These books just keep getting better and better.

Each one seems to offer more excitement, more depth, and more engaging storylines. I find myself completely immersed in the world that the author has created.

I can't wait to see how the last book will end. It's like a mystery that I'm eager to solve. The anticipation is killing me!

I'm so torn on who I want Alanna to be with. There are several great options, and each one has their own unique qualities.

On one hand, there's [character 1] who is so charming and kind. On the other hand, there's [character 2] who is strong and passionate.

I'm so anxious to see who she ends up with in the last book. It's going to be a nail-biting conclusion, and I can't wait to find out!

Each book in this series is truly better than the last, and that is no small feat considering just how much I have relished every single previous book.

I have found myself really liking the decisions that Alanna has made up to this point. However, I must say that I am most especially impressed with the choices she has made as of the end of this particular book.

Although, I do think that perhaps she should probably take the time to check in on that brother of hers. After all, family is important, and it seems like he might be in need of some attention.

I simply can't wait to start the final book in the series. At the same time, I am already filled with a sense of longing, wishing that it didn't have to come to an end. ;0)

The anticipation is palpable, and I know that the final book is going to be an absolute adventure. I can't wait to see how Alanna's story concludes and what awaits her in the end.

It remains an annoyingly Mary Sue series, yet this particular volume manages to show some improvement over the previous one.

There are still those random series of events that seem to lack a coherent narrative. However, the time span covered is shorter, and it feels more like one story that is broken up by semi-related episodes rather than being completely choppy.

Jon is still a douchebag, but now his douchebaggery is more clearly labeled. On the other hand, Alanna makes adult choices, which I appreciate. Although, here she has a huge White Savior complex.

What truly puzzles me is why no one else in this entire universe is even the slightest bit gender-nonconforming, let alone queer. Alanna spends a significant amount of time with society's outcasts, and yet she never meets another genderqueer person. It's an increasingly glaring omission, and it only serves to add to the Mary Sueness of how Alanna is the absolute best at everything.

This aspect really detracts from what could otherwise be an interesting and engaging story.

Another great book of Tortall!

I truly enjoyed delving into the world of the Bazhir people and experiencing Alannah's time with them. It was a fascinating exploration that added depth and richness to the overall story.

However, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed by Jon's character development in certain aspects. There were times when I felt that his growth was not as pronounced as I had hoped.

On the other hand, I also think there were some excellent developments in Jon's character. His actions and decisions showed a certain level of maturity and complexity that made him a more interesting and engaging character.

Overall, I am really looking forward to the next (and last!) book in the series. I can't wait to see how the story concludes and what new adventures and revelations await the characters.

Alanna has finally achieved her goal of earning her shield and is now ready to embark on a new adventure.

She sets out with excitement and anticipation, eager to face whatever challenges come her way. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she stumbles into the hands of a tribe of the Bazhir.

The Bazhir have very distinct ideas about the roles of women, which puts Alanna in a difficult position. In order to be successful in this third adventure of Alanna of Trebond, she must find a way to earn their trust and learn to trust herself and her magic.

This book features many of the beloved characters from the previous installments, but the addition of the Bahir adds a new and interesting element to the story.

I am now especially dubious of all of Alanna's suitors, but I'm curious to see how their relationships will develop. I'm looking forward to finishing the series, but unfortunately, I have to rely on John's library schedule as he is checking the books out of Fairhope PL for me since MPL doesn't have them.

Overall, I'm enjoying this adventure and can't wait to see what else awaits Alanna.

Prince Jonathan, you douchenozzle.

How dare you act in such a disrespectful and unseemly manner? You, who are supposed to uphold the dignity and honor of the royal family, have instead chosen to behave in a way that is beneath your station.

Your actions have not only brought shame upon yourself but also upon the entire monarchy. People look up to the royal family as a symbol of grace, elegance, and responsibility. Yet, you have failed to live up to these expectations.

It is time for you to take a long, hard look at yourself and make amends for your inappropriate behavior. You need to show the world that you are capable of rising above your flaws and becoming the kind of prince that the people can be proud of.

Otherwise, you will continue to be known as the douchenozzle prince, a stain on the reputation of the royal family.

The third book of the Song of Lionness, which marks the start of Alanna's adventure as Alanna of Trebond, offers another rich and vivid view of the world of Tortall.

The Bazhir, with their unique names and cultures, strongly remind me of Middle Easterners, making me wonder about the apparent fascination that fantasy writers have with them. Unlike in most fantasy books I've read, they or those characters inspired by Middle Eastern traits are not one-sided or easily villainized. Instead, they are portrayed fairly as people with their own values and cultures, which makes me happy and relieved.

Just like in most self-discovery adventures, being in a foreign environment helps Alanna understand herself better. She starts to make peace with the aspects of herself as a woman and a sorceress, and it's truly fascinating to witness.

However, the only complaint I have is regarding the handling of the relationship between Alanna and Jon. I can see the issue of principles coming between them. I simply cannot imagine Alanna being content as a consort to a royal, regardless of her feelings for Jon. She would make an interesting Queen, but I don't think that's the life she wants or is suited for. Although it would be an interesting compromise if she chose that path, especially since Alanna seems to be a better knight to Jon and Jon, as the future king, needs his best knights by his side. But Alanna being his consort would restrict her from fulfilling her duty.

I know this difference will eventually come to a head. Alanna's reaction to the idea of marriage and marriage to Jon is understandable, but it's Jon's that I have difficulty grasping. Through the early books, he gave the impression of a calm and level-headed person. He took everything in stride, even with all the surprises Alanna threw at him, and treated her in a good balance of a knight and a girl. But in this book, for some reason, he seems to have lost that balance. He might be proud, but he's also quite clear-sighted. His attitude and actions throughout the book just don't make sense.

If the author intended to show how much Jon has changed as a means to make Alanna realize that he's not the right one for her, she did a poor job of it. There are many ways to do this, but turning Jon into such an arrogant ass to make Alanna turn away from him is the worst way. It just doesn't sit well with me; it's too much of a one-eighty.

However, a possible explanation could be that neither Alanna nor Jon has truly seen or understood each other. Considering the wrong assumption Jon made and Alanna's inability to trust Jon to take care of himself. If the story were told solely from Alanna's point of view, it could be blamed on her being too enamored of Jon to see him clearly. But this story takes many points of view, enough to get a good sense of Jon's character. I hope this is resolved better in the last book.

I'm not typically the kind of person who forces myself to read something that I'm not enjoying. However, this particular book was for a buddy read, and it wasn't a long one. Well, in reality, it might as well have been a few hundred pages longer considering the amount of time it took me to get through it.

All throughout the previous books, Alanna has talked non-stop about her desire to become a knight and then embark on "adventures". This book was supposed to be about her fulfilling those adventures. But instead, it turned out that she spent nearly all of her time in one place - the desert. There, she met a group of people, the Bazhir, a tribespeople. Sadly, the depiction of the Bazhir was really outdated and full of stereotypes. The main villain was killed off early on, which left Alanna to become the Shaman and teach her apprentices. The main part of the book was simply her living in the desert and, to be honest, not really doing much at all.

I found the way she talked and behaved to be really immature. I would have expected Pierce to adjust her writing to match Alanna's age. Instead, it just seemed like there was a child trapped in a woman's body. Prince Jonathon suddenly being an ass came out of nowhere and didn't make any sense. Several things happened rapidly towards the end of the book, but they didn't seem to serve any real purpose. There wasn't a coherent plot to this book at all. It was pretty damn boring.

There's a saying that goes, "There's plenty more fish in the sea... and this particular fish loves you with all his crooked heart."

3.5 stars

From a purely story structure perspective, this installment shows a slight improvement over the previous book. There's no doubt that the writing in these first three Tortall books has been solid. The narrative flows smoothly, the characters are well-developed, and the arcs for both the story and the characters don't feel overly forced by the author.

Alanna, now newly knighted and eager for adventure, sets off with her trusty man-of-arms Coram, heading south to see where the road will lead her. Soon enough, they are ambushed by hill people and then sort of rescued, or not really, by the Bazhir, a tribal people who have long been in conflict with Tortall. Alanna arrives at a time of change for them, or more accurately, she brings the change with her, and not everyone is happy about these developments.

Alanna continues to walk a fine line when it comes to the Mary Sue tropes. She accomplishes seemingly impossible feats with relative ease and befriends almost everyone around her except the unreasonable fanatics, i.e., the bad guys. However, I like that she is now exploring her feminine side more. Rebelling against traditional gender roles is all well and good - I, for one, hate those things myself - but it often comes at the expense of women who embrace those roles, making them seem lesser than the mannish heroine. Here, Alanna learns to respect those traditions and those women while still maintaining her own sense of self.

The Bahzir are an interesting culture. While Alanna and Jonathan unfortunately have a bit of a White Savior trope going on around them, I appreciate that it doesn't come at the expense of the Bazhir people, and it's also acknowledged that Tortall isn't exactly progressive either. Both cultures have their positives and negatives, so the text is able to avoid some of the more problematic elements that might have otherwise weighed it down. The Bazhir can and do accept change based on their own standards, and it's good that the text calls Alanna out when she is being unreasonable in what she thinks they should or shouldn't do.

The love triangle is rather dull and has never been a trope I favored. However, I do like that Alanna insists on having relationships on her own terms and realizes that loving someone isn't necessarily enough when it comes to marriage. All in all, between the overtly sexist Jonathan who just assumes that Alanna will want to be his princess/queen, and the rogue thief George who accepts Alanna in all her aspects, both mannish and feminine, I know which one I would choose. And I love that Alanna - for now - chose neither. She's not done becoming herself yet and still wants to have adventures.

The text did meander a bit once they left the Bazhir and spent the last couple of chapters setting up the final book in this quartet. There's a lot going on in the capital with Alanna's twin brother Thom, which is handled in a very obvious way and leaves no mystery about where the next book is headed.

Faithful the Omniscient Talking Cat continues to be obnoxious. The plot seems incomplete as it focuses more on setting up the drama for Lioness Rampant. The whole thing with Jonathan is just nonsense and makes me want to wither away and die.

However, the parts where Alanna isn't involved in the Jonathan mess are quite cool. It's great to see her grow as a sorceress and embrace her femininity among the Bazhir.

But seriously, can she stop crying over Jonathan already? And can he realize that she's not a weak, weepy woman? She was his squire for most of their relationship and is a better warrior than he is. I'm frustrated that he suddenly becomes all protective and expects her to be柔弱 and womanly when she's saved his life multiple times and is a superior soldier.

Also, the set-up for Lioness Rampant is not done gracefully at all. It takes what was already a meandering and formless book and gets rid of the redeeming factor of the last two books, which was an exciting final battle to wrap things up.

This one started off a little slow, and I was afraid that the series was going to start going downhill or something.

I think it's just that I really love court intrigue, and since she was out in the desert in this one, it was a little different.

However, it picked up, and I got sucked in once again in Alanna's adventures. She's such a strong character, and I really love the feminism in this book.

Not just because it says that a woman can be what she wants to be, but also because here, in book three, Alanna learns how to do some traditional women's tasks (like weaving) from the desert women that she didn't previously know how to do. And she's learning because she wants to.

I love that feminism here doesn't mean "try to do everything just like a man", but that the message is more to do what you want to do, and what feels right to you.

I'm really looking forward to book number four, but I'll be sad to leave Alanna when it's all over. It's a great series.

Overall, this installment had its slow moments, but it redeemed itself with Alanna's growth and the interesting exploration of feminism. The series as a whole has been a captivating read, and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for Alanna.