This is, by far, the best series I have read since the Riddle-Master. These books are unquestionably incredible.

They're written by Megan Whale Turner. There are four of them:
The Thief
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia
A Conspiracy of Kings

It's about the political struggles of a bunch of micro kingdoms and the personal struggles of their rulers. It's loosely based on Mediterranean culture which gives it an aspect of familiarity, but it's different enough that it in no way resembles anything historical. Eugenides has to be one of the greatest characters I have ever read, and every aspect of the series is incredibly realistic. If I could write like Megan Whale Turner I would be happy...

I can't believe how many books I haven't read; and I always thought I was an avid reader when I was younger. Then again, I never read much fantasy other than Narnia and Tolkien. *Must look into these*

I have not read them either, but they sound like something to look into.

Oooh! I like this series.

This series is good. Or at least most of it. I loved The Thief. It was great. Queen of Attolia, I liked. It wasn't as good, but it was pretty good. DO NOT CLICK SPOILER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS! NO EXCUSES! She cut off his hand! That scared me and slightly turned me off, because then he wasn't a thief and I liked it when he stole things! Ok, mini rant over. King of Attolia, I did not like. Sorry, but I didn't. Why? It. Was. So. Boring. Finally, when I had read the first few chapters and could not suffer through anymore, I closed the book and never came back to it. It was just like zero-action! Solider goes to the king's quarters, solider sword fights with the king, solider goes back to the kind. Repeat. That just couldn't grab me.

Ok, so that was my rant. Ignore me if it was a little opinionated.

The style of King of Attolia was very different, and it took some getting into. What she did was take a minor character, really, and tell the entire story from his POV. So instead of finding out what the characters you know and love are up to you get just a glimpse of it from the outside... but it pays off, at the end. Because nobody guesses what was really going on, and she put the reader in that group. It was boring, but it was kind of an intentional kind of boring. The soldier was bored... so we had to sit there and be bored with him.

Oops... I never came back to this.

Yeah, my sister, who has read them all, keeps insisting that it gets better. I guess I just don't like to be bored in books.

I've only read The Thief and really, really enjoyed it. Oh my, I need to get back to reading again!

The Thief was very good, and my favourite out of Queen of Attolia and The Thief.

I have read the first two books, but not the later two. So far, they're incredible.

I was just looking at this series the other day, I have heard nothing but good things about "The Queens Thief Series" thanks to the wonderful people at Holyworlds!

As a writer I have found the motivation to actually read other books in my genre and fiction for that matter. I figure this is a good series to start with.

My othe choices were:
Patrick Rothfluss - The name of Wind
Jonathen Friesen - Aquifer

any other suggestions for good books to read? I havn't ready much since C.S lewis sad to say.im terrible i know