The Thief is the perfect introduction to Megan Whalen Turner’s epic six-book series, The Queen’s Thief. It’s a fast-paced quest soaked in history and brimming with excitement.

The story follows Gen, a young thief whose claims he can steal anything have landed him in the King’s jail. One day, Gen is approached by the King’s advisor with an offer he can’t refuse: help steal a legendary artefact, or die in the King’s jail.

Gen is a loveable protagonist whose many secrets keep the reader guessing throughout the book. As the story unfolds, he reveals more and more information about his past. These snippets slowly weave together, providing an unforgettable and incredibly satisfying conclusion.

The world of The Queen’s Thief series is one heavily inspired by Ancient Greece, with much of the action based on the Greco-Persian Wars. Set across the three fictitious city states of Sounis, Attolia, and Eddis, and their growing rival, the Mede Empire, Whalen Turner’s world doesn’t simply feel inspired by Ancient Greece, such is the power of her writing that it feels as real as Ancient Greece.

The Queen’s Thief series provides adventure and political intrigue in spades. While each of the six books follows a different character, the individual stories weave in and out of each other to create an expansive and brilliantly realised plot.

The Thief is a YA book perfect for readers aged 12+ who enjoy character-driven fantasy stories.