Review: A Conspiracy of Kings - Megan Whalen Turner + guestblogging

A Conspiracy of Kings

Sophos, under the guidance of yet another tutor, practices his swordplay and strategizes escape scenarios should his father's villa come under attack. How would he save his mother? His sisters? Himself? Could he reach the horses in time? Where would he go? But nothing prepares him for the day armed men, silent as thieves, swarm the villa courtyard ready to kill, to capture, to kidnap. Sophos, the heir to the throne of Sounis, disappears without a trace. 

In Attolia, Eugenides, the new and unlikely king, has never stopped wondering what happened to Sophos. Nor has the Queen of Eddis. They send spies. They pay informants. They appeal to the gods. But as time goes by, it becomes less and less certain that they will ever see their friend alive again.  Across the small peninsula battles are fought, bribes are offered, and conspiracies are set in motion. Darkening the horizon, the Mede Empire threatens, always, from across the sea. And Sophos, anonymous and alone, bides his time. Sophos, drawing on his memories of Gen, Pol, the Magus and Eddis, sets out on an adventure that will change all of their lives forever.

My thoughts:

Sure I liked the book but I was also disappointed. Ok so book 3 was about someone else, but Gen was always there. While this one was about Sophos. The heir to Sounis who gen met in book 1. So it was not Gen's book at all, and yeah, not a fan of that fact. Might be the one I liked the least.

Anyway, Sophos is weak and likes poetry. Sophos is kidnapped, Sophos is a slave, Sophos matures. And then there is fighting. That is this book and every time we saw Gen, not much though, he felt like such a stranger. But the writing is still good and the book so too. And it makes me wonder that if she does write more books..who will have the POV in those books?

As it is now the book ends good and so..for now (there is always a for now). It could have been an end to the series. But who knows.

Conclusion:

Honestly I haven't got much to say. I missed Gen cos he is so fun and weird. But at least I got to see Sophos and Eddis trying to find each other again.

Cover:

Nice, but I'd like to see more

Series: The Queen's Thief
Genre: YA /fantasy
Pages: 336
Published: 2010 by Grenwillow Books
Source: library

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Come on over and say hi :) I am over at VVn32's and talking about how little I do read about France in the end. It's all things France over at her blog

Review: The King of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner

The King of Attolia

By scheming and theft, the Thief of Eddis has become King of Attolia. Eugenides wanted the queen, not the crown, but he finds himself trapped in a web of his own making.

Then he drags a naive young guard into the center of the political maelstrom. Poor Costis knows he is the victim of the king's caprice, but his contempt for Eugenides slowly turns to grudging respect. Though struggling against his fate, the newly crowned king is much more than he appears. Soon the corrupt Attolian court will learn that its subtle and dangerous intrigue is no match for Eugenides.

My thoughts:

This one was different. Costis was the main character so we never really got under Gen's and Attolia's skin. We never really how they felt. I'll take a step back...

Gen and Attolia are now married (and I still do not know how old he is, sure if I only remembered how old Eddis was I could count but do I know? Arghh, anyway, boyking gets his older bride ....edit: I found someone who had figured it out, so 17/18 at the beginning here). And Gen is not at ease at court. All this we see through Costi's eyes as he grows to like Gen. As people try to kill Gen, as Gen does nothing to make people like him. Poor Gen. The court was not nice to him. And I also kept wondering, does Attolia love him back? But we could not know. Oh the evilness of a POV switch, she sure knows how to keep the readers on our toes.

I liked it, as I wanted more, I wanted to know. I wanted to see Gen do well. And I still do not know how he still could love her...she, well if you are reading this then you might have read book 2, or well, you should know better since this is book 3 and I am obviously gonna mention some things. She cut off his hand when he was in her dungeons. Now that must be true love from his side. That crazy thief.

Conclusion: 

On to book 4 then.

Cover: Ok

Series: The Queen's Thief
Genre: YA / fantasy
Pages: 387
Published: 2006 by Grenwillow Books
Source: library

Review: The Queen of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner

The Queen of Attolia

When Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, stole Hamiathes's Gift, the Queen of Attolia lost more than a mythical relic. She lost face. Everyone knew that Eugenides had outwitted and escaped her. To restore her reputation and reassert her power, the Queen of Attolia will go to any length and accept any help that is offered, she will risk her country to execute the perfect revenge.

Eugenides can steal anything. And he taunts the Queen of Attolia, moving through her strongholds seemingly at will. So Attolia waits, secure in the knowledge that the Thief will slip, that he will haunt her palace one too many times. When Eugenides finds his small mountain country at war with Attolia, he must steal a man, he must steal a queen, he must steal peace. But his greatest triumph, and his greatest loss, comes in capturing something that the Queen of Attolia thought she had sacrificed long ago...

My thoughts:

At the moment I can't remember why something bothered me in book 1..did something bother me * checking review* Aha it was not knowing how old Gen was, well that does still bother me but not as much. But closer do the second half it did bother me again, I honestly want to know if he is a boy or a man? 13 or 18? What is he?

Anyway, I think I liked the book more than the last because it's something with the way she writes. A flow of words, a certain ease and way to it that makes it more than fiction. With the rich history, mythology and stories she tells.

I also learnt more about the state of affairs in the world and war is still coming. Not to mention the shocking beginning at the start of the book. She had me shaking my head in disbelief. The first half is darker but it gets lighter and it was heartbreaking.

Conclusion:

It made me wonder how book 3 will be and I hope to read it soon and see how Gen is doing and...hihi, no spoilers from me. But I am sure curious.

Cover:

Nice

Series: The Queen's Thief #2
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: 362
Published: 2006 by Eos (2000)

Review: The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner

"I can steal anything." 

After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task - to steal a hidden treasure from another land. 

To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

Series: The Queen's Thief #1, Genre: Fantasy/YA, Pages: 280, Published: 2005 (1996), Publisher: EOS, Source: Library

My thoughts:

I had been hearing a lot about this and I was so curious so I told..ok asked the library to get it, and they did. I do have a great library sometimes. Not when it comes to buying books, but when it comes to listening to their costumers and getting the books they ask for.

Anyway, YA fantasy. One thing bothered me though, not knowing how old people were. First I thought Gen was a little kid and now, well in his teens. But it still bugs me not knowing, I am just too curious. But then he is a mystery and it's meant to be like that. We meet Gen in prison, he says he is the best thief ever. He is good, i will give him that, but what made him be so foolish? We do learn later on. He is not afraid of anything or speaking his mind and I like the little thief.

Together with the Magus, and 2 boys/young men? they set out on a journey to steal something. Poor Gen, one would think they would treat him better. Still something grows. I can't dislike all of them. This whole book is about the journey and the theft and in between are stories they tell by the fire. And I loved those, learning about the mythology was wonderful and a real treat.

But the end, oh the end was the best. There the book surprised me and made me want the next one. It was well done and as the library has the 3 books that follow I will sure read those.

Conclusion:

Enjoyable with a great ending.

Cover:

It shows the stone so that is good

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My flash fic for this week

Dottie over at Tink's Place has come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge.  Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to  participate - you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.