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First Test

(Protector of the Small #1)

Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)

4.17 · Rating details · 63,412 ratings · 1,550 reviews

In the medieval and fantastic realm of Tortall, Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that permits females to train for knighthood. Up against the traditional hazing of pages and a grueling schedule, Kel faces only one real roadblock: Lord Wyldon, the training master of pages and squires. He is absolutely against girls becoming knights. So w ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 240 pages

Published May 23rd 2000 by Random House Children's Books (first published June 7th 1999)

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Average rating 4.17 ·

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· 63,412 ratings · 1,550 reviews

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Jun 01, 2008 Allison rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: basically anyone.

Recommended to Allison by: fond memories.

Shelves: genre-high-fantasy, tamora-pierce, 1owned

Recently I decided to reread all of Tamora Pierce's books, because, well, it's been too long since I read them. For her Lioness Quartet, Circle of Magic books, and The Immortals series, I was refreshing my memory, but with the Protector of the Small series, it was almost like reading them for the first time. I read this series only once, when I was a preteen, and I had honestly forgotten just how much I love Kel.

At first glance, the story of Keladry of Mindalen seems like a rewrite of Tamora Pie Recently I decided to reread all of Tamora Pierce's books, because, well, it's been too long since I read them. For her Lioness Quartet, Circle of Magic books, and The Immortals series, I was refreshing my memory, but with the Protector of the Small series, it was almost like reading them for the first time. I read this series only once, when I was a preteen, and I had honestly forgotten just how much I love Kel.

At first glance, the story of Keladry of Mindalen seems like a rewrite of Tamora Pierce's first series, The Lioness Quartet, which features a spunky girl named Alanna who dresses as a boy in order to train as a knight. When I read the books years ago, I loved them, and saw Alanna as a hero, but now, as a college freshman, I see her character a little differently. In my opinion, Alanna chooses to be a knight as an alternative to learning to be a lady. Although she is a tomboy, she does not choose Knighthood because she loves to fight and longs to protect her country- she does it in an attempt to escape. From the start she is helped by the heir to the throne, her manservant (a trained knight in his own right), and the goddess herself. Although she has honor, Alanna is spiteful with a terrible temper, and is able to use her magical gift to help her through the worst of times.

In contrast, we have Keladry of Mindalen, who is allowed to apply as a page without concealing her gender. But by being honest about her sex, Keladry makes herself vulnerable to all sorts of sexism and abuse. Because she is a girl, Kel is forced to undergo a one year "probationary period" (which is not required of boy pages) so that she may prove herself. During this first year, Kel is constantly bullied and experiences hazing and abuse the likes of which Alanna never saw. However, Kel quickly proves, against all odds, that she is as good, if not better, than the boys.

Unlike Alanna, Kel knows that she wants to fight. She doesn't want glory, thanks or praise, but rather, seeks her shield so that she may protect those who cannot protect themselves. Kel has no real help from her idol, Alanna, no manservant to help her through, and no magical gift to fall back on. Instead, she uses her strength and determination to prove herself to even the most skeptical trainers.

After reading this book I realized, with a start, that I absolutely adore Kel. Although some reviews may disagree, I believe that Tamora Pierce has improved upon her Lioness Quartet with the Protector of the Small Series.

Hooray for Kel! ...more

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Mar 28, 2014 Rachel E. Carter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: have-paperback

No review I could ever write would do this book (or series) justice.

description

This series to me is the pinnacle of Tamora Pierce's career. She had many wonderful books but the emotional and physical turmoil her protagonist Kel goes through to earn her knighthood is nothing that I have ever experienced in another YA book. Kel perseveres against every trial imaginable, and while at times she can seem a bit too mature (she's only 10 in this one!), she is unique and refreshing in a world of cliche. She is wh ...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Dichotomy Girl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 2015, 4-and-a-half-to-5-stars, audiobook, authors-i-love, series-i-love, favorites-previous-years, 2016, 2017, 2018

3rd Read: 12/16/2016
Edit: Raised this up to 5 Stars, because after discussing it with Rachel E. Carter, I've decided that yes, Kel is the awesomest. :)

I had forgotten how good this series is. It's hard to decide which is my favorite, this one or Alanna.

Original Read: 11/11/2012 ...more

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Jul 11, 2008 Kat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: listened, read-more-than-once, 2008, march, audible, 2011, march2011, ya, school-story

I started this series with the thought that it was going to be a do over of Pierce's previous, successful Alanna the Lioness Quartet, which followed a girl (named Alanna, of course) who dressed like a boy and took her twin brother's place in page training while he took her place in magic school (not dressed as a girl). The four books of that quartet follow her progress from page, to squire, to knight and king's champion--with her sex being discovered along the way. I was pleasantly surprised to ...more

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May 07, 2018 Fafa's Book Corner added it · review of another edition

Mini review:

Trigger warning: Animal abuse

Minor spoilers ahead!

DNF

Tamora Pierce is an author I have heard off. On a whim I decided to try on of her books. Unfortunately this book didn't work for me.

In the beginning (the first chapter) Kel stops these boys from drowning kittens. While attempting to rescue the kittens a monster comes. And starts to eat them. I couldn't make myself read anymore. I felt sick to my stomach.

I do still recommend it. As Kel's a very strong character and I have a feeling ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2020, bullies, novella, part-of-a-series, audiobook, 3-and-a-half-stars, borrowed-library, children-s-lit

3.5 stars

This isn't exactly like Alanna: The First Adventure, but that's mostly because 1) Kel doesn't have to hide the fact she's a girl and 2) Kel's quite a different character from Alanna. But it's still more or less the same general plot and same types of obstacles and challenges. Kel's singled out as the first female page, gets bullied and befriends all the good guys and pisses off all the bad guys, and has animal friends to boot (birds this time). At least Winthrop got some nuance.

I really ...more

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Oct 01, 2008 Kogiopsis rated it it was amazing

I am going to save my reminiscing about this series for the third book. Or at least I'm going to try. Some might creep in unnoticed.

First off:
I HATE SPIDRENS I HATE SPIDRENS I HATE SPIDRENS I HATE SPIDRENS.
Spidrens were, actually, the first Immortals I ever read about, because I went straight from the Lioness Quartet to this series. So in the first chapter or so, when Kel finds a spidren biting the heads off kittens, I was deeply disturbed. I still am. What I love about that scene is Kel's react I am going to save my reminiscing about this series for the third book. Or at least I'm going to try. Some might creep in unnoticed.

First off:
I HATE SPIDRENS I HATE SPIDRENS I HATE SPIDRENS I HATE SPIDRENS.
Spidrens were, actually, the first Immortals I ever read about, because I went straight from the Lioness Quartet to this series. So in the first chapter or so, when Kel finds a spidren biting the heads off kittens, I was deeply disturbed. I still am. What I love about that scene is Kel's reaction. She wades across a river, gathers a handful of stones, and goes after the monster with only rocks for ammunition. Seriously, this girl is the most badass ten year-old EVER. She's awesome. And she's got a great attitude, to boot: chock full of determination and not about to let traditionalists keep her from becoming a knight. Her motivation to seek knighthood, too, is wonderful; she has a powerful, idealistic belief in chivalry and cannot ignore injustice. This is the kind of pure good straight-up heroine that it's always great to come back to, because you never doubt her; she works for her goals and keeps them always in mind. You know the quip about how a woman has to work twice as hard to be considered half as good as a man? That's the situation Kel is in, and she handles it admirably, right down to making sure everyone remembers that YES, tradition has been broken and there is a girl in their midst by wearing dresses to dinner every night. She is so mature, so confident at such a young age - it's awesome. Rarely does she doubt herself, and she's never ashamed of her gender despite the disadvantage it places her at and the cruelty some of the other pages subject her to because of it.

Of course, Kel doesn't do this alone. She gains an excellent group of friends over the course of her year on probation, and that's what helps this series be more than just an Alanna Redux. As Raoul says in Squire, there are several kinds of knights; Alanna is the lone hero type, and Kel is the leader type. It makes sense, then, that while Alanna's story was really focused on her and her adventures, Kel's has a wider supporting cast and they're given plenty of development. (This is, of course, building towards the moment when she needs all of them in Lady Knight.) From quirky Nealan of Queenscove, who's the oldest of the pages and Kel's sponsor, to Kel's year-mate Merric of Hollyrose, they're all great characters and people I would want to be friends with, especially in Kel's position. And they care about her, as evidenced when Neal calls her out for roaming the halls looking for wrongs to set right. It's wonderful to see a tight-knit, realistic group like this portrayed in YA. Kel is no Bella Swan-esque moping loner, and it makes her a far richer character.

I'm not really sure where this review is going, or for that matter where it's been. (It's a bit messy up there, I think.) A lot of what I want to say about this series I'm saving for the later books, so for now: If you're new to Tortall, you can start here easily; if you're familiar with the world, this entry in its history is not to be missed. Kel is a heroine to root for and look up to, and if I had my way young girls everywhere would be reading about her adventures instead of about sparklepires and the like. ...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Bridget Mckinney rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

Before starting to read the Protector of the Small quartet, I read that Kel was just another Alanna and that the books are basically Song of the Lioness all over again. I was actually okay with that going into this series, since I love Alanna and think that there are far worse things Kel could have been than just like her. I'm happy to report, however, that although there are similarities between Alanna and Kel, their experiences are extremely different and Kel's story expands upon and continues

I wrote about this a little bit already, but I have to reiterate it here because it makes me so happy. Kel has a lot more support than Alanna did, from her family as well as from people she meets when she goes into page training, but at the same time Kel faces a lot more active and targeted sexist bullying than Alanna did. Alanna disguised herself as a boy, which meant she had to live in constant fear of discovery, but Kel faces danger because she isn't hiding.

Something that I find interesting about the contrast between these two different situations is the ways in which their coping mechanisms and strategies overlap and diverge. Both Alanna and Kel find women who are friendly to them, although Kel and Alanna are denied each others company so far, which makes me rage. Both girls deal with bullies as pages; however, Alanna's bully was personal while the bullying Kel faces is sexist and institutional. Both girls make friends among the other pages, finding older boys willing to help mentor them.

Something I especially loved was that, while Alanna hid her gender successfully for years, Kel makes a point of wearing dresses when she can as a way to never let the boys and men she is surrounded by forget that she is a girl. I love this little bit of recognition that gender is a performance and that the choices we make about how to perform are intensely personal AND political. In some ways, Kel is even more of a trailblazer than Alanna, simply because she is trying to become a knight openly. Alanna may have opened the door a crack for Kel, but Kel is the first girl to try and go through that door as a girl.

In a lot of ways, I think that First Test is a lot more successful as a feminist work than Alanna: The First Adventure was, although I think both books should be required reading for girls (and boys, ideally). I think that Kel's experiences are closer to the real life ways in which girls experience sexism, and that's a valuable thing for young people to read about.

...more

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May 29, 2016 Emily rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I liked this book - listened to it as an audio book. It was a quick, fast read. I was mostly interested, but the story was entirely predictable. My biggest problem was that Kel is a 10 year old girl, but at no time did she actually act like it. She was way too mature for her age - both in how she acted, her physical abilities and even how she spoke. It was in no way believable that she was a child. My other gripe is: (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Beth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: project-nostalgia, reviewed

Alanna clenched her fists. What was going on? Was Jonathan inclined to give way to the man who'd saved his children?

And with that, possibly the stupidest line Pierce has ever written, Kel's story begins. I'm big on details lately, and the introduction is shaky on them. Here are more places the writing is less than precise:

The training master absently rubbed the arm in its linen sling. At last he bowed in his chair. "May we compromise, sire?"

Maybe that first line is here to show Wyldon's hesitati ...more

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Nov 01, 2013 Cass rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, mighty-woman, speculative-and-fantastic, childhood-nostalgia, y-a-lit

I recommend this book to two (not mutually exclusive) groups of people: kids who love Harry Potter and are looking for something to read next, and girls looking for a heroine who is not just a badass, but an Interesting Person to boot.

Review of entire series:
I read this series so many times in my teenage years, I nearly wore out the library copy. I was never over-impressed with Pierce's writing, but Keladry's quiet strength got under my skin and fascinated me. So many literary heroines are more ...more

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Jul 24, 2013 Lucy Ralston rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book changed my childhood. I had read stories about lady knights before--about women dressing as men, fighting the odds, and changing the world. But this story is different. Kel doesn't dress in drag, she doesn't hide herself, she doesn't try to change the world. She just wants to be a knight, and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal. She is my number one female character in a YA novel, and that has not changed in a long long time.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone ...more

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Jul 24, 2017 Kay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: strong-ladies-all-ages, fantasy-and-sci-fi-kids-books, favorites, feminist-kids-books

I've read this book (this series) over a dozen times over the last decade and a half. Kel has been my rock (stone), and Tamora Pierce has been my strength. The Protector of the Small series has taught me feminism and fairness and strength and how to overcome it all.
Tortall is one of my happy places, and I'm so happy to return and find it unchanged after all these years.

Tamora Pierce is a FANTASTIC writer, a great world-builder, and a master of character development. ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Dorothea rated it it was ok

(re-read on May 26, 2013, the occasion of this review)

May I say first that whoever thought this cover (trendily cropped photograph of a conventionally beautiful young woman with her lips parted and wearing some sort of floating veil) was an improvement over this cover (painting of a ten-year-old child with an androgynous haircut, looking out optimistically at the world through her black eye, holding a kitten and surrounded by little birds) should be smacked with their own portfolio?

Thank you.

All ...more

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Nov 26, 2013 Arielle ⭐ Cursebreaker ⭐ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, ya, favorite-series, fantasy

This review was written ages ago when I was in library school but I'm leaving it because I'm lazy. This millionth re-read was just as good as all the rest and I actually listened to it on audio this time so that made it just a little more fresh and new. I will be reading all of Pierce's books FOREVERRRRRRR. Also I laughed bc for some reason I like indented two of those paragraphs but I'm leaving it just because why not.
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Keladry of Mindelan and her family have just come back to Tortall from a s This review was written ages ago when I was in library school but I'm leaving it because I'm lazy. This millionth re-read was just as good as all the rest and I actually listened to it on audio this time so that made it just a little more fresh and new. I will be reading all of Pierce's books FOREVERRRRRRR. Also I laughed bc for some reason I like indented two of those paragraphs but I'm leaving it just because why not.
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Keladry of Mindelan and her family have just come back to Tortall from a six year diplomatic delegation stint in the Yamani Islands. One day after an attack from a group of spidrens (monster spiders) she decides it is time to begin her training as a lady knight. The only problem with that, is that there has not been a woman who has knowingly gone through training in at least a hundred years. The only reason she is able to do so now is because of the legendary Alanna, a woman who pretended to be a boy all throughout her training, alongside the current King. Although she is accepted, Kel is placed on probation on her first year, something that is never done with the boys and is completely unfair. Stubborn as she is though, she works harder than all of the boys and along with her best friend Neal and a few intelligent sparrows, she proves to training master Wyldon that she is worthy and deserving of becoming a page.

First Test is the first of Tamora Pierce’s Protector of the Small quartet and a great deal different than her previous eight books set in Tortall. Unlike Alanna, the first female knight in over a century, Kel goes into training as a girl. This means that essentially the entire kingdom is against her being there and will do anything in their power to make her leave including hazing, threats, rumors, etc. Luckily, Kel has spent a good portion of her time in the Yamani Islands (similar to Japan) and has gathered techniques to keep her calm and level headed under the most extreme and trying situations. I love that Pierce made Kel that way because even the reader still knew how upset or frustrated she was, she never let that be a weakness. Kel was able to prove time and time again that she worked as hard, if not probably a lot harder to become and stay better than all of the boys that were her year mates in page training.

Pierce’s writing style is so engaging and she has just done such an amazing job building this world of Tortall that I have grown to become so familiar with. I was glad that the four books were separated into the different years of Kel being on probation, a page, a squire, and then onto a lady knight. This allowed me as a reader to grow with Kel and be just as excited as she is when she earns respect and praise by hard work and determination. Pierce is my favorite author and is one of the most amazing writers of fantasy that I have ever read. Her characters, Kel especially, are exceptional and it’s so hard not to root for her because she’s such an awesome female [ass] kicker. ...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Connor rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, audiobook, 2015, 2016, re-read, 2017, kickass-ladies, favorite-ya, kickass-ya-ladies, best-of

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 01, 2018 Ashley rated it it was amazing

I am very excited because my big reread has finally gotten to the Kel books, and Kel is my *FAVORITE* Tamora Pierce heroine. She doesn't have magic powers, so she gets everything done on her own. She's stubborn, she works incredibly hard, and she always stands up to a bully. I also have always loved Neal and his dramatics, even though this time around I couldn't help wondering, what kind of 15-year-old is perfectly happy to spend so much time with 10 to 13-year-olds? Doesn't he ever want to talk ...more

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May 09, 2011 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, books-i-own, young-adult, audiobook, books-i-own-read

I read this eons ago (aka high school) and I really loved this book then. It was my first Tamora Pierce but I thought it was a fun quick Fantasy read and turned me on to Pierce's work.

Jump 15ish years later (ugh fml) and I'm happy to say I still really liked this! I'm surprised how well it held up, especially after reading and re-reading the Alanna and Immortals quartet and liking them fine, but not loving them. This has that kind of quaint quality that older Fantasy has, but still feels very co ...more

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Jun 25, 2018 Belinda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adults

4,75 stars - Audiobook - I have dyslexia -
Girls try to be knight, a theme brought up many times before. The heroïne of this book puts it to another level. Keladry of Mindalan's first year at the school for knights is discribed with trouble, wisdom, hardship,and humor in this book. Next to the battle against good and evil. Adventure spatter of the pages. But this heroïne also honors her former teachers. Afraid of hightech but not of combat. A special girl indeed. One point was a bit to much.... t ...more

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May 29, 2020 Tanvi rated it liked it

This really is setup for the next book, but even here there’s early hints of what will later become definitive facets of Kel’s character.

A lot of this book is Kel meeting people, weapons training and overcoming (and fighting) hazing. It’s a good book - I don’t know, I don’t have much more to say about it than that.

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May 14, 2016 Elaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: tamora-pierce-books, favorite-books

I remember not liking this quartet very much when I first read it. I thought it was a less interesting retelling of Alanna’s quartet (which starts with Alanna: The First Adventure), which is also by Tamora Pierce.

However, this series has grown on me over the years. It’s better written than Pierce's previous quartets, and the side characters are more fleshed out. Kel stills seems far too wise beyond her years to me, and her lack of emotion is annoying, especially in the earlier books. I don’t min I remember not liking this quartet very much when I first read it. I thought it was a less interesting retelling of Alanna’s quartet (which starts with Alanna: The First Adventure), which is also by Tamora Pierce.

However, this series has grown on me over the years. It’s better written than Pierce's previous quartets, and the side characters are more fleshed out. Kel stills seems far too wise beyond her years to me, and her lack of emotion is annoying, especially in the earlier books. I don’t mind stoic heroes, but when the story is told from their perspective, we need to get a sense of what they are feeling internally, even if they keep a cool, outer shell.

Kel wants to follow in Alanna's footsteps and become a lady knight. The king made a proclamation ten years ago that allows noble girls to train for their shield, but no one has come forward until Kel. The more conservative people at court think women should not be warriors. Kel sets out to prove herself to her fellow pages and those naysayers alike.

I really think this book’s plot could have been condensed and included in the second book, Page, without losing anything. There is a little bit of drama because Wyldon might expel Kel after her probationary year, but I was never worried she would fail. Plus, Kel is at her worst here when it comes to masking her emotions. Judging on First Test alone, Kel would make a much better supporting character and friend than she does a main character.

I also don't quite understand why so many nobles are against female knights. Tortall is a relatively progressive country. Alanna has been the King's Champion for many years, and she is a hero who is loved by many. The queen is a powerful woman who rules jointly with her husband. The Queen's Riders allow female members. The only force that doesn't allow women are the King's Own, which is silly anyways. Given all of that, it makes no sense why the prevailing attitude would be "women are too weak to be warriors."

I did like that Kel did not have the magical Gift like Alanna or Wild Magic like Daine. She's a "normal" character instead of a hero blessed with extraordinary power. That type of person is not often the protagonist in a fantasy.

Generally, each book in this series gets better and better. It's a great one for young girls and early teens filled with strong, likeable heroines. While I wasn't sure of it at first, this quartet has become one of my favorite series. ...more

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Jul 14, 2019 Alex Black rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, young-adult, favorites

I remember never being quite as fond of the Protector of the Small series as I was the other Tortall books, particularly the two first ones, but as an adult, I thought it was absolutely brilliant. The premise of the series is that 14 years after Alanna, girls are allowed to become knights, but it's still a very sexist, patriarchal society, so no girl has. I really enjoyed that because it didn't just have Alanna fixing everything by being a heroic woman. She definitely changed the world a great d I remember never being quite as fond of the Protector of the Small series as I was the other Tortall books, particularly the two first ones, but as an adult, I thought it was absolutely brilliant. The premise of the series is that 14 years after Alanna, girls are allowed to become knights, but it's still a very sexist, patriarchal society, so no girl has. I really enjoyed that because it didn't just have Alanna fixing everything by being a heroic woman. She definitely changed the world a great deal, but didn't solve all of its problems.

And Kel is a very different protagonist than Alanna. Alanna is a hero, a mythical figure almost with the gods on her side and powerful magic, coming from a long line of nobility. Kel is just an ordinary kid who wants to be knight like her older brothers, just like a hundred other kids in the country. She doesn't have magic, she doesn't have the gods on her side. She doesn't have lofty aspirations as a knight. She just wants to do her duty to her country. And it makes such an interesting contrast to Alanna, who has a strong presence in this book.

One of my favorite things about this book is how heavily it deals with femininity. Kel has very little desire in typically feminine pursuits because they don't interest her, but when the other boys bully her and threaten her and tell her to go home, she doesn't try to blend in. She actively wears dresses whenever possible to make herself girly as a reminder that she's different and she's not ashamed of being a girl. I loved that element. I've read very little that's more badass than a female character sticking it to a patriarchal society by actively being more feminine.

This book also deals more heavily with politics than the previous series in the Tortall universe, which I think is one reason I enjoyed it less as child, but I love it more for that now. The conservatives are fighting against many changes in the country, including female knights and fighters. Kel has little interest in politics, just wanting to be an ordinary knight, but she can't avoid it simply because she's a girl. It's an interesting element to the story, and really well done in this book.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this series. I think it's definitely better to read it after Alanna because so much of the world building and the government and history comes from that series, but it has fewer problematic issues as it was written fifteen years later. I think this may become my favorite series in this universe, just based off the first book.

(Tagged as YA for the series) ...more

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Jan 18, 2019 Sarah Ames-Foley rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, feminism, young-adult, page-turner

#1: First Test ★★★★
#2: Page ★★★★
#3: Squire ★★★★★

This review can also be found on my blog.

I read this quite some time ago, but only owned the first book and never continued with the series. For Christmas, I received books 2-4 and decided to re-read this so that I could jump into the rest. I had forgotten most of the plot, although all of it felt familiar to me. While I couldn’t have predicted anything that happened, once it happened I thought to myself “oh yeah, I remember that.” Luckily, I enjo #1: First Test ★★★★
#2: Page ★★★★
#3: Squire ★★★★★

This review can also be found on my blog.

I read this quite some time ago, but only owned the first book and never continued with the series. For Christmas, I received books 2-4 and decided to re-read this so that I could jump into the rest. I had forgotten most of the plot, although all of it felt familiar to me. While I couldn’t have predicted anything that happened, once it happened I thought to myself “oh yeah, I remember that.” Luckily, I enjoyed it just as much as Tammy’s other books and am very excited to finally finish the series!

One of the things I love about Tammy’s writing is that she’s able to create such distinct characters. While most of her books focus on “strong” women, they’re not all the same. Where the Lioness is hot-tempered and loud, Daine is timid yet stubborn, Aly is quiet and calculating, and Kel is even and impenetrable. Each of her characters have different strengths and weaknesses, and I think that makes it possible for girls to find representation they are able to relate to.

This book follows Kel in her initial (probationary) year as a page, the first female page to enter the program since girls were allowed to join. There are plenty of obstacles along the way: a lot of the boys think that a girl doesn’t belong there alongside them. Kel’s advantage is that she and her family had lived with the Yamanis as an ambassador for most of her early life. The Yamani culture is much different from the one Kel has transitioned back into and one of the biggest things she has learned is to “be as stone” and hide all of her emotions behind a smooth mask.

Overall, I found the pacing to be great and the story fun to follow. I worked through the book fairly quickly and am looking forward to what comes next, although I plan to wait until Fantastic February in the Devour Your TBR group to continue reading since this series is obviously perfect to put on my TBR for it. I recommend this to all Tamora Pierce fans, as well as anyone looking for some YA fantasy with a strong female character. ...more

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Sep 06, 2016 Jackie B. - Death by Tsundoku rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, series, young-adult, owned, coming-of-age

Ten years after Alanna becomes King's Champion, a female of Tortall finally wants to become a page-- and eventually a knight of the realm. What sounds at first as a repeat of the Song of the Lioness quartet is quickly revealed to be much more. While our protagonist, Kelandry of Mindalen, is following the same path as Alanna, the road the walks is completely different. Tamora Pierce takes what could have been a copycat novel and turns a parallel story into something refreshing and new.

From the st ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Andrew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, library-prime

Can't decided between 3.5 stars or 4. I did like it, but this is very much a "starter" book.

THREE TIMES I HAVE TRIED TO PUT THIS REVIEW UP! THREE TIMES!!! grrr!!!

Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of the new law of Tortall, allowing females to train for Knighthood. After growing up on the Yamani Islands, she knows women can be fearless warriors and she wants to be one. But Lord Wyldon, the training master, is dead against the idea Can't decided between 3.5 stars or 4. I did like it, but this is very much a "starter" book.

THREE TIMES I HAVE TRIED TO PUT THIS REVIEW UP! THREE TIMES!!! grrr!!!

Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of the new law of Tortall, allowing females to train for Knighthood. After growing up on the Yamani Islands, she knows women can be fearless warriors and she wants to be one. But Lord Wyldon, the training master, is dead against the idea of girls becoming knights and forces the king to say that Kel must do a year’s trial - something no boy has ever done. Kel is determined to prove herself, just to be seen as equal…

This is the first book in the series so I am quite intrigued to see how the rest of the series moves forward. But the rest of the series isn’t on my library audiobook app, so I won’t know for quite some time what happens next.

I did like this audiobook. I want to make that clear. It was a nice start to the fantasy series and I rooted for Kel. I think this is the set-up book as it’s letting us know the characters and put us in the right places and, hopefully, as the series moves forward, it gets bigger in scope and story-arc.

I did have times listening to this audiobook where I did struggle. But I can’t figure out if I didn’t click with the narrator or if I felt uncomfortable with the level of sexism that Kel faces. And I think this is important as sexism, sadly, still does exist and it’s important that we see characters stand up and fight back against it. Plus, what shocked me was Kel and her classmates are ten or eleven years old, but the level of sexism issued at Kel disturbed me.

I did like this book, and it made a nice change from the heavy “straight white male” fantasy that exists in the adult fantasy genre, but this is a starter book and, as the series goes on, I want more something a tad meatier.

Or maybe I shouldn't mix my Tamora Pierce reading up - I have several ebooks on my kindle and eye several other audiobooks on my library audiobook app! Oh, whatever I decide to read next by her is going to really confuse my brain, isn't it? ...more

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Jul 06, 2007 Wealhtheow rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, ya

After King Jonathan took the throne, he decreed that women could train as knights as well. But more than a decade has passed since Alanna was unveiled as a female knight, and still no other female member of a noble house has come forth to be trained. No one--until Keladry. The daughter of ambassadors, Kel spent her childhood in lands where women were trained warriors, and intends to become one herself. Jonathon's hide-bound nobles aren't pleased with this change of tradition, and to placate them ...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, review

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/

First Test is about Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl who wishes to become a knight since Lady Alanna. She has been accepted for knight training, however, unlike the boys she will study and train beside, she has been given a First Test, one year to prove to the conservative training master that she is able to withstand the rigors of page training.

The storyline of this book progresses in a very good yet predictable ...more

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Mar 14, 2019 Carrie rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I would've devoured this at age 10 or so. Now, I'm less interested in stories where women have to prove themselves to men. That's right. I'm embracing my inner Carol Danvers. That said, I loved Kel and Neil and their friendship, and this was a fast, fun listen. I would've given it four stars, except I'm not into stories where the big bad is a monstrous/non-human species. Just personal preference.

Definitely a book/series I'll give my niece and nephew when they're old enough. ...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Arie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, fantasy-unusual, children

One of my favourite books from my childhood, along with the Lioness quartet. Will review properly later when I don't have a detailed essay (on the use of moving image/film as an art form to explore social media and psychosis) to conclude.

Came across my 2003 school reading log, and I think my ten-year-old self actually describes this book best. In my own ten-year-old words: "Excellent, I like the idea that girls are at least as good as boys, if not better!" ...more

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Jan 28, 2012 laurel [the suspected bibliophile] rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2012-read, 2021-read, 2015-read, ya-books

Still love it, even though the older I get the more I can see the toxic nature of the stoic warrior mindset Kel admires and mimics (it is only criticized by Sir Miles).

However, it's so good, and reminds me of why I wanted to join the military and do the right thing for those weaker than me. Kel is a good role model, and I'm so happy I had this book when I was a tween. ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fantasy series about a teen girl who joins a medieval army and is good friends with animals. [s]	4	19	Aug 04, 2021 12:11AM
Challenge Corner: Protector of the Small Series by Tamora Pierce -> Starting May 7th, 2018	73	10	May 17, 2018 02:08PM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA fantasy book. Only remember one scene where main character plays a game involving heavy metal fans. [s]	3	20	Dec 21, 2017 05:13PM
Play Book Tag: First Test / Tamora Pierce. 3.5 stars	1	9	May 13, 2017 05:26PM

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About Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce

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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 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! ...more

Other books in the series

Protector of the Small (4 books)

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 First Test (Prote...

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Quotes from First Test

“I'd like to find whoever taught the Stump that extra work builds character and push him down the stairs," Neal told Kel at lunch.” — 242 likes

“You know, ogres only sound stupid. Most are pretty smart."

"And it's a shallow person who judges anyone by the way they sound. I'm so shallow I'm surprised I don't reflect myself.” — 208 likes

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