Return of the Thief

By: Megan Whalen Turner

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

The thrilling, 20-years-in-the-making conclusion to the New York Times best-selling Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner.

This beloved and award-winning series began with the acclaimed novel The Thief. It and four more standalone volumes bring to life a world of epics, myths, and legends, and feature one of the most charismatic and incorrigible characters of fiction, Eugenides the thief. Now more powerful and cunning than ever before, Eugenides must navigate a perilous future in this sweeping conclusion. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Patrick Rothfuss, and Sarah J. Maas.

Neither accepted nor beloved, Eugenides is the uneasy linchpin of a truce on the Lesser Peninsula, where he has risen to be high king of Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis. As the treacherous Baron Erondites schemes anew and a prophecy appears to foretell the death of the king, the ruthless Mede empire prepares to strike.

The New York Times best-selling Queen’s Thief novels are rich with political machinations, divine intervention, dangerous journeys, battles lost and won, power, passion, and deception.

©2019 Megan Whalen Turner (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

So disappointed

Why did the author have to change the sexual orientation of several characters? I loved these books and now they are ruined. A few of the major male characters who had female girlfriends in precious books now have male ones. I feel like the author just did this to be politically correct. Very sad and disappointed. Steve West as always does a great job reading the book.

Goodness I miss Jeff Woodman so much

I would literally pay Jeff Woodman out of my own pockets to get him to read the last 2 books in this series for me. And this isn’t an insult to Steve West. He’s great generally. He’s just so wrong for this. And I don’t even have the words to express why. Megan Whalen Turner has a gift for subtly and nuance and it is so important to the personality of this series and a HUGE part of what makes it so unique. Steve West, despite all of his talent, is just not good at portraying that. And the lack of it changes the whole personality of the characters and the story itself.
It’s clear the publishers wanted to rebrand this series and give it a different identity and that they did. But it feels like we’re being cheated in a way. Because there’s so much more we should be getting out of these stories. Turner is such a remarkable writer and it saddens me that the narration doesn’t do it justice. West was probably chosen because he has the prettier more regal sounding voice but that’s not this series at all. Or at least not on the surface. If you’re reading this and you’ve never heard Jeff Woodman read this series, go to your library and find his versions. (They’re not for sale anywhere. It’s like they want us to forget it ever happened) Unfortunately he only narrated the first 4 books in the series but you’ll see what I (or we because I’m not the only reviewer to say this) mean. Ive listened to each of those books a dozen times a piece and they get better every time I listen. If Steve West’s narration makes this a 5 star series then it’s 10 stars with Jeff Woodman. That’s how incredible Turner’s writing is. I’m so sad to see this series come to a close. It is hands down my most favorite series ever. Just please please please, If it is in anyone’s power to get Jeff Woodman on these last two books to finish the series.... I’m begging.

Incredible end to an incredible series

Amazing. I am in constant awe over how well plotted these books are. West’s performance made this full re-read on the whole series even more enjoyable. Highly recommend.

Love this world and so happy to have the great final book.

I have loved immersing myself in the world and history and new pantheon of gods and origin stories that she created. It has been so fantastic to listen to West’s fantastic performance for all the previous books, so him doing this last one was great. I hate when a Series of audiobooks have to switch narrators partway through, it really messes with my head.

Another fantastic addition to the series.

I could not let the book pause. Gripping, enchanting and fast paced. It's amazing how the threads that were woven across the series have set this story in motion. Our leading characters, especially Gen, has developed and matured greatly. Every small character was important in their own way. I loved and Pheris' and his perspective.
The narrator did great job voicing the many many voices across the book.

Wonderful wonderful

A wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series. Do well written. I am very impressed with the writing as always.

The High King

The Medes are threatening and there is infighting among the Barons and the three countries are resisting becoming one. The Edisians can’t accept their former thief now being ruler over them and their beloved queen. Gen has to delicately maneuver situations to try to get cooperation. This story is what all the other stories in the series have been leading up to. Gen and the other queens and king of the peninsula are working nonstop to try to overcome all the problems and ready their new alliances to meet the overpowering strength of the Medes army. The villains in past books come back to haunt them. We also get Faris, the crippled oldest grandson of his nemesis Baron Erondites has come to the palace to live as a slap in the face to the King, but as usual Gen sees through the machinations and turns it for good. Faris is the voice of this story.
This world of the countries on the peninsula is so detailed and realistic that you keep wanting to look it up on a map. The political infighting and the danger from abroad along with betrayal and revenge make you keep listening and not stop. I’ve read and reread and listened to the books of this series multiple times and I’m drawn in each and every time. The narrator does such a great job with the action and even the names which aren’t simple. I would recommend this finale for all who have visited and stayed for awhile in Attolia, Eddis and Sounis and especially want more of Eugenides the thief.

An Amazing Finale

I have loved every minute of this journey. I've been recommending this series to anyone who asks what I'm reading. A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing this story to life.

Megan Whalen Turner Delivers!

This capstone to a 25-Year Saga is an outstanding experience. Steve West is as charming as ever, and maintains consistency between books in the series when voicing returning characters, aiding the listener’s memory when names alone won’t suffice. I cannot recommend this series enough; The conclusion of The Queen’s Thief is so satisfying that I would believe you if you told me that Turner wrote it first, and the others after. Enjoy this amazing journey of a lifetime on the Little Peninsula!

An Excellent Adventure!

The Thief surprises and amuses the reader as you hear the story. The audio team do a wonderful job bringing the story to life.