The King of Attolia

In Megan Whalen Turner's "The King of Attolia," Eugenides, the notorious Queen's Thief, finds himself in an unexpected and deeply uncomfortable role: the king. Having ascended to the throne of Attolia through a clever, yet politically volatile, maneuver, Eugenides is now a foreign ruler in a court rife with suspicion and outright hostility. He endures the constant provocations, insults, and intricate machinations of the Attolian nobility, who resent his Eddisian heritage and unconventional methods. Used to commanding respect, or at least wariness, Eugenides grapples with dwindling patience as he navigates a labyrinth of political intrigue and potential rebellion. When he intervenes to rescue a hot-headed young soldier, he inadvertently uncovers deeper conspiracies that threaten not only his reign but the fragile peace of the entire region. This installment is a brilliant display of Eugenides' cunning, as he must outwit enemies both seen and unseen, proving that even a king can be the ultimate thief.