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This article is about the novel. For the character, see Eugenides.

The King of Attolia is the third book in the Queen's Thief series. It was originally published on January 24th, 2006 in the United States.

Plot[]

After overhearing the king of Attolia insult Teleus and the Queen's Guard, Costis Ormentiedes punches the king in the face in an uncharacteristic fit of rage. Horrified by his own treasonous actions, Costis expects to be executed, but instead the king inexplicably has him promoted from squad leader to lieutenant-at-large. Costis is then forced to accompany the king through his day-to-day activities, from sword practice to afternoon court.

Although Costis initially loathes the king, he eventually begins to sympathize with him. Eugenides is widely disliked by the Attolian court, and is apparently unable to manage his attendants, who constantly misbehave. Sejanus, the second son of the Baron Erondites, is the mastermind behind many of the pranks on the king.

When an attempt is made on the king's life, Costis arrives too late to save him, but much to his surprise the king is able to fight off the assassins on his own. Costis helps the king back to his rooms, where it is revealed that he was badly injured in the attack. Enraged, the queen orders the execution of Teleus and the squad of guards assigned to the king when the attack occurred, but Eugenides intervenes at the last moment and convinces her to pardon them instead.

While recovering from his injuries, Eugenides secretly laces his own lethium with quinalums, a poisonous substance, and frames Sejanus's brother, the musician Dite for a second assassination attempt. It is also revealed that Dite has feelings for Attolia Irene. Sejanus confesses in order to protect his brother. However, in order to deprive Baron Erondites of any legitimate heirs, Dite is also exiled. Eugenides, sympathetic to Dite, secretly arranges for Dite to become a court musician in a distant country.

After orchestrating the fall of House Erondites, the king is respected and feared by his attendants, but most of the court and Guard dismisses his actions and assumes that he is only a tool of the queen.

Someone in the Guard begins a rumor that Costis and Teleus had been responsible for fighting off the assassins, and that the king had merely taken credit for it. Costis, feeling that his honor has been compromised, spars with the king one last time, this time fighting a proper match rather than simply doing the basic exercises.

With the reveal of Eugenides's hidden abilities, he finally wins the support of Teleus and the Guard, and fully steps into the role of king of Attolia.

Editions and Translations[]

The King of Attolia has been published with two different covers in the United States, and received new covers for various international editions (see Cover Gallery, below.) Other translations reused the artwork of either Vince Natale or Joel Tippie. It has been released in the following languages:

  • English [Note: US and UK]
  • Bengali [Note: published in one volume with A Conspiracy of Kings]
  • Estonian (Attolia kuningas)
  • German (Der Gebieter) [Note: "The Lord"]
  • Indonesian (The King of Attolia - Sang Raja dari Attolia)
  • Japanese (新しき王) [Note: "The New King," printed in two volumes, subtitled 孤立 ("Isolation") and 栄光 ("Glory").]
  • Spanish (El rey de Attolia)
  • Thai (ราชันแห่งแอตโทเลีย)
  • Turkish (Attolya Kralı)

Audiobooks[]

The King of Attolia has been recorded with a variety of narrators.

  • Jeff Woodman (US)
  • Steve West (US)
  • Owen Findlay (UK)

Cover Gallery[]

References[]

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