Book Review
May. 20th, 2011 12:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariConspiracy of Kings
by Megan Whalen Turner
This is the fourth (and last, so far) book in the Thief series. However, Eugenides is more of a minor character in this novel. Instead, the story focuses on Sophos, the heir of Sounis, who appeared in The Thief and became friends with Eugenides during the course of that adventure. When several barons of Sounis rebel against his uncle the king, Sophos is kidnapped and ends up a slave. He bides his time, learning a lot about himself, what he really wants, and how to be a leader. When Sophos finally escapes, he flees to Attolia to seek the advice and help of Eugenides, his Queen, and the Queen of Eddis in order to take Sounis back from the rebels and the encroaching Medes.
I found the story to be exciting and compelling, but I particularly liked the exploration of how kingship changes Sophos' relationships with Eugenides, the Queen of Eddis, and even his own father. Turner has a wonderful and often bittersweet way of showing how the political and the personal sides of these relationships conflict and converge.
Although there are no cliffhangers at the end and the story concludes satisfactorily, this book feels as if Turner is starting up another plot cycle. This is reinforced by the parallels with The Thief: mainly first-person narrative, more emphasis on straightforward adventure than on subtle intrigue. However, the prickly yet touching romance between Sophos and the Queen of Eddis is more reminiscent of The Queen of Attolia.
by Megan Whalen Turner
This is the fourth (and last, so far) book in the Thief series. However, Eugenides is more of a minor character in this novel. Instead, the story focuses on Sophos, the heir of Sounis, who appeared in The Thief and became friends with Eugenides during the course of that adventure. When several barons of Sounis rebel against his uncle the king, Sophos is kidnapped and ends up a slave. He bides his time, learning a lot about himself, what he really wants, and how to be a leader. When Sophos finally escapes, he flees to Attolia to seek the advice and help of Eugenides, his Queen, and the Queen of Eddis in order to take Sounis back from the rebels and the encroaching Medes.
I found the story to be exciting and compelling, but I particularly liked the exploration of how kingship changes Sophos' relationships with Eugenides, the Queen of Eddis, and even his own father. Turner has a wonderful and often bittersweet way of showing how the political and the personal sides of these relationships conflict and converge.
Although there are no cliffhangers at the end and the story concludes satisfactorily, this book feels as if Turner is starting up another plot cycle. This is reinforced by the parallels with The Thief: mainly first-person narrative, more emphasis on straightforward adventure than on subtle intrigue. However, the prickly yet touching romance between Sophos and the Queen of Eddis is more reminiscent of The Queen of Attolia.
