I have read the other Thief books. I enjoyed the Queen and King, but must admit that The Thief is still my favorite of the series. Have not made it past the first few chapters of A Conspiracy of Kings. I've been in a reading slump -- nothing appeals -- so I blame the lack of progress on my mood rather than the book. Like you, I have very high expectations of the book, perhaps unreasonably so since I know that Gen is not going to be the narrator.