Conspiracy of Kings (Queen's Thief, #4)

by Megan Whalen Turner

[ladygrey]

As always I liked spending time with these characters. The shift between first person and third was interesting, a little jarring at first but then a completely understandable and fun way to handle the narrative.

One of the things I really enjoy about [a:Megan Whalen Turner|22542|Megan Whalen Turner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1489507023p2/22542.jpg] is that she doesn't explain everything, much like [a:Robin McKinley|5339|Robin McKinley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314406026p2/5339.jpg] in her Damar novels. As a reader you have to dig into the subtext and read passages again and again to decipher what they're really saying and the motivations and manipulations going on underneath the surface. I find it incredibly fascinating.

Which is good, because the plot in this one isn't as strong as some of the others. The surprises weren't really surprising and it wasn't as interesting to see Sounis figure out how to be a king as I would normally think it would be (I like those sorts of growing into power stories). I'm sad for Sounis because he never had anyone teach him how to be a king the way his uncle and father should have. And learning from Attolia when you're already king is dangerous because you're weak.

But there were moments I loved. Like when Gen wouldn't be his friend. I knew there was something else going on there because there always is, but when the moment came and I realized he was forcing Sophos to become Sounis - that he couldn't lower himself to be Sophos' friend he had to force him to become a king and then they could be friends as kings - it was brilliant and everything I love about Gen and Turner.

And, as always, I love the light touch of the gods throughout the story. This may not be the most brilliant series of books I've ever read, but it is fascinating which makes it fun for me.