A new Quill to Live tradition we started last year is to allow each reviewer to recommend one book that has to jump to the front of your to-read pile. Brandee’s choice for 2023 was The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, and I liked it so much that I ended up reading the entire six-book series. With the first book published in 1996 and the final book just coming out in 2020, this series has been around for a while but I feel like it is criminally unknown. I rarely see people talking about it and I think it is easily one of the best YA fantasy novels I have ever read, and in the top echelons of books in the entirety of the fantasy genre. It is a witty tale with brilliant characters and a fun plot, but its real weapon is its cutting insight into the nature of power–in particular the complicated relationship between power and womanhood.
Although I just mentioned that the best part of the book is its commentary on feminism, the central character and star of our show is a man named Eugenides, the aforementioned thief. While most of the books at their core are about Eugenides, Turner realized very quickly that the best part about Gen (as he is called) is when we can’t see inside his incredible mind. Thus, only one of the books is from his POV, three of the books are from the POV of people very near to him, and two of the books are from the POV of people he has mentored. Book one, The Thief, is a fairly typical heist tale and hits all the tropes (and has fun while doing it). But, after book one we instead start a far-reaching and deep set of political thrillers that feel aimed at teaching children critical reading but also have brilliant depth that adults will love.
Books two and three, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia, are in my opinion the strongest (though they are all great) because they specifically dive into what it means for a woman to have power. They examine the internal and external effects of power on a woman and how there are added layers and complications that men simply don’t have to deal with. It does all of this feminist examination of patriarchal structures in a way that feels insightful but also extremely accessible, which makes me desperately wish I had been given this series in my formative years. The big themes of the series are simply pleasant, surrounding ideas like everyone having valuable perspectives, giving others grace, being present, and tons of other building blocks for making a great personality. The series doesn’t look away from difficulty, but it has a very optimistic view of humanity that left me feeling very good.
Though the second and third books are my favorites, the other four are no slouches either. Each story does a fabulous job of having a self-contained story but they all build on each other to a very powerful and satisfying conclusion to the entire series. I don’t usually go for “next generation” stories, but I absolutely would continue reading more about the children of this cast when given a chance. Turner could honestly be describing the window drapes in my room and I would still read it. She has this sly prose that always feels like it is brimming with secrets you need to ferret out. Every innocuous conversation feels like it ends up having far-reaching implications if you simply turn it on its head and look at it from a different angle.
All of this builds to a series with themes that I really enjoyed exploring and would love my children to be immersed in. While the prose is deeply steeped in whimsical fun, the use of language is also extremely precise and Turner uses certain language structures to give sections layers of meaning. An example of this is the separation of when a character is referred to by their position vs. their first name. It highlights the weight of the position and characterizes how the characters have a complex cocktail of personal values and duties that weigh on every choice. Speaking of which, the characters are just delightful. Gen is unsurprisingly a riot and did quite well in our writing March Madness bracket earlier this year. Just as important though are all the people Gen surrounds himself with. While there is a bit of repetition in Gen’s consistent loop of getting tragically underestimated, pulling the rug out so hard it breaks people’s ankles, and then galloping away cackling in glee–it never seems to lose its charm over the course of six books. Part of this is because the supporting cast is filled with characters who are perfect in their foils. Turner picks the perfect starting point for a grumpy guard to slowly become a close confidant, for a spoiled noble to learn the scope of his privilege and advocate for change, and for a smarmy false advisor to devolve into a villainous rogue. The transformations feel natural and a direct result of the actions of Gen’s machinations. It also helps that I often couldn’t pin down what the asshole (Gen) was doing myself as the reader. Turner does a fabulous job of presenting Gen’s antics in a nebulous manner that kept me on the edge of my seat. Several times I was genuinely surprised by misdirection and twists and I can’t help but think that if I lived in Gen’s world he would have no trouble fooling me.
Faith, in its many forms, also plays a key role in the structure of this story. I appreciate the occasional tale where the Gods and church aren’t sadistically evil, but Turner also makes sure to examine faith in each other. With Gen constantly doing things no one understands, trust becomes a very big part of the social contract every supporting character needs to engage in. The unwavering love and support from Gen’s friends and family, in a kaleidoscope of different forms, is inspiring. This spine of the story is part of how it keeps its optimistic and warm atmosphere while essentially being a court and war story with a lot of upsetting turns.
The Queen’s Thief series has effortlessly risen to the top echelons of my favorite YA and heist stories and stands tall in the larger fantasy genre as well. Turner has a brilliant mind for character design and prose and a great heart that is reflected in the morals and lessons of her story. This series delighted me and I cannot thank Brandee enough for introducing it to me. The Quill to Live highly recommends The Queen’s Thief series.
Rating: The Queen’s Thief series – 9.0/10
-Andrew
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