The Queen of Attolia
Encyclopedia
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.
Maimed and broken-hearted, the Thief returns to Eddis and wallows in a deep depression. Attolia, an apparently heartless ruler, secretly regrets her action, but must live with the consequences of it. The countries of Eddis and Attolia are soon at war, with neighboring Sounis playing both sides. Also manipulating the situation is Attolia’s ambassador from the Mede Empire, Nahuseresh, who pays extravagant attention to the beautiful Queen of Attolia while serving his own agenda. As Attolia juggles her overattentive ambassador, the rebellious barons who do not believe a woman can rule alone, and a bloody, costly war, the reader begins to understand what has made her into the Queen – and the person – she is.
Meanwhile, a visit from the magus of Sounis awakens Eugenides to the fact that his country is at war. His cousin, the Queen of Eddis, may lose her throne and her country. Eugenides is forced to grow up and become more than just a boy hero and a clever trickster. He remakes himself into a new kind of hero – and a new kind of Thief. As in The Thief
, the gods play an important role, there are stories within stories, and the clever plot holds more than one surprise.
, Kirkus Reviews
, and Publisher's Weekly, as well as favorable reviews in other review publications.
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 HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
in 2001.
The Queen of Attolia is the sequel to 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 is the second of Turner's four books about Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis.
Setting
The books are set in a Byzantine-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, pocket watches, printed books and stained glass windows.Plot summary
Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, has been caught spying on the Queen of Attolia. He expects to be hanged, but the Queen instead resorts to an ancient traditional custom – she has his right hand struck off with a sword. This shocking act sets the plot in motion.Maimed and broken-hearted, the Thief returns to Eddis and wallows in a deep depression. Attolia, an apparently heartless ruler, secretly regrets her action, but must live with the consequences of it. The countries of Eddis and Attolia are soon at war, with neighboring Sounis playing both sides. Also manipulating the situation is Attolia’s ambassador from the Mede Empire, Nahuseresh, who pays extravagant attention to the beautiful Queen of Attolia while serving his own agenda. As Attolia juggles her overattentive ambassador, the rebellious barons who do not believe a woman can rule alone, and a bloody, costly war, the reader begins to understand what has made her into the Queen – and the person – she is.
Meanwhile, a visit from the magus of Sounis awakens Eugenides to the fact that his country is at war. His cousin, the Queen of Eddis, may lose her throne and her country. Eugenides is forced to grow up and become more than just a boy hero and a clever trickster. He remakes himself into a new kind of hero – and a new kind of Thief. As in 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....
, the gods play an important role, there are stories within stories, and the clever plot holds more than one surprise.
Reviews
The Queen of Attolia received starred reviews from the Horn BookHorn 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 Publisher's Weekly, as well as favorable reviews in other review publications.
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 King of AttoliaThe King of AttoliaThe 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...
- 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...