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jettreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tani's review against another edition
4.0
Once upon a time, I started reading Tamora Pierce's Alanna books. I'd been hearing all over the place how good they were, so I thought I'd give them a try. Well, I wasn't really thrilled. Sure, the premise was fun. Sure, the characters were interesting. But the thing, I just didn't like Alanna that much.
So, for the longest time, I kind of forgot about Tamora Pierce. As I'm learning recently, this was a mistake. First, I ended up reading the Circle of Magic series, which I loved. Then this. I really enjoyed First Test. So much so, in fact, that I'm thinking of running out tomorrow and picking up the next couple books. Kel is a great character and I had a lot of fun reading about her adventures. I keep thinking that I should stop wasting time reading all these young adult things when I have so many other books just waiting to be read, but then I read things like this and change my mind. I guess I'll be sticking with my young adult interest for a while longer. :)
So, for the longest time, I kind of forgot about Tamora Pierce. As I'm learning recently, this was a mistake. First, I ended up reading the Circle of Magic series, which I loved. Then this. I really enjoyed First Test. So much so, in fact, that I'm thinking of running out tomorrow and picking up the next couple books. Kel is a great character and I had a lot of fun reading about her adventures. I keep thinking that I should stop wasting time reading all these young adult things when I have so many other books just waiting to be read, but then I read things like this and change my mind. I guess I'll be sticking with my young adult interest for a while longer. :)
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
First Test is about Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl who wishes to become a knight since Lady Alanna. She has been accepted for knight training, however, unlike the boys she will study and train beside, she has been given a First Test, one year to prove to the conservative training master that she is able to withstand the rigors of page training.
The storyline of this book progresses in a very good yet predictable way. There are boys who try to force Keladry to leave through bullying her, and there are her staunch and stalwart friends. She also befriends the animals, which have become smart since Daine came to live at the palace in the Immortals series.
I like this book because it gives you the opportunity to see characters we have grown to love, from previous series, as they are when they have grown up.
I would recommend First Test to anyone who likes the rest of Tamora Pierce’s books, or well written fantasy books.
First Test is about Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl who wishes to become a knight since Lady Alanna. She has been accepted for knight training, however, unlike the boys she will study and train beside, she has been given a First Test, one year to prove to the conservative training master that she is able to withstand the rigors of page training.
The storyline of this book progresses in a very good yet predictable way. There are boys who try to force Keladry to leave through bullying her, and there are her staunch and stalwart friends. She also befriends the animals, which have become smart since Daine came to live at the palace in the Immortals series.
I like this book because it gives you the opportunity to see characters we have grown to love, from previous series, as they are when they have grown up.
I would recommend First Test to anyone who likes the rest of Tamora Pierce’s books, or well written fantasy books.
mylxa's review against another edition
2.0
So far, I am underwhelmed. It is it wrong to want a book to be darker? It's not as complex as the stuff I have been reading lately. I am thinking it's geared for 4-6th grade. Not bad, but not great. Stay tuned.
I finished reading it in about 3 days. It did end up a little darker, but the subsequent books were better. I'd recommend it for a 5-7 grader.
I finished reading it in about 3 days. It did end up a little darker, but the subsequent books were better. I'd recommend it for a 5-7 grader.
mariannes's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
wren_bird27's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookwyrm_94's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
lisawreading's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed First Test, but didn't find it particularly exciting. As with the first books in Tamora Pierce's other two quartets that I read this year, we start with a very young main character. Kel is 10 years old at the start of the story, determined to go through the process of training to be a knight. Despite it now being acceptable for girls to work toward knighthood, none have in the 10 years since the law changed -- until Kel steps forward. She faces hostility from the boys training as pages as well, and the head of the training program makes it clear that he thinks she doesn't belong. The book follows Kel's first year as a probationary page, and contains many of the elements familiar from other Pierce books -- palace gossip, bullying and competition among the pages, weaponry and riding training, and a shot at adventure.
First Test is a fun and satisfying read, but I'm looking forward to the later books in the series when, hopefully, an older protagonist will lead to more interesting challenges and relationships.
First Test is a fun and satisfying read, but I'm looking forward to the later books in the series when, hopefully, an older protagonist will lead to more interesting challenges and relationships.
kiwitheboss19's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mayhplumb's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but I guess I'm just disappointed because I didn't enjoy it as much as The Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett (which I also read for the first time recently).
It's my first Tamora Pierce, recommended by a friend as the best series by her. It gets bonus points for being a YA book with a female protagonist but no love interest; also that she had some feminine aspects to her personality, instead of being a total tomboy stereotype. I enjoyed Kel and Neil and look forward to reading the next in the series to learn more about them. There were some other details I enjoyed -- e.g. the sparrows and the jousting bits, to not give spoilers.
However, the book was pretty weak in some other ways. The plot didn't feel very original, but perhaps that's just because it's a YA book, and the idea of fantasy taking place in an Arthurian society has been done a lot. The Immortals sound interesting, but they're not very developed (maybe I would get that from one of the other Pierce series?). I wish the adults -- or even some of the other pages -- had more developed characters. It kind of hit all the obvious areas for a girl going into a boy's world, but didn't go much beyond that. The writing was over-descriptive in that YA way.
It's my first Tamora Pierce, recommended by a friend as the best series by her. It gets bonus points for being a YA book with a female protagonist but no love interest; also that she had some feminine aspects to her personality, instead of being a total tomboy stereotype. I enjoyed Kel and Neil and look forward to reading the next in the series to learn more about them. There were some other details I enjoyed -- e.g. the sparrows and the jousting bits, to not give spoilers.
However, the book was pretty weak in some other ways. The plot didn't feel very original, but perhaps that's just because it's a YA book, and the idea of fantasy taking place in an Arthurian society has been done a lot. The Immortals sound interesting, but they're not very developed (maybe I would get that from one of the other Pierce series?). I wish the adults -- or even some of the other pages -- had more developed characters. It kind of hit all the obvious areas for a girl going into a boy's world, but didn't go much beyond that. The writing was over-descriptive in that YA way.