Saturday 1 August 2009

Series spotlight - Megan Whalen Turner

You thought I’d forgotten about them, didn’t you? I hadn’t but I have been thinking and Series Spotlight is no longer going to be regular, just whenever I find an amazing series I want to give you a heads up on. It’s also going to be much shorter, just a flavour of the series, a recommendation more than a review. Why? Because the old format was too long and also because I’m lazy. It’s also hard to find a series every week that I love enough to want to write about!

But today I present to you...
The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner.

Gen is a thief. He can steal anything. Except himself out of prison. Which is where the first book picks up. Gen’s plans often land him in trouble, but always he is confident, witty and ingenious, with more than one trick up his sleeve. This series is set in a medieval world much like Greece and the stories are interwoven with myths. This is a favourite re-read series of mine. I can’t really tell much plot as it gives too much away – each book has a couple of very surprising twists – there’s always more going on than you realise. Political intrigue, adventure, action, humour, a rich and vibrant culture, entertaining characters, interesting plots, each book has all of these and more.

I highly recommend the series as one of my favourites (and look – it seems the Newbery folk back my recommendation!). Plus a sequel is in the works, which I’m super excited about. (I don’t think it’s published outside of the US but you can get it from sites like Amazon UK and this is one series I REALLY advise you to buy even if you don’t really like importing books.)

10 comments:

  1. The Thief is one of my favourites. But the second book... well, I really didn't like it. I thought the characters changed too much; everything that I liked about Gen seemed to have disappeared. Is that remedied in the third book?

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  2. The third book is more political, like the second. Gen's got more responsibility so I guess he is changed from the first in some ways. It's fun seeing him interact with Attolia though - definitely still imature at times.

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  3. Good to know. I may have to check out The King of Attolia now...

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  4. I've heard of these books, but never picked them up. I think I'll give them a try now... thanks!

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  5. I've never heard of these, but will defo amazon them :)
    xxx

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  6. Hmmm...maybe I will!

    And you need to come to America :)

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  7. You all should give them a go at least, I really enjoyed them.
    I fully intend to visit America at some point, Lenore. Just not quite sure when. Or where. I hear it's a big place :)

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  8. I wish there was more in the series.

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  9. Wow The Thief looks really good. Great cover and I love what you shared about it.

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  10. I love Eugenides! He's such a great character. I enjoyed this series too and can't wait for A conspiracy of Kings to come out!

    --Sharry

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