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Song of the Lioness #1-2
Alanna: The Song of the Lioness
"From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight." Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places. Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page. But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to learn who her enemies are. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins . . .
In the second
Still disguised as a boy, Alanna becomes a squire to none other than the prince of the realm. Prince Jonathan is not only Alanna's liege lord, he is also her best friend - and one of the few who knows the secret of her true identity. But when a mysterious sorcerer threatens the prince's life, it will take all of Alanna's skill, strength, and magical power to protect him - even at the risk of revealing who she really is . . .
In the second
Still disguised as a boy, Alanna becomes a squire to none other than the prince of the realm. Prince Jonathan is not only Alanna's liege lord, he is also her best friend - and one of the few who knows the secret of her true identity. But when a mysterious sorcerer threatens the prince's life, it will take all of Alanna's skill, strength, and magical power to protect him - even at the risk of revealing who she really is . . .
454 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
7 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Tamora Pierce
100 books85.2k followersHey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.
I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!
Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!
I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.
I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.
Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!
I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!
Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!
I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.
I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.
Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 28, 2015
Uno dei miei fantasy preferiti! L'ho già letto tre volte! Non capisco perché non abbiano ancora tradotto il terzo e il quarto volume
September 12, 2018
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
This was such a fun read! I so enjoyed this bind up of the first two novels and I’m damn glad I had the bind up, because the first ends on such a cliff hanger!! I cannot wait to dive back into this world again and read every single one of Tamora’s books!! SUCH a fun writing style! Excuse me whilst I fangirl.
The Song of the Lioness
This edition that I read is the bind up of the first two novels in the series, so Alanna: The First Adventure and In the Hand of the Goddess. And I'm so glad because book one has such an unsatisfactory ending with the cliff hanger that it was fantastic to jump right back into the action without missing a beat! Highly recommend getting this edition for that reason (or just buy the whole series?!?? *shrug*).
The story follows a young girl called Alanna who does not want to be trained to be a lady - she wants to FIGHT and prove she's as good as any man. So she swaps places with her brother and disguises herself as a boy. She is then inducted into the long training course at the palace to become a knight whilst facing identity issues and magical threats.
Alanna - or Alan, as she goes by - has magic herself and slowly learns to use it and not fear it. Our evil baddie comes in the form of an all powerful sorcerer who is infuriatingly good at being bad. Alanna is challenged with not letting her secret slip, trying to find a way to prove that the baddie is a baddie and trying desperately to not fall in love.
It's an awesome, sweeping tale - much in the style of John Flanagan's The Ranger's Apprentice series. It involves magic, animals (in particular a fantastic cat called Faithful who she can speak to) and some seriously awesome characters. Not to mention a strong female lead to inspire girls of all ages and a wickedly good and fun writing style!
What I Loved
I loved the adventure of this story. Simple and plain. It's fast-paced and we're not left meandering slowly through the eight or so years Alanna spends training to be a knight. No! We power through those years with frequent - but not confusing - time jumps.
It was so fun to follow Alanna's journey of sword fighting, fencing, horse-riding and magic wielding. I want a horse called Moonlight. And I want a cat who can protect me and has cool violet eyes. I WANT violet eyes! I also liked how the friendships formed between all the characters - between Alanna and Jon and George and Myles. Those were my favourite four. Nothing was forced, everything felt natural and dangit, I want want a thief lord as a best friend now.
The Awesome Characters
Alanna is an inspiring character. I've owned one of Tamora's other books for many years but never got around to it. When I was gifted this one however, my interest was renewed and I can't even begin to explain how keen I am to try the other now. Tamora writes very real characters and I can see now why, when I once went to a book signing for Tamora (THAT IS SO EXCITING IN RETROSPECT NOW) why all girls of all ages were gushing to her and saying how she gave them the strength to become who they were. Yup, it all makes sense.
But yes, Alanna is awesome and fierce. Being 22 and reading a book intended for a much younger audience, I still didn't find her too childish to relate to in her moments of denying that she'll ever want to marry or love someone. So yes, I shall continue to love adventuring with Alanna in my ripe old age.
I loved Jon too. He was a really good support for Alanna's character and I liked their friendship and slow-burning love throughout the story. It all happened quite nicely considering that Jon had thought she was a boy for sometime.
Myles was a great side character, a nice wizened old man and I hope to see more of him in future books. Roger was a thorn of a villain and I hate him so much. ESPECIALLY when we find out how he was doing his evil magic. That was seriously creepy. *makes the sign of the cross*
Summary
MANY THUMBS UP. I can't recommend this enough - although I imagine almost everyone else has already read this so I don't really need to force it upon you. BUT - if you're like me and have casually missed this out on your childhood then you definitely need to fill in that hole and have some fun. I will definitely one day give this to my children to read. Tamora Pierce is simply a STAPLE in your reading diet.
Happy reading!
This was such a fun read! I so enjoyed this bind up of the first two novels and I’m damn glad I had the bind up, because the first ends on such a cliff hanger!! I cannot wait to dive back into this world again and read every single one of Tamora’s books!! SUCH a fun writing style! Excuse me whilst I fangirl.
The Song of the Lioness
This edition that I read is the bind up of the first two novels in the series, so Alanna: The First Adventure and In the Hand of the Goddess. And I'm so glad because book one has such an unsatisfactory ending with the cliff hanger that it was fantastic to jump right back into the action without missing a beat! Highly recommend getting this edition for that reason (or just buy the whole series?!?? *shrug*).
The story follows a young girl called Alanna who does not want to be trained to be a lady - she wants to FIGHT and prove she's as good as any man. So she swaps places with her brother and disguises herself as a boy. She is then inducted into the long training course at the palace to become a knight whilst facing identity issues and magical threats.
Alanna - or Alan, as she goes by - has magic herself and slowly learns to use it and not fear it. Our evil baddie comes in the form of an all powerful sorcerer who is infuriatingly good at being bad. Alanna is challenged with not letting her secret slip, trying to find a way to prove that the baddie is a baddie and trying desperately to not fall in love.
It's an awesome, sweeping tale - much in the style of John Flanagan's The Ranger's Apprentice series. It involves magic, animals (in particular a fantastic cat called Faithful who she can speak to) and some seriously awesome characters. Not to mention a strong female lead to inspire girls of all ages and a wickedly good and fun writing style!
What I Loved
I loved the adventure of this story. Simple and plain. It's fast-paced and we're not left meandering slowly through the eight or so years Alanna spends training to be a knight. No! We power through those years with frequent - but not confusing - time jumps.
It was so fun to follow Alanna's journey of sword fighting, fencing, horse-riding and magic wielding. I want a horse called Moonlight. And I want a cat who can protect me and has cool violet eyes. I WANT violet eyes! I also liked how the friendships formed between all the characters - between Alanna and Jon and George and Myles. Those were my favourite four. Nothing was forced, everything felt natural and dangit, I want want a thief lord as a best friend now.
The Awesome Characters
Alanna is an inspiring character. I've owned one of Tamora's other books for many years but never got around to it. When I was gifted this one however, my interest was renewed and I can't even begin to explain how keen I am to try the other now. Tamora writes very real characters and I can see now why, when I once went to a book signing for Tamora (THAT IS SO EXCITING IN RETROSPECT NOW) why all girls of all ages were gushing to her and saying how she gave them the strength to become who they were. Yup, it all makes sense.
But yes, Alanna is awesome and fierce. Being 22 and reading a book intended for a much younger audience, I still didn't find her too childish to relate to in her moments of denying that she'll ever want to marry or love someone. So yes, I shall continue to love adventuring with Alanna in my ripe old age.
I loved Jon too. He was a really good support for Alanna's character and I liked their friendship and slow-burning love throughout the story. It all happened quite nicely considering that Jon had thought she was a boy for sometime.
Myles was a great side character, a nice wizened old man and I hope to see more of him in future books. Roger was a thorn of a villain and I hate him so much. ESPECIALLY when we find out how he was doing his evil magic. That was seriously creepy. *makes the sign of the cross*
Summary
MANY THUMBS UP. I can't recommend this enough - although I imagine almost everyone else has already read this so I don't really need to force it upon you. BUT - if you're like me and have casually missed this out on your childhood then you definitely need to fill in that hole and have some fun. I will definitely one day give this to my children to read. Tamora Pierce is simply a STAPLE in your reading diet.
Happy reading!
October 1, 2017
No criticism for these books, ever, as per usual for things I encountered as a pre-adolescent and can't disentangle my memories from. Maybe a little bit too much in the way of heroic exceptionalism, but if we start docking books points for that, then every YA fantasy ever published is in trouble.
November 25, 2019
This is such a classic fantasy book which I hadn't read, but when I got a Tamora Pierce book in a book box, I moved this book to the top of my TBR and I finally got it from the library. And while I enjoyed this book, I think fourteen-year-old me would have loved it to the moon and back. I'm glad I got to read it but I'm sad I didn't read it back then.
This book is about Alanna, who disguises herself as a boy to train to be a knight, and also develop her healing magic. Along the way, she discovers a plot to kill the Prince, a close friend of hers. I read this book all in one sitting, partly because it was due back at the library the next day and partly because the pacing was on point, despite the fact it covered eight years in two short books.
The plot kept me going, with the main overarching plot and a series of smaller subplots along the way. I was a little surprised at the ending, especially since it feels like I don't particularly want to continue with the series especially with everything I heard about the third book (white saviour tropes everywhere), because I really wasn't expecting .
This book was all quite surface level at times - I didn't feel like we went deep into a lot of the characters, though I enjoyed several of them very much. I wasn't a big fan of the Love V going on with Alanna, it's not something I really liked seeing at all, but I was surprised at the mention of teenagers having sex. I thought fantasy books for teens in the 80s would have been far more reluctant to even acknowledge teenagers would be having casual sex like happened in this book. It was all very fade-to-black so nothing explicit but it was still surprising that it wasn't just remarking about kissing. There was quite a bit of 'not like other girls' in this book though and it would have been good to see other female characters who weren't love rivals or mothers in this book, I feel like it would have helped Alanna with some of that self-hatred.
However, the villain was someone I really enjoyed reading about. Yes, I wasn't best impressed about how he got defeated but I did like seeing how it was planning things and how he was getting rid of obstacles. The reveal at the end made everything so much creepier and explained some of the unsettling feeling I got . So, I feel like this book could have gone more in depth in certain plot points and characters. It covered 8 years in under 500 pages which it did well, the time skips were clear, but I feel like if a little more time had been spent on certain plot points, we could have seen more of Alanna and Thom, as well how she learns magic and how she has to work with the smiling one who she hates and distrusts, while everyone else disagrees with her.
But this book was enjoyable and I'm really glad I read it now. 3.5 stars!
This book is about Alanna, who disguises herself as a boy to train to be a knight, and also develop her healing magic. Along the way, she discovers a plot to kill the Prince, a close friend of hers. I read this book all in one sitting, partly because it was due back at the library the next day and partly because the pacing was on point, despite the fact it covered eight years in two short books.
The plot kept me going, with the main overarching plot and a series of smaller subplots along the way. I was a little surprised at the ending, especially since it feels like I don't particularly want to continue with the series especially with everything I heard about the third book (white saviour tropes everywhere), because I really wasn't expecting .
This book was all quite surface level at times - I didn't feel like we went deep into a lot of the characters, though I enjoyed several of them very much. I wasn't a big fan of the Love V going on with Alanna, it's not something I really liked seeing at all, but I was surprised at the mention of teenagers having sex. I thought fantasy books for teens in the 80s would have been far more reluctant to even acknowledge teenagers would be having casual sex like happened in this book. It was all very fade-to-black so nothing explicit but it was still surprising that it wasn't just remarking about kissing. There was quite a bit of 'not like other girls' in this book though and it would have been good to see other female characters who weren't love rivals or mothers in this book, I feel like it would have helped Alanna with some of that self-hatred.
However, the villain was someone I really enjoyed reading about. Yes, I wasn't best impressed about how he got defeated but I did like seeing how it was planning things and how he was getting rid of obstacles. The reveal at the end made everything so much creepier and explained some of the unsettling feeling I got . So, I feel like this book could have gone more in depth in certain plot points and characters. It covered 8 years in under 500 pages which it did well, the time skips were clear, but I feel like if a little more time had been spent on certain plot points, we could have seen more of Alanna and Thom, as well how she learns magic and how she has to work with the smiling one who she hates and distrusts, while everyone else disagrees with her.
But this book was enjoyable and I'm really glad I read it now. 3.5 stars!
December 11, 2019
I wish I'd discovered this series when I was 13; they contain all the things younger me would have loved to see in one story (especially feisty girls who speak their minds).
At 29, sadly, I've read too many fantasy books to uncomplainingly pass over the many tropes Pierce uses. I still enjoyed it though, it's always good to go back to classics of the genre and see how they influenced modern fantasy writers.
At 29, sadly, I've read too many fantasy books to uncomplainingly pass over the many tropes Pierce uses. I still enjoyed it though, it's always good to go back to classics of the genre and see how they influenced modern fantasy writers.
June 13, 2021
Rating: 3.5 stars
this was a pretty solid book. It was very fast-paced (albeit a little too fast) and entertaining. We got to follow Alanna's journey and her time at the palace was actually pretty fun to read about. Her worries and anxiety of being found out was oddly relatable, which is funny since 1) I've not infiltrated a palace to become a knight and 2) I have no interest in doing so. I did have high expectations going into this since I'd heard great things about the author and I enjoyed Sandry's book (what little I read of it that is). Unfortunately, my expectations were not met. I had no issues with the writing style or characters however the book had one too many convenient plot devices and a very two-dimensional, almost caricature of a villain. There was also a racist comment about an East Asian character, in which the author described his skin colour as 'yellow', which is a slur used against the East Asian community. I get that the book was first published nearly 40 years ago, but still - not cool. I don't know if I'll continue the series anytime soon since I've read reviews of book 3 and apparently the orientalism is even worse...maybe I'll do a rant review who knows? But for now, I'll stick to the Circle of Magic and get round to my loveable group of misfits.
Now, I have some questions to answer...what book do I finish next? Seriously, I've been reading multiple books and finishing none. I have also ordered some more and lets just say im spoilt for choice :')
Disclaimer: I realise that while this book is written for younger teen readers, there is mention of sex, although it isn't described on the page (from what I can remember...I've been reading this on and off so forgive the bad memory). I'd also make note of some violence - I mean, Alanna is training to be a knight and there are some battles/wars. I would recommend this to new readers to the fantasy genre, especially those aged 13 and up.
this was a pretty solid book. It was very fast-paced (albeit a little too fast) and entertaining. We got to follow Alanna's journey and her time at the palace was actually pretty fun to read about. Her worries and anxiety of being found out was oddly relatable, which is funny since 1) I've not infiltrated a palace to become a knight and 2) I have no interest in doing so. I did have high expectations going into this since I'd heard great things about the author and I enjoyed Sandry's book (what little I read of it that is). Unfortunately, my expectations were not met. I had no issues with the writing style or characters however the book had one too many convenient plot devices and a very two-dimensional, almost caricature of a villain. There was also a racist comment about an East Asian character, in which the author described his skin colour as 'yellow', which is a slur used against the East Asian community. I get that the book was first published nearly 40 years ago, but still - not cool. I don't know if I'll continue the series anytime soon since I've read reviews of book 3 and apparently the orientalism is even worse...maybe I'll do a rant review who knows? But for now, I'll stick to the Circle of Magic and get round to my loveable group of misfits.
Now, I have some questions to answer...what book do I finish next? Seriously, I've been reading multiple books and finishing none. I have also ordered some more and lets just say im spoilt for choice :')
Disclaimer: I realise that while this book is written for younger teen readers, there is mention of sex, although it isn't described on the page (from what I can remember...I've been reading this on and off so forgive the bad memory). I'd also make note of some violence - I mean, Alanna is training to be a knight and there are some battles/wars. I would recommend this to new readers to the fantasy genre, especially those aged 13 and up.
November 12, 2017
Looking to fill my powerful heroine void after Hermione Granger and Anne Shirley, I started this series with high expectations. I was sorely disappointed. As a child I may have enjoyed this but after having watched too many nuanced portrayals of women everywhere, I just cannot.
Alanna is annoying. No other word for it. She's too perfect. I like my women having some flaws, some actual struggles, where they must beat themselves. Alanna has none apparently. She's cheeky, friendly, skilled at magic but doesn't like it because she knows how bad it can go, good at everything by just working hard at it, takes no one's help in dealing with bullies because she's so independent and beautiful. If you don't see how ridiculous this is, then consider that she has no shortcomings at all.
Actually she does but the author doesn't notice them or penalise her for them. She is confused between George and Jon throughout book 1. Then apparently she settles for Jon, but has George hanging by as backup. At some point, this isn't even indecisiveness and confusion anymore.
Tamora Pierce clearly didn't think about how weird it can be for effeminate boys at all-boys institutions when she wrote this book. Alanna barely ever has anyone commenting on anything at all when she parades as a boy. Its quite unrealistic and yes, I know its fantasy.
As for the male characters, they are not badly done, presumably because they grew organically as Pierce wouldn't have thought so hard about them. Jon's an immature asshole eventually and George the hero who's a thief. Alanna bears the marks of someone trying too hard to make her a good heroine. And this is ironically why it fails.
Speaking of fantasy the magic setting is a bit vague and tackily written. Its never very clear what people do with their 'gifts', the gods and goddesses are like an afterthought.
Alanna is annoying. No other word for it. She's too perfect. I like my women having some flaws, some actual struggles, where they must beat themselves. Alanna has none apparently. She's cheeky, friendly, skilled at magic but doesn't like it because she knows how bad it can go, good at everything by just working hard at it, takes no one's help in dealing with bullies because she's so independent and beautiful. If you don't see how ridiculous this is, then consider that she has no shortcomings at all.
Actually she does but the author doesn't notice them or penalise her for them. She is confused between George and Jon throughout book 1. Then apparently she settles for Jon, but has George hanging by as backup. At some point, this isn't even indecisiveness and confusion anymore.
Tamora Pierce clearly didn't think about how weird it can be for effeminate boys at all-boys institutions when she wrote this book. Alanna barely ever has anyone commenting on anything at all when she parades as a boy. Its quite unrealistic and yes, I know its fantasy.
As for the male characters, they are not badly done, presumably because they grew organically as Pierce wouldn't have thought so hard about them. Jon's an immature asshole eventually and George the hero who's a thief. Alanna bears the marks of someone trying too hard to make her a good heroine. And this is ironically why it fails.
Speaking of fantasy the magic setting is a bit vague and tackily written. Its never very clear what people do with their 'gifts', the gods and goddesses are like an afterthought.
July 16, 2023
The great Tamora Pierce...
I had long wanted to read this great author, a reference in one of my favourite genres: fantasy.
Alanna's story is not characterized by being very convoluted, in the end, many of the books in this genre sin of giving twists and turns to the plot, and that's exactly why I liked it so much. It starts small and builds up a rich world full of characters, intertwining battles with betrayals.
Pierce didn't disappoint, she gave me the book I needed to get me into the summer mode.
WARNING: Must be read immediately.
La gran Tamora Pierce…
Hacía tiempo que tenía ganas de leer a esta gran autora, referente en uno de mis géneros favoritos: fantasía.
La historia de Alanna no es una historia que se caracterice por ser muy enrevesada, al final muchos de los libros en este género pecan de dar vueltas y vueltas a la trama, y es exactamente por eso por lo que me ha gustado tanto. Comienza pequeño para ir construyendo un mundo rico y lleno de personajes, entrelazando batallas con traiciones.
Pierce no me ha decepcionado, me ha dado el libro que necesitaba para poder entrar en verano con buen pie.
ATENCIÓN: Se recomienda leerlo inmediatamente.
I had long wanted to read this great author, a reference in one of my favourite genres: fantasy.
Alanna's story is not characterized by being very convoluted, in the end, many of the books in this genre sin of giving twists and turns to the plot, and that's exactly why I liked it so much. It starts small and builds up a rich world full of characters, intertwining battles with betrayals.
Pierce didn't disappoint, she gave me the book I needed to get me into the summer mode.
WARNING: Must be read immediately.
La gran Tamora Pierce…
Hacía tiempo que tenía ganas de leer a esta gran autora, referente en uno de mis géneros favoritos: fantasía.
La historia de Alanna no es una historia que se caracterice por ser muy enrevesada, al final muchos de los libros en este género pecan de dar vueltas y vueltas a la trama, y es exactamente por eso por lo que me ha gustado tanto. Comienza pequeño para ir construyendo un mundo rico y lleno de personajes, entrelazando batallas con traiciones.
Pierce no me ha decepcionado, me ha dado el libro que necesitaba para poder entrar en verano con buen pie.
ATENCIÓN: Se recomienda leerlo inmediatamente.
April 28, 2023
This was pretty good overall.
This successfully juggles several sources of conflict. Alanna is pretending to be a boy. There is a villain who she can't quite pin anything on. There is a love triangle. This has all the set up of a typical YA fantasy that would come into fashion 20 years after this was written.
This also has some real coming of age stuff. Periods. Sexual awakenings. A shifting of goals from childhood to adulthood.
The things stopping it from getting higher are the worldbuilding is pretty weak to me. I don't know how magic works at all. I don't really get a sense of scale for the country and the history of it.
The writing and style is quite stilted. It has random time jumps and is very factual and emotionless.
I would give it 3 stars for the first and 4 stars for the second book.
There are 2 books left in the series, but this ends on a really clear note with all the main conflicts resolved.
This successfully juggles several sources of conflict. Alanna is pretending to be a boy. There is a villain who she can't quite pin anything on. There is a love triangle. This has all the set up of a typical YA fantasy that would come into fashion 20 years after this was written.
This also has some real coming of age stuff. Periods. Sexual awakenings. A shifting of goals from childhood to adulthood.
The things stopping it from getting higher are the worldbuilding is pretty weak to me. I don't know how magic works at all. I don't really get a sense of scale for the country and the history of it.
The writing and style is quite stilted. It has random time jumps and is very factual and emotionless.
I would give it 3 stars for the first and 4 stars for the second book.
There are 2 books left in the series, but this ends on a really clear note with all the main conflicts resolved.
March 5, 2024
lettura molto carina, anche se con vicende un po banali e scontate in certi momenti. La base della storia c'è, ma narrare in un solo libro questa storia rende tutto troppo frettoloso, con scene messe a caso senza legarle alle precedenti. Se amate i capitoli corti come me occhio a questo libro, alcuni capitoli arrivano a sfiorare le 30 pagine!
La protagonista mi è piaciuta abbastanza, perché nonostante abbia trovato un modo per divenire cavaliera anche essendo donna riesce a portare avanti la storia senza farsi scoprire (anche se certe volte si è salvata proprio al limite)
In generale si merita 3,75 stelle, sicuro fosse stato diviso in una dilogia sarebbe stato molto più esplicativo
:)
La protagonista mi è piaciuta abbastanza, perché nonostante abbia trovato un modo per divenire cavaliera anche essendo donna riesce a portare avanti la storia senza farsi scoprire (anche se certe volte si è salvata proprio al limite)
In generale si merita 3,75 stelle, sicuro fosse stato diviso in una dilogia sarebbe stato molto più esplicativo
:)
November 14, 2017
I enjoyed this classic fantasy book. A fairly easy read, the characters are likeable and explores some aspects of young girls growing up that other books I've read haven't. A fairly measured pace, the author spends time establishing characters/relationships/world building, but without bogging you down in too much detail and making it dull, then the last quarter of the book really fires up and leaves you feeling "And then...?" (in a good way!). Moving straight on to book 2!
July 30, 2020
4.5 stars
The pacing at times was a bit strange - a lot of time was skipped and many incidents told rather than shown. However, it has been a long time since a book gripped me like this. I enjoyed book two "In the Hand of the Goddess" more than book one - which gives me hope for the further instalments.
Also, a fantasy book published in the 1980s with a fierce female protagonist that also includes birth control and casual sexual relationships outside of wedlock? Damn, I'm impressed!
The pacing at times was a bit strange - a lot of time was skipped and many incidents told rather than shown. However, it has been a long time since a book gripped me like this. I enjoyed book two "In the Hand of the Goddess" more than book one - which gives me hope for the further instalments.
Also, a fantasy book published in the 1980s with a fierce female protagonist that also includes birth control and casual sexual relationships outside of wedlock? Damn, I'm impressed!
September 8, 2025
2.5 stars
I would have loved this if I'd read it when I was a little girl and I'm glad I finally have it under my belt. It's going to be really fun seeing this book's influences on more recent fantasy, especially knowing how beloved Tamora Pierce is in fantasy circles, it's just not one I loved.
I would have loved this if I'd read it when I was a little girl and I'm glad I finally have it under my belt. It's going to be really fun seeing this book's influences on more recent fantasy, especially knowing how beloved Tamora Pierce is in fantasy circles, it's just not one I loved.
September 19, 2019
I cannot BELIEVE it took me this long to get to Tamora Pierce. This book was fucking stupendous, Alanna is a delight and the world is fascinating. Pierce has a gift for accessible, beautiful prose that resonates in the heart of her readers. Truly incredible.
March 25, 2018
Diese Ausgabe ist furchtbar, wer hat denn das lektoriert, Fehler alle paar Seiten!, aber HACH, die Geschichte ist immer noch toll.
June 18, 2019
Still absolutely love these books... 😊
September 6, 2019
Bought for my neice, couldn’t put it down. Loved it.
August 23, 2020
I read all of it from cover to end in one day!
April 1, 2021
I loved this book! It was amazing; I loved seeing how a girl wanted to do a particularly 'boy' job of being a knight and how she fought her way through to becoming one! Beautiful book
May 27, 2022
Ho letto questo libro una decina di volte, mi spiace sia così poco conosciuto
October 19, 2022
A bit to fast paced in some parts but otherwise great. When I read it I couldn’t put it down!!
May 30, 2025
reminds me of the books I used to love reading as a teen
April 2, 2024
auf Deutsch
5/24
Januar Bookclub
Iconic. Wünsch mir bissl, ich hätts als Kind gelesen, ich wär ja mal so obsessed gewesen. Der Schreibstil is so einzigartig. Meine Freundin, von der ich das Buch ausgeliehen habe beschrieb es als "Aneinanderreihung von Ereignissen". Nichts wird unnötig beschrieben oder ausgeschmückt. Überraschend erfrischend zu lesen.
Noch nie ein Buch gelesen, wo die Hauptperson so kompetent und schlau ist. Sie wird nie ausgetrickst oder hintergangen. Der Schreibstil macht den Mangel an Makel in der Hauptperson jedoch kein langweiliges Buch.
5/24
Januar Bookclub
Iconic. Wünsch mir bissl, ich hätts als Kind gelesen, ich wär ja mal so obsessed gewesen. Der Schreibstil is so einzigartig. Meine Freundin, von der ich das Buch ausgeliehen habe beschrieb es als "Aneinanderreihung von Ereignissen". Nichts wird unnötig beschrieben oder ausgeschmückt. Überraschend erfrischend zu lesen.
Noch nie ein Buch gelesen, wo die Hauptperson so kompetent und schlau ist. Sie wird nie ausgetrickst oder hintergangen. Der Schreibstil macht den Mangel an Makel in der Hauptperson jedoch kein langweiliges Buch.
July 30, 2015
Un libro che si fa apprezzare
Devo ancora capire se questa ristampa contiene i due primi libri o solo il primo... Mah. Essendo un romanzo pubblicato decenni fa, mi sembra un peccato che la pubblicazione del seguito non sia mai stata ultimata. Come storia di formazione merita e, anche se non sono più una ragazzina, mi sono divertita molto a leggerla.
Immedesimarsi in Alanna è stato facile. Forse un po' meno per le ragazzine di oggi, troppo impegnate a non avere mai il letto vuoto, ma io mi sono rivista nel suo disperato tentativo di non lasciarsi coinvolgere troppo dai suoi amici XD Inutile dire che ha fallito.
La principessa guerriero è uno di quei libri per ragazzi che descrive il passaggio dall'infanzia alla fanciullezza. Alle prove che la vita ci mette di fronte e del coraggio che ci serve per superarle. Il tutto, condito con un'impeccabile atmosfera fantasy, coinvolge il lettore, a mio avviso, sia che si tratti di maschi o di femmine. Non è uno di quei libri sdolcinati per ragazzine, ma a mio parere può essere letto volentieri anche dai maschietti, con tutti i combattimenti, le sfide e le magie che lo arricchiscono.
Per il resto, se si ha un po' di tempo libero, può essere letto anche dai più grandi.
Dopotutto, i romanzi di formazione possono essere letti in qualsiasi età
Devo ancora capire se questa ristampa contiene i due primi libri o solo il primo... Mah. Essendo un romanzo pubblicato decenni fa, mi sembra un peccato che la pubblicazione del seguito non sia mai stata ultimata. Come storia di formazione merita e, anche se non sono più una ragazzina, mi sono divertita molto a leggerla.
Immedesimarsi in Alanna è stato facile. Forse un po' meno per le ragazzine di oggi, troppo impegnate a non avere mai il letto vuoto, ma io mi sono rivista nel suo disperato tentativo di non lasciarsi coinvolgere troppo dai suoi amici XD Inutile dire che ha fallito.
La principessa guerriero è uno di quei libri per ragazzi che descrive il passaggio dall'infanzia alla fanciullezza. Alle prove che la vita ci mette di fronte e del coraggio che ci serve per superarle. Il tutto, condito con un'impeccabile atmosfera fantasy, coinvolge il lettore, a mio avviso, sia che si tratti di maschi o di femmine. Non è uno di quei libri sdolcinati per ragazzine, ma a mio parere può essere letto volentieri anche dai maschietti, con tutti i combattimenti, le sfide e le magie che lo arricchiscono.
Per il resto, se si ha un po' di tempo libero, può essere letto anche dai più grandi.
Dopotutto, i romanzi di formazione possono essere letti in qualsiasi età
October 13, 2017
I can't objectively review this series. I fell in love with Alanna et al. when I was a young teen and re-reading years later makes me so incredibly happy ❤️
January 3, 2020
The romance was patchy and barely realistic, but thankfully it didn't take away from the rest of the book. Alanna is an interesting heroine, the pace is good for the reading age (I'd say 14-16 suitability, but 12-14 in reading level), there's tension and betrayal and court politics, and Pierce doesn't waste her words. I do prefer the Emelan books currently, but she wrote Tortall first and for a debut, this is fantastic. I'm looking forward to catching up with the Tortall universe.
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