Reviews

First Test by Tamora Pierce

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sgreen2307's review against another edition

5.0

Amazing!!! Loved it as much as the first two series with Daine and Alanna. Tamora Pierce has done it again with Keladry. Same type of heroin yet as different as can be from Daine and Alanna. I love that she always brings past characters back into her newer books. Awesome!

annamariahz's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

mkhare's review against another edition

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5.0

My favourite Tamora Pierce series, and where I recommend all readers new to this author begin.

25/4/18

4.75 stars. This book has much more of a warm, Harry Potter, or rather Hogwarts style vibe to it* than Pierce's Song of the Lioness quartet, and her writing has vastly improved in comparison as well. As this book only covers Kel's first year, we are able to see her grow and change in a much more gradual, believable way than the rapid pace featured in Alanna: the First Adventure. Kel's disciplined upbringing along with the unique history and experiences of her family members coupled with her own steady, calm nature also help to reader to believe that she is in fact ten years old in the world of Tortall, even if she is 'the oldest ten-year-old' Neal has ever met.

The story satisfyingly combines conflicts/struggles with gentle humour/warmth and was overall a joy to reread. I loved re-encountering, Neal, the sparrows, Peachblossom, and even Lord Wyldon again after all these years, and it was wonderful to see how characters from TSotL have changed since we last saw them in that series.

*Joren is pretty much Draco without the father issues in this first book, let's be honest.

P.S. On an unrelated side note, I am so glad that I still own (or were able to track down the same editions of) my original copies of Tamora Pierce's books. I definitely like these covers/overall editions the best!

ericanadine's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

applegnreads's review against another edition

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4.0

Truthfully, I think I liked this series best of the Tortall ones that I've read so far. She was a fun character (and as is pointed out later in the series, the most normal of the lady characters and so is someone that normal girls can hope to aspire to).

book_lizard42's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this one. It's unlike a lot of the girl-goes-to-combat-school books out there. She's no Mary Sue, has lots of flaws that she actually has to work to overcome, makes mistakes, isn't the golden child. It's my first Tamora Pierce, and I plan to find the rest of the series.