Book Review
May. 13th, 2011 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe King of Attolia
by Megan Whalen Turner
This book continues the story of Eugenides, now married to the Queen of Attolia and endeavoring to come to terms with becoming king in fact as well as in name. As a foreigner in Attolia and the former Thief of Eddis, Eugenides starts out at a considerable disadvantage in taking up his new role. Added to this is his own ambivalence towards the duties and responsibilities of kingship. Luckily, however, Eugenides is a clever and subtle man, and he weaves a web of intrigue that makes ingenious use of the Attolians' false assumptions about him and underestimation of him. Thus he is able to trap his enemies and win the respect and loyalty of the Attolian court.
Unlike the first two books, The King of Attolia is told not from Eugenides' perspective, but from the point of view of Costis, a young guardsman Eugenides appoints to be his personal guard and attendant. I liked what this shift did for the story - the less direct view of Eugenides' machinations enhanced the tension and suspense and made his character even more compelling. The mystery of both the plot and Eugenides himself made everything more immediate and affecting.
I could have wished for a little more revelation about the relationship between Eugenides and the Queen, but, on the other hand, Turner used the glimpses and fleeting moments Costis' perspective allowed to make the romance more moving. I think I'm beginning to understand how their relationship could exist, unlikely as it may seem. Perhaps it's that unlikelihood, that fragility that gives the romance its savor.
by Megan Whalen Turner
This book continues the story of Eugenides, now married to the Queen of Attolia and endeavoring to come to terms with becoming king in fact as well as in name. As a foreigner in Attolia and the former Thief of Eddis, Eugenides starts out at a considerable disadvantage in taking up his new role. Added to this is his own ambivalence towards the duties and responsibilities of kingship. Luckily, however, Eugenides is a clever and subtle man, and he weaves a web of intrigue that makes ingenious use of the Attolians' false assumptions about him and underestimation of him. Thus he is able to trap his enemies and win the respect and loyalty of the Attolian court.
Unlike the first two books, The King of Attolia is told not from Eugenides' perspective, but from the point of view of Costis, a young guardsman Eugenides appoints to be his personal guard and attendant. I liked what this shift did for the story - the less direct view of Eugenides' machinations enhanced the tension and suspense and made his character even more compelling. The mystery of both the plot and Eugenides himself made everything more immediate and affecting.
I could have wished for a little more revelation about the relationship between Eugenides and the Queen, but, on the other hand, Turner used the glimpses and fleeting moments Costis' perspective allowed to make the romance more moving. I think I'm beginning to understand how their relationship could exist, unlikely as it may seem. Perhaps it's that unlikelihood, that fragility that gives the romance its savor.
