I'm on a reading roll lately. I think it helps that I 1) only read two five books in November and 2) am rereading children's books from my youth.

I just finished The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. I loved this book. I wasn't so young the first time I read it (I was 14 I think?). I also read The Queen of Attolia around this time. I then kind of forgot about the books until a few years (maybe six?) later when I realized there was another book in the series and one more to be published.

I bought The King of Attolia and read it a couple of summers ago. I enjoyed it but was struck by how slow it was and how much of the book was about politics.

Rereading The Thief, I realize that it was much the same as The King of Attolia (maybe substitute politics for geography in this one though). It was so slow, most of the book is description of the geography of the countries as the characters travel through them, one of the most exciting parts is downplayed as it's happening and is only relayed to the reader through a story told after the fact. It actually has a lot of elements that I hated in Lord of the Rings (yes, I hate them). But for some reason I loved the book when I was younger (it's a great story despite my complaints above) and I can't hate it now.

I'm hoping to get through The Queen of Attolia soon. I don't remember liking that one as much as The Thief. I can't even remember the story. Hopefully it won't disappoint.