The King of Attolia

By Megan Whalen Turner
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Turner finishes her trilogy that began with The Thief and continued with The Queen of Attolia. Eugenides is now the King of Attolia, and is hating it. He makes a farce of his kingship, never revealing to his new countrymen that he is as clever and brave as he actually is. He seems to never visit the queen, he talks to all the wrong people at court dances, and he can't seem to control the rumors or pranks his own attendants play on him. Costis, one of the Queen's Guard, is horrified when he is incited to actually strike the king. But instead of death or banishment, the king orders to keep Costis close to him. Costis is humiliated and unhappy, but his despair gives way to confusion when Eugenides starts to reveal that he isn't quite the silly buffoon that the rest of the court and country thinks he is. As Costis begins to glimpse who the man beneath the mask really is, he also gets a taste of the intrigue and danger that is the life of the king, and he begins to respect and even like Eugenides. But when push comes to shove and the life of the king is on the line, will Costis be loyal to the king or to his own beliefs? Turner again writes a great story filled with many-layered characters and a thick plot that will keep readers turning the pages to the very last one to find out what happens.