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lfsalden's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it this past summer - immediately got the second!
tckcallahan's review against another edition
5.0
I always love escaping into the world of Tortall and Aly is such a great heroine, showing that by using her brains and skills anyone can be a hero.
kebreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy this story. I find Aly's story intriguing and enjoy seeing her put her skills into play. I also really like unique Nawat, Trickster god, perceptive Dove, lively Sarai, and all the other wonderful characters found in this book.
Content: references to premarital sex, some violence
Content: references to premarital sex, some violence
chrystalo's review against another edition
3.0
I've missed Tamora Pierce novels in my life. I do have to say this, though - if you are not willing to dedicate your time delving into an entirely new and vivid world with some vague similarities but no real resemblance to our own, you are not going to like this. However, the story is INTERESTING. The protagonist and her band of merry men are people that are not so nice and good that they are boring but are also good enough that you do want them to succeed. And Alianne!! What a spitfire. I liked her a lot. Honestly, this book is a 3.5 in my opinion - very strong, but the initial struggle made me not sure that I would be able to continue. I'm now more curious to go back into the entire series, learn more about Alanna and the rest of the Tortall novels so that I'll be building a real, strong world. As it is, I'll read the Trickster's Queen next and save the rest for another great sojourn into the wonderful world that Pierce brings - most likely after I've finished my goodreads goal for 2012. Otherwise I'm not sure I'll get through it! Very good YA novel, definitely worth checking out.
ghouln3xtdoor's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
rrobinson2025's review against another edition
5.0
This duology is probably my favorite set of books that this author has written. Great detail to spy work and political intrigue. I loved seeing characters from her other series involved in this books as well as children of these characters. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves a dash of fantasy and pinch of romance a watching as a puzzle is slowly put together!
lydv33's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
4.5
nyamedev's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cb026's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
heididt19's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about a girl named Aly. Her father is the spy master of her country, Tortall, and her mother is the KIng's Champion. She wants to be a spy, but her father will not allow it.Her mother is pressuring her, telling her that as a sixteen year old she needs to figure out what she wants to do in life. To get away from this she takes a break and sails to her relatives house. She thinks it is too early for pirate season but is, unfortunatley, incorrect. She is taken on a slave ship. In order to escape being sold, she fights frequently on the ship and throws herself into trouble. This means, that when they get to the land, she lokks like a fighter and no one wants to buy her. The pirates gift her to the Balitang, when she does not sell. She finds them to be kind people, but they are soon exiled by an unstable king. She goes with them when they are exiled, planning to spy to convince her father to hire her. There she is a Laurain(white)surrounded by Raka(natives). One of the Raka gods ,Kyprioth,makes a deal with her. If she can keep the two eldest Balitang girls alive, he will use his influence to convince her father to let her work. She agrees and later learns it is a plot to put Raka women on the throne. Kyprioth also makes a deal with the crows and Aly become friends with Nawat, A crow turned man. But will she be able to fufill her end of the deal? Will her parents find her?
I think this was a good book. I like how throughout the book she realizes how much more like her mother she is, even though Aly thought they were opposites. I think girls will like this book more because the main character is a girl. It is mostly about her protecting the Balitangs and rallying support for the revolution, but it is also a bit of a love Story. I also like how Tamora Pierce's series' all take place in the same world at different times in different places.
I think this was a good book. I like how throughout the book she realizes how much more like her mother she is, even though Aly thought they were opposites. I think girls will like this book more because the main character is a girl. It is mostly about her protecting the Balitangs and rallying support for the revolution, but it is also a bit of a love Story. I also like how Tamora Pierce's series' all take place in the same world at different times in different places.