Enjoyment wise, it is probably closer to a three for most of the book. However, I'm rounding up because Pierce was truly ahead of her time. She was a gen-u-ine badass in the way she chose to handle her characters. Her writing style and the decisions she made regarding the characters added a unique flavor to the story. It made the reading experience more engaging and interesting. Despite some parts that might not have been as thrilling as others, the overall impact of Pierce's work cannot be ignored. Her creativity and boldness in character development set her apart from other authors. It's these qualities that make the book值得一读.

In book three of the Song of the Lioness series, Alanna has just obtained her Knight's shield, and she is eager to embark on an adventure of her own design. Accompanied by the reliable Coram, who trained her when she was a young page, Alanna feels prepared for any situation.

Heading southward, Alanna and Coram are attacked by murderous desert dwellers and are ultimately rescued by the equally mysterious Bazhir people. They offer her two choices: fight one of their own warriors and join the tribe or be killed. Wisely, Alanna decides to fight and astonishes the group with her fighting skills and compassion - except for a few notable members of the Bloody Hawk tribe. Despite all the traditions and prejudices against women, Alanna is gradually welcomed by the group and eventually becomes the tribe's newest shaman, training three youngsters to take her place.

Even though she has escaped the constraints of palace life, Alanna is confronted with the reality of defining her relationship with Prince Jonathan, while the ever-comforting presence of George, the King of the Thieves, silently keeps an eye on her. All of Alanna's friends are great, but George has always been a standout for me. This book finally reveals a bit more of Jonathan's personality, and for better or worse, it makes him a more interesting character.

Wherever she goes, Alanna attracts attention. It's probably due to her red hair, purple eyes, and warrior maiden persona, but it really suits her. I'd probably stop in my tracks if she crossed my path too. That being said, I love how she is constantly faced with difficult challenges where there is no easy solution. Alanna approaches each situation with maturity and intelligence that I can't help but admire. But above all, she is loyal to her friends and to the vows she made as a knight, and it shows in everything she does. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and can't wait to see what awaits Alanna in the concluding volume, Lioness Rampant.

I read this 200+ page book in one sitting more or less, only getting up to get a drink.

This third book in the series tells the story of Alanna's first year as a knight. And can I say it was vastly different than what one thinks a knight should be doing? While she did have a few sword fights, there certainly was no jousting (and I don't think that even exists in this world). In fact, the majority of the book is spent with a desert tribe!

Lots of action, battles, and even deaths plus mysterious ceremonies with the desert tribe. Alanna gains a lot of wisdom in here. She is starting to see others around her for what they really are or who they are.

She is getting her first taste of real freedom and she likes it. No longer does she have to run here or there because someone orders her to. But that doesn't mean her life is peaceful. She has problems and responsibility in the desert kingdom, but I do believe this actually helps her grow as a person.

And I can see she is beginning to realize between George the King of Thieves and Prince Jon who she truly loves. This novel is also gearing up for the final book. I could see that easily.

Weird things are brewing in the capital city of Corus and it's not good. And it actually surprised me as to who is involved! I certainly never saw that coming!

I do fear Alanna might be facing her worst, most powerful enemy yet and because that person is so close to her...well...it will be extra bad! What in the world do you do in a case like that? To be honest I have no idea! It would be utterly horrid!

Plus I see the final book is much thicker than these previous ones so I can only presume lots will be going on in it. So I guess I have some anxiety about this last book then. What will happen??

And yes, I am trying not to give any hints or spoilers. I know these are old books but there are probably people who have not read them yet. Did I read these back in the 80s? Truthfully I don't remember. But I don't think I have.

I must admit I am really enjoying this series. You get caught up in the lives of these characters and so much is going on. And we got to see Alanna as a teacher too. Which was something new for her.

But I am beginning to not like Jon. He is too bossy and takes things for granted. I guess that is because he is a prince... But in my opinion it's best to stay far away from those sort of people!

Of course Alanna likes living the exciting life. That's why she became a knight. She craves excitement and danger and traveling. I can see plots and things put into motion from the first three books are going to collide in the final but no idea how it will end.

Yet I am confident that Alanna will pull through successfully no matter what.

I'm not really a big enthusiast of the white savior elements present in this book.

It seems that the narrative leans too much on the trope of a white character coming in to save the day and be the hero. However, there were certain aspects that I did find enjoyable.

I liked seeing Alanna's journey of accepting her magic. It was interesting to watch her grow more confident in her abilities and start teaching others.

Moreover, her becoming more comfortable with her womanhood was also a nice development. She was able to embrace her femininity and all that came with it.

Overall, while the white savior aspect was a bit off-putting, the growth and development of Alanna as a character made the book somewhat engaging.

Alanna is on a journey of self-discovery as a woman.

She has no desire to marry and instead craves adventure. However, when faced with a marriage proposal, she is forced to confront what she truly wants in life.

Adding to her complex situation, she has also become a part of a tribe that she has grown to like.

Meanwhile, her brother Thom is grappling with his magic, which is causing fear among others.

This story presents an interesting perspective, but it's just okay overall. I would approve of my 13-year-old reading it as it has some valuable themes and lessons.

It explores the importance of self-identity, making choices, and dealing with the consequences of one's actions.

However, it could perhaps be more engaging and developed to truly capture the reader's attention.

Nonetheless, it offers a decent read for young adults.

Super-into my re-read now!

I truly have a great affection for the way the relationships between Jon and George are developed. I suppose I mentioned that previously, but everything is unfolding in a manner that is logical and makes perfect sense. This, as I have also stated before, feels rather uncommon in young adult literature.

Moreover, I really like how Alanna is growing to accept herself and embrace who she truly is.

Re-read January 2016

Uh, I believe I have said everything that I wanted to in the comments of Kris's review. I find that upon this re-read, I am able to notice even more details and subtleties in the story. The characters continue to come alive for me, and I am once again drawn into their world. It's interesting to see how my perspective may have changed or remained the same since my previous reading. I look forward to continuing this re-read and uncovering more of the magic within the pages.

It feels like the series is growing in its juvenile sensibility. Perhaps it's because Alanna's youthful nature was appropriate when she was a tween. However, now that she's an adult, her relative lack of maturity, along with the author's immaturity in writing, seems rather jarring and out of place.

Also, she complains when he's too passionate in his affections and also when he treats her as just a friend. She whines when the prince wants to marry her and again when she thinks he's found someone else. Isn't she supposed to be on adventures, rather than being emo about her love life? It's quite annoying.

He only has a little magic, which is the ability to sense her presence because they're such True Loves? Ugh.

I'm also frustrated with how the main characters are portrayed as almost constantly perfect. Their only occasionally pointed-out flaws are acting like annoying jerks. I would prefer to see them be more human-like. Maybe Alanna shouldn't always have everything turn out great for her, while things consistently go wrong for those who don't worship her. Like when her apprentice points out that it's unfair how she has so many Super Magical Items, it's seen as a sign of his foolishness? So if readers might feel the same way, clearly they're being silly.

I'm not sure what happened to the feisty, captivating protagonist of the first book. By the second book, she'd already become somewhat of a boy-obsessed perfect snowflake, with things falling into her lap to make the story more exciting rather than her earning them through her own merit. But it was only partway there.

As an aside, I read this on the plane, too, on my must-be-3+-years-old Nook Glowlight. If I'm tied into the B&N ecosystem, there's really no newer ereader option, is there? I heard that the black refresh doesn't appear on newer ereaders, but I've also read a few downer articles about the future of the Barnes and Noble ebook platform, and I'm a little worried.

Onto the book! I only have two highlighted notes, so I'll mention those and then talk about my general impressions of the book.

First, I did not like this description: "A skinny man wearing the green robes of a Bazhir shaman, or petty wizard, threw back his hood. His scraggly beard thrust forward on a sallow chin." Yeahhhhh. He must be evil because he's sallow and can't grow much of a beard! Appearance dovetailing with character is my least favorite means of description. Plus, a petty wizard? And here I thought shamans were exactly like mages, only Bazhir! The rest of the book only does its absolute best to convey that impression.

Second, I really, really liked the entire section where Jonathan discussed becoming the Voice. I thought it was unlikely, though I did like that the magic of the ceremony means all the Bazhir know exactly what to expect from Jonathan and how he'll do. At least there's that. Otherwise, isn't it a little insulting to invite a non-Bazhir outsider to become the final voice on their court systems and questions of history and tradition? What I did really like is the way Jonathan talks about becoming the Voice, as something that will be vital to his future kingship. It highlights something so interesting about this series - there's a very traditional medieval perception of honor and duty. These are nobles who reach for power, because it's their currency and ultimately their obligation to their families, but also have an eye toward its responsibilities. They're not careless or stingy or power-mad. It's what makes them such good heroes, that they are very clearly of their world, even as they represent the best of it.

I'm also fascinated with the idea that Jonathan's restlessness is cured by the acceptance of this tremendous responsibility. That more than anything is a sign he's going to be a great king. Showing, not telling! HURRAH.

It's odd that the Voice ceremony feels more - I don't know - difficult? Real? - than the Ordeal descriptions. Maybe it's because Jonathan has to slice his own arm open. Maybe because there's so clearly a heavy aura of magic, while the Ordeal just feels like a series of nightmares.

I also really liked the evolution of Amman Kemail. Here's someone who doesn't abuse the system to challenge Jon initially, but who really has valid concerns. And then he's gracious in defeat and wise enough to recognize that Jon "will do" as the Voice. I LIKED HIM. I hope he sends his kids to Corus to become knights.

SPEAKING OF, remember the Bazhir in the Kel books? Isn't knighthood training only for nobles? The Bazhir don't seem to have a traditional feudal structure, so who exactly qualifies, and why?

What I also like about Jon in this book is how peremptory he is! Sure, it's frustrating for Alanna, incredibly so - and it's not the easiest to read about, either - but here's a guy who's a prince and knows he's going to be king one day. Having him be Mr. Nice Guy wouldn't quite ring true. Plus, I love it when Alanna shouts at him.

Alanna fascinates me in this book. Not just because she made up the most randomly phrased spells, and they worked (how much magical theory has she ever learned? Not much) but because she not only forces the tribe to accept her, but to accept her students, and her position is so matter-of-fact. I don't know how she thought she'd be successful at that, especially since she really doesn't know much about their history.

You know, I remembered this book as the desert book. I didn't remember how much it sets up Lioness Rampant. Thom particularly - and Claw - and Josiane, I suppose, though she's so tertiary she's almost unnecessary. Which, confession time, is my favorite book of this series. CAN'T WAIT.

The simple formulaic writing gets thrown for a loop in this third, and what I think is half-a-volume of Alanna of Trebond's story.

Normally, I wouldn't give a half-tale much credit, but Alanna's story is still riveting. Experience beckons me to hope the second half of this tale will be a page-turner, the likes of which this series has not as yet seen. It's a tall order, since it has been one of the quickest series of books I have read through to date.

Let us start with what is so different. Alanna is no longer at court. Coram and herself head south, haunted by her gruesome actions at the end of "In the Hand of the Goddess". As a newly christened Knight of Tortoll, she is keen for adventure, but the questions that loomed from the previous volumes rear their heads again almost immediately. The Goddess has a plan for our young lioness, and it continues with the Bazhir.

I'll make this brief. This volume is about growth. Apart from some minor villain at the outset, this is a character-building phase of her saga. She learns through associations to accept her actions, to tame her fears (again and somewhat), and to teach one paramour that her will is hers alone. As I said, it's obvious this book is a setup, but that doesn't mean it's fluff. Plenty of important and critical events pepper the final half significantly, and I for one am apprehensive about the conflicts that are brewing all over Tortoll.

I hope for a fine conclusion to Alanna's saga, if not the total, then the immediate. It's sure to be a hell of a ride.

I truly love this series, and the main reason is that it presents a very strong female protagonist.

In fact, all of the works by this author are centered around young women. After having read a significant amount of Harry Potter (which I also love, but it lacks a certain balance between good male and female characters, especially in the early books), I really appreciate this aspect.

Some of the other collections may tend to get repetitive, but Alanna's story manages to stay extremely compelling throughout all four books.

The character of Alanna is not only strong but also complex and multi-faceted. Her journey is filled with challenges and growth, which makes it truly engaging to follow.

The author's ability to create such a captivating female lead and maintain the interest of the readers throughout the series is truly remarkable.

I look forward to seeing more of this author's work and hope that she continues to create stories that feature strong and inspiring female characters.

I still have a deep and serious love for this series. Overall, this book gave a somewhat calmer impression compared to the first two.

In this installment, Alanna has already become a full knight and sets off on her adventures accompanied by her trusted manservant Corvin (apologies for the possible misspelling). Unfortunately, she gets inducted into a tribe and, due to unfavorable circumstances, has to take on the role of shaman. However, I believe that being a teacher compelled Alanna to discover aspects of herself and her gift that she might not have otherwise.

Sadly, my respect for Prince Jonathan diminished in this book because of how he handled Alanna's refusal of marriage and the fact that he initially assumed her answer. It was quite a mess. George, on the other hand, remains as loyal and charming as ever, and I have a great deal of affection for him. I think Alanna will soon need to make some decisions regarding her love life.

Side note: Faithful is still the perfect fluff, and I simply adore him.

3.5 stars rounded up

This installment stands out as the most troublesome within the quartet when it comes to the issues of white saviorism and white feminism. Let the girls wear their veils, Alanna!

Jon is truly the worst in this book. He strolls in and suddenly acts as if he knows Alanna better than she knows herself. Not to mention, he barges in all "I NEED TO BE THE VOICE" and then just a few chapters later, he's like "But I DON'T WANNA be the Voice." So, seriously, just don't! Go home and leave the Bazhir alone. I can kind of understand the desire to unite the kingdom and all that, but the Bazhir have made it extremely clear that they don't have a liking for Tortall. So, why not just grant them independence and be done with it? (But of course, we won't because Jon needs to be in charge.)

Roger's shadow still looms large. Myles and Faithful remain my absolute favorites.

Here's a minor note because I've noticed other reviews complaining about the sex in this book. Did they somehow miss the sex in the previous one? Because it was most definitely there. "Sex before marriage in a fantasy book, oh no!" Oh, the overreacting!