The Money Is Good, Insisted The Braeling. Two Years, And Ill Have The Stake For A Small Farm. Four, And

“The money is good,” insisted the Braeling. “Two years, and I’ll have the stake for a small farm. Four, and I’ll have a stake for a large one.”

I thought it was a sensible plan, but even the Attolian was shaking his head.

I am not necessarily disagreeing with Costis’ assessment that this guy is lying to himself but it’s very funny that he thinks the Braeling’s 4-year plan is sure to end in death or disability when he *checks notes* has to be a royal guard for 20 years before he can cash in on Attolia’s promise of land

I am feeling things specifically about Kamet telling the naughty kitchen boy so much about Laela that Gen could be sure she would lie to save him.

Like.

That’s not “The kid liked my translations.”

They talked. Tight-lipped, haughty Kamet who was sure no one in Attolia cared about him at all told this naughty sandal polisher so much about his life and gave him money so he could make it home even thought slaves don’t do favors. He told him about his life and then the boy stuck with him so clearly that Kamet tells COSTIS about him! multiple times!

They were friends.

Peasants like:

Just finished hamlet & had to share THIS

Every time I finish rereading one of the books I pull up Tumblr, Pinterest, and livejournal to look for other people talking about it because I always miss stuff and other people are as excited as I am

Have just finished "Thick as Thieves", book five of Megan Whalen Turner's "Queen's Thief" series, and I'm frustrated I have no-one I can gush over this.

I've loved all five of the six books books in the series. Every one has had me on tenterhooks throughout, and with twists and turns that have frequently left me shocked and amazed, even when expecting to be tricked and bamboozled.

So if you want complex and clever storytelling, with well fleshed out and believable characters; telling a story of complex political intrigue set in a pseudo-Mediterranean fantasy world; then I thoroughly recommend this series

“What a piece of work he was. I don’t know why I like him as much as I do.”

-Kamet, being everyone who has ever met Eugenides

Chapter 4:

I think it's funny that Costis so readily volunteers to fight off the approaching swordsmen, leaving Kamet to scramble. "My alarm was perfectly reasonable, as the horsemen appeared to be waving at us, and I was certain that what they were waving was swords." Kamet's precision does nothing to hide his anxiety (which I think is well-warranted).

I have to wonder, when would Costis have realized the true depth of Kamet's fear about the skirmish? Or, more generally, that every bit of Kamet's worldview is informed by his life as a slave?

"I didn't come all the way to this godsforsaken cesspit so that I could go home and tell my king I failed him." / loyaltyyyyyy. I love Costis. flashback to KoA: "He knew he would march into hell for this fathomless king."

I know everyone has already talked about the absurdity of the lion's den, but: Costis. what are you doing.

Also, I love the surgery song. that is all.

"...how did you come to Ianna-Ir?" / "I punched the king in the face." / I knew that he would say that, but I still smiled like a loon. I love KoA so much.

Also: "He was more kind to me than I deserved and he forgave me." / love.

"Well, the Namreen aren't dropping roof tiles on my head or trying to stab me in the back." / lol.