The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy
Publishing year: 2000
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: The Queen's Thief #2
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:
When his small mountainous country goes to war with the powerful nation of Attolia, Eugenides the thief is faced with his greatest challenge. He must steal a man, he must steal a queen, and he must steal peace. But his greatest triumph-as well as his greatest loss-can only come if he succeeds in capturing something the Queen of Attolia may have sacrificed long ago.

Review:
Most reviews of this book are favorable and I do enjoy it as well, just look at the rating. But almost everyone seems to have chosen this book as their favorite in the series. I disagree. The first book, The Thief, had more action and the next book, The King of Attolia has more romance. I like this novel, it just isn't the highest ranking in the series for me.

 Anyway what I like most about this book is the witty dialogue between Gen and Irene, they're always snapping at each other and the best part about this book is that it doesn't have insta-love.

"She was very pretty." After a pause he added, "And very kind." Page 316.

"You have any mistresses and I'll cut your other hand off." Page 316.

I just love how Gen isn't fixated on the loss of his hand. Sure he misses it and it causes him annoyance but it doesn't stop him from falling for Attolia and he honestly doesn't seem to hold a grudge against her. In fact it seems that she is more bothered by it than he is. Interesting development. The changes we see in Attolia from her brief appearance in The Thief  to the ending of this book are drastic. She seems completely capable of love and even forgiveness.

Favorite scene is when Attolia is sending a messenger back to Eddis and since her enemy the Mede is present she has to layer the message to have a double meaning.I found her word play clever and sweet.

"What remains of his life, he spends with me, so you understand messenger?" Page 285.

I bet no one else has ever accepted a marriage proposal with those words. That she played the Mede for a fool only adds to my delight. Unlike The Thief, this book is written in third person and we see several scenes in the point of view of the Mede. Just as he thought she was playing into his hands, he was playing into hers. Hard not to love a book like this one, although I promise The King of Attolia is better.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy
Publishing year: 1996
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: The Queen's Thief #1
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:
Because of his bragging-and his great skill-Gen lands in the King's prison, shackled to the wall of his cell. After months of isolation, he is released by none other than the King's scholar, the Magus, who believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. The thief he needs for the long, dangerous journey is Gen. To the Magus, Gen is just a took. But Gen has some ideas of his own.

Review:
The second time I have read this book in less than a year and it still remains a resounding masterpiece in my mind. For once I am glad to read a book written in first person, it adds to the story in such a way that third person could never accomplish. Gen is able to surprise us over and over again because he is the only voice telling the story. He doesn't narrate every moment of every scene and leaves out minute details. However he leaves clues that get our brains whirling. He has a bump in his hair? The long hair he uses to hide objects he has stolen? We didn't read about him stealing anything did we? Oh yes, we did, Gen just didn't tell us, he showed us.

I thought Turner told this story in a brilliant fashion and I absolutely adore the world she set it in. So many resemblances to Greece and Greek mythology, I felt right at home. Of course having the gods become more than just mythological figures was a nice twist that unsettled me for a moment. It reminds me of the Percy Jackson series in a way.

One minor annoyance was the use of guns. In the setting and time period I envisioned there were no guns and I found myself having to adapt to their sudden appearance.

Without a doubt Eugenides is my favorite character. He is completely self-assured and confident of his abilities. But he has his flaws like all great characters do, from his swearing to his sulking he reminds us all that he is indeed human.

There are four books in this series, and I have read them all. But I plan to reread each so that I can review them here, so it shouldn't surprise anyone when my next review is of The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner.