As you may or may not know, an earlier version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was entitled First Impressions. And as we all know, first impressions can be misleading. But what if you decide that something is actually worth a second look?

That leads us to what I hope will be an occasional series: Second Impressions. This will address works (books, television shows, etc.) that are worth not only a first look but a second look. In line with that, the works are ones for which a second look (i.e., a second watch or a second read) has been taken. If you are careful with your time like I am, then you know that it takes a special something to allow yourself to enjoy a work more than once!

Second Impressions – The Queen’s Thief Series

“Sometimes, if you want to change a man’s mind, you have to change the mind of the man next to him first.”
—The King of Attolia

If someone were to ask what fiction series I would recommend that every bibliophile read, it would be The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner.

It is a series you can enjoy reading again and again. Forget only doing a second reading–this series deserves multiple readings. Fun fact: The name of the series was created by the fans, as the series initially did not have a title!

Are all of the books in the series created equal? Well, no. There are certain books in the series that I am more likely to pick up again and again. But each book is an absolute gem and well worth your time.

What to Expect:

• An unreliable narrator
• Various points-of-view throughout the series (used in skillful ways)
• Fantastic characterizations
• Political intrigue (normally a “no thanks” from me, but in this instance, the characters make it worth it)
• Skilled world-building with Greek mythology flavoring
• Incredible plot twists
• Understated romance that nonetheless works
• Dry humor
• Strong female characters
• An honorable thief character
• Gen

No, seriously, the whole focus of the series is Gen–and with good reason. He is fantastic in his abilities and intelligence, but he is also flawed. He is a character whom one should study to figure out how to avoid Gary Stus while also keeping a character strong. He is petty and whiny, but his friends love him dearly, and so does the reader. Watching him win over people who are strongly against him is quite fascinating. (But of course, he only tries to win over people he deems to be worth it.)

Plot: It is difficult to discuss the series in depth without spoilers, so I am going to address the plot of the first book, The Thief (which is a Newbery Honor Book). In The Thief, the thief Gen boasts that he can steal anything. When he ends up in prison, the king’s magus pulls him out in order to enlist his aid on a quest to steal a very important object. But Gen has plans of his own, as the magus will soon find out.

Plot Commentary: While the plot of The Thief seems rather basic at a glance, the journey and ending are unexpectedly enjoyable.

Romance: What about the romance? Well, you don’t really see the romance in the first book of The Queen’s Thief series, and as I noted above, the romance that does come is understated but works. Because much of the romance is behind-the-scenes in the series, you would think it would be unsatisfying. But what it actually does is make what we do see feel more impactful–and it proves how somehow less can be more. In fact, much of the series seems based on the “less is more” concept. Because you do not know very much about certain things, when you learn the truth, you are impacted more by it.

Why a Second Impression Is Needed: Even setting aside how enjoyable of a read the series is, a second read of the books will lead you to see things that you totally missed the first time in light of the plot twists. You will pick up hints that you did not see!

One Word Descriptor: Twisty.

Overall Rating (5/5 Sets of Glasses):