My goodness, my memory is truly atrocious. I had the impression that the ending of this book was meant to be the conclusion of the final book in the quartet. As a result, now I will be delving further into the series completely blindly!

This reading experience was extremely enjoyable. I have an intense love for these books. The sense of nostalgia is very real!

I do believe that they could have been developed a little more. There is a certain amount of skimming over and significant time jumps, causing the pace to be quite rapid. I really wish I had the opportunity to slow down and relish it more.

Aside from that, I adored the action, the characters, and the world that was created. It was a captivating journey that left me eager for more.

I have a great passion for exploring some of the classic works in the fantasy genre. It is essential for us to remember our roots.

The story of Alanna remains simple and straightforward. There are no excessive embellishments or unexpected plot twists. Instead, we are immersed in the adventure of a girl who is determined to become a knight despite all the odds and impossibilities.

To be honest, I'm not overly tempted to continue the series. There isn't that intense desire within me to discover what occurs next. However, it is highly likely that I will return to Part 3 at some point in my life.

Maybe. Only time will tell.

Roman

I was perusing the cover of my library copy of this book before delving into it. On my edition, Alanna is depicted with a black cat perched on her shoulder. Recalling how wonderfully filled with wish fulfillment the first book was, I thought to myself, "Oh, she gets a cat in this one. I bet it's a magic cat. I bet it talks." I was merely joking. But lo and behold, I was completely right. Alanna not only acquires a talking cat (who also has purple eyes, of course), but a deity swoops down to personally bestow a magic necklace upon her. At this juncture, our heroine is truly weighed down with magical loot. She's going to have to start lugging trunks around with her, and I absolutely love it.

The first book in the series progressed at a brisk pace; "In the Hand of the Goddess" moves even more swiftly, hurtling right through the remainder of Alanna's training and concluding shortly after she graduates. This implies that at times an entire year is condensed into just a few chapters, and the extensive timeline means that the book can sometimes seem like just a succession of separate events rather than a unified story. Halfway through the book, we are introduced to a neighboring country, Tusaine, and before we can even catch our breath, Alanna and her friends are being dispatched to the front lines because suddenly there's a war brewing. I anticipated that the war would占据 a significant portion of the story, as I apparently haven't quite grasped how this works yet, but instead the entire Tusaine conflict lasts approximately fifty pages before it's wrapped up and never really mentioned again. I had to finish the book and reflect back over the entire plot before I realized that the central narrative of this book is Alanna's ongoing struggle with Duke Roger, the evil sorcerer from Book One. I'm pleased to report that by the end, Duke Roger is out of the picture - Alanna kills him in a trial by combat, which also has the effect of revealing her gender to everyone, saving us some time - so he at least doesn't have to become a recurring villain who wears out his welcome. The theme of this book is magic: not only do we have Alanna pitted against the evil sorcerer, but there's also a great deal more about her own personal magic, and, as the title suggests, how the Goddess has specific plans for our heroine. I'm still not certain where we're headed with all of this, but I'm confident that it will be amazing.

The other crucial aspect of this book: in this installment, Alanna becomes sexually active, and I don't have nearly enough space to fully elucidate how impeccably Tamora Pierce presents sex to her readers - the intended age group for these books, remember, is ten-to-twelve year olds. So there's this scene where Alanna decides that for fun she's going to don a dress and walk around looking like a girl (there's a very subtle subplot in this book about Alanna learning that she can be a warrior and look like a girl, and that femininity does not equate to weakness, and gaaaaahhhh I love it so much). For spoiler purposes, I won't disclose which boy ends up making a move on her while she's in the dress, but for a moment it's rather uncomfortable, because he's like, "You're fighting what has to be" and "Surely you've realized all along this had to happen" and I was thinking oh god, Tamora, please don't let our protagonist's first time occur after some boy emotionally coerces her into sex, but Alanna stands her ground and walks away. And THEN this vital scene takes place: Alanna is back in her room, and decides, on her own, that she's ready, and that she wants this, so she goes to his room and they have sex. It's of the utmost importance that the sex is presented in precisely this manner - as a choice that the girl makes because she desires it, not because anyone is pressuring her into it - and it's done so subtly that most girls in the target age group who read that scene won't even realize how significant it is. And best of all, the sex isn't some momentous turning point in the story - it's just another part of growing up for Alanna, and isn't made out to be any more important than anything else that happens in the book. Little girls receive so many warped messages about sex as they grow up, and it's truly remarkable that Pierce's books handle the subject so adeptly, and this book earns an extra star because of it.

In fact (and this relates to the previous point), the only area where this series still has room for improvement is the way it portrays female characters who are not Alanna. So far, Mistress Cooper is the only other female of consequence, and in this book, we encounter the first girl who is Alanna's age. Her name is Delia, she flirts with the boys and is generally the archetypal ultra-feminine useless girl, and Alanna despises her. This isn't great, and even worse, the girl turns out to be a spy for Duke Roger. Hear that, little girls? If you see a girl flirting with a boy you like, it means she's evil. At this stage in the series, Alanna is completely that girl who claims that she's "not like most girls" and only associates with guys because girls are so catty, and I do not like it. My hope for the next book: Alanna acquires a female friend. And more magical swag. Maybe she'll get a dragon next.

This story follows Alanna during the final four years before she must confront the Ordeal to become a Knight of Tortall.

It has a rather curious way of ending, which compels me to quickly request the third installment from my library.

I'm not entirely certain about the romance aspect. I have an idea of how it will supposedly conclude and who she will select, but until that time comes, I'll continue to follow the story with anticipation.

The full review is pending, but you can find it @ Talk Supe Blog!

Check out the link: http://www.talksupeblog.com/2017/06/g...

This young adult fantasy novel, set in the library genre, has received a rating of 4.0.

I'm eager to see how the story unfolds and if my expectations are met in the upcoming installment.

Gah! Can people please be quick and finish reading the next two books and then return them to the library? I really don't want to wait any longer. Pretty please?

I have to say that I think I loved this second book even more than the first one. This book truly increased the intensity in every aspect: the magic was more captivating, the fighting scenes were more thrilling, and the romance was more heartwarming. They are super fun and quick reads, yet despite that, they are just filled with awesomeness. And Alanna is such a satisfying character. She is so resistant to change, and yet that's exactly what she does throughout the story.

I really don't want to switch gears and listen to something else at the moment. So someone better return their copy of the book... FAST. :)

I really wanted to read this collection from my old version and in Persian. But there was bad translation, incorrect spelling, and even censorship added. Unfortunately, I had to go for the English version.

Note: My heart hurts for that little girl (myself) who was reading this book, imagining the love stories of Jaanatan and Elina, but didn't realize that the love story in the book was censored.

It's truly a pity that the original essence of the story might have been lost due to these issues. The act of censorship can be quite frustrating as it deprives readers of the full and unadulterated experience of the narrative. We should strive to preserve the integrity of literary works and allow them to be presented in their true form.

Hopefully, in the future, there will be more efforts to ensure accurate translations and respect for the original content, so that readers can fully enjoy the beauty and depth of the stories without any unnecessary interference.

I think I would have liked this a lot more if I'd read it when I was younger.

Back then, my perspective and interests were different, and perhaps I would have been more receptive to the story.

However, those editions were so disappointing looking. The covers were unappealing, and the overall presentation didn't catch my eye.

I thought this series was about something completely different. Maybe it was the title or the marketing that gave me the wrong impression.

As a result, I never really gave it a fair chance.

But now, looking back, I wonder what I might have missed.

Perhaps there were hidden gems within those pages that I never discovered.

It makes me think about how important first impressions can be and how they can sometimes prevent us from experiencing something truly wonderful.

I guess it's never too late to go back and give it another try. Maybe this time, I'll see it in a whole new light.

4.5 Stars

This is yet another excellent read! I'm truly enjoying this series more and more. I keep pondering whether I liked this book more or less than the first one. However, I'm not sure if it's really that useful to know or share this comparison. There are certain aspects that I liked better

(such as a magical cat or familiar, and the absence of bullying from fellow classmates). On the other hand, there are some things that I liked less

(like less overall adventure and a less prominent love triangle). But in the end, I truly adored this book, and it feels amazing. It's a quick read, but it's also very entertaining.

I'm really looking forward to continuing this adventure and seeing what more this series has in store for me. I can't wait to explore the next installment and discover new surprises and excitement.

Rating: 4.5 / 5


I have to be completely honest here. Tamora Pierce, in my opinion, is a rather terrible writer. Seriously. From a technical perspective, her writing leaves a lot to be desired. She rushes through events at an alarming pace. The time skips are so abrupt that they catch you off guard. Her characters lack depth and are mainly developed through their dialogue, which makes them seem one-dimensional. And the way she handles the emotions of the characters is often clumsy, awkward, and at times, just plain random.


However, despite all these flaws, I find myself absolutely in love with this quartet of books. I adore the characters and the world of Alanna. For this, I have to give Pierce credit. She is the first author I've ever come across where I despise her writing style, yet I'm completely enamored with the cozy, nostalgic world-building, the characters, and the plot, which moves at a breakneck speed. It's a really confusing feeling, but despite that, these books will definitely be going on my favorites shelf.


I think the reason for this strange combination of feelings is comfort. These books were targeted at middle school-aged girls, probably around 12 - 14 years old. In a way, they serve as a whitewashed preview of what more serious YA and new adult novels will explore. It goes beyond the typical childhood adventure theme like you'd see in Harry Potter. But it also avoids the romantic maturity (relatively speaking) that's present in so many other contemporary YA novels. Let's face it, most of them have at least some elements of romance, if not full-blown obsessive romance. Geared towards girls, it gives a lot of independence to Alanna and presents her as a kind of badass role model heroine, but for a younger audience. Now that Alanna has finally become an adult character by the end of the book, I'm really curious to see where this quartet will lead. So far, we've just been following her on her journey of growing up.


All in all, it's a mixed bag, but I love it. I can understand why it has received high ratings despite its flaws. I've never encountered this combination of hating the writing but loving the plot before. It makes me wonder if I'll ever experience it again. I'm truly astounded.

As a follow-up to the first book in the series, I don't believe that this one is as strong. However, Pierce still does continue to tell a pretty engaging story with relatable and fun characters.

In the Hand of the Goddess picks up not too long after the events of the first book. Alanna comes into contact with a goddess and through her, learns of her personal fears. There's still conflict between the Prince and Uncle Roger, shown in greater detail. Alanna has to balance protecting the Prince, becoming a knight, and navigating her first romance. Like the first book, this one was fast-paced, but I didn't enjoy it as much. It felt too rushed. Three years of Alanna's life are covered in just 250 pages. I wish there was more detail, especially in world-building. It left me feeling like I was missing something about the world and Alanna's journey to knighthood.

Pierce does a great job with character development. Alanna faces realistic, age-appropriate situations that many readers can relate to. There's a bit of a love triangle, but it's handled well. I still enjoy Alanna as a character. She has amazing moments, especially during the standoff with Uncle Roger, one of the creepiest antagonists I've ever seen. Even the challenges she faced to become a knight were super interesting. While I didn't like the pacing, I was still excited about the story. And once I finished, I was ready for the third book.

There's a lot more detail that I discussed in a live show on my channel. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRj88...

Review to come!

This simple phrase holds a lot of anticipation. It implies that a detailed assessment or evaluation is即将到来.

Perhaps it's a review of a product, a book, a movie, or even a service. People often look forward to reviews as they can provide valuable insights and help them make informed decisions.

A good review can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the subject being reviewed, offer comparisons with similar items, and share personal experiences and opinions.

When a review is即将到来, it creates a sense of excitement and curiosity. Will it be positive or negative? What new information will it reveal?

We eagerly await the review, hoping it will provide the answers and perspectives we need to make our own judgments.

So, stay tuned for the review to come! It's sure to be an interesting and informative read.

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