As I delved into this book, the thought crossed my mind that it would make a great movie. However, now that I have completed it, I have come to the realization that I was mistaken. Beka Cooper truly merits a BBC mini-series, with expertly crafted 3-hour long episodes.

The world within the book is incredibly detailed and realistic. There is a vibrant tapestry of life (and death) unfolding in the Lower City. If any single plot thread were to be sacrificed in order to squeeze the story into a movie, it would be a travesty.

The Lower City is a hotbed of gamblers, smugglers, slavers, thieves, and every other conceivable type of criminal. The inhabitants there strive to scrape together enough to move up and out, or else they vanish into the shadows. Some do so unwillingly. And now, with children disappearing left and right, pointing to a Boogeyman that the authorities don't even believe in, mysterious magical rocks emerging in places they shouldn't, and one old criminal lord causing unrest, the situation is reaching a boiling point. But the Rogue, the supposed master thief who should be looking out for the common folk, is reluctant to take any action, and the Guard is already stretched thin.

Thankfully, Rebakah "Beka" Cooper is a tenacious puppy. With the ability to hear the spirits of the dead carried by the pigeons, she has caught wind of it all, and the hunt for those who prey on the innocent has commenced.

"My Dogs don't know what it's like to have no one fighting for them. They do their jobs and that gives them plenty of work, looking out for them that fill the Happy Bags. I won't content myself with filling the Happy Bags. Not ever. The Lower City is mine. Its people are mine - its children are mine. If I find them that's doing all this kidnapping and murdering, they'd best pray for mercy. Because once I get my teeth in 'em, I will never let them go." That's Beka for you. She may be shy and tongue-tied, but she is fiercely loyal, brave, down to earth, and hardworking. I never realized how much I had longed for this type of main character until I began following Beka's story.

Read this book. Forget about all that silly YA drivel that has been cluttering the shelves lately. This book offers outstanding worldbuilding, a society that makes perfect sense, realistic characterizations, no one-dimensional villains, no absurd instalove, and no idiotic unnecessary love triangle. And it has characters with common sense! You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find such characters these days.

This book truly astonished me right from the start.

The writing style was so distinct compared to every other Tortall series I've read lately. It was presented in a "journal" format, with the majority of the story consisting of reflections on events that had occurred earlier in the day (or night) to Beka (or the occasional others with journal entries included).

Moreover, it was remarkably dark for a Tortall book. While there have indeed been dark happenings in the previous novels, such as dead children, slavery, assassinations, mentions of rape, and those terrifying death machines in Protector of the Small, etc., this one seemed to thrust the darkness right in your face in contrast to the others.

The main characters in this novel were all exceptionally well-developed. I adored the variety among them and how well they meshed as a group. The two "dogs" assigned to Beka were also amazing, especially Goodwin. However, I'm still rather concerned about the fact that they a) collect what is essentially "protection money" from the townspeople (both "straight" and "crooked"), and b) they're actually encouraged to take bribes. What the heck.

The two concurrent storylines/major issues in this book were masterfully executed. I really loved the way they intertwined throughout the story. Once again, though, it had an extremely dark plotline for Tortall, with children being kidnapped and killed, and adults being taken to slave away in a mining situation and then killed instead of being paid. I can't help but be proud that I guessed the one behind the "shadow snake" thing. I love it when I correctly guess the villain.

Side note: hands down the best character in this book? Pounce the cat. I see you, Faithful, and I'm so glad you have "returned" to us (even if it is a prequel series).

The reread of this book was significantly better than the first time around.

During my initial reading, I had only given it 2 stars. However, upon this second encounter, I found myself truly enjoying the characters and the pacing.

The author has done a great job of creating well-developed and engaging characters that draw the reader in and make them care about what happens to them.

The pacing is also excellent, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the story moving forward at a brisk pace.

I am now very much looking forward to reading the next installment in the series and would rate this book 4 stars.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read with great characters and a fast-paced plot.

I have an intense love for stories that are set in the Tortall Realm.

Truly, I really, really do. Cross my heart. Hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye.

(You know, I've always wondered why kids in our country say these rather strange things when they're trying to convince others that they're telling the truth. It sounds quite painful. Maybe that's where the phrase "the truth hurts" comes from? )

But anyway...por favor.

This particular book, unfortunately, almost bored me to death. The sole reason I managed to finish it was because I have an extremely high respect for Pounce. I believe it speaks volumes about a book when the only character that manages to pique my interest is the main heroine's cat.

Okay, I truly have no clue how anyone managed to get through this book.

And I'm also baffled as to why anyone would give it such outstanding reviews.

I haven't read any of the author's other books, and now I'm not sure if I ever will.

This book was extremely painful for me to attempt to finish, and to be honest, I didn't succeed.

I made it to the halfway point (which took me a whole month to reach because it was so bad - usually, I can finish a book in a day or two if it's good), and then I just couldn't take it anymore.

There are very few books that I don't complete once I start them.

I don't know why, but once I begin something, I feel compelled to finish it, even if I don't really like it.

However, this one I just couldn't. Here are some of my issues with it:

1) How many times do I have to read that she is a Puppy training to be a Dog? I understand - the police-like people are called Dogs, and she's a trainee, so she's a Puppy. Got it. But you don't have to keep pounding it into my head.

2) It's written like a diary, which is great. I've read other things where that has worked, but this one isn't really written like a diary.

Well, maybe it's like the diary of someone with a perfect memory and unlimited time.

So she's busy all day before going to training, then walking her rounds, and somehow she has enough time to write out countless pages in her diary and still get some sleep? Right.

It just doesn't really read like a diary, so the whole concept of it being a diary annoyed me because I didn't believe it.

I mean, really, who remembers every word of the conversations they've had?

3) How much detailed information do you need? Definitely not as much as the main character seems to remember about every tiny little thing.

I don't care that when someone came to visit, she knocked on the door three times, then you opened it, saw her standing there with a basket of rolls, you let her in, she walked six steps to the blue chair and sat down, and this is the exact conversation about nothing that you had, and on and on.

Who really cares? I don't. It's not important to the story, and most of this diary is just insignificant details that don't matter to anything that's going on or further the plot at all.

A simple "someone came to visit, we chatted for a while, and ate the rolls she brought" would be fine. There's way too much detail that bored me to tears.

4) The main character is supposed to be extremely shy. I mean, she keeps repeating it over and over and over again.

Yep, I get it, you're shy. But then why don't you act shy 90% of the time?

I mean, yes, you're oh so shy when you complain about how shy you are and how you can't talk to anyone because you're so shy.

But then two seconds later, you have no problem talking to people and doing whatever. Sure.

I'll believe you're so shy when you actually act that way.

I really don't understand the appeal of this book. I thought it was way too weighed down by stupid details that didn't matter and was incredibly boring.

No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get through the book. It was painful just getting halfway through it.

This book was not for me.

I really struggled with the language it used. It seemed both old fashioned and made up, and as a result, I wasn't always sure what the characters were saying.

I also had some thoughts about the story. I thought the plot seemed rather simple, and it felt like the rest of the book was just filler that I could have easily done without.

However, there were some redeeming qualities. Beka isn't a bad character. She's smart and a good fighter. I really liked her unique ability to speak to the dead through birds, and her cat Pounce was pretty funny.

She was trying to prove herself to the dogs while also solving the mystery behind the kids being killed, and I thought she did a great job at her job.

But overall, there were too many characters, and I couldn't keep most of them straight. The side fights didn't seem to have a clear point, and there wasn't any romance to keep me interested.

The ending did give a glimpse into a possible relationship, but I'm not intrigued enough to continue reading.

Maybe this book just wasn't my cup of tea.

I simply don't understand why people would like this. It's truly horrible. It appears to be a diary written by what seems to be a twelve-year-old. I mean, seriously.

"My peaches are well enough. Doubtless they would be larger if I put on more pounds, but as I have no sweetheart and am not wishful of one for now, my peaches are fine as they are."

This kind of writing makes me want to die. I feel like I need to bleach my eyeballs after reading this. It's just so strange and unappealing. I can't fathom what could possibly attract others to it. Maybe it's some kind of inside joke or something that I'm not getting. But to me, it's just a waste of time and a source of confusion. I really hope there's something better out there for people to read and enjoy.

Definitely not my favorite Pierce so far.

I think it's because it's a lot different than any of the books in The Protector of the Small or The Song of the Lioness series.

For one thing, it's twice as long. I've become accustomed to Pierce's books being fast and enjoyable reads.

The world portrayed in those series is also distinct from the one in Terrier. This makes sense as those occur centuries after this one, but it still caught me off guard a bit.

Moreover, I just didn't have the same connection with Beka as I did with Kel or Alanna. Female characters don't necessarily have to be likable, but I couldn't support many of Beka's thoughts about others or the way she treated them at times.

The dogs are the police, so they have significant authority, and it seemed that they sometimes overstepped. This was originally published 13 years ago, but the portrayal of the dogs doesn't hold up well in 2019, given the abundance of evidence and discussion surrounding police brutality.

And although I understand it's a different world, it still made me a little uneasy.

However, there was still a great deal to love. I always appreciate seeing how Pierce's novels are filled with women, and her secondary characters are always entertaining and interesting.

She's also very good at writing her young protagonists as they navigate the world and discover themselves.

Then there's Pounce, the cat who might be a god, a constellation, or something else entirely.

And the fact that Beka can listen to the ghosts that inhabit pigeons (until they obtain justice, of course). I truly enjoyed that aspect and seeing magic used in a different manner than in the other books.

I'm curious to see where the series will lead, but I'll be finishing Alanna's series first.

Wow! I have always had a strong desire to read something written by Tamora Pierce, and those who recommended her were truly spot-on.

I was completely enamored with the fact that it was a fantasy world, yet the police work took center stage. I have a great preference for books where the fantastical elements are seamlessly blended with everyday life, just like in The Last Dragonslayer, which I absolutely ADORE.

The mysteries presented in the story were highly intriguing, and the pacing was近乎完美. There was a constant abundance of action, with no dull moments. Even the patrol and surveillance scenes managed to be captivating. There were numerous secondary characters, but all of them made fairly frequent appearances, so I didn't forget any of them or their relationships with each other.

Beka was an outstanding character. She was hardworking and determined to assist the city and the people she had grown up with. I really liked her relationship with Tunstall and Goodwin, her training "Dogs" and the best partner pair at the Jane Street kennel. She wasn't overly perfect as a trainee, but it was clearly shown why, precisely, Beka deserved to be assigned with the best Dogs at the kennel.

Speaking of Dogs and kennels, the one aspect that I wasn't a big fan of was all the slang terms. Especially in the beginning, since I hadn't read anything by Pierce before, I was more than a little confused by all the new terms being thrown around. However, overall, it was a great book and definitely worthy of 4 stars.

This was truly a pleasant surprise! Imagine a middle grade procedural crime fantasy that combines magic with a smart and tough female MC. I have a penchant for the smart, tough female MC trope, and when it's executed well, it makes for an incredibly enjoyable read.

Terrier was penned in the early 2000s, which perhaps accounts for its MG audience rating. The MC, though young at 16, could easily pass for YA nowadays, especially considering the gritty and violent nature (albeit off page) of the Lower City of Corus. The writing style, a procedural journal for Beka to enhance her memory for the job, is quite unique.

I was initially unaware that the story was presented in journal form, but I found this format quite engaging. Despite some initial reservations about its suitability for this type of story, it worked remarkably well, and Beka's voice shone through with great strength.

Beka's character is truly endearing. She is practical, determined, and intelligent, yet shy. She has a deep love for the Lower City and a desire to help its people, having once been one of them. However, reporting to her senior officers poses a challenge for her. As someone who was also shy as a child, I could empathize with Beka's anxiety when it came to speaking in front of others. Another fascinating aspect of her character is her ability to hear the spirits of the dead. Pigeons carried these spirits, and she could listen to them recount their final moments. I also adored her sidekick, Pounce, an extraordinary cat with potentially magical origins. Cat lovers are sure to fall in love with Pounce.

The other characters are equally well-developed. I particularly liked her senior officers, Dogs Tunstall and Goodwin, veteran officers who also have a passion for serving in the Lower City. Her fellow training friends, Verene and Ersken, are likeable and supportive. Then there are her friends on the other side of the law, Kora, Aniki, and Rosto, who form a diverse group that helps in unexpected ways and adds a touch of humor.

I was captivated by both of the mysteries in the story - the Shadow Snake who abducts children and the enigma of the fire rocks. They maintained my interest throughout, and although I managed to figure out the identity of the Shadow Snake, I can envision upper middle grade readers thoroughly enjoying this type of mystery.

I've already obtained the second and third books from the library and can't wait to discover what other mysteries Beka and the rest of the characters will encounter.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers who relish a good crime mystery set in a fantasy world. While there are references to violence (given that they are officers in the most perilous part of the city), it is not excessive or graphic.

I think this might have been an extremely HORRIBLE place to commence in the universe.

I'm not certain whether all of the books are penned in this identical format. However, the constant jumping around and the continuous referral to terms and things that lacked any explanation for a new reader were truly exasperating and made it not a very pleasurable read at all.

I came across a list of chronological order and desired to begin from there, but I guess that was a poor choice. This book was also crafted for a rather young audience within the young adult spectrum, and as a result, I really never felt connected to any of the characters.

Having said that, it wasn't a BAD book per se. It was just perhaps better to start reading it after one already has knowledge of the universe.

Probably NOT my best introduction to Tamora Pierce considering the love I observe from others, haha. It's yet another one of those books that I would probably have adored if I had read it when I was younger.

Today, I had the pleasure of reading a story that made me feel as if I was seeing the world through Beka's eyes. It was truly an interesting experience.

However, there was one aspect that I found a bit off-putting. The amount of slang used was quite substantial, and unfortunately, much of it was not explained. I searched in the back of the book hoping to find a glossary, but to no avail.

To my surprise, I later discovered that there is indeed a glossary. It is cleverly sandwiched between the end of "Terrier" and the beginning of a few-page preview of the next book. *facepalm* I guess I should have looked more carefully. Overall, despite this small hiccup, the story was engaging and I look forward to reading more.

I think it would be beneficial for the author to either include the glossary in a more prominent location or perhaps explain some of the more obscure slang within the text itself. This would make the reading experience even more enjoyable for readers like me who are not familiar with all the slang terms.

Nonetheless, I still had a great time reading and I'm excited to see where the story takes me next.