Alan of Trebond, the best warrior in the palace, is harboring a big secret: he is really a she - Alanna. But when her prince is felled by an illnes...
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reviews
Jul 07, 2010
Kat
rated it: 
After reading three paranormal/urban fantasy romances in a row, you can only imagine how happy I was to read, not only something different, but something GOOD!
Good is the best description I can give of Alanna. I wouldn't say it was great. It gets pretty close to it, though. Some parts of it seem unrealistic to me. Alanna being so readily accepted by the boys etc. But the story is short, fun, action-packed with magic and mystery and high-adventure.
Alanna it a great ch More...
Good is the best description I can give of Alanna. I wouldn't say it was great. It gets pretty close to it, though. Some parts of it seem unrealistic to me. Alanna being so readily accepted by the boys etc. But the story is short, fun, action-packed with magic and mystery and high-adventure.
Alanna it a great ch More...
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(27 people liked it)
Oct 10, 2008
Erin
rated it:
This is one of those books that will stick with me, literally and metaphorically. I have it with me at college... The whole series and all the ones I have of the spin off series are dear to me. They are wonderful for girls who are growing up. It is one story after another of strong young girls turning into strong young women.
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(10 people liked it)
Nov 29, 2008
Regan
rated it: 
This book was so good I can't believe it took me this long to read it Once I got into it I couldn't put it down. I can't wait till Monday so I can start the second book. Alanna proves that girls can do anything.
3 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Feb 27, 2011
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it:
I read this when my children were still small. After all, it was my responsibility to introduce them to fantasy literature...er, ah,....as well as other literature that is...huh, huh,huh.
Anyway, this is an enjoyable story, you'll of course run into the character types and plot points elsewhere, but that's okay. Character types, become character "types" for a reason. Alan...Alanna is a good character, though a little, trying or even annoying at times. Still, she knows her mi More...
Anyway, this is an enjoyable story, you'll of course run into the character types and plot points elsewhere, but that's okay. Character types, become character "types" for a reason. Alan...Alanna is a good character, though a little, trying or even annoying at times. Still, she knows her mi More...
Jun 09, 2008
Natalie
rated it:
In retrospect, this is not a perfect novel, or series of novels, but when I think of who I wanted to be when I was ten years old, my answer was always Alanna. (And I still have a crush on George.)
2 comments
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(18 people liked it)
Dec 18, 2008
Donna
rated it: 
I probably would have liked this better if I'd read it for the first time when I was younger. The heroine is a fairly typical spunky fantasy female, she's a little too perfect and good at everything.
The story is okay but not especially memorable. It takes place over several years, though the passage of time seems a little muddy and the only real sense of it is that occasionally Alanna will mention her age. It's written in third person, and for the most part we're only in Alanna's he More...
The story is okay but not especially memorable. It takes place over several years, though the passage of time seems a little muddy and the only real sense of it is that occasionally Alanna will mention her age. It's written in third person, and for the most part we're only in Alanna's he More...
3 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Jan 23, 2008
Jeanne
rated it:
Didn't like this very much. It was a fun story but not given the detail I would have appreciated. Then again, it covers a few years in a girl's life in not too many pages, so I guess it had to skim a bit. Also, might be the children/young adult aspect that doesn't allow to go as in-depth as I would have liked.
Might read the further adventures, but my library's missing #2 and I don't feel motivated enough to ILL it.
Story of a girl who wants to be a knight, not a nun or More...
Might read the further adventures, but my library's missing #2 and I don't feel motivated enough to ILL it.
Story of a girl who wants to be a knight, not a nun or More...
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(1 person liked it)
Apr 07, 2008
Phoebe
rated it: 
I'm a little surprised that I never read this book as a kid. As it's the story of a girl who cross dresses to become a knight, and as I was way into both knights and boyishness, I'm sure I would have loved it. As an adult, I can see that this is pretty typical girlie fantasy fare--characters with purple eyes abound. Characters are simple and a little stiff, and it sometimes feels like the fantasy setting is nothing more than background scenery; there's no real reason why this story has to take p
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 02, 2012
Eva
rated it:
This has to be one of my favorite books ever. I received this book and the second one when I must have been around eight. I kept them close and read them over and over again, not realizing that the series continued. When I figured it out, I immediately went to Barnes and Noble to purchase all of the Tortallan books. To say the least, I was hooked.
The characters are engaging, the dialogue is witty and the plot is well paced. Since I was so young the first time I read it, I went back a More...
The characters are engaging, the dialogue is witty and the plot is well paced. Since I was so young the first time I read it, I went back a More...
Dec 18, 2011
Holly
rated it:
With their red hair and purple eyes, Alanna and Thom of Trebond couldn’t look more alike for a set of boy and girl twins. Unfortunately they couldn’t be more dissimilar in their aspirations: Alanna would like to be a knight, while Thom would like to become a sorcerer, the exact opposite of what their father intends. That’s when spunky Alanna has the most brilliant idea for a ten-year-old: to change places. As Alan of Trebond, Alanna is off to the palace to learn sword-fighting, grappling and al
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Nov 14, 2011
Judith.garza
rated it:
I first came across Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness Book 1) when I was fourteen. I saw it again at the library the last time I was there and, since I’d forgotten a lot of the book, decided to pick it up.
How could I have forgotten the brilliance of Tamora Pierce? I read this series years ago, and still enjoyed it immensely today. Granted, the book is a little elementary for my age (19), but I still loved it. It provided a very quick, satisfying read.
As a young girl, More...
How could I have forgotten the brilliance of Tamora Pierce? I read this series years ago, and still enjoyed it immensely today. Granted, the book is a little elementary for my age (19), but I still loved it. It provided a very quick, satisfying read.
As a young girl, More...
Oct 05, 2011
Chelsea
rated it:
After reading Tamora Pierce’s most recent book Tortall and Other Lands : A Collection of Tales, I wanted to reread her other pieces. Of course that means starting at the beginning and what a beginning it is.
The basic story is a 10 year old twin boy and girl decide to go against their father’s wishes and do what they want to with their lives. The boy was supposed to go to the palace and learn to be a knight while the girl was to go off to a nunnery to learn to be a Lady and be married o More...
The basic story is a 10 year old twin boy and girl decide to go against their father’s wishes and do what they want to with their lives. The boy was supposed to go to the palace and learn to be a knight while the girl was to go off to a nunnery to learn to be a Lady and be married o More...
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 30, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
First in the Song of the Lioness fantasy series for children. The series revolves around Alanna Trebond, a ten-year-old, who passionately wants to become a knight for Alanna is more interested in archery, fighting, tracking, and hunting than her twin brother, Thom, who only wants to learn about magic.
The Story
It is custom amongst the gentry to send their children off to a type of boarding school: the First Daughter of the convent trains girls in the womanly arts before they go of More...
The Story
It is custom amongst the gentry to send their children off to a type of boarding school: the First Daughter of the convent trains girls in the womanly arts before they go of More...
Jul 29, 2011
I borrowed this book from a friend, and really have nothing good to say about it. I thought that the plot line was overused, and the writing style left a lot to be desired. The story of a girl dressing up as a a boy to prove herself is something we're all familiar with, and sometimes it's done very well and it's a pleasure to read. However, there was nothing fresh or new about this book, or this series. The characters weren't fleshed out and their difficulties-- hiding identity, physical exhaust
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 12, 2011
Sabrina
rated it:
Back when I was 12, I made a grave mistake; I didn't pick up this book and read it.
As a preteen, I went into my "I am woman, hear me roar!!!" phase. I was sick of guys being the heroes (this was also the time when I actually first picked up a book and said "GREAT CHEESEBALLS! THIS IS BETTER THAN TV!"). I searched the library far and wide for a book that would satisfy me with a strong, spunky female lead, and somehow, by fate or by Kyprioth (see Trickster's Choice) I sk More...
As a preteen, I went into my "I am woman, hear me roar!!!" phase. I was sick of guys being the heroes (this was also the time when I actually first picked up a book and said "GREAT CHEESEBALLS! THIS IS BETTER THAN TV!"). I searched the library far and wide for a book that would satisfy me with a strong, spunky female lead, and somehow, by fate or by Kyprioth (see Trickster's Choice) I sk More...
Jul 09, 2011
Alexandra
rated it:
Soo.. I've heard about this series for the longest time, but tracking a copy down was really difficult. So when I saw that they're doing a re-release with new covers, I was really happy (mostly because I'm a cover snob!) and immediately bought all the new versions! I've only finished the first one so far, and I must say I really enjoyed it. At first I had doubts, and with my high expectations I expected it to fall short, but it didn't. There's something about the experience of reading this book
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May 15, 2011
C
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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(1 person liked it)
May 12, 2011
Ειρήνη Κασσάνδρα (Irene)
rated it:
Alanna: The First Adventure takes place in the old century in a kingdom where magic exist, thieves, tavern, king, prince, castle, knights,... etc( one of my favorite). The story started with the Trebonds: Alanna, a young, stubborn girl dreamed of fighting and be a knight while her twin brother - Thom wished to be a sorcerer. But, in the the traditional of every noble family, boys have to go to kingdom to practice and become knights, while girls have to go to the City of Gods, and learned to bec
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May 07, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
One of my favorite genres is fantasy adventure, which is initially why I picked this "book" up (I actually listened to the audio version of this book, so it was actually CDs that I picked up, but it's all the same). Anyway, I enjoyed this book until about two-thirds of the way through. Until that point, it was a pretty good little story, sort of reminding me of Harry Potter except in a medieval setting, plus this book was written in 1983 long before Harry Potter existed. I like the cha
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May 03, 2011
Connie
rated it:
One more for nostalgia! (Goodreads/the internet is going to think I'm a 12 year old girl, because those are the only books I've been reviewing, but whatever...)
Before Robin McKinley, and before even Mercedes Lackey, there was Tamora Pierce (not in chronology of the authors themselves, but in the order of my discovering them).
This was another one of those series that I read over, and over, and over again. I was about the same age as Alana in the first book (10 or so), and More...
Before Robin McKinley, and before even Mercedes Lackey, there was Tamora Pierce (not in chronology of the authors themselves, but in the order of my discovering them).
This was another one of those series that I read over, and over, and over again. I was about the same age as Alana in the first book (10 or so), and More...
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Feb 27, 2011
Asha
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 09, 2010
Terri
rated it:
About a month ago, Susie and I did a book exchange of some of our favorite books from our middle school and up years. I, of course, supplied her with Robin McKinley. She loaned me the first two books in this series and 2 others.
While it’s definitely a YA/middle grades book, I enjoyed it a lot. I started the first book last night and by 12:15 AM I had completed the second book in the series, In the Hands of the Goddess. I am such a completionist that I went to Barnes and Noble tod More...
While it’s definitely a YA/middle grades book, I enjoyed it a lot. I started the first book last night and by 12:15 AM I had completed the second book in the series, In the Hands of the Goddess. I am such a completionist that I went to Barnes and Noble tod More...
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 19, 2010
Emma
rated it:
Let me start out by saying that I reread this book more often than most people will ever reread any book in their entire life. I LOVE Tamora Pierce and whenever I am feeling uninspired or as though I don't understand why I am working so hard I reread her series. It reminds me why I started writing and what I wanted to accomplish. I think back to the first time I opened her novel, In the Hands of the Goddess and how for once I could hardly put a book down. Even though I was so sick I could hardly
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 04, 2010
Keiji
rated it:
I believe this is a good book. Not excellent or a must read, but it’s certainly nothing close to a bad book either so ‘good’ is the label it gets from me.
The general world the book presents is a very rose color tinted view of a fantasy realm with nothing at all to set it apart from the standard fare.
The story of Alanna, as she masquerades as a boy for a chance at the knighthood she would otherwise never receive, is one that I can imagine striking home with many young girl More...
The general world the book presents is a very rose color tinted view of a fantasy realm with nothing at all to set it apart from the standard fare.
The story of Alanna, as she masquerades as a boy for a chance at the knighthood she would otherwise never receive, is one that I can imagine striking home with many young girl More...
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 27, 2010
Bethany
rated it:
First of all this is a very close 4 stars but I just couldn't bring myself to do it when 4 stars means "I really like it" when I have a few issues with the book.
I read this book because I have heard so many postitive reviews saying it was a great young adult book to read and the character Alanna was brilliant. I couldn't get to like her though, I found that she was too 'perfect' in some areas and infuriating in others. She moaned and whinged and flew into rages at the sligh More...
I read this book because I have heard so many postitive reviews saying it was a great young adult book to read and the character Alanna was brilliant. I couldn't get to like her though, I found that she was too 'perfect' in some areas and infuriating in others. She moaned and whinged and flew into rages at the sligh More...
Apr 21, 2010
ONTD
rated it:
LJ user piratesswoop's review:
It's a more young adult series, but I still like to go back and re-read this series, and it was one of my first introductions to the concept of feminism and strong female characters. It's about a young noble girl who decides she doesn't want to follow tradition to be sent to live in the convent and be raised as a Lady. She wants to go to the palace to be a knight, and her twin brother wants to go to the convent to be a scholar mage. With the help of thei More...
It's a more young adult series, but I still like to go back and re-read this series, and it was one of my first introductions to the concept of feminism and strong female characters. It's about a young noble girl who decides she doesn't want to follow tradition to be sent to live in the convent and be raised as a Lady. She wants to go to the palace to be a knight, and her twin brother wants to go to the convent to be a scholar mage. With the help of thei More...
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(2 people liked it)
Apr 21, 2010
Mark
rated it:
I've heard and read good things about Tamora Pierce. So, I checked out a few of her books (on CD). This was the first I decided to listen to.
It was a pretty good story. It seemed to be well-written. The audio narration was great, although I would have liked more spacing after certain clauses on certain sentences: i.e. "Someone says something," said someone,* doing something or other. *I mean, there's no pause here, and I think there should be in the context of the sentences More...
It was a pretty good story. It seemed to be well-written. The audio narration was great, although I would have liked more spacing after certain clauses on certain sentences: i.e. "Someone says something," said someone,* doing something or other. *I mean, there's no pause here, and I think there should be in the context of the sentences More...
Apr 07, 2010
John
rated it:
Alanna just misses being 4-star rated by a hair and I want to get the negative points out of the way quickly and then focus on the numerous positive aspects of the book.
1. This is the author's first book, I believe, and it shows in the flow and quality of the writing. That is not to say that it is badly written just simply that it doesn't have the polish of a more seasoned author, particularly in the dialog.
2. The editing is quite poor. There are numerous typos a More...
1. This is the author's first book, I believe, and it shows in the flow and quality of the writing. That is not to say that it is badly written just simply that it doesn't have the polish of a more seasoned author, particularly in the dialog.
2. The editing is quite poor. There are numerous typos a More...
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(1 person liked it)
Feb 18, 2010
Annalisha
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 14, 2009
Brooke
rated it:
This story is about a young girl named Alanna . She is a feisty town-boy who dreams of being a knight. When her father sends her off to become a lady, she switches places with her twin brother and in disguise as a boy, goes of the palace to become a knight. The story follows her struggles with reaching knighthood, keep her identity a secret, and dealing with her maturing female body, and emotions.
I was very skeptical at first about this book. It was a fantasy and to me that meant " More...
I was very skeptical at first about this book. It was a fantasy and to me that meant " More...
