I don't know what it is about Tamora Pierce, but when I get into Tortall, I don't ever want to leave.

My office building has a plethora of pigeons fluttering around it, and that, I think, added an extra dimension to reading Terrier.

I stopped reading this book on Friday, and the entire weekend I found myself longing for it, wishing I'd had the foresight to bring it home with me to devour.

Moreover, I truly desire a cat like Pounce to boss me around and dispense instructions.

It's as if Tortall has cast a spell on me, drawing me in and making me reluctant to return to the real world.

The combination of Pierce's captivating storytelling and the vivid imagery she creates makes the world of Tortall come alive in my mind.

I can't wait to pick up Terrier again and continue my adventures with the characters.

Perhaps one day, I'll have a feline companion like Pounce to keep me company and offer his unique brand of guidance.

Until then, I'll keep losing myself in the enchanting world of Tamora Pierce's Tortall.

I have an immense love for Tamora Pierce.

I recall attempting to read this some time ago but giving up during Beka's first day on the job. This was because none of the familiar characters I adored were present, haha. However, earlier this year, I snatched up all three books during a sale as I was determined to finally read them.

Beka is every bit as heroic as Alanna, Daine, and Keladry. I am enamored with her unique brand of magic and her attitude. Her magic, in particular - communicating with the dead via pigeons - is truly awesome. As always, Tammy weaves a rich tapestry of characters. Kora, Aniki, Lady Sabine, Goodwin, Tunstall - literally everyone - I loved them all.

"Terrier" is set two hundred years before the other Tortall books, with Beka becoming a member of the city guard, or the Dogs. While King Jonathan's Tortall remains the fictional realm I most desire to escape to, King Roger's is also quite remarkable. Technologically, it felt very much like the same world.

The plot does suffer from the same issue that every police procedural does - you can somewhat guess the villain from the start. Nevertheless, aside from that, I really enjoyed how it unfolded. I liked how Beka and the other Dogs were constantly interacting with the Rats and rushers.

And, of course, I adored Pounce.

This review was written for an island prompt in the Book Coven Pirate Challenge.

I absolutely adored this book. It was a unique combination of a police procedural and high fantasy, which made it truly captivating.

Set in the fascinating Tortall world, it had a light touch of magic that added an extra layer of charm.

I have the habit of reading while I work out, and this book was the first in a very long time that had such a powerful effect on me. It completely made me forget where I was and what I was doing. In fact, it made me wish that the workout session could go on for a lot longer so that I could continue indulging in this wonderful story.

The characters were well-developed, and the plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a truly immersive experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great read.

I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us in the future.

Set before all the other Tortall tales, this is the captivating story of George's ancestor, Beka Cooper. It takes us back to the early days of Tortall, a place that is darker and less recognizable. Crime is running rampant, and yet, despite having endured a very hard life, Beka chooses to join the 'Dogs'.

The Dogs are a group of dedicated guards whose task is to combat crime in the city. As a puppy, Beka embarks on her training alongside the most talented guards.

Beka has a special desire to assist the people in the poorer areas. There has been an alarming increase in disappearances, more than what is considered normal. With her touch of magic, Beka has certain advantages as she endeavors to track down those responsible. However, it is no easy feat and will be extremely dangerous.

I appreciate that this installment presents a darker side of Tortall, with slavery and crime plaguing every corner. Beka, too, is a much different heroine. Having grown up in the slums and lived a relatively unprivileged life, she brings a unique perspective. I truly enjoyed this book, but I must admit that perhaps I still have a slight preference for The Immortals series.

5 stars

This book is truly excellent. However, it took me a little while to get through it as I wasn't accustomed to the old English used within its pages.

The language presented a bit of a challenge at first, but as I persisted, I began to appreciate the beauty and charm of the old English. It added a unique flavor to the story and made the reading experience all the more special.

Despite the initial difficulty, I found myself completely engaged in the narrative. The characters were well-developed and the plot was captivating. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring literature written in old English or who simply enjoys a good read.

Overall, it was a great discovery and I'm glad I took the time to persevere and overcome the language barrier.

4.5

This was truly an excellent piece of work!

It initially took me some time to fully immerse myself in it because there were numerous characters and a fair amount of terminology to familiarize myself with. However, once I reached the 100-page mark, I became completely hooked.

The lead character was outstanding, and the supporting characters were equally engaging. The plot was highly interesting, constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Although the way Pierce concludes her stories sometimes feels a bit abrupt, I actually prefer this to having them drawn out for too long.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I am eagerly anticipating the release of the next book in the series!

I can't wait to see what new adventures and challenges the characters will face.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and engaging read.

Beka Cooper is a member of the newest class of Puppies to join the Dogs. The Dogs are the city's lawkeepers, patrolling the city day and night to combat crime. As a Puppy, Beka volunteers for the worst area in the city, the Lower City, and ends up with the most notorious Dogs from there, Goodwin and Tunstall.

Growing up in the Lower City, Beka witnessed a man leave her mother with five children and all she owned after her mother contracted Lung Rot. Beka pursued the man using her special abilities and, after reporting him to the Dogs, ended up disarming one of the biggest gangs of thugs in the Lower City. From that day forward, Beka's only desire was to be a Dog, and she joined as soon as she could, marking the beginning of her story.

I adore the world Tamora Pierce has crafted. Set in Tortall, this book follows a determined young woman as she navigates the most crime-ridden part of the city, driven by a sense of justice. Throughout the book, you truly feel the city's depravity and gain an amazing understanding of the people who live in this area - the fighters and survivors who will do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Moreover, the diverse cast of characters Pierce introduces in this book is both entertaining and engaging. From the Dogs who uphold the law to the Court of the Rogue (the city's thieves), people from all walks of life come together to battle a common enemy, the Shadow Snake.

United against a common foe, you see an unlikely group collaborating to catch a killer, ultimately disrupting the entire Lower City. This was a highly enjoyable read, and I was delighted to reenter the world of Tortall. I'm hoping the next book in the trilogy builds on this one and shows more of the interactions between all the different characters, as that was my favorite aspect of this book.

Even though I know Rosto is on the opposite side of the law from Beka, I firmly believe they would make an excellent pair. I'm glad this book didn't focus on romance, but I find it hilarious that he keeps trying to court her and she's so determined to say no, despite liking him. After all, what better way to maintain order in the city as a Dog than to date the new Rogue?

I truly had a great affection for numerous plot elements within this book.

The aspects such as law enforcement and the pursuit of the villain, the presence of magic, and the ability to communicate with pigeons or dust devils to obtain correspondents were really fascinating and unique from my perspective.

The characters were excellent, and the murders that they were attempting to solve were captivating. Personally, I also did like the first-person journal writing style.

However, the problem for me was that the book was extremely long and provided an excessive amount of details. I believe that if the book had been abbreviated, it would have been significantly better.

I came across a humorous review that stated the author would write things like, “She knocked on my door 5 times. I put on all 3 items of my clothing, then I took 6 steps to the door. She was standing there with 5 rolls.” Obviously, this is an exaggeration, but it kind of illustrates the point.

Also, we spent a considerable amount of time building up to figuring out who the snake was and what house the diggers were in, only for it all to be wrapped up in just one chapter. There were no action details for those significant take-downs, despite there being so many minor details leading up to the final chapters.

I did appreciate the twist regarding who the snake was, and I absolutely LOVE ROSTO. I adored this book during my childhood, but I'm excited to continue reading to see what occurs with ROSTO and Becka. It simply took me a long time to get through this book, and I found myself constantly checking how close I was to finishing, so I wasn't enjoying it as much as I desired during the third quarter or the middle halfish.

~ 3.5 stars ~

Terrier is the inaugural book of the Beka Cooper trilogy, part of Tamora Pierce's extensive collection set in the enchanting world of Tortall. In this volume, we accompany Rebekah 'Beka' Cooper, a sixteen-year-old, through her diary entries as she commences her first two months of training to become a Provost Guard, or 'Dog'. Just as she is chosen to work under the tutelage of two of the finest Provost Dogs (who are less than thrilled about having a 'Puppy' in their midst), the news breaks that her friend's child has been brutally murdered. Driven by her innate sense of loyalty and justice, Beka embarks on a quest for answers, only to discover that this is not an isolated incident. A menacing figure known as the Shadow Snake has been abducting and killing children throughout the seedy underbelly of the city. Thanks to Beka's secret magical powers - the ability to hear the whispers of the dead through pigeons and catch snippets of gossip carried by wind clusters - she sets out to unmask the Shadow Snake and put an end to his reign of terror before any more innocent lives are lost.

I found Terrier to be an enjoyable read, yet I must admit that it could have been more concise. The story had a tendency to drag, with Beka's diary entries often feeling like a drawn-out account. It was as if she was one of those people who take half an hour to convey a story that could be told in five minutes, meticulously detailing every insignificant aspect that added little to the overall plot. However, I will say that the diary format, while not to everyone's taste, did not bother me as much as I expected. Given that this is the first series in the Tortall timeline, the use of diary entries seems appropriate, especially considering that at the beginning of the book, we are presented with the diary entries of her descendants years later, reflecting on her actions. It was a clever and effective device that added depth and purpose to the narrative.

Beka, as a character, had her strengths and weaknesses. While her voice in the diary entries was not the most captivating or engaging, she herself was a remarkable individual. She was fearless in the face of danger, able to hold her own against men three times her size, yet would blush and freeze when called upon to speak in public. She was a tough and bad-ass female with a humble and shy side, which made her a truly endearing and relatable character.

Regrettably, the one aspect that prevented me from awarding this book a full four stars was the lack of world building. I felt that I learned very little about Tortall in this volume. The story thrust us into this unfamiliar world without providing any explanations or context about how things functioned. I understand that there are multiple books set in this world and that this may not be the ideal starting point, but since this book is the earliest in the timeline, there should have been some effort to establish what the world was like during Beka's era.

Nevertheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eager to see where Beka's journey takes her and how she comes to be regarded so highly by her descendants generations later.

I am rather late in joining the Tortall party. At the beginning, this book had a somewhat slow pace. However, as I delved deeper and became more acquainted with the characters and the essentially England-analogue world, it gradually grew on me.

Beka Cooper is a Puppy, undergoing training to become a guardsman, also known as a Dog. (Once the training is completed, a Puppy transforms into a Terrier.) Beka is extremely shy, yet competent in her training. She has the unique ability to hear ghosts that hitch rides on pigeons. Moreover, a cat that seems to possess much more than meets the eye has moved into her lodgings and follows her everywhere.

Guardsmen are paired with Puppies to mentor the young trainees. Beka is assigned to a pair of highly competent Dogs. The story chronicles how the three work together and how Beka's relationships and abilities prove useful as they investigate the kidnapping of children and the killing of several people.

I enjoyed this book far more than I had anticipated. Generally, I am no longer a fan of the standard fantasy set in a European-like setting. However, Beka Cooper was a truly terrific character, and I really relished her developing relationship with Clary and several other female characters. I also appreciated the way Tamora Pierce told the story through Beka's diary entries. I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

Deserves more than a 3, but less than the 4, which I rated the rest of the Tortall books so far. It is as entertaining and engaging as all of the Tortall books, yet I don't like it as much. Maybe there is just something amiss about reading in this day and age about a trainee in a corrupt law enforcement system that accepts bribes and sometimes engages in unnecessary violence against the lawbreakers they hold. Beka Cooper, of course, is one of the "good ones," and the criminals she deals with are child-beaters and murderers. However, she does sometimes hit her captives out of spite and anger, and that doesn't sit well with me. I'm also not a fan of the extended animal metaphors, which can seem dehumanizing. The law enforcement officers are formally known as guardians and trainee guardians, but informally called dogs and puppies. Beka's supervisors address her with commands like "heel" to walk beside them and "fetch" to go after an escaping suspect. Criminals are called "rats," with all the negative connotations that implies. Informants are called birdies, but in Beka's case, hers are literal birds (more on that below). That was the one animal metaphor that didn't seem icky.

I like the magic system that is explored in this series. I'm amazed at how many different ways Pierce can build out her magical world. Beka can hear the spirits of the dead, which is very useful for detective work. Spirits with unfinished business ride the bodies of pigeons and are drawn to Beka to tell her their stories. Beka also visits a series of ever-present "dust spinners" on certain street corners, cones of wind that pick up the voices of those around them and hold onto them until Beka comes to listen to their burdens, taking them away and bringing fresh dirt for them to spin and whirl around instead.

Like all of Pierce's protagonists, Beka starts off as an underdog (pun intended) who turns out to be extremely amazing at her job but has one major flaw that she must overcome to be even better. In Beka's case, it is public speaking, just as Kel in Protector of the Small is afraid of heights. When Beka was a little girl, she helped lead the guardians to the location of a particularly vile gang because one of its members wronged her mother. Now Beka is old enough to be a trainee guard, and she is assigned to two senior guards who don't usually take on trainees. She wins them over with her determination and dedication and ends up helping them solve two major crime mysteries by obsessing over the crimes like a terrier worrying its prey until she is able to put all the pieces together.

She is also housemates with a band of outlaws who are some of the most interesting characters in the book, and I will read on in the series especially for their sake. I want to know what will happen with handsome Rosto as the new Rogue, king of the criminal underbelly of the city.

Speaking of rogues, Beka Cooper is the ancestor of George Cooper, who plays a major role in the Song of the Lioness series. I love seeing how all the different strands of the Tortall series interconnect.

The Provost's Dog series by Tamora Pierce is truly one of a kind. Beka Cooper, the protagonist, is not your typical hero. She's not training to be a knight or a warrior, nor is she the child of a well-known character from a previous series. Instead, she's a rookie Dog in the Provost's Guard, the police force in Tortall. The first time I read Terrier: The Legend of Beka Cooper #1, I have to admit it wasn't my favorite. The rhythm was different from Pierce's other works, more similar to the Daughter of the Lioness series. However, with a second read, I found myself growing to like Beka and her world more and more.

Written through journal entries, the book gives us a detailed look at Beka's daily life and her efforts to protect the helpless in the Lower City. It offers a new perspective on Tortall, focusing on the commoners and the legal system. There are also references to the Tortallan age we're more familiar with, which adds an interesting layer to the story. Beka is a strong female protagonist, and I highly recommend this book and the series to pre-teens, teens, and YA enthusiasts, especially those already familiar with Pierce's work.

The series continues with Bloodhound and Mastiff, both of which are also highly rated. In addition to the Provost's Dog series, there are many other great books in the Tortall Universe, such as the Song of the Lioness series and the Wild Magic quartet. Whether you're new to the world of Tortall or a longtime fan, there's something for everyone to enjoy.