Trying to get through the first four books so I can read Thick as Thieves, & to figure out whether this latest book (that's being marketed as YA) is truly YA or could live on the shelf next to the other four in the children's room. I also have to replace this original book because the cover is so scary bad that no one would want to read it. ( )

I suppose any book will accumulate reviewers who love or hate it, but I can't help being puzzled by both in this case. It seems to me a competent and sufficiently entertaining story, neither boring nor wonderful. It travels unhurriedly to where it wants to go, and readers who demand the clash of swords on every page may be bored, but I'm not one of them.

It's described as a fantasy novel, but it's not strongly fantastic. Like most fantasy, it's set in a world similar to Earth in mediæval times, but apparently not our Earth. I don't see any magic at work in it. There are gods that seem to be real; in this book, they could be argued to be figments of the imagination or hallucinations, but it seems clear from the sequels that they're intended to be real.

The first-person protagonist is a youth of unspecified age, apparently adult, and a professional thief (hence the title). Some readers like him a lot; I found him tolerable, but rather annoying for much of the time. In the sequels, he becomes intermittently likeable.

I'm also puzzled that this is described as a Young Adult novel. It seems to me a normal light-fantasy novel. The hero is a young adult, yes, but so are the heroes of very many other novels. Whatever next? Are we going to see novels categorized as Middle-Aged Adult novels or Elderly Adult novels? Bah, humbug.

The hero is described as a skilled and clever thief, but the author usually makes life easy for herself by showing the results rather than the process: we find out that he's stolen this or that, without seeing how he does it. ( )

The first in an amazing alternative-past history series (the fourth is coming out in March). I read the third book in the series first and then went back to read the first two. I felt no loss of enjoyment in reading them out of order--the books stand alone. I hesitate to call them fantasy--they are more like Etruscan alternative history.

The main character of the first book is Eugenides, hero-thief. The second book explores the character of the mysterious Queen of Attolia--you couldn't ask for a smarter, stronger, and more flawed female role model. And the third book provides a different perspective of the Queen's life, taken from the eyes of a soldier.

I've recommended this book to teens who liked Cashore's Graceling. This series is tough stuff--I would recommend it more for teens and adults than tweens. But I've seen certain 12 year olds gobble it up. Definitely worth a read no matter what age you are. ( )

Fast and enjoyable read, with a twisty plot and great anti-hero as protagonist. A thief is freed from prison to steal a magical item for the king. But how did he end up in prison in the first place? And how will he make sure he doesn't go back? ( )

senza infamia nè lode: libretto da ombrellone
il protagonista è un supponente ladruncolo YA e la trama dovrebbe seguire il colpo del secolo ma invece è la cronaca dei pasti e riposini durante il viaggio ( )