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Nothing is overdone and not a word is out of place in this auspicious debut," wrote Kirkus in a starred review of Instead of Three Wishes, the first book by Megan Whalen Turner. Her second book more than fulfills that promise.
The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the theif's abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.
Megan Whalen Turner weaves Gen's stories and Gen's story together with style and verve in a novel that is filled with intrigue, adventure, and surprise.
Gen flaunts his ingenuity as a thief and relishes the adventure which takes him to a remote temple of the gods where he will attempt to steal a precious stone.
The Thief
I Didn't Know How Long I had been in the king's prison. The days were all the same, except that as each one passed, I was dirtier than before. Every morning the light in the cell changed from the wavering orange of the lamp in the sconce outside my door to the dim but even glow of the sun falling into the prison's central courtyard. In the evening, as the sunlight faded, I reassured myself that I was one day closer to getting out. To pass time, I concentrated on pleasant memories, laying them out in order and examining them carefully. I reviewed over and over the plans that had seemed so straightforward before I arrived in jail, and I swore to myself and every god I knew that if I got out alive, I would never never never take any risks that were so abysmally stupid again.
I was thinner than I had been when I was first arrested. The large iron ring around my waist had grown loose, but not loose enough to fit over the bones of my hips. Few prisoners wore chains in their cells, only those that the king particularly disliked: counts or dukes or the minister of the exchequer when he told the king there wasn't any more money to spend. I was certainly none of those things, but I suppose it's safe to say that the king disliked me. Even if he didn't remember my name or whether I was as common as dirt, he didn't want me slipping away. So I had chains on my ankles as well as the iron belt around my waist and an entirely useless set of chains locked around my wrists. At first I pulled the cuffs off my wrists, but since I sometimes had to force them back on quickly, my wrists started to be rubbed raw.After a while it was less painful just to leave the manacles on. To take my mind off my daydreams, I practiced moving around the cell without clanking.
I had enough chain to allow me to pace in an arc from a front corner of the cell out to the center of the room and back to the rear comer. My bed was there at the back, a bench made of stone with a thin bag of sawdust on top. Beside it was the chamber pot. There was nothing else in the cell except myself and the chain and, twice a day, food.
The cell door was a gate of bars. The guards looked in at me as they passed on their rounds, a tribute to my reputation. As part of my plans for greatness, I had bragged without shame about my skills in every wine store in the city. I had wanted everyone to know that I was the finest thief since mortal men were made, and I must have come close to accomplishing the goal. Huge crowds had gathered for my trial. Most of the guards in the prison had turned out to see me after my arrest, and I was endlessly chained to my bed when other prisoners were sometimes allowed the freedom and sunshine of the prison's courtyard.
There was one guard who always seemed to catch me with my head in my hands, and he always laughed.
"What?" he would say. "Haven't you escaped yet?"
Every time he laughed, I spat insults at him. It was not politic, but as always, I couldn't keep an insult in when it wanted to come out. Whatever I said, the guard laughed more.
I ached with cold. It had been early in the spring when I'd been arrested and dragged out of the Shade Oak Wineshop. Outside the prison walls the summer's heat must have dried out the city and driven everyone indoors for afternoon naps, but the prison cells got no direct sun, and they were as damp and cold as when I had first arrived. I spent hours dreaming of the sunshine, the way it soaked into the city walls and made the yellow stones hot to lean on hours after the day had ended, the way it dried out water spills and the rare libations to the gods still occasionally poured into the dust outside the wineshops.
Sometimes I moved as far as my chains would let me and looked through the bars of my cell door and across the deep gallery that shaded the prison cells at the sunlight falling into the courtyard. The prison was two stories of cells stacked one on top of the other; I was in the upper level. Each cell opened onto the gallery, and the gallery was separated from the courtyard by stone pillars. There were no windows in the outside walls, which were three or four feet thick, built of massive stones that ten men together couldn't have shifted. Legends said that the old gods had stacked them together in a day.
The prison was visible from almost anywhere in the city because the city was built on a hill and the prison was at the summit. The only other building there was the king's home, his megaron. There had also been a temple to the old gods once, but it had been destroyed, and the basilica to the new gods was built farther down the hill. Once the king's home had been a true megaron, one room, with a throne and a hearth, and the prison had been the agora, where citizens met and merchants hawked their jumble. The individual cells had been stalls of clothes or wine or candles or jewelry imported from the islands. Prominent citizens used to stand on the stone blocks in the courtyard to make speeches.
Then the invaders had come with their longboats and their own ideas of commerce; they did their trading in open markets next to their ships. They had taken over the king's megaron for their governor and used the solid stone building of the agora as a prison. Prominent citizens ended up chained to the blocks, instead of standing on them.
The Thief. Copyright (c) by Megan Turner . Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.This book has been sitting on my shelf for several (we won't go into how many exactly) years. I even *gasp* had both sequels sitting on the shelf next to it. And in the interest of full disclosure, I even started THE THIEF a couple of years ago, got 25 pages in, and stopped. For reasons I no longer recall. The fault, whatever it was, was clearly mine because this book is the beginning of something truly special. I completely understand why it won the Newbery Honor and am very glad it did.
Gen is a thief, and a rather boastful one at that. Claiming he can steal anything, Gen succeeds in making off with the King of Sounis' seal only to brag about it to the wrong man and get himself thrown in the King's prison indefinitely. Along comes the Magus, the King's senior advisor, who pulls Gen out of prison and sets him an impossible task. Journey to a hidden temple, steal a mythical artifact, and turn it over to the King. On pain of death. A long, slow, excruciating death. Not being a fool, Gen agrees to the terms and sets out on the journey accompanied by the Magus, his two apprentices Sophos and Ambiades (or as Gen likes to refer to them: Useless the Younger and Useless the Elder), and the inimical soldier Pol.
And thus begins the adventure. Set in a world that is not quite ancient Greece but looks very much like it, it is a story that builds up slowly, but surely and I won't say that I didn't wonder once or twice if it was ever going to get where it was going. But hindsight is 20/20 and I can see now just how methodically and craftily Megan Whalen Turner leads you down the primrose path into thinking it's a simple story about a simple thief. It's remarkable, really. Because the whole thing does build up into one humdinger of a climax and by the time you realize what's happened there's nothing left to do but doff you hat to the irrepressible Gen for he completely wins the day and the reader as well. Nothing in this story is what it seems and that is possibly Turner's greatest strength. She (and her Thief) have the ability to take on any guise and pull off any ruse in order to achieve the desired result. In this case, it was my unadulterated adoration and I gave it up without even a hint of regret. THE THIEF, for the two of you who haven't yet fallen victim to this wonderful series, is the first of three books in the Queen's Thief series. Word is Ms. Turner is at work on the fourth as we speak. Thank the gods.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 3, 2012
So I had to do a book report on a newbery award or honour book and i chose this one... i absolutely loved it and deffinately will read the next ones in the series <3
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I'm re-reading the first three books because the fourth, A Conspiracy of Kings, has been released this summer and I enjoyed them so much the first time that I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any of the details before I read the newest installment.
The Thief is the first book in the series and introduces one of my all time favorite characters, Gen. Gen is a boastful thief, who lands in prison because of his well publicized reputation that he can, indeed, steal anything. When the King's magus arrives with a proposal for Gen to steal a famous religious object belonging to a rival country, Gen has very little choice and joins the magus and his two apprentices on a journey through a landscape filled with dangerous obstacles.
What I love about The Thief is that it's told from Gen's point of view and well being a thief, he can't always be entirely trustworthy, now can he? Or perhaps he is just that -- trustworthy, loyal and predictable. You can never be sure. Not even when the last page is turned.
The world that Megan creates is so detailed and dense that you want to keep unraveling its many layers of politics and intrigue. The mythology is presented with a nod to ancient religions and one that makes you think about your own current belief system as well as those of others around you. This is one of those books that you will not be able to put down and when you finally do, it'll leave you thinking, interpreting and wondering about what you just read.
Given the synopsis and general fantasy plot, you'll wonder if he's that Hot Boy with a Sword I adore reading and I'll tell you that Gen hates sword-fighting and tries to avoid killing anyone. That statement alone will hint at the luxurious details and tasty little plot twists that will surprise and delight you as you journey along with Gen.
I encourage you to pick up this series and join me in reading it this summer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 7, 2000
I liked the plot of the book, it was charming and entertaining. It had my attention from the beginning and i didn't think it would be very good.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 31, 2011
I love O. Henry for his fabulous plot twists. Megan Whalen Turner produces some great ones too throughout her Thief series. Some have said that the book starts out slow but if you hang in there it is WELL worth the experience. Do NOT read when you need to sleep at night my mom, my sister and I all stayed up to finish it! This book is beautifully written and wonderfully orchestrated.
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Posted October 26, 2011
A great and exciting story
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.132169
Posted August 23, 2011
This book starts out very slow but by about page 90 or so it becomes engrossing. It pays off big time in the end. Contained an awful lot of d and gd words for a young peoples book though.
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Posted August 6, 2011
This series is fun,romantic,witty,charming,cunning, and so is Eugenides. Read. Them. Now. :) I fell in love with the story!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Aw_Snap
Posted July 19, 2011
LOOOOOVE IT!!! Warning: My opinion is a little biased because I'm a sucker for books about "criminals". This book is interesting with bits of made up mythology. It made me laugh because the main character, Gen,a thief who is taken out of prison so he can steal an artifact for the king of Sounis, is very sarcastic and witty. It's got a good story line, its interesting, and I highly recomend it!
5 STARS!! Oh! And did I mention it's part of a series?
1306882
Posted July 20, 2011
When i first read the summary and reviews of ths book, i expected it to be a good mildly entertaining read, but not something i would really remember or care about once it was over. Well, i was extremely wrong about that! After reading the thief, i read the rest of the queens thief series, was extremely dissapointed that there were only four books and i had to stop reading, lay in bed thinking about it, and then proceeded to reread the entire series, loving it even more than i had the first time. Meghan whaler turner writes with a very iteresting style, she doesnt use short sentences and lame humor very other word, which is what ive found in many recently written books. The writing is discriptive, and the humor is great. Turner expects you to think a bit about what your reading, and when i reread the thief, i found many things that i had missed the first time that really help to reveal who gen reeally is. Eugenides has quickly become my favorite character with his witty humor and good natured complaints. I would recomend this book to anyone, it is thoghtfuly written, includes great action, and in the rest of the series, even a little romance. ;)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was so interesting! Sometimes when authors try to set up a history or myths or gods for their world they end up shallow and very annoying, but in THIS every story is so interesting and I want to learn so much more about the Gods and the history of these places. The characters were such a big highlight to the story! And the conclusion is so twisty and satisfactory. Though more than half of the book consisted of the descriptions of their travels, the characters and stories that were told prevented it from being boring in any way. I can't wait to read the second!
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Posted April 12, 2011
this book must have some kind of mystical powers that makes you wake up without knowing where you are
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 27, 2011
This book captures you attention in a must read cant put down manner. From beggining to end completely capivated as well as the rest of the series. I am hoping with all my heart that there is a fifth book
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Posted December 24, 2010
When I was first reading this book I do admit that it was so boring i was thinking of quitting... but then i reached the ending and then the book turned into an amazing story that kept you on your toes. Read this book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SkySKL
Posted November 29, 2010
Gen is a smart thief with a witty attitude that will make you like him immediately. When the King's magus takes him along as a tool, he doesn't realize that Gen has a quick mind as well as talented hands. The journey to the sacred temple, wherein lies the item the magus wants Gen to steal, is full of surprises, as Gen's experiences with a jealous apprentice, a noble's nephew, and a bodyguard with a hard outer shell lead to many adventures. When they finally get to the temple, Gen realizes that this won't be as easy as he thought. A river covers it. However, at nightfall, the river amazingly dries up, only to come back at dawn. It's a maze, and Gen only has three nights to figure it out and find a special stone that grants immortality to the holder until he/she passes it on. When he finally finds it, it takes courage to finally steal it. In the midst of all this, Megan W. Turner tells legends of Gen's gods, one of which he was named after. This book is full of twists and turns, especially at the end. But I won't give anything away! You have to read this for yourself.
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Posted May 31, 2010
I Also Recommend:
This book is amazing and one of my absolute favorites! It follows the adventures of Gen, a thief of unsurpassed skills. He must journey to steal a long-lost artifact from a far-off land. That or spend the rest of his life languishing in the king's jail. Though the Magus, the king's advisor and Gen's traveling companion, sees Gen only as a means to an end, Gen has other ideas. Full of memorable characters, vivid descriptions, and witty comebacks, this adventure will have you turning page after page. And once you've finished it, the twists, turns, and surprise ending will have you wanting to read it all over again! This book will be a favorite for all!
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Posted May 19, 2010
A thief is brought out of prison to serve the king by stealing a valuable jewel hidden in the mountains. This novel is impossible to predict and is the beginning of a most excellent series. You don't realize how you are falling in love with the characters until the big twist comes. Then you love them even more. You could easily read this book twice and find something different to admire. My biggest hang-up was the fact that twist is near impossible to see coming (no foreshadowing) and sometimes Ms. Turners descriptions can be verbose. However, none of these reasons should stop any adult or youth from diving in.
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Posted May 8, 2010
This is a very challenging read for 5th graders. They love the mystery, and excitement of the story. It keeps their interest from start to finish.
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Posted March 3, 2010
I have this book, along with the sequels and I still find it as a gripping read that always gets me hooked.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I loved the deep characters and how they interacted.
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Overview
Nothing is overdone and not a word is out of place in this auspicious debut," wrote Kirkus in a starred review of Instead of Three Wishes, the first book by Megan Whalen Turner. Her second book more than fulfills that promise.
The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the theif's abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of...