Scan barcode
jgurniak's review
5.0
Finally getting around to finishing this series and I'm so glad I am. The Tortall universe is a fun and easy read that I recommend for pre-teens and up!
sammfirmy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Third in the Song of the Lioness fantasy adventure for children and revolving around Alanna of Trebond who has been in disguise as a boy as she attends the school for knights. This particular story takes place in the desert amongst the Bazhir. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Tortall books on my website.
My Take
Excellent story of a young woman who faces down long odds with compassion and care even as she forces great change onto a tribe and how they see women. It's a time of introspection and learning for Alanna in learning many things from the whys of starting small, her true feelings about love, and achieving a comfort level with her magic.
The Story
Alanna and Coram are surprised at an oasis and are fighting off an attack by the hillmen when another tribe show up, the Bloody Hawk. The Bazhir will kill them unless Alanna can prove she is one of the knights who freed the Bazhir from the Black City and the Ysandir, the Burning-Brightly One (see In the Hand of the Goddess, 2 (6)).
But it seems that the only proof the Bloody Hawk will accept is Alanna fighting one of their own.
The Characters
Alanna of Trebond has become a knight, killed Duke Roger in a duel, and escaped from Corus. The scandal of her unmasking has made her very uncomfortable, and she hasn't come to terms yet with the result of her duel. Faithful is her magical cat; a guardian. Coram Smythesson is the man-at-arms who oversaw her and her brother Thom's education as children while he ruled Trebond for their scholarly father. When Thom and Alanna went off to school, Coram followed Alanna and has watched over her ever since.
Halef Seif is the headman of the Bloody Hawk tribe of the Bazhir. Gammal was a guard on the gate through which Jon and Alanna rode six years ago to explore the Black City. Now he is a blacksmith with the Bloody Hawk. Kourren, Kara, and Ishak are orphans with the Gifts of magic the tribe's shaman, Akhnan Ibn Nazzir, refuses to teach them how to use. Ali Mukhtab is the Voice of the Tribes and Alanna is crucial to his visions, the future of the Bazhir. Mari Fahrar teaches Alanna how to weave.
Prince Jonathan is quite anxious to see Alanna again. Almost as anxious as he is to become the Voice of the Tribes. Princess Josiane arrives at the Court in Corus; the second daughter of the king of the Copper Isles.
George Cooper, King of the Thieves, has been a friend to Alanna from the beginning. His particular cronies include Marek Swiftknife, his second-in-command; Rispah, George's cousin and the queen of the Ladies of the Rogue; Lightfingers; Orem; Shem; Ercole; Claw; and, Harra. Joesh is the Falcon of Shang.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with jewel tones setting off the rectangular block of Alanna in her chain mail and gold-washed armor wielding Lightning overhead and her shield in her other hand. Her bay, Moonlight, wears head armor and decorative harnessing.
The title denotes a time that Alanna spends with the Bazhir tribe into which she is adopted and the name by which she is known amongst them, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man.
My Take
Excellent story of a young woman who faces down long odds with compassion and care even as she forces great change onto a tribe and how they see women. It's a time of introspection and learning for Alanna in learning many things from the whys of starting small, her true feelings about love, and achieving a comfort level with her magic.
The Story
Alanna and Coram are surprised at an oasis and are fighting off an attack by the hillmen when another tribe show up, the Bloody Hawk. The Bazhir will kill them unless Alanna can prove she is one of the knights who freed the Bazhir from the Black City and the Ysandir, the Burning-Brightly One (see In the Hand of the Goddess, 2 (6)).
But it seems that the only proof the Bloody Hawk will accept is Alanna fighting one of their own.
The Characters
Alanna of Trebond has become a knight, killed Duke Roger in a duel, and escaped from Corus. The scandal of her unmasking has made her very uncomfortable, and she hasn't come to terms yet with the result of her duel. Faithful is her magical cat; a guardian. Coram Smythesson is the man-at-arms who oversaw her and her brother Thom's education as children while he ruled Trebond for their scholarly father. When Thom and Alanna went off to school, Coram followed Alanna and has watched over her ever since.
Halef Seif is the headman of the Bloody Hawk tribe of the Bazhir. Gammal was a guard on the gate through which Jon and Alanna rode six years ago to explore the Black City. Now he is a blacksmith with the Bloody Hawk. Kourren, Kara, and Ishak are orphans with the Gifts of magic the tribe's shaman, Akhnan Ibn Nazzir, refuses to teach them how to use. Ali Mukhtab is the Voice of the Tribes and Alanna is crucial to his visions, the future of the Bazhir. Mari Fahrar teaches Alanna how to weave.
Prince Jonathan is quite anxious to see Alanna again. Almost as anxious as he is to become the Voice of the Tribes. Princess Josiane arrives at the Court in Corus; the second daughter of the king of the Copper Isles.
George Cooper, King of the Thieves, has been a friend to Alanna from the beginning. His particular cronies include Marek Swiftknife, his second-in-command; Rispah, George's cousin and the queen of the Ladies of the Rogue; Lightfingers; Orem; Shem; Ercole; Claw; and, Harra. Joesh is the Falcon of Shang.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with jewel tones setting off the rectangular block of Alanna in her chain mail and gold-washed armor wielding Lightning overhead and her shield in her other hand. Her bay, Moonlight, wears head armor and decorative harnessing.
The title denotes a time that Alanna spends with the Bazhir tribe into which she is adopted and the name by which she is known amongst them, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man.
cheye13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The speed of this series is truly breakneck and I remember thinking that as a child as well. Alanna ages so quickly, it feels like she's Suddenly An Adult here. This one also throws in a bunch of new culture and politics that I don't think we're previously based one, relying a lot on a one-to-one with real world western medieval culture that I'm not sure I've ever really liked in fantasy. I just wish this cool story had a little more room to breathe.
magic_at_mungos's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
annashiv's review against another edition
1.0
Listened to the audiobook and had a hard time paying attention. It wasn't good and I think I realized I don't like the characters, except maybe George. I just enjoyed the Wild Magic series so much more. I think I'll stop here and maybe just reread those books instead of continuing with Alanna.
saunteringvaguelydownward's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
nabbott's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
thesimplereader's review against another edition
3.0
3 ⭐️. A lot of this book felt like reminiscing. Alana speaks and thinks very young still while “taking lovers”. There was T the necessary character growth outside of her fighting and magic skill.