A review by wardenred
Terrier by Tamora Pierce

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

4.0

Like all Tamora Pierce's books I've read before, this one was very much a coming-of-age story. However, it also felt pretty difference, both thanks to Beka's narration which seemed a bit different from the usual writing style I expect from the author, and because there's such a big focus on the mystery plot. Which, by the way, was really well-handled—it was fun to follow this investigation, and there were a few quite nail-biting moments. 

Otherwise, I liked the cast of characters and the development they all got, and the found family vibes. Beka's cat companion stole the show more than once. The setting was described vividly, in rich detail, and made me feel like I've really walked the streets of the Lower City. 

The only reason this isn't a five-star read for me is that I never quite clicked with the main character. I liked following what happend to her, but I didn't feel connected to her / didn't enjoy being in her head, I guess? And since the book is written in the form of Beka's journal entries, that often created a bit of dissociation from the story for me. Definitely a me problem and not the book's, or maybe not so much a problem at all as a personal preference—we can't click perfectly with every main character we meet! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings