Growing up, the Protector of the Small series was my least favourite of the Tortall-world books by Tamora Pierce. I thought the challenges she faced as a woman knight-in-training were too on-the-nose, like Lord Wyldon's attitude towards her, or how she did just as well as her classmates for mediocre acceptance. However, reading this book as an adult in a male-dominated career, I've learned that what Keladry goes through is still very prevalent in many careers that women enter, and I just didn't know any better when I was younger. I found it a much more engaging book this time around.