Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

“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 greatest loss—comes in capturing something the Queen of Attolia thought she had sacrificed long ago…”

Like the first book, this one was a bit slow moving for me. I enjoyed the story, and once I got around half way I didn’t want to stop reading. Eugenides is a great character! He is a cunning thief, has complex emotions with a lot of unknown motives. He is fiercely loyal, and is brilliant in his schemes. His portrayal in this book was great, he suffers greatly at the beginning and he neither overcame his difficulties too quickly, nor did he wallow in self-pity, at least not too much. I’m torn between Queen Attolia and Queen Eddis. Although Attolia comes across as cruel, the more we learn of her the more you grow to care for her and I felt sorry for her.

The “Gods” created in this book are great, and I love the mythology throughout the book. It adds another layer to the story and really brings the story to life. Things were wrapped up nicely in this book and wonder what will happen in The King of Attolia. I think the series would make a great movie, has one been made?

Book One: The Thief

Book Two: Queen of Attolia

Book Three: King of Attolia