Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book

Hot Search

Song of the Lioness #1

Alanna: The First Adventure

tamora pierce

... Show More
From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight.

And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.

But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.

Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins - one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

274 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1,1983
Series
Song of the Lioness
Literary awards
preis der leseratten des zdf, nsk neustadt prize for childrens literature, margaret a. edwards award, 
Places
tortall, 

This edition

Format
274 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
January 1, 2005 by Simon Pulse
ISBN
9780689878558
ASIN
0689878559
Language
English
Characters More characters

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for tamora pierce

tamora pierce

... Show More
Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!

Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!

I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.

I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.

Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
38(38%)
4 stars
35(35%)
3 stars
27(27%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
j9hnny97
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

It's truly an engaging thought-exercise to contemplate what this book would be like if Tamora Pierce were penning it in the present day!

My first thought is that it would likely be approximately four times lengthier! (And one has to wonder, would the protagonist still possess bright red hair and captivating purple eyes?)

Perhaps Pierce would infuse the story with even more detailed world-building, delving deeper into the cultures and societies that exist within the fictional realm. She might explore new themes and ideas that are relevant to today's society, adding a contemporary touch to the narrative.

The characters could potentially undergo more complex character arcs, facing challenges and making decisions that reflect the moral and ethical dilemmas of the modern age. And who knows what new and exciting magical elements she might introduce?

Overall, imagining a Tamora Pierce book written today is a fascinating concept that leaves one eager to see what she might come up with.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
JoeGrassEater
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
This is an outstanding opening book in a series that I will surely continue reading – and one of the main reasons is that Alanna concludes without any resolution at all!

I had never heard of the Song of the Lioness series until Alanna appeared on the Goodreads "Top Books of 1983" list. Now I understand why. The story progresses at a rapid pace, following Alanna as she devises a plan to train as a knight. She conceals her gender while infiltrating a literal boys-only club, fending off bullies and learning to use both weapons and her magical abilities.

Perhaps the story moves a little too quickly, especially in the beginning. There is a bit too much telling rather than showing when it comes to setting the scenes and characters. Combined with a relatively basic writing style, which would make it a fairly easy read for 10- to 12-year-olds who can most identify with Alanna, it took me a few chapters to truly immerse myself in the world.

However, once I did, I was completely hooked. As is fitting for a great first book, Alanna contains hints of a much larger world with a rich history. It features different tribes and climates, as well as the necessary shadowy Old Ones who seemingly possessed technology thousands of years ago that has since vanished along with them.

This is a wonderful, underappreciated work of young-adult fantasy. It is well worth delving into!
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
ryuushi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
ETA: Someone recently liked this review, which I'd forgotten about. So, in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't discover this series in my young teens.

The reason is the (non-explicit) sexual content in the second book. I never did read any more Pierce after book two.

It's a short, quick, and fun sort of upper MG/lower YA read. It's enjoyable enough and has an interesting start.

I didn't exactly connect to the characters, but Alanna is great. There are some organic feminist moments that I loved.

I kind of wish I'd known about this series in my early teens. Back then, I was frustrated because all the stories I loved were about guys.

It annoyed me that I had to look at the "boy" section of toy catalogs to find the survival gear and swords.

But, I also didn't read books with sorcerers at that time, so...
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Pandorious
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
This series holds such a dear place in my heart. It is just as enchanting to me now as it was when I was eleven years old.

There are so many great lessons to be learned from it. Lessons about friendship, which teach us the value of loyalty and support. Lessons about hard work, showing us that with determination and effort, we can achieve our goals. And lessons about discipline, helping us to stay focused and committed.

All of these lessons are set in a lovely world filled with truly wonderful characters. Each character has their own unique personality and charm, making them easy to love and relate to.

The story itself is simple, but it is chock full of positivity. It has the power to inspire and uplift, to make us believe that anything is possible.

I highly recommend this series for all young people. It is a great way to introduce them to the importance of these values and to give them a positive role model to look up to.

But it is also a great read for not-so-young people looking for an endearing heroine. The story has a timeless quality that will appeal to readers of all ages.

So if you haven't already discovered this wonderful series, I encourage you to do so. You won't be disappointed.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
MrDreamerexxe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More

Many of the highly successful teen fantasy authors such as Maas, Bardugo, Nix, and others, consider Pierce to be a pioneer for the "strong female protagonist." She has paved the way for numerous stories that are beloved by many.


This book was initially published in 1983. With a reading level similar to that of Narnia, it may not be the typical kind of book I usually read. However, I am truly enjoying delving into the roots of a favorite genre. I am determined to finish this four-book series and will also explore the other multiple series set in Tortall.


Discovering the works of Pierce has been a fascinating journey. It allows me to see how the concept of a strong female protagonist has evolved and influenced the world of teen fantasy. I look forward to uncovering more of her stories and experiencing the rich and imaginative worlds she has created.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
meroko
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
Oh man,

This book was an extremely significant part of my formative years. I was engrossed in reading them during the fourth and fifth grades, and it was just completely mind-blowing. I had to conceal them from my Christian parents due to the whole concept of multiple gods. And do you have any idea how challenging it is to smuggle literature when you are only slightly larger than the paperback book itself? Especially when your mom is the one driving you to the library? However, it was absolutely worth it, guys. All girls around the age of 10 or older should definitely read these.

Here's a pro tip for my younger and more religiously oppressed readers: Always check out 6 books from the library at a time. Then, wear a windbreaker to the library and check out 7. Put the receipt slip in your pocket or the trash. Next, slide your illicit 7th book up under your shirt behind your back and then tuck in the back of your shirt just a little to hold it in place. The windbreaker effectively hides the shape, and they will only expect to see 6 books. Alternatively, if you are more of an early developer than I was, you can hide it in the front below the sports bra that you are super excited about wearing. This is bound to work.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
alternangon
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I was curious about this book that suddenly appeared in the comments of other books, and also because it appears in a fanfic that I read.

The story is simple, as is the language, and the novel is very short, largely because the original manuscript was for adults, but at the instance of the editors it was divided into 4 parts and made suitable for children.

Alanna is a sword and sorcery book with magic and 'ancient gods' thrown into the concept. At the beginning of the story, Alanna of Trebond and her twin Thom, at the age of ten, are to be sent by their father, a minor noble, to study abroad: the girls to a convent and the boys to serve as pages at the palace. The problem is that Alanna doesn't want to be a lady, she wants to be a knight and fight with a sword; while Thom doesn't want to use weapons but be a wizard. They switch places, and Alanna, who is a rather rough, brusque girl with a strong and explosive character, begins to serve as a page at court pretending to be a boy, helped by her servant, an old soldier. There she makes friends with the other noble boys, and also makes an enemy who abuses her smaller size.

Alanna hates the idea of being a girl, of having the weaknesses she associates with it, physically, and of having a family. That's why she trains and trains without ceasing, with an obstinacy to the point of being irritating.

As someone said, this is the heroine and some things that make her stand out, although the idea of perseverance is, I suppose, the main idea.

I'm going to continue with the second part to see where it goes.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
AV_24
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
... Show More
I am literally obsessed with this series!!

Sometimes I flick through and reread my favourite parts. It is just so powerful and well-written. Alanna is honestly my inspiration in life! It is a wonderful book (and series) :))

The original review: Alanna is the brilliant story of a girl who swaps with her brother and goes to the training school for knights, whereas her brother goes to a school for magic.

This book was wonderful. In the beginning, Alanna didn't know about the female body, which added an interesting aspect to the story.

When the boys kept trying to make her swim with them, she defended herself with so much anger. I loved how she was so stubborn and determined.

She tried harder than everyone else on her mission to become a knight. This was a wonderful book about determination, with a touch of first love and romance.

It truly captured my heart and I can't wait to read more of the series.
0 0 Reply
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.