Page by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Protector of the Small
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Summer is over and Keladry of Mindelan is back in training at the royal palace – no longer on probation, but an official page now. Three more years of instruction lie before her. She know that each year the training will be more grueling and that she will have to prove herself over and over. She will have to battle bullies – including her archenemy, Joren – and her nearly crippling fear of heights. Kel also knows that she has a circle of solid friends, from the funny Neal to the teasing Cleon, and the support of her ill-tempered gelding, Peachblossom. What Kel doesn’t know is that the years will hold many surprises. She will make new friends, draw the attention of the King, and save several lives. She will also be thrown into a situation in which she must take control – an act of courage skill, and intuition that will affect how everyone sees her and change forever the way that pages are trained.

This is the second book in the Protector of the Small series. After her first year she is finally a page. Dealing with bullies is just one of the many things that she tackles. The great thing about this story is not only is Kel a strong character but so are all the supporting ones. It’s another great adventure for this group and well worth the read. You see even more of the characters that you love from her past series set in Tortall. I love this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Squire.

Publisher: Laurel LeafISBN: 0679889183
Pages: 268
Series: Protector of the Small
Volume: 2

First Test by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Protector of the Small

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Keladry (known as Kel) is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that permits girls to train for the knighthood. The only thing that can stop her is Lord Wyldon, the training master of pages and squires. He does not think girls should be knights and puts her on probation for one year. It is a trial period that no male page has to endure and one that separates the friendly Kel even more from her fellow trainees. But Kel is not someone to underestimate. . .This is the first book in the Protector of the Small series. Kel is the first girl since Alanna to try and openly become a knight. But as she is not hiding who she is they have decided to make her go through one year of probation before letting her be a page. This is the first character that doesn’t have any magical ability. And has quite a few flaws. She is a strong character who makes some amazing friends. I liked the story. Getting to see some of my favorite characters all grown up was amazing. I can’t wait to read the next book, Page.

Publisher: Laurel LeafISBN: 0375829059
Pages: 240
Series: Protector of the Small
Volume: 1

Tris’s Book by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Circle of Magic
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: It has been centuries since pirates dared to attack Winding Circle Temple, a renowned center of magic. But after a recent earthquake, the community’s defenses are perilously weakened. For the four young mages studying at Winding Circle – Briar, a former street thief whose magic is with plants; Daja, the outcast Trader honing her powers in metalcraft; Sandry, a noble whose magic lies in weaving and other threadcraft; and Tris, the “weather witch” rejected by her family- the pirates threaten the first real home the four have known. The enemy, led by the pirate queen Pahua and her mage brother Enahar, has a devastating new weapon. Can the four young mages risk using their fledgling powers against such strong opponents? At stake for Daja, Briar, Sandry, and especially Tris are not only their own futures, but the fate of the entire Winding Circle community.

This is the second book in the Circle of Magic series. The characters are still getting used to having their magic tied to one another. But then pirates come to their home and now they have to figure out how they can save it. The book has many twists and turns. Tris is the main character but you get to see other sides of the other children. With their magic not reacting the way it has in the past they must figure out what they can do. I liked this book as it is more than just about saving the day. Seeing the different sides of the characters as they are growing is also one of the things that keeps bringing me back to this series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Daja’s Book.

Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0590554093
Pages: 272
Series: Circle of Magic
Volume: 2

The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher Numair, are swept into the Divine Realms. Though happy to be alive, they are not where they want to be. They are desperately needed back home, where their old enemy, Ozorne, and his army of strange creatures are waging war against Tortall. Trapped in the mystical realms, Daine discovers her mysterious parentage. And as these secrets of her past are revealed so is the treacherous way back to Tortall. So they embark on an extraordinary journey home, where the fate of all Tortall rests with Daine and her wild magic.

This is the final book in the Immortals quartet. In this book we finally learn of Daine’s father. This story at first was a little confusing as we get to see more of the gods and goddesses in their own setting. Their trials to getting back to their friends brings both Numair and Daine closer, which I loved. I also enjoyed the interaction with the dragons. There is a lot that Daine has to take in and choose as this story goes on. But she ends up returning to Kit and her friends with Numair. I really liked this a lot and was happy with the out come. For another series by Tamora Pierce this was great to have someone who is more of an average girl who becomes extraordinary. The world that started in the Song of the Lioness series has grown rich with the addition of these books, and I love how they just billed on one another. I look forward to reading the next quartet, Protector of the Small which starts with The First Test.
Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 141690817X
Pages: 368
Series: The Immortals
Volume: 4

Sandry’s Book by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Circle of Magic
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Trapped in a dark cellar, a noble girl waits hopelessly, for the door of her prison is sealed with magic… Third time unlucky: a thief who has again been caught stealing will be sentenced to a short, brutal life of hard labor… The lone survivor of a shipwreck, a young trader is pronounced an outcast by her own people… A girl whose strange connection to the weather unsettles everyone, including herself, has run out of refuges… Four young people – all possessing powers they do not understand, all in dire need of rescue, of training, of a home, maybe even of each other – meet up with the one man who can help. The mysterious Niklaren Goldeye takes them, one by one, to Winding Circle, a temple community. There they are installed in a cottage called Discipline. Are they being punished? Or does Niko have some other reason for bringing them together?

This is the first book in the Circle of Magic series. It is about four young children who are all orphans with something special. And together they are amazing. Sandry has grown up as a noble. While Tris has been moved from school and family to many times. Daja has lost everything and is even scorned by her people for surviving. Briar is a thief and can’t run anymore. But in while they are dealing with all this there are things that are also coming and they must work together. I really like this story even though it is for a younger audience. The characters are well developed and you get to watch as each one discovers themselves. It is another amazing magical world that Tamora Pierce creates. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Tris’s Book.

Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0590554085
Pages: 272
Series: Circle of Magic
Volume: 1

Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Sent to Carthak as part of the Tortallan peace delegation, Daine finds herself in the middle of a sticky political situation. She doesn’t like the Carthaki practice of keeping slaves, but it’’s not her place to say anything – she’s just there to heal the emperor’s birds. It’’s extremely frustrating! What’s more, her power has grown in a mysterious way. As the peace talks stall, Daine puzzles over Carthak’s two-faced Emperor Ozorne. How can he be so caring with his birds and so cruel to his people? Daine is sure he’s planning something. Daine must fight the powerful Emperor Mage, knowing that the safety and peace of the realm depend on stopping Ozorne’s power-hungry schemes.

This is the third book in the Immortals series. Daine travels to Carthak to help the emperor’s birds. Only things are not what they seemed. Ok first and for most I do not like Ozorne at all. Well I guess your not supposed to but he’s just evil. I did like the power that Daine was given for the book. I found that it was great when she handled it quite nicely. I love the relationship between Numair and Daine. But I loved this book as there is so much going on and it just add more to the world of Tortallan. Numair going back to the city that he used to live and go to school. Daine making friends with the heir to the throne. It was very well done. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series of the Realms of the Gods.

Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 1416903372
Pages: 358
Series: The Immortals
Volume: 3

Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When Daine is summoned by the wold pack that saved her life a year earlier, she knows she has to go. She and Numair travel to Dunlath Valley to answer the call. But when they arrive, Dain realizes with a shock that it’s not just the animals whose lives are threatened; people are in danger too. Dunlath’s rulers have discovered black opals in their valley and are dead set on mining the magic these stones embody. Daine learns that Dunlath’s lord and lady plan to use this power to overthrow King Jonathan – even if it means irreversibly damaging the land and killing their workers. On a mission to save both her animal friends and her human ones, Daine has to master her wild magic in order to fight for the kingdom and triumph over the would-be usurpers.

In this story you get to meet the wolves from Daine’s old village. After learning what has been going on in Dunlath Valley Daine must save everyone. And at one point even have to learn to do some magic on her own. As her powers grow and she learns what she is capable of she has to find away to help those innocent people. I love the way the animals are portrayed in this book. They bring a new light to how the characters don’t have to be human to be significant. I loved the way the wolves interacted together and how they were different from other packs. I also liked the friends that Daine makes here with Maura. She starts to see more of what she can do which at first scares her. But she takes it in strides. It’s a great story can't wait to read the next book, Emperor Mage.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416903445

Pages: 368

Series: The Immortals

Volume: 2

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Thirteen-year-old Daine has always had a knack with animals, but it’s not until she’s forced to leave home that she realizes it’s more than a knack – it’s magic. Whit this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen’s Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student. Under Numair’s guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she begins to sense other beings too: immortals. These bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years, but now someone has broken the barrier. It’s up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack.

Daine is a young girl who has been run out of the only place she could call home. She is still fearful of people and what they may do to her if they find out her secret. After helping Numair, he begins to teach her how to use her magic. She still doesn’t tell them everything at first out of fear. But as time goes on she learns that she can trust them. As more immortals show they learn that battle is on its way. Daine actually is a big help even with both her magic and her new friends. I love this world that Tamora has created. I think that it’s great that you get to see the characters who I grew to love from her Song of the Lioness series. I find that Daine is a great new character to add to the growing world of Tortall. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Wolf-Speaker.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416903437

Pages: 384

Series: The Immortals

Volume: 1

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