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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
It's a good thing that I read Pierce's later works before the Alanna series because I wouldn't have gone on to read her other brilliant work if I'd started with Song of the Lioness. These books are okay, but they feel as if they're aimed at a much younger audience. When reading them I constantly felt as if the author was glossing over detail and I often had the impression the plot had been simplified. While the summary is appealing - a girl disguises her self as a boy, goes through all the knightly training Mulan style and eventually becomes the first female knight - the books really don't live up to it and they're a little silly occasionally. To be fair, I don't remember the books that well, it's been a while since I read them,
I do think though, that these books are probably aimed at younger audiences than myself. I would recommend them for maybe 10-12 year olds, girls or boys. My little brother read them and loved them. For older audiences, start with The Immortals series, you're really not missing anything and won't feel lost because Pierce explains everything.
Spoiler
but I was just stunned that anyone thought bringing an evil magician or whatever he was back to life was a good idea. I don't like it when characters do something that is clearly going to blow up in their faces, apparently oblivious to the blantantly obvious consequences.I do think though, that these books are probably aimed at younger audiences than myself. I would recommend them for maybe 10-12 year olds, girls or boys. My little brother read them and loved them.
Spoiler
Right up until the point that Alanna didn't get together with Jonathan, which was apparently his OTP, poor thing. He cried buckets.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
adventurous
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Toxic relationship
Love this final book of the Song of the Lioness Quartet. All the characters are coming into their own and becoming mature adults instead of silly teenagers. It also has some of my favorite characters. Liam Ironarm is a Shang warrior who is a legend and super charming. He's Alanna's lover for a bit but since he was afraid of magic that didn't work out. His death at the end was rough for me because I liked him so much. We also meet Thayet and Buri, who are some really kick butt women too. Thayet becomes Queen of Tortall at the end when she marries Jonathon, a much better match for him than Alanna ever was. And Alanna finally gets her happy ever after with George, who gives up being King of Thieves to be King Jonathon's secret spymaster. The end battle of this book was like a Game of Thrones chapter. What with Roger of Comte coming back from the dead to kill everyone, and killing off bunches of characters. This must have been the third or fourth time I've done this series, first time I've listened to the audiobook, but when the cat Faithful dies defending Alanna I burst into tears. Faithful is a god-like creature who had been Alanna's companion since she was a little girl, giving her advice and helping her threw trials of all kinds. His death was a symbolic end of Alanna's youth I think, saying that from now on she had to be her own guide.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I read this as a re-read and for the age group it’s intended for I think it still holds up well. I wouldn’t recommend the audiobook as it has some awkwardly long pauses that kept making me think it had stopped playing but the story itself I still enjoyed.
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes