#gay or attolian

[fuckyeahqueensthief]

really curious why you didn’t like rott. I didn’t love it mainly because i wanted gen and/or irene pov and didn’t care at all about pheris and his family drama. i wish you well and hope the new year goes better for you 🫶

answering these both here:

appreciate it 💖💖 and i wanna be clear - this both will be deleted only if tumblr dies lmao. i would never want to delete all the posts, so even if i go dark for awhile, this blog will always be here. i’ll never completely abandon it, i am at the very least too stubborn for that.

Oof okay i’ll do like a quick(ish) bullet thing and if anyone wants a more in depth review, they can ask and i’ll reply on my personal. But basically

I didn’t understand the majority of Irene & Gen’s actions.

I love Pheris, i would die for him (I have a framed picture of him on my wall so clearly i adored him lmao), but the plot happens to him, he doesn’t move the plot.

there’s too many men in this series 🤷🏻‍♀️ Pheris should have been a girl.

slow pacing. too much tension was informed instead of shown.

it’s great that minor characters can be explicitly gay, but the sharp divide between that, the heterosexual couples, and Costis/Kamet left a sour taste in this bisexual’s mouth.

eddis has always been coded as PoC, and Attolians as white (no one argue with me about this, we all know my feelings on it lol). And what read to me as the forced assimilation of Gen into Attolian culture, and Eddis in general into the white culture - I just could not.

the h*lf br**d comment at the very end - i know i might ruffle some feathers here, but as someone who has been called that slur, I do not think any non Native in the Americas should be using it to describe their characters of color. I admit, I judge writers very harshly on this one but I see it used so casually so often in fantasy and I flinch, actually in real life, every time. It’s like 70% of the reason I haven’t rewatched Aquaman aksjs love Jason Momoa, thjnk it was wildly inappropriate for a Han Chinese writer to put that word in a mixed race polynesian man’s mouth. same concept here.

[morhath]

I love Kamet............... the “gay and homophobic” rep that the community so desperately needed

[venndaai]

Verimius pursued the poet Lavia, who wrote terrible poetry about Celia, one of the queen’s attendants.

lesbians????

[imaginariumgeographica]

I can’t get over the use of NAMES in Thick as Thieves! Like, mostly how Kamet does not refer to Costis by his name until he reaches the part of his account where he first says his (Costis’s) name. Like, he says “Costis” for the first time and then he can’t stop. (I still cannot believe that Kamet canonically says (or at least thinks) “My Costis” like. wow.)

The conceit of the book is that it’s Kamet’s account for Relius, so the whole book is written after that first “Costis” but Kamet still refers to him exclusively as “the Attolian” up until that point of the narrative. It’s also worth noting that Kamet began writing before he was reunited with Costis, so it could have been a deliberate way to distance himself (because he’s SAD). We don’t know how much Kamet has written by the time he is reunited with Costis (Gen startles Kamet while he’s writing about the Anet’s Dream, and he’s reunited with Costis a week later).

It’s also kind of amusing to think of Kamet writing and being like “I’m not gonna say who this Attolian is” even though we the reader as well as Relius in universe are very aware who the Attolian is.

[love-an-ood]

Gay or Just Attolian, a parody of Gay or European from Legally Blonde the musical, written by @eeddis and performed by me, @eeddis, @goddessofgentlerain, @sounisiangutter, @cartograffiti, @artfrostedleaf, @huilian, @storieswelove, and @worldsentwined!

(feel free to join us in the queen’s thief discord server for more shenanigans like this)

my queen’s thief music tag

lyrics under the cut:

A:

There! Right There!

Look at that tanned, well-tended skin

Look at the killer shape he’s in

Look at that slightly stubbly chin

Oh please he’s gay, totally gay

B:

I’m not about to celebrate

Every trait could indicate

A totally straight expatriate.

This guy’s not gay, I say not gay

All: 

It’s very true he could be queer

but in this context it’s not clear

that a man with his ear pierced

is automatically radically fay

C:

But look at his coiffed and flowing locks

A:

Look at his muscles, like an ox

B:

That’s the eternal paradox

Look what we’re seeing

A: 

What are we seeing?

B:

Is he gay?

A: 

Of course he’s gay!

B:

Or just Attolian?

All:

Ohhh

Gay or just Attolian?

It’s hard to guarantee

Is he gay or an Attolian?

D:

Well hey don’t look at me!

E:

You see they bring their boys up different

In those squalid foreign ports

They play peculiar sports

All:

In shiny mail or tiny shorts

Gay or foreign fellow?

The answer could take weeks

They will say things like “so, so, so”

While they kiss you on both cheeks

A:

Oh please

All:

Gay or just Attolian?

So many shades of grey

D:

Depending on the time of day

Ferrians go either way

All:

Is he gay or just Attolian?

Or–   

F:

There! Right there!

Look at that confused and empty stare

Seen it on every guard out there

That is a meathead uptight square

That guy’s not gay I say no way!

All:

That is the elephant in the room

Well is it relevant to presume

That a hottie in that costume

A:

Is automatically, radically

B:

Ironically, chronically

E:

Certainly, flirtingly

D: 

Genetically, medically

All:

Gay!

Officially gay!

Officially gay, gay, gay, gay!

Dammit

Gay or just Attolian?

B:

So stylish and polite

All:

Is he gay or an Attolian?

B: 

I think he’s not that bright

E:

But they bring their boys up different 

Some of them can’t even read

It’s not like he’s a Mede

All:

It’s a difficult question indeed

Gay or just a rustic?

I still can’t even tell

G:

Yet his muscles are fantastic

Gives me feelings I can’t quell

All:

Huh

Gay or just Attolian?  

So many shades of grey

H:

But if he turns out straight

I’m free at eight on Saturday

All:

Is he gay or just Attolian?

Gay or an Attolian?

Gay or just–

C:

Wait a minute!

Give me a chance to crack this guy

I have an idea I’d like to try

B:

The floor is yours.

C:

So, Mr. Ormentiedes

This alleged affair with Lady Heiro

Has been going on for…?

Costis:

Two years.

C:

And your first name again is?

Costis:

Costis.

C:

And your boyfriend’s name is…?

Costis:

Aris.

I’m sorry!  I misunderstood

You say boyfriend

I thought you said best friend

Aris is my best friend

Aris:

You bastard!

You lying bastard!

That’s it

I won’t cover for you any more!!

People, I have a big announcement

This man is gay and an Attolian! 

And neither is disgrace

You’ve got to stop your being

A completely closet case

It’s me, not her, he’s seeing

No matter what he’ll say

I swear he almost never ever swings the other way

You are so gay

Come out today

Right now, don’t throw your chance away

Costis:

I’m straight!

Aris:

You were not yesterday

So if I may, I’m proud to say

He’s gay!

All:

And an Attolian!

Aris:

He’s gay!

All:

And an Attolian!

Aris:

He’s gay!

All:

And an Attolian and gay!

Costis + Aris:

Fine, okay, we’re gay

All:

Hooray!

Costis:

Actually I’m bi

All:

Alright!

[kingbuckley]

Alright you guys this turned into an absolute monster of a fic rec. It’s organised by word count in descending order, and ALL FICS HAVE A HAPPY ENDING!! i don’t read fics that don’t end happy so even if a fic seems scary you can rest assured it ends fine if it’s here.

Special shoutout to @thisissirius (same ao3 handle) and @getbvcked (attolians (annber) on ao3) i have all their fics bookmarked so i didn’t include them individually in this list but you should check them out because every fic they put out is amazing. 

the rest is under the cut:

Breaking and Entering by AngelCuttingOnions (g/1k): Have you ever been terrified to lose something that isn’t even yours? Digging helplessly at the mud with your bare hands, so determined not to let go, not to give up. Your heart going so fast you think it might just beat out of your chest.

in any place you'll allow by barelyprolific (m/1k): Cleaning duty has never looked as good as Evan Buckley waxing floors.Or, Eddie Diaz finally makes his move.

Care and Keeping by BlackRose (m/1k): Eddie's alive, but he almost wasn't. Buck's determined to keep him safe now more than ever. Eddie, wants Buck to feel seen.

Cool for the Summer by Onlymystory (e/1k): Buck comes over to apologize to Eddie. It's a very good apology.

fireworks have nothing on you by inkandella (nr/1k): Buck’s tears had dried not too long ago, but his hands still shook as he wrung them. Bobby had just left to deal with, well, everything, but Buck remained by the truck, refusing to drag his eyes from Eddie for even a second. Eventually it was just Hen and Chim that remained, and Buck could finally see Eddie clearly. The man’s face was streaked with mud, dirt, and blood, his shoulders were bowed and eyes stared blankly off somewhere ahead of him. Buck bit his lips, but it didn’t really help him from asking again. “Is he okay?”Or; Buck finally does something about it.

Hotel Complaints and Grievances Raised by asexual-fandom-queen (m/2k): After a night out with the 118, Eddie wakes up with Buck naked in bed, and a barrage of feelings to face.

fight so dirty/love so sweet by homewrecker (m/2k): Buck and Eddie go for the title.

YOUR MOUTH IS HEAVEN by AgnesClementine (t/2k): A tongue piercing. Buck has a tongue piercing. Which is fine. Totally fine. Eddie is absolutely not going to lose sleep because of that information.

Zoom Into My Heart by Shaniamr (m/2k): Buck didn't know that zoom shared your private chats at the end of the meeting, but he's about to find out.

collisions in the dark by Marcia Elena (marciaelena) (e/2k): Eddie and Christopher spend the night at Buck's. Coda to 3x09.

What do you need? by RealOrFiction (e/2k): Buck has needs. Needs that haven't been met in a while.

Great Game by LovelyLittleGrim (e/2k): Buck’s watching him, waiting for some type of response. “Scared, Diaz?”“I don’t have any reason to be scared, Buckley.” He meets Buck’s eyes, lips quirked and murmurs, “I always come out on top.”

Buck Wild by Ithinkwehaveanemergency (m/2k): Eddie accidentally finds out that his best friend, coworker, and secret crush has done gay porn.

no greater joy by elisela (g/2k): When he wakes again, he finds Buck and Christopher out in the backyard, snuggled into the hammock that Buck had brought over months earlier, the day after Christopher had offhandedly mentioned that he’d been in one during a camping trip once and liked it. Buck was fooling no one when he said he’d happened to find it in storage, and Eddie had helped him set it up immediately, basking in the second-hand glow of Buck’s complete adoration of his son.

No Rest for the Wicked by Wassereis (e/2k): Eddie gets home early. What he finds wasn't what he expected.

people who love the same by templemarker (t/2k): Buck was just reheating a plate for Eddie when he heard a very familiar snort behind him."Okay, what now," he said expectantly."So," Hen drawled, "you have one plate on the counter, steaming, already had a couple of bites. And now you've got a second plate," she gestured at the microwave to the reheating lasagne, "and we all know who that plate's for."Buck looked at her, tilting his head. "I mean, I always make a plate for Eddie," he said, confused.

One Week by elisela (g/3k): Christopher's week revolves around Buck.

wherever I'm with you by anonymous (g/3k): In which Buck can't settle down in his own apartment until he realizes the true meaning of the word home.Or; Sleeping is easier when it's with Eddie.

To Be Whole by mansikka (t/3k): They say that when you and your soulmate are ready to meet, whatever they write on their skin will appear on yours, and vice versa. Which Buck thinks is bullshit. Right up until words start appearing on his arm.

Pull The Pin by islandgirl (g/3k): Everything they've been feeling and not saying is like a grenade between them and damn it all, Buck is ready to pull the pin, let the explosion happen and for everything to fall into place.

Long Overdue by mansikka (m/3k): Eddie realizes his feelings for Buck are more than platonic; what's he supposed to do now?

you could write this love in stone by chocolatebirdie (nr/4k): "Whatever happens, after tonight, I just want you to know that your friendship has meant everything to me. You’re my best friend, Eddie. You and Chris are – are like family to me. And I’m really grateful to have met you both.”“Why does this sound like you’re breaking up with me?” Eddie asks. The confusion-amusement ratio has started to skew towards the former, with an added dose of concern. Well maybe if he’d shut up and let Buck talk, Eddie wouldn’t be so puzzled.Did he have to use the phrase “break up,” though? Buck’s not sure he can stand the implication.

you can always be found by chocolatebirdie (nr/4k): Abby's back in LA, and she keeps trying to get in touch with Buck. The only problem? He's literally always with Eddie.

Until the Dancing Ends by suyari (g/4k): It’s been the strangest day of his life to date.Or the one where everyone's seen the footage of the rescue but Eddie.

when the hardest part is over by Anonymous (g/4k): “It’s okay,” Buck rasps out, tight against Eddie’s ear. “We got you back. We got you. You’re safe.”It sounds like he’s reassuring himself as much as Eddie – might even be saying it for Christopher’s sake even though the boy is blissfully unaware of what’s happened tonight. A mantra spoken to the night like a victory speech, a reminder that it could take nothing away from them.

Not Done by red_to_black (nr/4k): Buck volunteered to get into the ambulance with him, knowing the risks. He's pinching the guy's skin and saying, "Take it out," and Eddie, for the first time since leaving the military, feels it - a connection. A kindred spirit. A purpose that tethers him to reality. A person relying on him to get the job done.(or - a list of things Eddie Diaz couldn't give up on, including himself.)

Talk About It by DoneInLove (e/4k): You want to send me your dickpic?Just to see if it looks okay. Buck starts sending Eddie his dick pics before he sends them to other people.Eddie doesn't know why he decided this was a good idea.

Guessing Game by Arsenal (t/4k): Buck overhears Eddie telling his mother that he has feelings for someone and drives himself nuts trying to figure out who is possibly could be. aka yet another oblivious Buck fic

Happy Buck Day by Jecari (g/5k): After pushing the balloons tied to Christopher's crutch away, Eddie finds his best friend frowning, mouth agape. Buck looks adorable."It's not my birthday," Buck points out after shaking his head."We know," Christopher laughs.

Buck Is My Warrior by elisela (g/5k): “We’ll be filming a special edition of American Ninja Warrior,” Troy announces after the introduction to the current contestant ends, “focused on our brave first responders. Go to our website to find out more details and how to submit your videos.”Oh.“Buddy,” Eddie says, “I don’t really know if that’s my thing.”Christopher looks at him, then down at his feet and mumbles something.“Didn’t catch that, kiddo,” Eddie says, reaching out and pressing two fingers under Chris’ chin to tilt his face back up.“I said,” Christopher says, “I want to nominate Buck.”

Eddie Diaz and the Cat-astrophe at the 118 by SquaresAreNotCircles (g/5k): It’s Chimney who rescues her from the tree, but it’s Bobby’s arms that she curls up in on the drive over to the vet to get her checked out. Right from the start, it’s as if she knows who she needs to cozy up with to secure her spot at the station.“Come on, that’s crazy,” Buck says, but he does so while laughing not at Eddie, but at the grey tabby cat trying to get her claws on the fake mouse on a string that Buck bought with his own money, so Eddie doesn’t put too much stock in his opinion.Or: The firefam adopts a mascot and Eddie has a minor crisis about it.

Evan Buckley and a Series of Unintended Consequences by Shaniamr (e/6k): Buck has been hurt on the job and has lost the ability to use his hands while they heal. Eddie jumps at the opportunity to help Buck with anything he needs. Anything.

Love Language by red_to_black (nr/6k): The one in which there's too much pollen around, Eddie pines, and Buck is oblivious.Or - Eddie's love language is acts of service, and Buck doesn't totally get it.

The Other Woman by MomentsOfWeakness (t/6k): Buck has been unlucky in love lately and he can't figure out why. It takes a phone call from Eddie and an interrupted date for him to finally put the pieces together.

My Favorite Place Is Inside Your Hug by Lopithecus (e/7k): When Eddie gets stuck in a hole while trying to rescue a kid, he remembers Afghanistan and how many people were lost. Luckily he has Buck in his corner to help him get through the memories.

give me strength so i can see by see_addy_write (t/7k): After the tsunami, Buck is sure Eddie won't want him anywhere near Christopher -- or himself. Both of the Diaz boys have something to say about that.

haircut to the heart by itsmylifekay (nr/8k): 5 times Buck cuts Christopher’s hair and 1 time Christopher helps cut his.

In the Aftershock by hideeho (t/8k): When Eddie is injured on the job, Buck is forced to face the fallout.

Slow Your Thinking by an_alternate_world (e/10k): Eddie has the itch to fight, the discomforting unease of needing to release all his negativity again making it difficult to concentrate on the calls. Buck suggests an alternative: surrendering his need for control to Buck for a while.

Just For This Moment by suyari (m/10k): “Take your time,” Carla said sternly. “Don’t rush this because you’re worried, Buck, do you hear me? Any change in your scent could just set him off.”“Yes, thank you, I know how to deal with Alphas,” he drawled.“Yes, but Eddie’s not just another Alpha and I think it’s time we acknowledged that.”

You Are Safe (With Me) by BabylonsFall (g/10k): Or: 5 times Eddie waltzed into Buck's apartment like he owned it, and 1 time Buck tried

you waltz through my bloodstream by wayfarer (t/2k): Buck gets a boyfriend and Eddie is totally fine with that. Really.

can't fight that feeling by Anonymous (e/11k): “We have to keep this quiet,” he realizes.“That’s,” Eddie starts, his eyebrows tilting inwards adorably. “I mean, yeah, if that’s what you wanna do, then—”“Not for long,” Buck protests. “I’m thinking until tomorrow.”The eyebrows rise with interest; the eyes beneath get their spark back. “Yeah?”“It’s Maddie and Chimney’s wedding day,” Buck says, slipping his hands down the last bit and entwining them with Eddie’s. “Today should be solely about them, about their love. You and I can have tomorrow. All the tomorrows.”

Just Hold Me Well by Lobotomite (m/11k): It was meant to be a fun little trip with his 118 family; no stress, no drama, and certainly no sexuality-redefining fumbles that make him realize his more than platonic feelings towards his best friend. But, well, when has anything ever gone according to plan for Buck?

a leaf falls on loneliness by iimpossible_things (nr/11k): Buck doesn’t think that if he were to say, “I’m in a bad place”, that anyone would turn him away. Really, he doesn’t. The 118 has too many good, kind people for that.But every time he wants to open his mouth, to say something, to reach out to Eddie or Bobby or Hen or Chim, he hears Eddie yelling, “you’re exhausting.”—you’re exhausting, you’re exhausting, you’re exhausting—So each day he does his job and he laughs and he jokes and he pretends he’s the care-free goofball he’s always been. And each day he packs away his bruises and his worries, takes them home to his empty loft with its quiet rooms, and licks his wounds in silence.

Darling It's Better (Down Where It's Wetter) by Onlymystory (e/20k): "Who the hell is that?" asks Buck. Like he doesn't know exactly who that is. Like a week ago he wasn't enjoying one of the best fucks of his life with Eddie Diaz. Or the reason for Buck's surprise at the new recruit isn't quite for the reasons everyone thinks.

i think i might've inhaled you by ariquitecontrary (m/20k): How do you tell your best friend that you're actually in love with them? If you're Evan Buckley, you don't.

dancing under red skies by dayswithout (g, 30k) Buck hates Eddie Diaz on sight.aka, a soulmate au. (Eddie’s POV; g/15k)

dancing under red skies by dayswithout (g/30k): Buck hates Eddie Diaz on sight.aka, a soulmate au.

The Education of Eddie Diaz by mansikka (e/30k): Eddie doesn't really know how it happened. One moment the 118 are drunk in a bar after a hard shift, confessions slipping from his mouth as he playfully kisses Buck on the cheek. The next he is on Buck's couch, taking up Buck's offer of an education that could be asking for trouble. But it's just sex, and they're just friends; it doesn't mean anything to either of them. So why is his time alone with Buck the highlight of his week?

Guess We'll Just Have to Adjust by CocoBadShip (m/30k): No, Buck does not have a damn crush on Eddie fucking Diaz. No, Buck is not thinking about Eddie's stupid smile or his stupid hair or that obscene sound he made when he pushed the couch the way he did.Having a crush would be weird. And dumb. And the last thing Buck needs in his already fucked up life.

tagging those of you who requested @lafdbuckley @casscent @googoodreamers

and some mutuals because why not @eddiediazs @judsonryder @fierydeans @buckleystrand

[attolianarchives]

I know this is an attolian blog, but as someone who has difficulty reading these days save for binge rereading the queen's thief, do you folks have any other favorite books you could recommend me?

HELL YEAH 

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison 

A Noelle and Caitlin combo rec. Absolute banger of a book. Politics, goblins, elves, more politics, worldbuilding, very fancy outfits, airships, and even more politics, plus a protagonist you just want to hug. 

For real-life palace scheming that’s also fun to read, Caitlin recommends the memoirs of the Duc de Saint Simon, which are available free on Project Gutenberg in both French and English. 

The man is honest to god hilarious, 400 years later. It literally feels like reading a gossip magazine but in fancy language about nobles and it was REAL. Incredible. - Caitlin

The Killing Moon and The Shadowed Sun by NK Jemisin, which have been published as one volume under the title The Dreamblood Duology

In a sort of ancient Egypt-y world, magical parkour assassin priests experience a feeling best described as “gay anguish” while unraveling a terrible conspiracy. Intellectually and emotionally high-octane in classic Jemisin fashion. - Noelle

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

A dumbass pure of heart naive countess tries to get into politics. - Caitlin

The Raven Tower by Anne Leckie 

A fantasy novel from the author of the top notch Imperial Radch space operas. Gods, murder, politics, second-person narration that actually works, and a trans protagonist who doesn’t make you think, “ugh, a cis person definitely wrote this.” - Noelle

Also:

Noelle says if you haven’t read the Earthsea books by Ursula K Le Guin, it is never a bad time to read Earthsea. Caitlin says Tamora Pierce’s The Will of the Empress is worth a look. 

If you’re interested in Byzantines and Ottomans etc and want some nonfiction, The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan is awesome. 

There are also Megan Whalen Turner’s influences to check out, most notably  The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff. 

[costis]

parody of gay or european called gay or attolian is playing in kamet's head through all of TaT

[loveyourselffirstyouareenough]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 9-1-1 (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV) Characters: Evan "Buck" Buckley, Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV), Bobby Nash Additional Tags: Pure Crack, LITERAL PURE CRACK, there is nothing here but fluffy ridiculousness, no beta we die like men Summary:

based LOOSELY on this prompt:

Mkay so who’s gonna write the queer eye fic where the guys go to makeover Bobby and ask if there’s ever been a gay romance take place in the bunks and hen just looks straight at buck and eddie who are off camera whispering abt something else

from queenginnys on tumblr

combined with this post tbh

[jonphaedrus]

so megan whalen turner’s return of the thief is coming out in march 2019 and she’s confirmed it will be the last queen’s thief book so i’m going to do an actual post on why you should read these books. 

the queen’s thief series is fantastic history in that the gods are real and very muchso do exist and it’s not earth the way we know it, and the magic did used to be usable but has been lost, but the magic is secondary significantly to the main story of the books, which is....yeah, politics. but here’s the thing, its comprehensible politics. none of this political machinations that you need to be an expert in feudal politics to understand. no, its incredibly accessible.

the books cover the story of the titular thief, gen, who starts off needing to steal an artifact that confirms rulership of the small mountain country eddis. the first book (the thief) is a fusion of a heist novel (gen is the thief, the magus is the brains, pol is the brawn, and ambiades and sophos share the role of the new recruit) and a road trip novel, and i cannot say literally anything more about it because the thief is. 

let me put it this way: the thief is one of the finest examples of an unreliable narrator ever written. if i say even a single thing more than that, it will ruin the book.

the second book (the queen of attolia) is a political and romantic thriller revealing the greater stakes of the series (the countries of eddis, attolia, and sounis are under constant threat from the mede empire that is trying to conquer them) that is also still, at its core, a heist novel. it expands its narrators to the titular queen of attolia, who is perfect in every possible way—a stunningly beautiful woman who, by might and right, has taken control of her fractious country and has been forced by the circumstances of fate to become cruel—as well as the queen of eddis, who is plain but kind and beloved. and gen. so much gen.

the third book, the king of attolia, is an outsider personality (a young guard named costis) who has been forced by his own poor decisions to be invited into the complex life of the king of attolia. just like the thief is a masterclass on unreliable narrator, the king of attolia is a masterclass on an uninvested protagonist, and remains my favorite book in the series to this day. it’s also a mix between a sitcom and a locked room mystery.

the fourth book, a conspiracy of kings, is from the point of view of a character i wont name because its an enormous spoiler and is setting up the latter half of the series. this book combines the same roadtrip qualities of the first book alongside a true proper political thriller, and is also a brilliant and expert example of a gambit pileup and pure strategic thriller.

the most recent book, thick as thieves, is a heist book slash roadtrip book slash romantic comedy slash the epic of gilgamesh starring a slave, an attolian who is trying to “save” him, and gilgamesh and enkidu. it is also i literally cannot understate this extremely fucking gay and i love it.

the thing about these books is that, on the surface, they look pretty simple: three countries and an eccentric cast of characters need to band together against an empire for their own survival. but what’s really incredible about this series is that the main characters are:

an explicitly disabled, short, poc man

a traumatized, free-speaking woman

an unattractive and soldierly woman

a disfigured, average-intelligence, naïve boy

a slave

an older man who is implied to be some form of disabled

a peasant soldier

and that rather than relying on magic, the series relies on humans. it is about people, and what those people can do, alongside a rewrite of mediterranean history (without rome, no rome at all) and hellenic mythos that serves the narrative rather than eclipsing it. it’s about politics, yes, but the politics exist in service of the characters—what carries the story is how incredibly vibrant the narrators are.

i know there’s not a lot in here to sell the story but thats because i......cant, without ruining the series as a whole completely. it really relies on its readers trying to solve the mysteries for themselves, because the thief alone has at least? six? plotlines going simultaneously? and queen of attolia has something like twelve or thirteen. im missing some, too, bc i notice new things every time i reread them.

read them. catch up. return of the thief is out on 19 march.

[tibialtybalt]

"That was an interesting tidbit about my Attolian."

Kamet, that's gay

[kilmun]

ok ~rationale~ for the symbols under the cut!

we got:

-on the top and bottom lips, steps with a moon and stars for ne malia and her stepwell

-reeds! we write with them, we scramble up the banks of shallow rivers covered in them after embarrassing ourselves in front of hot attolians, you know how it is

-honeycombs. stream @whocalledhimannux's gay love & food meta

-the watches with lightning is for stenides, and capital-E Eugenides

-cups & crenellations. period

-mountains & apricot flowers, for eddis

finally getting around to putting up this amphora design w a bunch of symbolism from the series!! had a lot of fun w the assisted symmetry feature with this one...

[Image ID: A digital illustration of an urn with designs using symbols from the Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner in black on an orange background.]

[chadlesbianjasontodd]

here it is!! the big post of textual evidence as to why kamet and costis’ relationship is intended to be romantic, even if there’s no love confession or kiss scene.

i can understand why people would see it as being platonic --- we are, after all, swimming in a sea of heteronormativity at all times --- but i think that reading of the text requires willfully ignoring a lot of stuff.

first, the entire book is centered around kamet and costis as immakuk and ennikar, who are of course in turn based off one of history’s most famous couples gilgamesh and enkidu. looking at them and similar couples in the ancient world gives you an idea of a kind of romantic relationship that’s shaped really differently to heterosexual relationships --- there’s no notion that it should involve marriage or children, or even that it should preclude someone from, for example, getting messily involved with a forest witch who uses them to steal important things from the gods, ennikar. it just looks completely different from, for example, the kind of relationship gen and irene have, which is --- while very loving --- heavily informed by the need for a marriage alliance and dynastic heirs.

with gen and irene and with eddis and sounis, the whole reason love and romance are explicitly brought up (instead of being left implicit and described solely through the characters’ feelings/reactions) is because they’re politically important. in a situation where that’s not a factor i suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that nobody feels the urge to blurt out any dramatic confessions of love. immakuk and ennikar certainly don’t.

(kamet and costis spend SO MUCH of their time being compared textually (and comparing themselves) to immakuk and ennikar. so much.)

second: scenes such as the one where the bounty hunters start talking about costis’ good looks, or the one where godekker tells kamet costis is only with him for his pretty face, are usually written for one of two reasons: either for the characters to explicitly no homo themselves and reassure the reader that everything is completely heterosexual here, folks, nothing gay going on --- or to soften the reader up to the idea of a non-heterosexual romance.

and there was definitely not any no homoing in either of those two scenes.

third --- and this is the coolest one, i think --- the metaphor used by kamet when he thinks costis is dead explicitly parallels two metaphors used by attolia about eugenides in queen of attolia. the kindle version of queen of attolia was two dollars, so i’ve got all the quotes right here.

thick as thieves, chapter 8:

Nothing about my plans had changed, but I stood for a long time staring down the empty road, my arms hanging useless at my sides, waiting, as if he would appear, as if the world would settle back into its proper course, like the wine in a tilting wine cup saved just before it tipped too far. But the cup was overturned, the wine spilled. My master was dead. Now the Attolian was dead as well.

queen of attolia, chapter 3 (our first hint that attolia has any feelings towards gen):

“Please,” he whispered. His voice was low but clear. “Don’t hurt me anymore.”

Attolia recoiled. Once, as a child, she’d thrown her slipper in a rage and had knocked an amphora of oil from its pedestal. The amphora had been a favorite of hers. It had smashed, and the scent of the hair oil inside had lingered for days. She remembered the scent still, though she didn’t know what in the stinking cell had brought it to mind.

[...]

She left the cell and made her way up the many stairs of the palace to her private anteroom. She passed through it and into her bedchamber, where she sent away her various attendants and sat for a long time in a chair looking out over the sea as the last sunlight faded from the sky. She dismissed thoughts of the thief lying on the floor of his cell, but found herself thinking instead of her favorite amphora, broken, and the oil spilled.

queen of attolia, chapter 19 (when irene goes back to ephrata, finds eugenides lying on the floor, and immediately knows he has been poisoned*):

Inside the room Eugenides looked to be sitting on the floor, his legs curled beside him. His head and shoulders rested on the bed, one arm for a pillow. The hook on the other arm lay across his knees. His eyes were closed. He didn’t move. As Attolia waited in the doorway watching him, he didn’t stir or wake. On the floor beside the bed a tray held the remains of a meal. There was a wine cup. It had tipped over and broken, spilling the lees onto the floor.

*just as kamet knows costis is dead after falling down that well

if this were another book series, written by someone else, i’d think it unintentional. but the fact that it’s this series, and that this was a parallel i picked up on even though i hadn’t read queen of attolia in two years or more.... well, i think it’s pretty clear.

---and then there’s also the fact that, one, the scene at the end where costis shows up and is like ‘i quit my job so if you don’t let me go to a foreign country to live with you i’m kinda out of luck’ is really the kind of thing you pretty much only see for romantic relationships, and two, there’s like no reason for costis to be there instead of on another secret mission or something except ‘hey let’s spend our lives together’, like, that’s pretty convincing too, but i think the parallel metaphors are what really sells it.

i’ve been a lesbian for a long-ass time, and i’d like to think i’m pretty good at telling what’s meant to be textual intentional gay and what’s me reading into things that i just really want to be gay by now. this is definitely the first one.

[goblin-gardens]

just finished thick as thieves now i have to go scream for 20 years

KAMET E DAI ANNUX YOU HECKIN NERD

“oh look at costis so sweaty and muscular and he’s singing oh man what a narratively relevant passage” kamet u gay

also they LIVE IN A SEASIDE COTTAGE NOW???? KAMET COPIES OLD TEXTS AND COSTIS “BRINGS HOME GRUBBY SPECIEMINS TO FILL THE HOUSE” GAAAAAAAAAAAY

“I’M GOING TO LOOK A FOOL IF YOU SAY YOU DON’T WANT ME ALONG WITH YOU”

THEY HAVE JOKES KAMET TELLS A JOKE NOW

also

fuckin Gen what a little bag of dicks

also IRENE D:

also SHIPS (AND GUNS) and LIONS MEEPING and page 333 is possibly my favorite page i have ever read what NERDS :’)

“MY ATTOLIAN” “POOR COSTIS”

INDEED IT IS A PIGEON

“IMMAKUK AND ENNIKAR” THAT’S THEM YEP

THIS BOOK IS A GAY ROADTRIP AND I LOVE THEM

[venndaai]

RELIUS/TELEUS???

The return of the thief liveblog

Okay yes this is all fun and interesting and ooh canon bi Relius, nice, but tell me what’s happening with my boys!!! Costis left Kamet behind enemy lines and then vanished from the narrative and I am suffering!!!