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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This was an interesting jaunt. I honestly enjoyed the first book for its clever sketching of Gen’s character, and the first person perspective aided this and made all the twists even all the better because how can a first person narrator hide what he’s thinking so cleverly?
This book was a bunch of perspectives, with busy and random action and hefty description. It felt very disjointed. I listened to it on audio and found myself tuning out a lot. A lot. It’s usually hard for my mind to wander when listening to an audiobook too so that was a little hint that this style of storytelling was not for me. I liked the characters themselves very much, but I feel like this is the kind of book I would enjoy more on a reread after reading the entire series… like everything takes a lot of build to fully come together, and I’m not sure I’m enjoying the first read’s pace enough to invest time into continuing. There’s too much depth here that takes a while to root and scrape out, and it reminds me of the kind of books I had to read for school (for better or worse). A thinking fantasy. Which… honestly, with limited time to read, I’m not really looking for this kind of book nowadays.
This book was a bunch of perspectives, with busy and random action and hefty description. It felt very disjointed. I listened to it on audio and found myself tuning out a lot. A lot. It’s usually hard for my mind to wander when listening to an audiobook too so that was a little hint that this style of storytelling was not for me. I liked the characters themselves very much, but I feel like this is the kind of book I would enjoy more on a reread after reading the entire series… like everything takes a lot of build to fully come together, and I’m not sure I’m enjoying the first read’s pace enough to invest time into continuing. There’s too much depth here that takes a while to root and scrape out, and it reminds me of the kind of books I had to read for school (for better or worse). A thinking fantasy. Which… honestly, with limited time to read, I’m not really looking for this kind of book nowadays.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm glad this series was recommended to me rather than something I stumbled across, or I would have doubted whether they were worth the read. I thought much of the beginning was repetitive and kind of boring, without a lot of action with characters I cared about, but then the twist?! And I wasn't sure at first whether or not I should believe it. I like that for all the surprises, it's not impossible to guess what's going to happen or to follow along; these books aren't trying to outsmart me. It makes me appreciate that they're so well constructed, and I really enjoy the characters.
Wow. I thought [b:The Thief|448873|The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1)|Megan Whalen Turner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298543325s/448873.jpg|1069505] was OK, but the second installment has made me a fan of Megan Whalen Turner. Perhaps this is partly because there's less myth-telling here, and the one that's narrated has made a deeper impression on me, but the most fascinating part of the novel was, for me, the intricacies of political intrigue. The three kingdoms - Sounis, Eddis, Attolia - have been maintaining stability through a delicate balance of power, and what happens to the Queen's Thief, Eugenides, upsets it thoroughly and makes the plot thrilling... in a surprisingly cerebral sense.
This was not an easy book to read. Sadly, I do think it may only appeal to a small group of (mostly) boys who enjoy reading about warfare, even though there's an appealing romance in the book too. The pacing takes some getting used to too, even if the twists and turns can be heartstopping. It takes Work to complete... But it is absolutely rewarding.
I Love the title of each book and can now see how they build upon previous books as well as the events of the current one. Can't wait to read [b:The King of Attolia|40159|The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #3)|Megan Whalen Turner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293505327s/40159.jpg|847545] (DO NOT click on that if you have not read this book, because the synopsis is itself a huge spoiler!).
I do recommend reading The Queen's Thief right after the first book, if possible, because one might forget the complex political relationships otherwise.
This was not an easy book to read. Sadly, I do think it may only appeal to a small group of (mostly) boys who enjoy reading about warfare, even though there's an appealing romance in the book too. The pacing takes some getting used to too, even if the twists and turns can be heartstopping. It takes Work to complete... But it is absolutely rewarding.
I Love the title of each book and can now see how they build upon previous books as well as the events of the current one. Can't wait to read [b:The King of Attolia|40159|The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #3)|Megan Whalen Turner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293505327s/40159.jpg|847545] (DO NOT click on that if you have not read this book, because the synopsis is itself a huge spoiler!).
I do recommend reading The Queen's Thief right after the first book, if possible, because one might forget the complex political relationships otherwise.
Fun for me to reread one of my favorite series.
First read Aug. 2011
First read Aug. 2011
FIRST READ: 4.5 ★
A continuation of the world set up by the first book in the series, The Thief, this book offers so much more political intrigue than the former. While The Thief gives you a tempting little taste of conniving masterminds all striving to shape circumstances to meet their own goals, The Queen of Attolia feasts you upon it. I found the opposing parties' cunning deeply satisfying. Heist after scheme, scheme after heist, I indulged on Turner's descriptions of craftily laid plans; she sets them up like delicate dominoes, each in their precise and required place to enact a chain reaction.
This installment expands more on the masterful world-building. The mythology and religion of the world only deepens as Turner delivers us more myths, inspired by Ancient Grecian stories but otherwise original, and more insight into the reasonings and actions of Gods. Not only that, the character-writing is amazing as well. Characters, especially the monarchs in this tale, are wonderfully complex. We get detailed looks into their past and really get to understand their motives and how they maintain power against all odds. They are intelligent, but human and flawed, and always have something important to them that they must protect. My only complaint is that a few interpersonal relationships lack advanced development, but given that the premise of this book is focused mainly on political struggle, I can easily overlook such peccadilloes.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail