Review: A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

Title: A Conspiracy of Kings [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Megan Whalen Turner [Website]
Standing: Book four in The Queen’s Thief series.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: March 23rd, 2010 by Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover; 336 pages
Source: Borrowed from my local library.
Spoilers!: This review contains some unavoidable spoilers for the first three books in the series (clicky for my reviews), The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia, so go read those first!

We do what we must, but we are not defined by our circumstances.

Sophos, last seen by us (and by Eddis and Eugenides) at the close of The Thief, has gone off the map.  Rumored to be dead in the midst of his country’s civil war, Sophos has managed to survive under the radar long enough to come into his inheritance, the throne of Sounis.  With his country torn by rebellion and facing overzealous influence from both the Continent and Medes, Sophos must find a way to secure his position and his kingdom.  Sophos seeks solace and friendship with another young ruler, The King of Attolia.

If Gen is the mysterious rogue we give our hearts to, Sophos is the brother we hold most dear.  He’s less temperamental, less schooled in concealing his emotions,  and far less sure of himself.  Where Eugenides has hidden himself through deception, it has been hard to see him change throughout the series.  Sure, he grew into a man, developed some most inconvenient emotions for the Queen of Attolia, and changed his rank (and two countries) immensely, but Gen remains, more-or-less, the same inkpot throwing, trouble brewing, fierce friend he always was.  Sophos, on the other hand, matures in many more ways.  Not only has he grown up a fair amount since the journey to find Hamiathes’s Gift, he must find it within himself to become both man and king in A Conspiracy of Kings without losing sight of who he is as a person.

Personally, I loved this book, which is the first in the series that doesn’t focus on Eugenides.  Yes, The King of Attolia was told largely from the perspective of Costis, but it was still about the King of Attolia.  A Conspiracy of Kings, on the other hand, stars Sophos, and gives us an opportunity to better know Eddis, see more of the kindness in Attolia, while of course incorporating Eugenides (and the gods) into the mix.  It goes without saying that I love Eugenides, and his relationship with both queens, but there is something more accessible about Sophos, who is not at all times working some deception.  Also, I’ll admit it, I love Eddis so much, I was very happy to have more of her.  Attolia is beautiful and strong, and completely right for Gen, but Eddis is my favorite of the two queens, and I was absolutely toothy with grins at her presence in this book.

In each of these books there has been a moment for me.  An exact moment I can pinpoint in which I fell head over heels for the book in my hands.  This is stunning for me, as that’s not how it usually happens.  Usually I’m a ‘let’s get to know each other over the course of the story and I will slowly fall for you’ kind of girl.  But with The Queen’s Thief series, it’s been ‘I like you so much, you could be my best friend’, and then something clicks into place, and I know it’s not friendship, it’s love.  This was most stark for me when reading The Thief, but after that, A Conspiracy of Kings follows close behind.  I can tell you the exact paragraph, the exact sentence, where I knew this was more than a ‘good’ book.  I don’t want to say less it ruin anything for those who haven’t read, but for those who have, I’m betting you know where I’m talking about.  

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by A Conspiracy of Kings. It was just the story I was hoping it would be, but I honestly hadn't expected to love it as much as I did after having adored the first three. I cannot possibly pick my favorite of these four books, as they are all so unique and different from one another despite their similarities. I suppose I'll have to suffice it to say they are similar enough to keep me coming back, but different enough to keep me wanting more.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  Not only will I be patiently waiting for the next installment in this wonderful series, I will more likely than not be rereading it before then.

Recommended for:  Again, anyone who enjoys reading...after four books I feel like a broken record.

Real life repercussions of reading this book:  Only that I cannot wait to reread this series again before the next book comes out.  I appreciate MWT so much for making each of her books a complete story.  I know where the next books can go, but at the same time it’s nice to be happy with what we already have.

Review: The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Title: The King of Attolia [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Megan Whalen Turner [Website]
Standing: 3rd in The Queen’s Thief series
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: January 1st, 2006 by Greenwillow Books
Format: Paperback; 387 pages.  
Source: Borrowed from my local library.
Spoilers!:  This review contains spoilers for the first two books, The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, so go read those first!

You can always change the perceptions of fools.

Eugenides, the former Thief of Eddis, has found himself in an uncomfortable situation as the reluctant new consort of Attolia.  Beyond nearly anyone’s comprehension, Eugenides didn’t marry the queen to become king, he became king to marry the queen.  Costis, a young guard, finds himself reluctantly dragged into the king’s circle, acting as the brunt of his ploys.  Grudgingly, his scorn for the new king turns to respect as Costis realizes that Eugenides has more to offer Attolia than it would appear.

A story that had matured in The Queen of Attolia has officially reached a point where I hesitate to say this series is really Young Adult any longer.  Not that it isn’t a perfect read for the intended age group, but it saddens me that so many adults probably overlook this series not realizing its depth and complexity despite the fact that at this point all of the characters are adults (yes, I realize this is the second time this week I've bemoaned labeling).  While many YA authors churn out books at the rate of one or more a year (and I am in no way degrading the work they put into them at this pace), Megan Whalen Turner takes around 5 years to write each installment.  This pace alone should be a tip off of the many layers of complexity and intrigue that exist in The Queen’s Thief series; if MWT takes five times longer to write her books, the result appears to be that I will be five times more satisfied and boggled when the pages run out.

The writing of The Queen’s Thief series is incredibly subtle, and I appreciate that MWT gives her readers the credit they deserve.  She doesn’t feel the need to explain everything, but lets you figure it out from the context, and she doesn’t use dialog unnecessarily.  Words aren’t needlessly repeated or wasted when actions or previous conversations can explain things.  You can divine the nature and strength of relationships from things so simple as the usage of names.  For example, the usage “Gen” vrs. “Eugenides” vrs. “Attolia” can exemplify the character’s relationship to Eugenides without us needing a lengthy explanation of their feelings toward one another.

I love the usage of folklore and mythology in these books.  Each book has at least one break where we get to learn a new tale of the gods or an old folktale.  The presence of the gods is really the only point of ‘fantasy’ in this series, but it’s enough.  The existence of the gods as not only real but immediate and powerful and interested in mortal lives is unique.  The stories we are told are always pertinent to the story, but come into play without hitting us over the head.

I realize this “review” has been more like “ramblings on The King of Attolia” but what’re you gonna do?  I love it.  I love the feeling you get when all of the pieces finally click into place and you can see the big picture.  MWT never hides the truth from her readers, but that doesn’t make the truth easy to see, and I cannot wait to go back and reread to see all of the breadcrumbs as they’re laid. When I began, I was heels-digging-in-the-ground stubborn about the point of view change to a character we had never even heard of. By the end, however, I could completely understand the reason for this and ended up loving this story told largely from a guard's perspective.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  Of course!  Although I have to admit I’m somewhat hesitant to start A Conspiracy of Kings because I know that once I finish it I’ll have a good few years to wait before the next installment. Still, I'm OCD enough to want these reviews consistent, so hopefully I'll have one ready by next Friday.

Recommended for:  Pretty much everyone.  This series is complex enough to keep adult minds reeling, but totally accessible to younger readers.

Real life repercussions of reading this book: I want a map! I'm certain I have Attolia and Eddis and Sounis so jumbled up in my head, I need this to sleep better at night.

Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: A.C. Gaughen [Website|Twitter]
Standing: Stand alone novel.
Genre: Young Adult, Retelling, Historical
Published: February 14th, 2012 by Walker Childrens
Format: Hardcover; 292 pages.
Source: Borrowed from my local library.
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge

We do what we do because there's something we can do about it. Things like 'how long' and 'what if' aren't part of that. It's about the hope, not the horror.

Scarlet, known to the people of Nottinghamshire as “Will”, but to her small band of outlaws as just Scarlet has spent the past two years as one of Robin Hood’s most trusted friends and partners in crime.  The band works tirelessly to make certain that the townspeople are fed, and have the money to pay the outrageously high taxes demanded by the sheriff.  They work the roads of Sherwood forest, trying hard to provide for the people that should have been under Robin’s care, but for some contrived treachery his father supposedly committed to crown and country.  When the sheriff hires a thief taker, Gisbourne, to capture and kill the Hood and his mates, Scarlet finds herself pushed into corners she’s been avoiding for years.  Suddenly, her trustworthiness and loyalty to the band is called into question as she strives to hide her past and stay a firm part of the band.  Each of these tasks becomes increasingly difficult as Gisbourne works to destroy them, and as Scarlet deals with the emotions of those around her.

So...let’s talk about this slight obsession I have with books that star girls masquerading as boys.  LOVE IT.  For some reason, this theme always grabs me.  I think one of the reasons for this is that it always guarantees you a strong woman balking against stereotypes--just the kind of girls I like to root for.  One of my favorite parts about Scarlet was the fact that her band knew she was a girl the whole time.  There wasn’t that whole ‘omg when is he going to realize she’s a woman and fall madly in love?’ pressure the whole book, because all of the characters that matter already know.  I mean, I love that moment (All Men of Genius, Leviathan), but it was refreshing to have a new play on this thing that I love so much.

I wasn’t sure going in how I was going to react to Scarlet.  I’d seen her described as ‘prickly’, ‘defensive’, and knew that a lot of people had a hard time bonding to her.  I am happy to say that while yes, these are completely accurate descriptions, I am in the camp of people who fell for and loved Scarlet immediately.  She’s quite moody, and withdraws into herself in an unhealthy way, but she’s also completely kick-butt with her knives, fiercely loyal, and completely dedicated to helping those in need.  Scarlet pushes her own emotions to the backburner so often, she herself doesn’t really even know how she feels about her bandmates John or Robin.  Or rather, she doesn’t let herself acknowledge her feelings.  Scarlet has so much hope for everyone else in her life, but so little for herself.  She’s so certain of her own eventual unhappy ending that she doesn’t dare risk the notion that she is worthy of anything more.  She’s entirely who she wants to be, and not at all who she’s supposed to be.  She’s faithful, dedicated, and willing to take the world’s troubles onto her back.  I found my heart wrenching for Scarlet for so much of this book, I adored her so.

And then there’s the men in her life--Robin Hood’s band of merry brothers.  In Scarlet, the band currently exists of only four ‘men’; Scarlet, Robin Hood, Little John, and Much.  A.C. Gaughen explained that she kept the band at this because Robin Hood was so young in her rendition.  Little John and Much were Robin’s “boys”, he’d grown up with them, and mysterious Scarlet was his dearest friend.  I liked Robin, he was haunted by his past in ways that let him understand Scarlet like no one else, and his need to protect the people of Nottinghamshire made him a true hero in my book.  He could be a bit of a prat, and was outright mean to Scarlet on occasion.  He’s so caught up in what he should feel and what those around him feel, that he fights against his own emotions in some rather annoying ways.  Also, I got really sick of hearing about his eyes.  Apparently, Robin Hood’s eyes are the most amazing things ever because I swear they’re mentioned in detail just about every time Scarlet looks at him.  

John provided a good counterpoint to Robin.  He obviously was crushing on Scarlet, and I love how completely oblivious she is to the whole thing.  I also wasn’t sure until the very end how John really felt about our heroine, if his feelings were genuine, or if he just thought them so.  He’s a good guy, but he certainly isn’t one to take a hint!  I actually liked John’s perseverance with Scarlet, even though we all knew he isn’t the man for her.  He’s confident in ways that Robin and Scarlet are not, but he also doesn’t really understand either of them with the depth that they are able to understand one another.  Honestly, I think my favorite of the men was Much, who we got to see the least of.  He was the most identifiable for the townspeople, and for me as well.  He was just a plain nice guy, who had everyone’s best interests at heart.  When Robin and John would get all mixed up in the head about Scarlet, Much was always there to step in and be a bastion of sanity and solace for her.

All in all, this wasn’t a completely character centered story, and that’s okay!  The action and adventure was worth the lack of character depth, and I’d also like to say that though not all of the characters complexities were highlighted, they were in no way shallow or lacking.  I loved that the plot was driven in an open and direct way.  From about 20 pages in we know the gist of what Scarlet is hiding from the band. But the devil is in the details, which get spread throughout the story like breadcrumbs, revealing more of her and her past to us slowly as time goes on.  I really appreciate this style; I sometimes get annoyed at the big ‘gasp’ moment of reveal that isn’t really a surprise at all.  That wasn’t how Scarlet was done!

Finally, I just have to say that I loved the way Scarlet ended (despite it lacking a certain scene...*ahem*!).  I love that it doesn’t just tie up everything all neatly; Scarlet has some loose ends, but in the best possible way.  This book is entirely about the power of hope, and the ending allows us to go on with the hope and knowledge that Scarlet, Robin, and the band will have many more adventures to come.  Fantastic!  I’m sure that Scarlet wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty perfect for me, and I highly recommend it to you.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more: Yes!  I loved this retelling so much, I want to give A.C. Gaughen a big ol’ hug.  She created a new and unique spin on a well-known and oft retold tale, that is totally legit!  I love the history and reasoning she included in her author’s note, and the fact that this book contained a primer for those of us wanting to read more Robin Hood?  LOVE IT.  Totally on board with this author.

Recommended for:  Fans of books like Tamora Pierce’s Allana, Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan (Scarlet reminded me quite a bit of Deryn at times--I think it’s the way they talk!), and Lev A.C. Rosen’s All Men of Genius.  Again, we’re talking strong female protagonists who are willing to go against society to be themselves and follow their dreams.

Get a second opinion:
Angieville
Book Harbinger
Paranormal Indulgence

Review: The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Title: The Queen of Attolia [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Megan Whalen Turner [Website]
Standing: Second book in the Queen’s Thief series.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: January 1st, 2000 by Eos
Format: Paperback; 362 pages.  
Source: Borrowed from my local library.
Spoilers!: This review contains some spoilers for The Thief, so go read that first.  Seriously.  Go read it.

The Queen of Attolia has been fuming, harboring a slowly building hatred for a thief who not only succeeded in stealing Hamiathe’s Gift from her lands, but has been taunting her within her own palace for months.  She knows he has been spying for his queen, he could pass unnoticed, but instead Eugenides chooses to leave her evidence informing of his presence.  Attolia has finally found a way to capture Eugenides, and when she does, he will be at her mercy.  Little does she consider the consequences of her judgement upon the thief...

I sometimes find it easier to write reviews for books that I hated, or just liked, than those that I’ve loved.  With those books that I fall absolutely head over heals for, I’m afraid that I could not possibly formulate words that would do my feelings about the book justice.  Hence, my reviews for this series may be somewhat shallow or short, but it’s not because I don’t have strong feelings for this books, it’s because I love them too much.

I really feel that I have grown up with Eugenides after reading the short story, Thief!, and the first in the series, The Thief.  Megan Whalen Turner has a unique talent for writing for the age of her characters perfectly, and it has been lovely to see the development of Eugenides as a 10 year old scallywag to a young man.  The Queen of Attolia is far more complex than The Thief in a way that enriches the story and draws one in even further than before.  While The Thief highlighted the mythology of the old gods, The Queen of Attolia focuses on the current political situation.  It is unfortunately rare that an author is able to convey the intricacies of complex politics without either info-dumping or causing intense boredom.  Turner does this beautifully, presenting the situation naturally.  I adore stories where you get to see all sides of a conflict, understand that there is no true ‘bad guy’, and see the strategic motivations of all involved.

Of course, the character of Eugenides, as well as the other characters in the cast, gain much more depth in this second book.  I love Eddis, she reminds me so much of Mercedes Lackey’s Selenay that I just want to hug her and be best friends forever.  Eugenides balks against all stereotypes of thieves created by other works--he doesn’t come from a broken home, he’s not riff-raff or street trash, he is nobility in his own right and holds a very respected position among his countrymen.  Unlike The Thief, which was told entirely from Eugenides’s point of view, The Queen of Attolia offers us an array of perspectives, including that of (surprise!) the Queen of Attolia, who must deal with the consequences of Eugenides’s capture and punishment while balancing the snakes lurking within her own court.

Alas, much like The Thief I am reticent to say too much about the story lest I give anything away, but I'm sure that at some point I will need to make a stand alone post meant specifically for those who have read the books!

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  Like anything could stop me.  I hear The King of Attolia is the best in the series, and I cannot wait.

Recommended for:  Um...everyone?  I think if I were going to buy this series for any one person, I’d give it to my childhood best friend, Raegan.  I know she’d love it.

Real life repercussions of reading this book: I love that MWT distinguishes between grins and smiles.  I had never thought about this subtlety before, but it’s certainly changed the way I view facial expressions!

Review: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Title: The Thief [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Megan Whalen Turner [Website]
Standing: First book in the Queen’s Thief series.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: January 1st, 1996 by Greenwillow Books
Format: Paperback; 280 pages.  
Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Challenge: Award Winning Reads Challenge.

If you want to keep something safe, I say hire a guard, at least until someone invents a better lock.  Or hide your treasure where no one will find it.  That’s what most people do.  Being able to find valuables in boxes hidden behind bed frames, being able to move through a building with no one the wiser, those are more important skills for a thief than opening locks.  Those and a good head for heights.  People don’t usually hide their emerald earrings in the cellar.

Gen has cultivated a reputation as a fantastic thief...and a fantastic idiot.  Having been thrown in the king’s prison for stealing a seal, and having the audacity to brag about it and show it off in public, Gen is fairly miserable, hungry, and sadly unable to escape.  He’s pulled from the dark by the magus, the king’s scholar, with a plan to put his skills into service of king and country.  Given the choice between cooperating and an astronomical price on his head, Gen decides it’s probably best to go along...

You guys!  I’ve been hearing about the Queen’s Thief books for ages now on the blogosphere, and they were on my list, but I wasn’t prompted to actually pick them up until Chachic of Chachic’s Book Nook hosted a lovely Queen’s Thief Week.  What I found when I did, I will love forever.  It is so rare for those of us who read so many books to be really truly surprised by anything.  I find I am constantly anticipating plots, and more often than not, I am correct, and even if I am not correct, I am not often surprised.   This didn’t happen with The Thief.  Not only did I have no idea how the story was going to end until I got there, I had no idea what was coming next from any individual turn, I could no more predict or see things coming than if I had never consumed a book before in my life.  Days later my head is still spinning and I am marveling--how did Megan Whalen Turner do it?!  

This is one of those books with immediate reread value.  I already want to go back through, knowing how things turn out, to see the crumbs that I inevitably stumbled blindly over along the way.  Part of me is so sad that I did not discover these books when I was younger, but part of me is so happy to just now being experiencing this story for the first time.  The world created by Megan Whalen Turner is full of beautiful myths of creation and the gods, and I could not be happier about her simultaneously writing from a male perspective set in a world where females are so strong, and not degraded or regulated to certain positions.  Additionally, instead of being set in a medieval world, as is so often in high fantasy, the world of The Thief came across more as that in The Three Musketeers, a transition between medieval and renaissance.  And that, my friends, is awesome.

I loved the characters involved, primarily because they were so well written and constructed.  Honestly while reading, I didn’t know how I felt about many of them, and this was great!  I wasn’t always sure Gen knew how he felt about the rest of the cast either, particularly the magus who is alternately despicable and generally well intentioned.  Also, can I just say that my heart was captured by Gen the second I learned that he hated horses?  I don’t hate horses, but neither does anyone else, especially not in fantasies set in time periods where horses are the prime means of transportation.  This one quality stood out so much to me, it made me smile at its uniqueness.  

I could go on to wax poetically for some time, but I refuse to talk about this book in any way that might ruin it for anyone who has yet to read it.  So I can only say, read it, and enjoy!

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  It is very rare that I will blow through a series.  Most often, I need to read at least 5 books in between.  This is one of those amazing exceptions.  I am ready to read the next installment this second!

Recommended for: This is one of those books that everyone and their mother will probably enjoy.  It transcends its genre, so that you don’t have to be a young adult or high fantasy fan to like it.

Real life repercussions of reading this book:  I believe I’ve just begun a lifelong love affair.

Shorts: Thief! by Megan Whalen Turner

This week Chachic, over at Chachic’s Book Nook, is having a Queen’s Thief week!  Now I’m sad to admit I was oblivious to this series until last year, but since surfacing on my radar I feel like it’s being recommended constantly.  There are currently four books in the series (with covers so gorgeous I may swoon): 

What better way to get my feet wet than with a short story?

Theif! by Megan Whalen Turner available here.

This short story (we’re talking a couple of pages people--now you have no excuse to not read it) tells the tale of a 10 year old Eugenides.  Gen, as he is called, was named after the God of Thieves, and is the grandson of the King’s Thief.  In the days of yore, the King’s Thief would gain the title by stealing a stone called Hamiathes Gift.  Long ago, however, the stone was lost, and the title became hereditary, passed down through generations.  Now, the title is considered largely honorary, but Gen is determined not only to gain the title, but to live up to it.  So I guess he ought to practice...

I am so intrigued in this story and its world after only such a short passage, I cannot wait to dive into the series!  A world in which a thief can be revered?  I mean, come on parents, why would you name your kid after the God of Thieves if you wanted him to grow up as anything else?  Even at 10, Gen has captured my heart as a good natured scallywag.  His brother, Stenides seems like the type you’d like to have around, and his cousins?  Potential future trouble with Phaedrus and Breia?  I hope so.

I'm currently digging further into this series myself, but if you'd like to learn more, or want to gush and enjoy the festivities (including some awesome readalike suggestions and a giveaway), make sure to check out Chachic's The Queen's Thief Week!