The Thief by Megan Whalen TurnerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book is a nice, racy read. Since it is a young adult book and I am not the intended audience being in my late 30s, my rating shouldn't matter much. But having read John Green's and J K Rowling's books I felt the book lacked a bit in its story telling.
The Thief is book #1 of The Queen's Thief series and Gen, The Thief doesn't quite inspire confidence when the story begins in the gallows of the King of Sounnis. We are shown his idiocy and weakness and are left wondering how he would redeem his title or his reputation. Once they embark on a quest for an unnamed object, the story starts off and it is engaging and page-turning. His many skills and keen mind that is such a requisite for being a good thief are brought forth as they make way to a place that only one of the team members, the magus of the King of Sounnis.
Up until page 100 odd in this 280 odd pages book, all that we come to read is the detailed description of Gen's journey with four other people through the dry, mountainous regions of Sounnis, Attolia and beyond. It felt like reading Gen's personal diary where he writes in great detail of his hunger at a point and the meals he makes the group stop and have, the curving of the river at some other, his experience on riding a horse and such. There is nothing to grip the reader's attention in all this, but yes, we keep turning the page. The adventure truly started for me only when he enters the temple to steal the stone and even then the description of the place and the perils he was to face there was very mediocrely put. This was no Federick Forsyth book.
The revelation at the end of the book too was not jaw dropping, as perhaps you keep wondering about the disparity between the title and the storyline. But this book was given to me by my reading partner and best friend and I value her taste so much that I intend to read the sequel that she has now lent me. Reading the reviews here, I understand the sequel, The Queen of Attolia, makes one a true fan of the series. I am looking forward to reading this book despite my average rating for the first one, as I think Gen with his smart, whining, secretive nature is quite endearing, relate-able and needs to be given a second chance.
I am hoping the next book throws more light on the place and the supporting characters, and is not so vague about some things that are actually staring at our face.
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