The Thief

This is a fast-paced and addictive story with well-developed characters, intriguing kingdom politics and intricately crafted world history, mythologies and religions. The world that Megan Whalen Turner creates in this book and the rest of this series is truly immersive and the characters will stay with you long after putting down the final book.

This is a charming fantasy for younger readers - and a fun, quick read for older ones as well - like an old Hollywood swashbuckler, and with some lovely twists and turns. The genre has come a fair way since the book first came out 25 years ago, but it mostly stands up, and must have stood out before. It's strange to think this is the first time it's out in the UK. A few things about the worldbuilding struck me, as an older reader used to more nuance, as odd, like the mix of ancient greeks names and architecture with a sprinkling of firearms that lead to a general anachronistic uncertainty - but I'm fairly sure younger readers won't be as picky, and will love the adventure and the snarky voice that was immediately captivating. I could hardly put it down in the day it took me to read it, and must say I enjoyed every minute.

Gen is a thief, currently in prison for stealing from the royal court and then unwisely boasting about it in a tavern.

The king’s magus needs something found, a trinket from the gods, and he needs a master thief to help him find it. So he dregs Gen out of prison and onto a horse and the quest begins.

Like all good quests to find hidden treasure this is a journey through enemy territory, dangerous terrain and with travelling companions who can’t stand each other. It could be very boring, if it wasn’t for the stories of the old gods and goddesses they tell each other to while away the time on the road.

Although the stories might be inspired by the myths, stories and the countryside around the Mediterranean, this series is not a retelling of any myths, it is set in its own fantasy world and has its own unique voice and plot.

Some reviewers classify this novel and series as Young Adult. I’m not so sure about this. The protagonist might be on the younger side and is often described as a boy and not a grown man yet, though the story reads far more mature than your average YA fantasy. Probably because the usual tropes, like chosen one, love triangle, etc, are missing.

The Thief the first book in The Queen’s Thief series by Meghan Whalen Turner, published 27 December 2005. TheLadyDuckOfDoom and myself had this book on our #SeptreSummer reading lists and we accidentally on purpose read it at the same time; or rather we listened to it (see below).

Gen is a thief, currently in prison for stealing from the royal court and then unwisely boasting about it in a tavern.

The king’s magus needs something found, a trinket from the gods, and he needs a master thief to help him find it. So he dregs Gen out of prison and onto a horse and the quest begins.

Like all good quests to find hidden treasure this is a journey through enemy territory, dangerous terrain and with travelling companions who can’t stand each other. It could be very boring, if it wasn’t for the stories of the old gods and goddesses they tell each other to while away the time on the road.

Although the stories might be inspired by the myths, stories and the countryside around the Mediterranean, this series is not a retelling of any myths, it is set in its own fantasy world and has its own unique voice and plot.

Some reviewers classify this novel and series as Young Adult. I’m not so sure about this. The protagonist might be on the younger side and is often described as a boy and not a grown man yet, though the story reads far more mature than your average YA fantasy. Probably because the usual tropes, like chosen one, love triangle, etc, are missing.

A big thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an eARC in exchange of an honest review!

I absolutely adored this book.
While it very much reminds me of Jennifer L. Nielsen I’m not surprised. Because this book came out in 1996! So really it’s Jennifer who has the similarities probably.

My original review of this book was simply: I honestly can’t believe this was written in 1996 and no one I know talks about it. Until 2017 I’d never even seen it in a bookstore wtf.

It’s such a shame and I’m glad this series is getting some love now! This is exactly the right time for it and I’m glad I read it this year.

It’s a fun and straightforward read that’s scary, smart and romanceless. Which is something we all know I like!

Pick this up if you like heists, thieves, and smart mouthed boys who really are asking to get crushed to death by a ruin or two.

I recently realised this was a book I had already read some time ago (stood in a corner of the school library and devoured this book because I was trying hard to finish it before the bell dismissed us) and I remember loving it. The world-building wasn't too complex and the magic systems were easy to understand and follow. The characters were loveable and so easily relatable now looking back on it and this is the kind of books I would want to recommend to younger readers trying to get into fantasy :))

This book is an appetizer - it leaves you hungry but definitely whets your appetite for the next book in the series.

If you read this as a standalone novel, you might think that it's slow and half of the book is a long march during which nothing really happens. Don't let yourself be deceived!

As the first book in a fantasy series, it introduces us to this imaginary world with its countries, people, their history, gods and beliefs. This takes time, and undoubtedly, the author teaches us to be patient, but events in the second half of the book forecast a captivating and epic story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an Advance Review Copy.

When I think of a fantasy book, I think of some hefty tome that sits around 500+ pages. Sitting at just under 300 pages, this book proves that length is definitely not everything in fantasy!

Gen is a thief who is released from prison on the condition that he is able to locate a magical artifact belonging to the Gods. We get to follow him and the rest of his crew, as they explore historical ruins in an attempt to find the impossible.

I absolutely loved this book. It may be short, but the author still managed to pack it to the brim with fantastical elements. All of the characters were really interesting and I liked how we were able to learn more about the mythology and history of this world through their conversations. The world was brilliantly written, and it left me desperate to know more about the political intrigue and monarchies that we are introduced to. My main issue is that the twist was really really obvious. In fact, it didn't even feel like a twist as I felt the author had set up the signs from page one.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the reading experience and can now appreciate why this is such a popular fantasy series. Can't wait to read the next book in the series now!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This book was a nice surprise because I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it quite as much as I did. It has one of my favourite tropes ever in a fantasy (the under appreciated character surprising everyone trope) and the twist at the end was very unexpected. It’s pretty slow paced until the very end but the last 20% makes it worth it. Loved the character of Gen. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series and more of Gen.
Rating 3.5 stars

A big thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.

This Is a book that I have read previously as it was originally published in 2005, however it was an absolute blast to revisit this world. The story does fall somewhere into a category of adventure between Middle Grade and Young Adult, with the plot following a boy named Gen who has been imprisoned for stealing the King's seal and bragging about it to the wrong person.

The story starts where Gen is taken from the prison by the king's scholar, the Magus, to tell him that he will be taken on a journey to steal something. The thing he will have to steal is highly secretive and the Magus does not tell anyone in the company where or what it is.

This is the first book in the series and it follows the group on their expedition and the twists and turns that this mission takes. There are quite a few surprises along the way, the best of which is saved for last and which also sets up the premise for the entire series to follow.

I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for it to be available in our stores again and to introduce more people to the lovable Gen and the imposing Magus (and maybe one or two other characters as well)!

A fun, entertaining and light hearted fantasy heist story. Follow Gen the Thief as he is forcibly taken out of prison and made to accompany the King's magus and his disciples on a mountainous quest to find a lost treasure that holds the keys to the kingdom. There are some great characters and unexpected plot twists that make this a read that draws you in from the first page - I read the whole lot in one night and can't wait for part 2 to come out!

OH MY GOSH I couldn't put this book down. It was absoluitely gripping with a fast pace that left me literally feeling like my kindle was going to start sparking flames. The writing was so good with a well executed storyline that was engaging and captivating, well developed charcaters that I loved and a great setting. The whole world building in this book was incredible honestly and I felt like I was there inbetween the pages. A really enjoyable read, I loved it.

I downloaded this book because YA fantasy is my new favourite thing and I loved the cover with its hint of Greek myths. I hadn't realised the book was originally published in the 1990s, but was intrigued to learn that the series had inspired several of my favourite authors.

Eugenides (Gen) boasts that he can steal anything without being caught, even the King's seal, but unfortunately it is his boasting that lands him in a prison that apparently even he cannot escape from. So his only chance to win back his freedom is when the King's Magus invites him on a quest to steal a legendary object. But while the Magus is working on an ambitious plan to benefit king and country, Gen has a cunning plan of his own...

At first glance, The Thief appears to be an uncomplicated 'road trip' story of Gen, the Magus, his two apprentices and a soldier, as they travel across three countries, hunting down this mythical object - but there are several large twists!

The characters have lots of adventures along the way and the balance of power switches around as they get to know each other and reluctantly begin to like each other. The characters are brilliantly drawn, particularly the whinging, complaining, failed thief and trickster Gen, but I also loved bookish Sophos, whose father wants him to be a soldier, and the long-suffering Magus, who has to put up with them all. The strength of the story is in the characters and the writing, which is so compelling I read most of the book in one go.

The Thief reminded me a little bit of C.S. Lewis's The Horse and His Boy, but looking ahead at the rest of the series (already published in the USA), I can see it will take a Game of Thrones turn. Although The Thief is a fantasy, the names of the characters, their Gods, and the descriptions of the countryside, have a definite Ancient Greece feel about them - but there is also mention of more modern inventions such as books and guns.

Conclusion? I loved The Thief! Five stars from me, a new favourite author discovered, and I really can't wait for the next book in the series!


Thank you to Megan Whalen Turner and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Four stars for really well-written characters in a great world.

I liked the main character. It's been a long time since I've read a book with a male lead and it was very refreshing. I loved his wit and cunning and enjoyed how the story was interspersed with myths from the world. I liked the secondary characters too, although not so fleshed out they were still well written with intrinsic motivations.

The first half was very slow and not particularly exciting but the second half picked up big time - with some great reveals that more than made up for the first half. If it were me I would have placed some setups in the first half as some of the reveals came out of nowhere.

So much fun!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for sending me the arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Gen is a thief who is released from prison on the acceptance that he'll steal an item the king desires. Gen agrees, after all what else has he got to lose?

A large portion of this book was the characters traveling to their destination. I loved the world-building and the little stories that the magus and Gen would tell on their travels. I had a feeling that the two had plans for the item Gen was set to steal but didn't forsee the other twists and turns.

My favorite character was Pol. He seemed to genuinely care about everyone, including Gen and keeping everyone safe on their journey.

I saw this book on #netgalley and I was immediately transported back to when I was 8 and stumbled across it in the school library. I'm a bit wary about rereading books i loved as a child. Some books are diminished, tarnished when you read them as an adult but The Thief is just as bright and sparkling a gem as when I first read it.
Eugenides is the best sort of adventure hero... he's so human, he doesn't win every battle of wits, we see him bruised and lost for words. But he's also is cunning, daring and reckless. Megan Whalen Turner writes her supporting characters brilliantly too, they don't follow narrow gender roles and they are all well rounded characters in their own right, not just foils for Eugenides.

I would recommend this to anyone, great for about 8 onwards, bonus if you have an interest in Greek mythology.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. It's a rather slow-paced book full of twists and turns, set in a world inspired by Greek mythology. I can really recommend this book. It's really fun to read. And the ending leaves you wanting to read more. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I really enjoyed this book. Before picking it up, I didn't realise it was first published more than 20 years ago, but I think that soon becomes evident. Despite the plot summary sounding similar to numerous current YA books, the style of writing in this novel is different; it feels more like a classic fantasy story, reminding me a bit of the Eagle of the Ninth books by Rosemary Sutcliffe.

The main character, Gen the thief, is fascinating and it's clear from the beginning there is more to him than meets the eye. I love a charming protagonist, especially when they are surrounded by people who are obviously annoyed by their attitude. The relationship between him and the magus was interesting, firstly antagonistic before developing into grudging mutual respect (to an extent). Most of the time I was irritated at the magus (much like Gen) and found some of his lines particularly thought-provoking. One that stuck out to me was his meditation on folktales and how 'in the hands of common people they get debased', as opposed to the original versions preserved in scholarship - which in my mind completely misses the point of folktales as being an ever evolving cultural heritage.

I enjoyed the story, and particularly appreciated the vivid scenes inside the temple. Embarrassingly, I didn't predict the twist towards the end, though it seems obvious in hindsight. I would recommend this book to fans of quest narratives and fantasy inspired by the classical world.

It is a truly huge event to be granted the access to this gem of a book.
The amount of star-reviews, many of which are given by grand authors of our time, left me starstruck and very excited to get acquainted with this story.
"The Thief" is a legendary inspiration and treasury of traits of character, a study of worldbuilding, a true wikipedia on how a story can captivate a reader.
There's a motive of bonding and self-growth while on the road.
There's a unique cast of characters from all social levels.
There's magic and talent, mesmerising skills and so much joy in an adventurous life.
I hope to read the sequels and find out more about each character and about Gen's, this gem of a personage, way and story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the team behind this release for trusting me with this book!
I am honoured and grateful!

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would! Gen is a rather cocksure youth, but perhaps justifiably so and he certainly had that air of infallibility that so often comes with being a teenager. His "voice" is incredibly entertaining and I very much enjoyed seeing the story directly through his eyes.


The Thief managed to surprise me plenty, even when I'd guessed one thing ((view spoiler)) the plot twisted off in another totally unexpected way. The prose and plot had me riveted, desperately needing to know what would happen next and being unable to put the book down. The moment I rather sadly turned the last page, because goodness me I was not ready to leave the world just yet, I wanted to immediately jump into the next book.


I loved the world MWT created, had it been artwork it would perhaps have been more Claude Monet than Michelangelo, but it included everything I need to know to understand the characters, the quest, the dangers, the politics and the people. All of that detail was cleverly woven throughout the story, absorbing it almost without realising it was present.


I would write more but the longer I'm here the longer I'm NOT out adventuring with Gen, and I know where I'd rather be and what I'd rather be doing!

I read this book a number of years ago and am delighted to see it is being promoted again and that there are talks of a tv show which is very exciting.

Quite simply this is the most wonderful series I have read in recent years. It's full of clever twists and turns, unexpected events and a rich, deeply imagined Greek inspired world. I love it, it's perfect and everyone should read it.

The Thief is a very cleverly written and planned story. I started it and thought it was good but as I read on and on, it picked up momentum and had such a surprising twist and a great ending that I decided it was going to have the five stars. It truly deserves it!! It is also the first of a series which I will really enjoy reading too!!
Gen is the Queen's thief who, at the start of the story is lounging in a cell at His Majesty's pleasure and seems to be there for many years. He is approached by the King's Mage who asks him to help to recover something of great importance. He helps if only to leave the prison!!. He rides out with the mage and three other men, their identities and stories become known as they travel on together. Gen discovers as they reach their destination that the item he is to steal is legendary and possibly not real. He can't believe this but he goes on to seek it out....
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free arc book for an honest review.
#Nwtgallwy, #hodderbooks, #m.w.turner

*“I can steal anything.”*
*“Except myself out of the king’s prison.”*

Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce the narrator, Gen, I fell in love with him from the first page!

There are two stories, Gen and the other, Earth’s Creation and the Birth of the Gods, a myth in this fantasy world.

</i>This may contain spoilers, not much, but if you want everything completely new, may not want to read this.<i>

Earth and the Sky's children, Hephestia the oldest, Hamiathes, and they have more!
Though we come from the Earth, we must thank the Sky for our creation, because it was the Sky that made man. But he was impatient and did not do such a job as the Earth would have done.
The man came out small and weak and without the gifts of the gods.
“Why have you made these?” And the Sky was ashamed.
But no matter what gifts she gave them the humans were ungrateful.

Eugenides (the god of thieves) was a son of Earth but not the Sky. He accidentally killed his brother, Hamiathes saved him, and then Hephestia gave Hamiathes his gift to reward him because she was fond of her brother.
Hamiathes’s Gift is for the king, his right to rule Eddis.

*Now, Gen story*

Gen is a prisoner of the king of Sounis. He bet a man that you could steal the king’s seal and then show it as proof the next day in a wine shop. Talented but in prison, so pitty!

One of the king’s most powerful advisors. the king’s magus wants Gen to steal something in exchange for his freedom and lots of gold, they are off on a secret mission to Eddis.

Eddis was ruled by a queen and a court of eleven ministers, if the king of Sounis has the Hamiathes’s Gift, he can rule two kingdoms.

Gen with magus and three others are on an adventure, many things happen, unexpectedly, they start to know each other, and everyone has a story, a secret!

I love this book, very well built characters, a great new world, creative and interesting. The story is so engaging and enjoyable, to the next!

"Let the gods into your life and you rapidly lose faith in the natural laws. The little birds stopped pecking, and they all fell over dead. I had a stomach full of dead birds..."

My huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley to give me a chance to read The Thief, The first book in the Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date: 05 May 2022