Alanna and Thom take matters into their own hands. The twins switch places, and Thom goes to the temple where Alanna was to go, planning to study sorcery. Alanna cuts her hair and disguises herself with the name Alan of Trebond and goes to Corus to try for knighthood. Alanna makes both friends and enemies at the palace immediately. After a few days being a page, she decides that this is too hard and she'd rather go home, and tells Coram Smythesson , her manservant, so.
However, he manages to convince her to stay. After a time, an unnatural fever, one that drains healers of their power and can kill them, falls upon Corus. Only after all of the city's healers are exhausted does Jonathan, the heir to the kingdom, fall fatally ill.
Alanna uses her magic to save Jonathan. For a reason unbeknownst to her, Alanna hates the outwardly handsome and charming man from their first meeting. She suspects that Roger sent the fever and is trying to hurt Jon. Alanna acquires, on a mystery-filled trip to ruins near the home of Myles of Olau , a sword possessing the magic of the Old Ones that she dubs " Lightning ".
Roger is shocked and noticeably nervous when he notices the sword. Later, on a trip that is supposed to be for squires only, that Alanna is allowed on because of Jonathan, Roger warns the squires and page not to go anywhere near a city of black stone, the Black City. Alanna realizes that Roger means to trick Jon into going there and follows the Prince to the city. There, the two confront the Ysandir, strange beings of old who try to kill them. Together, Alanna and Jon are able to combine their magics and defeat them, but not before the beings make Alanna's clothes disappear, revealing her true gender to the astonished prince.
The book closes with the prince promising to make Alanna his squire. The German publisher is the Arena Verlag. Along the way, Alanna makes friends with some influential people--like his Highness, Prince Jonathan, and King of the Thieves, George--as well as some deadly enemies. Girl does not play around--her life consists of studying, training, fighting, and chores, rinse and repeat. But when Alanna does get to relax, she does so with a group of friends who appreciate her for her loyalty, bravery, stubbornness, and sense of right and wrong.
Considering Alanna spends most of her time dressed up as a boy, this is not the book that will set your panties aflame. Alanna begins the book at age eleven and ends it close to her fourteenth birthday, and right now she is not even thinking about cute boys or kissing. This series was originally imagined by Pierce as a one standalone adult novel until her publishers persuaded her to adapt it to a YA series.
This first book is fairly short and easy to breeze through, and does feel like a good bit of setup for the action to come. Pierce introduces us to the rich setting of Tortall, but only teases us with the beginnings of what will become a very well-thought-out fantasy-land that has spawned more than a dozen books over multiple series. This is not her strongest, most nuanced work by far, but, hey, everyone has to start somewhere, and the entire series payoff is well worth it.
What would a fantasy book be without some good, old fashioned magic? Some are granted the ability to speak with the Gods and Goddesses, others with the ability to see the future, and others become hedge-witches or healers. Alanna is Gifted with the ability to heal people, but she is afraid of her power and usually tries to keep it hidden. Magic is not without its limits in this world, but it also has some awesome practical applications, too, like a charmed necklace that prevents pregnancy.
Close calls, growing breasts, and awkward swimming scenarios abound, and I, for one, never tire of a good cross-dressing plot. Despite her crappy parentage, Alanna has some great people around her that are invested in her well-being. I know this is usually considered an anti-bonus factor, but the plus side about reading slightly older books is there is virtually no wait for the next installment!
I, for one, am super glad that this IS a series, because we only stand to learn even more about Alanna and her friends. What Alanna craves more than anything is the chance to be her own woman and have amazing adventures. Just give her red hair and purple eyes and subtract about 25 years and I could totally see Ms. Make sure you start properly at the beginning, with this book. Have you read Alanna: The First Adventure?
What did you think of it? Let me know by commenting below or visiting the same review at Amazon or Goodreads. I love books about girls disguising themselves as boys, and this seems like a fun story. So of course my first reaction is that this is a story about a horse:-D. Like Liked by 1 person. It is! The previous printing had a different cover with Alanna holding her sword and her horse Moonlight beside her.
Like Like. The Song of the Lioness quartet is among my favorite books. I loved this first one as a teen and still love it now though I can see its faults. It was exactly what I needed as young girl—to know that girls can be strong too and determine their own path. Plus, Alanna has purple eyes. That sold me too. This was my first fantasy, maybe in third or fourth grade.
It introduced me to this genre. I love it and Tamora Pierce. Thanks for stopping by, Steph! I love fantasy stories that follow a characters development over multiple books. Good review. Yes, I definitely plan on reading the rest of the series. It would be a little silly not to, considering I already know how it ends. I read most of this series before I was even in highschool wow, so long ago now!
Maybe because I was young then, it bothered me because I wanted the romance to be perfect. Maybe once my TBR list is finally gone, lol.
0コメント