The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Recently I eagerly dug into Megan Whalen Turner's latest novel, The King of Attolia and, while my brother complained that it wasn't as good as the book that started the series, I merely reveled in the time spent with old friends. So, in a fit of nostalgia, I'm going to review the first (and best) book in the series: The Thief.

Gen may be a good thief, but his cockiness tends to cause him problems. How else do you explain bragging you can steal anything, then showing off the king's seal in a wine shop? And, of course, getting thrown in prison. But luckily for Gen, someone needs his services: the king's magus. Intent on stealing an ancient artifact that will allow the king to claim the right to rule the neighboring country of Eddis, the magus is in need of Gen's skills. So he offers Gen a choice: find the legendary Hamiathes' Gift, and get out of jail. . .or die. Gen ungraciously gives in.
Thus starts a quest that will prove taxing for more than one character--and hilarious for the reader. It's a fast paced very fun story, with quite a few stories-within-the-stories. And, of course, there's always the question of whether what they're seeking actually exists.

This story is set in a world similar to that of ancient Greece, with a pantheon to match. While it's a fairly light read, it manages to be quite a page-turner, and I can almost guarantee that you won't see the ending coming. (Unless you cheat, and of course none of you would want to do that.) For all its light bantering, The Thief remains one of my favorite books. Perhaps Gen's main charm isn't in stealing actual artifacts, but in capturing the reader's attention. At that, he's certainly the best thief.