The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

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posted: Jul 9th, 2006
under: Entertainment, Reviews

I’ve been on the lookout lately for interesting YA books in general. While pursuing the shelves at Borders, I stumbled upon this one, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.

The story starts with an introduction to a somewhat cantankerous, yet highly amusing character, Gen. He is stuck in jail, having been caught thieving. He bragged about the theft, which is what got him caught.

He is taken from prison and told that the King wishes for him to steal something for him that many believe to only be a myth. Gen’s only other option is death. So onward the journey goes. He travels with the Magus and his two apprentices, Ambiades and Sophos, plus the admirable soldier, Pol.

Gen is treated as a subservient fool and most times is thought of as nothing but a tool to enact the theft. This viewpoint lends a somewhat snide, yet funny and endearing perspective of the story. I enjoyed watching as the character dynamics changed throughout.

Plus, on their journey we are introduced to the legends of their Gods through campfire stories, which I found a wonderful addition to the story. They added flavor to the history of the lands and gave us an understanding of how the people thought and why they did what they did.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale. Yes, a worthy read indeed.

tagged: Books, childrens books, Megan Whalen Turner, the thief