queensthief | Entries tagged with conspiracy of kings

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

Enjoying your extra week with Sophos?

All good things must come to an end, unfortunately, but don't sweat! You've still got time to finish catching up with Bunny Mankiller. The chat to discuss A Conspiracy of Kings will take place in the Conspiracy Room, this Sunday, June 25th Noon PT / 1pm MT / 2pm CT / 3pm ET. After that, we will be taking a break before continuing with the reread in August. See the full schedule HERE.

Happy reading, Sounis!

checkers65477.livejournal.com

Am I the only one who loves ACoK more with each rereading? Dear, dear Sophos. Bunny! It's a bit of an easier book to read--more linear and easier to follow, but with clever political intrigue and tremendous character development. It's so much fun to see characters we thought we knew all about through the eyes of Sophos.

We'll continue with our reread chats tomorrow, Sunday September 20 to discuss A Conspiracy of Kings and the short story Wine Shop. Scans of the short stories are available HERE for Sounis members.

The chat will take place at this time:

4pm Pacific Time
5pm Mountain Time
6pm Central Time
7pm Eastern Time
Check the World Clock for more time zones.

Chats will take place in the Conspiracy Room. Password is HERE. All are welcome, but you have to be a member of the community to access the password.

checkers65477.livejournal.com

I just finished my reread of ACoK and was musing about dear, dear Sophos and his...

Beard.

He's gone from a sweet, niave boy to a ruthless man, fighting battles and shooting ambassadors. Well, those thoughts reminded me of the kerfluffle about the book cover, when ACoK first was released in 2010. Remember?

Deirdre's post about Vince Natale's cover art, including the Orlando Bloom Sophos.

Tiegirl's Absolutely Accurate Description of the Back-and-Forth Between Sounis and Greenwillow.

Oh, and that made me think of Emily B. Martin and her musings about Eugenides and his beard. Really, so many references to beards--I haven't even mentioned Nahuserish and his forked red beard.

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

I totally spaced on posting this yesterday, but I'm sure you all know the drill by now. This week we are reading A Conspiracy of Kings and the short story,Wine Shop.

If you missed the KoA chat, check out the transcripts. All transcripts are members locked, so make sure you are signed in and have joined

sounis.

See under the cut for a helpful reading schedule.

( Join the Conspiracy... )

The Conspiracy Room chat for A Conspiracy of Kings will be held Sunday, September 20th at 6pm CT. I hope the reading/listening is going well, and have a fun week with Bunny!

PS: I have a conspiracy to share with all of you. The QT ebooks are currently on sale for $2.99 each on Amazon.com, excluding RoT. That's $15 for the entire published series. What a steal!

filkferengi

https://www.tor.com/2019/02/07/things-i-want-to-see-in-return-of-the-thief-megan-whalen-turner/

Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Leslie Fish--The Ship Of Stone

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

It’s the last week of Reflections! This week we’re covering A Conspiracy of Kings, but first an update on the TaT re-read. If you're just joining us, catch up HERE.

( TaT Re-read )

( A Conspiracy of Kings )

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

Yes, I've finally finished that elusive TaT playlist I've been talking about for like... two years. ~~hangs head in shame~~

Anyhow, I hope it's worth the wait, as I've made not only one but three new playlists! Now with new and improved listen-ability! There are some old favorites in here, but also plenty of new stuff. It's been several years since I've made a playlist for these books, so there were many new songs to add.

I used Spotify to build these, but you need a subscription to listen to the songs in their entirity. I've included a link to the Spotifiy version if you do happen to have a subscription, but as I assume most of you probably do not, I've made Youtube playlists of all the songs.

If you're confused as to why I choose a particular song (some of them are for very specific parts of the books) there is a note for each song below. Enjoy!

( Listen! )

Any songs you think I should add?

11rod88staff11.livejournal.com

I want so much to proliferate appreciation and love for Sounis Sophos and the Conspiracy of Kings right now. I feel like a lot of the reason this book doesn't get talked about as much as the others in the series is it's so complex... I have read it multiple times carefully and I think I'm reasonably intelligent... And honestly I'm still not sure if i really get everything that happened. And I have a lot of questions about the implications of a lot of events that unfolded in it.

Like I'm still not sure exactly the extent of Helen's anger at Sophos in the end even though he apologizes very directly for believing that he has agency over whether he "allows" her to cede her country on whatever grounds she wants/needs to.

I'm still not sure what is meant when Sounis asks Attolis, "Were you behind the negotiations on Lerna and Hannipus?"

I'm still not clear on how deeply the theme of "Asking Your OWN questions!" goes. (His mother says it. Helen says it... I know it concerns Sophos cultivating his own relationships with the gods as opposed to relying on the others' experiences and interpretations with them.

I know it relates to the coming of age theme where Sophos learns to stand independently on his own two feet as a sovereign while simultaneously being forced into submission for the greater good by people who are otherwise his friends. (ironic contrast there)

What exactly does Helen withhold from him at the very end? How she knows the tremendous sacrifices that Attolis made for him while making him believe that he only made moderate sacrifices? It's like Attolis and Attolia were intentionally keeping Sounis from knowing how much they loved him and how much they would do for him...

They wanted to make him believe he needed them? Make him believe he wanted more from them than they were willing to give? It turns out that Attolis sent the troops he needed to win in the end... But what of the whole paragraph about how he could have won against his barons without resorting to violence? MWT straight TELLS US that he COULD HAVE. like she was speaking for the Gods and that flies in the opposite direction of how it usually is...

I have more questions than answers in the end. I feel like I can ask a question in both directions and they are both valid questions because I feel like every event somehow goes both ways in the book.

rouan1.livejournal.com

Every year, I drive to an herbal conference and I always listen to one of the audio QT books. This year it was ACoK. As I was listening to it, I got to thinking (not for the first time) where this fits in time-wise with QoA, KoA, and TaT. I went back through KoA and found the section where Ornan tells Eugenides that there is no news of Sophos and Sounis is taking back more of the country but I can't locate the passage that tells us that Sophos is missing in the first place. Do any of you remember where that passage is? Is it in QoA or KoA?

checkers65477.livejournal.com

Got my new School Library Journal today and came across a familiar name--Virginia Duncan, MWT's editor. Megan's mentioned in the article, although it's about Newbery author Erin Entrada Kelly. That brought back a recollection of a fun blog entry from Shelf Awareness. It came out just after ACoK was published and describes not only how Virginia "hurled the book across the room in complete and utter disgust" after reading and being fooled by The Thief, but also how Megan got editor Susan Hirschman on board with what happens in QoA *. It's an interesting read, take a look.

*you know, the chop-chop part.

Current Music: the script - arms open

11rod88staff11.livejournal.com

MWT saw the hegemonic patriarchal, traditionally binary stories of old and flipped them around upon their heads. Saw duality and gave us the spectrum of all infinite possibility and Oneness in its place:

( Read more )

eachase.livejournal.com

Since we're in the midst of the CoK discussion, it seems like a good time to share my list of possible synecdoches.

- "So many things are obvious in retrospect, aren't they?" I said. (pg. 117)*

- One does not refuse the gifts of the god without a certain amount of peril. (pg. 156)

- The numbers were small, and the challenge he faced was enormous. (pg. 158)

- He said, "That was more difficult than I anticipated." (pg. 175)

- "I didn't realize."
"I know you didn't, you idiot." (pg. 180) **

- "But does a good man let circumstances determine his character?" (pg. 188)

*This is the first one I came across and which started me looking for them. It seems to summarize the entire experience of reading the series.

**Hopefully this is not what Megan thinks of us when it takes us years to see things she did quite intentionally.

Bonus quote:

- "I thought you should figure it out. What you learn for yourself, you will know forever," said Eugenides.

Seems a lot like "I'm not telling," don't you think?

What other ones did I miss?

checkers65477.livejournal.com

This week we finish our community read-along, as we’ve reread all the books to get ready for the release of Thick As Thieves, woohoo! This section covers the last seven chapters of A Conspiracy of Kings, beginning with the change back to to 1st person POV as Sophos says, “ We left Attolia with all the provisions we had missed on our previous journey,” and ending with, “They both laughed.”

This discussion should be spoiler-free for the new short stories and Thick As Thieves. Which we’ll be discussing SOON.

All page numbers I refer to are from the original hardback book.

Although A Conspiracy of Kings is a more linear story than QoA or KoA, these last seven chapters are as complex and layered as any in the series. When I first read them, they seemed straightforward. But, at the same time, I had a vague feeling there was a subtle undercurrent going on, and I was missing something. I gradually realized that feeling was from not realizing how much of what happens in these final chapters is entirely from Sophos’ (ok, with some help from Gen, Irene, Helen and maybe the Magus) plans and manipulations. But Sophos is the key player here and it is his leadership, patience, determination, and even his acting ability that lead to his final success as he assumes the throne and becomes, in every sense, the king of Sounis.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: excited

eachase.livejournal.com

I've been lurking here since the post about the development of cover art for A Conspiracy of Kings, so it's probably long past time for me to actually join.

But I felt like I should offer a gift (like a certain thief at each temple). Unfortunately I don't wear earrings or drink coffee, so I've been stumped for a long time.

But I finally came up with something that perhaps only this community will truly appreciate. I was recently re-reading the series and during Conspiracy came across an example of synecdoche. And then a few more possible examples. So I re-started re-reading the series looking for them.

I like to make everything as hard on myself as possible, so I set a rule: no spoilers. And I have an exceptionally broad definition of spoilers. As in, names/titles can't be used because even they give things away.

Here are the ones I found in The Thief:

- I had wanted everyone to know that I was the finest thief since mortal men were made, and I must have come close to accomplishing that goal. (pg. 2)

- "I thought that you could steal anything," he taunted.
"Except myself out of the king's prison," I agreed. (pg. 13)

- "I didn't plan this trip with your comfort in mind," he said sourly.
"Damn right." (pg. 51)

- It had been a professional risk, but there was no point in saying so. (pg. 58-59)

- "Do you mean," I squawked, "that we are out here in the dark looking for something from a fairy tale?" (pg. 71)

- "You," he said, "are going to steal it." (pg. 205)

- "Won't tell me or can't" he asked.
"Can't," I admitted. "Not that I would anyway," I goaded him. (pg. 231)

Which do you think is the best? Are there others you'd include in the list?

If you approve of this gift, I'll offer my suggestions for the other books (to date!) for enjoyment and discussion.

an-english-girl.livejournal.com

Welcome back to the community read-along of all the books (so far!). This week, we’re starting A Conspiracy of Kings, reading from the start of the Prologue “The king of Attolia was passing....” to the end of Chapter 12 “...You came in. And you laughed.” Thirteen chapters sounds like a lot, but some of them are actually very short, so please keep reading and don’t panic!

These discussions are spoiler-free for the new short stories The Wine Shop and The Knife Dance, as well as for the ARC Thick As Thieves. If you have any comments on these in relation to ACoK, please write them down or tell them to the cat, so you’ll remember them to share with everyone else in Less Than A Month’s Time!!! :D

Obviously, there will be spoilers for the four extant books, so if you’re very very new to this fandom, I echo the Queen of Attolia: Go Away – and finish reading all four books!

( Do not expand the cut unless you are prepared to madly fangirl/over-analyse ACoK and the rest of the series )

Current Mood: tired

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

I was hoping Epic Reads would do a new QT video!

an-english-girl.livejournal.com

Do you think I could enter the following? As a sort of Grown Up Lego?

Conspiracy of Kings, you know ;D

Current Mood: okay

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

Thanks to everyone who's volunteered so far! With the deadline for sign-ups fast approaching (February 12th), I'm still in need of at least two more people to help lead discussions.

If you're unfamilar with the community wide re-read and discussion to celebrate the release of "Thick as Thieves" (starting February 26th and concluding May 14th), please read all about it HERE. We're starting with "The Queen of Attolia" having just done a read-along for "The Thief" in September. If you didn't get a chance to participate back in September, there's no time like the present!
Chapters 1-3 - Chapters 4-6 - Chapters 7-9 - Chapters 10-12.

These discussions will be spoiler free for "Thick as Thieves" as well as the new short stories, "Wine Shop" and "Knife Dance."

If you're just participating in the read-along, no sign-ups are required. Just bring your lovley reprobatish selves!

What does it mean to volunteer as a discussion lead and how do I sign up?

If you sign up, you will be responsible for opening discussions the start of your week, which will be a Sunday. It would be preferable if the opening post is up by Saturday (the day before your week starts), but the official due date is midnight on Sunday, the first day of your week. You're free to make your post as elborate as you like or keep it simply with just a few topics and observations to get things going. It would also be best if you’re available during your week to respond to comments and foster discussion, but that’s not absolutely necessary.

Sign up by emailing me at ninedaysaqueenmod@gmail.com or comment if you have any questions. Please, title your email QT read-along.

I will need-

Your Livejournal username.

Which section or book you’d prefer. (This helps me make decisions.)

If there are any sections you absolutely cannot take because of a RL scheduling conflict.

Whether or not you’d like to be a pinch-hitter, if someone cannot get their post done on time.

The deadline to sign-up is this Sunday, February 12th. Official assignments along with further instructions will be emailed to all volunteers the following Monday or Tuesday. This should give everyone plenty of time to prepare thier post.

Please, consider signing up if you have any time to spare during these weeks. PLEAAASSSEE!

Spread the word about the read-along!

checkers65477.livejournal.com

We have a shiny, new readaloud chapter--Chapter 12 of A Conspiracy of Kings read by

ninedaysaqueen !

Listen to the tale of Two Sounisians in the City Behaving Oddly while dear Sophos dresses in startling finery (to look less like riff raff) and the Magus lounges in his bath like a terrapin. There are sound effects! Listen to it here. (You must be a member of the community to access the chapters.)

Want to read a chapter? Leave a comment on the readaloud post and we'll add you to the list. Also, a reminder that we'll be removing names in another week or so, so if you signed up years ago and still want your chapter, speak now or forever hold it.

Current Mood: productive
Current Music: Julia Brennan - Inner Demons

ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com

Back in September, we re-read “The Thief” as a celebration of its twentieth anniversary and held weekly discussions in order to once again carefully dissect each and every sentence. You have no idea the details you can miss till you’ve gone over the text with a microscope!

Check those out if you missed them.

Since “Thick as Thieves” was announced, I've been plotting to continue the re-read with “The Queen of Attolia" and the other two books. I’m guessing, like me, many of you are due for a re-read, and it’s a lot more fun to re-read together.

( Read more... )

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Eddis, Attolia, Sounis

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Entries tagged with conspiracy of kings

A Conspiracy of Rereads

Our Next Reread Chat

ACoK book cover, and Sophos beardage

Onward with the Community Reread!

Megan gets some love!

A Conspiracy of Kings

That elusive TaT Playlist I promised...

The Questions I Still Have About Conspiracy of Kings

Timeline assistance...please?

Megan's editor

Obliteration of Outdated Archetypes in MWT’s Queen’s Thief Saga

CoK Synecdoche

A Conspiracy of Kings Chapters 17-23

Introduction and a Gift

Community Read-along: A Conspiracy of Kings section 1

Epic Reads Explains why you should read QT!

An ARC Query

Discussion lead volunteers needed for the read-along!

New Readaloud Chapter!

Continue the Read-along? Volunteers needed!

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