Hi all!

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I'm new here, just found out that there's an active community dedicated to the Queen's Thief. This is a godsend,  because for some reason, none of my friends appreciate the genius that is Megan Whalen Turner (oh, it's too political). So I need somewhere intelligent to discuss A Conspiracy of Kings.

So. First of all, The King of Attolia is one of my favorite books of all time. So coming into ACoK, I was expecting to be bowled over even more than I was. Even though it was from Sophos's point of view and Gen is possibly the best, most unique character ever created. So I *ran* to a bookstore the day ACoK was released and bought a copy.

I do not in any way regret buying that copy. But I was a little disappointed in the book. And even more disappointed that I was disappointed. One of the things that I love about MWT is that she'll throw in little details in random places where they fit, and then later, those details take on such significance in the plot. It happened so many times in KoA. I think I did my fist-pump once in ACoK (the amphitheater scene was brilliant). But I was expecting to be wowed more times and I wasn't. Also, Sophos just isn't as endearing to me as Gen, and Gen is so rarely in the book.

And it seemed that ACoK got rave reviews from the book reviewers, while KoA was not as praised. I don't know; to me, ACoK was more standard writing, while KoA was more innovative.

I felt like the entire book was a setup for the next two. Like, since Gen is now that Annux, the real battle can begin to unfold. So the entire ACoK was more of a bridge, rather than important in and of itself. I still think that ACoK is way better than most of what's being published, but I had insanely high expectations and it just didn't meet them.

Am I missing something vital here? Did anyone feel the same way? 

Comments

[sojourn-storm.livejournal.com]

I have to say I felt the same way reading this book.

Actually for KoA I felt dissapointed at the change of POV and it was just so weird that I was really disappointed, but then I re-read it and re-read it and it's my favorite even better than QoA.

So for me I imagine once I re-read CoK it will get better, like fine wine. It was another change of POV and it threw me because I didn't read any snippets or ARC's before the book came out to be unspoiled. I certainly hope I grow to love it like I do the previous books and with how Megan writes I don't think it will disappoint the 2nd time around.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I actually read KoA first. I was in the library and I saw a book and it had a great cover and it sounded interesting. So I took it home and read it; I didn't know about the books before it, so I didn't know there was a change in the POV. KoA was pretty much a perfect reading experience and you're right, it does keep getting better. I really, really hope that happens with ACoK.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I felt the same way too. The plot was very straightforward despite the switching from first- to third-person, there wasn't much hidden from us yet sign-posted with cunning clues that were understood in retrospect, and the resolution was, to me, totally lacking in finesse. I don't think it was because Sophos was the main character--Costis was a straight-forward guard through whose eyes we still saw a wonderfully complex story--but because the twistiness just wasn't there.

[coyul.livejournal.com]

I was expecting more twists, but really, Sophos doesn't know how to withhold anything the way that Gen can (and he's not like just meeting Gen like Costis was so it's not like we're being slowly enlightened), so I wasn't surprised in the end or even disappointed. Sophos is too straightforward and honest.

But you have to be careful with the honest ones because you never know when they'll do something incredibly stupid, as Captain Jack Sparrow said. Which makes me see Sophos as Will and Gen as Jack because it fits a little bit and plus Gen's got a pirate hook so why not.

Lol done rambling about nothing.

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

I think the reason it was less complex was because Gen was not in it as much. Most of the twistiness tends to come from him. :D

Also, I think the reason it got more rave reviews than KoA was simply because more people know about the series than when KoA came out. KoA brought in the fans. (also that one is TOTES MY FAVORITE ORZ)

And finally, it's hard to live up to anticipation. I too was a little disappointed, because I love Gen and Attolia so much and I wanted more of them! But I think this was mostly setting the stage for the next book, which will hopefully be more Gen-centered. Or Costis-centered, because I love him too.

I wonder if I read it again, will more plot details and points will come to light. Has anyone done any intense re-reading?

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not alone. I kept wondering if maybe I was missing something extraordinarily clever, but in the end I just felt set up.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

No, your rambling makes a lot of sense. :-) I know that Sophos and Gen are different, I'm just assuming that a huge part of the appeal of the series for me was Gen and his twistiness.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I know, it's *totally* my favorite, too. I tried so hard to reread ACoK, but I just end up going back to KoA. Oh well. Only three more years til the next one.

Re: Hey :).

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I know, I totally lived for the Gen parts... Did you see that interview with MWT on some blog where she talks about Gen planning to steal an elephant in some future book? I am dying to read that already.

And do you really think it will be four to six years? I can't wait that long...

And it's so funny that you like Attolia because I think I'm kinda scared of her. Um. Whatever that says about me. I mean, she's awesome. But terrifying. And she's also not in the book enough.

I'm just making this stuff up as I type...

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Each of the books in the series is different. Thats part of what makes this series so much better than others which are just the same thing, again and again. But that means, if you want another KoA, you aren't quite going to get it. Which is disappointing at first, but you can keep loving KoA and love ACoK for what it is--a different book.

Also, at this point, I think we're getting really good at paying attention to seemingly-unimportant detail, and anticipating the surprises. Thinking about Sophos as a character, I think its just as surprising that he would pull a gun and shoot a man when the vote doesn't go his way, as, say, the revelation that Gen was in love with the woman who cut his hand off. But this surprise was more expected, and therefore less surprising.

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I know if I had to pick a favorite, KoA would be it, definitely! And when I first finished CofK I was a tad disappointed. However, I went back and re-read it almost immediately, and on the re-read I fell in love. Not as much as with KoA, or even maybe QoA (for the last chapter which makes me squee), but definitely in love. So, if you're someone who does re-reads, I'd really suggest doing that.

Re: Hey :).

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOUR USER PIC.

Re: I'm just making this stuff up as I type...

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

But this surprise was more expected, and therefore less surprising.

Yep. But still amazing. That scene was my favorite in the book, probably because Sophos was most like Gen there.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Maybe she felt she had to get another book out; I dunno. It felt ordinary and the other books weren't.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Another source of disappointment that's been discussed on Sounis is the fact that the previous books have all been about Gen finding the twisty way to end a war, or finding the twisty way to show mercy and not kill people -- and here, Sophos has to do the obvious thing and kill people. That doesn't make it a bad book, and many people here have been eloquent about how appropriate it is, and how the killing Sophos does probably prevents more killing, etc. -- but it does give it a built-in let-down factor, as Sophos does NOT find another way to solve his dilemma. I'm kind of still trying to decide what I think about that myself. I have a lot of respect for this book but will probably never love it as much as KoA.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

You know, when Sophos realized that there was no other way, and that by leaving him the pistol, that's what Gen was telling him, in a way that was a validation for him. That he really thought it out correctly, that even Gen saw no other way. Maybe that's what gave him the strength to do it.

[finding-further.livejournal.com]

There is a subtlety to ACoK that, I think, accounts for all of the rave reviews. Sophos, though much more direct than Gen, is still an equally unreliable narrator. He constantly misinterprets things, gets people's opinions of himself wrong, misses the hints being offered by those around him, etc. Like the previous three books, we still have to read between the lines to get ACoK's full meaning. As a writer, that is an amazingly difficult feat to pull off.

That said, I too missed Gen.

But I can understand how MWt may have needed to take a break from him at this point in the series. As compelling a character as he has become, there are other stories to be told in this universe. Stories that add to the greater story arc in progress.

Now, if only we didn't have to wait to see what's coming next!!

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

This.

Philia you're eloquence is beyond me
but yes, I was shocked that he couldn't find another way out. But I liked that, because it's true to reality. Sometime's there is no twisty way to slither out of things. Sometimes you have to do something, because it's not a choice.

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the comm beth! I think once the next one comes out people will be much more happy they *know* what happened with Eddis and Sophos and everything wasn't just *poof*

I have a good feeling we're all going to want to do reread once the lastest book comes out. Until, then we have our theories.

=]

[styromgalleries.livejournal.com]

But I was a little disappointed in the book. And even more disappointed that I was disappointed.
Same. I hopeI'm sure I will like it more upon a reread, but I just can't bring myself to reread it yet. After KoA, I instantly reread it and loved it again. With this one...I just can't. :(

[styromgalleries.livejournal.com]

It felt ordinary and the other books weren't.
I almost feel that way too.

I was gonna try to flesh this out and try to make sense of why I feel that way, but, uh...yeah. That's all I got.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I can see this. Gen in book 5: "So! Sophos. You and I are gonna stroll down to the Mede encampment and commandeer an elephant, savvy?"

[zedmeister.livejournal.com]

*delurks for a second*

The title of the book also doesn't help. I was expecting there to be an actual conspiracy of some sort between Sophos and Gen that would be revealed towards the end, but then there wasn't any.

[coyul.livejournal.com]

Sneak in under a boat and everything? It could work.

Re: Hey :).

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

"Couldn't," Gen said coolly. "I needed you on the edge, looking slightly sick."

I'm still not sure if I entirely understand that scene. Help? Insights, anyone?

One reason I'm so patient with this book (and therefore not as disappointed as some, though I see what they're saying) is that I'm STILL catching things in the last 3 books, or comprehending them in new ways, even though I've owned and read them dozens of times. ACoK is simply the newest, and therefore the least parsed out of the books for me.