Megan-(freakin)-Whalen-(blessed)-Turner
(1) The Thief - Ms. Megan draws you in with this simple story. Fun, fantastic world with its own deep history and religion. It reads like a YA novel, you could read this to children. It tickles your world building fancy and the characters are SO witty and story woven so well together you don't really think much of it.
then you find out there's a book 2?? but this book ended so well?....
(2) The Queen Of Attolia - Will punch you in the face and torture your soul and upend your sense of reality and it is by FAR my most favorite love story ever...
DO NOT read to children unless they can handle stuff like this. Some can, some can't. Read first before reading to them...the first few pages alone had my own gut in knots....
(3) The King Of Attolia - I love this book with all my heart. I had to buy a new copy recently because the other one was falling apart. You can LITERALLY open to any random page and start reading because it will be a "oh I love this part," moment. And here you get lulled....you also get slightly tricked...eee..its just so well done, KUDOS to Ms. Megan!
(4) Conspiracy of Kings - This one is more of a "while this was happening in Attolia, THIS was happening over HERE" kind of story. AND its a doozy. But with a VERY sad, yet satisfactory ending. I forced my younger brother to read these books and I knew he'd reached *ahhem* THAT *cough* part when I heard him go "YES! FINALLY! WOO!" And then quiet down with an "awww..." because it really is a mix of emotions.
(5) Thick As Thieves - Ms. Megan does something here that most authors wouldn't dare and you don't realize she's done it until this book.
she has neglected to describe a significant character in any significant detail until THIS book. But in THIS book she gives the description, but doesn't give the name...
BUT she's written the character SO well that even before the character gives himself away...you know who he is and you LOVE him! This book is MASTERFULLY written and bless it I cried and laughed and....oh I love this so much...
(6) Return Of The Thief - I had to wait an extra year and MORE for this, but I waited with gratitude because I was DONE with rushed endings (like from other series I'd read, Adventures Wanted- going back on their own lore, Summoner Series- so anti-climatic I almost cried, Rangers Apprentice- destroying Wills character for feminism. etc.)
BUT, I was NOT disappointed AT all! That stuff you missed in book three? yeah. even as I'm warning you, you're going to miss it. There are clues ALL THE WAY IN BOOK ONE as to why things are the way that they are...why does Gen make the decisions that he does? Why? Don't you remember the obscure hesitations...aaaaalll the way...back....in....book....one....
***I love this series. This author is a wonder. I want a movie, but I don't want ANYONE to touch it, you know? its too good. I'm afraid of what they'd do to it. I want it to be popular for Ms. Megan. but if its too popular then it will get a movie and heaven FORBID amazon butcher it like they're doing to LOTR...Makes me sick just thinking about it....
that just mean i'll have to produce and direct it myself someday. Get her permission and hope she holds onto those rights with an iron grip.