The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

[meganbmoore]

Though the entire series is billed as YA, only The Thief actually YA, IMO, and really mostly because the lead character is fairly young, and the plotline mostly an adventure with good twists. The other two books, while not inappropriate for teenagers, are much more adult and darker, and deal largely with politics and motivations and various interpersonal relationships.

The King of Attolia shifts the narrative focus away from the main characters of the first two books and shows them through the perspective of Costis, a young soldier who makes what should be a fatal misstep, but ends up in the middle of political schemes and dueling factions due to his new king’s whim.

Like all books in the series, this is best read knowing as little as possible about the plot (including reading the back cover copy). Spoilers include spoilers for “Eddis,” the short story in the paperback version, but not the hardcover.

At first I was a bit annoyed that the book was almost entirely from Costis’s POV, but in the end, I adored his overly-serious self. He may be the best thing to ever happen to Gen. Aside from Eddis and Attolia, of course. He also provides a valuable perspective on Gen and Attolia and their relationship, especially the “Dude, how do you love a person who sat there and ordered your hand cut off?” part. And I really love the role reversal with Gen and Attolia’s relationship, where he’s the energetic young thing that softens the cold ruler. Like how he gets wounded and has to pretend it’s minor so Attolia won’t go into a killer rage and have half the court executed.

I feel I should say a lot about all the political ongoings, but all I can really think of to say is that I loved them.

My only disappointment is with how little of Eddis there was in the main story, despite my love for the short story about her childhood. I didn’t realize before that the rulers took on gendered versions of the countries names. (It may have been mentioned before and I forgot, though.) Does that mean Attolia was Attolis before Irene became Attolia? And even though it seems pretty clear that the fourth book will either be about Sophos or Gen finding Sophos, and most likely end with Sophos married to Eddis, the comment about Eddis being the last Eddis worries me! And…well…I like Eddis single! Though I’m not sure she really cares one way or the other, being too busy ruling and all.