In the Hand of the Goddess

Why do boys say someone acts like a girl as if it were an insult? What a remarkable follow-up! Although it doesn't immediately pick up where The Black City left off, In the Hand of the Goddess fills in the gaps, even though it occurs about a year after those events. The book flows just as smoothly as the first, perhaps even a little better.

It's truly wonderful to witness how comfortable Alanna has become with herself. No more endless fretting about being a girl and thus not being good enough. Now, she's coming to understand that being a woman isn't a bad thing, and she's looking forward to revealing her true self. And revealing that truth doesn't change who she is. Though it does highlight her stubbornness, and it's nice to see her new fears as she constantly tries to face them. This is what truly makes her a favorite character. Especially when, at sixteen, she faces her first battle. It's refreshing to see that it's not glorified, and the toll such things take on people is shown.

This is the book that introduces romance. While that was a strength of the previous book, in In the Hand of the Goddess, it doesn't detract from the story. Instead, it enhances it as we get to know the love interests. They've had time to develop into amazing characters. Dear Pierce is the first author to introduce me to Second Lead Syndrome. Which is great because both love interests are wonderful and not assholes, unlike in many newer books where jerks, bullies, and evil dudes masquerading as "bad boys" seem to dominate every book I read.

Thom finally gets some page time outside of letters, though it's more towards the end. I, for one, can't wait to learn more about Alanna's sorcerer brother. In the Hand of the Goddess does a great job of furthering Alanna's friends and allies. There are wonderful insights into the characters, especially as a few find out Alanna's big secret. It's also sad to see which characters may no longer be friends...

In the Hand of the Goddess doesn't have as much influence from the gods as the first book. Sure, there are some significant events at the beginning, but things don't feel as if they're being handed out. That's one of my biggest pet peeves with fantasy plots where things just magically reveal or occur to the lead because of a higher power. (Yes, I know it's fantasy.) It's wonderful to see Alanna progress from Squire to Knight. I'm excited to read about her adventures as the first Lady Knight in over a century. Go for it, girl!

Sexual Content: There is a hinted-at love scene and continued romance. But this is old school, so it's nothing explicit. There is also some sexual humor.

It's still very kid-friendly.

4/5 - Great! Really enjoyed it.

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

Alanna: The First Adventure is a captivating read that has stood the test of time for me. I recently re-read it in 2024, for the first time since writing my review in 2012, and it's still as accurate as ever. I gave it a 5.0 for nostalgia, 4.0 for the re-read, and a 4.5 overall. I've re-read this many times, but never with such a large gap and a focus on critical thinking. The Immortals Quartet is my favorite Tortall series, and while I relate to Diane more overall, this book has always been my favorite. Critically analyzing it, I still stand by that judgment. It has its faults, but its strengths far outweigh them.

For those reading it in their post-teen years, there are a couple of disclaimers. This book is very much of its time. The entire series' length was cut in half, at least, due to publishers not believing a fantasy novel with a female protagonist would sell well before Harry Potter. As a result, the first two books feel rushed, giving them a juvenile feel. However, if you can look past this, you'll be rewarded. I can't quite put my finger on what originally made this my favorite book. I first read it in 1996, before most of the Immortals quartet and the Protector of the Small quartet. I identified with Alanna's need to prove herself against masculine warriors. I came into the series obsessed with Joan of Arc and already familiar with the world via Wild Magic. I left the series as a feminist activist, grateful for Alanna's portrayal of both masculine and feminine qualities.

The strong point of this novel, in my opinion, is Alanna's acceptance of her gender. She becomes more real as she battles her desires for love and her knowledge of the pain it causes, her feminine and masculine sides. She chooses a masculine appearance to stay free and safe from harassment, but still explores what it means to be female. She's an excellent student and squire, but quickly learns she doesn't know everything during her training. Personally, Alanna's steps towards accepting her femininity mean the world to me. I don't really care about her knight training or her relationships with Jonathan or George. What matters is that she taught me to accept both femininity and masculinity and what they mean to me. It made me think and come to my own conclusions. So many feels, y'all.