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The Queen's Thief
Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection
Journey to the world of the Queen’s Thief in this beautifully illustrated collection, featuring bestselling and award-winning author Megan Whalen Turner’s charismatic and incorrigible thief, Eugenides. Discover and rediscover friends old and new, and explore the inspiration behind Megan Whalen Turner’s rich world. A stunning and collectible volume to return to again and again.
This collectible companion to the New York Times–bestselling Queen’s Thief series is ideal for longtime fans, as well as readers discovering Megan Whalen Turner’s epic and unforgettable world for the first time. The collection includes all of the author’s previously published short fiction set in the world of the Queen’s Thief, as well as never-before-published stories, vignettes and excerpts, poetry and rhymes, a guide to inspiring objects from museums around the world, and a very special recipe for almond cake.
This collectible companion to the New York Times–bestselling Queen’s Thief series is ideal for longtime fans, as well as readers discovering Megan Whalen Turner’s epic and unforgettable world for the first time. The collection includes all of the author’s previously published short fiction set in the world of the Queen’s Thief, as well as never-before-published stories, vignettes and excerpts, poetry and rhymes, a guide to inspiring objects from museums around the world, and a very special recipe for almond cake.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2022
About the author
Megan Whalen Turner
18 books5,629 followersMegan Whalen Turner is the author of short stories and novels for children, teenagers and adults. She has won the LA Times Book Award for Young Adult LIterature, a Boston Globe/ Horn Book Honor and a Newbery Honor. She won the Mythopoeic Award and was shortlisted twice for the Andre Norton Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
December 23, 2022
Need to re-read/finish the series desperately, as I was a bit lost through some of this. Would not recommend reading as an intro to the series, or if you haven't completed the series. One thing I would have appreciated greatly was a timeframe or something telling if each story was before/during/after which book.
I really shouldn't be complaining but I'm gonna....GOOD GRIEF COULD YOU NOT HAVE THE COVERS MATCH????? At least the spine seems to match the new spines.
I really shouldn't be complaining but I'm gonna....GOOD GRIEF COULD YOU NOT HAVE THE COVERS MATCH????? At least the spine seems to match the new spines.
November 5, 2022
Probably for fans only, a revisit of the Little Peninsula, some short stories, and vignettes, and many earring pictures, and some context on her inspiration. Made my fangirl toes curl. Made me feel all fangirl-y in every single page. Very very satisfying, but probably for rabid fans only, it will be meaningless to people who have not read ALL the other books (the short story collection is not the same universe, not required). It is not a good starting point at all. Go start with the The Thief and keep in mind that is different, more YA in tone (the only proper YA book actually) than all the later books.
According to the final word this volume includes reprints of some short stories included in paperback editions (surprisingly I only knew of one of those... That is good, I have little shelf space, good thing I did not know of extras in redundant paperbacks!), but there are a lot of never published stories and vignettes (some of these very satisfying despite being very short) and 2 new, set generations after the end of the Return of the Thief which seem to have caused a lot of complex feelings in other readers, but I liked those very much despite adding complexity to the what happens next. .
Incidentally MWT calls her books the Geniad. That is going to stick in my mind.
One recipe included - and metric measurements, included, oh thank you! I get a terrible mind blank at recipes in cups and sticks and all, where I look at it and my mind just blanks.
And about sequels, Pheris' missing volumes, oh come on, Megan, come on...Not even for my sake, you know you want to.
According to the final word this volume includes reprints of some short stories included in paperback editions (surprisingly I only knew of one of those... That is good, I have little shelf space, good thing I did not know of extras in redundant paperbacks!), but there are a lot of never published stories and vignettes (some of these very satisfying despite being very short) and 2 new, set generations after the end of the Return of the Thief which seem to have caused a lot of complex feelings in other readers, but I liked those very much despite adding complexity to the what happens next. .
Incidentally MWT calls her books the Geniad. That is going to stick in my mind.
One recipe included - and metric measurements, included, oh thank you! I get a terrible mind blank at recipes in cups and sticks and all, where I look at it and my mind just blanks.
And about sequels, Pheris' missing volumes, oh come on, Megan, come on...Not even for my sake, you know you want to.
November 2, 2022
*Not gonna spoiler tag this because the spoilers are pretty vague, but be warned that there are vague spoilers in the sense that I mention who and what shows up in the book, as well as who does not! >:( *
I can review this. I can. I can do it. I’m sitting here trying to formulate something coherent and it’s painful but I’ll come up with something.
Let’s start with, did I like it? Yes, except for the last two stories. Does that mean the last two stories are bad? No, it just means they make me want to lay face down on the floor and cease to exist.
The delightful part of this is that there’s lot of things in here that I didn’t know I wanted to see, ie: what happens after Attolia’s first husband dies, more of Melheret, Melheret’s wife. There were even a few things I did want to see, namely, more Pheris, Relius and Teleus flirting, Gen visiting the kitchens in TaT, and, most importantly, STENIDES MY MOST BELOVED OFF-SCREEN CHARACTER. (The piggyback ride? A+ exactly what I wanted 10/10 no notes)
The bad part is that it has almost nothing I knew I wanted to see: very little about Costis and Kamet’s future, almost no Laela, absolutely none of the twins???????, absolutely NO COSTIS???????????? (he’s mentioned but where is he!!! I want him here!!!), ALMOST no Kamet, NO Sophos (not even a name drop), no explanation of what happened to Aulus and Boagus, no Minister of War. I had a small but persistent hope that Gen’s mama might make an appearance, but to no avail. And then there’s reveals about the future of the Little Peninsula that make me sad so I am trying valiantly and failing to expunge them from my memory. So is it bad? No. Am I going to tactfully avoid parts of it in a way that I haven’t done since I learned the ending of all King Arthur stories as a child? 100%.
One of the things I loved most about Return of the Thief was that it had a very open and very hopeful ending. Many series – especially fantasy – end bittersweetly, with just a hint of hope. I LOVE that RoTT swung more to the hope end of the spectrum. But as much as the introduction claims MWT wants to leave room for imagination but not giving everything away, I think the last two stories in this book partially undermine that and undermine the hopeful and perfect ending of Alyta’s Missing Earring. It's a much more fitting bookend to the series – returning to Gen and Moira and the link between the mortal and immortal planes. Gen dressed as his god but more human than he’s appeared in ages. It returns to a Gen who doubts, rather than the infallible thief people in his time see him as, or Eugenides the Great that Gitta reads about in her history books. For me, the humanity of the characters – the mix of good and evil in everyone, even dislikable people like Sejanus - one of the series's best features. I think Attolia’s line about war turning people into monsters encapsulates it well – they are the beloved characters we know, but they have also done terrible things. It is virtually impossible to read this series if you are one of those people who thinks the ‘good guys’ should do no wrong. It reminds me too of Kamet’s stories about Nahuseresh. Certainly he has a lot of denial and repression going on, but Marin remains a sticking point in the argument that Nahuseresh is completely incapable of basic human decency. I’m rambling, but what I’m getting at is that the humanity of the characters has always been the best part of this series. The vague but very present family/royal drama in the last two stories of this book shift the focus away from the hopeful humanity of the whole series, so while I don’t really like the content of the final story, I can appreciate it as a sort of alternate ending, because it shows me how GOOD the real ending was. That story would have undermined the humanity of the rest of the series, but Alyta’s Missing Earring highlights the humanity of it. Viewed that way, I like it. If I view it as actual canon in the storyline of the series? I hate it.
If I were judging the first 90% of the book, I'd give it four stars. But the last two stories kind of kill it for me. The only way I can put up with them is if I view them as deleted scenes, or like the different versions of stories in Tolkien's legendarium: an interesting alternative, but left out or changed because they don't quite work.
Basically, the book as a whole is an exploration in worldbuilding that gives a bit more context to the main series, without any huge revelations except for a few devastating ones that hit you in the end. I very much doubt I'll reread it the way I constantly reread the rest of the series. It must be said that MWT is SO great at creating background characters that draw you in, but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. BUT! I don’t know why I’m surprised: yet again, Megan Whalen Turner is Not Telling you what you really want to know.
I can review this. I can. I can do it. I’m sitting here trying to formulate something coherent and it’s painful but I’ll come up with something.
Let’s start with, did I like it? Yes, except for the last two stories. Does that mean the last two stories are bad? No, it just means they make me want to lay face down on the floor and cease to exist.
The delightful part of this is that there’s lot of things in here that I didn’t know I wanted to see, ie: what happens after Attolia’s first husband dies, more of Melheret, Melheret’s wife. There were even a few things I did want to see, namely, more Pheris, Relius and Teleus flirting, Gen visiting the kitchens in TaT, and, most importantly, STENIDES MY MOST BELOVED OFF-SCREEN CHARACTER. (The piggyback ride? A+ exactly what I wanted 10/10 no notes)
The bad part is that it has almost nothing I knew I wanted to see: very little about Costis and Kamet’s future, almost no Laela, absolutely none of the twins???????, absolutely NO COSTIS???????????? (he’s mentioned but where is he!!! I want him here!!!), ALMOST no Kamet, NO Sophos (not even a name drop), no explanation of what happened to Aulus and Boagus, no Minister of War. I had a small but persistent hope that Gen’s mama might make an appearance, but to no avail. And then there’s reveals about the future of the Little Peninsula that make me sad so I am trying valiantly and failing to expunge them from my memory. So is it bad? No. Am I going to tactfully avoid parts of it in a way that I haven’t done since I learned the ending of all King Arthur stories as a child? 100%.
One of the things I loved most about Return of the Thief was that it had a very open and very hopeful ending. Many series – especially fantasy – end bittersweetly, with just a hint of hope. I LOVE that RoTT swung more to the hope end of the spectrum. But as much as the introduction claims MWT wants to leave room for imagination but not giving everything away, I think the last two stories in this book partially undermine that and undermine the hopeful and perfect ending of Alyta’s Missing Earring. It's a much more fitting bookend to the series – returning to Gen and Moira and the link between the mortal and immortal planes. Gen dressed as his god but more human than he’s appeared in ages. It returns to a Gen who doubts, rather than the infallible thief people in his time see him as, or Eugenides the Great that Gitta reads about in her history books. For me, the humanity of the characters – the mix of good and evil in everyone, even dislikable people like Sejanus - one of the series's best features. I think Attolia’s line about war turning people into monsters encapsulates it well – they are the beloved characters we know, but they have also done terrible things. It is virtually impossible to read this series if you are one of those people who thinks the ‘good guys’ should do no wrong. It reminds me too of Kamet’s stories about Nahuseresh. Certainly he has a lot of denial and repression going on, but Marin remains a sticking point in the argument that Nahuseresh is completely incapable of basic human decency. I’m rambling, but what I’m getting at is that the humanity of the characters has always been the best part of this series. The vague but very present family/royal drama in the last two stories of this book shift the focus away from the hopeful humanity of the whole series, so while I don’t really like the content of the final story, I can appreciate it as a sort of alternate ending, because it shows me how GOOD the real ending was. That story would have undermined the humanity of the rest of the series, but Alyta’s Missing Earring highlights the humanity of it. Viewed that way, I like it. If I view it as actual canon in the storyline of the series? I hate it.
If I were judging the first 90% of the book, I'd give it four stars. But the last two stories kind of kill it for me. The only way I can put up with them is if I view them as deleted scenes, or like the different versions of stories in Tolkien's legendarium: an interesting alternative, but left out or changed because they don't quite work.
Basically, the book as a whole is an exploration in worldbuilding that gives a bit more context to the main series, without any huge revelations except for a few devastating ones that hit you in the end. I very much doubt I'll reread it the way I constantly reread the rest of the series. It must be said that MWT is SO great at creating background characters that draw you in, but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. BUT! I don’t know why I’m surprised: yet again, Megan Whalen Turner is Not Telling you what you really want to know.
November 3, 2022
What a pleasure it was to read this excellent collection! It was full of short stories, microfiction, character quotes, poetry, anecdotes, and a slew of illustrations.
The Queen's Thief series has always been one of my favorite series, and I loved revisiting with Gen, Helen, Irene and other characters both old and new. This puts me in the mood for a re-read of that series, now. If you are a fan of the series, this is well worth your time!
The Queen's Thief series has always been one of my favorite series, and I loved revisiting with Gen, Helen, Irene and other characters both old and new. This puts me in the mood for a re-read of that series, now. If you are a fan of the series, this is well worth your time!
November 9, 2022
I won't be able to review this until I reread it a few times. It's definitely a collection for existing fans, because I have no idea how a new reader would make sense of this.
Parts of this book felt a little bit like an epilogue for the series. I got weirdly choked up during the first story, and openly cried during the last couple.
Parts of this book felt a little bit like an epilogue for the series. I got weirdly choked up during the first story, and openly cried during the last couple.
November 3, 2022
Missing from this volume is a story about the live-in woodworker that I assume the Attolian palace staff eventually had to hire to repair and remake all the furniture their king and queen damage whenever they have one of their blow-out fights--which, according to the series as written, happen on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
Also missing--to my huge disappointment, even though I knew we wouldn't get any--is any Sophos/Eddis stories, or any Sophos at all, really. I think this affected my mood when I eventually finished the book.
I'll be curious as to everyone else's thoughts...but upon first reading (an important distinction for a mwt book), I found the two concluding short stories to be really sad. They were also full of so many obscure details that you will have to reread them several times to understand and connect it properly to the original series--and yeah, I get that sometimes this is the *point* of the books, a game we all agreed to play and all that. But with these particular stories, even if you put in the time and effort to connect all the dots, you'd still be without a lot of information, simply because MWT doesn't give it to you. What she does give is a lot of nagging hints about things that happened, and then stops short of telling the full stories that her audience probably wants most to hear. It just felt...so deliberately obtuse. I was left with a lot of questions, and I didn't really want to have questions when I finished this. I especially didn't want to be left confused and sad.
Everything before the last two stories was good, though. I love that we finally have Breia's Earrings in print. I always had to look that up as a PDF online (I think it was called "Thief!" in its original published form?) I also love that we have all her short stories here together in one volume--though I'm a little bit irritated that I spent so much money and energy collecting all the different book editions just so I could have access to all the short stories.
This review makes it sound like I didn't like this book. Obviously I loved it. I worship everything mwt writes, lick her shoes, etc. However, my overall feeling after I finished this is still...sadness. Heavy-hearted. Though I suspect that if there had been at least one (happy) Sophos/Eddis story, my mood might have been different.
Also missing--to my huge disappointment, even though I knew we wouldn't get any--is any Sophos/Eddis stories, or any Sophos at all, really. I think this affected my mood when I eventually finished the book.
I'll be curious as to everyone else's thoughts...but upon first reading (an important distinction for a mwt book), I found the two concluding short stories to be really sad. They were also full of so many obscure details that you will have to reread them several times to understand and connect it properly to the original series--and yeah, I get that sometimes this is the *point* of the books, a game we all agreed to play and all that. But with these particular stories, even if you put in the time and effort to connect all the dots, you'd still be without a lot of information, simply because MWT doesn't give it to you. What she does give is a lot of nagging hints about things that happened, and then stops short of telling the full stories that her audience probably wants most to hear. It just felt...so deliberately obtuse. I was left with a lot of questions, and I didn't really want to have questions when I finished this. I especially didn't want to be left confused and sad.
Everything before the last two stories was good, though. I love that we finally have Breia's Earrings in print. I always had to look that up as a PDF online (I think it was called "Thief!" in its original published form?) I also love that we have all her short stories here together in one volume--though I'm a little bit irritated that I spent so much money and energy collecting all the different book editions just so I could have access to all the short stories.
This review makes it sound like I didn't like this book. Obviously I loved it. I worship everything mwt writes, lick her shoes, etc. However, my overall feeling after I finished this is still...sadness. Heavy-hearted. Though I suspect that if there had been at least one (happy) Sophos/Eddis story, my mood might have been different.
December 13, 2022
12/12/22
Jennie and I reviewed this for Dear Author a week ago. Here’s an excerpt from our review.
This is a partial review. You can find the rest at Dear Author, at this link:
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/j...
11/15/22
Rating and a longer review to come.
In brief, this is a short book and fans of the Queen’s Thief series will have read some of this material before. There’s some original material too, essays about antiquities and short works of fiction. I would not call most of these short stories, they are more like vignettes, a couple of pages long, and a couple of them are written in play or screenplay format, just dialogue and nothing else.
The last couple of chapters “The End of Eddis” and “Gitta,” especially the latter, provide a lot of information about what happened after the ending of Return of the Thief, and these have left me with complicated feelings. Some of it casts a shadow over the joyous ending of Return of the Thief. In all honestly though, I think the major issue here is that “Gitta” isn’t a short story but the prologue to a much longer work and I haven no idea if MWT plans to write that novel (or series?) anytime soon. In one of my interviews with her she said she wanted to move on to a new world and story. So then why open this whole new chapter about Gitta and her future and her family’s past? It brings up a lot of questions and answers very few. Exactly as a good prologue should. But now I want the rest!
Jennie and I reviewed this for Dear Author a week ago. Here’s an excerpt from our review.
Janine: Megan Whalen Turner completed her Queen’s Thief series two years ago, and the essays, stories and vignettes in Moira’s Pen, a new collection of set in the same world and featuring some of the same characters, are a bit like the big crumbs and smears of ganache left on your plate when you’ve finished an amazing slice of chocolate cake. The cake was so good that even the crumbs are tantalizing and you can’t let them go uneaten.
This is my perspective as a huge fan of the series. With that said, the book feels padded and it is short to begin with, just 180 pages if you don’t count the glossary (I don’t).
Jennie: The book did feel surprisingly slight to me.
Janine: I expected some slightness but I do wish there was more.
Of the works of fiction, I recognized a number of reprints. Here is a rundown of those. “Eddis Goes Camping,” “Knife Dance” and “Alyta’s Missing Earrings” are bonus short stories from previous print editions. “Breia’s Earrings” could be considered either a short story or a vignette and appeared in a publication many years ago. “The Destruction of Hamiathes’s Gift,” and “Wineshop,” are paperback edition bonuses that I would characterize as vignettes. “A Trip to Mycenae” is a travelogue that and a rather boring one for me (it was also an extra in one of the paperbacks). “Envoy” is the last chapter / epilogue in Thick as Thieves and “The River Knows,” a poem, was part of Thick as Thieves as well.
(The poem makes its appearance during a private conversation in palace gardens of Attolia, when Irene asked Kamet to recite it to. Its themes run along Ecclesiastes 3’s (“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven / A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted […]). Turner’s version is just as lovely IMO and it broke my heart all over again, because that scene in Thick as Thieves takes place after Irene’s miscarriage and the poem is written as a dialogue between mother and child. Rereading it moved me so much that I opened my copy of Thick as Thieves and reread these lines: “The queen looked down at her hands, stroking the soft velvet of a cushion, and said, ‘It was not her time. We will welcome her when she comes again. […]’”)
Of the reprints my favorite is probably “Alyta’s Missing Earring” and after that “Eddis Goes Camping” and “The River Knows.” “Alyta’s Missing Earring” is the first is a magical half timeless myth, half-story that takes place in Gen’s time, and a meditation on the nature of fate. The ending circles back in a resonant and romantic way. I loved this one the first time I read it too.
Jennie: I love “Alyta’s Missing Earring” precisely because of the resonant and circular nature of the story and characters.
Janine: I also thought it was delightful that there four pieces about earrings—it was fitting since they were Gen’s favorite item to steal.
I’ve read “Eddis Goes Camping” more than once in the past. We see Helen’s first encounter with the gods as a child of nine. I’ve always loved stories where a child forgets something magical and important that they once knew and the memory is lost to them for a long time or even forever.
I am glad to have the reprints collected in one place with nice illustrations but I was disappointed that there wasn’t more new material. Did you feel that way too?
This is a partial review. You can find the rest at Dear Author, at this link:
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/j...
11/15/22
Rating and a longer review to come.
In brief, this is a short book and fans of the Queen’s Thief series will have read some of this material before. There’s some original material too, essays about antiquities and short works of fiction. I would not call most of these short stories, they are more like vignettes, a couple of pages long, and a couple of them are written in play or screenplay format, just dialogue and nothing else.
The last couple of chapters “The End of Eddis” and “Gitta,” especially the latter, provide a lot of information about what happened after the ending of Return of the Thief, and these have left me with complicated feelings. Some of it casts a shadow over the joyous ending of Return of the Thief. In all honestly though, I think the major issue here is that “Gitta” isn’t a short story but the prologue to a much longer work and I haven no idea if MWT plans to write that novel (or series?) anytime soon. In one of my interviews with her she said she wanted to move on to a new world and story. So then why open this whole new chapter about Gitta and her future and her family’s past? It brings up a lot of questions and answers very few. Exactly as a good prologue should. But now I want the rest!
November 1, 2022
A glimpse into Megan Whalen Turner's mind
Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection arrived at a good time for me. Every now and again my back decides to torment me with muscle spasms, and I get to spend several days at home immobile until the capricious God of Muscle Spasms frees me. Thus the release at midnight last night of Moira's Pen could not have been better timed. I'm not going to tell you you need to have a bad back to enjoy Moira's Pen, but if you do, it is almost perfect. Almost perfect, but it suffers from one grave fault -- it is far too short. I read it from cover to cover (including even the glossary) in about three hours.
Moira's Pen consists, aside from front and end-matter, of 34 chapters. Since I just told you I read the entire book in three hours, you will immediately deduce that the chapters are quite short. About half the chapters are stories from the World of The Queen's Thief. You must absolutely read the novels before Moira's Pen -- most of the stories will make little sense unless you have done that, and besides, they are very good novels. Being so short, many of the stories are barely stories -- often they are just vignettes, revealing glimpses of key characters of The Queen's Thief at key moments. We are often privy to their thoughts. For instance, two of the stories are about Melheret, whom we met in the series as the Median ambassador to Attolia, in which capacity he did not show to advantage. Seen from behind his own eyes, he is a more sympathetic figure.
I said that about half the chapters are stories. The others tell of Turner's personal recollections and experiences. She describes to us several artworks that inspired items in the novels, for instance, some of the earrings with which Eugenides (Gen) is so obsessed. (We learn a bit more about why that is, too.) Sometimes she also tells us of how she encountered these things. One chapter is a recipe for almond cakes that play a role in the novels. Many of these things are illustrated in drawings by Deena So'Oteh.
There is one thing I was very much hoping for, and I mostly got it, but not as I expected. At the end of the last novel, Return of the Thief, Queen Irene gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Gen named the girl Eugenia, recognizing that she was the new Thief of Eddis, thus his heir in that god-ordained role. I really wanted a story of Eugenia. We get that in the final story, "Gitta". But it is not quite that, and I will leave it to you to find out how Turner handled the descent of the Thief of Eddis.
Blog review.
Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection arrived at a good time for me. Every now and again my back decides to torment me with muscle spasms, and I get to spend several days at home immobile until the capricious God of Muscle Spasms frees me. Thus the release at midnight last night of Moira's Pen could not have been better timed. I'm not going to tell you you need to have a bad back to enjoy Moira's Pen, but if you do, it is almost perfect. Almost perfect, but it suffers from one grave fault -- it is far too short. I read it from cover to cover (including even the glossary) in about three hours.
Moira's Pen consists, aside from front and end-matter, of 34 chapters. Since I just told you I read the entire book in three hours, you will immediately deduce that the chapters are quite short. About half the chapters are stories from the World of The Queen's Thief. You must absolutely read the novels before Moira's Pen -- most of the stories will make little sense unless you have done that, and besides, they are very good novels. Being so short, many of the stories are barely stories -- often they are just vignettes, revealing glimpses of key characters of The Queen's Thief at key moments. We are often privy to their thoughts. For instance, two of the stories are about Melheret, whom we met in the series as the Median ambassador to Attolia, in which capacity he did not show to advantage. Seen from behind his own eyes, he is a more sympathetic figure.
I said that about half the chapters are stories. The others tell of Turner's personal recollections and experiences. She describes to us several artworks that inspired items in the novels, for instance, some of the earrings with which Eugenides (Gen) is so obsessed. (We learn a bit more about why that is, too.) Sometimes she also tells us of how she encountered these things. One chapter is a recipe for almond cakes that play a role in the novels. Many of these things are illustrated in drawings by Deena So'Oteh.
There is one thing I was very much hoping for, and I mostly got it, but not as I expected. At the end of the last novel, Return of the Thief, Queen Irene gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Gen named the girl Eugenia, recognizing that she was the new Thief of Eddis, thus his heir in that god-ordained role. I really wanted a story of Eugenia. We get that in the final story, "Gitta". But it is not quite that, and I will leave it to you to find out how Turner handled the descent of the Thief of Eddis.
Blog review.
May 26, 2023
"My queen," said Xanthe, "you are Eddia."
Helen shook her head. Knowing the consternation it would cause, and knowing she would overcome it, she said, "No, I am Eddis. The gods have told me so."
This is perfect for fans of the Queen's Thief books. All the stories are short and leave room for the imagination, which is what Megan Whalen Turner does best. But they do answer some questions and fill in some gaps from the main series (as well as let us see what happens to a few characters after Return of the Thief). I know a lot of it was previously published, but seeing as I read the series in a variety of editions from different libraries, I'm very happy they're all collected in one place now. There are also little tidbits about the pieces of Greek culture that inspired the writing. Plus there are lovely illustrations (lots of earrings!), and interspersed between the chapters are iconic quotes from the series which I was very happy to see!
-Do not offend the gods.
-I am a master of foolhardy plans.
-Sometimes, if you want to change a man's mind, you have to change the mind of the man next to him first.
-If I am the pawn of the gods, it is because they know me so well, not because they make my mind up for me.
-Unkingly in so many ways, My King.
-If we truly trust no one, we cannot survive.
Spoilery thoughts:
The River will rise
The seed will sprout
The rains come down
And the leaves unfurl
The hind will bring her children to graze before us
All in their time
If you haven't read the main series, don't start here, but please do read the books. Masterfully plotted & beautifully written, a good mix of heist & court intrigue, drawing on ancient & Byzantine Greek culture & mythology, featuring incredible characters & relationships. I read a lot of YA fantasy. These are the kind that I'll still be reading in fifty years, and I hope and think others will too. And if you haven't met Gen yet, you're missing out.
"Ask yourself, Eugenides: why that orange tree? Why that tamarisk bush? She had promised you your heart's desire while a child of hes was alone in the world and unhappy. See, Eugenides," Moira said, holding out a finger from each of her hands and interlinking them. "Only two threads brought together, two threads that touched," she reassured him. "Nothing more than that. And everything else left up to you."
December 17, 2022
This is a nice addition to the series, but doesn't work for readers who haven't read all the books, ideally more than once. I've read them all and couldn't remember some of the details.
The stronger stories are mostly available in other places, so if you're on a book budget check that you haven't already got them.
3.5 rounded down because I was hoping for more substance. May round up if the almond cake recipe is above average.
The stronger stories are mostly available in other places, so if you're on a book budget check that you haven't already got them.
3.5 rounded down because I was hoping for more substance. May round up if the almond cake recipe is above average.
November 29, 2022
Practically perfect. I loved this.
December 23, 2022
4.5 stars for this volume of previously published stories and new material. I wasn't expecting anything substantial or weighty, so I was satisfied with what I got.
The best thing it did for me was to remind me that it is high time to re-read the whole series! It has been far too long since I did so.
The best thing it did for me was to remind me that it is high time to re-read the whole series! It has been far too long since I did so.
November 27, 2022
Okay...so I was kind of disappointed, and expected more new stories in addition to the already existing ones. Although some of the new content was great, some of the stories left me beyond confused as to WHAT was happening—particularly the one with Laela coming to Kamet—WHO are all these women in his household??? Unless they're the wives of him Costis and the other guy who supposedly have a farm together?
Two things I was dying to have included: Dite's song about the wedding night, and what Eugenides said to him in the gardens. Instead of having questions answered, we were given more questions and I've been left befuddled. That last story in which we finally learn who Gita, the person the books write on the maps that these records are for, was maddening. For me, it killed the resolution of Return of The Thief. I get it if you want a new series, and I would have loved one with Hector and Eugenia; but IS this a hint at a new series, or just a tease for torture? Also, we went through the whole series of the three countries of the Little Peninsula joining together and establishing peace while still remaining rulers of their own domains, only to learn that they combined into one kingdom. And I imagine this happened either in our protagonists' lifetimes or at least shortly after, given the whole thing with Eugenia escaping and running away after her brother disappeared. Which is...depressing. The books ended with this promise of a golden era, and instead we find it all collapsed a generation later. Also, WHAT IS PHERIS'S ROLE IN THIS??
Imagining Eugenides's daughter getting into similar mischief and misadventures as him while helping her brother's reign got me through the bummer that was the fact of the ending of this amazing series. And I was so excited when I heard this book was coming out. But now I'm disappointed. And mad. And sad because WHAT HAPPENED TO EUGENIDES'S POOR CHILDREN??? Also, how sad is it that Eddis essentially dies alone, without any of her loved ones with her? It's awful! And WHERE is Sophos in any of this??? Must he get absolutely no page time (other than a brief mention of him being present during the throwing of the rock into the mountain, not even by name but by his title—heir)???
I am giving this book a respectable 3 stars because of my love and respect for MWT and her writing chops, but I am spitting mad at this book, which A: I felt could have included more new content and B: served to undermine much of the original ending of the series (in my opinion at least).
I'm all for a spinoff series, but not if it kills the original's awesomeness by making everything go to hell 5 seconds after it ended.
Two things I was dying to have included: Dite's song about the wedding night, and what Eugenides said to him in the gardens. Instead of having questions answered, we were given more questions and I've been left befuddled. That last story in which we finally learn who Gita, the person the books write on the maps that these records are for, was maddening. For me, it killed the resolution of Return of The Thief. I get it if you want a new series, and I would have loved one with Hector and Eugenia; but IS this a hint at a new series, or just a tease for torture? Also, we went through the whole series of the three countries of the Little Peninsula joining together and establishing peace while still remaining rulers of their own domains, only to learn that they combined into one kingdom. And I imagine this happened either in our protagonists' lifetimes or at least shortly after, given the whole thing with Eugenia escaping and running away after her brother disappeared. Which is...depressing. The books ended with this promise of a golden era, and instead we find it all collapsed a generation later. Also, WHAT IS PHERIS'S ROLE IN THIS??
Imagining Eugenides's daughter getting into similar mischief and misadventures as him while helping her brother's reign got me through the bummer that was the fact of the ending of this amazing series. And I was so excited when I heard this book was coming out. But now I'm disappointed. And mad. And sad because WHAT HAPPENED TO EUGENIDES'S POOR CHILDREN??? Also, how sad is it that Eddis essentially dies alone, without any of her loved ones with her? It's awful! And WHERE is Sophos in any of this??? Must he get absolutely no page time (other than a brief mention of him being present during the throwing of the rock into the mountain, not even by name but by his title—heir)???
I am giving this book a respectable 3 stars because of my love and respect for MWT and her writing chops, but I am spitting mad at this book, which A: I felt could have included more new content and B: served to undermine much of the original ending of the series (in my opinion at least).
I'm all for a spinoff series, but not if it kills the original's awesomeness by making everything go to hell 5 seconds after it ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2022
Really lovely, with MWT's characteristic interest in showing different sides of her cast and glimpses of their lives that didn't fit neatly into the novels. I think everyone will have some wishlist items unfulfilled, and other things they didn't know they needed. It raises more questions than answers, but isn't that part of what we love about her writing?
Without spoilers, I will say I did not find some of the stories other reviewers described as sad to be so, though I did cry. I think the whole book is moving and does a lot with the series' themes while looking into the past and future in a way I can't stop thinking about. There are entire novels in the blank spaces, and my mind's been filling them in; I feel rich, I feel buried under an avalanche.
This book deepens and seasons the main series, and as a big fan, I responded to it like a box of chocolates.
Without spoilers, I will say I did not find some of the stories other reviewers described as sad to be so, though I did cry. I think the whole book is moving and does a lot with the series' themes while looking into the past and future in a way I can't stop thinking about. There are entire novels in the blank spaces, and my mind's been filling them in; I feel rich, I feel buried under an avalanche.
This book deepens and seasons the main series, and as a big fan, I responded to it like a box of chocolates.
November 18, 2022
okay what am i supposed to do with that
Rep: gay mc, bi mc
Rep: gay mc, bi mc
January 3, 2023
Maybe it's just that I spent $20 on this book and the hardcover was crooked which made the spine look a little off (it's hard to explain without seeing it) but I was, sadly, a little disappointed by Moira's Pen. And of course this cover doesn't match the rest of the series, and the hardcover is too tall to fit nicely next to them, so I have to shelve it separately. Bookshelf sadness!
I'd already read about half of the short stories, and the rest was mostly nonfiction little snippets about real history and archeology that inspired bits of the Queen's Thief series, and one recipe. It's not very bulky, either - the short stories are all very short and the nonfiction bits each aren't over two pages each. But they were interesting, and it was nice to have the short stories collected. Not to be too negative!
But... I have to admit that I really wanted more Gen and Irene. I'd have taken more Helen and Sophos, or some about Gen and Irene's offspring, but unfortunately we didn't get that in Moira's Pen. :(
I'd already read about half of the short stories, and the rest was mostly nonfiction little snippets about real history and archeology that inspired bits of the Queen's Thief series, and one recipe. It's not very bulky, either - the short stories are all very short and the nonfiction bits each aren't over two pages each. But they were interesting, and it was nice to have the short stories collected. Not to be too negative!
But... I have to admit that I really wanted more Gen and Irene. I'd have taken more Helen and Sophos, or some about Gen and Irene's offspring, but unfortunately we didn't get that in Moira's Pen. :(
November 22, 2022
I’m very slightly annoyed by this book because I had no freaking clue what happened! Someone please explain the “Gitta” ending to me!
Other than my confusion, I was happy to be back in this world for even a brief moment. I love these books so much and even though I don’t really understand them, I love them!
The story with Gen and the cook was my absolute favorite!
Other than my confusion, I was happy to be back in this world for even a brief moment. I love these books so much and even though I don’t really understand them, I love them!
The story with Gen and the cook was my absolute favorite!
Want to read
June 12, 2022Yesss! So excited.
March 4, 2023
a nice little collection of stories to tide over fans of the queen's thief after the end of the series. the stories that i liked were "breia's earrings", "wineshop", "the cook and the king of attolia" and "alyta's missing earring".
while it was good to see snippets of gen, irene and helen's backstories, as well as some missing scenes from the series, i feel like this collection has a lot of lost potential. we could've had fun little stories of what happens after, gen and irene as parents, stories about the twins as kids, sophos and helen and their kids, extra scenes from costis and kamet's POVs, the possibilities are endless. there were some confusing things about this collection as well, like the fact that the story "envoy" is already a canon scene in thick as thieves.
also, i agree with the other reviewers that the last story "gitta" is a massive letdown and i'd rather it not exist. it honestly undermines the beautiful, hopeful ending of return of the thief. "alyta's missing earring" is the perfect epilogue for this series and it will remain so in my head.
while it was good to see snippets of gen, irene and helen's backstories, as well as some missing scenes from the series, i feel like this collection has a lot of lost potential. we could've had fun little stories of what happens after, gen and irene as parents, stories about the twins as kids, sophos and helen and their kids, extra scenes from costis and kamet's POVs, the possibilities are endless. there were some confusing things about this collection as well, like the fact that the story "envoy" is already a canon scene in thick as thieves.
also, i agree with the other reviewers that the last story "gitta" is a massive letdown and i'd rather it not exist. it honestly undermines the beautiful, hopeful ending of return of the thief. "alyta's missing earring" is the perfect epilogue for this series and it will remain so in my head.
May 3, 2024
I was so excited to finally get a copy (the gorgeous Owl Crate edition!) of this collection of short stories from the world of the Queen's Theif series I knew I had to read it immediately. It did not disappoint.
I definitely recommend this only for fans who have read the *entire* series. If you don't, you'll be lacking essential context for some of the stories that give glimpses into the youth or future of certain beloved characters. I'd read several of the stories featured here since my copies of books 1 and 2 were older ones that didn't include any shorts at the end, but my copies of books 3, 4, 5, and 6 are newer editions that did include shorts. So, I enjoyed rereading those and then enjoyed discovering the ones that I hadn't read. I was also delighted by the little historical snippets that MWT included, that informed us about bits of research that inspired the elements in the books over the years. The story where a German tourist mistook her and her husband for ghosts walking out of a dark tunnel was particularly entertaining. XD
And the illustrations! I haven't seen anyone else's reviews mention them, but I loved them so much! They were so detailed and pretty and really added to my reading experience. My favorite one was two-page long story that had charming little bees all over the pages (because the story featured bees.)
If I had to complain about anything, it would be that I finished the book before I expected to because a good chunk of the final pages was an appendix of character names and descriptions and then ther were several more pages with quotes from reviews. But, all things considered, that was pretty minor in comparison to my enjoyment of the book itself.
Overall, I found this collection delightful and really enjoyed reading it. When I eventually reread the main series, I can see myself reading this again as well when I'm done.
I definitely recommend this only for fans who have read the *entire* series. If you don't, you'll be lacking essential context for some of the stories that give glimpses into the youth or future of certain beloved characters. I'd read several of the stories featured here since my copies of books 1 and 2 were older ones that didn't include any shorts at the end, but my copies of books 3, 4, 5, and 6 are newer editions that did include shorts. So, I enjoyed rereading those and then enjoyed discovering the ones that I hadn't read. I was also delighted by the little historical snippets that MWT included, that informed us about bits of research that inspired the elements in the books over the years. The story where a German tourist mistook her and her husband for ghosts walking out of a dark tunnel was particularly entertaining. XD
And the illustrations! I haven't seen anyone else's reviews mention them, but I loved them so much! They were so detailed and pretty and really added to my reading experience. My favorite one was two-page long story that had charming little bees all over the pages (because the story featured bees.)
If I had to complain about anything, it would be that I finished the book before I expected to because a good chunk of the final pages was an appendix of character names and descriptions and then ther were several more pages with quotes from reviews. But, all things considered, that was pretty minor in comparison to my enjoyment of the book itself.
Overall, I found this collection delightful and really enjoyed reading it. When I eventually reread the main series, I can see myself reading this again as well when I'm done.
November 2, 2022
Alright she didn’t have to do me like that with that last story
November 18, 2022
I've read most of the stories here before, but it's nice to have them all compiled in one place. A pleasant coda to the series.
April 23, 2023
As much as I love the original book series, this collection was rather meh, with many of the stories being too short to really get me immersed in them and much lost potential as we see rather little of our favourite characters' future. Especially so, as I had already read all the short stories from the papaerback editions which I collected. The two stories I did truly enjoy were "Breia's Earrings" and "The Cook and the King of Attolia".
June 22, 2024
It was so nice to experience some of my favorite characters again. The last two short stories felt a little out of place but the rest of it made me want to reread this lovely series again.
October 25, 2022
4.25 stars
I will read anything Megan Whalen Turner writes, so of course, I was bouncing off the walls upon hearing of a new Queen’s Thief book! As soon as I received an ARC, I dove into it and finished it in one sitting. Moira’s Pen features both new and old short stories as well as provides more insight into the world from the author.
I won’t go into a summary here because this book is filled with short stories and small scenes. I would recommend that you read this book only if you’ve read all of the books in the series, otherwise you lose a lot of the context, especially of the small scenes. If you’re a fan of the series, you may have read some of these stories before, as they were published in certain editions of the books. I didn’t even realize that I had read some of these stories before as bonuses because I just so naturally flip to them at the end of my copies.
It was thrilling to return to this world. I especially loved reading the scenes that were only previously mentioned in passing, like Gen visiting the kitchens in Thick as Thieves. I also loved reading Megan Whalen Turner’s insights into her research and inspirations for the books, including a trip to Greece and a recipe for almond cake.
There are a few stories that take place after Return of the Thief. Obviously I can’t go into detail because of spoilers, but I genuinely don’t know what to make of them. Considering the author has a standard attitude of “not telling,” I’m surprised that she expanded the story beyond the series’s ending. I consider the ending of Return of the Thief to be perfect, so I think I shall pretend to live in blissful ignorance as I ignore the revelations she decided to impart on us 😌. That sounds ominous, but I hope you understand once you read the stories! I did enjoy them; I just don’t know what to do with this information now.
If you haven’t read the Queen’s Thief series (and yet you’re reading this review), I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. They’re all some of my favorite books ever, and I consider them to be brilliantly written. (Although I will say that they’re books that reveal themselves more and more to you the more you reread them!) If you have read the books, I think you’ll enjoy diving back into the world with Moira’s Pen, new and old stories alike.
I laughed I cried I am ignoring some of the revelations mwt has decided to bring upon me (and I have more questions at the end than anything...............)
read on my blog
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you, Greenwillow Books!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
I will read anything Megan Whalen Turner writes, so of course, I was bouncing off the walls upon hearing of a new Queen’s Thief book! As soon as I received an ARC, I dove into it and finished it in one sitting. Moira’s Pen features both new and old short stories as well as provides more insight into the world from the author.
I won’t go into a summary here because this book is filled with short stories and small scenes. I would recommend that you read this book only if you’ve read all of the books in the series, otherwise you lose a lot of the context, especially of the small scenes. If you’re a fan of the series, you may have read some of these stories before, as they were published in certain editions of the books. I didn’t even realize that I had read some of these stories before as bonuses because I just so naturally flip to them at the end of my copies.
It was thrilling to return to this world. I especially loved reading the scenes that were only previously mentioned in passing, like Gen visiting the kitchens in Thick as Thieves. I also loved reading Megan Whalen Turner’s insights into her research and inspirations for the books, including a trip to Greece and a recipe for almond cake.
There are a few stories that take place after Return of the Thief. Obviously I can’t go into detail because of spoilers, but I genuinely don’t know what to make of them. Considering the author has a standard attitude of “not telling,” I’m surprised that she expanded the story beyond the series’s ending. I consider the ending of Return of the Thief to be perfect, so I think I shall pretend to live in blissful ignorance as I ignore the revelations she decided to impart on us 😌. That sounds ominous, but I hope you understand once you read the stories! I did enjoy them; I just don’t know what to do with this information now.
If you haven’t read the Queen’s Thief series (and yet you’re reading this review), I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. They’re all some of my favorite books ever, and I consider them to be brilliantly written. (Although I will say that they’re books that reveal themselves more and more to you the more you reread them!) If you have read the books, I think you’ll enjoy diving back into the world with Moira’s Pen, new and old stories alike.
original review:
I laughed I cried I am ignoring some of the revelations mwt has decided to bring upon me (and I have more questions at the end than anything...............)
August 7, 2024
Short stories—some of them very short—poems, and a few brief notes from the author on the artifacts that inspired the world of The Queen's Thief. The stories are arranged in chronological order, starting with a nine-year-old Helen in "Eddis Goes Camping," and ending with "Gitta," the great-great granddaughter of, probably, Attolia and Attolis, set long after the unification of the Little Peninsula. I'll be honest, the last story didn't work for me at all because I had no idea what country we were in or what the stakes were, and I wasn't even entirely sure who Gitta was beyond a princess, and at that point I was getting kind of burnt out on hereditary rule.
The stories I liked the most filled in the bits of canon we heard about but didn't see, like "The Destruction of Hamiathes's Gift" and "The Cook and the King of Attolia." And of course the ones that gave us just a bit more of Gen, like "Knife Dance" and "Alyta's Missing Earring," both about Eugenides.
But, overall, this was very uneven, with some stories adding to my understanding of the series, and others just a bit of random character study, and none of them got me any closer to Irene, though, in "Melheret's Earrings," I liked the reminder of the quiet power she's also able to wield.
More than anything, this collection has the feel of an AO3 series where, having finished their 800k five-part epic, the author's dumped all their leftover headcanon (affectionate). It was nice to have just a bit more of this world, and to have all of the previously published short stories collected in one place, but I won't need to buy a copy of this to go with the others on my shelf. That's what the library is for.
The stories I liked the most filled in the bits of canon we heard about but didn't see, like "The Destruction of Hamiathes's Gift" and "The Cook and the King of Attolia." And of course the ones that gave us just a bit more of Gen, like "Knife Dance" and "Alyta's Missing Earring," both about Eugenides.
But, overall, this was very uneven, with some stories adding to my understanding of the series, and others just a bit of random character study, and none of them got me any closer to Irene, though, in "Melheret's Earrings," I liked the reminder of the quiet power she's also able to wield.
More than anything, this collection has the feel of an AO3 series where, having finished their 800k five-part epic, the author's dumped all their leftover headcanon (affectionate). It was nice to have just a bit more of this world, and to have all of the previously published short stories collected in one place, but I won't need to buy a copy of this to go with the others on my shelf. That's what the library is for.
February 24, 2024
This is a compilation of various Queen's Thief ephemera.
There are author's notes about various pieces of inspiration. There are old stories. There are new stories. There are illustrations and recipes.
Several of the stories I had already read, from when they were included as add-ons to the paperbacks I already have. Several of them were new. Some highlights:
There were also a lot of things NOT present here. Namely, Sophos. Also Costis and (barely) Kamet, though we do at least get hints at THEIR future.
Overall, this book was a mix of homey post-scripts, familiar feelings, and profoundly unsettling tidbits not NEARLY explored enough. So. Here we are.
I'm going to take this as optional bonus content, and continue focusing heavily on the end of Return of the Thief.
Edit 02/23/2024: This book is so bittersweet. It answers approximately 3 questions and posts 33 more.
The story of Gen finally making up with the kitchen staff is a highlight. AND I FINALLY CLOCKED THAT THE MAGUS' NAME WAS LOWKEY REVEALED. UHHH. OKAY. But please... I'm crying... what happened to Hector... how did Gen and Irene's story end...
There are author's notes about various pieces of inspiration. There are old stories. There are new stories. There are illustrations and recipes.
Several of the stories I had already read, from when they were included as add-ons to the paperbacks I already have. Several of them were new. Some highlights:
• Hints of Pheris
• Young Attolia flashbacks
• Young Gen
• Several Return of the Thief postscripts!! These made me feral in both good and bad ways. I still have very little idea what happened on the Little Peninsula, even thought I feel like the last story explains it in great detail.
• Relius and Teleus
• Eddis's mountain prophecy coming true
There were also a lot of things NOT present here. Namely, Sophos. Also Costis and (barely) Kamet, though we do at least get hints at THEIR future.
Overall, this book was a mix of homey post-scripts, familiar feelings, and profoundly unsettling tidbits not NEARLY explored enough. So. Here we are.
I'm going to take this as optional bonus content, and continue focusing heavily on the end of Return of the Thief.
Edit 02/23/2024: This book is so bittersweet. It answers approximately 3 questions and posts 33 more.
The story of Gen finally making up with the kitchen staff is a highlight. AND I FINALLY CLOCKED THAT THE MAGUS' NAME WAS LOWKEY REVEALED. UHHH. OKAY. But please... I'm crying... what happened to Hector... how did Gen and Irene's story end...
January 25, 2023
Apparently, I am incapable of being normal about anything Queen's Thief related.
I bought this book primarily to support MWT, and I absolutely did NOT expect the emotional journey it would take me on.
Usually, short stories about a series I've not recently read don't really captivate me, but by the end of the very first story in this book, I was already hooked! And when I saw that the second story was about Irene, I gasped with joy. Yes! Details about my favorite queen of all time!! Of course, in typical MWT "Not telling" fashion, this story was all of TWO PAGES. But I was still living for it. "Give me ALL the crumbs!" I thought.
Well fortunately or unfortunately, these crumbs ended up coming with a surprise side serving of Emotions. Some of the stories confused me, some left me intrigued, and the last two made me very Sad. (One of the details in the last story is devastating to me, but after talking it over with others, it appears I may be just overdramatic and overprotective of these characters).
Before reading, I'd seen a meme about how this book leaves you with more questions than when you started, and I agree! It also does answer (or vaguely answer) some questions I now realize I didn't actually want to know the answer to, so... oops. Be careful what you wish for. I think I prefer to treat it as canon adjacent but we'll see how the stories age in my mind.
All this said, I'm once again stunned by Megan's prose and grateful to her for sending me on yet another whirlwind of emotions. Very curious to see what she produces next.
I bought this book primarily to support MWT, and I absolutely did NOT expect the emotional journey it would take me on.
Usually, short stories about a series I've not recently read don't really captivate me, but by the end of the very first story in this book, I was already hooked! And when I saw that the second story was about Irene, I gasped with joy. Yes! Details about my favorite queen of all time!! Of course, in typical MWT "Not telling" fashion, this story was all of TWO PAGES. But I was still living for it. "Give me ALL the crumbs!" I thought.
Well fortunately or unfortunately, these crumbs ended up coming with a surprise side serving of Emotions. Some of the stories confused me, some left me intrigued, and the last two made me very Sad. (One of the details in the last story is devastating to me, but after talking it over with others, it appears I may be just overdramatic and overprotective of these characters).
Before reading, I'd seen a meme about how this book leaves you with more questions than when you started, and I agree! It also does answer (or vaguely answer) some questions I now realize I didn't actually want to know the answer to, so... oops. Be careful what you wish for. I think I prefer to treat it as canon adjacent but we'll see how the stories age in my mind.
All this said, I'm once again stunned by Megan's prose and grateful to her for sending me on yet another whirlwind of emotions. Very curious to see what she produces next.
February 23, 2023
I enjoyed revisiting the world and characters of The Queen's Thief in this story collection. I don't know how many of these stories are new for this book and how many were published elsewhere, but most of them were new to me, so that was cool. I also liked the inclusion of historical notes about places and things that inspired or influenced parts of The Queen's Thief. Overall, quite good.
February 25, 2023
I appreciate the bonus materials to the Queen's Thief series, and I particularly enjoyed the historical elements that were transmuted. But also, just a little bit disappointed not to have, well, more I suppose. It's something I would very much want on hand for a re-read of the series, but it feels very thin compared to the increasingly complex novels. But as an appetizer to tempt me to a full series read? Very successful.
The last story puzzled until I basically re-read it.
Interesting that this is the first work since the Thief that feels more middlegrade than YA.
Library copy
The last story puzzled until I basically re-read it.
Interesting that this is the first work since the Thief that feels more middlegrade than YA.
Library copy
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