Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Alanna: The First Adventure

My best friend recommended this book to me. I'd read it once before many years ago but I didn't remember anything.

So. Honestly, this book felt entirely too fast. I felt like there was no character development or worldbuilding really at all, and the magic system also wasn't explained, and just felt like a convenient solution to unsolvable problems. I honestly have no idea what happened in the last chapter. I also didn't love the writing. It could have used a few less adjectives and adverbs. It felt awkward and choppy, I'm not entirely sure why. All in all it felt like a good story poorly written.

That said, I did enjoy this book and the story, and I see a lot of potential going forward. I'm definitely interested to find out what happens next, if Alanna can continue to hide her identity, and what becomes of Jon.

I'm definitely interested to see what happens with Roger vying for the throne. I'm guessing that'll become a major conflict later on.

It was rather fun seeing a young girl in a patriarchal society unlearn her own internalized sexism, as it's something I definitely related to.

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iviarelle's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

With a caveat that this book has one scene that might be quite harmful/triggering to trans folks, I still really adore this book. If Pierce had handled Alanna's feelings about getting her period another way, it would be perfect for what it is. Unfortunately, instead of asking Alanna if she REALLY wants to be a boy, or if she just thinks it would be more convenient to becoming a knight even though she really does feel like a girl, the book just states that there is no way to change the body the gods gave you, so no matter how you really feel in it, you're trapped... I wish there could be a new edition to change that, I really do, because I'd love to recommend the whole of Tortall to basically everyone I know. It's not about Alanna really wanting to be a boy, it's a messy way of confirming that she really is a girl, and one that is, however unintentionally, harmful.

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