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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First three books are typical tamora pierce girl fighter coming of age. Last one is pretty fun though: diverts from her usual hero complex into something much more team based.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
Kel finally is put in charge and she is so freaking great at it from putting everything she has learned to use as leader to showing an even temperament that makes her passionate for justice while thoughtful and considerate. This book was the perfect ending to this series.
Rereading this as an adult has me revisit why I didn't remember liking Kel's story as much as Daine's or even Alanna's: she has no magic, and she can't talk to animals. Those were two very important things in middle schooler Stephanie's reading life, and Kel had neither. Yes, she has the sparrows and Jump who follow her and help her, but that's nowhere near the same as Daine talking with and transforming into animals. She also has close friends who are mages, like Neal with his healing magic, but Kel is only ever on the receiving end of the Gift - or in this case, the Chamber of the Ordeal's magic.
BUT.
But that does not mean that her story is any less important, feminist, independent, or engaging. Kel just has a different path than anyone else before: the first out lady knight in a century or more. She's 18, newly knighted, and already with missions not of her choosing thrust upon her. From the Chamber, find the Nothing Man who is capturing children's souls to animate animal-shaped bodies of metal. From Lord Wyldon and the needs of the realm, reinforce and protect the refugees of the war against Scanra and King Maggur at the refugee camp along the Scanran border of Haven. Kel is struggling with the need to seek out the Nothing Man and her orders to maintain and protect the camp, as well as her own desire to protect those who need protecting most of all, who few people stand up for.
While the only "sameness" between reading this now and as a middle schooler is it seemed very long, this time that is due to me trying to read it while busy on my 3-week honeymoon to New Zealand and Australia - not exactly the time to get about 6 hours of reading in, when there was so much to do and see. So I can't even compare that, this time.
Factoring that in, I think Kel's final novel being so much longer than the others works. It really gives us, and her, time to experience, question, understand, come to terms with, embrace, and chase everything she has to do and works for. Not all wars are fought on the front lines - sometimes the most important places to be are the ones where the people need you, and showing them how much you care. And working and fighting alongside them - giving them hope that they too can stand up for themselves, fight for themselves, and ultimately, win.
BUT.
But that does not mean that her story is any less important, feminist, independent, or engaging. Kel just has a different path than anyone else before: the first out lady knight in a century or more. She's 18, newly knighted, and already with missions not of her choosing thrust upon her. From the Chamber, find the Nothing Man who is capturing children's souls to animate animal-shaped bodies of metal. From Lord Wyldon and the needs of the realm, reinforce and protect the refugees of the war against Scanra and King Maggur at the refugee camp along the Scanran border of Haven. Kel is struggling with the need to seek out the Nothing Man and her orders to maintain and protect the camp, as well as her own desire to protect those who need protecting most of all, who few people stand up for.
While the only "sameness" between reading this now and as a middle schooler is it seemed very long, this time that is due to me trying to read it while busy on my 3-week honeymoon to New Zealand and Australia - not exactly the time to get about 6 hours of reading in, when there was so much to do and see. So I can't even compare that, this time.
Factoring that in, I think Kel's final novel being so much longer than the others works. It really gives us, and her, time to experience, question, understand, come to terms with, embrace, and chase everything she has to do and works for. Not all wars are fought on the front lines - sometimes the most important places to be are the ones where the people need you, and showing them how much you care. And working and fighting alongside them - giving them hope that they too can stand up for themselves, fight for themselves, and ultimately, win.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix