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navila's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, parts of it were good... but most of it was very dry. A lot of the history felt too short and point form, rather than as a journal or story. Could have been more.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that was entertaining. If you've read the Tortall books (especially if you've read them multiple times), you'll be familiar with most of the characters wandering through these pages. It's a mix of material: some straightforward 'here's how to not completely blow your spy cover in the first five minutes', some profiles of various characters who show up throughout the books, some letters...a section of the head cook's diary, which probably goes on a bit too long but is very funny nonetheless. (I'm now pondering why George might choose to include that section, other than the fact that he rates a mention or two, and I could see it being useful either because spies-in-training should look at pleeennnty of things that don't have any straight-up useful info in them—to learn to identify just that—or because there's a very quiet lesson in there about how trust is built and favours are earned.)
Anyway. I wouldn't have minded a bit more new-to-me information: I've read most of the Tortall books at least three times (conservative estimate for some of them!), and there's little about, e.g., Stormwings that can't be found in the novels. That said, there's a wonderful level of detail—not that I needed any further proof that Pierce knows the world she's built extremely well, but I always like knowing that there is a backstory for every minor character, even if the reader doesn't get it all.
One of these days I'm really going to have to sit down with those books and give the entire run a(nother) reread, one after another after another...
Anyway. I wouldn't have minded a bit more new-to-me information: I've read most of the Tortall books at least three times (conservative estimate for some of them!), and there's little about, e.g., Stormwings that can't be found in the novels. That said, there's a wonderful level of detail—not that I needed any further proof that Pierce knows the world she's built extremely well, but I always like knowing that there is a backstory for every minor character, even if the reader doesn't get it all.
One of these days I'm really going to have to sit down with those books and give the entire run a(nother) reread, one after another after another...
missyansell's review against another edition
5.0
A fun companion read for the Tortall universe! It is a book of letters and information compiled by George Cooper. Includes stuff like letters between Alanna and George, Lord Wyldon and the King and many others. Character profiles on Thayet, Buri, Numair, Daine and others. Information on the immortals. Diary entries from the palace cook. And history narrated by Thom, Alanna and George's oldest son.
Don't go into this thinking it will be another story like the rest of her books. It really is just some random entries that add to the Tortall universe. Fun read that you can easily read in one day!
Don't go into this thinking it will be another story like the rest of her books. It really is just some random entries that add to the Tortall universe. Fun read that you can easily read in one day!
justmeandmybooks_'s review against another edition
3.0
I really don't know how to review this. Quite honestly this was completely unnecessary. But I loved it. Tamora Pierce was one of my favourite authors growing up, and this book made me SO NOSTALGIC. Also it was good. It may have been unnecessary, but it was also very good.
This wasn't a story or anything, just a collection of files and letters and the like. And honestly that really worked with Tamora Pierce's strengths. Her writing is great. Her characters are great. But while her plots themselves are actually pretty good, the pacing is... not.
And so this worked really well. Because does a collection of files require pacing? No. But it does require good writing to be enjoyable, and somehow she managed to make the characters shine in this.
Literally, the characters were so strong. I mean, would this work as an introduction to them? Of course not. But that's not what it's meant as. It's meant for the readers who already know and love them, and as that, it's perfect.
This was just so enjoyable! There were so many parts that made me laugh of loud, or put a huge nostalgic grin on my face, and I am so pleased I finally read this! Also we finally got to see some of Neal's infamous poetry, and it was amazing
This wasn't a story or anything, just a collection of files and letters and the like. And honestly that really worked with Tamora Pierce's strengths. Her writing is great. Her characters are great. But while her plots themselves are actually pretty good, the pacing is... not.
And so this worked really well. Because does a collection of files require pacing? No. But it does require good writing to be enjoyable, and somehow she managed to make the characters shine in this.
Literally, the characters were so strong. I mean, would this work as an introduction to them? Of course not. But that's not what it's meant as. It's meant for the readers who already know and love them, and as that, it's perfect.
This was just so enjoyable! There were so many parts that made me laugh of loud, or put a huge nostalgic grin on my face, and I am so pleased I finally read this! Also we finally got to see some of Neal's infamous poetry, and it was amazing
nonsensicaljourney's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book as part of the Tamora Pierce Book Club with Life's Library. For context, this book is more or less a random offshoot of the well-established Middle Grade / YA books set in the Tortall universe. I read all of those books when I was in middle school, so I'm coming at this series again after maybe ten years, and my feelings are complicated.
It's a simple book, full of little random exerpts and no underlying plot, and it was very fun to read in some parts. It's got stories about Aly, notes from Daine, notes about Numair, and hilarious timelines of the Tortall universe written by Alanna's ten-year-old son. The formal timeline at the end is helpful and interesting, but everything in this book is a bit all over the shop. It's nice to read little snippets of their lives, but this isn't the kind of book I'd need to ever pick up again. I'm very glad I got it from the Library.
I'm very glad I got to re-live this universe afresh, just for a bit, but ultimately I would have preferred to start with re-reading one of the fully-fleshed-out novels rather than colour my experiences of this universe with random stories I often didn't entirely understand. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this book with the Tamora Pierce Book Club, and reading it out of order is entirely my own fault.
If you already know the Tortall universe and it hasn't been too long since you've read one of the full novels, you'll love this book. Even if it's been a long time, you'll still get something out of it - and better yet, it might inspire you to pull out your old books and re-read them all...
It's a simple book, full of little random exerpts and no underlying plot, and it was very fun to read in some parts. It's got stories about Aly, notes from Daine, notes about Numair, and hilarious timelines of the Tortall universe written by Alanna's ten-year-old son. The formal timeline at the end is helpful and interesting, but everything in this book is a bit all over the shop. It's nice to read little snippets of their lives, but this isn't the kind of book I'd need to ever pick up again. I'm very glad I got it from the Library.
I'm very glad I got to re-live this universe afresh, just for a bit, but ultimately I would have preferred to start with re-reading one of the fully-fleshed-out novels rather than colour my experiences of this universe with random stories I often didn't entirely understand. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this book with the Tamora Pierce Book Club, and reading it out of order is entirely my own fault.
If you already know the Tortall universe and it hasn't been too long since you've read one of the full novels, you'll love this book. Even if it's been a long time, you'll still get something out of it - and better yet, it might inspire you to pull out your old books and re-read them all...
drkappitan's review against another edition
3.0
This was very cute, and very pretty, had some truly enjoyable sections, and I'm glad to finally be able to add it to my collection. That said, since it doesn't have a narrative through-line and (to a point) rehashes information from the other books, I won't be revisiting it time and again the way I do the others.
tacita's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
laralibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely beautiful companion book filled to the brim with letters, commentary, side information, and especially snark. <3
rowan_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
I've got some Very Specific Feelings about some of the new content in this book and I'm so glad it exists.
leah_markum's review against another edition
3.0
There are some really exciting key points explained in this book.
1) In Squire (at least the original hardback), despite the span of a squire has been defined as four years, Keladry ages 14, 16, and 17... which confused me for many, many years. Typo or an author losing track, I don't care. I'll take the information in this book as official: Kel was a squire for 3 years, "16" was printed for when she was 15, "17" for when she was 16, and "18" for when she was 17. She got her shield at 17, and Lady Knight's main plot concludes just before her actual 18th birthday.
Yes, this is a big deal to me, lol.
2) Owen marries Lord Wyldon's youngest daughter three yeas after Lady Knight. I just want to laugh and imagine what a short story on that would be like. I want Lord Wyldon's reaction. His and Owen's dynamic is one of my favorites.
Other than those exciting takeaways, I admit to skimming this book. I love how it's designed and fills in some minor gaps just for the heck of it, but I'm not keen on reading instructions and cookbook descriptions or letters.
1) In Squire (at least the original hardback), despite the span of a squire has been defined as four years, Keladry ages 14, 16, and 17... which confused me for many, many years. Typo or an author losing track, I don't care. I'll take the information in this book as official: Kel was a squire for 3 years, "16" was printed for when she was 15, "17" for when she was 16, and "18" for when she was 17. She got her shield at 17, and Lady Knight's main plot concludes just before her actual 18th birthday.
Yes, this is a big deal to me, lol.
2) Owen marries Lord Wyldon's youngest daughter three yeas after Lady Knight. I just want to laugh and imagine what a short story on that would be like. I want Lord Wyldon's reaction. His and Owen's dynamic is one of my favorites.
Other than those exciting takeaways, I admit to skimming this book. I love how it's designed and fills in some minor gaps just for the heck of it, but I'm not keen on reading instructions and cookbook descriptions or letters.