A book that I can continuously turn back to for unwavering satisfaction. It may not be the profoundest or the most mature piece of literature, yet it presents a character that is so believable that you can't help but cheer for them. Whenever I find myself in need of reminding why I have such a passion for reading, I always return to the Song of the Lioness quartet. It has the power to make me fall in love with reading all over again.

This quartet is truly the best of girly fantasy. It is an absolute must-read for anyone who enjoys this genre.

Edit 2014: I have completely lost count of the number of times I have re-read this wonderful Quartet. Each time I pick it up, it feels like a new adventure, and I am always drawn into the captivating world that the author has created.

I am truly filled with a profound sense of sadness.

How could I have been so oblivious and not started these books years ago?

It is a realization that dawns upon me now, with a heavy heart.

These books, which hold within them a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, and entertainment, have been waiting for me all this time.

I can only imagine the countless hours of joy and enlightenment that I have missed out on.

Each page is like a hidden treasure chest, waiting to be opened and explored.

But now, as I look back, I can't help but feel a tinge of regret.

However, I also know that it is never too late to start.

From this moment on, I will embark on this literary journey and make up for the lost time.

I will devour these books, one by one, and let their words wash over me, transforming my mind and soul.

A great classic that mostly holds up today.

Alanna's journey is an absolute delight. She is not only brave but also thoughtful and has an insatiable eagerness to learn. She devotes herself wholeheartedly to her studies and works extremely hard to earn her way into the knighthood. This aspect of her character is truly refreshing and makes her a captivating protagonist.

However, there were some uneven parts in the story. It seemed to me as if the book had been condensed from a longer version. The beginning felt rather rushed, lacking in detailed description. It was as though the author was急于 get the reader to the more exciting part, which was indeed Alanna learning to be a knight. That part was truly engaging. Then, unfortunately, the ending also felt very rushed.

Nevertheless, overall, it was a great read.

In particular, I was thoroughly entertained by all the knights and their rather silly "defend your honor" chivalry antics. Although it was a bit over-the-top and macho, it made for some really excellent reading material.

Now, I'm eager to move on to book 2 and continue following Alanna's adventures.

Finally, I read this (*gasp*!) for our classics discussion on Friday, 11/27. Our special guest will be the wonderful author Andrea K. Höst. I'll post a link when it's live.

I really enjoyed this book. However, it did have some flaws. It felt like a first book, with rough transitions between scenes and rather unnuanced characterization. But despite these shortcomings, I still liked the main character, Alanna. And I absolutely loved George!

The story had a lot of potential, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see how the characters develop and the plot unfolds. I'm sure it will get better with each installment.

3.5 stars

This series had a profound impact on me.

It made me go through a transformation that I never thought possible.

The characters and storylines were so engaging that I couldn't help but be drawn in.

I found myself relating to the experiences and emotions of the characters, which in turn made me reflect on my own life.

Thanks to Tammy for creating this amazing series.

It has opened my eyes to new perspectives and has given me a newfound appreciation for the power of storytelling.

I will definitely be recommending this series to all of my friends and family.

It's truly a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

Even though this series is specifically designed for pre-teen girls, as an adult, I still find it extremely interesting.

Alanna is truly a far superior fictional female role model compared to Bella of "Twilight".

The books in this series are also written in a much more engaging and skillful manner.

Tamora Pierce is a highly accomplished author who crafts her stories with great care and attention to detail.

On the other hand, Stephanie Meyer's work seems rather lackluster in comparison.

It's almost as if Meyer's writing is a joke when put up against Pierce's masterful storytelling.

The characters in Pierce's books come to life on the page, with their own unique personalities and struggles.

In contrast, Bella in "Twilight" often seems one-dimensional and rather dull.

Overall, I would highly recommend Tamora Pierce's series to anyone looking for a great read, regardless of age or gender.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

Not really a review, more a memory:

I can recall the origin of these books with utmost clarity. It all began when a librarian handed me the first one. I was so captivated that when it was time to return it, I pleaded with my parents to buy it for me.

Then, I remember pestering the librarian to disclose the expected release date of the next installment. In those days, that was the only way to find out.

I vividly remember the appearance and location of each new book in the bookstore whenever I went to collect it. To this day, I still possess all my first editions.

Tamora Pierce is the sole author I have ever explicitly endeavored to meet. She is also the only author whose book I queued up to have signed. This series truly had a profound impact on my life and changed it in ways I could never have imagined.

It has been a remarkable journey filled with excitement, anticipation, and a deep love for these wonderful stories.

These memories will always hold a special place in my heart and will continue to inspire my love for reading and literature.

This was truly such an excellent and quick read. It's astonishing to think that it was published way back in 1989! Only the cover gives a hint of its age. The writing style is simply superb, and the characters and their personalities are brought to life in the most vivid way. I have a particular fondness for the narrator as well.

I really, for once, appreciate the fact that the characters all ratted on that brat at the start of the story, revealing what had transpired between them. This is a story where I don't have any qualms about the MC's defiance. Even though it can be a bit challenging to relate to a 10 - 13 year old. Additionally, I didn't mind the way that she just instantly learned things, as this aspect feels so original that I can't bring myself to be angry. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this wonderful read tomorrow!

Coming off a year where I challenged myself to read twelve books in the Valdemar series, and boy, did that end up being a much bigger challenge than I initially thought it would be. I'm already instantly impressed by this book, which was written six years before Arrows of the Queen.

It's significantly better written, with a more seamless flow of the plot, enhanced world building, more developed characters and characterization, and an overall superior story structure. Although there are numerous similar elements between this and Arrows of the Queen, those elements are handled more adeptly here. Not necessarily to complete satisfaction, but the crucial elements are kept on the page. This book also covers many years yet never feels overstuffed or as if there are enormous gaps missing - a remarkable feat that Lackey managed to achieve multiple times within the same book. Additionally, it lacks, at least in this first installment, many of the plot-forced elements that Valdemar was充斥着. Time will tell if this remains the case, but I'm already feeling more confident in Pierce's writing after just one book than I ever did in Lackey's.

Alanna desires to be a knight. The problem is that she's a girl, and girls aren't permitted to be knights. Conveniently, she has a twin brother and inattentive parents, so they hatch a plan where her brother gets to go and learn to be a wizard, and she disguises herself as a boy and takes his place at court as a page. Of course, she encounters a bully, befriends the prince, proves her worth, and even acquires a magical sword - all the typical stuff. Meanwhile, there's setup for future intrigue and possible conspiracies against the Crown. In some cases, things were perhaps a little too easily resolved, but I wouldn't be astonished if not all of them are resolved for good.

The narration by Trini Alvarado was well-executed for the most part. She sometimes spoke too softly, and I had to crank the volume up to nearly the maximum possible level to hear her. She also had a tendency to sometimes run sentences together, but it wasn't a major issue. She has a pleasant, smoky voice that is easy on the ears and does an especially good job with Alanna's voice.

I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

Well, this book falls more into the middle grade category, but it was still good.

There were aspects of it that were extremely unrealistic. For example, it claims that at the age of 14, one will not resemble a girl at all. This is quite a stretch.

Also, the book seemed a little rushed. I have to say again that it's very unrealistic.

Pretending to be a boy for so many years when one has girlish features is not an easy feat.

However, the plot is simple and engaging, with elements of magic and the mysterious black city. It manages to draw the reader in and keep them interested despite its flaws.

Overall, while it may not be a perfect book, it still has its charm and can be an enjoyable read for those in the middle grade range.

I truly wish that I had come across this book for the very first time during my childhood days instead of being a 27-year-old adult. I have a hunch that I would have been completely crazy about it back then. However, for some reason, I have managed to miss every single one of Pierce's twenty million bajillion books.

As things stand now, I did enjoy reading this book. Nevertheless, the writing style is extremely simplistic, clearly designed for a younger audience. This was written before the era of Harry Potter, when publishers believed that all kids had ADD and would not read anything longer than 200 pages with large print. There were many aspects that were glossed over, and I would have loved to see them elaborated on. It is a short book that covers over two years of Alanna's life. The chapter that suffered the most from this was the last one, "The Black City," which had a rather intense battle that seemed to come out of nowhere and was over almost as soon as it began. But the main attraction of this series is undoubtedly the characters. Alanna herself is a total badass, and the male characters are equally awesome.

Now, I find myself in a situation where I have to track down and devour the remaining three books. However, this is not as straightforward as it might sound because my library is being rather uncooperative about it.