Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner

Thick as Thieves 
by Megan Whalen Turner
Read: February 7 - 9, 2017
Published:  May 16, 2017 by Greenwillow Books
Source: ALA MW 2017
Tags: YA, Fantasy, 
Series: The Queen's Thief 5/6?
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Thick as Thieves is the eagerly anticipated new stand-alone novel set in the world of the Queen’s Thief. New York Times—bestselling author Megan Whalen Turner’s entrancing and award-winning Queen’s Thief novels bring to life the world of the epics and feature one of the most charismatic and incorrigible characters of fiction, Eugenides the thief. Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief novels are rich with political machinations and intrigue, battles lost and won, dangerous journeys, divine intervention, power, passion, revenge, and deception.

Kamet, a secretary and slave to his Mede master, has the ambition and the means to become one of the most powerful people in the Empire. But with a whispered warning the future he envisioned is wrenched away, and he is forced onto a very different path. Set in the world of the Queen’s Thief, an ordinary hero takes on an extraordinary mission. Includes two maps, a map of the world of the Queen’s Thief, and a map of Kamet’s journey.
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Spoiler free thoughts

The Queen's Thief series is one of my favorite series of all time. I just cannot express how much I am in love with this world and Gen and Irene and Eddis and Costis and Sophos and and now Kamet and and and. I count myself lucky to have discovered this series after the fourth book was released, as they come out every five years or more. That means I didn't have quite so long to wait for number five, but of course the wait is on for six. *cue sobbing* For newbies to the series, each book is a complete entity with its own narrative approach, but they all build on each other. So while this addition is being called a "standalone," I would argue strongly that it's in fact, part of a series, and you must read the previous four installments to understand the magic of this one. Trust me. 

If you're interested in my thoughts on the previous books in this series, see my reviews of The Thief & The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia and A Conspiracy of Kings. 

Every book in The Queen's Thief series is something different, but they all build on each other in a magical way that is defies explanation. My favorite remains The King of Attolia, but this is a more than worthy edition to the collection. MWT's books are filled with quiet moments and an intense thoughtfulness that add up to greatness. You never know where you're going until all of a sudden you're there, and then you're blown away when you turn around and see the full picture. I was thrilled to learn which characters would be the focus of this installment, and I loved the theme of an unlikely friendship. I cannot recommend this series enough.

Thick As Thieves is narrated in first person by Kamet, secretary and slave to Nahuseresh, the nephew of the Mede Emperor and one time suitor of the Queen of Attolia. Despite being a slave, Kamet is content in his high position within Nahuseresh's household, and as his master advances in rank, Kamet has the potential to as well. Nothing would induce him to leave his role, until one day, his perfectly planned out future comes crashing down and the entire course of his life changes. This leads to a journey fraught with much danger and adventure, as well as a an unlikely friendship that Kamet never would have anticipated, and which had me cheering. 

One of my forever favorite parts of this series is the opportunity to see beloved characters from different perspectives, and this installment does not disappoint in that respect. Cue sobbing for the next installment. 

Love Triangle Factor: None (this book is much more focused on friendship)
Cliffhanger Scale: Low. This seres has at least one more book, though this part of the larger narrative is complete.