Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
41st out of 1,145 books
—
4,672 voters
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (Song of the Lioness #3)
by
Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)
"Let her prove herself worthy as a man."
Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a duel to the death -- either she will be killed or she will be inducted into the tribe. Although she triumphs, dire challenges lie ahead. As her mythic fate would have it, Alanna so
...morePaperback, 284 pages
Published
January 6th 2005
by Simon Pulse
(first published May 31st 1986)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
More lists with this book...
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
I was 12 when I discovered the Song of the Lioness quartet, and they made a massive impression on me. At that point in my life it was amazing to find a series of books with such tough, relatable heroine. Alana was everything I wanted to be: strong-willed, compassionate, driven, and dead set on living on her own terms.
It's been a decade since I first read these books, and they still stand up pretty well. Alana still strikes me as an excellent role model for teenage girls, and she's as endearing...more
It's been a decade since I first read these books, and they still stand up pretty well. Alana still strikes me as an excellent role model for teenage girls, and she's as endearing...more
Jul 05, 2007
Kim
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who loves fantasy
Shelves:
strongwomen
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.
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.
Pierce continues to wow me by introducing us in depth in the the Bazhir culture which we breifly had a glimpse of in the first volume of the quartet. They have their own earthy magic and a very traditional culture.
At the end of the previous volume Alanna became a knight and confronted her greatest foe and won! (surprising for a book two) Alanna was revealed in that fight as a woman and chose to leave the court and become a knight-errant. She is travelling through Bazhir lands and becomes involve...more
At the end of the previous volume Alanna became a knight and confronted her greatest foe and won! (surprising for a book two) Alanna was revealed in that fight as a woman and chose to leave the court and become a knight-errant. She is travelling through Bazhir lands and becomes involve...more
In book three of the Song of the Lioness series, Alanna has just received her Knight's shield and is anxious to be off on an adventure of her own making. Accompanied by the steady Coram, who trained her as a young page, Alanna feels ready for any eventuality. Heading southward, Alanna and Coram are attacked by murderous desert dwellers and are eventually rescued by the equally enigmatic Bazhir people who offer her two options: fight one of their own warriors and join the tribe or be killed. Wise...more
May 25, 2011
Andrea
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fantasy lovers, adventure lovers, strong girls, warrior maidens
Recommended to Andrea by:
Kristin Cashore (via blog)
Alanna finally sets out in pursuit of adventure after earning her shield and stumbles into the hands of a tribe of the Bazhir who have very distinct ideas about the roles of women. Alanna must earn their trust and learn to trust herself with her magic if she is to be successful in this third adventure of Alanna of Trebond.
This book had many of the same old characters to love, but I really enjoyed the addition of the Bahir, as well. I'm now especially dubious of all Alanna's suitors but I suppose...more
This book had many of the same old characters to love, but I really enjoyed the addition of the Bahir, as well. I'm now especially dubious of all Alanna's suitors but I suppose...more
I've read there are 80s publishing reasons for the first two Lioness books being whirlwinds, but this one slows things way down. And I like it better for it, as a grown-up reading now. I read another review that spoke to problems in the way Pierce wrote of the Bazhir, who (both in this book and the first one) are written as a ignorant and savage culture. In the Woman Who Rides Like a Man, Alanna infiltrates this culture and becomes something a savior (also related to events in the first book) th...more
Why I picked it up: I've been wanting to re-read this series for a while; it's pretty much the only YA book (series) I remember reading when I was an actual teenager. The YALSA challenge gave me a reason to revisit.
Book three starts not too long after book 2 ends. Alanna, now Sir Alanna, wants to go out wandering looking for adventure. She ends up with a tribe of Bashir (introduced at the end of book one) and is somewhat grudgingly welcomed into the tribe. The tribe's shaman is very suspicious...more
Book three starts not too long after book 2 ends. Alanna, now Sir Alanna, wants to go out wandering looking for adventure. She ends up with a tribe of Bashir (introduced at the end of book one) and is somewhat grudgingly welcomed into the tribe. The tribe's shaman is very suspicious...more
It feels like the series increases in its juvenile sensibility. Maybe it’s because Alanna’s youthfulness made sense when she was a tween, and now that she’s an adult her relative lack of maturity (and the author’s lack of maturity in her writing) seems jarring and not as it should be.
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man is the second book in Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness series. Alanna has become a knight of Tortall and revealed her true identity to the world, so now it’s time to go off on adventures! But she doesn’t get far before she is roped into spending time with the Bazhir, the strange and dangerous people who live in the wilds of the kingdom. Alanna learns more about who she is and what she wants, as well as about who her real friends are.
This was a good third book. I...more
This was a good third book. I...more
The simple formulaic writing gets thrown for a loop in this third and what I think is half-a-volume of Alanna of Trebond's story. Normally I wouldn't give a half-tale much credit but Alanna story is still riveting. Experience beckons me, to hope the second half of this tale will be a page turner, the likes of which this series has not as yet seen. A tall order, since has been one of the quickest series of books I have read through, to date.
Let us start with what is so different. Alanna is no lon...more
Let us start with what is so different. Alanna is no lon...more
I think it was Beth Nielsen Chapman who sang the song, "Torn Betwwen Two Lovers.". That pretty well sums up this book. And along with it is the time worn theme of having to choose between the nobleman and the proverbial "bad boy." Yawn. And if there are any teenagers who are cutters, don't read this book. This book is not justification for what you do to yourselves. I'm just saying.
After writing the above and getting a good night's sleep, let me add this (and watch out, it's a bit of a rant): I'...more
After writing the above and getting a good night's sleep, let me add this (and watch out, it's a bit of a rant): I'...more
This book feels a lot like my life right now. Growing up and adjusting to new roles in life. Alanna has earned her shield and as she planned she travels to the deserts, but her adventures there are much different than she would have anticipated. For one thing Alanna finally learns that being a woman is not such a bad thing. The characters really are much more dynamic I suppose part of it is the issues are much more textured. Who is the antagonist? I suppose Duke Roger because really it is about...more
ARGH, again with the incomplete stories! This book is so obviously the first half of a story that will be concluded in Lioness Rampant, and it's frustrating to see it ended abruptly as if it were a complete novel in itself. But maybe this was back when Pierce didn't have the clout she has now and couldn't get a fatter book published.
My main thought about this book boils down to (view spoiler)...more
My main thought about this book boils down to (view spoiler)...more
2 likes · like · see review
Third in the Song of the Lioness fantasy adventure for children and revolving around Alanna of Trebond who has been in disguise as a boy as she attends the school for knights. This particular story takes place in the desert amongst the Bazhir.
My Take
Excellent story of a young woman who faces down long odds with compassion and care even as she forces great change onto a tribe and how they see women. It's a time of introspection and learning for Alanna in learning many things from the whys of st...more
My Take
Excellent story of a young woman who faces down long odds with compassion and care even as she forces great change onto a tribe and how they see women. It's a time of introspection and learning for Alanna in learning many things from the whys of st...more
Alanna má 18 rokov a vydáva sa na svoje prvé dobrodružstvo do púšte, kde okamžite narazí narazí na veľmi nepriateľských "domorodých" obyvateľov. Veci sa vyvinú priam katastrofálne a Alanna je nútená medzi ľuďmi zostať a zastúpiť post miestneho šamana, tj. mága.
Tretiu Alannu som prečítala veľmi rýchlo, zatiaľ asi najrýchlejšie zo všetkých častí. Plus je, že kniha už nezaberá veľké časové obdobie, nové prostredie je skvelé a kultúra zaujímavá.
Ale teraz si idem vyliať srdce zo všetkého, čo ma na ne...more
Tretiu Alannu som prečítala veľmi rýchlo, zatiaľ asi najrýchlejšie zo všetkých častí. Plus je, že kniha už nezaberá veľké časové obdobie, nové prostredie je skvelé a kultúra zaujímavá.
Ale teraz si idem vyliať srdce zo všetkého, čo ma na ne...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2 likes · like · see review
This third in the series is my favorite so far! In this installment, Alanna leaves her world of Tortall behind to travel south in search of adventure. She immediately becomes embroiled in the affairs of a tribe of Bazhir, where she struggles to keep her identity intact while connecting deeply with others. It's funny, but I think that Alanna reminds me quite a bit of Anne Shirley (of Anne of Green Gables fame). Their worlds are wholly different, but a lot of the themes surrounding their stories a...more
I read this in its unabridged audiobook format on my way to and from work. I didn't realize this was book three in an ongoing series and found it a little rough going. Alanna had obviously been through a lot before this book and I continually felt like I had missed out on big important chunks of her past. Especially her past relationships with others and her knighthood.
In this book Alanna is a knight in a world where most tribes believe woman aren't meant to be a warrior (and how she became a kn...more
In this book Alanna is a knight in a world where most tribes believe woman aren't meant to be a warrior (and how she became a kn...more
I first read this book when I was twelve. And then I read it about seventy-five more times. About a month ago I heard this author speak at a local bookstore. She said that she cannot bring herself to read any of these "Lioness Quartet" books anymore. So when I found a used copy for 50 cents I thought I would take another look at it to see why.
The story is good, but the setting and characters are ambitious. As Alanna travels to the Southern Desert and meets the tribal people who live there its h...more
The story is good, but the setting and characters are ambitious. As Alanna travels to the Southern Desert and meets the tribal people who live there its h...more
Okay, you guys. What is up with this cover? I wanted the cover that corresponded with the other books, but this was the only one available. Alanna looks like a girl Santa Clause with all the red and green. And what's with the weird title? I get that Alanna was called that with the tribes, but its not going to bring in readers. I wouldn't even touch it if I was already reading this series.
Now let's go onto the good stuff; my rant.
What is up with the Alanna and Johnathan drama? It was a lot of kis...more
Nov 12, 2011
Katie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
young-adult-and-jr-fiction
I definitely appreciated the story more as an adult than I did as a young adolescent. This is probably partly due to my being more familiar with the dynamics of romantic relationships between men and women. Even with this increased understanding (and perhaps even more so because of my increased understanding), I did not like Jonathan's character in this book. His behavior towards Alanna is very domineering and demanding. He came across as having very little respect for Alanna as a person. (view...more
Aug 03, 2009
Katy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childhood,
young-adult-fantasy
It's kind of impossible for me to describe the impact Alanna had on me as a young girl. She taught me that people will most often find your paralysing rage "cute" rather than intimidating, and she sparked a lifelong desire to have a talking cat with purple eyes. I generally consider the Immortals quartet as my favourite but Alanna definitely had the most impact on me. I re-read either this or the Immortals probably once a year and if I ever have a daughter this will be required reading...more It...more
What I liked:
-Alanna. I felt like her character became fully developed in this book, like she didn’t have anymore growing to do. She was the woman she wanted to be, and nobody was going to tell her otherwise. She was strong, resourceful, gifted, and she always did what she thought was right.
-Alanna and George’s relationship. It grew into something beautiful, and if they hadn’t been friends for years and in love with each other, it might have been seen as happening too soon with too little buildu...more
-Alanna. I felt like her character became fully developed in this book, like she didn’t have anymore growing to do. She was the woman she wanted to be, and nobody was going to tell her otherwise. She was strong, resourceful, gifted, and she always did what she thought was right.
-Alanna and George’s relationship. It grew into something beautiful, and if they hadn’t been friends for years and in love with each other, it might have been seen as happening too soon with too little buildu...more
more reviews at http://dazzlingreads.blogspot.com/
From Now on I'm officially a fan of Tamora Pierce. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man was almost as good as the previous book in the series, if it wasn't for what happened at the end. Indeed, my heart is now into pieces!
In Song of the Lioness #3 we encounter Alanna traveling through the desert with Coram. Still, Alanna's adventure wouldn't be an adventure without some danger and this is the first thing that happens when we open the book. Alanna jumpe...more
From Now on I'm officially a fan of Tamora Pierce. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man was almost as good as the previous book in the series, if it wasn't for what happened at the end. Indeed, my heart is now into pieces!
In Song of the Lioness #3 we encounter Alanna traveling through the desert with Coram. Still, Alanna's adventure wouldn't be an adventure without some danger and this is the first thing that happens when we open the book. Alanna jumpe...more
Unfortunately I read this book straight after the first which meant there was a huge gap in my knowledge about this stage of Alanna's life. Therefore, reading this book for the first time involved many exclamations of joy and shock. However, I found it captivating and a thrill to read. As per usual, I found it hard to pronounce the names of some of the characters which sometimes I find bothersome but, overall I feel it adds another dimension to the books and the world Pierce creates, yet I would...more
Newly knighted Alanna of Trebond is finally enjoying showing the world that she is a woman, and not a man, as she begins her journey through the vast desert of Tortall.
There, however, she is captured by vicious desert dwellers, who have challenged her to a duel. A duel to the death that will prove whether she is worthy of being invited into the tribe, or killed in battle.
Alanna receives a triumph from the battle, though she is headed for tough times. Times that will test her in everything she...more
There, however, she is captured by vicious desert dwellers, who have challenged her to a duel. A duel to the death that will prove whether she is worthy of being invited into the tribe, or killed in battle.
Alanna receives a triumph from the battle, though she is headed for tough times. Times that will test her in everything she...more
For how much I loved the first two entries into this series, this entry really felt uneven to me. The exoticising of the Middle East-inspired Bazhir culture and how Alanna must teach them to accept change felt like a low point. The story's hurried pace, which bugged me in the first two books, now does a major disservice: there's major moments, like character deaths and transitions in relationships, that were told in only a few pages, which made them feel episodic and thin. Alanna continues to ac...more
Our hero Alanna, having cracked the gender barrier to be the first woman knight of Tortall, now cracks the gender barrier to be the first woman shaman of the Bazhir tribes of the southern deserts. I enjoyed this as much as the first two books, maybe even more so because of the setting far removed from the palace intrigues. Alanna is in a self-imposed exile, having killed the powerful sorcerer Roger and having her true gender revealed during the battle. She must learn another type of lifestyle in...more
Alanna of Trebond has defeated her enemy, the sorcerer Duke Roger, and also attained her life's goal. She is now a female knight, but a lot of the court were not pleased that she had masqueraded as a boy for the past eight years, and she feels that it may be best if she gets away from court for a while. She takes Coram, her faithful man-at-arms with her, and rides south, where she is soon adopted into a tribe of Bazhir tribesmen. After a series of complications, she also becomes the tribe's sham...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon | 12 | 85 | 13 de Feb 17:30 |
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
More about Tamora Pierce...
I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join gro...more
Share This Book
5 trivia questions
2 quizzes
More quizzes & trivia...
2 quizzes
“There's plenty more fish in the sea than Prince Jonathan," he told her softly. "And this particular fish loves you with all his crooked heart."
-George to Alanna”
—
219 people liked it
-George to Alanna”
“Men don't think and differently from women - they just make more noise about being able to.”
—
154 people liked it
More quotes…
4 de Abr 18:30