I know these books are beloved.

However, I had never read them as a kid!

I just wasn't this flavor of nerd, you know!

I really don't know why.

But I absolutely understand the legacy here.

These books have had a significant impact on many people.

I love this little guy Alan.

He seems so charming and interesting.

The story he is in must be full of adventures and excitement.

I can't wait to explore it further.

Maybe I will discover something new and wonderful.

You can also check out the link: https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...

It might give you more insights into this amazing world.

2024 (audiobook) reading:

The reader of this audiobook is, to be quite honest, kinda terrible at actually performing the book. Pierce's prose, especially in these first writings, is already pretty flat, and the reading seems to flatten everything still further. The pacing from sentence to sentence is especially odd. However, as a means to listen to an old favorite, there's something very soothing about the whole thing.

2012 review:

I used to be completely obsessed with these books. When I was younger, I was equally fascinated by medieval history and magic, and Alanna was the perfect heroine. The story is fairly simple, and it has been repeated many times in many different ways by many different authors since. But for me, Pierce was the first to tell it. Alanna does not want to be a \\"Lady\\". She has no interest in going to a convent and learning embroidery and other \\"lady-like\\" subjects. Instead, she dreams of being a warrior, of fighting and defeating evil! So, she takes her twin brother's place as a page (he wants to be a knight as much as she wants to be a Lady) and begins her journey to knighthood. She keeps her identity - and femininity - a secret, though a few do discover it. Along the way, she learns a lot about being true to herself while also becoming a totally kick-ass heroine.

There's a bit of magic involved (actually, a lot) but nothing is easy for her. Even the things she's naturally good at have to be worked on and improved. This, of course, is another lesson for the young readers who will have no idea they are learning as they are reading. I certainly didn't at the age of nine. I just thought it was a cool story. It's only now, over ten years since the first time I read it, that I realize how much these books influenced me to be myself when it would have been easier to not be.

Reading this again, I can't help but notice the simplicity of the writing. This doesn't mean it's bad. Maybe it's just a phase I'm going through, but I'm really craving beautiful prose where the writing is as important as the story. The book is written for a young audience, of course, and I never thought there was anything wrong with it when I was young. To be honest, there isn't anything really wrong with it. I'm just being a bit picky. In her later books, the writing flows a little more easily as Pierce settles into her style. It's just here that it's a little stilted. That's the only reason I've given it four stars instead of five.

I said before that Alanna was the perfect heroine to me as a young child - well, she still is. If I ever have a daughter, I will give her these books. If only because they show that just because you don't fit into the stereotype of being a \\"girl\\" (liking dolls and makeup and other designated \\"girly\\" things) does not mean that you are not one.

Upgrading this to 5 stars. The reason is that although it has some flaws, it is truly the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT).

I have done a full Review To Completion (RTC). This means that I have thoroughly examined every aspect of it. I have looked at its features, its performance, and its overall functionality. And despite the few shortcomings that I have identified, I still believe that it stands head and shoulders above the rest. It has a certain charm and appeal that cannot be ignored. It has managed to capture my attention and keep me engaged from start to finish. So, despite its flaws, I am more than happy to give it a 5-star rating. It is truly a remarkable piece of work.

A very solid, brisk, and enjoyable example of 1980's sword and sorcery/coming of age fantasy that was so popular in that era.

Pierce sets up a unique, but recognizable, world that her heroine, Alanna, exists in. Comfortably recognizable as being European medieval fantasy, no new ground is broke here in terms of setting. However, where this book truly makes its mark is with the journey of Alanna as she attempts to hide her gender while striving to become a knight.

The story spans several years of her training and life among other such aspiring nobles. The characters are enjoyable, albeit a bit conventional. There's the thief with a heart of gold, the noble prince, the needlessly vicious minor antagonist, the wise elder mentor, and the possible long-term nemesis that no one else sees as a threat.

Nonetheless, I couldn't help but enjoy this book, which reads as sort of a prolonged training montage for Alanna. The book ends in a manner that is satisfying while also clearly setting up many sequels. It leaves the reader eager to follow Alanna's further adventures and see how her story will unfold in the subsequent installments.

Overall, it's a great read for fans of the genre, offering an engaging plot, likable characters, and a well-developed world that draws you in and keeps you hooked from start to finish.

I am an avid fan of Tamora Pierce, and this particular book was the very first one of hers that I had the pleasure of reading.

The plotline, although not overly complex - it does become more intricate in the subsequent books - is narrated with a powerful voice and a great deal of flair.

It has been quite a while since I last reread it, yet I vividly remember Alanna's unwavering determination and remarkable creativity, which were highly inspiring.

The combination of a coming-of-age story, fantasy elements, and the defiance of tradition makes this book a truly powerful and enjoyable read.

It is indeed a banner novel for 'Sheroes' all over the world!

  
    “Alan, you seem to think we won't like you unless you do things just like everyone else. Have you ever thought we might like you because you're different?”
  

I really had a great time reading this. Although the writing style isn't exactly to my taste, the story was so engaging that I couldn't help but keep reading about Alanna and her exciting adventures. As I'm currently reading the last book in the series, I can firmly state that this one is by far the best. The characters are not only hilarious but also relatable, and there are numerous healthy friendships depicted. The story is truly captivating, and Alanna is an extremely interesting character with her own unique set of ideas. In this book, she is still in the process of growing up and uncovering more and more about the world she inhabits. The foreshadowing of a love triangle is definitely there, but let's face it - George could defeat Jonathan's royal behind any day. I truly wish that the rest of the series could match the excellence of this book.

Come on, I simply can't rate this less than four stars.

What I disliked:

There are a few convenient situations where Alanna instantly hates or trusts someone upon seeing them. The white saviour problem has been widely noticed - two thirteen-year-old white kids managed to defeat beings that the Bazhir seemingly couldn't for centuries, even though the Bazhir are thousands of years old and clearly very magically powerful. And let's not forget Duke Baird just standing by while Alanna takes over the healing.

What I liked:

The clear and concise writing, which is just as good as it was a decade and a half ago. The subtlety of Myles' drinking, the emphasis on hard work. Alanna, George, and Jon are all beautifully distinct, and Alanna is a total badass at ten. Some scenes weren't quite as vivid as I recalled, but the description of the Black City was evocative. Ali Mukhtab is calm and wise in the mere five pages he appears in. Periods weren't avoided, Eleni is a boss, and I had nostalgic memories of my Jon/Alanna ship goggles as a teenager.

Moreover, knowing the events of the next three books, I got emotional when reading about Thom and Alanna's relationship.

This is one of those books that will stick with me, both literally and metaphorically.

I have it with me at college, always within reach.

The whole series and all the ones I have of the spin-off series are truly dear to me.

They are wonderful for girls who are growing up.

Each book is like a precious gem, telling one story after another of strong young girls transforming into strong young women.

These stories are not only entertaining but also inspiring, showing that girls can be勇敢 and independent, and can overcome any obstacles in their path.

They give me hope and courage, and make me believe that I can also become a strong and confident woman.

I am so grateful to have discovered this series, and I know that it will continue to be a source of inspiration and comfort for me throughout my life.

This was such a huge surprise. I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did and I definitely will say that it holds up considering that it was originally written in the 80s.

Alanna: The First Adventure is the first installment in the Song of the Lioness Quartet. It centers around Alanna's remarkable journey of "switching roles" with her brother, enabling her to pursue her dream of becoming a knight. There are numerous assumptions that one might make about a fantasy book from the 80s. However, Pierce was truly ahead of her time in both plot and character development. Alanna forms wonderful relationships with the other boys training to be knights. Even with some absentee parents, she manages to forge strong bonds with other adults as well. I really appreciated that Pierce allowed Alanna to have flaws. This is particularly evident when Alanna arrives at the castle and assumes that her previous training will make her excel in everything. Of course, things don't go as planned, and she has to put in the same time and energy as all the other participants.

There were a few aspects related to puberty that I didn't expect Peirce to cover. Naturally, Alanna will experience developmental changes as she grows older. However, I thought Pierce might overlook this. Surprisingly, she didn't. There were excellent conversations about physical changes that were likely groundbreaking for readers when the book was first released. Pierce definitely seized this opportunity to pave the way for women in the fantasy genre at a time when it was predominantly dominated by men. While I do think the presentation of gender is a bit outdated, Peirce did an outstanding job for the era in which she published this book. I've heard that her books only improve with time. This was definitely a great read, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more from her.

I read this when my children were still small. After all, it was my responsibility to introduce them to fantasy literature, as well as other literature that is both educational and entertaining.

Anyway, this is an enjoyable story. You'll of course run into the character types and plot points elsewhere, but that's okay. Character types become character "types" for a reason. Alan, or rather Alanna, is a good character, though a little trying or even annoying at times. Still, she knows her mind!

This book has a few flaws but none to speak of (as they say). Be sure your "youth" is old enough to read this and has a good reality concept so they can deal with magic abilities, magical training, multiple gods and goddesses, and so on. When you think he/she/they are mature enough, this is a nice early introduction to fantasy. It can spark their imagination and introduce them to a world beyond the ordinary.

It's important to choose books that are appropriate for their age and development. This way, they can fully appreciate and engage with the story, while also learning something along the way. Fantasy literature can be a great tool for teaching values, such as courage, perseverance, and kindness.

So, if you're looking for a good book to introduce your children to the world of fantasy, this might be a great choice. Just make sure to read it with them and have discussions about the story and the characters. This will help them to better understand and connect with the book.

This book was truly amazing. I am still in disbelief that it took me such a long time to pick it up and read it.

Once I delved into its pages, I became completely engrossed and simply couldn't put it down. The story was so captivating and engaging that it held my attention from start to finish.

I am now eagerly anticipating Monday because that's when I can begin reading the second book in the series.

Alanna, the main character, is a true inspiration. She demonstrates that girls are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to. Her determination, courage, and strength are truly remarkable and serve as a great example for readers of all ages.

This book has not only entertained me but also taught me valuable lessons about perseverance and believing in oneself. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

In the never-ending debate about whether there are enough female characters in YA fantasy novels to counterbalance the dullness of Bella Swan and her countless imitators, Tamora Pierce's name is often mentioned. I like Pierce's work, but I think this recommendation needs a couple of caveats, especially when it comes to her first and still most popular series, The Song of the Lioness. Alanna is the first book in this series and is sometimes given the rather cumbersome, longer title of Alanna: The First Adventure.

Part I: Setting

Tortall is the setting of our story. This magical pseudo-medieval kingdom leans more towards the pseudo-Renaissance than the pseudo-Celtic. It has its share of strange customs, which we'll discuss later, but nothing here is too savage or shocking to modern sensibilities. There is also magic at work, but the emphasis (at least in this series) is on humans - kings, queens, and knights, mostly - and overall, it feels more like Narnia than Middle-earth.

Having a magical Gift (always capitalized) is here treated like being good at math or having a nice singing voice. It tends to run in families, especially aristocratic ones. It is valued, but it is not the be-all and end-all of existence. As we'll see in the Protector of the Small series, Giftless people in Tortall can still be heroes, unlike in some other series I could name (*cough* Harry Potter *cough*). Pierce's characters don't have to worry much about incantations; spellcasting is more likely to involve a few simple words combined with conjuring supernatural fire, which is almost always the same color as the conjurer's eyes.

There's another useful talent called the Sight. Sighted people can't work magic themselves, but they can always see through glamours and spells, which unsighted people can't do.

Despite otherwise resembling a Renaissance European culture, Tortall is a polytheistic state. This pantheon supposedly includes hundreds of gods who appear throughout this series and into the subsequent ones. In this series, the gods don't do much except encourage Alanna and give her things. The chief deity is a Goddess, always spelled with a capital G.

A goddess may rule the universe, but on Earth, women don't have much power. If you're a noblewoman, you can either marry young into a good family or go to the Goddess' cloisters and become a mage. Sure, there are lady knights mentioned in folklore and history, but respectable girls don't do that sort of thing nowadays. There's no penalty for someone trying, though. Alanna risks her reputation to train, but she's not risking her life*.

*At least, the King won't have her executed if her secret gets out. Obviously, plenty of other people want to kill our heroine, or else there would be no story.

Tortallans are fussy about rank. We'll see more of this in Protector of the Small #3. It doesn't come up much in the Alanna novels. Like the English, they are very class-conscious but don't really notice race.

Tortallan cultural mores are a bit inconsistent. People worry that a lady knight wouldn't behave like a proper gentlewoman, but at the same time, no one is offended to learn that an unmarried person is sexually active, and magical contraceptives are available to almost everyone. It's unfortunate that Pierce feels the need to focus so much on these last two subjects. She doesn't go into graphic details, but I'm uncomfortable recommending these books to a nine-year-old, even though Alanna is an excellent role model in every other respect. There isn't much of this in book I, but the three subsequent volumes are very attached to this plot point.

I remember reading an interview with Pierce where she said she tries to avoid the common fantasy pitfall of character and place names with seventeen syllables, accents, umlauts, and whatnot. She does an excellent job of avoiding these. In fact, you could argue that she goes too far in the other direction: for example, the desert city where the climax takes place is named Persopolis. (Also, it's hard for me to believe a handsome blue-eyed man named Roger is an arch-villain. I just keep picturing Roger Taylor or Roger Daltrey, and that ruins the mood).

Part II: The Story

In the land of Tortall, there is a province called Trebond. Lord Trebond has been sad and distant since his wife died giving birth to twins eleven years ago, and he is so emotionally unavailable to his son and daughter that they have no real relationship with him.

The boy is Thom, whom his father intends for knighthood but who would rather devote his life to the study of magic. The girl is Alanna, who will be sent off to learn magic and proper-lady things at the convent but wants to become a warrior.

Like many literary boy-and-girl twins, Thom and Alanna look so much alike that even the servants who raised them aren't always sure which is which. Since the kids are prepubescent, this isn't actually that far-fetched. As adults, the two still look alike but could never be mistaken for each other.

On the day they are sent away, Alanna and Thom switch places and are well on their way to their respective paths of destiny by the time anyone figures it out - including their father, who is apparently just that oblivious. Lucky for them that their father rarely goes to court, so no one can verify that he has one son and one daughter instead of two sons.

Accompanied by her faithful manservant Coram, "Alan" enters the capital city, Corus, and begins training as a page in the royal household. She has several nasty run-ins with a cowardly bully named Ralon, who is soon expelled for bad behavior (which comes back to haunt certain people later), but overall, everyone is very nice to her. She develops a particular friendship with Jonathan, the handsome young Crown Prince, and the big, boisterous Raoul of Goldenlake.

Tiny Alanna has to work hard to master various weapons, but master them she does, impressing everyone with her determination and work ethic. She also has a strong magical Gift, strong enough to rescue Jonathan from dying of a plague that sweeps the city halfway through the book. It's no surprise that she catches the attention of the new magic teacher, Jonathan's cousin Duke Roger of Conté. *Cue ominous music*

It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that the sophisticated, handsome Roger is determined to destroy his young cousin and seize the crown. This is obvious to the reader from the beginning, but most of the characters, under Roger's spell, are shocked by the very idea. (At first, this looks like lazy writing, but Pierce offers a good explanation at the end of book two).

Alanna's magic sense tells her something is wrong with Roger, but what? Her solving the mystery - and the confrontation that naturally follows such a discovery - is put off until book two.

This installment ends with Roger sending Jon and "Alan" into a trap, a one-off appearance by some terrifying supernatural entities, and a magic-induced wardrobe malfunction that reveals Alanna's true gender to Jonathan. He's seventeen. She's thirteen. I'm sure you can guess where this is going - but it takes until the next book to get there, too.

Also, there is a thief running around. The King of Thieves, to be precise. His name is George Cooper. He's in his late teens and a good friend to Alanna, and you're going to see a lot more of him as the series progresses.

Part III: Content Advisory for Parents, Teachers, and Sensitive Kids

Alanna gets her period during the course of the book. She makes a midnight run to the nearest healer-woman (who happens to be George's mom), and they spend what feels like an awkwardly long time discussing puberty, the birds and the bees. Alanna is given an amulet that will prevent pregnancy and that she can throw away at any time if she decides she wants kids. This exchange took up about five pages in the mass market paperback I got from the library, and is probably even shorter in a trade edition. It doesn't come up again in this book, but in the three sequels, the amulet pays off repeatedly, if you know what I mean.

I can't speak for every kid, but this part really freaked me out when I was a twelve-year-old reading the book for the first time.

Also, the evil beings haunting the city of Persopolis, trying to make Jon and "Alan" turn on each other, cause the girl's clothing to disintegrate, revealing her female body. Jon is initially too shocked to get horny, but the stage is set for their...uh...relationship upgrade in book two.

Ralon is violent in a schoolyard bully kind of way, but no more frightening as a character than Moe from Calvin and Hobbes. (This is no longer the case when he reappears in book four). There's no gore to speak of.

A plague sweeps through the city about halfway through the book, killing off a lot of minor characters. Pierce doesn't go into the details of how the virus works, but anyone with a basic knowledge of medieval diseases can fill in all the nasty blanks.

The supernatural beings in this book are a bit spooky. We first meet them when Alanna uses her magic to stop Jonathan from dying of the plague. Others appear in the trap in Persopolis. They all give off a very pagan vibe, which might be uncomfortable for some conservative Judeo-Christian readers.

Pretty much all the characters use magic to varying degrees. As mentioned earlier, Pierce largely ignores incantations in favor of personal energies and telekinesis-type stuff.

There is no substance abuse or foul language.

Part IV: Is It Any Good?

Alanna is a flawed and likable kid: plucky, determined, impulsive, loyal, a bit bratty, and not always perceptive. Clearly, Pierce was influenced by the classic YA heroines - Jo March, Laura Ingalls, Anne Shirley, and Scout Finch - and while Alanna isn't as developed or morally reliable as they are, she's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as them, which is more than can be said for any of Stephanie Meyer's or Cassandra Clare's heroines.

Pierce's greatest strength is her heroines, followed by her invariably likable supporting casts. Jon, Raoul, Sir Myles, and especially George, are great fun to read about. Tortall is an interesting place full of deities and political intrigue, and this only gets better as the books progress.

However, this book has very little plot tying all the characters together. Something happens, time passes, and then something else happens. The conflagration at the end is pretty exciting, but the rest of the book is more of a school story in a fantasy setting than epic high fantasy. If you're looking for non-stop action, look elsewhere.

Also, the world-building is a bit hazy in places, showing that Pierce really didn't know the terrain of Tortall very well herself back then. For example, Alanna being the only person even remotely suspicious of Roger. At the end of book two, this is revealed to be accidental, but for the duration of this one, it looks like Mary Sue.

On the subject of Mary Sues, it will likely annoy more sophisticated readers that all the good characters like Alanna right away, and only the bad ones (Ralon, Roger) dislike her. She is also a petite, pretty little thing with purple eyes and red hair. I kept picturing Hayley Williams with Elizabeth Taylor's eyes.

Pierce's prose in this volume can be downright clunky. In chapter one, for example, she ends two consecutive sentences with the word "anything." There's a fair amount of obvious statements ("Alanna was angry," that sort of thing) and one or two too many exclamation points.

Finally, anyone who thinks C.S. Lewis' political and religious views came through too strongly in the Chronicles of Narnia needs to read this, because Pierce makes Lewis look sneaky and subtle by comparison. At some points, especially when Mistress Cooper gives Alanna The Talk, one wonders if Pierce really intended to write a novel for the sake of the story, or if she's trying to sell '60s feminism and the Sexual Revolution to younger generations.

Conclusion

Pierce's Tortall books are overall worthwhile young adult fiction, but Alanna is an awkward piece: the story is fun and the main character engaging, but the prose is shaky in places, the plot negligible, and the author's politics occasionally flash obviously and abrasively into view. I recommend it for readers ages 14 and up...mainly because it sets up the highly entertaining Immortals Quartet and the excellent Protector of the Small.

You might also like...
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, which I sincerely hope you have already read
• The Secret Country trilogy by Pamela Dean
• The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
• The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale
• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• The Crown & Court duology by Sherwood Smith
• The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix
• The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett
• The Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman
• Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst