A Conspiracy of Kings (The Queen's Thief Series #4)

by Megan Whalen Turner

Overview

Discover and rediscover the world of the Queen's Thief, from the acclaimed novel The Thief to the thrilling, twenty-years-in-the-making conclusion, The Return of the Thief. The epic novels set in the world of the Queen’s Thief can be read in any order.

New York Times-bestselling author Megan Whalen Turner’s entrancing and award-winning Queen’s Thief novels bring to life the world of the epics and feature one of the most charismatic and incorrigible characters of fiction, Eugenides the thief. Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief novels are rich with political machinations and intrigue, battles lost and won, dangerous journeys, divine intervention, power, passion, revenge, and deception. The New York Times bestseller A Conspiracy of Kings won the Los Angeles Times Book Award and is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Patrick Rothfuss, and George R. R. Martin.

After an attempted assassination and kidnapping, Sophos, heir to the throne of Sounis, disappears. Those who care for him—including the thief Eugenides and the Queen of Eddis—are left to wonder if he is alive and if they will ever see him again. The Queen’s Thief novels have been praised by writers, critics, reviewers, and fans and have been honored with glowing reviews, “best of” citations, and numerous awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, a Newbery Honor, the Andre Norton Award shortlist, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. 

This edition of A Conspiracy of Kings includes a conversation between bestselling author Leigh Bardugo and Megan Whalen Turner, an introduction to the characters from the world of the Queen’s Thief, a map of the world of the Queen’s Thief, and an exclusive teaser to Thick as Thieves.

Winner of the LA Times Book Award

A New York Times Bestseller

A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

A School Library Journal Best Book

“The Queen’s Thief books awe and inspire me. They have the feel of a secret, discovered history of real but forgotten lands. The plot-craft is peerless, the revelations stunning, and the characters flawed, cunning, heartbreaking, exceptional. Megan Whalen Turner’s books have a permanent spot on my favorites shelf, with space waiting for more books to come.”—Laini Taylor, New York Times-bestselling author of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone novels and Strange the Dreamer

"Unforgettable characters, plot twists that will make your head spin, a world rendered in elegant detail—you will fall in love with every page of these stories. Megan Whalen Turner writes vivid, immersive, heartbreaking fantasy that will leave you desperate to return to Attolia again and again."—Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom

“Megan Whalen Turner is one of my all-time favorite writers . . . impossible to put down.”—Holly Black, award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Modern Faerie Tale series and The Darkest Part of the Forest

“Romance, intrigue, mystery, surprises, and sheer beautiful writing.”—Cassandra Clare, award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of The Mortal Instruments and Lady Midnight

“The world Turner creates is so tangible that not only do I believe in its characters, I almost believe in its gods.”—Kristin Cashore, award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Graceling Realm series

“A Conspiracy of Kings brings the sweetest, sharpest kind of reading pleasure. Megan Whalen Turner’s books are pure joy.”—Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author of When You Reach Me and Goodbye Stranger

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062642998
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/28/2017
Series:	Queen's Thief Series , #4
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	48,808
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	940L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Megan Whalen Turner is the New York Times–bestselling and award-winning author of five stand-alone novels set in the world of the Queen’s Thief. Return of the Thief marks her long-awaited conclusion to the epic and unforgettable story of the thief Eugenides—a story more than twenty years in the making. She has been awarded a Newbery Honor and a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature. She has twice been a finalist for the Andre Norton Award and won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature.

What People are Saying About This

Cassandra Clare

“Romance, intrigue, mystery, surprises, and sheer beautiful writing make this a worthy successor to the previous volumes.”

Kristin Cashore

“The world Turner creates is so tangible that not only do I believe in its characters, I almost believe in its gods.”

Holly Black

“Megan Whalen Turner is one of my all-time favorite writers. A Conspiracy of Kings is impossible to put down.”

Rebecca Stead

“A Conspiracy of Kings brings the sweetest, sharpest kind of reading pleasure. Megan Whalen Turner’s books are pure joy.”

Editorial Reviews

Megan Whalen Turner is one of my all-time favorite writers. A Conspiracy of Kings is impossible to put down.

Holly Black

Turner’s plotting remains deft, and the subtlety with which she balances her characters’ inner and outer worlds will delight both newcomers and fans, who will be waiting to grab this stand-out, stand-alone adventure, filled with all the expected intrigue and political machinations, from the shelves.

Booklist (starred review)

Megan Whalen Turner has constructed a clever world filled with suspense and intrigue and characters that will never be forgotten. Once you dive into the world of the Queen’s Thief [books], prepare to have your life stolen from you until you finish them all.

Joelle Charbonneau

Romance, intrigue, mystery, surprises, and sheer beautiful writing make this a worthy successor to the previous volumes.

Cassandra Clare

A Conspiracy of Kings brings the sweetest, sharpest kind of reading pleasure. Megan Whalen Turner’s books are pure joy.

Rebecca Stead

The world Turner creates is so tangible that not only do I believe in its characters, I almost believe in its gods.

Kristin Cashore

Masterful.

Horn Book (starred review)

The fourth installment in Turner's saga is another absorbing political drama, this time focusing on Sophos, reluctant heir to the Sounis throne. Readers will remember him as Useless the Younger in The Thief, when he was more interested in poetry than power. As the king's only heir, however, he had no choice but to prepare for the monarchy until, in the opening pages of this volume, he is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He narrates the story of his abduction to an undisclosed “you,” whose identity close readers of the series may guess. Given the complexity of Turner's plot, readers should reread the first three books before beginning this one, which derives its power from the intricate construction of Turner's imagined world, a realm in which her founding mythology is as impressive as her descriptions of the land itself. Sophos's choice—live anonymously in servitude or accept a role he doesn't want—drives the story as his allies approach a showdown with the enemy Medes. Strong evidence emerges that the story doesn't end here, and fans will savor this while they wait for more. Ages 10–up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

With each volume of this stellar series, the question arises anew: How will the text deceive its readers now that we're able to recognize Eugenides's lies? This time, it's through the first-person narration of Sophos, the excruciatingly honest (but underinformed) heir to the kingdom of Sounis. As civil war brews, the young man is plucked from his bookish rustication by kidnappers desiring a puppet king. Sophos escapes only by finagling himself into slavery. It's an oddly pleasant interlude for him; after a lifetime of training for an unwanted royalty, Sophos treasures the choicelessness of his relatively benevolent servitude. Alas, he knows his responsibilities. When the opportunity comes, Sophos escapes and turns to his old friend Eugenides for help. Sophos, with aid from Eugenides and the queens of Attolia and Eddis, plots the recovery of Sounis. In a heartbreaking chain of machinations, they negotiate the responsibilities of kingship when they'd rather be operating as friends. Sophos's straightforward stubbornness is a refreshing antidote to his world's lies and a fascinating lens on Eugenides. For series fans, unmissable. (Fiction. 12-15)

Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Thief: Newbery Honor Book “This is an uplifting book, a literary journey that enhances both its characters and readers before it is over.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Tantalizing, suspenseful, exceptionally clever.” — Horn Book (starred review)

Praise for The Queen of Attolia: “The intense read is thoroughly involving and wholly satisfying on all fronts.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Turner’s storytelling is so sure that readers will want to go along with her—and discover whatever it is that Eugenides will do next.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Readers will be spellbound.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for The King of Attolia: “Turner has outdone herself here: The King of Attolia is one of the most fascinating and original children’s fantasies to appear in years.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Eugenides, the former Thief of Eddis, is back and just as clever as ever.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“A winner.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Megan Whalen Turner is one of my all-time favorite writers. A Conspiracy of Kings is impossible to put down.” — Holly Black, author of the Modern Faerie Tales Series

“The world Turner creates is so tangible that not only do I believe in its characters, I almost believe in its gods.” — Kristin Cashore, author of Graceling

“A Conspiracy of Kings brings the sweetest, sharpest kind of reading pleasure. Megan Whalen Turner’s books are pure joy.” — Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach Me

“Romance, intrigue, mystery, surprises, and sheer beautiful writing make this a worthy successor to the previous volumes.” — Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments Series

“Megan Whalen Turner has constructed a clever world filled with suspense and intrigue and characters that will never be forgotten. Once you dive into the world of the Queen’s Thief [books], prepare to have your life stolen from you until you finish them all.” — Joelle Charbonneau, New York Times-bestselling author of the Testing trilogy

“Turner’s knotting of plots and counterplots, battle tactics, diplomatic skullduggery, and the tensions of state business and personal desire is masterful…having finished the book, one just wants to open it up and read it again.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Turner’s plotting remains deft, and the subtlety with which she balances her characters’ inner and outer worlds will delight both newcomers and fans, who will be waiting to grab this stand-out, stand-alone adventure, filled with all the expected intrigue and political machinations, from the shelves.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Turner’s imagined world [is] a realm in which her founding mythology is as impressive as her descriptions of the land itself.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Unmissable.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A well-constructed and intricate tale of action, adventure, and assuming the mantle of leadership.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Elegant and sure-footed.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Masterful.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“A fascinating and beautifully crafted masterpiece.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

From the Publisher

Elegant and sure-footed.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A fascinating and beautifully crafted masterpiece.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

Elegant and sure-footed.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Turner’s plotting remains deft, and the subtlety with which she balances her characters’ inner and outer worlds will delight both series newcomers and fans, who will be waiting to grab this stand-out, stand-alone adventure, filled with all the expected intrigue and political machinations, from the shelves."

Booklist

"Masterful."

Horn Book

Elegant and sure-footed.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

Gr 7 Up—Teenaged Sophos is his uncle's heir, but his love of poetry and lack of interest in ruling have caused his father to send him to a remote villa. When it is attacked by the king's enemies, Sophos is sold into slavery, where he begins to mature and develop both physically, from the hard manual labor, and emotionally. He makes the decision to escape slavery and try to resume his place as heir and eventually king of Sounis, traveling to Attolia to try to recruit support from its queen and king, Sophos's friend, Eugenides, the protagonist of The Thief (1996) and The King of Attolia (2006, both HarperCollins). Layers of intrigue follow Sophos as he tries to protect Sounis from various groups of enemies, leading to a surprising twist at the conclusion. Sophos tells his story to an initially unknown audience, but interspersed third-person chapters provide additional perspective. Fans of Turner's earlier books set in the medieval-style kingdoms of Sounis, Eddis, and Attolia will enjoy seeing Eugenides, the magus, and other familiar characters again, while the new protagonist and ample background make A Conspiracy of Kings accessible for new readers as well. This is a well-constructed and intricate tale of action, adventure, and assuming the mantle of leadership.—Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI

School Library Journal

Jeff Woodman expertly ushers listeners into the fourth audio he’s narrated about Attolia, a classical-based fantasy world. Woodman’s glib reading of details and his facility with language patterns establish a strong sense of place that welcomes new and returning listeners. Woodman’s precise delivery and emphasis on allusions match the bookish personality of the first-person narrator, Sophos, the prince of Sounis, who is bent on reading poetry rather than acquiring the political savvy needed to lead a country. When the security of his home is breached, Woodman conveys the complexity of Sophos’s character. He must draw on his intellect to surmount his uncertainty and muster the strength to face life as a slave, soldier, and finally a king. S.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2010 - AudioFile