The Thief: An Unsuspecting Gem
SYNOPSIS
Eugenides, the queen’s thief, can steal anything—or so he says.
When his boasting lands him in prison and the king’s magus invites him on a quest to steal a legendary object, he’s in no position to refuse.
The magus thinks he has the right tool for the job, but Gen has plans of his own.
The Queen’s Thief novels have been praised by writers, critics, reviewers, and fans, and have been honored with glowing reviews, “best of” citations, and numerous awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, a Newbery Honor, the Andre Norton Award shortlist, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.
Discover and rediscover the stand-alone companions, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, and A Conspiracy of Kings, all epic novels set in the world of the Queen’s Thief.
Title: The Theif
Author: Megan Whalen Turner
Page Count: 280 pages
Genre: Fantasy // Young Adult
Rating: 5 stars
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of Harper Collins
Release Date: December 27, 2007
Buy It: Chapters Indigo // Book Depository
MILANA'S REVIEW
I am piecing together this review after having read The Queen of Attolia (TQOA). I had a feeling it would change the way I would have written this review had I not read the second book, so I wrote a pre TQOA review and I am so glad I did! Read on for a pre TQOA and post TQOA review of this book!
Pre TQOA
Every page of The Thief has an undertone of “something is going to happen, sit tight something is going to happen” and I stuck with it needing to know what that something was. I understand how some view this book as a slow start but it didn’t feel like that to me. Maybe it’s because I play dungeons and dragons because the entire book felt like I was travelling with my Lone Wolves through the forest. I found this book had a Percy Jackson feel to it, mind you this was written way before Percy Jackson.
A word on the main character Gen, I connected with him but at the same time felt distanced from him even though it was written in first person, what a strange way to do it Turner.
The twist at the end wasn’t so much a twist for me but it did not take away from the story at all. Definitely enjoyable and I’m excited to see where it goes from here!
Post TQOA
I have SO MANY FEELS. I can’t keep all the emotions inside me. Writing the review for The Thief after reading TQOA has me squirming and seeing the first book in a whole new light; so much depth, so much substance. At first glance The Thief seems very simple but after reading TQOA revisiting this one changes my view on it completely. If you grab The Thief you need to stick with this series for the long haul because it is SO worth it. I even want to change my rating of it from the original rating. Just thinking about it has me aching to re-read it so I can pick up on all the little things I didn’t notice without more character development that I got from TQOA. This has to be my favourite series of the year! Hands down!
Now I just need to convince Alex to read it because I really think he’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.. and I think I have found the way to do it! His favourite author (Lois McMaster Bujold) has read them and re-read them and has marked them 5 stars! I mean… now he HAS to read them am I right or am I right?
I’m throwing out a huge shoutout to Shae (@ShaelynCherie) for sending me a giant thread of reasons why I should read this book on twitter. If you need convincing she should be your one stop shop after listening to me yammer on.