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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
The best thing about this series?
Not the characters, plot, setting, or the writing - it's the covers!
Not the characters, plot, setting, or the writing - it's the covers!
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
This is the sixth and concluding book in the fantasy series that begins with "The Thief." I love this book, as I love the series. I love the voice in which the books are narrated. I love the way the imaginary world is evoked. I love the sparing but piercing use of fantasy elements. I love the clever, elegant way the stories are told. I love their attention to those overlooked or underappreciated. I love the weight they give to kindness. I love how they offer the type of truth that fiction does at its best: not an easy truth, but one more perfect than reality achieves. Most of all, I am attached to the characters.
I note that the series appears to be marketed as young adult, but I think its appeal is very broad. Or that it ought to be--it upsets me that these books are not as widely read as Harry Potter, which likewise reached both children, teenagers, and adults. I far (far) prefer the Thief books. N.B. If you are new to them, I recommend reading all six in order, trying to avoid spoilers before you begin.
Avoiding detailed plot spoilers, I will say that this book is narrated by a new main character, but contains, in smaller or larger roles, many of the characters I had come to love in the earlier books, the thief himself included. It's not quite a perfect book. Sometimes the sweep of events is detached from the narrator's own involvement, and sometimes that then results in a loss of intensity. It's not quite a perfect book, but I suspect that it will be the closest I come to reading a perfect book this year. Very highly recommended.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I note that the series appears to be marketed as young adult, but I think its appeal is very broad. Or that it ought to be--it upsets me that these books are not as widely read as Harry Potter, which likewise reached both children, teenagers, and adults. I far (far) prefer the Thief books. N.B. If you are new to them, I recommend reading all six in order, trying to avoid spoilers before you begin.
Avoiding detailed plot spoilers, I will say that this book is narrated by a new main character, but contains, in smaller or larger roles, many of the characters I had come to love in the earlier books, the thief himself included. It's not quite a perfect book. Sometimes the sweep of events is detached from the narrator's own involvement, and sometimes that then results in a loss of intensity. It's not quite a perfect book, but I suspect that it will be the closest I come to reading a perfect book this year. Very highly recommended.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a perfect way to end the series. There are so many books where the last one in the series doesn't quite hit but this was wonderful - I adored it.
Beautiful storytelling, Megan has such a way of writing and there are so many small details that mean something but are often not caught or make more sense later. Also I do acknowledge that the 5 star has a lot to do with the fact this is the culmination of a series where I have become invested in the characters so this book really hit my heart. It made me laugh and cry and I really enjoyed the whole ride.
The only tiny wish I could have had was I wanted more of Sophos and Costis but considering I think I can let that go.
Beautiful storytelling, Megan has such a way of writing and there are so many small details that mean something but are often not caught or make more sense later. Also I do acknowledge that the 5 star has a lot to do with the fact this is the culmination of a series where I have become invested in the characters so this book really hit my heart. It made me laugh and cry and I really enjoyed the whole ride.
The only tiny wish I could have had was I wanted more of Sophos and Costis but considering I think I can let that go.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
A slow start but the later parts made up for it. As always, I feel like I missed a lot on the first read and I need to immediately reread, probably on audio so I can savour it, and dive into the fandom so I can have the things that go over my head explained to me. Pheris is not my favourite narrator and I'm not sure why? He just didn't get me emotionally the way Gen, Irene and Costis did. My instinct is to say that I would have liked to have the conclusion of the series from a different narrator, but I can't think who would have been a good choice. My first instinct is to say Gen, my darling, but Gen often works better from an outside perspective, even as the outside perspective frustrates me. Definitely a satisfying conclusion to the series, though I would have liked more Sophos and Costis and less Pheris. It's ahead of Thick as Thieves and probably A Conspiracy of Kings for me - we'll see if it creeps up the rankings towards King of Attolia on reread.
Also, the Minister of War has a name! Hurrah! Sorry you had to die for us to find it out Hector, you were the coolest until the very end.
Also, the Minister of War has a name! Hurrah! Sorry you had to die for us to find it out Hector, you were the coolest until the very end.
What a wild ride! It took me a while to listen to this one not because I wasn’t enjoying myself but I think because I wasn’t quite ready to let go of these characters. Re-reading and catching up with this series this year, finally reading the last two books….what a fantastic storyteller Ms Turner truly is! And a wonderful ending which just made me all warm and fuzzy inside. Truly excellent storytelling all the way around. Adventure! Romance! (Of sorts) And Eugenides himself. What more could a happy reader ask for?