- ISBN13: 9780061870934
- Condition: New
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Product Description
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 Badventure that will change all of their lives forever.
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I cannot even explain my excitement when this arrived in the mail. I’ve been waiting for this book ever since I finished King of Attolia several years ago. But as I closed the back cover of the book, my feelings were slight disappointment, and a wish to reread the other three books in this series.
Although I like Sophos, the reason I adore these books so much is for Gen. He is The Thief that stole my heart in book one, made me cry in book two, and made himself my all time favorite literary character in book three. Like another reviewer said, he has been getting gradually more distant as the books progress, but to have the Gen I know and love be present for all of ten pages was really cruel. All the rest of the time, he is the high and mighty Attolis, and we don’t really get to see how much more he is than that. I kept waiting for him to show up and stay, but he never really did.
The King of Attolia is my favorite, because even though very little of the book comes from Gen’s point of view, reading that book is like having an inside joke that no one knows about. You read about Gen from another’s point of view, and can’t help laughing when he once again jumps to the wrong conclusion about what our clever thief is up to. Oh, and that’s another complaint. Costis wasn’t even mentioned in this book. I was rather fond of him, after spending a whole book in his head, so I would have liked at least a reference to him.
That is really the only thing I have against this book, but it was a major problem for me. The plot twists in this book fell rather short for me as well. I didn’t think they were as carefully laid out as they were in previous books. I saw most of them coming. This may be because Gen wasn’t pulling them off as well. In the other books, I am so distracted by whatever obvious shinanigan Gen is getting himself into, that you don’t see what is right in front of your nose…
Anyway, if you are a fan of the series, you should read this because there are a few good moments, and Sophos’s story is engaging enough. If your not a fan of the series, go back and start at the beginning. That’s where the real brilliance is.
Rating: 4 / 5
A Conspiracy of Kings is the 4th book in the Queen’s Thief series. The book is fairly short compared to the last two, and it is not as well-crafted – more like a general outline of a book. There is a short introduction, an ending that you probably thought of at the end of the last book, and no real surprises in between as the plot plods along without much interaction between the main character, Sophos, and anyone else.
Over half the book is in letter form, which is a challenge for any author, to say the least. The Mede ambassadors are all the same “Mede ambassador” character. The magus makes an appearance as a toned-down and more inscrutable version of himself in the last book. And Sophos himself is not very likable, and doesn’t seem very bright. Throughout the book it is hard to remember why Eugenides likes him so much and what Eddis might see in him.
Also, I didn’t really like the way the (predictable) ending was done. Overall, if you liked the last three books, you’ll probably want to read this one for completion.
Rating: 3 / 5
I cannot express any of my feelings on this book without revealing a few things, but these are things we already know from the book flap and released summary/teaser. Rest assured, the amazing and suspenseful plot that is present each book of the series will not be damaged.
The prologue starts promisingly enough. With a rather amusing and ingenius way so typical of the last books, Sophos and the Magus arrive in Attolia. And then the first chapter started, and my patience was strained. One third of the book is then devoted solely to Sophos. Part of it goes into explaining the conspiracies , but a great deal of this time is just Sophos being extremely wishy-washy. He is a slave, and he is not even angry or plotting. This I did not find entertaining at all. His decisions are all made for him, and there are no expectations and thus no disappointments. While this is necessary to develop his character, it is rather boring. I hurried through this part of the book, and I’m slightly disappointed in the author that I didn’t even miss anything or feel the need to read it again. Sophos finally steps up and escapes, but is quickly caught. The reunited magus and Sophos escape to Attolia, hoping for help from Gen. It is reassuring to have a character we really know and like finally make an appearance, instead of the rather pathetic oddity Sophos has been thus far. This is where the prologue fits in.
So, one third of the book has been dedicated Sophos. Now he is in Attolia, yes? We’ll get our fix of Gen and Attolia and Eddis. Wrong. The entire middle of the book is about politics. And not the dirty, underhanded kind Gen has practiced in the last three books. No, we are instead subjected to speeches and plans and obvious manipulations. Gen lurks in the back round, Attolia is disgustingly polite, Teleus says about three words, the Secretary of the Archives is mentioned in passing, the magus dispenses no good advice, there is another too-important Mede ambassador, and Eddis barely dips her finger into the conspiracy pie, instead prancing about Sophos like a lovesick schoolgirl.
While we are aware that Sophos and Eddis have had a romance developing from earlier books, this book focuses on it, and it feels a awkwardly intense. While their relationship is sweet, it is overshadowed by the more pertinent political maneuverings and thus always seems slightly in the way. Eddis is barely relevant to the diplomatic proceedings, instead playing the role Sophos’ love interest.
This is the point in the book where the familiar stomach-curdling feeling begins, because now Gen steps out from under his political facade. Yes, the Attolis will help Sophos regain his revolting country. But it comes with a price, and the price is steep. This is a rare time where Gen’s schemes feel like not such a good thing. One can’t quite delight in them as much as earlier because you know those subject to them are not in the least deserving, and they benefit very little. They’re also slightly confusing. In the King of Attolia, Gen was to the regency like a petulant child to the wrong flavor lollipop. In all previous books, he loathes responsibilities and expectations. However, he seems to have completely changed his outlook. He is amassing power in this book, far outstretching what anyone every believed him capable of, crossing expectations and responsibilities by leaps and bounds. And his motivations are never revealed, either. Why? Because, we’re watching from Sophos. Sophos, a fairly minor character suddenly turned protagonist.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but these books are the Queen’s Theif Series, no? If so, why have they been increasingly digressing from Eugenides? Why are we forced to watch him without knowing how he feels from increasingly bothersome viewpoints? The third person was still informative enough about Gen. But then there was Costis, blinded by arrogance and prejudice. Now Sophos, with naive faith in a slender thread of friendship with a complex man he thinks he knows. The hazy glimpses we get of Gen make it almost feel like the character is too complex that not even the author, no offense meant, knows exactly how to deal with him.
Sophos, of course, finishes the book. He marches to Sounis. There, he is up against his own Barons and Mede conspirators. I won’t reveal what happens in the last third of the book, but Sophos matures considerably. He grows into his role as a King and stops feeling sorry for himself, although he still more childish in ways Gen, Eddis and Attolia never were. The only thing that bothered me about Sophos is that he was essentially, a prisoner King for the entire novel. However, completes the transformation from boy to monarch, managing to be his own unique brand of king among the colorful cast of Gen, Eddis and Attolia, but not quite matching to expectations. This book feels like a necessary book in between the King of Attolia and a sequel. I hope that Eugenides decides to make a return.
********EXTREME SPOILER DO NOT READ ON UNLESS YOU’VE READ THE BOOK**********
I simply must say something about this. I cannot complete a review without adding my opinion on the end of the book. We know that in order for Gen to aid Sophos, Sophos is required to swear fealty to him as a price. When Sophos is officially crowned during the ceremony, it is revealed the extent of the loyalty he has sworn. Attolia, or rather Attolis, controls all international decisions that Sophos will make as Sounis. At the end of the book, it is revealed that Gen will absorb the country of Eddis into Attolia because under the contract he and Sophos have, he is allowed to exercise control over the political marriage of Sounis (Sophos) and Eddis. Extremely devious and bound with delicate political strings, no? Gen is almost taking advantage of young Sophos.
So. The book ends. Gen basically has control over the three countries, and will rule over two of them. But why? Gen has always before worked for the means of Eddis, and the greater good, no? Shouldn’t his affection for Sophos and Eddis overcome his shady ambitions? Now that he is Attolis, he works simply for a different monarch, himself. Have his past unwavering loyalties switched solely to Attolia? Eddis does not mind. This is rather annoying, as Eddis is no longer the ruler we know as and staunch defender of her country, merely a woman in love. She gives up all she has worked for. Yes, she gives it to Gen, who is like a brother. Although she consents and loves Gen, his plotting still feels like a betrayal to both his friends and his past personality. We cannot know for certain, since Gen is more like a God than anything else in this book; he pulls all the strings yet we know barely anything about the person he has become.
Interestingly, he remarks that the citizens of Eddis shall despise him as king, because they would never be able to despise Eddis. However, we know that he is also ‘the greatest folk hero ever known to Eddis’.
It’s a cliffhanger, which made me a bit sad since I was left without the content that came from finishing the other three books.. And I cannot wait for the next book. This is hands down the best YA series I have ever read, and this book is a good addition, if not as amazing as the other books. I was sorely disappointed that Gen said very little in the book, and his actions barely explained his words. I will now conclude this long winded review with the hope that this series does not diminish and the next book will buoy hopes.
Rating: 4 / 5
Although this book is not quite as compelling as some of the earlier ones, she is obviously setting up things for the plot to continue. The prior books had more of a stand-alone feel to them.
I think her books are great and cannot wait to read the next.
Rating: 5 / 5
This was a good book. I was a little worried when the first thing I noticed when I opened it was that it is dedicated to D.W. Jones (another of my favorite authors). I worried that M.W. Turner might have changed her wonderful writing style but, while adaptable, she is still very much her own authoress. I was pleased with the book, delighted with the price, and satisfied with the delivery speed.
Success and contentment all around, I’d say.
Rating: 4 / 5