The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (Song of the Lioness)
by Tamora Piercepublished
January 6th 2005
(first published 1986)
by Simon Pulse
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binding
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
isbn
0689878583
(isbn13: 9780689878589)
description
Let her prove herself worthy as a man."
Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce des...more
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Read in February, 2008
Continued obnoxiousness by Faithful the Omniscient Talking Cat. Incomplete plot, choosing instead to set up all the drama planned for Lioness Rampant. And all that nonsense with Jonathan just made me want to shrivel up and die.
On the other hand, the parts where Alanna isn't breaking up with Jonathan or inexplicably getting into a relationship with George because she's just broken up with Jonathan are pretty cool. It's good to see her come into her own as a sorceress, and begin to accept her ...more
On the other hand, the parts where Alanna isn't breaking up with Jonathan or inexplicably getting into a relationship with George because she's just broken up with Jonathan are pretty cool. It's good to see her come into her own as a sorceress, and begin to accept her ...more
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Read in January, 2003
The third book in the series, I find that this book is somewhat of a filler for me. It is certainly slightly shorter than the second, as far as plot goes, but it goes into more detail because it covers just a year.
Alanna has her trusty companion cat Faithful and Coram by her side once more as they set off into the desert.
The Bazhir provide new and exciting cultural differences, yet similarities to some desert nomads of Earth.
Prepare to watch in amazement as Alanna finally embraces h...more
Alanna has her trusty companion cat Faithful and Coram by her side once more as they set off into the desert.
The Bazhir provide new and exciting cultural differences, yet similarities to some desert nomads of Earth.
Prepare to watch in amazement as Alanna finally embraces h...more
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Read in January, 2006
This is the third book in the Song of the Lioness quartet. While travelling in the desert, Alanna (now a full-fledged knight) encounters and is eventually adopted by a tribe of Bazhir, the nomadic desert-dwellers. I really enjoyed this novel, and I like how Alanna is developing as a character -- the choices that she faces in balancing her personal ambitions with her love for Prince Jon (and George Cooper) are particularly well done. This does have a rather anticlimatic ending, though -- it feels...more
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Read in July, 2008
I've read this book so many times and each time I feel like I find something new. I believe that Pierce is one of the greatest writers and her books are awesome. In the third book of the Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna , now knighted travels to the South to continue her adventures. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it, so I'll just say that if you like women warriors, action, fantasy and fun wrapped into a book, read this and the other books by Tamora Pierce.
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Read in July, 2007
I suppose the advantage of this book in its series is that by lacking a cohesive plotline, it avoids showing us that Pierce is still working out how to make those work successfully. So it's a character study of Alanna, who becomes a bit more interesting as she gains a bit of her feminine side. The novel also expands the realm of Tortall to include different magics and cultures, which helps in the regrettably slow process of building this setting.
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Read in January, 1992
While they are fantasy books for teenagers, these books are so cool to read for young women. They are about women kicking ass in mens roles and not giving a shit about people who try to stop them. Totally inspired me when I was a kid.
As an adult I now see problems with the ways in which race and culture are portrayed and some of the relationships are problematic but over still a good women-positive message for young girls.
As an adult I now see problems with the ways in which race and culture are portrayed and some of the relationships are problematic but over still a good women-positive message for young girls.
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recommends it for:
anyone who loves fantasy
I love this series because it features a strong female protagonist. In fact, all of this author's work is centered around young women, which I appreciate after reading so much Harry Potter (which I love, but which lacks balance between good male and female characters, at least in the early books). Some of the other collections get repetitive, but Alanna's story stays compelling through all four books.
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Read in August, 2008
This was the weakest book in the series. Maybe because she was out in the desert with the Bazhir for a majority of it, I'm not sure, but the story didn't hold me as much as the others. There also didn't seem to be a definite ending or purpose to this installment. Instead it seemed to move the story along in preparation for the fourth book, so that all elements were in place for the conclusion.
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Young Adult Fiction Fans
Yet another wonderful read. The characters have definitely brightened over the space of three books. Alanna character has begun to take an entirely new shape as she begins to realize that she is in fact a woman, and she is discovering that she can in fact live with that part of her life, maybe even like it. The story and plot continue to be interesting--a nice break from heavy duty books.
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Read in October, 2006
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in August, 2007
When I first read this quartet, I stopped after the two first books, because it just seemed wrong to me to read about Alanna when she wasn't still at the palace. I didn't realize that her adventures other places could be just as interesting to read. Fortunately I got over it, and now enjoy this book just as much as the rest of the series.
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GO ALANNA! after earning her shield, she reveals to the court that she is a girl. in this book she leaves for the desert to let things settle down. many try to do her in (not the first time), but somehow she manages. and there are still two guys who <3333 her... one the heir to the throne and one the king of thieves.
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Read in June, 1992
recommends it for:
Everyone
See my review for Alanna....
This is the 3rd book in the series. Of the four, it is my least favorite, though I still love it. Alanna is certainly a flawed character, but in this book she is forced to face some of those flaws and deal with some issues of her past she may well have let lie.
This is the 3rd book in the series. Of the four, it is my least favorite, though I still love it. Alanna is certainly a flawed character, but in this book she is forced to face some of those flaws and deal with some issues of her past she may well have let lie.
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Read in July, 2007
I've read this a couple of times, but this time I decided to listen to the audio and it was a fun way to "re-read." This is some of the earliest Tamora Pierce and she's just getting comfortable as a writer, but it's still great fun. I cannot stress how much I love her books.
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Read in January, 1997
The entire Song of the Lioness quartet is absolutely brilliant. What a great, uplifting series for young girls - it's smart, funny, brave, and terrifically exciting. I read this when I was in middle school, but I still get pleasure from re-reading it even today.
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เราก็ชอบเล่มนี้นะแต่ชอบน้อยกว่าเล่ม1,2อ่ะเนื่องจากเราว่าตัวละครที่เราชอบมันทะเลาะกันอ่ะ>.<
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Read in October, 2002
I don't think I finished this. I really didn't like whatsherface (Alanna? Allana? whatever). And it irritated me that whatsherface showed up in like every other book this author wrote. I liked the other books, daggummit. But not stupid whatsherface.
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Perice's books, as fun as they are to read, do get a little redundate. Once you've read of few of her books, you can see what I mean. Great reads, but not ingenious in this series. Probally why she hasn't hit the BIG lists just yet....
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Read in January, 1988
I read this series of books probably 15 times when growing up. There weren't a lot of books out there at the time that had heroines wielding swords and kicking ass. I still have a soft spot in my heart for her writing as a result.
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After revealing herself as a woman, Sir Alanna of Trebond takes to the desert and earns her way into the ranks of a nomadic desert tribe. She is faced with the remainders of her old foe, Duke Roger of Conte.
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