The first time I delved into Terrier, I was immediately struck by what I considered to be some of Tammy's finest writing in years. It swiftly ascended to the ranks of my favorite Tortall books, a position it still firmly holds even after my latest re-read in anticipation of Bloodhound. Terrier exudes a sense of freshness that I attribute to several key factors.

Firstly, it is written in the first person, a departure from Tammy's previous novels (though she has penned short stories in this style). Secondly, the diary/journal format is a total first for her. Tammy masterfully crafts this style, providing a legitimate reason for the detailed entries while maintaining the authenticity of a diary. Thirdly, being set 200 years before the other Tortall stories allows for greater freedom of expression. Fourthly, Beka is a unique character, distinct from the previous leads yet still firmly rooted in the Tortall universe. And fifthly, Terrier explores a previously mentioned but unexplained organization and spends time with the ordinary people of Tortall, offering a reflection of our own world.

The combination of the first two points presented a challenge to Tammy's writing, preventing it from becoming formulaic. All these elements, when combined, offer a全新的体验 in a familiar world. Beka is a down-to-earth character, a commoner born and raised in the slums, working and socializing with other common folk. This is a refreshing change and enables Tammy to create a whole new linguistic style and a rich array of slang and curse words. The language enriches the text and makes it more realistic. The detective/mystery aspect of the book also provides a new framework for Tammy's writing. The plot progresses at a steady pace, with Beka gradually piecing together the case through her work with her partners, friends, and unusual informants. The resolution of the mystery is both surprising and satisfying.

Alongside Beka, we are introduced to a diverse cast of supporting characters, all of whom we come to love. There are her partners, Goodwin and Tunstall, as well as fellow Dogs and friends. Rosto, the lovable rat, is clearly on the path to becoming the Rouge, and once again, Tammy makes us fall in love with this character. Pounce, also known as 'Faithful' in 'Song of the Lioness', makes a welcome return, and his character is further developed in Terrier. The book also builds on established mythology, with Beka's recall and observational skills and her unique magic tying Terrier neatly into the larger Tortallan universe.
I am truly grateful for the evolution of the children's and young adult publishing world since 'Song of the Lioness', as it has given us books as complex and rewarding as Terrier. It is both a self-contained adventure story and a solid foundation for the subsequent books in the trilogy. The presentation of the book is beautiful, with its cover photography and the personal touches inside that bring Beka's diary to life. Terrier is a must-read for any Tammy fan and an excellent introduction for those new to her works.

This is the most recent of Tamora Pierce's books, and perhaps the least hyped.

I believe I know the reason. I cannot claim that I was especially captivated by the plot, which was both transparent and overly complex.

Nor was I particularly drawn to the writing style, which combines a diary format with street slang in what seems like a hypocritical combination.

Yesterday, I discovered that this book is to be the first in a series of three. Oh Tammy, please don't let it be so!

I simply cannot endure too much of this style. If the next two books in the series are anything like this one, I may very well skip them.

The main character's personality was inconsistent and improbable. This book only received the rating it did because the writing is still engaging enough that I read it from beginning to end, despite its flaws.

4.25/5 stars


This is such an excellent beginning to a trilogy! I have an immense affection for Beka's character. She is truly relatable, especially if you are an individual who is extremely shy, loathes speaking in front of crowds, and becomes overly nervous. I adored this aspect of her. Moreover, I loved that she doesn't overcome her shyness within just a few chapters. It is an integral part of her character, and she grapples with it. I found it fascinating to witness her struggle.

Rosto, on the other hand... I believe I might be in love! However, the only thing that I wasn't a huge enthusiast of was the ending... SPOILERS...

When he kisses Beka. I felt that this could have been postponed until the next book. There were indeed feelings present, but it simply didn't seem like the opportune moment. It felt a bit rushed and could have been developed more gradually to enhance the overall storyline and the relationship between the two characters.

Despite this minor drawback, the book as a whole is captivating and has left me eagerly anticipating the next installment in the trilogy.

This is probably the third time I've reread Terrier (I've never reread any of the other books in the series) and I still think it holds up.

The main drawback of this book is always going to be the diary aspect. I'm not sure why Pierce suddenly decided to write an entire book in diary format after years of using the third person. It just feels so artificial. It definitely requires one to suspend disbelief. After all, no one writes thousands upon thousands of words describing their day in such perfect detail, including full conversations.

However, at the same time, I wouldn't want to read a whole book that actually sounds like a real diary. Apart from the introductions in each entry and a few days when the protagonist is too tired to write, it doesn't sound natural at all. It's a bit annoying, and I mostly prefer to imagine it as regular first-person narration. But I can understand how this might be a deal breaker for some people.

I really like the day-in-the-life aspect of this book. Of course, there are two major cases that Beka is investigating, but a significant portion of the book is dedicated to covering everything she did each day. I truly enjoy books like this because they offer interesting perspectives on what the normal world looks like, not just during times of heightened drama.

I also found it enjoyable on this reread to notice all the foreshadowing. When I initially read the book, I didn't figure out the twist much before Beka did, so it was cool to catch all the little details from the beginning.

Overall, I still think this is a really great book. I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to the Tortall universe, but once you've read a couple of other books in the series, it's definitely worth a read. It's fun to have a police procedural set in a fantasy world. I'm very curious to see how my reread of the rest of the trilogy goes because I distinctly remember not liking Bloodhound or Mastiff much at all.

I'm not entirely certain if it's due to my recent binge of Tamora Pierce books and the fact that I wasn't a huge fan to start with, but this is by far my least favorite Tortall book to date. This is rather remarkable considering my feelings towards Daine (thankfully absent from this one). It seems as if Pierce is penning longer books with darker themes. I suspect this is an effort to evolve her stories to attract her original audience as they age. While this makes sense, I believe Tamora Pierce excels at writing lighter, shorter novels. Her more recent works seem to have more issues than her original ones. The last series, Trickster's Choice, had some REALLY uncomfortable plot devices, and this book was just dreadfully boring. Besides a sluggish plot, this book also had numerous plot and writing problems for me.

1. The Diary Format: This is the first Tortall book told through a series of diary entries. Honestly, I think it was merely a gimmick to make this different from the previous books. I don't believe this format adds anything substantial to the story. The book reads quite similar to Pierce's typical storytelling methods. In fact, the diary setup also conflicts with the framing device of Eleni telling George a story. It starts with an entry from Eleni's diary where she tells the story to George. If she's telling the story to George, why does it jump to another person's diary? Yes, it's possible that if Eleni has Beka's diary, she could have told the entire story by reading it aloud, but the excessive focus on the diary doesn't come across as natural.

Plus, Beka's diary only reads like a diary when it's convenient. There are numerous highly detailed passages that read more like a book than a diary. It's hard to believe that Beka could remember so much detail, especially in the heat of these intense, adventure-filled moments.

2. Beka: I confess, I have many issues with Pierce's heroines, generally for the same reasons. They all seem too perfect and are universally adored by most of the characters, even those you're not supposed to like. They also typically have one major flaw that is heavily referenced throughout the novel but rarely hinders the heroine too severely. In this case, she's shy. Apart from her shyness, Beka is never really criticized by any of the other characters and is, of course, a natural fighter. Everyone loves her, praises her, and naturally, she downplays all their praise and "can't see what all the fuss is about." Maybe it's because I've read so many Tortall novels lately, but she seems a bit recycled from Pierce's other works.

3. The Dogs: I get the impression that Pierce was aiming for a gritty police procedural in a fantasy world. Unfortunately, I don't think she's particularly good at writing "gritty" fiction. The mystery itself isn't great. I actually figured it out about halfway through the story. The red herrings were quite easy to see through. There's way too much emphasis on the day-to-day duties of dogs and puppies (the two words are used A LOT).

4. Street Talk: To further explain why I don't think Pierce is good at telling a "gritty" story, the dialect used in this book is rather disappointing. It never sounds natural to me. It sounds like a normal person speaking (regardless of age or education, all sound more or less the same) with words like "motts," "coves," and "some at" sprinkled throughout. It all still sounds too proper for hardened poor people living on the street. The moment that made me think "Are you kidding me?" was when Beka referred to her breasts as "peaches." UGH!! It just sounds so infantile and gentle for someone of her station. This book has some pretty significant tone issues. Pierce seems to be struggling to figure out what type of story she wants to tell.

5. Too Many Characters: Another common complaint I have about Tamora Pierce's novels is that there are too many characters who are incredibly similar in personality. To the extent that when one of those characters actually died, I didn't really feel much. I get the impression that it was supposed to be this big, sad moment, but there was nothing that set this character apart from the others.

There were a few heartfelt moments, mainly when Tansy was able to speak to her son's spirit and encourage him to move on. I will probably finish the last two books because they are the last two in the series. But I think I'll be a bit relieved once I wrap up this series.

Tamora Pierce's Beka Cooper series, Book One: Terrier.

I'm finally starting to recognize the patterns in Tamora Pierce's heroines. As a kid, I was so deeply connected to her books that I couldn't objectively analyze her writing techniques as a writer. Now, with the advantage of age and distance, I read this book with a fresh perspective. Her main characters always possess some sort of fatal flaw. In Beka's case, it's a fear of public speaking and chronic shyness. For Alana, it was a fear of cold and spiders, and for Kel, it was heights, and so on. At some point in each series, the heroine is forced to confront her fear.

On the other hand, she also has one or two equally strong positive traits. For Alanna, it was stubbornness and wit. For Kel, it was a stoically strong leadership. For Beka, it's dogged determination. For all of them, having supportive friends is crucial. There is always one major issue or problem in each book that only the girl can see and must be responsible for solving. In Beka's case, it's the problem of people disappearing, and since these people are from the poor and destitute, she takes it upon herself to protect them.

I like Pierce best when she writes YA with a warrior girl as the main character. The Wild Mage series is my least favorite among the Tortall books, and I gave up on her non-Tortall Circle series early.

But with Beka, we're back to my favorite kind of read. I can't believe it took me so long to pick up this book! Pierce successfully combines a noir police procedural with gritty crime and punishment in a fantasy setting. It slightly reminded me of Vimes and the Night Watch of Ankh Morpork. Pierce is also using Beka to explore, for the first time, the commoners of Tortall - the neglected layfolk and the street people. So often, fantasy novels focus on nobles and quests, and it was refreshing to see the perspective of the underlings towards the nobles. The use of Lower City slang and lingo throughout the book is extensive but not overwhelming. Like filling her books with numerous characters, Pierce has a light touch that makes you hardly notice the excess. (And her editors allow her to get away with it, which might not be the case with a less experienced YA author.) Her wide cast of characters includes animals and the return of one of my all-time favorites, the Wanderer, the Cat, AKA Faithful!!! Yay! I remember crying so hard in the last Alanna book when he returned to the Goddess. So having him back in all his cheeky glory is truly wonderful. I would have bought this book just for that if I had known.

So, what are my final thoughts?

If you have a pre-teen girl in your life, you owe it to the world to introduce her to Tamora Pierce. Beka is an excellent starting point, although Alanna will always be my favorite. Pierce is a master at creating strong, tough young women. Women who know what they want, stand up for what they believe, have a moral compass based on personal integrity, and can still love, be kind, and surround themselves with friends. With the gruesome reality of TV shows looming over us, someone has to fight the good fight. We should all be so lucky as to have a little Tamora Pierce in our lives and in our spirits.

Read it.

Tamora Pierce is truly an outstanding author, and "Terrier" serves as yet another testament to her greatness.

The writing in this book is extremely detailed, painting a vivid picture in the reader's mind. While it might seem a bit hard to believe that a girl could be so diligent in writing a journal, it didn't really bother me.

Beka, the female protagonist, is an absolute powerhouse. She is not only smart and caring but also dedicated and tough. It is precisely because of these qualities that she earns the nickname "Terrier."

Pierce's imagination knows no bounds as she describes the world of Tortall. It is a place filled with knights, magic, beggars, Dogs (a special group in the story), slaves, mages, and so much more. One can only wonder where this rich and diverse world will lead.

I am really looking forward to delving into the second book of this series to see what adventures await Beka next. I have a feeling it will be just as精彩 as the first.

I absolutely adored every single aspect of this book. Tamora Pierce has achieved something truly remarkable that not many authors can. She has crafted a story where the main character chronicles her life in journal form, and the writing is so smooth and seamless.

In the beginning, I struggled a bit with some of the language. In the lands of Tortall (where her stories are set), certain words are different. For instance, sometimes "maybe" is said as "mayhap", or a little girl is referred to as a "gixie". However, after just one or two chapters, I got the hang of it, and the story opened up into a whole new world waiting to be explored.

This book is brimming with adventure, wonderful friendships, magic, a touch of mystery, and an outstanding story line. I have reread this book at least five times, and each time, I discover another forgotten detail, making the story feel brand new all over again.

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a fresh and unique style of literature.

Favourite characters: Beka, Pounce, Tunstall, Goodwin, Rosto, Aniki, Kora, Ahuda, and Lord Gershom. Pretty much everyone! I love how intelligent her character is. We get a very detailed picture of everything, but it's not so overly detailed that we wish the plot would just move along already *cough cough* LOTR *cough cough*.

One of my favourite parts is when she falls ill and writes about cursing the weather, cursing spring colds, and blessing her friends. And when Rosto flirts with her and she doesn't take his nonsense.

The nicknames for the provosts guard and everything associated with them are simply the best. "When Dogs take up a scent they growl" - meaning when the guards receive a tip on a crime, they, well, growl to show the criminals that they mean business. The way the Dogs are portrayed makes being a guard sound incredibly exciting.

Beka is a strong and independent character who loves her constellation cat and has the best senior Dogs in all the Provost's guard. She is not a mage, but she is a messenger of the black god and can communicate with dust spinners. Therefore, she is not the typical "chosen one", but she is truly AWESOME!! I love this book and will most definitely be rereading it for the rest of my life.

This has always been my least favorite series by Pierce.

I don't think I even finished it the first time I read through. Before, I never had the words to say why, but now I'm realizing it's because Beka is a cop. It's a fantasy world, but she's still a cop, and having to read about cops delighting in violence has always been hard for me. One could argue that Alanna is also a cop of sorts, but she NEVER enacted violence with glee, and she was also a healer.

I also have decided that from now on any book I read that doesn't have gay characters I'm bored by.

Also, Pierce's obsession with looking at animal genitals makes me uncomfortable. It seems a bit out of place and unnecessary in the context of the stories. I understand that maybe there could be some scientific or educational purpose in certain cases, but it feels like it's overdone and makes me queasy. I hope that in future works, Pierce will focus more on the characters and their development rather than these odd and somewhat off-putting details.

DNF

Usually, I tend not to comment, but to be honest, this really breaks my heart. I can't help but think that my friends might wonder about my reaction. I truly struggle with the execution of this particular work. There is an abundance of slang used, a great deal of which I find extremely annoying. Phrases like "peaches", "dogs", and "mots" just seem out of place. Did the author really have to include them?

I have also read most of the Tortall books, and not a single one of them was written in the form of journals. In theory, I have a love for diary or letter-based books. However, in this case, there is a distinct lack of realism in the journals. The first journal entry is written by someone who can barely write. Then, the second entry is from the man who is supposed to be one of the "dogs" that Beka reports to. It's about him learning of her, but when she is assigned to him, he doesn't remember her at all. This seems like a rather poor way to convey her backstory. And then there's Beka's dry and clunky journal. How on earth does she have the time to write so much? Seriously, the first couple of entries are each 50+ pages long, and yet there is so little character building.

Basically, I'm just bored with this. I really don't want to go back and continue reading. Tamora Pierce is indeed a legend in the fantasy genre, but I think this particular work will be more appealing to those who have a greater love for detail in fantasy than I do. I'm a straightforward character myself, and without that initial buy-in, I generally find it difficult to engage with the story.

I am a long-time fan of Tamora Pierce, and I have to admit that this series might just be my absolute favorite among all of hers.

Terrier has all the remarkable elements that I have grown to anticipate from Pierce. The world-building is truly outstanding, transporting readers into a vivid and immersive realm. The storytelling is sharp and engaging, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Moreover, the characters in this book are simply vibrant and unforgettable. Just like Beka Cooper, the protagonist, this book has a certain charm that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go until you have turned the very last page.

It is filled with excitement, adventure, and a touch of mystery. You will find yourself completely invested in the lives of the characters, rooting for them through all their trials and tribulations.

Whether it's dealing with the challenges of growing up, facing danger head-on, or uncovering secrets that could change everything, Terrier has it all. It is a must-read for any fan of Pierce or anyone who loves a great fantasy novel.

So, if you're looking for a book that will keep you entertained and captivated, look no further than Terrier. You won't be disappointed.

I've always been an ardent fan of Tamora's works, and Terrier is no exception! I was utterly astonished when I discovered that the seemingly kindly grandmother was actually the child killer! O.O It truly goes to show that even the worst among us can skillfully hide their true nature. -.- I thoroughly enjoyed delving into the character of Beka and was deeply saddened by how her sisters treated her after she became a dog. They should be filled with gratitude instead of acting like the little bitches they are!

Extra Details:
I'm constantly amazed at the vast differences between the police work in that 'time period' depicted in the story and that of today's cops. I'm well aware that it's a fantasy novel and not real history. However, the fact that it was accepted that cops could be crooked, drunk, and friends with the 'rats' is simply mind-boggling to me. And the number of 'puppies' that are lost! I was extremely sad when Verene died. I was also glad that Rosto killed the old King of the Rogue, and I firmly believe he is going to be much better!

I can't fathom how truly despicable the 'villains' in this story were. They both managed to surprise and disgust me simultaneously. Grandmother Noll kidnapping and killing children simply because she desired something from the parents!!! Also, Crookshank! He was a truly horrible old man. :(