Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by huntress_fainne
Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce
4.0
Finally, the promised action! After being disappointed with the third book, this book gave me the action and adventure I was looking for. Alanna finally had a quest and did something big and heroic. That was great. I wish the actual "quest" quest part had last a little longer, but overall the book was much more exciting.
Some new characters were very interesting and exciting to have. They definitely gave the book a different feel and it was nice to see Alanna interact with girls who were similar to her. The plot, for the most part, took quite a different turn. There was a quest, there was political issues as Jon takes the throne and an idiot tries to take George's (which woefully fails, as George ends up RETIRING, of all things).
The only thing I didn't like was the relations. While I understand that, the way the characters ultimately turned out, things wouldn't work differently, I still prefer Alanna and Jon. They had a fight. They moved past it. That was real. But their personalities just changed so much from the beginning that it wouldn't work.
The introduction of the Shang Dragon was great. I loved seeing the different fighting style, the discipline. I just wished he'd since been one of those best-friend/brother characters. I think Alanna could've benefited more from that.
The ending between Alan and George . . . passable. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. That's about it.
Now, the worst part of the book was ... the villain. Seriously - bringing back the dead? While it makes sense for the villain, something else would've been far more exciting. Especially since I don't know what his actual goal was. It should've been Alex, and I guess it was to some extent. Though he should've had better motivation, because it was that which motivates a child. He was already known to be better than her! Why did he feel the need to fight to the death AGAIN? Get a life . . .
Still, this book was an improvement on its predecessor. And as a finale, it was excellent. Alanna is definitely high on my list of heroes. Because all flaws aside, The Song of the Lioness is a wonderful adventure. And this capped it off perfectly.
Some new characters were very interesting and exciting to have. They definitely gave the book a different feel and it was nice to see Alanna interact with girls who were similar to her. The plot, for the most part, took quite a different turn. There was a quest, there was political issues as Jon takes the throne and an idiot tries to take George's (which woefully fails, as George ends up RETIRING, of all things).
The only thing I didn't like was the relations. While I understand that, the way the characters ultimately turned out, things wouldn't work differently, I still prefer Alanna and Jon. They had a fight. They moved past it. That was real. But their personalities just changed so much from the beginning that it wouldn't work.
The introduction of the Shang Dragon was great. I loved seeing the different fighting style, the discipline. I just wished he'd since been one of those best-friend/brother characters. I think Alanna could've benefited more from that.
The ending between Alan and George . . . passable. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. That's about it.
Now, the worst part of the book was ... the villain. Seriously - bringing back the dead? While it makes sense for the villain, something else would've been far more exciting. Especially since I don't know what his actual goal was. It should've been Alex, and I guess it was to some extent. Though he should've had better motivation, because it was that which motivates a child. He was already known to be better than her! Why did he feel the need to fight to the death AGAIN? Get a life . . .
Still, this book was an improvement on its predecessor. And as a finale, it was excellent. Alanna is definitely high on my list of heroes. Because all flaws aside, The Song of the Lioness is a wonderful adventure. And this capped it off perfectly.