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Terrier (Beka Cooper #1)

by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 19,569 ratings · 950 reviews

Hundreds of years before Alanna first drew her sword in Tamora Pierce's memorable debut, Alanna: The First Adventure, Tortall had a heroine named Beka Cooper - a fierce young woman who fights crime in a world of magic. This is the beginning of her story, her legend, and her legacy....

Beka Cooper is a rookie with the law-enforcing Provost's Guard, commonly known as "the Pro...more

Hardcover, 581 pages

Published October 24th 2006 by Random House (first published January 1st 2006)

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Oct 21, 2011 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, own-tammy

The first time I read Terrier I thought it was some of Tammy's best writing in years and it quickly became one of my favourite Tortall books. I still feel that way after my latest re-read (in preparation for Bloodhound). Terrier feels fresh, and I attribute this reinvigoration of the Tortall world to several factors:
- Firstly: Terrier is written in first person, which is the first of Tammy's novels to be written thus (Note: Tammy has written short stories in first person).
- Secondly: it is writ...more The first time I read Terrier I thought it was some of Tammy's best writing in years and it quickly became one of my favourite Tortall books. I still feel that way after my latest re-read (in preparation for Bloodhound). Terrier feels fresh, and I attribute this reinvigoration of the Tortall world to several factors:
- Firstly: Terrier is written in first person, which is the first of Tammy's novels to be written thus (Note: Tammy has written short stories in first person).
- Secondly: it is written in a diary/journal style which is, again, a first (this time a total first for Tammy). Tammy writes the diary style well, giving a valid reason for it to be so detailed (to aid Beka’s Dog reports and memory retention) yet still retaining the realism of a diary (days when you skip writing, longer writings some days and less on others, and days where you play catch-up and fill in the events of several days).
- Thirdly: it is set 200 years before any of the other Tortall stories have taken place, which allows for a certain freedom of expression, more than in other recent Tortall books. (A book set some time in the future of Tortall could also have this result, or in a different country – like the ‘Elder Brother’ and ‘Hidden Girl’ short stories.)
- Fourthly: Tammy creates, in Beka, a character who is different from those leads that have come before, yet one who is still tied to the Tortall universe.
- And fifthly: Terrier covers new ground with the exploration of an organisation that has been mentioned, but never explained in detail, and spending time with the every-day folk of Tortall. These people are a reflection of the people we are today.
The combination of these first two points was, I feel, a challenge to Tammy’s writing which help prevent things from possibly become formulaic. And all of these points, combined, allow for a totally new experience in a familiar world.

Beka is a salt of the earth character. She’s another stylistic change, as she’s a commoner who was born and lives in the slums, and works and socialises with other common folk (unlike Daine, who starts out common but quickly rises in status by association). This is a breath of fresh air (even though I’m sure the stench of the lower city is not so fresh!) and allows Tammy to create a whole new linguistic style and a fantastic array of slang and curse words. The vocab is quite easy to pick up as you go along, especially if you’ve read other Tortall universe books as it builds on the cant of those common born supporting folk we’ve met in other books (e.g. Coram from ‘Song of the Lioness’ or Lalasa from ‘Protector of the Small’). The meanings of words are sometimes obvious (pox), clear from the inflection (mot/cove), clear in context (scummer) or an actual word that has just fallen out of everyday use (hobble). If you really need to know the meaning of something, or need a reminder, there is a handy little glossary in the back of the book (a useful feature in Tammy’s books for a long time now). I don’t find the language a hindrance at all, it enriches the text and makes it more real and textured as this is Beka’s own diary and she is writing with her language. I love the language and some of it has fallen into my everyday vocab (sarden), while other words were already there (poxy)!

The detective/mystery feel to the book also provide a new frame work for Tammy’s writing. The plot moves along at a steady pace, giving us clues here and there as Beka slowly pieces the case together through her work with her partners, her friends and her unusual informants. The resolution of the mystery, the ‘whodunit’, when it all falls into place is marvellous. It’s a bit of a surprise, a bit of a shock and a bit of a ‘oh, but I didn’t want it to be that person!’ (which Tammy proved she can pull off fantastically in ‘Cold Fire’, making one empathise with the ‘baddie’ and showing that the world isn’t just blacks and whites, goodies and baddies, heroes and villains).

Along with Beka we get to meet, and grow to love, a varied cast of supporting players. There are her partners, Goodwin and Tunstall; fellow Dogs Ersken, Verene and Phelan; and friends in Tansy, Kora and Aniki. There is also Rosto, the lovable rat, who is clearly on a path to become the Rouge. Yes, Tammy once again makes us fall in love with the Rouge (and Beka too, just a little bit). There is also one familiar and well loved character back – Pounce, also known as ‘Faithful’ in ‘Song of the Lioness’. He was always a favourite of mine and I was filled with glee to know he’d be back in this new trilogy. As Tammy’s books are now considerably longer and more fleshed out than when ‘Alanna: The First Adventure’ was published, Pounce has lots of room to become a more actualised character. Just what and who Pounce is becomes clearer in Terrier as things are alluded to. In other places of the narrative you find familiar family names popping up, which is fun to watch out for.

Terrier also builds on established mythology – George’s excellent memory that he inherited from his father (Beka’s side of the family) is shown here with her recall and observational skills. George’s peculiar magic (referred to as ‘the Sight’ in ‘Song of the Lioness’) is also explained somewhat, although not fully, as Beka has her own magic that proves invaluable for her Dog work (although her magic is apparently different to George’s). However, Beka’s magic is not explained fully either - although it is noted that it is a family gift that her father had too. These are nice touches that show the depth of thought that went into creating Beka and tie Terrier tidily into the larger Tortallan universe.

I’m so thankful that the world of children’s and young adult publishing has changed since ‘Song of the Lioness’ as it now gives us these more complex, and more rewarding, books. Terrier is both a self contained adventure story and a solid foundation for the following two books in the trilogy. The presentation of the book is beautiful – the cover photography by Jonathan Barkat, the Terrier stamped on the front board of the hardback edition, and the little touches and flourishes inside the book that personalise Beka’s diary. A must read for any Tammy fan and an excellent introductory book for anyone new to Tammy’s works.(less)

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May 24, 2009 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, series, favorites, awesome-covers

What is one word I can use to sum up the book hmm... probably AWESOME ! Seriously there isn't a lot of books that can do that (at least for me). Beka Cooper is the most kick butt, cool heroine I've encountered in all my reading days.

The book was just as good the second time around. At first I was wary of reading it again thinking it might not be as enjoyable this time around. Obviously I was wrong. I even caught myself looking ahead to see what happened, and then I would remind myself that I al...more

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May 26, 2008 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!!!

Recommended to Samantha by: nada

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Without a doubt her best book ever!

I'm noticing an odd trend in my reading, but this one again is one not for the light of stomach or easily squeamish.

Here's what I wrote right after I finished reading it:

Well, I really LOVED this story! The clearest sign was that I stayed up till two or later trying to finish it, and then woke up shortly before ten am to find out what happened in the last forty to sixty pages.
When I found out it was in diary format, I was a little worried, especially because I...more Without a doubt her best book ever!

I'm noticing an odd trend in my reading, but this one again is one not for the light of stomach or easily squeamish.

Here's what I wrote right after I finished reading it:

Well, I really LOVED this story! The clearest sign was that I stayed up till two or later trying to finish it, and then woke up shortly before ten am to find out what happened in the last forty to sixty pages.
When I found out it was in diary format, I was a little worried, especially because I thought it was going to keep bouncing around through different diaries and it would never even be hers. Then I was afraid she was going to give things away by saying something like ‘something terrible happened tonight, but I will get to that later.’ Tamora did a very good job of only doing that once, and only for the “Fishpuppy” incident.
I thought some of the character feels and traits were repeats, in retrospect. Like Pounce, a possible god or constellation cat with purple eyes (that’s straight out of her first book of Alanna). Then there’s Beka being able to talk to birds (from Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen; although admittedly it was crows? then and pigeons with Beka). Clary Goodwin was a very Alanna type brisk character, and Mattius felt like the other tall, lanky guy who hooks up with a woman fighter from either Alanna or the Page series. Rosto was George, obviously.
But for all that, I really enjoyed this book, and I didn’t notice those things as much then.
I thought it was nice that the thieves (rushers) and Provost Guard Trainees (Puppies) could be friends. I knew from page one that Beka was going to hook up with Rosto though. Come on, if she’s going to birth George as a great, great grandson, she had to have thief in his blood already. Although clever of George’s mom to leave that part out…
It was interesting for them to live in a world without the Stormwings, when they were so pivotal in all the earlier series of Tortall. And there was just one reference to the time when they were said to come back, and many streets named after them that no one seemed to care about, even as I know others later in the Human Era would.
I thought Mistress Noll as the villain was really sad, although I’m glad Gemma got out of it okay. I hope Beka stays in touch with Tansy and Herum and Annis, and as well as the Ashmillers, even though the girls weren’t to keen on her.
I did have a little cry when three of Beka’s four siblings came to forgive her and were proud of her in the closed trial at the end of the book. I thought Diona should have bucked it up and been there too, since she was the rudest of all of them to Beka, but I understand it couldn’t have been perfect that way, it would have just been to simple.
I really hope she makes a sequel to this book, but I really don’t see how she could. I just looked online and they said it is to be a trilogy. I am SOO excited. Now I just hope Tamora Pierce lives long enough to finish and publish them!. I have now pre-ordered the second book. It is to come out April 29th of next year. That is over a year from now. I think I will plan to drop everything and read it the minute it arrives! And to re-read Terrier right before then. Maybe next March 1st and 2nd I will be enjoying this really good book again.

All in all, this was a wonderfully well written book! I enjoyed the growling of the dogs very much and Beka being afraid to speak in public, but still cutting Rosto’s wrist with her fingernail when he insulted her. ‘She’s shy, not stupid.’ That was a great line. You even got used to the street slang and Beka’s occasional bad grammar until you no longer noticed it. And I really like the Dog pub where they always ate. I had hoped Beka would be made a dog at the end of this novel, but as she wasn’t, when she is I hope she becomes the first threesome with Goodwin and Tunstall, or, as a lesser option, becomes Ersken’s partner. I really wanted her to hook up with Ersken, but I think now Kora is a good match for him: as long as you watch the mage fire thrown at the door when you try to wake her.
And I have to say, oddly, I wasn’t the slightest bit sad Fulk died. I didn’t like him at all. Although I’m not sure if how I feel about Crookshank (honestly, after the first five mentions, you forget that’s another literary name-famously for a wizard’s cat). I half wanted him to live, even though he was evil. Just because he was cracked and needed to stand trial for what he’d done. Even if he died (was murdered) in the Cages, like Yates’ friend was.
I can’t help wondering where they hid the bodies of the Shadow Snake victims. I REALLY hope Mistress Noll didn’t go Missus Lovett and put them in her ovens or pastries…

So I would re-read this book again OH YES!
I give it five stars and read it again soon! It’s definitely a keeper!.
(less)

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Jul 29, 2007 Elias rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I'm about a quarter of the way through this one, and I have to admit that I'm not enjoying it as much as I've enjoyed the rest of Pierce's bibliography. I don't have any specific complaints, except for the constant emphasis on the Dog/Puppy thing, which I find a little weird.

7/29 - Still trucking through. The story is good, but something about the narration is slowing me down, perhaps because it's in the form of a diary, and that seems cumbersome. Not only that, but here are the epistolary laye...more

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Aug 08, 2008 Aubrey rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Tamora Pierce Lovers and good fantasy & crime lovers

Recommended to Aubrey by: Tamora Pierce

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, youngadultfiction

Another installment in the mythology of Tamora Pierce's fictional land of Tortall and I am not disappointed. I am impressed with Pierce's foresight and love enough of her characters that she instead went back in time to give a base to the well-known and beloved characters of her series. Had she done otherwise we would have had to accept a few deaths of main characters. By telling an ancient legend of an ancestor the stories remain alive and Tortall's characters expand.

I greatly admire that each...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Dichotomy Girl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fantasy, 2012, 500-plus, library

Naughty Naughty Michelle, here I go to update my review of a previously read book only to find that I never reviewed it!

I am a big fan of Tamora Pierce, I love that she writes about strong female characters, and I love how her stories are NOT focused on romance and sex. (though they may contain them).

I originally read this book several years back along with it's sequel, and am now rereading both of them as the third book in the series has been released.

From the Book description: Beka Cooper is a...more

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Aug 17, 2008 Squeemu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've been a life-long fan of Tamora Pierce and just recently started going through all her books again. Some were rereads -- Song of the Lioness and The Immortals -- and some were never-before-seen. Protector of the Small didn't do much for me, honestly, and while I enjoyed it I wasn't sure Pierce without that veneer of nostalgia was doing it for me.

And then I read Terrier, which hit quite a few of my buttons and drew me right back in again. It deals with law enforcement in a fictional medieval...more

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May 16, 2007 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was the last "for fun" book I got to read before I started teaching last winter. Ever since I arbitrarily grabbed the first of Tamora Pierce's "Circle of Magic" books off the library shelf two years ago, I've been hooked on the ways Pierce plays around with definitions of magic, power, heroes, and humanism...all within a medieval-ish context.

This isn't great literature, but it is an imaginative world that kept me entertained for several months. Tamora Pierce likes to write books in couplet...more

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May 01, 2008 Misti rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mystery, kick-ass-heroine

This is the most recent of Tamora Pierce's books, and possibly the least hyped, and I think I know why. I can't say I was particularly enthralled by the plot (which was transparent and overly complex) or by the writing style which is Diary format and street slang which seems a hypocritical combination. I found out yesterday that the book is to be the first in a series of three. Oh Tammy, say it ain't so! I can't take too much of this style, and may skip the next two in the series if they're anyt...more

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Sep 19, 2009 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Terrier is just another example of how great an author Tamora Pierce is. The writing is very detailed and although it is hard to believe that a girl would be so diligent in writing a journal it didn't really faze me. Beka is a great kick-butt, female protangonist. She is smart, caring, dedicated, and tough. It's because of this why Beka is called a Terrier.

The imagination of Pierce proves to be limitles as she decribes Tortall. It has knights, magic, beggars, Dogs, slaves, mages, etc. There is...more

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Aug 25, 2008 Sbuchler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, scifi-fantasy, read-in-2008

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy-Mystery/crime novel mix

This book is written as a diary of a cop-in-training (in a fantasy setting), the audio version (by Susan Denaker) had a very strong vocal personality, but I got used to it very quickly - and the entry that Becca (the herioine) writes while drunk is made extra hilarious by Susan Denaker's wobbly rendition of Becca's usually strident voice.

I enjoyed the audio version very much, though I found the book itself didn't hold up as well on a re-read as i...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Dorothea rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(re-read on June 2, 2013, the occasion of this review)

I liked this one better the first time around -- four years ago when I paid less attention to detail while reading, and knew less about the history of Anglo-American crime and law enforcement.

I have a lot to say about everything, and a lot of small complaints, but I think they will keep until I've re-read Bloodhound or read Mastiff for the first time, because I did enjoy Terrier more than enough to keep on. (Specific to Terrier, I particularl...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Ms. Okes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Mrs. Adcock who turned me onto this author several years ago and loaned me this book. Terrier is the first in a trilogy set in Pierce's traditional Tortall. Much like the Alanna books I read before, this one focuses on a character walking a thin line between the law and the thieves' court. It's interesting to me that a reoccurring theme in her books is that even criminals can have a kind of honor about them.

This is especially true as Beka, a new officer of the law in this particular b...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Luminousjune rated it 3 of 5 stars

At first, I was strongly discouraged by the change in narrative. I have bought Terrier awhile back and couldn't get through the start. A few days ago, after finishing a re-read of the Immortals for the xth time, I tried Terrier again with less bias and a few more years to wisdom and I liked it. It was a tiring read due to the type of narrative as diaries/journals are meant to be private, even if its a fictional one, and reading it was...hard. Tiring. Most of the time, the narrative slipped betwe...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Linda Harley rated it 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful tale of a strong heroin. So I have to admit that I love Tamora Pierce’s writings. You know a book is good when every time you listen or read the story, there is something new that you learn. I’ve listened to the production of Terrier twice now, and have loved it every time. The story may seem long and perhaps boring to some, until you hit the end and you realize that everything that has happened in the book had a purpose and that it is all woven tightly together at the end. The story...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Jennifer rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay I really have no idea how anyone made it through this book. And why anyone would give it such amazing reviews...I have not read any of the authors other books and now I don't know that I will. This book was painful for me to try and get through and honestly I did not make it. I gave it to the halfway point (which took a month for me to get to that point it was so bad - normally I will get through a book in a day or two if it is good) and then I couldn't take it anymore. There are very few b...more Okay I really have no idea how anyone made it through this book. And why anyone would give it such amazing reviews...I have not read any of the authors other books and now I don't know that I will. This book was painful for me to try and get through and honestly I did not make it. I gave it to the halfway point (which took a month for me to get to that point it was so bad - normally I will get through a book in a day or two if it is good) and then I couldn't take it anymore. There are very few books that I do not finish once I start them. I don't know why but once I start something I finish it even if I don't really like it. This I just could not. Some of my issues with it:

1) How many times do I have to read that she is a Puppy training to be a Dog. I get it - the police type people are called Dogs and you are a trainee so you are a Puppy. Got it. You don't have to keep beating me over the head with it.

2) It is written like a diary which great I have read other things where that has worked, but it is not really written like a diary. Well maybe a diary of someone who has perfect memory and unlimited time. So she is busy all day before going and training and then walking her rounds then somehow she has enough time to write out a billion pages in her diary and sleep? Sure. It just does not really read like a diary so the whole that is what it is annoyed me since I didn't buy it. I mean really who remembers word for word conversations they have had?

3) How much flippin detail do you need? Not nearly as much as the main character can remember about every tiny little thing. I don't care that when so and so came to visit you she knocked on the door 3 times then you opened it, saw her standing there with a basket with roll, you let her in, she walked 6 steps to the blue chair then sat down in said chair and this is the exact conversation about nothing that we had and on and on and who really cares? I don't. It is not important to the story and most of this diary is just insignificant details that don't matter to anything that is going on or further the plot at all. A simple so and so came to visit, we chatted for a while and at the rolls she brought whatever is fine. WAY too much details that bored me to death.

4) The main character is supposed to be soooo shy. I mean she keeps repeating it over and over and over and over and over again. Yep I get it, you are shy. Then why don't you act shy 90% of the time? I mean yes you are oh soooo shy when you complain about how you are sooo shy cannot talk to anyone because you are oohhhh soooooo shy. Then 2 seconds later you have no issues talking to the people and doing whatever. Sure. I buy that you are soooo shy when you do not act like it. I mean if you are going to keep shoving something in my face at least make your character actually act that way.

I really do not understand the appeal to this book. I thought it was way too bogged down in stupid details that didn't matter and was incredibly boring. I just could not make it through the book no matter how hard I tried. It was painful just getting halfway through it. (less)

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Sep 10, 2012 K rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I probably should not have come to this book straight off the Protector of the Small series. I hadn't realized that Tamora Pierce's style was so drastically different in the Provost's Dog series, and perhaps I'm judging this book a bit more harshly than I otherwise would have because I was really hoping for something in her "usual" style.

On the one hand, I applaud Pierce for branching out (perhaps my only consistent criticism of her books is that they are often told similarly enough to blend tog...more

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May 06, 2012 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: other-worlds, young-adult

I liked it. But...
It reminded me so much of the Discworld Wqtch stories that I kept expecting characters from that realm to show up. And I kept being disappointed in the lack of humor and subtlety.

And it seemed kind of...long. There wasn't enough mystery to justify the length of time it took to get to the ending. That Shadow Snake stuff was pretty dang creepy, I have to say.

What the hell kind of purpose did the preface serve? Useless.

However, I'd like to read the next ones, so I guess my comp...more

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May 02, 2012 Stephanie Jobe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tamora Pierce takes us back in time to tell us the story of Beka Cooper, ancestor to George Cooper, but Beka is no rogue she is a Puppy, a trainee of the Provost’s Guards or Dogs. A month and a half goes by in this book and you get the story straight for Beka’s own journals. Beka has magic from her father’s side, the ability to talk to dust spinners and to hear the ghosts who attach themselves to pigeons, the Black God’s messengers. She also has an odd assortment of friends from fellow trainees...more Tamora Pierce takes us back in time to tell us the story of Beka Cooper, ancestor to George Cooper, but Beka is no rogue she is a Puppy, a trainee of the Provost’s Guards or Dogs. A month and a half goes by in this book and you get the story straight for Beka’s own journals. Beka has magic from her father’s side, the ability to talk to dust spinners and to hear the ghosts who attach themselves to pigeons, the Black God’s messengers. She also has an odd assortment of friends from fellow trainees to rogues new in town to a black cat with purple eyes. His name is Pounce in this life though I have to wonder what it would be like to read about him as someone unfamiliar with Faithful’s adventures with Alanna. The book gets it’s name from Beka’s tenacious pursuit of the murderers who come to her attention. Pierce changed a lot of things in this newest set, but I think it is refreshing and it holds the attention of her long time fans as well as opening the door to readers who might not have picked up her other series. The second book came out in paperback on the 25th but I have yet to get myself a copy. The third book is announced for 2011.

Previous Review:

Usually a fan of third person limited this time Pierce went with a very different of monster of first person, not just that but in journal format. Honestly I get so into these things that I forget when it is in third person, the main difference I think this made was that it suited the shorter span of time. In her other books we sometimes glossed over entire seasons, but here you know what Beka is up to even if it is just a really bad day where she writes four lines. I do believe I love George’s ancestor about as much as I love him. Amazingly I think Pierce has come up with her most relatable character yet. I also like the form that the Gift takes in this book, a very different form than any of the others. We follow Beka as she becomes a trainee for the Lord Provost, a Puppy following her Dogs. She already knows a lot, but as she fights the bad guys she also learns to value the good guys, even those that are a little crooked. And then of course there is always that wonderful romantic sexual tension Pierce creates so beautifully, but how that turns out I will not tell. I had to read and so do you.

(This is the first book of The Provost’s Dog trilogy, a Tortall series.)(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Jillian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jillian by: Marje

Shelves: strong-women, mystery, place-vaguely-uk, series-legend-of-beka-cooper, coming-of-age, politics, time-period-medievalish, poor-versus-wealthy, talking-to-the-dead, cats, faves, animals, paranormal, diary-like, perpetually-listening, audiobook

Tamora Pierce comes through again with an engaging series set about two hundred years before Alanna comes along. It took me a little bit to get used to the language of the Dogs, the terminology, and how it all worked, but once I got there, I settled in nicely to this new world.

As always with Pierce's books, the character development is very well done and consistent, the plot pacing is steady, and storyline is masterfully crafted. I really liked that it was a little more adult than the Alanna ser...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Elisa Nuckle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars-or-better

I have to say that I'm pretty biased when it comes to Pierce's novels. I simply love them and have loved them since I was a teenager. So when I finally found this on the library's ebook site, I snagged it and gobbled it up in about two days. Which is a slow consumption rate for a Pierce novel, haha, at least for me.

What I liked:

The main character. Beka Cooper is, next to Alianne in the Trickster's books, my favorite main character. She's shy but strong-willed, she's been through a lot as a child...more I have to say that I'm pretty biased when it comes to Pierce's novels. I simply love them and have loved them since I was a teenager. So when I finally found this on the library's ebook site, I snagged it and gobbled it up in about two days. Which is a slow consumption rate for a Pierce novel, haha, at least for me.

What I liked:

The main character. Beka Cooper is, next to Alianne in the Trickster's books, my favorite main character. She's shy but strong-willed, she's been through a lot as a child (growing up in the slums of Corus) and now wants to help those who are still stuck in that situation. She's a Puppy (a Guard trainee) and yet she's absolutely wonderful. Usually journal-style stories piss me off, but this flowed well. She had an interesting voice, which I loved.

The Provost Guards AKA the Dogs. The slang takes some getting used to at first, but once you adjust you find yourself thinking in those terms for a while after reading. It was pretty interesting, as I've never read a fantasy book with that much slang before. Some might view that as a downside, but I found it enriching. The policemen that are the Dogs, or the Provost Guards, are an interesting bunch. Some are sincere in their duty while others do it just because it's required of them. It's a good parallel to our own justice system and how easily people can be bribed -- how or how impossibly it is to get people to turn against their belief in the system itself, like Beka's Dogs.

Rosto the Piper. With high ambitions, Rosto is a sort-of love interest for Beka and on the wrong side of the law to boot. And he happens to live underneath her and really is a good friend to her, which was a nice twist. I read somewhere that Pierce based him off of Spike from the Buffy series. If so, that's probably why I like him. I had a total crush on that vampire as a pre-teen. Hehe.

Pounce. Beka's mysterious, purple-eyed cat. He's a treat, but I can't say any more.

What I didn't like:

Length. I felt some places were too rambling and too boring. I got stuck in a few areas and just skimmed until things got interesting again. I rarely do that, and it made me sad that the writing was so uninteresting in places.

The plot twists. Sadly I saw them coming a mile away, and it's because of my love for Pierce that I really stayed hooked in the story. I know if I came and read this book without that prior affection I would've put it down the second the plot became obvious and tedious. By halfway through I was getting frustrated because it was really, really obvious who the bad guy really was, or at least who was really suspicious that everyone kept looking over. That was a really big downside, probably the biggest downside.

Characters. Copious amounts, rather. I only remember five of them. No, six, and I felt some were extraneous and could've been removed without so much as a hiccup from the plot or the other characters. (Example: Erseken, unless he comes into play in a different book, which I find sort of hard to believe. Another example: Phelan. Rosto really didn't need another ally and he didn't really do much aside from be a love interest for another character, and even then, that character wasn't major enough to even have a love interest, though she was important in terms of emotional connections).

All and all, I'd say this was a great read, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys strong heroines and magical lands (and YA). Definitely recommended for teens.
(less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Liyana rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Alanna: How do I begin to explain a Tamora Pierce book?
Daine: A Tamora Pierce book is flawless.
Kel: I hear the font type's insured for $10,000.
Aly: I hear it does book trailers... in Japan.
Sandry: Its favorite movie is Joan of Arc.
Tris: One time it met J.K. Rowling on a plane...
Daja: And she told it it was pretty.
Briar: One time it punched me in the face... it was awesome.

Oh heck yeah, characters! I am so with you on that. I love Tamora Pierce's books. Having been introduced to Alanna when...more Alanna: How do I begin to explain a Tamora Pierce book?
Daine: A Tamora Pierce book is flawless.
Kel: I hear the font type's insured for $10,000.
Aly: I hear it does book trailers... in Japan.
Sandry: Its favorite movie is Joan of Arc.
Tris: One time it met J.K. Rowling on a plane...
Daja: And she told it it was pretty.
Briar: One time it punched me in the face... it was awesome.

Oh heck yeah, characters! I am so with you on that. I love Tamora Pierce's books. Having been introduced to Alanna when I was 9, ten years later I've gone on to read almost all of her books that I can get my hands on. All of her books feature primarily strong female characters with a strong motivation and drive to get what they want despite the cost, whatever the situation is.

TERRIER takes us back into the land of Tortall, 200 years before Alanna was first introduced to us. The focus is on the Provost's Guard, and how it comes to have such a reputation during Alanna's time, playing a big part in events then.

Lest you think it's just a prologue, TERRIER can stand up on its own as a story. Existing readers will have a great time delving into the history of Tortall, but new readers can also use this as a starting point to Pierce's books.

Tortall in Beka's world is gritty and a bit uncivilized. Death is rampant in the streets, especially so for Beka's case, having the power to hear the dead on her pet pigeons. I love the connection and loyalty Beka has to her pet; it's rare that pets play a big part in the story without something supernatural attached to them. Yeah, the birds do carry the voice of the dead, but other than that they're just normal pigeons.

Beka is a workaholic, determined to prove to herself and to others that she can make it in the Guard, and despite that she still has a social life. Sometimes Beka has the echoes of a Mary Sue, but the story is plot and character driven enough that it only shows up in the barest of flashes.

Despite the adventure and the love I have for all things TP, I can't help but feel slightly disappointed that it's not as good as I hoped it was. The whole plot seems a little tired, and I don't feel the same magic I did with the other four story arcs in the Tortallan universe. The wide range of believable supporting characters is always something that I look forward to, even though at times it seems that their only purpose is to get Beka to the conclusion.

Nevertheless! It's a good story, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequels. Let's hope it'll blow me over in its awesomeness.(less)

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Oct 16, 2011 Kit rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: great-series

Rebekah Cooper is a very unusual girl, and not just because of her unnerving ice-blue eyes or her toughness. She grew up in the Lower City section of Corus, the capital of Tortall. She is able to talk to the dust spinners and to hear the spirits of the dead riding on pigeons. And at eight years of age, she stalked the man who beat her mother and ran out with everything of value in their household. After finding him, who turned out to be the leader of the “Bold Brass” gang, a notorious thievery g...more Rebekah Cooper is a very unusual girl, and not just because of her unnerving ice-blue eyes or her toughness. She grew up in the Lower City section of Corus, the capital of Tortall. She is able to talk to the dust spinners and to hear the spirits of the dead riding on pigeons. And at eight years of age, she stalked the man who beat her mother and ran out with everything of value in their household. After finding him, who turned out to be the leader of the “Bold Brass” gang, a notorious thievery gang, she turned them in to the Lord Provost. The Provost took Beka, her mother, and her four siblings into his own household. Because of this, Beka eventually became a trainee, or “Puppy” in the Provost's Guard. Assigned to the two best Guards (“Dogs”) on the Evening Watch experienced Dogs for training, Clara Goodwin and Matthias Tunstall, Beka has her dreams come true and has a lot to live up to with these legdendary characters. Goodwin has been a Dog for seventeen years and Tunstall has been a Dog for twenty, thirteen as Goodwin's partner. For the first time, they are being saddled with a Puppy and Goodwin is not very excited, to put it mildly; Tunstall, however, is pleased to have Beka for a Puppy. Both know of her part in bringing in the Bold Brass gang, but do not know anything about her magic. They also know nothing about Pounce, the cat who has adopted Beka. On her first night, trailing behind Goodwin and Tunstall, Beka is told to chase an escaping thief, but, in her excitement, forgets the theif’s lookout, who trips her into a pile of fish, earning her the unwanted nickname Fishpuppy. The next night, she takes off after a crazed drunk who has struck Goodwin with the hilt of a knife. She chases the woman all across the Lower City and then brings her hobbled to the Dog kennel. Later, Goodwin and Tunstall find out about Beka’s one main flaw: her shyness. She can talk with friends, but in public speaking she can’t get a word out. Since she has to testify before the Provost's Magistrate for hobbling the drunk, she forces herself to mumble a few words. Fortunately the Magistrate is kind and helps her to tell the story of the chase and capture, with Goodwin and Tunstall filling in some details. As she is patrolling the Lower City, Beka learns of two different crimes. The son of her friend Tansy is abducted and killed by someone calling himself the Shadow Snake after a child’s tale. When Beka talks to Tansy, she is given a strange gemstone. Soon her pigeons bring new riders who complain of being killed in a hole that they have been hired to dig and the gemstone is somehow related. Along with her friends and despite the dangers of the Lower City, Beka decides to search for these murdered diggers and the Shadow Snake.

This is an excellent read, a bit long at over 500 pages, but brilliantly told through Beka’s meticulous journal entries. With murders and other general violence, it can be a bit gory, but this violence is almost never experienced first hand. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat as you race with Beka to solve the mystery. Recommended for teens (14 and up) and adults. (less)

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Apr 25, 2011 Caroline rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think I've read pretty much all of Tamora Pierce's books, and she is definitely one of my favorite authors, but for some reason, I remember being very reluctant to read this book. I ended up borrowing it from a friend, and I am very glad I did.
I've never been a big fan of diary format, mainly because I don't think people can actually remember everything they've done all day in that much detail. In this book, it works, because Beka is using her journal as a memory exercise, so there's a reason...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-scifi

Beka Cooper is starting her first year as a trainee (a Puppy) on the city's policing force (the Dogs). When she was eight, she helped solve a mysterious case. The high-ranking official who was the only person on the force willing to listen to a child then took her and her family in, saving them from the poverty and danger of the city's slums. Beka worked as a runner for years and is now excited and nervous to start working as a Puppy. She is assigned to train with two of the best Dogs on the for...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, epistolary, fantasy, young-adult

I read a couple Tamora Pierce books as a kid and liked them well enough; I'm out of her intended age group now, but still enjoyed this book.

Terrier is the story of a teenage girl, Beka Cooper, and her first months in the City Watch (known as the "Dogs") of a medieval-ish city. Beka works in the roughest part of town and soon finds herself pursuing criminals who extort and murder its inhabitants. Although I'm not into police novels, the premise pulled me right in: I'm a sucker for fantasy focusi...more I read a couple Tamora Pierce books as a kid and liked them well enough; I'm out of her intended age group now, but still enjoyed this book.

Terrier is the story of a teenage girl, Beka Cooper, and her first months in the City Watch (known as the "Dogs") of a medieval-ish city. Beka works in the roughest part of town and soon finds herself pursuing criminals who extort and murder its inhabitants. Although I'm not into police novels, the premise pulled me right in: I'm a sucker for fantasy focusing on the lives of regular people. As for the fantasy label, there is some magic here, but it takes a secondary role behind the plot and characters, as well it should.

As for those essential elements, I found the plot entertaining and the characters endearing if not incredibly well-developed. Beka is a great protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her growing confidence in herself as she fought crime and made friends with her fellow Dogs and her neighbors. The exploration of the ancient police system was especially interesting: the characters take bribes in return for providing protection and often have personal relationships with the criminals. (The one aspect that seemed odd was that they could just walk the streets and stumble across an endless number of crimes in progress--a little bizarre.) I was also intrigued by Beka's difficult relationships with her siblings, who are servants and don't quite know how to relate to her.

The biggest issue with this book, as others have said, is the diary format. It doesn't get in the way too much--for the most part, the book reads like any other first-person narrative, and Beka has a strong voice--but it doesn't seem to add anything and it's terribly contrived. I'm an avid journaler myself, and there's simply no way Beka would have time to write all this, or remember as much word-for-word dialogue as she does. (A chronic problem with novels written in journal form, and probably the reason they're rarely seen outside of kids' and YA books.)

Finally, the gender equality within the ranks of both the Dogs and the criminal gangs made me raise my eyebrows. The Dogs fight with batons and the gang members with swords; even in a society without strict gender roles, most women would not be able to match a man using weapons that depend on physical strength. No explanation is given in the book. I understand that Pierce wants to empower teenage girls, and I respect that; I see nothing wrong with a few female fighters. Still, my desire for realism wasn't quite met.

Overall: a fun book. I'd recommend to teens or adults. The subject matter may be inappropriate for younger kids, however; this is more mature than many of Pierce's other books. (less)

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Dec 05, 2010 Ana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Terrier Was really good. I loved the mystery, I loved the characters, I loved the setting. I loved it all. I felt that it was typical though. I REALLY likrd it. But that's all that i can say. It was a really good book, definitely, worth reading, but it's not quite amazing, or favorite book ever worthy yet. Beka Cooper, a young girl who can hear ghosts and "dust spinners" has always wanted to be a Dog her whole life. But once she starts puppy training, things start getting dangerous. Beka is pair...more

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Jul 15, 2010 ICPL Staff Picks added it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, jason, staff-picks-blog

I’m a late-comer to the Tortall fantasy world created by children’s and young adult author Tamora Pierce. I admit that my initial reluctance was due to both the original cover portraits of the main characters (girls on horses) as well as the confusing number of series (which was I to start with?). I’ve also never really been into castles and knights. The odds were against Ms. Pierce here.

But then a few years ago she published the Trickster books (Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen) which...more I’m a late-comer to the Tortall fantasy world created by children’s and young adult author Tamora Pierce. I admit that my initial reluctance was due to both the original cover portraits of the main characters (girls on horses) as well as the confusing number of series (which was I to start with?). I’ve also never really been into castles and knights. The odds were against Ms. Pierce here.

But then a few years ago she published the Trickster books (Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen) which dropped the typical high fantasy art cover. Unfortunately they came home with me and were returned without ever being opened (as, let’s face it, happens to us all). But it had piqued my interest in Tamora Pierce’s work again. Long story short, I finally got down to business with the publication this last fall of Terrier (another new series set in the Tortall past). Great cover, no horse in sight, and over 500 pages of fantasy…what’s not to love.

The story is told in a series of journal entries which is often very hard to pull off, but I only rarely found the device to be awkward (gotta say though, not sure why it had to be in journal form, maybe Tamora was bored with conventional storyline?). We’re introduced to young Beka Cooper a painfully shy but street-smart teen from the gritty Lower City who is in training to become a part of the city police force. A difficult internship to say the least. She’s got an uncanny knack for tracking down thugs though; partly due to her ability to work the locals for information (most have known her since birth), and partly due to the dead souls’ voices she hears in the wind and through pigeon flocks.

There is a lot here to please young adult readers. A solid mystery with tense moments. Fantasy elements (including talking to animals, which would be so cool!). Personal growth. A strong female lead character. A touch of romance, but not gushy. Good vs. evil. Do I need to go on? --Jason

From ICPL Staff Picks Blog (less)

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Jul 14, 2010 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, ya, bought-copy, fantasy

In her latest novel Tamora Pierce tells the story of Rebekah "Beka" Cooper - an ancestor of George Cooper, the City's Rogue in the time of Alanna (a setting and characters familiar to readers of her other novels). Beka is starting her first year as a trainee Dog, known as a Puppy, nicknames for the Provost's Guard, those who keep peace in the city of Corus. She is assigned to the Dog team of Tunstall and Goodwin, two of the best Dogs in the Evening Watch - and two who have never before taken a P...more In her latest novel Tamora Pierce tells the story of Rebekah "Beka" Cooper - an ancestor of George Cooper, the City's Rogue in the time of Alanna (a setting and characters familiar to readers of her other novels). Beka is starting her first year as a trainee Dog, known as a Puppy, nicknames for the Provost's Guard, those who keep peace in the city of Corus. She is assigned to the Dog team of Tunstall and Goodwin, two of the best Dogs in the Evening Watch - and two who have never before taken a Puppy.

Beka has her work cut out as Tunstall and Goodwin begin her training, never letting her forget that she may have knowledge but that experience is all on the streets of the Lower City. So when Beka starts sniffing out two linked plots - one to mine the City of precious fire opals and one to steal away the Rat's children as blackmail for the Shadow Snake - she has to learn who to trust as she tries to uncover the details and hobble the minds behind it.

Originally a shy girl who struggles to speak in public or make friends with others, Beka gradually opens up to Dogs and rushers alike and realises how strong her friendships really are - especially considering she is known in the Lower City as being one who speaks to the dead.

Here Pierce utilises a new style of storytelling - Beka speaks in the first person and keeps a daily journal where she records the happenings in the two cases she is 'sniffing'. Beka is a true daughter of the Lower City and uses rough vernacular and the language of the Provost's Dogs (essentially a police force) alike. This brings Beka to life via dynamic characterisation, letting the reader experience everything that happens to her - from the fierce joy of her first hobbling to the embarrassment of being called Fishpuppy after an unfortunate accident on one of her first evenings on duty. Pierce even offers a glossary of terms in the print I read, to enable the reader to follow all the new terms she introduces.

This is a fast-paced rollicking adventure, with both tense moments and times of comedy. Beka's cat Pounce - a truly mysterious character that readers of the Alanna quartet will find extremely lovable - offers some of the best lines in his dry assessment of the goings-on in her life.

I did feel that the book could have been shorter by a few hundred pages (than the 563 it clocks in at). Pierce usually writes shorter novels that are all the sharper for it - and some of Beka's language (such as 'peaches') doesn't quite work, but overall this is another fine work by Pierce. It is rich with detail about the rough side of the capital city Corus, and pays homage to the crime genre in many places. Beka is another plucky heroine in the spirit of Alanna and Daine, and I'm sure she will be quickly taken to the hearts of readers. Definitely one for the girls, although boys will no doubt find much to secretly enjoy. Highly recommended. (less)

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Apr 20, 2010 lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mine-mine-mine

i can't believe it took me so long to read this! it's because the covers are pretty boring, and i was waiting for better editions to buy, but whatever. this hit so many of the stupid little story kinks i have (calling people in training puppy, partners, criminals with hearts of gold, seeing how criminal organizations are run, etc) and george is SUCH a throwback to his great-great-great-whatever-grandpa (assuming that's where this is going) and i really love tortall, like a lot. it's almost ridic...more

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About Tamora Pierce

Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join gro...more Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!

Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!

I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.

I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.

Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!(less)

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Books by Tamora Pierce

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)

In the Hand of the Goddess (Song of the Lioness, #2)

Lioness Rampant (Song of the Lioness, #4)

The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (Song of the Lioness, #3)

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Trivia About Terrier

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Quotes from Terrier

“The Lower City is MINE, Its People are MINE.
If I Find Them That's Doing All This Kidnapping
And Murdering, They'd Best Pray For Mercy,
Because Once I Get My Teeth In 'Em
I Will NEVER Let Them Go. ” — 140 people liked it

“I well knew the rules to follow with our training Dogs: Speak when you're spoken to. Keep out of the way. Obey all orders. Get killed on your own time.” — 134 people liked it

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avg rating	preview: Terrier Goodreads rating: 4.24 (19569 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13829.Terrier?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320532506l/13829.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13829.Terrier?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Terrier by Tamora Pierce[/url]

Terrier (Beka Cooper #1)

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