Share-A-Book Saturday (27)

This is something I found over on Just Another Book Addict =), and I thought I'd do my own. There are so many great books out there that get overlooked (especially if they've been out for a while)!

Every Saturday, you share (recommend) a book, preferably one that you haven't reviewed yet. It's just a way to get other books out into the blogging world. This is NOT a review.

Today I'm going to recommend The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.

"I can steal anything."

After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task -- to steal a hidden treasure from another land.

To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

I was looking at my list of Share-A-Book Saturdays, and I realized that I hadn't yet recommended one of my very favourite books!

The Thief is an adventure novel at heart.  There's no romance to speak of; no vampires, werewolves, or other supernatural creatures; and no high school drama.  Instead, it's a story about a group of guys who go on a quest to find a hidden treasure.  Motivations aren't always what they seem, which makes the character dynamics rather interesting.

This is one of those books for young readers that would probably appeal to boys as much as to girls (if not more).  Gen is the narrator, the eponymous thief of the story.  He's a braggart, cocky and cheeky, but lovably human.  His voice is really what makes this story as great as it is; I don't think it would have worked any other way.

The Thief is the first installment in a four-book series, the subsequent books being The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, and A Conspiracy of Kings.  None of these are told from Gen's colourful first-person point of view.  I tried to read The Queen of Attolia, but I just couldn't get into it.  If nothing else, at least read The Thief.  You won't be sorry you did.