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jadedmist27's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
morgob's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
First of all, the one thing I didn't like so much was that the main character is SO pretentious. She is THE privileged white girl. Besides that, I ate this book up! If I had found this book when I was a teen, I would have made it my whole personality. I have to read the sequel because I need to know what happens next. On that note, I sort of thought that more would happen before the end of this book, but I do think it's a good first book in a duology. There aren't many good duologies in the world, so this is a nice little (and not so long) commitment. It was kind of slow and off-putting to start. I think the story was going too fast for the first bit, then it was way too slow for a while, but after the first 100 pages, I couldn't put it down. I love the raka people (hitting us over the head a little bit with the colonization parallels, but it probably wouldn't seem that way to teens). My favorite character by far was Nawat. I would die for Nawat. He couldn't be more perfect. For a YA book, this was relatively heavy content, but it was really well-written. Thanks to my friend, Mikaela, for recommending it to me!
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Daughter of the Lioness series (if you're OCD like me, you'll want to start at beginning; there is a chronological listing of the Tortall books on my website, although, it isn't necessary to read all these before starting this particular series…*grin*
My Take
Be careful what you wish for…you might get it as Aly finds out. Although it truly is exactly what Aly wanted…if she could just have had a bit more time to get ready for it!
This is a much more, well, intelligent isn't the right word. The writing in this story is at a higher reading level than the Tamora Pierce stories I've read so far — Song of the Lioness and Wild Magic from the Immortals series. Yet again, I kept checking the cover to be sure I was reading a Tamora Pierce!
That said, this is an excellent story! Young adult or adult will find it a fascinating read. Nawat Crow's courtship of Aly is just too funny as he brings his crow culture with him. There is no end to the action and intrigue — normally, I put a marker in as I read to remind me of events and characters for later when I write my reviews. Trickster's Choice made me forget; I was too busy racing through to find out what would happen next! It's funny, exciting, scary, and sad as betrayals and support run rampant.
Involuntary spying for our girl as Aly seeks a way to survive being sold into slavery and escaping it. It's Aly's coming of age and the opportunity to learn her own weaknesses and strengths. She also learns more about her parents than she would have ever realized.
Okay, the idea of a head footman just doesn't work for me. Steward or butler? Okay. But footman?? No.
The excerpts between chapters are interesting lessons in spycraft and magic with most, if not all, addressed to Aly from her father and others.
The Story
Drifting and intelligent, Alianne is bored. Even though she has helped her father with his spy business, her parents refuse to allow her to truly become a spy with all the danger it entails. So when Alianne discovers that her mother, Sir Alanna, intends to make Alianne her next project, Alianne sails off to visit friends. She only plans on being gone until the last day or so of her mother's visit but the pirate slavers she runs into have other ideas.
Unable to escape, Alianne does everything she can to look unsellable in the slave market at Rajmuat. Unfortunately, Kyprioth wants his people back in power and the Copper Isles worshipping him again, and Aly is his route back.
A major challenge when there is a prophecy claiming that the raka will return to power when a queen of two royal bloodlines appears — and both young ladies fit the prediction. Nor do the raka peoples make Aly's job easy as they endangering their girls' very existence with their love.
The Characters
Alianne "Aly" Cooper is the daughter of Alanna and George Cooper. Intelligent and bored, she wants to become a spy. Nawat Crow is a crow shifter intrigued by this human.
Sir Alanna is the King's Champion, still riding Darkmoon, and married to Baron George Cooper, the king's chief spy. Neither parent wants Alianne becoming a spy. Her brothers are Thom, the family mage, while Alan, her twin, entered page training three years ago. Maude was the children's nursemaid and is now the Swoop housekeeper. Aunt Daine, a demi-goddess, and Uncle Numair, a mage, have a cameo role.
Duke Mequen Balitang and Duchess Winnamine with his daughters from his first marriage, Saraiyu and Dovasary, and his children with Winnamine: a daughter, Petranne, and a son, Elsren, live in Rajmuat on Kypriang Island amongst the Copper Isles. The duke, a descendant of the ruling Rittevon house, and his duchess and younger children are luarin while the daughters are half-raka, the people conquered by the luarin. Duke Mequen not only loved his first wife but also treats his raka and luarin servants the same…with dignity.
Ulasim is the head footman and the commander of the raka rebellion while Chenaol, the family cook, is in charge of weapon procurement for the rebellion. Veron, a luarin, is the commander of the men-at-arms; Lokeij is chief hostler and in charge of communications for the rebels as well as weapons storage. Rihani is their healer and nursemaid to the two youngest Balitangs. On Lombyn Island, Visda is related to Ulasim and helps Aly herd her goats when she needs to do her spying; Fesgao, man-at-arms and war leader of the rebel army; Falthin is the castle bowyer who takes Nawat in for his fletching; and, Ochobu, a raka mage. Junai Dodeka is Ulasim's daughter. A warrior. And now bodyguard to Aly.
Prince Bronau Jimajen, an arrogant luarin who despises the raka, is a close friend of the Duke with a strong desire for power and a very weak character. He is also brother to Prince Rubinyan, who is married to Princess Imajane, mad King Oron's half-sister. Their three-year-old son, Dunevon, is second-in-line to the throne after Hazarin, the king's son.
Kyprioth is the Great God to the raka. The Trickster. Mithros is the Great God to the luarin; the god Kyprioth impersonates. He and the Great Goddess, Alanna's patroness, are siblings to Kyprioth, but several hundred years ago they overthrew Kyprioth and the raka.
The Cover and Title
This is one ugly cover! The title is all about the god's choice, a Trickster's Choice of the proper person for the job.
My Take
Be careful what you wish for…you might get it as Aly finds out. Although it truly is exactly what Aly wanted…if she could just have had a bit more time to get ready for it!
This is a much more, well, intelligent isn't the right word. The writing in this story is at a higher reading level than the Tamora Pierce stories I've read so far — Song of the Lioness and Wild Magic from the Immortals series. Yet again, I kept checking the cover to be sure I was reading a Tamora Pierce!
That said, this is an excellent story! Young adult or adult will find it a fascinating read. Nawat Crow's courtship of Aly is just too funny as he brings his crow culture with him. There is no end to the action and intrigue — normally, I put a marker in as I read to remind me of events and characters for later when I write my reviews. Trickster's Choice made me forget; I was too busy racing through to find out what would happen next! It's funny, exciting, scary, and sad as betrayals and support run rampant.
Involuntary spying for our girl as Aly seeks a way to survive being sold into slavery and escaping it. It's Aly's coming of age and the opportunity to learn her own weaknesses and strengths. She also learns more about her parents than she would have ever realized.
Okay, the idea of a head footman just doesn't work for me. Steward or butler? Okay. But footman?? No.
The excerpts between chapters are interesting lessons in spycraft and magic with most, if not all, addressed to Aly from her father and others.
The Story
Drifting and intelligent, Alianne is bored. Even though she has helped her father with his spy business, her parents refuse to allow her to truly become a spy with all the danger it entails. So when Alianne discovers that her mother, Sir Alanna, intends to make Alianne her next project, Alianne sails off to visit friends. She only plans on being gone until the last day or so of her mother's visit but the pirate slavers she runs into have other ideas.
Unable to escape, Alianne does everything she can to look unsellable in the slave market at Rajmuat. Unfortunately, Kyprioth wants his people back in power and the Copper Isles worshipping him again, and Aly is his route back.
A major challenge when there is a prophecy claiming that the raka will return to power when a queen of two royal bloodlines appears — and both young ladies fit the prediction. Nor do the raka peoples make Aly's job easy as they endangering their girls' very existence with their love.
The Characters
Alianne "Aly" Cooper is the daughter of Alanna and George Cooper. Intelligent and bored, she wants to become a spy. Nawat Crow is a crow shifter intrigued by this human.
Sir Alanna is the King's Champion, still riding Darkmoon, and married to Baron George Cooper, the king's chief spy. Neither parent wants Alianne becoming a spy. Her brothers are Thom, the family mage, while Alan, her twin, entered page training three years ago. Maude was the children's nursemaid and is now the Swoop housekeeper. Aunt Daine, a demi-goddess, and Uncle Numair, a mage, have a cameo role.
Duke Mequen Balitang and Duchess Winnamine with his daughters from his first marriage, Saraiyu and Dovasary, and his children with Winnamine: a daughter, Petranne, and a son, Elsren, live in Rajmuat on Kypriang Island amongst the Copper Isles. The duke, a descendant of the ruling Rittevon house, and his duchess and younger children are luarin while the daughters are half-raka, the people conquered by the luarin. Duke Mequen not only loved his first wife but also treats his raka and luarin servants the same…with dignity.
Ulasim is the head footman and the commander of the raka rebellion while Chenaol, the family cook, is in charge of weapon procurement for the rebellion. Veron, a luarin, is the commander of the men-at-arms; Lokeij is chief hostler and in charge of communications for the rebels as well as weapons storage. Rihani is their healer and nursemaid to the two youngest Balitangs. On Lombyn Island, Visda is related to Ulasim and helps Aly herd her goats when she needs to do her spying; Fesgao, man-at-arms and war leader of the rebel army; Falthin is the castle bowyer who takes Nawat in for his fletching; and, Ochobu, a raka mage. Junai Dodeka is Ulasim's daughter. A warrior. And now bodyguard to Aly.
Prince Bronau Jimajen, an arrogant luarin who despises the raka, is a close friend of the Duke with a strong desire for power and a very weak character. He is also brother to Prince Rubinyan, who is married to Princess Imajane, mad King Oron's half-sister. Their three-year-old son, Dunevon, is second-in-line to the throne after Hazarin, the king's son.
Kyprioth is the Great God to the raka. The Trickster. Mithros is the Great God to the luarin; the god Kyprioth impersonates. He and the Great Goddess, Alanna's patroness, are siblings to Kyprioth, but several hundred years ago they overthrew Kyprioth and the raka.
The Cover and Title
This is one ugly cover! The title is all about the god's choice, a Trickster's Choice of the proper person for the job.
neens_m's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
licensetoshelbs's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
Another really good book - I've been hitting the jackpot lately. Despite a few strange things to get used to in this young adult fantasy book, I really liked this story, with illusions to Tudor England and a small bit of romance, there was little left to be desired. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
petealis's review against another edition
5.0
This series remains my favorite of Pierce's books that I've read. I decided to do a read through of what I own of hers this year, and soldiered through Alanna, Daine, and Keladry-- all good enough in their own right, and all predecessors to this one-- but this one, the first I ever read by this author, remains a standout to me.
Having now read all of the predecessors and understood the references to novels past, I think that element done very well. George and Alanna's characters age both in general and into parenthood in a way that makes sense. The "letter home" scenes are thoroughly enjoyable both before and after you actually understand them, remaining a part of the plot while also playing homage to those not involved in it, such as Daine and Kel. One of my favorite things about Pierce as a whole is her willingness to check on characters past, even giving them new depths and life events, and she does so very naturally.
That being said, one of my biggest problems with Pierce's writings as a whole is the treatment of Tortall. After Alanna's series, the country is a celestial city and the characters gods before or as soon as their series end (literally in Daine's case). In some ways, this is fine and even good, but what it comes down to is that Tortall as a general can do no wrong. There is never any legitimate criticism of Tortall or its monarchs. The only criticism at all has to do with people disliking their bolstering the lower classes or making things more equal for woman, which is never given by any character you're not supposed to adamantly dislike. The closest there comes to any legitimate political conflict from two characters actually given any weight is when Jon makes Kel take a probationary year, and that is not ultimately much of a plot point as Kel holds in most feeling about it until she talks to Jon about the compromises that must be made in order to make change and all that feeling pretty much disappears. Even with the little time it was given, having that alongside Kel's conflict with the training master that eventually comes around to her actually makes the early Kel books, in my opinion, some of the strongest I've read of Pierce's. It does not stop the fact that altogether, every understands what a paradise Tortall is, even if it's a paradise constantly under attack. External conflict is constant and there is no legitimacy and rarely a complicated reason to it.
I could elaborate, and perhaps I will go back and review a few of the others to do so. However, I needed to make the point to say that I think Trickster is stronger for doing the most to veer away from that, even if it only manages to do so by taking place in a different kingdom entirely. Aly harkens back to Tortall as the perfect way of doing things, and Sarai and Dove (like many bright young women from other countries featured from time to time) sing its praises and thirst for stories due to its apparently idyllic treatment of women with Jon and Thayet in charge, but the Copper Islands themselves are a mess. Because the raka are the ones launching a revolution, and they have a cause, the investment in the conflict of the story is stronger than it is in previous stories. Both sides are given a face, the revolution with the sympathetic characters of the Balitang household, and the conquerors with the mad Rittovens, who we do spend a little time on in the form of Kyprioth's carry-overs and Broneau, and whose role grows into the next books. The reasons the Balitangs were exiled could've used some more time devoted to it, but even rushed the plot point itself sets the stakes rather well, showing how temperamental this atmosphere is.
Of course, it isn't perfect. True to form, there is little critique given to the Balitangs within the narrative, despite the fact that they are, when it comes down to it, slave owners. It is the culture they live in, and they rebel by treating their slaves and servants well as is unexpected, but no thought is given to the subject besides that, which is especially interesting considering how Mequen and Winna were supposedly able to entirely overcome their cultural bias against the raka enough to befriend and/or marry Sarai and Dove's mother. And there lies the fact that the main drawback of the raka's cause is the possibility of revolution turning to slaughter, something Aly constantly lectures about. While she is not wrong that removing luarin from the isles wouldn't really work nor, if slaughter is how it is done, be specifically right, scenes where she lectures people like Ochobu on their hatred of a people whose rulers have literally made it not only legal, but the precedent, to slaughter local populations of her people when something happens to their luarin overlords, no matter what it was that happened, sit incredibly wrong. I can even understand how these scenes turn people off from the story as a whole. Peace and equality between all people, including the conquered and the conquerors, is a difficult subject, and one I think the story is stronger for tackling. However, that was not the way to address it.
I know another of the biggest criticisms for the story is Aly herself being too perfect, things being too cut out for her. While this is a fair criticism, I don't think it can be called a unique one for Pierce's other heroines. Alanna may have to work to earn her place as a knight, but she happens into friendships with the prince, a god decides with no explanation (and to my surprise, I do mean no explanation, it is never addressed) to become her pet, she knows Roger is evil from the first time she looks at him, and even the supposedly mega-sexist Bahzir come to respect her with relative ease. Daine similarly happens into the lap of all the characters of the previous series and her power over animals is textually constantly exclaimed over for its convenience. Kel happens to have stayed with the Yamani, who are suddenly of great political importance, and builds on Daine's convenience with uber smart animal companions that help at every turn, including a griffin that eventually turns into lie-detection goggles.
So is Aly conveniently shunted over into the Copper Isles? Yes. But that is, for once, actually entirely explained. Kyprioth chose her and wanted her so he spirited her away. Does she have all of this training for spy work? Yes, that's why he wanted her. And while it's a bit strange that George gave her all this knowledge, to the point where he spent time helping her learn how to work against truth spells, while also refusing to let her be a spy, it also makes some sense. We see in Daine's books how places like Pirate's Swoop can come under attack, and multiple other instances of Aly being somewhere dangerous were hinted at. And they were okay with her becoming a knight or a queen's rider, both shown to be dangerous jobs where these type of skills might also come in handy. George is simply giving her the tools that he possesses until she decides to specialize somewhere else, and she happens to like those tools in particular. And Kyprioth, having an actual personality aside from a sense of superiority and all-knowingness (though he certainly has those too), and actual motivations to go with it (unlike the other gods, who I adamantly dislike on the whole), provides a path for Aly and some extra tools, including smoothing her way over with the other revolutionaries. Is this a nitty-gritty pull up by the bootstraps story? No. But Aly's wit is compelling, and as are the motivations of the revolution, and it works.
Having now read all of the predecessors and understood the references to novels past, I think that element done very well. George and Alanna's characters age both in general and into parenthood in a way that makes sense. The "letter home" scenes are thoroughly enjoyable both before and after you actually understand them, remaining a part of the plot while also playing homage to those not involved in it, such as Daine and Kel. One of my favorite things about Pierce as a whole is her willingness to check on characters past, even giving them new depths and life events, and she does so very naturally.
That being said, one of my biggest problems with Pierce's writings as a whole is the treatment of Tortall. After Alanna's series, the country is a celestial city and the characters gods before or as soon as their series end (literally in Daine's case). In some ways, this is fine and even good, but what it comes down to is that Tortall as a general can do no wrong. There is never any legitimate criticism of Tortall or its monarchs. The only criticism at all has to do with people disliking their bolstering the lower classes or making things more equal for woman, which is never given by any character you're not supposed to adamantly dislike. The closest there comes to any legitimate political conflict from two characters actually given any weight is when Jon makes Kel take a probationary year, and that is not ultimately much of a plot point as Kel holds in most feeling about it until she talks to Jon about the compromises that must be made in order to make change and all that feeling pretty much disappears. Even with the little time it was given, having that alongside Kel's conflict with the training master that eventually comes around to her actually makes the early Kel books, in my opinion, some of the strongest I've read of Pierce's. It does not stop the fact that altogether, every understands what a paradise Tortall is, even if it's a paradise constantly under attack. External conflict is constant and there is no legitimacy and rarely a complicated reason to it.
I could elaborate, and perhaps I will go back and review a few of the others to do so. However, I needed to make the point to say that I think Trickster is stronger for doing the most to veer away from that, even if it only manages to do so by taking place in a different kingdom entirely. Aly harkens back to Tortall as the perfect way of doing things, and Sarai and Dove (like many bright young women from other countries featured from time to time) sing its praises and thirst for stories due to its apparently idyllic treatment of women with Jon and Thayet in charge, but the Copper Islands themselves are a mess. Because the raka are the ones launching a revolution, and they have a cause, the investment in the conflict of the story is stronger than it is in previous stories. Both sides are given a face, the revolution with the sympathetic characters of the Balitang household, and the conquerors with the mad Rittovens, who we do spend a little time on in the form of Kyprioth's carry-overs and Broneau, and whose role grows into the next books. The reasons the Balitangs were exiled could've used some more time devoted to it, but even rushed the plot point itself sets the stakes rather well, showing how temperamental this atmosphere is.
Of course, it isn't perfect. True to form, there is little critique given to the Balitangs within the narrative, despite the fact that they are, when it comes down to it, slave owners. It is the culture they live in, and they rebel by treating their slaves and servants well as is unexpected, but no thought is given to the subject besides that, which is especially interesting considering how Mequen and Winna were supposedly able to entirely overcome their cultural bias against the raka enough to befriend and/or marry Sarai and Dove's mother. And there lies the fact that the main drawback of the raka's cause is the possibility of revolution turning to slaughter, something Aly constantly lectures about. While she is not wrong that removing luarin from the isles wouldn't really work nor, if slaughter is how it is done, be specifically right, scenes where she lectures people like Ochobu on their hatred of a people whose rulers have literally made it not only legal, but the precedent, to slaughter local populations of her people when something happens to their luarin overlords, no matter what it was that happened, sit incredibly wrong. I can even understand how these scenes turn people off from the story as a whole. Peace and equality between all people, including the conquered and the conquerors, is a difficult subject, and one I think the story is stronger for tackling. However, that was not the way to address it.
I know another of the biggest criticisms for the story is Aly herself being too perfect, things being too cut out for her. While this is a fair criticism, I don't think it can be called a unique one for Pierce's other heroines. Alanna may have to work to earn her place as a knight, but she happens into friendships with the prince, a god decides with no explanation (and to my surprise, I do mean no explanation, it is never addressed) to become her pet, she knows Roger is evil from the first time she looks at him, and even the supposedly mega-sexist Bahzir come to respect her with relative ease. Daine similarly happens into the lap of all the characters of the previous series and her power over animals is textually constantly exclaimed over for its convenience. Kel happens to have stayed with the Yamani, who are suddenly of great political importance, and builds on Daine's convenience with uber smart animal companions that help at every turn, including a griffin that eventually turns into lie-detection goggles.
So is Aly conveniently shunted over into the Copper Isles? Yes. But that is, for once, actually entirely explained. Kyprioth chose her and wanted her so he spirited her away. Does she have all of this training for spy work? Yes, that's why he wanted her. And while it's a bit strange that George gave her all this knowledge, to the point where he spent time helping her learn how to work against truth spells, while also refusing to let her be a spy, it also makes some sense. We see in Daine's books how places like Pirate's Swoop can come under attack, and multiple other instances of Aly being somewhere dangerous were hinted at. And they were okay with her becoming a knight or a queen's rider, both shown to be dangerous jobs where these type of skills might also come in handy. George is simply giving her the tools that he possesses until she decides to specialize somewhere else, and she happens to like those tools in particular. And Kyprioth, having an actual personality aside from a sense of superiority and all-knowingness (though he certainly has those too), and actual motivations to go with it (unlike the other gods, who I adamantly dislike on the whole), provides a path for Aly and some extra tools, including smoothing her way over with the other revolutionaries. Is this a nitty-gritty pull up by the bootstraps story? No. But Aly's wit is compelling, and as are the motivations of the revolution, and it works.
jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been rereading my Tamora Pierce books and they all hold up as an adult. Aly isn’t like the other protagonists, in that she’s not a mage or a knight and her biggest strength is her wit.
braatenn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
kimmyycub's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0