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A review by factandfables
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
5.0
I feel the need to review this, if only to say that this is the first book of many in this series and world, and while this book possible isn't perfect, I do think it is a wonderful into to a world and ethos that is pretty unique in literature, particularly when you consider this was written in the 1980s!
I am also coming here to throw my two cents behind the idea that if this book didn't work for you, or if you felt lukewarm, PLEASE keep going. This is a quartet, and like any series (LOTR, His Dark Materials, etc), there are pieces to the puzzle that become clearer in the later books.
The things I love:
- The emphasis on the need to practice and have incredible discipline if you want to excel. Alanna is a natural warrior, but she also has to work HARD to be the best. It doesn't come naturally.
- Birth control! Periods! Actual references to bodily functions. It drives me crazy when a book has no mention of the fact that these characters have human bodies that have bodily needs.
- Basic decency. Positive adult role models and found families.
- This isn't explicitly stated, but Alanna is definitely gender fluid, as Tamora Pierce has said (she just didn't quite have the vocabulary/leeway to build that into the story when it was written). So we have a queer main character whose gender identity is NOT the main focus of the book.
Is this book the best of the Tortall books? Not by a long shot. However, I still love these books SO much, and rereading them is the most calming and satisfying endeavor.
I am also coming here to throw my two cents behind the idea that if this book didn't work for you, or if you felt lukewarm, PLEASE keep going. This is a quartet, and like any series (LOTR, His Dark Materials, etc), there are pieces to the puzzle that become clearer in the later books.
The things I love:
- The emphasis on the need to practice and have incredible discipline if you want to excel. Alanna is a natural warrior, but she also has to work HARD to be the best. It doesn't come naturally.
- Birth control! Periods! Actual references to bodily functions. It drives me crazy when a book has no mention of the fact that these characters have human bodies that have bodily needs.
- Basic decency. Positive adult role models and found families.
- This isn't explicitly stated, but Alanna is definitely gender fluid, as Tamora Pierce has said (she just didn't quite have the vocabulary/leeway to build that into the story when it was written). So we have a queer main character whose gender identity is NOT the main focus of the book.
Is this book the best of the Tortall books? Not by a long shot. However, I still love these books SO much, and rereading them is the most calming and satisfying endeavor.