While there are an abundance of plot points unfolding in this final book of the series, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they all intertwined beautifully. The climatic battle was not only fast-paced but also incredibly interesting, keeping me on the edge of my seat. I must admit, it is always heartbreaking to see the characters we have come to love throughout the series meet their demise. However, I do appreciate the realism of the author in not having everyone emerge victorious in the end.

I did find the Thom storyline a bit peculiar. To be honest, I had almost forgotten about him as he had been more of a background character for the majority of the series. Nevertheless, it was an interesting addition to the overall narrative. And of course, I wholeheartedly approve of Alanna's choice in the epilogue. It was a fitting conclusion to her character arc.

Pierce's author's note at the end of this reprint was truly fascinating. It added an entirely new dimension to the conflicts within this world, as it served as a mirror of what Pierce experienced as a child growing up in America during the Vietnam War. This personal touch added depth and authenticity to the story.

All in all, this is a solid series with memorable characters and moments that will stay with readers long after they have turned the final page. It is a testament to the author's skill and creativity.

Wow.

What an amazing way to end this story.

I truly have a deep love for reading and the experience of growing older along with the characters.

This particular series is one of those rare gems where, once it's over, you feel as if a significant chunk of your heart is missing.

The characters have become so real and dear to you throughout the journey of reading.

You've laughed with them, cried with them, and shared in their joys and sorrows.

And now that it's all come to an end, there's a sense of emptiness.

But at the same time, there's also a feeling of gratitude for having had the opportunity to be a part of their lives, even if it was only through the pages of a book.

It's moments like these that make reading such a powerful and transformative experience.

I finally completed reading this series. It was relatively short, yet I truly relished it. It might not be the absolute best, nor something that would linger in my memory for an extended period. However, I still derived pleasure from reading it. In particular, I adored the characters and the world that was created. This is precisely the reason why I will soon be delving into more works set in this world!

I do have a few questions that I sincerely wish had been answered. Additionally, there are some loose ends that remain unresolved. Nevertheless, on the whole, it is a good series. It managed to engage me and keep my interest piqued throughout. The story had its own charm and the way the characters interacted added depth to the narrative. Although it may not be a masterpiece, it definitely has its merits and I look forward to exploring more of this fictional universe.

I finally read this series!

When I was younger, I read some of the author's other books and really liked them. However, it took me a long time to figure out who the author was. Overall, I really liked this series, but there are some criticisms.

The books sometimes feel really rushed. I don't necessarily need to read about all 7(?) years of Alanna's training to be a knight in detail if not much happened. But often, major plot events were hurried along, making them seem anticlimactic.

Even though we see Alanna put in hard work during her training, she sometimes still seems a bit too perfect. Maybe it's because of the rushed plot, but she usually wins all fights quickly without much loss. She also doesn't seem to put as much effort into her magical training as her fighting skills, yet she wins every time.

Some characters were really underdeveloped. What was Alex's deal? Why did we know so little about Thom, who was supposed to be important but was only a marginal character and seemed like a bit of a jerk? Why didn't we get to see more of Thayet and Bruni's awesomeness?

I guess this doesn't bother most people, but I really wasn't a fan of the age difference between Alanna and her love interests. George was already the king of the thieves when Alanna was a girl, so he must have been quite a bit older than her. And he starts to pursue her when she's just 15, which I thought was creepy, even though I really liked his character otherwise. Then there's Liam, who's also 14 years older. I know it's not a big deal to some people, but I'm just not a fan, especially because Alanna was still so young. It would be different if she was 40 and Liam 54, but at that age, it does make a difference.

Despite all these points, there was a lot I enjoyed about the series.

The world seemed really interesting! I loved all the different settings, from the capital to the desert and Alanna's stay with the Bazhir.

Some of the characters were awesome! Myles was definitely a favorite (though he could ease up on the drinking), as were Thayet and Bruni and George and Faithful.

I know we're all tired of sexist fantasy worlds, but I appreciate that this was written 40 years ago and makes a great point about feminism. Alanna pursues her dreams despite the world she lives in and doesn't give them up for any guy. She has realistic relationships with men and figures out that she can be both feminine and a sword-wielding badass.

The lack of jealousy was also refreshing. Or rather, there is jealousy and people do feel bad when their love interest hooks up with someone else, but they still manage to be adult about it and get along with each other.

I enjoyed reading this series and I'm glad I finally got around to it.

The first half of the story was painfully boring. It seemed to drag on and on, with little to hold my interest.

And then, suddenly, it was like a hundred things were mushed into the second half. There was so much happening all at once that it was almost overwhelming.

I didn't exactly hate the ending, but it didn't feel like the right outcome after the previous three books. It was as if the author had rushed to tie up all the loose ends and had sacrificed the integrity of the story in the process.

Overall, I was left feeling somewhat disappointed. The potential was there for a great story, but it just didn't quite come together in the end.

I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to others. It might be worth a read if you're a die-hard fan of the genre, but otherwise, you might want to skip it.

To be honest, I didn't have the same level of enjoyment from this novel as I did from the previous ones in the series. Particularly, I had high expectations after reading "The Woman Who Rides Like a Man". In this book, many parts seemed rushed. There were numerous aspects that I渴望further explanation for, but unfortunately, they weren't provided.

Moreover, the initial few bits in this novel annoyed me a little. Alanna, who was portrayed as a strong character in the previous novels and never needed to be "saved" like a "damsel in distress", was saved not just once but twice by a random guy. This felt like a contradiction to the previous build-up of her character.

However, I really liked the scenes after Alanna, Coram, and Liam met up with the renegades and joined forces. Especially those super awkward moments of Alanna looking after a baby.

The bit with Alanna retrieving the jewel was quite strange. The whole ape thing, with him being a physical manifestation of an ancient being, was confusing. It seemed to distract from what I really wanted to know, which was what was happening with Jonathan and everyone else back at the castle.

The return of Roger wasn't a big surprise. I felt that his "defeat" in the second book was too easy, and I didn't think it was the end. I also wish they had explained the whole thing with Thom and his magic better. It would have been nice to know more about Alex and why he took the path he did.

Despite my gripes, I did enjoy the ending. Jonathan ended up with the princess, and George ended up with Alanna. But overall, I had too many issues with this novel to consider it as enjoyable as the previous ones. Oops?

2.5 stars

I'm truly disappointed. Book one was exactly as I remembered it, filled with excitement and charm. However, as the series progressed, it became increasingly mechanical and frustrating. Lioness, while an improvement over book three, still feels disjointed, as if two different books were haphazardly jammed together. And ugh, Liam! His character development left much to be desired.

With a heavy heart, I must admit that this will be my last ever reread of this series. It's a shame that what started so promisingly ended on such a sour note. I had high hopes for this series, but unfortunately, it failed to live up to my expectations. Maybe it's time to move on and discover new literary treasures.

This series has come to a truly fantastic end!

I found myself tearing up several times throughout the story. There was an abundance of exciting action that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The character of Alanna is simply amazing. I just love her with all my heart. Her strength, courage, and determination are truly inspiring.

She faces numerous challenges and obstacles along the way, but she never gives up. She is a role model for all of us, showing us that we can overcome anything if we believe in ourselves.

The story is well-written, with a great plot and engaging characters. It has been a pleasure to read this series, and I will definitely be recommending it to my friends.

I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next!

Finally, there is some complexity in the characters and writing! This final installment in the series, although still feeling episodic in certain places, flows better than the others. What's more, Alanna's character actually develops in a believable manner. I'm glad that I have completed the series, but it's more for the sake of the world building rather than the actual story or characters. The world that has been constructed throughout the series is truly fascinating and immersive. It draws the reader in and makes them want to explore every nook and cranny. However, when it comes to the story and the characters, they don't quite have the same level of depth and engagement. The story can sometimes feel a bit flat, and the characters could have been developed more fully to make them more relatable and interesting.

Okay, this is probably my fourth read-through of the series, and I've noticed a few things that I haven't thought much about before.

First and foremost - the super cool name changes in the Danish translation. George Cooper -> Gergi Gatto, Roger -> Rogir, and Myles -> Mylas.

I can kind of understand that some of it is pronunciation, but I don't feel that Gergi is any easier than George? And it made him seem a bit Italian??

Another thing is the pacing. Shit, it goes fast. Compared to other fantasy books, this series should have been 7 books of 500 pages instead of 4 books of 250.

It's both a bit refreshing, but there's so much I would love to know.

I heard that it was originally thought of as a 750-page adult book, but I wouldn't have been that except in the format it has now. It was perfect for Ulrikke, 12 years old.

Overall, I still really enjoy this series despite these little observations. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, and it has a unique charm. I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be more installments in the future.

I thought this was an outstanding conclusion to a quartet. It offered a fulfilling outcome for the main character, particularly when it came to her love interest. The ending was bittersweet, to say the least.

On one hand, it was satisfying to see the main character's story arc come to a close in a way that felt right. Her journey with her love interest had been a central part of the quartet, and the resolution provided a sense of closure.

On the other hand, the ending was also very sad. There were elements that tugged at the heartstrings and left me with a feeling of melancholy.

And especially if you are a big cat lover like me, there were certain aspects of the story that made it even more poignant. The relationship between the main character and the big cat was truly special, and the ending had a significant impact on that connection.

Overall, I found the ending to be a complex and emotional experience that left a lasting impression.

Let me first tell you the story of reading it. Thana and I were reading it simultaneously, and we would constantly make a request and wait for someone else to put the book on the ground so that we could start reading it ourselves!

And now that it's two thirty in the morning and the book is finished...

Simply put, I really liked it. But the fact that all these events were placed in the last few pages, well, I got a bit disappointed :)) It should have been longer...

And...

And truly, my heart is in pain because of Liam and I want to cry out loud. I'm completely restless and I can't stay still. I'm walking around the quiet house and my heart is heavy. Because a series that I spent days with is over, and because of Liam, and because of my silly excitements... And that, God. What happened to Amin, the man? There was really no explanation at all. :((((

Is this a review? I'm writing about my state of mind instead of my opinion about the book :))