cleverness and snark! ...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Vinaya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Vinaya by: Tatiana

Shelves: books-i-liked, ya-fantasy

I think this review may be SPOILER-ISH, so read on at your own peril.

First off, I HAVE to know... Was Gen's identity supposed to be a big secret? Because I knew exactly who he was about one-third into the book, about the time they reached Eddis. So if the whole thing was supposed to have been mysterious up until the end, when the grand revelation took place, I might have to drop a star, and pat myself on the back for my own cleverness. But since I really, really liked The Thief, I will give Mega I think this review may be SPOILER-ISH, so read on at your own peril.

First off, I HAVE to know... Was Gen's identity supposed to be a big secret? Because I knew exactly who he was about one-third into the book, about the time they reached Eddis. So if the whole thing was supposed to have been mysterious up until the end, when the grand revelation took place, I might have to drop a star, and pat myself on the back for my own cleverness. But since I really, really liked The Thief, I will give Megan Whalen Turner the benefit of the doubt and assume that she expected us to figure it out and be laughing up our sleeve at the magus and Sapphos. Because that is what I did.

The Thief is a book that is guaranteed to capture your imagination. I can imagine myself pressing this book on my sullen-faced teenaged kids twenty years from now, while they sneer at me for being so geeky. Of course, once they get caught up in the narrative, they will be too enthralled to care about their mom's lack of coolness. Oh, I love my imaginary children already!

I know how hard it is for women authors to write from the viewpoint of a male protagonist. So I respect Turner for creating a hero who is convincing and believable -- not too effeminate, not too angsty and definitely very likeable. I loved the fact that Gen was such a clever hero. He wasn't strutting around proclaiming his intellectual superiority, and his prowess at arms, and his alpha male personality. He was subtle, as a thief and a courtier ought to be. Turner was very subtle in the way she allowed facets of his personality to shine through, and that, I feel, is a very smart writing technique.

I loved the stories about Eugenides and Mother Earth and Father Sky, even though the mythology sounded very Aboriginal to me, but that was a nice counterpoint to the grecian setting of the rest of the book. The only point of the story where I stumbled a little was when the gods were guiding Gen, because I couldn't figure out why exactly they were bothering. The reasons for stealing Hamiathes' Gift felt singularly human to me, and no reason for the gods to get involved. But perhaps there are greater forces at work behind the scenes, and I will find out all about them as I go on to the second book.

All in all, this was a great book, and one that I would have no hesitation in recommending to anyone, so I have to thank my book goddess Tatiana for recommending the series to me. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next to books, so off I go to read 'em! ...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Marla Mei rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: surprisingly-good, witty-and-funny-characters, young-adult, favorite-heroes, fantasy, books-that-linger, first-in-series, writing-envy, this-is-perf-so-shut-up, wishlist

One of the reasons why I read The Thief is because I still haven't gotten over my new-found addiction for fantasy novels ever since I finished reading the Lumatere Chronicles. So while I was scrolling through GR and found a highly acclaimed fantasy book called the Queen of Attolia, I knew I had to read it. And then I found out it is the second book in a series. Just imagine how giddy I was when I found out about that. A series! More books! Yay!

Reading more reviews finally convinced me that this ...more

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Nov 10, 2008 Shaya rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Recommended to Shaya by: Rebecca

Shelves: fantasy, school-year-2008-2009

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

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About Megan Whalen Turner

Megan Whalen Turner is the author of short stories and novels for children, teenagers and adults. She has won the LA Times Book Award for Young Adult LIterature, a Boston Globe/ Horn Book Honor and a Newbery Honor. She won the Mythopoeic Award and was shortlisted twice for the Andre Norton Award.

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