A CONSPIRACY OF KINGS

A CONSPIRACY OF KINGS, by Megan Whalen Turner (Greenwillow/HarperCollins 2010)(ages 12+) is the deliciously Machiavellian follow-up to THE THIEF, THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA, and THE KING OF ATTOLIA.

In brief, it is the story of the quest of Sophos, erstwhile companion of the Thief of Eddis, to secure the throne of Sounis: Effete and affable, Sophos is kidnapped in a coup attempt by fractious barons (but abetted by the ambassador from the Medan empire) against his uncle. His only hope is to bide his time and escape to Attolia. But can Eugenides himself, even with the aid of both Attolia and Eddis, harden him enough to help unite the peninsula against the Mede?

Once again, richly-drawn and sometimes disturbing characters and political and diplomatic intrigue abound in this in-one-sitting read.

KING OF ATTOLIA, by Megan Whalen Turner

KING OF ATTOLIA, by Megan Whalen Turner (Greenwillow/HarperCollins 2006).

Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, is now married to the Queen of Attolia. Goofy and apparently ineffectual, he is despised by the Queen's guardsmen and courtiers. When Costis, a guard, punches him in the face, Eugenides punishes him by assigning him to be his personal lieutenant. In that office, Costis comes to realize that not all is as it seems. Political intrigue and subterfuge abound as the King and Queen attempt to unite their fractious, short-sighted barons to face the threat from the neighboring Mede Empire.

KING OF ATTOLIA is a sequel to THE THIEF (HarperCollins 1996) and QUEEN OF ATTOLIA (Greenwillow/HarperCollins 2000) and is probably best read after those. As in the two preceding novels, in KING OF ATTOLIA, Turner offers well-rounded, genuine characters who are much more than fantasy archetypes; a realistic pseudo-Byzantine world; and provides a fascinating plot evocative of the Great Game and the Balance of Powers.