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bigtiddygandalf's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
This installment of the series returns to a true adventurous spirit. Kamet is the slave and secretary to the former Mede ambassador embarrassed by the Queen of Attolia. After the pair flee the country and return home, it’s back to life as usual but his enslaver continues having bad luck and ends up poisoned, to the best of Kamet’s knowledge. This event leads to him joining up with an Attolian soldier sent to steal him away anyway. Kamet and Costis join forces to power across land and sea and learn the power of friendship along the way.
It should be obvious to anyone who has read the previous books that the soldier is Costis but Kamet only refers to him as “the Attolian” until the end. I like this because a large part of Kamet’s growth is learning that other cultures and peoples are not lesser just because they’re different. The intercut tales largely pertain to two friends helping each other out of scraps and being able to pick up slack for the other, which is a perfect parallel to Kamet and Costis becoming friends on their journey.
A large portion of the book deals with the brutal reality of slaves including the hierarchy within enslaved people, different jobs they’re expected to do, bounty catchers looking for escaped slaves and more. Kamet deals with some Stockholm Syndrome-y feelings about his former master and the duo are pursued multiple times. Readers sensitive to the topic of slavery should avoid this one.
It should be obvious to anyone who has read the previous books that the soldier is Costis but Kamet only refers to him as “the Attolian” until the end. I like this because a large part of Kamet’s growth is learning that other cultures and peoples are not lesser just because they’re different. The intercut tales largely pertain to two friends helping each other out of scraps and being able to pick up slack for the other, which is a perfect parallel to Kamet and Costis becoming friends on their journey.
A large portion of the book deals with the brutal reality of slaves including the hierarchy within enslaved people, different jobs they’re expected to do, bounty catchers looking for escaped slaves and more. Kamet deals with some Stockholm Syndrome-y feelings about his former master and the duo are pursued multiple times. Readers sensitive to the topic of slavery should avoid this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage
I’ve tagged miscarriage because near the end of the bookabbergator's review against another edition
5.0
Solid Conclusion
If you read the other four books in The Queen's Thief series, this book ties up some loose ends while being incredibly enjoyable.
If you read the other four books in The Queen's Thief series, this book ties up some loose ends while being incredibly enjoyable.
letta's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
cjroyg's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
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? No
4.25
mllejoyeuxnoel's review against another edition
4.0
Just as well-written and enjoyable as all the others. A fine buddy-cop kind of a plot! I give this as I did the previous installment four stars only because Eugenides is the most intriguing thing about this series; I absolutely adore him, and there wasn't nearly enough of him in this book. If Eugenides were a radio station, he'd be the number one programmed slot in my car. ALL EUGENIDES ALL THE TIME!
jedbird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed the perspective of Kamet, the slave of the Mede ambassador Nahuseresh. Believing Nahuseresh murdered, and very confident he will be killed as a routine part of the murder investigation, Kamet runs away and meets up with an Attolian guard and forms an alliance. This is a great friendship story, and a great story about Kamet daring to want things for himself.
katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
Man, she really kept us guessing with this one. We were 80% sure (and ended up being right) that we knew who the POV character was from earlier books. Similarly sure about what was probably the biggest twist, . But we were paranoid and waited for other reveals that never came, while another medium sized reveal snuck right past us. But the journey was fun regardless.
Although I will say that this author/world has weird perspectives on slavery that I found distracting (the Medes as a country are terrible, and one of the ways we know that is how their empire relies on slavery and how they treat their slaves, and our POV character finds all that strange. Meanwhile, the countries our heroes are from also have horribly treated slaves, etc.) .
Spoiler
that Nahusaresh wasn't actually deadAlthough I will say that this author/world has weird perspectives on slavery that I found distracting (the Medes as a country are terrible, and one of the ways we know that is how their empire relies on slavery and how they treat their slaves, and our POV character finds all that strange. Meanwhile, the countries our heroes are from also have horribly treated slaves, etc.) .
allyordyna's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
smartinez9's review against another edition
4.0
I mean, I wanted Kamet and the Attolian to end up together, but I still marvel at the brilliance that is Megan Whalen Turner and all the ways that Eugenides will covertly fuck you over for your own good.