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What Members Thought

Pretty good story, though you can tell it's Pierce's first.
The plot starts out as kind of cliche with twins switching places, a girl chafing at gender role restrictions, and their strict aristocratic father.
Alanna seems a bit Mary Sue-ish (Purple eyes? c'mon now!)
But the quartet continues Alanna develops into a more fleshed out character, and Pierce into a better writer. So keep reading!
Note: I read this some years back, and now am reading it from the perspective of an experienced fantasy read ...more
The plot starts out as kind of cliche with twins switching places, a girl chafing at gender role restrictions, and their strict aristocratic father.
Alanna seems a bit Mary Sue-ish (Purple eyes? c'mon now!)
But the quartet continues Alanna develops into a more fleshed out character, and Pierce into a better writer. So keep reading!
Note: I read this some years back, and now am reading it from the perspective of an experienced fantasy read ...more

I loved this - maybe moreso because I'd read the Trickster duo first - and she is the mother of the main character in the Trickster novels. I am dying to receive the three remaining books in the series. Since B & N didn't have them, I got the first books of the other quartets. And Melting Stones - don't waste your money on it - it's not great. But Alanna is a great first novel, pushing you to go for the rest of the series.
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Listening to the audiobook
I wanted to "read" something by Tamora Pierce and this was the first available at the library. I quite enjoyed it. Girl disguises herself as boy to be trained as a knight. Fantasy. I'm not sure why I liked it so much, but it was really well done. I'm going to go on to the next one and read more by Tamora Pierce. I recommend it for anyone - especially girls - 12 and up. ...more
I wanted to "read" something by Tamora Pierce and this was the first available at the library. I quite enjoyed it. Girl disguises herself as boy to be trained as a knight. Fantasy. I'm not sure why I liked it so much, but it was really well done. I'm going to go on to the next one and read more by Tamora Pierce. I recommend it for anyone - especially girls - 12 and up. ...more

I really thought I'd like this more. I did enjoy it don't get me wrong - I just didn't really believe the end. I know there are more to come and so I know all the problems couldn't be resolved, but the way the main problem was solved just didn't do it for me and I just didn't get the threat they possed...I mean "they" weren't even in the novel until the very end and suddenly they're the "bad guys" - I know cryptic. I just don't want to give away the end :D I'm on to the next though and about the
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Tamora Pierce. Nuff said.
Anyway, all of her series that I've read--the Alanna series, the Wild Magic series--are all really good, and I may come back and add reviews later, but suffice it to say, READ TAMORA PIERCE!!! ...more
Anyway, all of her series that I've read--the Alanna series, the Wild Magic series--are all really good, and I may come back and add reviews later, but suffice it to say, READ TAMORA PIERCE!!! ...more

Jan 27, 2008
Renna Mira (AKA Enna Isilee)
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
books-i-own,
read-in-2012
Dear Tamora Pierce, thank you for reminding me of why I love to read.

Jun 11, 2008
Brillare
marked it as to-read

