When Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, is caught fleeing the castle of the Queen of Attolia, the queen orders his right hand cut off. Although it is standard punishment for thieves, the Queen of Attolia’s order is born of political animosity and personal hatred, not tradition. Eddis once stole a mythic relic from her kingdom, undermining her authority. In her decision to cut off his hand, however, she has bound herself and Eugenides in an unexpected way. Eugenides returns to Eddis in a political exchange but he is haunted by his terror of what happened. He cannot stop thinking about the woman who caused him such pain. Attolia, who did not think she could feel anything other than hatred, can’t stop thinking about what she did to the thief. Part of her hates him all the more for this obsession, while part of her knows better. When relations between Eddis and Attolia escalate into war, Eugenides is moved to action once again. He returns to Attolia, this time to capture the queen. Megan Whalen Turner’s absorbing sequel to The Thief (Greenwillow Books/Harper Collins, 1996) revolves around two complex and intriguing characters. Their thoughts and emotions drive the plot as much as does the political intrigue. (Ages 11-14)