Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness,

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “I’m not sure I want to be a hero anymore.” Having achieved her dream of becoming the first female knight errant, Alanna of Trebond is not sure what to do next. Perhaps being a knight errant is not all that Alanna needs… But Alanna must push her uncertainty aside when a new challenge arises. She must recover the Dominion Jewel, a legendary gem with enormous power for good – but only in the right hands. And she must work quickly. Tortall is in great danger, and Alanna’s archenemy, Duke Roger, is back – and more powerful than ever. In this final book of the Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna discovers that she indeed has a future worthy of her mythic past – both as a warrior and as a woman.

In the conclusion of the Song of the Lioness quartet you finally see Alanna go off questing. This is to prove to everyone that it doesn’t matter that she is female she can do epic things like any other knight. She even brings Prince Jonathan back a Princess worthy of him. Again there is an epic battle between Alanna and Duke Roger. It was sad how Thom learned to little to late what he had done with his own magic. It made everything wrap up beautifully.

Tamora Pierce is an amazing author. I loved how this quartet was woven in both adventure and magic. Set in a world that is more like our middle ages or renaissance Europe but with magic. Brilliantly executed in the way the story is written the whole grouping is rich in that each story builds on the next. I have read these books so many times that I had to go and order them in hard cover as my original copies started to come apart. A saga that I have on my book shelf for good reason, it’s one of my favorite reads.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689878575

Pages: 400

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 4

The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “Let her prove herself worthy as a man.” Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a duel to the death – either she will be killed or she will be inducted into the tribe. Although she triumphs, dire challenges lie ahead. As her mythic fate would have it, Alanna soon becomes the tribe’s first female shaman – despite the desert dwellers’ gave fear of the foreign woman warrior. Alanna must fight to change the ancient tribal customs of the desert tribes – for their sake and for the sake of all Tortall.

This is the third book in the Sond of the Lioness series. Alanna gains not only a tribe but a new father that loves her in Sir Myles. Which was one of the characters that I loved from the first time you meet him. This was great as Alanna finally totally embraced her magic and learns along with the young youths that are also gifted. She must train them until they can take over and protect their tribe. She does have a falling out with Prince Jonathan that at first I was very unhappy about. But I realize that I don’t think Alanna would ever be happy as the Queen of Tortall. I did enjoy the growing relationship between Alanna and George. Beautifully written story that I couldn’t put down. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Lioness Rampant.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689878583

Pages: 304

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 3

In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “I don’t want to fall in love. I just want to be a warrior maiden.” 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… Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s second adventure continues the saga of a girl who dares to follow her dreams – and the magical destiny that awaits her.

This is the second book in the Song of the Lioness series. Alanna now older but not yet a knight, is strong. She finds out more about her role that the Goddess has for her. Gaining a trusted ally in her kitten, Faithful. The fight between her and Duke Roger was epic. It was sad that her coming out as a girl took place during the fight but I don’t think it could have happened any other way. Her courage to try and make Prince Jonathan safe was amazing. And you can see her friendships grow with the other boys as they all grow up together. Then there is the budding romance between Prince Jonathan and Alanna. Thom has become slightly dark and anti-social, as well as arrogant. Not one of my favorite characters but Alanna loves him a lot. I loved all the different dynamics that take place here. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, The Woman Who Rides Like A Man.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689878567

Pages: 288

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 2

Alanna The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “From now on I’m Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I’ll be a knight.” And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, 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 to learn magic; 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 discern her enemies from her allies. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins – one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

This is one of those stories that once you read it you can’t wait to see where it’s going to go. It has a fast that quickly introduces our players. Alanna is a strong willed character who knows what she wants to do and how she can do it. The characters are all fairly young at the beginning. But the friendship between Alanna and the other boys grows fast. Even her friendship with George the King of Thieves is great as he is the first one that she tells her secret too so that she can get to a healer. The story is absolutely phenomenal and pulls you in. I can't wait to read the next book, In the Hands of the Goddess.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1442426411

Pages: 272

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 1