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The Thief (The Queen's Thief, Book 1) [Paperback]

Megan Whalen Turner
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (232 customer reviews)

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Book Description

December 27, 2005 8 and up

"I can steal anything."

After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task -- to steal a hidden treasure from another land.

To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The bragging thief Gen is sprung from prison by the king in order to carry out a mission-steal the precious stone Hamiathes's Gift from an impossible hiding place. If he succeeds, he'll be rewarded. If he fails, he will be killed. If he runs away, he will be hunted down. Half prisoner, half outlaw legend, Gen goes along with the king's assistant in the risky plan. Set in a semi-Mediterranean realm of old and new gods and goddesses, this compelling adventure propels readers along through the enemy lands of Sounis, Eddis and Attolia. Gen, a beguiling narrator, is afraid of horses but not of entering a locked labyrinth; he comes from a long line of thieves but puts honor first. Turner's (Instead of Three Wishes) device of having Gen and others tell god and goddess stories around the campfire bumpily draws the reader away from the main story, yet the plot is strong enough to survive the wanderings. In addition to its charismatic hero, this story possesses one of the most valuable treasures of all-a twinkling jewel of a surprise ending . Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up?Things are not what they seem in this story of wit, adventure, and philosophy. Gen, an accomplished thief incarcerated for stealing the king's seal, is dragged from his cell by the king's magus, who is on a quest. The prize is Hamiathes's Gift, said to be a creation of the gods that confers the right of rule on the wearer. During the quest, the magus and Gen take turns telling the youngest member of their party myths about the Eddisian god of thieves. Turner does a phenomenal job of creating real people to range through her well-plotted, evenly paced story. No one is entirely evil or completely perfect. Gen is totally human in his lack of discipline, seeming lack of heroism, and need for sleep and food. The magus makes the transition from smug, superior scholar to decent guy in a believable fashion. Turner also does a neat job of puncturing lots of little prejudices. There are many deft lessons in this story. As absorbing as it is, the best part lies in the surprise ending. Though it is foreshadowed throughout, it is not obvious?its impact is more like morning sunlight than a lightning bolt. This book is sure to be a hot item with adventure and fantasy lovers, and YAs who like snide, quick-tempered, softhearted heroes will love Gen.?Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Age Range: 8 and up
  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Greenwillow Books; Reissue edition (December 27, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060824972
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060824976
  • Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (232 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Megan Whalen Turner is married to a professor and often relocates when he needs to do research. When they traveled to Greece one summer, she decided to use its landscape as the background of a book, but didn't write The Thief until she was spending a year in California, where the olive trees reminded her of the Greek mainland.

Customer Reviews

It is great story with a well developed plot and interesting characters. J. Wheeler  |  69 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 66 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Ingeniously Hilarious July 31, 2005
Format:Paperback
It all starts when Gen the thief tells the kingdom of Sounis he can steal anything. To prove himself right he steals the king's seal, and then goes to brag about it in a wineshop. Soon after he is caught and thrown in the dungeon and kept there until the Magus (Sounis's most trusted advisor) wants to use him to steal something. Along with the Magus, his apprentices Ambiades and Sophos, and the soldier Pol, Gen goes on an adventure over the mountains of Eddis to the kingdom of Attolia to steal something that is said to be a myth. The Magus treats Gen like a prized tool, Ambiades treats him like scum, but Gen still manages to add wit to his story that will have you laughing out loud.
The book is good enough to read again and again, but the best time is the first time, because of the ending. You probably will never see it coming, and when all is revealed, it seems like the most clever book in the world.

There is some minor language, but otherwise this book is good for all ages over 8.
Once you read it, don't forget to read the sequel, the Queen of Attolia, which is more for older audiences because it's of a little darker and serious tone.
My sisters and I all are avid readers of fantasy, and we have all agreed that The Thief is one of the best books in the world, likely even the best.
Don't sit around waiting for Harry Potter 7 twiddling your thumbs (2 years of that would put a strain on your hands); read The Thief!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Thief Review January 16, 2001
A Kid's Review
Format:Hardcover
THE THIEF

"The Thief" is a thriller about a prisoner taken out of jail to steal a precious stone. The stone gives immortality to the holder. It is hidden away in an ancient cave that is only open four days in a year and is covered with a river for the rest of the time. Many surprising twists and turns in the plot take place along this journey as the characters' real identities spill out along the story with the "Thief's" large quantity of secrets and tricks and his constant complaining about just being a "tool." This book has a great deal of description and details included in the journey part of the story with a large amount of secrets that a reader is surprised at finding out. The book itself has a great deal of action and traveling mixed in with very well-made up myths and stories about gods taking place in a imaginary land a bit like Greece. I recommend this book to readers that love mystery, action, and many surprising details that slip out of the story, and to sixth graders and up because littler kids may not truly understand this book and would miss out on a great story.

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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Thief May 26, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I am a student at a school and I don't like reading a lot but I liked the book The Thief. When I started reading it was because I was bord but then I noticed that I was reading it on my spare time when I would play video games or watch T.V. but I read instead. The book got me hooked when I started reading. When you read it seems like you are Gen on the adventure with the magus, Pol, and the other people. This book was so good that I am reading a lot more than I had before. So if you like advetnures you should read this book and be part of the adventure.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing and Entertaining
Usually I can be pretty critical in my opinion of a book. I rarely give a book 5 out of 5 stars. However, this book is just too awesome. Read more
Published 8 hours ago by AnnTheAnonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, surprise ending
The Thief is a good story with strong, likable characters. The ending was a surprise that made me want to reread the book! I will be starting the second book ASAP!
Published 1 day ago by Carrie Pierce
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book from childhood
As a child I used to go to the library every week and check out an armload of books, and basically devour any young adult fiction I could get my hands on. Read more
Published 6 days ago by AlyoshaK.
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed every moment!
A delight to read from start to finish. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Published 10 days ago by J. D. Carson
5.0 out of 5 stars The thief
A pretty good read, there were some things that felt slightly under developed and seemed to come out of nowhere but, all in all this book had my attention from start to finish and... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Court
5.0 out of 5 stars Slow start, great finish!
Good book, was a little discouraged in the beginning because it was slow, then the whole time I'm wondering if the their was a girl or boy? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lynae Sidwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Six stars!!!
Having read this book a second time for the shear joy of working my way through a good story, I have finally worked up the nerve to write my first review. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kathleen B. Goebel
5.0 out of 5 stars Suprising.
I love this book because I didn't see the end coming. I hate it when the end is obvious. This book did not disappoint.
Published 2 months ago by Nate and Charlotte
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The author has a good imagination, good writing style and keeps things moving in the story. I recommend the rest of the series, too.
Published 2 months ago by Carla Kishinami
5.0 out of 5 stars Why isn't this book more popular?!
The Thief is fantasy at its most successful!

One of the most difficult tasks of reading and writing fantasy is world building. Read more
Published 2 months ago by RedheadHeroines
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