Crazy for Young Adult Books discussion
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Tortall and Other Lands
BUDDY READS: ARCHIVED
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Tortall (Multiple Series) by Tamora Pierce → Start Date: April 9th 2017
I finished book 2! Working on book 3. I'll post my thoughts here in a little bit. Nothing near as detailed as Seraphina's though, probably ;)
The first 2 books in this series were always my favorite. I remember blushing when I was younger and would read about (view spoiler) even though Ms. Pierce writes about it so tastefully with no explicit details. I was a kid who got embarrassed easily lol.I love how this book develops on the first one and we start getting deeper into some of the layers. Reading the end, it was more abrupt than I remembered. Maybe knowing (view spoiler) It makes sense to me why Alanna is feeling very incomplete at the beginning of the 3rd book. It did seem like a rushed, not-quite-resolved-yet-too-tidily-wrapped-up-in-a-bow ending. I love how her sex is revealed (view spoiler) That is so perfect. Knowing her, she probably would have put it off and put it off forever until something like that forced the issue. There's never a "good time" for those things, and she sure is a stubborn one. Wouldn't have made it to knighthood otherwise!
I love this series, but I finally realize why The Protector of the Small is my favorite over this one. There is so much time crammed into so few books in Alanna's series. Kel gets 4 books from 10-18 years old while Alanna has only 2! That is part of what feels so rushed in these books. It's kinda cool that we get 2 books of Alanna's adventures, though. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man was always my least favorite of the series, however. It's not that it's not a great book, I just didn't feel as much of the KNIGHTHOOD part that the first 2 were focused on. And I was obsessed with the Knight part. This one is much more about the magic and the Bazhir culture, which is still interesting, but wasn't as interesting to me as a kid. Especially with how the women in the tribes are viewed. We'll see if anything changes for me with this reading!
Well, that was a lot more than I expected I'd write. Lol!
I'm still on the first book. :(I'm still in my reading slump it seems. Hopefully I'll be done book one soon. :/
★ℕłℂØℓҾ★ (Nix) wrote: "The first 2 books in this series were always my favorite. I remember blushing when I was younger and would read about [spoilers removed] even though Ms. Pierce writes about it so tastefully with no..."I forgot they (view spoiler) It's in the Hand of the Goddess right? While on their trip or in the temple place???
★ℕłℂØℓҾ★ (Nix) wrote: "The first 2 books in this series were always my favorite. I remember blushing when I was younger and would read about [spoilers removed] even though Ms. Pierce writes about it so tastefully with no..."I agree that if I had to choose between the Alanna series and the Protector of the Small series I'd probably choose Protector of the Small. :)
Bookbuyer wrote: "I forgot they (view spoiler) It's in the Hand of the Goddess right? While on their trip or in the temple place???"It's pretty subtle! First he just holds her that one night after she dresses up like a girl, I think, then he "teaches her about love" over the span of some months. I think those were the words used at some point :D
I agree that the 3rd book is the weakest out of the four, my favorite is he last one Lioness Rampant. Alanna is finally matured by then, and we finally get to see her (view spoiler) I still prefer George over Jon though, and that preference gets much stronger after reading the 3rd book (view spoiler) so I wish that she had chosen Goerge over Jon to introduce her to (view spoiler)
Was going to read another one last night, but I went down for a nap after a long day at work and ended up sleeping through the night. Hate it when that happens, I had two books I wanted to finish.
Was going to read another one last night, but I went down for a nap after a long day at work and ended up sleeping through the night. Hate it when that happens, I had two books I wanted to finish.
I stayed up way too late reading lol. I very much agree. The fact that Jon was acting that way was a sure sign that he and Alanna weren't going to work out. It's obvious they care deeply for each other, but that's definitely a relationship that was doomed from the start. Can you see Alanna being Queen and staying in Corus the rest of her life? Surrounded by politics and propriety? She'd be a horrible queen with that temper of hers ;) I'm very much for George, as well! I just started reading Lioness Rampant and it's my 3rd favorite after the first 2, but usually I lump those 2 together as knight training and this is my second favorite. Especially since this is the longest book so we get the most development of the story (I think). Lots and lots of layers! I remembered that she goes up a mountain for the Dominion Jewel, but I totally forgot about this fling with (view spoiler) She is such a perfect queen. It sparked my memory about the later series with Daine and Kel where there are (view spoiler) I'm surprised Tamora Pierce never wrote a series for a girl becoming one of them. It would've been interesting to delve into (view spoiler)
This IS the book where Alanna really hits her stride, with her magic and her skills. I love that she's a lifelong learner and convinces (view spoiler) It's pretty cool that these 2 legends meet up and travel together, and I like that there's a relationship between them, especially another doomed one (view spoiler)
That's one of the great things about this series, the roamnce isn't rushed or pushed aside, it's simply a part of her life and her ideas about love and who she loves achange as she herself changes. I could never forget (view spoiler)
Now that you mention it I'm also surprised we don't get a book about a girl becoming one of Thayet's riders, it's just as tough to get into them as it is to become a knight, with different challenges such as the fact that they are all noble women, think of the politics! It would give an even more in depth view of how the men view women in power, maybe more so than Kel's story because it's not about knights and chivalry.
I would have liked to learn more about Buri in particular. Thayet is awesome, but she was destined to beocme a queen at some point, even with her father's interference. But I doubt Buri thought she'd end up in such a position of power, and I want more about how she ends up with Raoul! he's my favorite knight from Alanna's generation, well favorite male knight anyway. But I feel like Gary and Raoul get left out more than the others. Even Alex has his time in the spotlight when he tries to kill Alanna and sicne he works for Roger. I want a story about them.
Now that you mention it I'm also surprised we don't get a book about a girl becoming one of Thayet's riders, it's just as tough to get into them as it is to become a knight, with different challenges such as the fact that they are all noble women, think of the politics! It would give an even more in depth view of how the men view women in power, maybe more so than Kel's story because it's not about knights and chivalry.
I would have liked to learn more about Buri in particular. Thayet is awesome, but she was destined to beocme a queen at some point, even with her father's interference. But I doubt Buri thought she'd end up in such a position of power, and I want more about how she ends up with Raoul! he's my favorite knight from Alanna's generation, well favorite male knight anyway. But I feel like Gary and Raoul get left out more than the others. Even Alex has his time in the spotlight when he tries to kill Alanna and sicne he works for Roger. I want a story about them.
It's probably been 6 or 7 years since I've read these books! There's so much I don't remember! Like (view spoiler) It's almost like reading them for the first time again.Raoul and Gary are so awesome. I wish we'd gotten more of them too. I'm glad we get Raoul a bit in Kel's books at least. She becomes his squire, doesn't she? Goodness, I've forgotten so much!
Yes she does, he's an active part of the 3rd book "Squire" with small parts in the others.
Pretty sure the first time I read the ending I jumped up and screamed. I was that happy.
I'm starting the 3rd after I walk my dog, definitely going to finish tonight just so I can start the 4th sooner.
I'm starting the 3rd after I walk my dog, definitely going to finish tonight just so I can start the 4th sooner.
I'll be starting book one of The Immortals next! My sister was obsessed with Daine when we were kids. She wanted to name her first daughter after her :) I always thought I'd name my children after Alanna and Jonathan. Course I had 2 boys. And neither of them is named Jonathan lol. I figured George was too common. And there's the monkey...
lol, I'm more likely to name any daughter I have Kel, Daine is actually my least favorite girl out of the lot. Especially in the second book of her series. I hate to say it but she comes off as a bratty teenager sometimes, I still love her, who couldn't? But there were times :p
Here's my review for The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here's my review for The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I liked the first book of Daine best when I read them before. I do remember the second book being my least favorite, but I don't remember why. So maybe your reason is why :)
I agree, the first book is the best, I just love the relationship between Daine and Numair at that point. I still like the two of them as a couple, but it seemed kind o fast paced. Numair may have loved Daine for a while, but it always seemed to me that Daine rushed into the relationship. But then maybe she needed to do that to step out of the student/teacher dynamic.
I'd completely forgotten that Liam was trained by the Shang Wildcat, who also took part in Kel's training. I love finding little tidbits like this ^.^
I love that too! Pierce does such a great job of weaving the stories together
I just got to the part where Thom dies, made me cry...and It's not even over yet. Liam and Faithful *cries*
Seraphina wrote: "I just got to the part where Thom dies, made me cry...and It's not even over yet. Liam and Faithful *cries*"Liam and Faithful dying was the worst! Thom dying was sad--he IS her brother--but he certainly didn't make himself very likable in the books.
true, it was what he said when he died. despite how unlikable he was he definitely loved his sister. Plus I'm a twin myself and it hits hard when one twin dies. It makes me think about my sister.
Awe :( I can see that. I'm not a twin but I have lots of friends who are. His last moments really were redemptive for him
Exactly, it makes me a bit sad to realize that in the other books he's rarely mentioned, despite how powerful he was, he didn't leave his mark in a good way. As I recall the only mention of him is when Alanna names her son after him.
I think you're right. I feel like he was hardly mentioned in the Alanna books too. His biggest role was definitely in the 4th book where he raised Roger from the dead then was drained and killed by him.
yeah, he was more of a plot device than a character. without him Roger wouldn't have come back, but he didn't play any other role than that, not really
True
lol, jsut reading Wild Magic and I love the part where Daine tries to speak to the dolphins by stopping her heart, when she's brought back Numair's reaction has to be one of the best moments in the Tortall series. Hilarious.
Eeep!!! We're actually reading the same book at the same time! But I'm behind you. Daine is only just testing her range with Cloud and Numair right now for me
Finally!!!!!The first book is my favorite out of the four, I just love Numair and While Daine is my least favorite girl, her powers are amazing and cool. I finished this one already and plan on starting wolf-speaker tomorrow. But I work all weekend, plus with Easter weekend I have family plans. I had my day off today and went down to the beach to read with the dog. Best place to read a book when the weather is good.
Ahead of me again then :) Well I've come to the conclusion that the reason Pierce didn't write about a character joining the Queen's Riders is because Daine basically is one in this book. Except she doesn't have to attend the lessons they have to, which are probably similar to the knight training ones. So we get a different side of the world with Daine's wild magic training
So I read in the back of a copy of Wild Magic that Tamora Pierce initially wrote all 4 Alanna books as one book. That makes so much more sense to me. The first book feels almost underdeveloped this time around (even though I still LOVE it) and the rest of the series builds on it. If it was all one, big, long epic book the plot makes more sense to me :)
Also, I finished Wild Magic, and I love little Skysong and am so sad for her mother. As a mother myself, I can't imagine leaving her all alone to go attack the ships. I guess she trusts Daine enough to know her baby will be all right
I think it makes a big difference in that the mother dragon wasn't very old herself, like Daine said she was basically a teenager and emotions run high after an experience like the one that dragon had. I love Skysong (Kitten) makes me wish I had a dragon myself ^.^
Had a 9 hour shift today so I'm not reading much today, I'll start Wolf-Speaker but I'm not aiming to finish it for the next couple of days.
How did you do for the Read-a-thon? I read a lot more than I thought I would, 14 books if I finish the one I plan on reading tonight
Had a 9 hour shift today so I'm not reading much today, I'll start Wolf-Speaker but I'm not aiming to finish it for the next couple of days.
How did you do for the Read-a-thon? I read a lot more than I thought I would, 14 books if I finish the one I plan on reading tonight
Woah! I think I finished maybe 4 or 5...but I've been packing the house for a move too
I've been trying to renovate, but I have so many books and not enough boxes. The struggle is real :p
^So true! I've been finishing up some other books for a challenge, but I'm about to start Wolf Speaker now :)
Same here, so many challenges, so little time ^.^
I'm only about halfway throught that one, I can hold off on finishing it until you catch up if you want me to.
I'm only about halfway throught that one, I can hold off on finishing it until you catch up if you want me to.
If you'd like! I figure we'll get behind and catch up to each other now and then :) So I had started reading the first book of Protector of the Small before we started this buddy read, and I just realized Numair is a lot like Neal. Besides the fact Neal has a thing for Daine too...they both have to be stopped before going off on lists. It made me smile to read that!
lol, I remember the part where Neal and Numair meet and he freezes the gang in the middle of a fight, only to almost forget to unfreeze them because he got distracted.
I just finished Wolf-Speaker, I said before it's my least favorite out of ALL the Tortall books and the main reason for that is because of how Daine treats Maura. Here's a 10 year old girl running away from home to warn the king about her family's treason and Daine treats her like a nuisance. I felt like the book was basically Daine going through a nasty bout of teenage drama, and I'm not a fan of kids/teenagers other than family.
I just finished Wolf-Speaker, I said before it's my least favorite out of ALL the Tortall books and the main reason for that is because of how Daine treats Maura. Here's a 10 year old girl running away from home to warn the king about her family's treason and Daine treats her like a nuisance. I felt like the book was basically Daine going through a nasty bout of teenage drama, and I'm not a fan of kids/teenagers other than family.
I just about did too. (I'm waiting to read the last few pages til I find out if my team for a challenge in another group gets a "fast forward" and more points lol.) But I'm starting Emperor Mage now!Yeah, Daine is kinda a bitch to Maura. I like the new things she learns how to do in this one and the introduction to her father (even though she doesn't know he's her father yet).
Well, he was in that one scene in Wild Magic, but we didn't know it then. The badger must have a good reason for keeping this knowledge from her. I'll try and start Emperor Mage tomorrow, I love the new stuff that happens, not to mention we finally get a hint of romance.
I'm about halfway through, and it's only just starting to be mentioned. By "it" I mean the fact that they're NOT doing anything LOL! I definitely thought it was weird people would even think that since their age difference is so pronounced. I like them together, but it's weird to think he met her when she was so young. She's been through so much that she was aged so early in life.
True, I think I'd be much more uneasy about the age difference if this was a contemporary novel. When I think about it, this time period, even though it's fantasy, it probably wasn't that unusual for people with age gaps to be together. whether that was though arranged marriages or because of how mature these kids get because of the wars and such.
That's true. Like when the Emperor wants Kalasin to marry his heir and Daine is indignant because she's only 10 and Thayet won't think of arranging a marriage until she's at least 13 or 14.
Even then, in our own history it wouldn't have been unusual for Kalasin to be engaged at birth if she were a nobles daughter. But I'm glad Thayet doesn't agree, she'd want Kalasin to marry for to benefit the kingdom, and for love as she did. I think this is another character I wish was in more of the books, or had her own.
Oh yeah, Kalasin would definitely be an interesting one to see more from! I'd never thought about that as far as engagements from birth in noble families, but you're right. I'm glad Jonathan and Thayet are making so many changes to the way things are run in their kingdom. I doubt they'd force their daughter to marry if she decided she didn't want to ;)
Even their son, Roald was it? ends up marrying for love. I can't wait to read Protector of the Small again to see the gang.
Crazy for Young Adult Books
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and thanks! I dont write reviews like that all the time, Im so far behind its sad. but when I do I like to hit all the points I can.