Lioness Rampant

Here's what I truly love about Lioness Rampant. It's an epic tale that emphasizes outstanding storytelling rather than being fixated on its own legend. It's cognizant of its significance and firmly believes in it, yet it's not overly preoccupied with its colossal future impact. It's content to narrate a remarkable story and let the legend develop organically from there.

I think this is an amazing story. I adore how it commences with a young Alanna, who, despite being a knight, is still young and doesn't know how to flirt with Liam. I love the way Alanna is resolute to be a hero for the sake of her country. She doesn't accidentally stumble upon greatness but deliberately pursues it.

And I'm fond of the nuances. I believe this is the first Pierce book where I can say that. Consider the scholar who tells them about the Dominion Jewel, about how it functions for those who are naturally rulers and conquerors, which is why it's often best utilized by a commoner. Think about the person Alanna believes to be king: how would Roald have used the Jewel? Could he have used it?

Alanna tells Liam, when he asks her if she's the best in Tortall, that she doesn't know because she only fought knights. "There may be some commoners better than me" - Alanna, who is very conscious of her nobility! But it doesn't make her blind.

I like her relationship with Thayet. I like how perceptive Thayet is, especially regarding Alanna. She demonstrates her intelligence and diplomacy by the way she explains to Alanna why she cannot take the Jewel for Sarain. She knows to provide the more detailed explanation so Alanna understands that Thayet isn't shirking her duty, and that, more than anything, convinces me that Thayet will be a great queen. Showing, not telling: excellent stuff.

There's more nuance, perhaps the most nuanced of all:

Alanna blushed. "Thayet, you're flattering me. It was easier for me to rebel than stay and make something of myself. Why didn't I go to convent school and prove ladies are more than ornaments that way?"

Then there's the finale. Alanna thinks, "He expects you to fight. So - stop fighting." I've never been entirely clear on how that worked out for her - was the blade traveling too quickly for Roger to duck? What did he think would happen when he called the sword to him? - but I love how it comes full circle: when Alanna first found the blade with Myles, she also had to stop fighting.

And then there's Jonathan, grief-stricken over his parents, not understanding how you could love someone so much you would forget your duty to your people - which is something Thayet voices understanding of, even before Jonathan states it. This book does so much unobtrusive groundwork to convince me that Jon and Thayet will make a great couple.

There are things to ponder: the current plot centered around Roger seems to have been initiated by Delia of Eldorne. Which makes me wonder precisely how Roger planned his eventual resurrection. Did he know time was running out during book two, and if so, why? He must have, because if he'd been truly dead, Thom's spell wouldn't have worked. But Delia wasn't at court then, was she? Or is this similar to Voldemort, and he was just constantly paranoid about death? And what about Thom? Wasn't he still feigning stupidity at that point? On whose magical prowess was Roger relying?

Please note that Roger telling Jon straight out, "But they can be defeated, Jonathan. The right man can shake their thrones" neatly reveals Roger's plans to readers, but it also informs Jonathan. Is Roger stupid? DO NOT GO ANNOUNCING YOUR PLANS TO THE PERSON YOU WANT TO DETHRONE, YOU EGOMANIAC.

One last point - Alanna is a healer and she knows Thom is dying. Why does she accept that? Why doesn't she attempt to do anything for him?!

The Best Supporting Character award goes to the Lord Provost, by the way. He's so much fun in this book.

I JUST LIKE THIS SO MUCH. And I love how it's referenced in future books - as a major turning point - and here it's a great story that lives up to that label.

So my daughter and I finished the series. It ended completely perfectly