Reviews

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

bookdevouringmisfit's review against another edition

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4.0

One of the reasons why I read The Thief is because I still haven't gotten over my new-found addiction for fantasy novels ever since I finished reading the Lumatere Chronicles. So while I was scrolling through GR and found a highly acclaimed fantasy book called the Queen of Attolia, I knew I had to read it. And then I found out it is the second book in a series. Just imagine how giddy I was when I found out about that. A series! More books! Yay!

Reading more reviews finally convinced me that this whole series was made for me. I then became more motivated to read The Thief already when I found out that there is a big twist that gets so many readers hyped up. I'm all about discovering the mystery and unleashing my inner Sherlock after all.

All the while I was thinking that this is gonna be soooo exciting! And it was very exciting indeed. It turned out to be so much more. Just one advice while reading this book? Just enjoy it. Don't spend your time picking up clues and expecting for the big twist to spring on you. That's exactly what I didn't do, so I guess that's why I ended up a little underwhelmed when the twist was revealed. Knowing in advance about the twist is a disadvantage because instead of focusing on the writing - which is superb, by the way - I spent too much time anticipating that twist.

Still, I'm giving The Thief four stars. With an excellent writing and completely likable narrator - who may also be a little devious but hey, he's funny and clever too - it definitely earn its keep. I was introduced to a new fantasy world, interesting characters and a fast-paced plot that kept me entertained all throughout.

lawryn's review against another edition

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5.0

LOVED this. It was a much needed story to get me out of my reading slump

suzumemizuno's review against another edition

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5.0

Había visto que la recomendaban este libro algunas veces, pero no mucho. Luego descubrí que Lois McMaster Bujold había comentado en Goodreads que era un libro magnífico, de los que cobran sentido al releer. Y releer. Y releer. Dado que doña Bujold es más bien parca con sus reseñas, su insistencia me llamó la tención y me arrojé a ver qué clase de libro había captado tanto su amor.

The Thief narra la historia de Gen en un formato de primera persona, dado que son memorias de sus aventuras. Este muchacho, menudo y con la lengua demasiado afilada para su propio bien, tuvo la fantástica idea de gritar en una taberna que podía robar cualquier cosa. ¡Hasta podía robar el sello del rey! Lo cual no es algo que deberías ir diciendo por ahí una y otra vez. Cuando comienza la novela, Gen ha dado con sus huesos en la cárcel más oscura del reino de Sounis y parece condenado a desaparecer en la ignominia. Pero entonces el mago (que aquí significa sabio) del rey y el propio monarca deciden sacarlo a cambio de que trabaje para ellos. ¿Y qué pueden querer de un ladrón? Que robe, por supuesto. El qué, no se dice, pero podría afectar a los tres grandes reinos que protagonizan el libro.

A partir de ahí, comienza el viaje junto al mago, dos nobles y un soldado. Doña Whalen Turner va presentando poquito a poco a cada personaje, desarrollándolos con escenas cotidianas del viaje. Y qué escenas cotidianas más deliciosas, de verdad. No hay grandes persecuciones hasta la última parte del libro, ni tampoco épicos enfrentamientos, ni visitan impresionantes ciudades. Tampoco hay una mega-trama de seres malignos enfrentándose a Gen y compañía en una desesperada carrera por obtener el misterioso objeto. Gen, en definitiva, no es un elegido. Es un chico agotado, que duerme y come para intentar recuperarse tras meses de encierro, y que disfruta del bucólico paseo por el que lo arrastran sus captores. No todo es agradable, desde luego. Gen no deja de ser un prisionero y sus guardianes desconfían de él. Por ejemplo, pelea como un gato para que no le bañen —prefiere hacerlo solo, pero no le van a dar el placer— y pierde miserablemente, y también se deja llevar por el orgullo con uno de los nobles… Lo cual se traduce en francos y feos problemas. Gen no está libre de abuso. El mago deja muy claro que piensa sacrificar su vida si es necesario en pos del objeto.

Y eso es lo que tenemos. Un viaje sorprendentemente tranquilo a lo desconocido, con intervalos para presentar pequeños relatos narrados por los personajes sobre los distintos dioses del mundo.

El resto de la reseña está en Libros y Mazmorras~

https://mazmorrasylibros.blogspot.com/2020/01/resena-thief-de-megan-whalen-turner.html

supersonik's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

kanyanko's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

it was fun but i figured out many of the twists early on. ive heard people say that it'll get better from this point onwards so im excited for the next book! 

kebreads's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed rereading this book. It has great characters and a cleverly written story.

Content: some violence, a dozen mild swear words

reena's review against another edition

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Just. couldn't get into it

reyreads's review against another edition

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3.0

very clever writing in a little book but it’s criminal how long it took to get exciting…felt like I was dragging through until the last quarter. For sure will be reading the rest of the series!

dpprichett's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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? No

5.0

mllejoyeuxnoel's review against another edition

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5.0

This book jumped from a four-star read to a five-star read within the final 30 pages. Surprises at every turn, and what an ending! And I absolutely loved this protagonist; I can't remember the last time I was so amused by and enamored with a character.