The King of Attolia
Encyclopedia
The King of Attolia is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner
, first published by Greenwillow Books in 2006.
The King of Attolia is preceded by The Thief
and The Queen of Attolia
, and is followed by A Conspiracy of Kings
. It is the third of Megan Whalen Turner
’s four books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis.
-like imaginary landscape, reminiscent of ancient Greece and other territories around the Mediterranean. The action takes place in the countries of Eddis, Attolia, and Sounis. The characters' names are also Greek, and references are made to actual Greek authors, but this is fantasy, not historical fiction. The gods of Turner's pantheon, ruled by the Great Goddess Hephestia, are her own, and her world possesses such items as guns and pocket watches.
The story is told largely from the point of view of Costis, a young soldier in the Queen's Guard. When the King insults Teleus, captain of the Guard, Costis loses control and knocks the King down. He expects to be executed, but the King spares his life and makes him his reluctant confidant. Costis finds the King maddening, obnoxious, and conniving, but slowly he begins to have some sympathy for Eugenides – a very young man, far from his mountain home in Eddis, married to the beautiful but ruthless Queen.
The plot twists and turns through an assassination attempt and various political intrigues involving the traitorous Baron Erondites and his sons; Relius, the Queen’s master of spies; and Eugenides's old enemy, Nahuseresh of the Mede Empire. Costis begins to realize that there is much more to the King than meets the eye. He gains a clearer understanding of the King's abilities, motives, and complex relationship with the Queen. With this knowledge, Costis finds his own life and reputation at risk. Surprising revelations continue throughout the book, as the fate of three nations hinges on Eugenides's internal struggle to accept his own destiny and truly be the King of Attolia.
, The Horn Book
, Kirkus Reviews
, and Library Media Connection, as well as positive reviews from other review sources. It was a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults, was on the Horn Book Fanfare list, the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list, and the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Masterlist.
Megan Whalen Turner
Megan Whalen Turner is an American author of fantasy fiction for young adults. She received her BA with honors in English language and literature from the University of Chicago in 1987. She is best known for her series of young adult novels primarily revolving around a character named Eugenides...
, first published by Greenwillow Books in 2006.
The King of Attolia is preceded by The Thief
The Thief (1996 novel)
The Thief is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner, first published by HarperCollins on October 1, 1996. It is the first in a series of books, followed by The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia and A Conspiracy of Kings....
and The Queen of Attolia
The Queen of Attolia
The Queen of Attolia is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner, first published by HarperCollins in 2001.The Queen of Attolia is the sequel to The Thief and is the second of Turner's four books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis....
, and is followed by A Conspiracy of Kings
A Conspiracy of Kings
A Conspiracy of Kings is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner and published by Greenwillow Books in 2010.A Conspiracy of Kings is the sequel to The Thief, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. It is the fourth of Megan Whalen Turner’s books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis...
. It is the third of Megan Whalen Turner
Megan Whalen Turner
Megan Whalen Turner is an American author of fantasy fiction for young adults. She received her BA with honors in English language and literature from the University of Chicago in 1987. She is best known for her series of young adult novels primarily revolving around a character named Eugenides...
’s four books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis.
Setting
The books are set in a ByzantineByzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
-like imaginary landscape, reminiscent of ancient Greece and other territories around the Mediterranean. The action takes place in the countries of Eddis, Attolia, and Sounis. The characters' names are also Greek, and references are made to actual Greek authors, but this is fantasy, not historical fiction. The gods of Turner's pantheon, ruled by the Great Goddess Hephestia, are her own, and her world possesses such items as guns and pocket watches.
Plot
Eugenides, the one-handed former Thief of Eddis, has married the Queen of Attolia, bringing peace to the two countries and becoming King. But what kind of a king is he? He slouches on his throne, appears to sleep during important briefings, makes snide remarks, wears ridiculous clothes, and refuses to be more than a figurehead, letting the Queen rule as she has always done. The Attolian court resents him as a foreigner, an upstart, and an ineffectual fool.The story is told largely from the point of view of Costis, a young soldier in the Queen's Guard. When the King insults Teleus, captain of the Guard, Costis loses control and knocks the King down. He expects to be executed, but the King spares his life and makes him his reluctant confidant. Costis finds the King maddening, obnoxious, and conniving, but slowly he begins to have some sympathy for Eugenides – a very young man, far from his mountain home in Eddis, married to the beautiful but ruthless Queen.
The plot twists and turns through an assassination attempt and various political intrigues involving the traitorous Baron Erondites and his sons; Relius, the Queen’s master of spies; and Eugenides's old enemy, Nahuseresh of the Mede Empire. Costis begins to realize that there is much more to the King than meets the eye. He gains a clearer understanding of the King's abilities, motives, and complex relationship with the Queen. With this knowledge, Costis finds his own life and reputation at risk. Surprising revelations continue throughout the book, as the fate of three nations hinges on Eugenides's internal struggle to accept his own destiny and truly be the King of Attolia.
Reviews
The King of Attolia received starred reviews from School Library JournalSchool Library Journal
The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,...
, The Horn Book
Horn Book Magazine
The Horn Book Magazine, founded in Boston in 1924, is a bimonthly periodical about literature for children and young adults. It began life as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony Miller and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietresses of the country's first bookstore for children, The...
, Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
, and Library Media Connection, as well as positive reviews from other review sources. It was a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults, was on the Horn Book Fanfare list, the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list, and the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Masterlist.
See also
- The ThiefThe Thief (1996 novel)The Thief is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner, first published by HarperCollins on October 1, 1996. It is the first in a series of books, followed by The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia and A Conspiracy of Kings....
- The Queen of AttoliaThe Queen of AttoliaThe Queen of Attolia is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner, first published by HarperCollins in 2001.The Queen of Attolia is the sequel to The Thief and is the second of Turner's four books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis....
- A Conspiracy of KingsA Conspiracy of KingsA Conspiracy of Kings is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner and published by Greenwillow Books in 2010.A Conspiracy of Kings is the sequel to The Thief, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. It is the fourth of Megan Whalen Turner’s books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis...