Reviews

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

meghaha's review

4.0

That first chapter really wounded me. It was so heartrending to read, but it's also when I realized how much I love Gen as a character.

Spoiler

I wasn't expecting it at all, because lovable rogues in fun YA fantasy rarely ever face any serious consequences for their hijinks--they only seem like they're caught or in trouble, but everything always turns out alright, with no actual harm to them being done. Gen being betrayed by his gods and having his hand being cut off was just so cruel a punishment calculated to hurt him in the worst possible way. I could barely handle reading about the aftermath where he spends months in solitude trying to come to terms feeling like his future and identity have been destroyed.

I wanted to cheer when he doesn't let it destroy him and gets back to thieving and plotting.

This book starts off so grim, but eventually Gen's happy. Which is why I was okay with this book and it didn't actually kill me, only nearly.

maria_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kklanee's review

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

olivera420's review

5.0

A star for each time this book almost killed me

clairestucki's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

misguidedgoose's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

roseyrobertson's review

2.0

Meh. I guess it serves me right for reading fiction meant for kids.

de_worde's review

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Excellent worldbuilding and exploration of complex characters. Both Eugenides and Attolia have plots upon plots, all of them overlapping and complicated. It's a joy to slowly pull them apart.

flamingo_ne's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.75

gailbird's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0