The Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Megan and I have followed Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series for years, and we both pre-ordered the final book, The Return of the Thief, months before publication. And we both read it within the week we received it! Readers: this is highly unusual for us at Redeemed Reader. Normally, we “divide and conquer,” rarely reading the same title as each other within such close proximity. Since this book is closing out a series, we thought we’d discuss it Newbery Buzz style instead of offering a more traditional review.

Special Note: this review is for fans of the series. We are assuming readers are familiar with the first 5 books. It is impossible to review this latest book without spoilers for earlier books in the series. That being said, we’ll try to refrain from spoilers related to this book in particular.

cover of Return of the Thief

Betsy: Megan, I don’t know about you, but I loved the narrator’s character. Pheris is a new character for this book, and I admire an author who can wield different narrators so skillfully. Pheris’s narration shapes the experience of this book in distinct ways, and he is a brilliant choice: allowing us to get an up close and personal look at Eugenides, in particular, but the entire royal court as well. And yet, Pheris is a character in his own right; he doesn’t feel like a construct just to tell the story. 

What was a part or element about this book that you enjoyed? 

Megan: Megan Whalen Turner has mastered the plot twist! In dire circumstances, things are never what you expect. Her characters change for better and for worse, and I think that is realistic. She certainly kept this reader on her toes! I expected that Costis and Kamet, who were major players in the last book, to be more significant characters in this one. Not so, but that’s okay. She certainly knows how to spin stories, and stories within stories. 

Sometimes she hints at something that I have a hard time catching on to, like the recurring volcano dream, and it helped to discuss the meaning with my husband. Was there anything that perplexed you, or did you feel like you had a clear sense of the story at the end?

(Betsy: What IS the significance of the volcano? I was a bit befuddled on that one (but then again, I was gobbling this book up pretty quickly!).

Megan: My husband pointed out Gen’s promise that any citizens of the mountainous country of Eddis who joined forces with Attolia would be awarded land, and as a result, many lives were spared from the threat of a volcano.)

Betsy: You’re absolutely right: the characters change like “regular people” as they age, and the plot continues to keep readers on their toes. I was fully expecting a main character to die because Turner is the kind of author with guts to pull that off. I’ll leave readers in suspense about that, but I’ll add that she ends the series on a very hopeful note full of future promise for all of the characters left at the end of the book. 

Megan: Nicely worded, my dear!

Betsy: I’ve enjoyed the interplay between Gen and the various gods/goddesses in Turner’s world. Earlier in the series, I often thought that those interactions were strikingly similar to the ways in which we might describe the Lord’s providence and the need to chastise us. The Return of the Thief includes some dramatic scenes along these lines (um, that lightning bolt!). Yet, I felt that the nature of the gods/goddesses in this final book seemed more Greek—they appeared more arbitrary and the people more subservient than in previous books. The second-to-last chapter includes a scene of great joy and dancing, which reminded me of one of my favorite parts in The King of Attolia, but the final chapter/epilogue seemed a bit different. Did you get that same impression?

Megan: I found it interesting which characters were able to actually interact with the gods/goddesses, and who couldn’t. It makes you think of the significance of faith and having a genuine relationship with the divine, doesn’t it? Our God doesn’t answer our questions so directly, but thankfully He has provided clear instruction in His Word.

Betsy: Yes! I think faith–specifically a childlike faith–does come through as a strong thematic element.

Megan: Betsy, there was one thing that disappointed us both. Want to share your thoughts about that?

Betsy: Sure, Megan. It’s not unusual in 2020 for a series to start adding in LGBTQ elements even if previous books in the series didn’t have any. And this book follows suit. Two male characters that we met in previous books are clearly in a romantic relationship in this book. I haven’t re-read the earlier books in which they appeared, but I don’t remember any hints to this end. Although they’re not primary characters, they have certainly played key roles previously. Kamet and Costis, from Thick as Thieves, are left a little more ambiguous; readers could read into their relationship, or not. It’s two other characters that I wasn’t expecting at all. But I think the general tone in this book is more “Greek,” if you will: casual references to various lovers and mistresses for many people, the matter of fact treatment of the main homosexual male relationship, and the way everyone in the book takes people’s relationships at face value. It’s not a prominent part of the book, but it’s also not something readers will miss.

What did you think about it? 

Megan: The insertion of a gay relationship was a disappointment, one that I was praying would not appear, primarily because it would be so clearly a compromise with modern culture. It seemed gratuitous, not essential to the story. It felt like Turner was surrendering under pressure, because I cannot recall any hint of it in previous books. That being said, there aren’t any unflawed characters, which is a realistic portrayal of fallen humanity. But while there is growth and evidence of reconciliation on the part of everyone else, part of the happy ending promised that the parted male lovers would meet again. I really didn’t need that.

The gods occasionally offer mild rebukes, but there is no real mention of sin or redemption, is there? That is such a big part of responding to how we respond as redeemed readers. The Bible isn’t shy about describing egregious sins, but it never excuses or welcomes the sinner unchanged into the covenant community for the celebration and fellowship. There is always repentance and forgiveness first. 

Betsy: That’s a good point, Megan. It’s worth musing over: do we see repentance and true fellowship in this book? I think we see fellowship at many levels. Gen’s own machinations behind the scenes work to that end as he protects Pheris, works brilliant, undercover military strategies, and allows the queens to keep face on the surface. Yet, people must love him or hate him on his terms. Perhaps the only time we see him truly humbled IS before his god, right? He certainly submits in that sphere if not in any other. 

This book wraps up a very complex and literary fantasy series: plenty of blood and gore, battle scenes, court intrigue, an enormous cast of important characters, geographical issues, love, king- and queenship, meaty themes…. I think it’s the most mature of Turner’s series by far. What do you think? 

Megan: Definitely the most mature and most complicated. One thing I have to give Turner credit for is that the women are strong, but they are treated as ladies. They rule countries and go towards battle, but they do not put on armor and fight in disguise. The men are gentlemen who respect them and honor their femininity. Younger teens (13-15?) could read the first three or four books, but the last couple are better read with maturity and discernment by teens 16 and up. 

Betsy: I completely agree: Turner’s depictions of men and women are one of my favorite parts in this series! I do think teens who’ve thoughtfully read the first books in the series could continue with the rest a little younger–perhaps 14 or 15, depending on the reader. I’d hate for teens to read this series too young, though, and get bogged down. Better to wait until they’re able to read it discerningly and able to appreciate Turner’s significant literary artistry, even when they disagree with parts of the plot/characterization.

Readers, do you agree with our assessment? Have you read the rest of the series? (Let us know in the comments!)

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Betsy Farquhar

Betsy is the Managing Editor at Redeemed Reader. When she reads ahead for you, she uses sticky notes instead of book darts and willfully dog ears pages even in library books. Betsy is a fan of George MacDonald, robust book discussions, and the Oxford comma. She lives with her husband and their three children in the beautiful Southeast.

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13 Comments

  1. Amanda Cleary Eastep on November 5, 2020 at 5:44 am

    What a thoughtful discussion! I read the first book on Megan’s recommendation and am excited to continue. I so appreciate the good and faithful work you all do here!

    • Megan Saben on November 18, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      Amanda, I’m thrilled to have the privilege of introducing you to the series! Have you read the second and third yet? They’re my FAVORITES out of all six.

  2. Cathy on November 24, 2020 at 7:38 am

    Your review is spot on! Each and every point y’all made, I’m in total agreement. I was having difficulty with the “why” it wasn’t the same as her previous books, so I’m very grateful to see it expressed here so clearly and succinctly. Thanks for introducing us to the series and for your in-depth review of this one. I think the word I would use to describe my experience as I read this conclusion to this series is “bittersweet.”
    Thanks again!
    Cathy

  3. Katie on November 24, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    I had never heard of the series before your recent email update about the final book coming out. I was curious and so found the first five books on audio on hoopla through my library and binge-listened to them all in a two week period. I loved them and especially enjoyed the narrator’s English accent! I couldn’t find the newest book on audio but found a paper copy at my local library and devoured it quickly as well. I loved the plot twists, and enjoyed the echos of the gospel in the story and characters. I loved the mercy and compassion displayed and even the flaws in the main characters because that made them feel real. In the last book, I liked what Gen said to the Mangus: “But if I hadn’t lost the hand, I’d be another person entirely by now. Wishing for the hand back would be like wishing the man I already am to be replaced by some stranger. I would be wishing my own self out of existence, and who would want that?” I think this resonated with me because I’ve been reflecting on how the painful and the hard things in life can change us for the better. God uses those things in our lives to mold and shape us into who he is creating us to be for our ultimate good.

    It was fun for me to read what you wrote above. I agree with your thoughts. 🙂

    • Hayley Morell on November 27, 2020 at 8:48 am

      Katie, I’m so glad you discovered the series through Redeemed Reader! I hadn’t heard of it either, till Betsy and Megan’s enthusiastic references had me hunting up the series. That quote was one of my favorites in Return of the The Thief, too. I love how literature can help us as we process through life —this year in particular I keep coming back to this quote in Lord of the Rings:

      “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
      “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂

    • Beth on January 15, 2021 at 7:18 am

      Thank you for sharing this series with me! I too listened to the entire series on audiobooks and enjoyed it. It was very complex so I found myself going back and listening to parts of it a second time. I agree with the observations about this book and the series made above.

  4. Becky on January 13, 2021 at 6:37 am

    I, too, have loved this series for more than twenty years. I was so hoping that the last book would conclude it fittingly, and I was disappointed in some ways. I re-read the other five books recently; the LGBT relationship is not indicated at all before this point (and I still refuse to acknowledge it in my head, it’s so delicately drawn!). One of the involved characters is mentioned as having a girlfriend previously. I also thought the character of the Thief and his background were presented as harsher than before, more an assassin from a crueler place than the spy/trickster/cat burglar of Eddis that we saw in the past. But I greatly appreciated Pheris, and was content with the ending. As with the other books, I’ll need to re-read to unravel all the complexity. Maybe we can hope for some related short stories in the future, tying up a few threads or giving us a glimpse of the potential “golden age.”
    The volcano vision granted by the gods has recurred throughout the series, explaining Eddis’ motivation in her choices to secure a future for her people, even beyond the pressure of the Medes. I understood this final dream to indicate that because of her actions, her country has been led in a new direction and the impending explosion will not be a tragedy now. She has saved her people.
    Thanks for giving me a safe place to share my thoughts, and for sharing yours. The second and third are my favorites, as well. 🙂

  5. psy on August 8, 2021 at 11:23 am

    I’d like to point out that Turner’s works is much modeled on ancient Greece where homosexual relationships were quite common, though between adult males there was stigma associated with the male who took the passive “female” role. So when I read the second book I felt there were definitely some gay overtones (especially when describing the gods Ennikar and Immakuk) but also the delicacy with which Turner relates several of the gay relationships accords with the somewhat surreptitious nature of gay relationships between adult men in ancient Rome. So no, I don’t feel that she “caved” to modern progressive tastes by including LGBTQ relationships. Quite the opposite in fact, since she might have been much more explicit in that case.

    • Betsy Farquhar on August 9, 2021 at 9:25 am

      That’s a great point! That’s partly why we felt this last book felt more “Greek,” because it really did reflect more of Greek culture in that way.

  6. psy on August 8, 2021 at 11:24 am

    Sorry.. I meant to write “Turner’s work” not “works”.

  7. Abbie on July 1, 2023 at 2:31 pm

    Hello! I’m a teenager, and I just finished reading all of the Queen’s Thief novels. I read a ton of fantasy, but I have to say that these have become some of my absolute favorites.
    I noticed that she’s released a companion novel called Moira’s Pen. I’m dying to read it, but wanted to know if anyone else has read it and what their opinion is on it?

    • Betsy Farquhar on July 3, 2023 at 11:28 am

      We haven’t read Moira’s Pen, but we’ll keep an eye out for it!

      • Andrea on November 29, 2023 at 6:46 am

        I came looking for thoughts on Moira’s Pen too. I so appreciate your thoughtful reviews before I introduce a new book to my teenagers.

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