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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
This was an amazing conclusion to an incredible series. The narrator definitely threw me for a loop at the beginning, but after a bit of time I was fully invested in Pheris and his very unique perspective. I loved that we got to spend so much time with our full cast of kings and queens and all their loved ones, certainly more than we ever have before. Really, I just love these characters and the world, and most importantly, the relationships that make these stories work. These are written so beautifully and I will continue to recommend this series forever! I am definitely sad to be done though!
Conclusion of the story of Euginedes, the Thief of Eddis, & High King of Attolia, Eddis, & Sounds. Told from the view of Pheris Erondites, the disabled grandson of the awful Baron Erondites.
The Mede are coming and the politics are awful. People are cruel the seeking power. It's come to ta head and this is the moment when either Euginedes becomes the King or the Thief.
So Good.
p.129. "They were born beautiful and mistake being beautiful for being good."
p215. "There was a hiccup in the baron's righteousness, just a flicker, a hand twitching in protest."
p.432. "Your Son, she said as she stepped back, ceremony creeping in again, as if there were any ritual that could further enrich that first moment a moan holds his child."
The Mede are coming and the politics are awful. People are cruel the seeking power. It's come to ta head and this is the moment when either Euginedes becomes the King or the Thief.
So Good.
p.129. "They were born beautiful and mistake being beautiful for being good."
p215. "There was a hiccup in the baron's righteousness, just a flicker, a hand twitching in protest."
p.432. "Your Son, she said as she stepped back, ceremony creeping in again, as if there were any ritual that could further enrich that first moment a moan holds his child."
My review: http://shanellesorensen.com/return-of-the-thief-by-megan-whalen-turner/
More a rating for the series itself than the Return of the Thief because the book exists mainly to tie its preceding stories together into the messy and satisfactory end. A court intrigue and war story that would take most other fantasy authors 700 pages or more to address is abridged for a YA audience with the new narrator, Pheris, but you can see Turner having to stretch the accounts in order to show all her cards for a satisfying reveal. The twists and sleight of hands were not as strong as the predecessors, but the stakes were never more treacherous. Mostly, I am happy for the ending given my favorite rulers who can exist happily in this rich world developed with care and detail, worth a reread along with the whole series.
The first half was really good. The second half just seemed like a bunch of random happenings strung together without a solid point. I also question why Pheris was the narrator. BUT, I’m always grateful for another book in this series.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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
This was a satisfying ending to the story, but I was disappointed to find content in this last book that leaves me unable to recommend the series as a whole.
CC: a handful of swear words, LGBTQ content, violence, harsh treatment of children born disabled
CC: a handful of swear words, LGBTQ content, violence, harsh treatment of children born disabled
5 stars!
Eugenides has tentatively united Sounis, Eddis, and Attolia as the high king, just in time for the Medes to attack. Through the eyes of Pheris, oldest grandson of the Baron Erondites and political enemy to the king, plans are made, lies are told, battles are fought, and of course, Gen steals a thing or two—including our hearts, all over again.
cw: ableism, child abuse, death and all the other gory stuff that comes with war, murder in a non-war context
This was worth the wait. I was so worried that it wouldn't be, but Megan Whalen Turner absolutely came through. I feel like if you've gotten this far into the series, you really don't need me to convince you to read this book. It's enough that MWT has written it. But if, like me, you were less enthusiastic about CoK and TaT, let me reassure you that this book takes us back to the QoA and KoA glory days. Okay, here is my attempt to review this book with no spoilers, or at least none that you would reasonably infer from past books or the back of the book.
This book is split into two parts, Book of Pheris I and Book of Pheris II. First, Pheris is the new (first-person) narrator who gets to fall in love with Gen this time around. In turn, we as readers fall in love with Pheris—it will happen—even though he doesn't start off as the most likable character. [spoiler goes more in-depth on Pheris]
Book I contains all the good verbal sparring and high-level jokes that we love to get from MWT. It also focuses on the nuances of many relationships and once again demonstrates that Gen will not be out-manipulated. I saw some reviews that said Book I was boring, but I didn't think so at all. Sure, there wasn't that much happening action-wise, but I was gobbling every small interaction up. If you're a fan of typical MWT ambiguity and Gen and Irene's romance, you'll really enjoy this section!
Book II is about the war, which I'm sure we all saw coming. There's a lot of action in this part, and it is tight-packed. I missed the lightheartedness from Book I, but I also understand the need to wrap up the series plot-wise. A lot of what is in front of our faces is the war, but there's other stuff going on in the background that Gen has to deal with.
This was such a satisfying conclusion that somehow also makes me itch to reread the series again. There were so many good quotes, and I know I would buy a book of life advice and/or wise sayings written by MWT. Anyway, long story short, please go and read this book if you haven't already.
Side note: I so want this to be made into a (good, true-to-the-book!) movie by Disney (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-picks-up-megan-whalen-turner-ya-fantasy-the-thief-exclusive) so more people can get into the series and I won't seem like an obsessed fan recommending it to all my friends. But also, I think I'll be a little sad when/if this reaches the masses. The current fandom is small but unwavering, and so very wholesome.
Eugenides has tentatively united Sounis, Eddis, and Attolia as the high king, just in time for the Medes to attack. Through the eyes of Pheris, oldest grandson of the Baron Erondites and political enemy to the king, plans are made, lies are told, battles are fought, and of course, Gen steals a thing or two—including our hearts, all over again.
cw: ableism, child abuse, death and all the other gory stuff that comes with war, murder in a non-war context
This was worth the wait. I was so worried that it wouldn't be, but Megan Whalen Turner absolutely came through. I feel like if you've gotten this far into the series, you really don't need me to convince you to read this book. It's enough that MWT has written it. But if, like me, you were less enthusiastic about CoK and TaT, let me reassure you that this book takes us back to the QoA and KoA glory days. Okay, here is my attempt to review this book with no spoilers, or at least none that you would reasonably infer from past books or the back of the book.
This book is split into two parts, Book of Pheris I and Book of Pheris II. First, Pheris is the new (first-person) narrator who gets to fall in love with Gen this time around. In turn, we as readers fall in love with Pheris—it will happen—even though he doesn't start off as the most likable character. [spoiler goes more in-depth on Pheris]
Spoiler
Pheris is like Gen in many ways, we soon learn. Unlike Costis, whose loyalty and goodness win us over, it is Pheris's intelligence—perhaps reminiscent of a young Gen—that makes us warm to him. Also I love that Pheris is a mathematician at heart.Book I contains all the good verbal sparring and high-level jokes that we love to get from MWT. It also focuses on the nuances of many relationships and once again demonstrates that Gen will not be out-manipulated. I saw some reviews that said Book I was boring, but I didn't think so at all. Sure, there wasn't that much happening action-wise, but I was gobbling every small interaction up. If you're a fan of typical MWT ambiguity and Gen and Irene's romance, you'll really enjoy this section!
Book II is about the war, which I'm sure we all saw coming. There's a lot of action in this part, and it is tight-packed. I missed the lightheartedness from Book I, but I also understand the need to wrap up the series plot-wise. A lot of what is in front of our faces is the war, but there's other stuff going on in the background that Gen has to deal with.
Spoiler
Return of the Thief, indeed. Not just because Gen is back in the center of it all, but because he reverts to the Thief instead of the King. And apparently the Thief is quite dark and dangerous.This was such a satisfying conclusion that somehow also makes me itch to reread the series again. There were so many good quotes, and I know I would buy a book of life advice and/or wise sayings written by MWT. Anyway, long story short, please go and read this book if you haven't already.
Side note: I so want this to be made into a (good, true-to-the-book!) movie by Disney (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-picks-up-megan-whalen-turner-ya-fantasy-the-thief-exclusive) so more people can get into the series and I won't seem like an obsessed fan recommending it to all my friends. But also, I think I'll be a little sad when/if this reaches the masses. The current fandom is small but unwavering, and so very wholesome.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
adventurous
reflective
relaxing
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