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eclecticbookwrm's review against another edition
5.0
How did I miss this series as a kid? I'm not sure I can describe how I feel about this series -- how much I loved the Lioness Quartet. Alanna should be on every list of strong female characters -- outranking Jane Eyre, Hermione Granger, Lisbeth Salander, Eowyn, and ranking with Lady MacBeth, Molly Millions, Viola, Beatrice, and so many more.
Worth a read for any woman looking for a new heroine to admire, and any avid reader of fantasy.
Worth a read for any woman looking for a new heroine to admire, and any avid reader of fantasy.
midnightreyn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
aerialpumpkin's review against another edition
5.0
Though things had slipped my memory after all these years, this series still holds so strong in my heart. This one absolutely devastates me and I ugly cried in it much more than I anticipated, but I still love it entirely too much.
leftenby's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
semporina's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have a great deal of affection for this series. In comparison to some other more contemporary fantasy novels, it may not be a 5 star book. However, I absolutely adore it and have re read it countless times.
It is a beautiful exploration of womanhood and a great portrayal of the complex experiences of femininity.
It is a beautiful exploration of womanhood and a great portrayal of the complex experiences of femininity.
.
bethysbook's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series so very much. Trini Alvorado does a fantastic job narrating the entire series. We really get to see Alanna as a grown woman here dealing with interpersonal communication and her conscience.
stellarae25's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book but I do find Alanna a lot more irritating than I did as a child. You hate to see it :/ But I do love Thayet and Jonathon together so that kind of makes up for it.
tani's review against another edition
4.0
This was more like 3.5 stars for me, but I rounded up because the ending made me feel a bit emotional.
After a not-so-great experience trying to read the Alanna books about ten years ago, I'm glad that I gave this series another chance. Although it is not my favorite by Tamora Pierce - that honor goes to The Protector of the Small series - it's a fun read that added some depth to my knowledge of the world of Tortall.
I think that one of my biggest issues with this series was pacing. For being short books, sometimes these felt terribly long to me. The action would pile on at other times until I was breathless. I wish there had been a little more evenness to it. The middle of this book, in particular, dragged a bit for me.
In addition, there's a lot of telegraphed moves. Events that could have been truly startling are foreshadowed far too much. I'm not much for guessing what's going to happen next, but in this case, I didn't have to. Too often, I knew exactly what was going to happen.
On the other hand, Alanna grows a lot in this one. I like her much better as an adult. Also, now that I'm cured of my childish crush on Jon, I am much more able to enjoy her romantic interludes, and to appreciate Tamora Pierce for putting them in there. I was also very happy to meet some characters who I also know from Protector of the Small, such as Thayet. Not to mention, seeing the entirety of the events around Jon's coronation was a pretty big deal.
In all, I'm glad that I gave this series a second chance. I'll be taking a bit of a break from Tamora Pierce for now, as this concludes both the books of hers that I own and the books that I had put on my to-read list at the beginning of the year, but I hope to return to the world of Tortall soon.
After a not-so-great experience trying to read the Alanna books about ten years ago, I'm glad that I gave this series another chance. Although it is not my favorite by Tamora Pierce - that honor goes to The Protector of the Small series - it's a fun read that added some depth to my knowledge of the world of Tortall.
I think that one of my biggest issues with this series was pacing. For being short books, sometimes these felt terribly long to me. The action would pile on at other times until I was breathless. I wish there had been a little more evenness to it. The middle of this book, in particular, dragged a bit for me.
In addition, there's a lot of telegraphed moves. Events that could have been truly startling are foreshadowed far too much. I'm not much for guessing what's going to happen next, but in this case, I didn't have to. Too often, I knew exactly what was going to happen.
On the other hand, Alanna grows a lot in this one. I like her much better as an adult. Also, now that I'm cured of my childish crush on Jon, I am much more able to enjoy her romantic interludes, and to appreciate Tamora Pierce for putting them in there. I was also very happy to meet some characters who I also know from Protector of the Small, such as Thayet. Not to mention, seeing the entirety of the events around Jon's coronation was a pretty big deal.
In all, I'm glad that I gave this series a second chance. I'll be taking a bit of a break from Tamora Pierce for now, as this concludes both the books of hers that I own and the books that I had put on my to-read list at the beginning of the year, but I hope to return to the world of Tortall soon.