Reread, 2022:

This is a book about the reign of the High King. It is written by the grandson of the Baron Erondites. Because history is written by the victors.

I was afraid to start this because I was afraid it wouldn't be as good as I remembered. But it was. It was possibly better.

MWT writes just the kind of books I like to read: battles mixed with court intrigue, friendships and romances (both equally good), realistic characters (on both sides of the conflict), and a really fascinating look at the way fate, gods, and humans interact.

This book isn't where you should start your journey with the Thief and his crew, but it's a fitting end. It always hurts to say goodbye to old friends, especially ones so dear as my Gen and Irene and the rest, but it's comforting to know that they are forever immortalized in literature, and that I can return whenever I like and experience the stories anew. From the very first page of The Thief, with Gen in prison bemoaning his fate, to the dance on the rooftops at the end of Return... they are there. And I, soon enough, will be back with them.

Also, this book has a disabled POV, and MWT does that so well... *happy sigh for all the beautiful moments in this book* (*and the sad ones too because they're good despite their sadness*)

Gen throws a lot of things in this book. Irene does too. It's quite delightful. Especially when there's good reason ("The dressing table," whispered Chloe in awe.) -- because they are delightful together even when they are angry.

And there are so many scenes where things happen that couldn't have possibly happened in earlier books, and I am stubbornly (despite my lack of responsibility) PROUD of these characters for all that they have accomplished. May they live their days out in happy, lovely peace.

All hail the Annux.

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Original review, 2021:

AGH. Why am I such a fast reader? I read this in two days and I really, really wanted to savor it for longer than that *sigh*

Anyway. Definitely the best of the series (EDIT UPON REREAD: nah, maybe KoA is *the* best, but this is one of the best), probably the best book I've read yet this year, maybe (EDIT: definitely) one of my all-time favorites. I adore Gen and Irene and Helen and Bunny (*cough* I mean Sophos), and Pheris was the BEST as a narrator (I still miss being in Gen's head, but this was nearly as good) and there was REDEMPTION and BETRAYAL and

Spoiler

Irene finally had a kid! *squeals*

and I am so happy and sad right now, I don't even know what to feel or how to write a proper review.

Content-wise, I know some Christians are unhappy with the

Spoiler

same-sex relationship(s) going on

but the element was fairly minor, and historically accurate (assuming we're considering ancient Greece here) so I didn't really mind.

Maybe I'll come back and write a well-thought-out review at some point, but for now: read this series. Please. Start with book one, though. Read in publication order. Don't look at fanart or fanfic until you finish the first two at least. You don't wanna be spoiled for the amazing things to come. Trust me.

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Quote collection, added 2022 (NEEDED) (also I didn't spoiler tag this but yes, there will be some spoilers, proceed at your own risk):

~ "Here is your answer then, humblest of mortals. You will fall, as your kind always fall, when your god lets you go. Now you know what many men do not."

~ "We have a saying in my country, that a beautiful woman deserves love."
"Ugly women do not?" asked the queen, as if genuinely curious.

~ No one paints moments like these on walls.
Seeing him pale, I understood why even Eddis had braced herself after the oath-taking ceremony when the king was told he could not fight in his own battles. That had been illness. This was rage.

~ "They were born beautiful and mistake being beautiful for being good."

~ "I'm sure Gen has a plan," Sounis said as he held Eddis in place.
"If that doesn't frighten you, it should," said Eddis, glowering.

~ "I miss it. I'm sure everyone has something about themselves they'd like to change--to dance better, sing better, be stronger or taller. But if I hadn't lost the hand, I'd be another person entirely by now. Wishing for the hand back would be like wishing the man I already am to be replaced by some stranger. It would be wishing my own self out of existence, and who would want that?"

~ "O Great Goddess, aid me," the king whispered. "I forgot about the horse."
"You're a damn fool," said his father, indulgently.

~ As quiet slowly returned to the palace, Attolia found the king in her bedroom peeling off his wet clothes.
"Unkingly," she said.
"My god, I hope so," said the king.

~ "The call of life is as powerful as the call of death, and it is no weakness to answer to it."

~ "Inappropriate?" shouted the king. "You in your state on your way to war is inappropriate!"
"I did not become inappropriate all by myself!" she shouted back.
"Do you imagine I don't know that?"

~ Eddis said, hesitating as the put her thoughts into words, "I think they have to show their worst selves sometimes in order to be sure that even at their worst they are loved. Irene knows how frightened he is."
The king didn't sound frightened.
"Any minute," said Eddis, "he will realize--" As if her words were magic, silence fell in the tent and Eddis finished in a whisper. "How frightened she is."

~ "Your morality up on the hillside is an illusion, no more real than the freedom you imagine you have from it in battle. All wars make men monsters, all wars and all men."

~ "Courage," said the king in my ear.

~ "Attolis Eugenides Eugenideides. By the will of the Great Goddess, annux over Hephestia's Peninsula, king of Attolia, king over Sounis, and Eddis, king from the Macheddic Mountains to the sea, king from the Melenzetti Pass to the River Lusimina, and by my oath to my god, now and for my life, Thief of Eddis."

~ "I don't understand why you don't hate him," said Attolia.
"The same reason you don't and Sophos doesn't, because of who he is," Eddis said softly.
"And who is he now?" Attolia cried, and Eddis took the stricken queen in her arms, pulling her close to comfort her.
"He is still our Gen, Irene. He can bear his god a little while without losing himself."

~ Looking at the stones and the delicate feather of a wren, Xikos' cufflink and Sejanus' ring, I saw a pattern. I saw the relationship between all the pieces, hate, fear, revenge, remorse. I saw it as if it were one of the magus' equations and I could calculate the outcome. Whatever it was that Sejanus knew, learning it would destroy the king.

~ The Minister of War had ordered his men into formation on either side of the narrow streamlet. He looked over his shoulder as the king rode down to join them.
"I lied," said the king.
"I know," said his father. He pointed to the space he'd left open and the king moved into position.

~ "Did your father kill him?" Attolia asked, catching at one small detail in the maelstrom of grief.
"The poets can say so," said the king, his voice hoarse from shouting and from weeping. "My father fell early in the day, and Nahuseresh was alive much longer than that. I have no idea who killed him." His voice roughened further as the tears still to be shed began to rise. "I saw my father fall. I was too far away."
Leaving them to their grief, I picked my way back uphill.

~ My uncle had told the truth when he knew no one would believe him. I would not let him lie for me. I had done what I thought was right and I would not deceive my king. I stepped before the king.
I drugged the guards. I freed my uncle. Break this pot first.

~ "Gen?" said Attolia, suddenly afraid...
"It's nothing," he said. "It's only that I can see now what my grandfather must have seen, what every Thief before me has seen." With growing confidence, he shifted the bundle onto his other arm and used his finger to brush the baby's cheek. Smiling again, he said, "She is Eugenia, and if she falls, her god will catch her." Less solemnly, he added, "I could pitch her off the roof to show y--"

~ After a time, the light left the sky and the darkness settled in, the musicians fell silent, and the king led us down from the rooftop. Peace stole over the palace and the long day was over. The three countries, Sounis, Eddis, and Attolia, were one, and the gods were pleased.