A Conspiracy of Kings

Starred review from February 15, 2010
The fourth installment in Turner's saga is another absorbing political drama, this time focusing on Sophos, reluctant heir to the Sounis throne. Readers will remember him as Useless the Younger in The Thief
, when he was more interested in poetry than power. As the king's only heir, however, he had no choice but to prepare for the monarchy until, in the opening pages of this volume, he is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He narrates the story of his abduction to an undisclosed “you,” whose identity close readers of the series may guess. Given the complexity of Turner's plot, readers should reread the first three books before beginning this one, which derives its power from the intricate construction of Turner's imagined world, a realm in which her founding mythology is as impressive as her descriptions of the land itself. Sophos's choice—live anonymously in servitude or accept a role he doesn't want—drives the story as his allies approach a showdown with the enemy Medes. Strong evidence emerges that the story doesn't end here, and fans will savor this while they wait for more. Ages 10–up.

Starred review from April 1, 2010
Gr 7 Up-Teenaged Sophos is his uncle's heir, but his love of poetry and lack of interest in ruling have caused his father to send him to a remote villa. When it is attacked by the king's enemies, Sophos is sold into slavery, where he begins to mature and develop both physically, from the hard manual labor, and emotionally. He makes the decision to escape slavery and try to resume his place as heir and eventually king of Sounis, traveling to Attolia to try to recruit support from its queen and king, Sophos's friend, Eugenides, the protagonist of "The Thief" (1996) and "The King of Attolia" (2006, both HarperCollins). Layers of intrigue follow Sophos as he tries to protect Sounis from various groups of enemies, leading to a surprising twist at the conclusion. Sophos tells his story to an initially unknown audience, but interspersed third-person chapters provide additional perspective. Fans of Turner's earlier books set in the medieval-style kingdoms of Sounis, Eddis, and Attolia will enjoy seeing Eugenides, the magus, and other familiar characters again, while the new protagonist and ample background make "A Conspiracy of Kings" accessible for new readers as well. This is a well-constructed and intricate tale of action, adventure, and assuming the mantle of leadership."Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2010
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* Following The Thief, a 1997 Newbery Honor Book, and The King of Attolia, a 2007 Best Book for Young Adults, Turner continues her exquisite series with another rich story that examines peace, power, leadership, and loyalty. After initial, tense prison scenes focused on Eugenides, the king of Attolia, the novels viewpoint switches from third to first person, and Sophos, the reluctant king of Sounis who prefers poetry to politics, relates the adventures that precipitated his rise to questionable power. Tutors have drilled Sophos in imaginary attacks, but after he loses his family in a real invasion, he is bereft and goes into hiding as a slave on a noblemans estate in order to avoid his sovereign responsibilities. Even though Eugenides fans will miss his presence, he continues to pull strings from the sidelines as he joins leaders in high-priced alliances and prepares for an invasion. Turners plotting remains deft, and the subtlety with which she balances her characters inner and outer worlds will delight both series newcomers and fans, who will be waiting to grab this stand-out, stand-alone adventure, filled with all the expected intrigue and political machinations, from the shelves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

Starred review from March 1, 2010
In this eagerly awaited fourth novel set in a semi-classical world, Turner focuses on Sophos, prince of Sounis, who has been kidnapped by rebel barons in cahoots with the Persian-like Medes. First encountered in The Thief as blushing and inept, Sophos here gives his account of a momentous period of maturing: he becomes a slave, rescues his father from murderers, becomes king, falls in love, fights a war, and negotiates the difficult territory of state and personal relationships in order to establish his kingship. Peerless Eugenides plays a pivotal role, as do the Queen of Attolia and, most markedly, the Queen of Eddis. Turner's knotting of plots and counterplots, battle tactics, diplomatic skullduggery, and the tensions of state business and personal desire is masterful. Once again she displays an extraordinary ability to engage both brain and feeling at full force; to provide equally intellectual complexity, action, and inner psychological realms of intimacy and vulnerability -- whether in romantic love or in friendship. She does this here brilliantly, ringing the changes on events, characters, and narrative strategies in the earlier novels with such success that having finished the book, one just wants to open it up and read it again.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2010
In this eagerly awaited fourth novel (The Thief, etc.) set in a semi-classical world, Turner focuses on Sophos, prince of Sounis, who has been kidnapped by rebel barons. Turner's knotting of plots and counterplots, battle tactics, diplomatic skullduggery, the tensions of state business and personal desire, as well as events from earlier books is masterful.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)