A Conspiracy of Kings- Megan Whalen Turner

Warning: Spoilers for previous books in series.




Synopsis: 

"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 adventure that will change all of their lives forever."


Summary: I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. When I finished reading The Thief, and heard that there was going to be a book featuring Sophos, I became incredibly excited because he had become one of my favorite characters in the novel.

This book is told primarily in first person, through the point of view of Sophos, the reluctant heir to the throne who would rather read than rule a country. When he is kidnapped and forced into slavery, he quickly realizes that he enjoys for once, not having to be the disappointing son and heir to the throne that he has been for years. He almost doesn't want to try and leave.

This story is told basically in three parts, and the first part is Sophos during his time as a slave. I've read other reviews in which readers are upset that there isn't a lot of Eugenides in the story, but I think that even without his playing a large role, this story is still incredible. When Sophos and Eugenides do meet up again for the first time as Attolis and Sounis, I was temporarily disappointed by the awkward and cold exchanges between the two friends. However, as the book went on and I realized the love and friendship both still felt for each other, I loved the book all the more for it. Throughout most of the book the reader can see that Sophos looked up to Eugenides and admires him, and even though Sophos doesn't realize it at first, Eugenides cares greatly about his friend as well.

This was the first book since The Thief where I also really felt Eugenides' old personality shine through. Even though there were moments where you could really see his personality in the past two books, I greatly enjoyed reading the little bits about Eugenides in this book, especially when he talks about when he first knew that he loved Attolia.

I also really enjoyed the scenes between Eddis and Sophos in the book.

Really this book had it all. Action, excitement, secrets, friendship, and romance. I read that there are supposed to be another 2 books after this one, however Turner is known for writing books incredibly slowly. This book came out 4 years after the last one, which came out 6 years after the one before that. I don't know if I can wait that long, but at least I have something to look forward to in the years to come.

Rating: A


Other Recommended Books:
Alanna Quartet by Tamora Pierce
Trickster's Series by Tamora Pierce
Any other series by Tamora Pierce
Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell
Fire and Graceling books by Kristin Cashore
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

The King of Attolia- Megan Whalen Turner

Warning: Synopsis and Review will likely contain some spoilers for The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, the first 2 books in the series.

Synopsis: "By scheming and theft, the Thief of Eddis has become King of Attolia. Eugenides wanted the queen, not the crown, but he finds himself trapped in a web of his own making. Attolia's barons seethe with resentment, the Mede emperor is returning to the attack, and the king is surrounded by the subtle and dangerous intrigue of the Attolian court. 

When a naive young guard expresses his contempt for the king in no uncertain terms, he is dragged by Eugenides into the center of the political maelstrom. Like the king, he cannot escape the difficulties he makes for himself. Poor Costis knows he is the victim of the king's caprice, but he discovers a reluctant sympathy for Eugenides as he watches the newly crowned king struggle against his fate."

Summary: 

The King of Attolia picks up after The Queen of Attolia leaves off, with Eugenides stepping into his new role as the King of Attolia and husband of the woman he loves, the same woman who cut his arm off in the previous novel.

This book is told in third person, primarily through the point of view of Costis, a young guard. When the books starts off, Costis, along with all of the other guards, really hate Eugenides. They think that he is just a pawn who the queen doesn't care about at all. However as the book goes on, Costis realizes that there is more to the King than a weak man, and more to the relationship between the King and Queen. 

My only complaint about the book is that I wish I had seen a bit more from Eugenides' point of view. Or of his interactions with the Queen, which, when they did appear, were sweet and well written and some of my favorite passages in the novel. 

I really liked how loyal Costis became to the King by the end of the novel, and how Eugenides really has grown from the boy he was in the first book. I think this book rivaled The Thief for my favorite book in the series so far. I really liked the last 1/3 or so of The Queen of Attolia, but I felt the beginning dragged a little. This book however, I felt was much more interesting the entire way through. Now I can't wait to read about Sophos in A Conspiracy of Kings. 

Rating: A

Other Recommended Books:

Alanna Quartet by Tamora Pierce

Tricksters Series by Tamora Pierce

Any other series by Tamora Pierce

Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell

Graceling and Fire books by Kristin Cashore

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

The Queen of Attolia- Megan Whalen Turner

Warning: Synopsis and Review will probably contain some minor spoilers for The Thief


Synopsis: 

"Revenge

When Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, stole Hamiathes's Gift, the Queen of Attolia lost more than a mythical relic. She lost face. Everyone knew that Eudenides had outwitted and escaped her. To restore her reputation and reassert her power, the Queen of Attolia will go to any length and accept any help that is offered...she will risk her country to execute the perfect revenge.

...but

Eugenides can steal anything. And he taunts the Queen of Attolia, moving through her strongholds seemingly at will. So Attolia waits, secure in the knowledge that the Thief will slip, that he will haunt her palace one too many times.

...at what price?

When Eugenides finds his small mountain country at war with Attolia, he must steal a man, he must steal a queen, he must steal peace. But his greatest triumph--and his greatest loss--comes in capturing something that the Queen of Attolia thought she had sacrificed long ago..."


Summary: Having just finished The Thief, I immediately moved onto The Queen of Attolia, hoping to be wowed just as I was with the first book. And I was. Only a little bit less.

This book focuses on Eugenides and Eddis after he returns to his homeland. After a scarring incident involving the Queen of Attolia, Eugenides feels as though he has lost his purpose, and much of the novel is spent with him regaining his confidence and skills.

What I love about this book, and about The Thief, is Turner's way of surprising the reader near the end, but not in a way that's completely crazy or unbelievable, just in a "how didn't I see that before?" sort of way. She also is great about showing you a character and making you believe that they don't know a certain bit of information, or don't have involvement in some plan or another, and then completely surprising you with that character's actions later.

The thing I probably disliked the most about this book as compared to The Thief, was the switch from first person to third person. While it allowed the reader to see more of the story other than just Eugenides' point of view, I really had enjoyed his first person perspective in the first novel, and wish that the rest of the series had continued with it.

That being said, I still adored this book, especially the end of it, and am anxious to finish The King of Attolia, the next book in the series.

Rating: A-


Other Recommended Books:
Alanna Quartet by Tamora Pierce
Trickster's Series by Tamora Pierce
Any other series by Tamora Pierce
Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell
Graceling and Fire books by Kristin Cashore
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Contest- Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Another contest to tell you all about. This book looks intriguing and this is for an ARC copy of the book so head over to the author's page quickly (the contest ends tomorrow February 2) and enter! http://bibliophilebrouhaha.blogspot.com/2011/01/getting-bumped-with-megan-mccafferty.html

The Thief- Megan Whalen Turner

Synopsis:

"The most powerful advisor to the King of Sounis is the magus. He's not a wizard, he's a scholar, an aging solider, not a thief. When he needs something stolen, he pulls a young thief from the King's prison to do the job for him.

Gen is a thief and proud of it. When his bragging lands him behind bars he has one chance to win his freedom-- journey to a neighboring kingdom with the magus, find a legendary stone called Hamiathes's Gift and steal it.

The magus has plans for his King and his country. Gen has plans of his own."


Summary: A few months ago I won a copy of this book from Heather Zundel from a contest she held on her blog http://thesecretadventuresofwritergirl.blogspot.com/ after she helped host the YA Fantasy Showdown. Eugenides, the main character in this book, came out the ultimate winner in the showdown and I decided that I needed to read his story. And I'm certainly glad I did!

Eugenides is a skilled thief whose only chance (for now) of escaping the king's prison is to help steal an ancient artifact of sorts. Gen, along with the king's magus, his two apprentices Ambiades and Sophos, and Pol, a soldier, set out on a journey to find and steal the ancient artifact. Although much of the book is simply the group's journey, it is incredibly interesting. I loved Eugenides. I seem to have a particular fondness for thieves in novels, so I suppose he fit in wonderfully with this. I also loved the group dynamic, especially seeing how Eugenides grew from being simply a tool to the magus, to being respected by him and in turn holding respect for his traveling companions.

I was especially fond of Sophos too, who I just found out, stars in his own book in A Conspiracy of Kings, which I cannot wait to read.

This book is a wonderful adventure with many secrets that aren't revealed until the end, and I would highly recommend it. It reminded me a great deal of Tamora Pierce's Alanna quartet and her Trickster's series, as well as the Farsala trilogy by Hilari Bell, both series that I absolutely adore and really suggest everyone reads.

Rating: A


Other Recommended Books:
Alanna Quartet by Tamora Pierce
Trickster's Series by Tamora Pierce
Any other series by Tamora Pierce
Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell
Graceling and Fire books by Kristin Cashore
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Flash Burnout- L.K. Madigan

Synopsis: 

"Click.

 Telephoto lens. Zoom. In a shutter release millisecond, Blake's world turns upside down. The nameless woman with the snake tattoo is not just another assignment. "That's my mom!" gasps Marissa. 

Click. 

Saturated self-portrait: Blake, nice guy, class clown, always trying to get a laugh, not sure where to focus. 

Click. 

Contrast. Shannon, Blake's GF. total. Babe. Marissa, just a friend and fellow photographer. Shannon loves him; Marissa needs him. How is he supposed to frame them both in one shot?

 Click. 

Chiaroscuro. Lightdark. Marissa again, overexposed. Crash and burn. Talk about negative space. 

Click."

Summary: I recently heard about L.K. Madigan when I read that she has stage IV pancreatic cancer. I posted a contest to a book giveaway featuring this book and another one of hers a few days ago, but when I saw this book at the library, I knew I had to read it.

After reading this book, I have to say that it was refreshing reading a book featuring a male main character, but more than that, as I've read plenty of books with male protagonists, one who really seemed like a real guy. I mean, I wouldn't exactly know how a guy thinks, but I think if I did, I would find that it resembled Blake. 

This story revolves around Blake and two relationships he has. One is with his funny, cool girlfriend. The other is with a girl who's just a friend- Marissa. After accidentally shooting a photo of her meth-addicted, missing mother, Blake begins to find out more and more about Marissa's troubled family, and really becomes one of the only people Marissa has to rely on. Obviously this causes some issues for Blake as he tries to deal with having a girlfriend and a girl friend. 

I liked that this wasn't just a story about Blake slowly falling for Marissa. Blake truly does love his girlfriend Shannon, but he also cares a lot for Marissa, and wants to do his best to help her get through what she's going through. 

I liked the other main characters as well. They were all real and funny and enjoyable to read about, especially Blake's older brother Garrett, and his parents. This is a great story with many funny parts, and many parts you could sympathize with Blake about, and many serious moments as well. 

I can't wait to check out L.K. Madigan's other book, The Mermaid's Mirror.

Rating: A

Other Recommended Books: 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Ship Breaker- Paolo Bacigalupi

Synopsis: "Even at night, the wrecks glowed with work. The torch lights flickered, bobbing and moving. Sledge noise rang across the water. Comforting sounds of work and activity, the air tanged with the coal reek of smelters and the salt fresh breeze coming off the water. It was beautiful.

In America’s Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota — and hopefully live to see another day.

But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it’s worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life…"

Review: 

Real, powerful and completely original. From the moment I started reading this amazing dystopian book, I was struck by just how much the future Bacigalupi has created struck home with me. Especially in light of the Gulf Coast oil spill, and with the move towards green energy, the idea of a future in which fossil fuels have been used up and raging storms have caused massive amounts of flooding across the country, I found that the world Nailer occupies is a frightening, but very real view of where our country, and our world could be headed.

A few times in the novel Nailer refers to the "Accelerated Age", presumably the age we occupy now in which the rate at which technology grows is incredible. However, as can be seen from this book, all things have consequences. New Orleans is shown as a destroyed, completely flooded city, left to rust and rot. The characters in this novel are very real and in some cases, very awful. Nailer's father is abusive and kept me frightened almost the entire novel.

What I liked about this dystopian book is how Nailer isn't trying to change the entire world. He just wanted to save his friend, while at the same time allowing the reader to glimpse this frightening world. I've heard that there might be a sequel or two, and I certainly think, and hope their will be after the ending, which leaves many things about the world unexplored.

I highly recommend this book.

Rating: A

Other Recommended Books: 

Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Worldshaker by Richard Harland

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Worldshaker- Richard Harland

Synopsis:

"Col Porpentine understands how society works: the elite families enjoy a comfortable life on the Upper Decks on the great juggernaut Worldshaker, while the Filthies toil Below. And Col himself is being groomed by his grandfather, the supreme commander of Worldshaker, to be his successor. He has never questioned his place in the world, nor his illustrious future.

When Col mets Riff, a Filthy girl on the run, his world is turned on its head. All his life he has been taught that Filthies are like animals, without the ability to understand language or think for themselves. He has always known that all they are good for is serving in the Below, keeping Worldshaker running. But Riff is nothing like he ever expected. She is clever and quick, and despite the danger, Col is drawn to her. Can all the Filthies be like her? If Riff is telling the truth, then everything Col has always believed is a lie. And Col may be the only person with the power to do something about it — even if it means risking his whole future.

Richard Harland’s sweeping steampunk saga of romance, privilege, and social conscience will take readers on the ride of a lifetime to an enormous moving city that is at once strange and familiar."


Review: As soon as I saw this book I expected to love it. Dystopian, steampunk, romance... three of my favorite things. Unfortunately the book didn't completely live up to my expectations.

From the beginning I felt like the characters weren't completely realized. Many were underdeveloped and felt like stock characters. The relationship between Col and Riff didn't develop as much as I wanted it to either. I felt as though the author wanted Col to feel something for Riff, but never showed how it got to that point. In addition the plot of the story was rather predictable, although I can usually predict much of many books I read, this one seemed something that would be more enjoyable if I were a bit younger.

All that being said, I couldn't not finish the book. Usually if I don't like a book so much I have no trouble leaving it unfinished, but I couldn't with this one because I liked it enough that I wanted to know what happens. While I felt that there was much of this book that could have been further developed I did enjoy reading it. Apparently there is going to be a sequel called Liberator, although I don't know when it is to be released. I will probably end up reading it, although I will get it from a library this time. The first book wasn't good enough that I would want to pay for the second one as well.

Rating: B-


Other Recommended Books:
Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi 
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Contest

I stumbled across another contest today, unfortunately this one came attached with some sad news. There is an author, L.K. Madigan, whose books I've been planning to check out for awhile, who has been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. She wrote a very touching entry about this at her blog here http://lkmadigan.livejournal.com/185246.html

To celebrate her life and the books she's written and to help share them with the world, there is a contest to give away 40 sets of her books. That can be found here http://community.livejournal.com/debut2009/1059044.html

So check this out and share it with your friends.

Contest- Neil Gaiman Pack and Living Dead Girl By Elizabeth Scott

Another Contest- http://bethebooks.blogspot.com/p/contests-giveaways.html

You could win a pack of Neil Gaiman books or Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott so check out this great contest as well!