Possibly my absolute favourite within the Song of the Lioness series! It truly had the potential to be a masterpiece. However, it was unfortunately let down by rather silly character motivations. This, in turn, had a significant impact on the logic of the story. There were several instances where characters behaved in a manner that was completely out of character simply to further the plot. It felt forced and detracted from the overall authenticity of the narrative. Additionally, some aspects of the story were wrapped up far too easily, lacking the necessary depth and complexity that one would expect from a well-crafted tale. Despite these flaws, there were certain moments that were so poignant and heart-wrenching that they managed to salvage the overall experience. For those moments alone, it definitely earns a solid 4-star rating.

A strong closing for this young adult fantasy series, which is truly quite enjoyable, albeit not in the absolute top tier. This final chapter neatly ties up all the loose ends, presenting some good drama. However, one has to somewhat accept that a major plot point has occurred, even though it makes no sense whatsoever. The characters are robust and relatable. Alanna, in particular, is a terrific role model. Pierce mainly manages to avoid the pitfalls that too many YA writers let their female leads fall into. She doesn't let romance overshadow the story or reinforce gender stereotypes by insisting that Alanna "isn't like other girls." Instead, Alanna ends up grappling with the challenge of balancing the demands of her position with the call of her heart, in a way that remains true to her character and the world Pierce has crafted.

If there is anything negative that can be said about the series as a whole (apart from the book-specific critiques that one could make), it is that this series has aged a little. The YA genre has evolved to such an extent that this series can sometimes seem a bit quaint, closer in tone and subject matter to middle grade. This might account for why it isn't as frequently mentioned among the best YA fantasy series, even though it should be.

I'm truly glad I discovered this one and hope more people will do the same. Although an increasing number of authors are penning strong girls as the leads of fantasy series (Katherine Arden and Leigh Bardugo come to mind immediately), there are still few enough that a journey back to the 1980s to meet Alanna of Trebond is well worth your time.

[3.5 Stars]

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a certain level of quality and satisfaction. It implies that the product or service being evaluated has both positive aspects and some areas that could use improvement.

Perhaps the features offered are quite good, but there might be a few minor glitches or shortcomings. It could also mean that the overall experience was decent, but not outstanding enough to earn a full 4 or 5 stars.

However, a 3.5-star rating is still a respectable one. It shows that the item or service has met a reasonable standard and has the potential to be even better with some adjustments.

Customers who see this rating may be inclined to give it a try, especially if they are looking for something that is above average but not necessarily perfect.

In conclusion, a 3.5-star rating is a middle-ground assessment that reflects a balance between the good and the not-so-good aspects of a product or service.

Fun!

I didn't have as much of a liking for this one compared to the first two books. However, I think I preferred it over the last one.

The pacing is truly all over the place. It seems that a great deal of the build-up from the previous books has just been cast aside.

There were moments when it was fast-paced, but then it would become incredibly boring for an extended period.

The story was also somewhat chaotic, yet it is truly a fantasy, and I absolutely devoured this genre when I was younger.

A lot of what occurred was just wild, and I was left thinking, "??? Do we really have to do all of this?" But overall, it was okay.

I did like the ending well enough, though. Because Alanna didn't end up with the ultimate fuckboy Jonathan.

Tamora Pierce is an author who has a penchant for using certain words and tropes in her writing.

She really likes to include words like "hostler" and "burnoose" which add a touch of authenticity and exoticism to her stories.

Some of the tropes she leans into are fainting ladies, a handsome strong man teaching an unladylike woman about something (perhaps it's life or love), and a strong female protagonist who excels at everything when she pretends to be a man.

I listened to this series almost 20 years ago and at that time, I absolutely loved it. It was a fairly basic middle grade fantasy series that began with a lot of promise and excitement. However, as the series progressed, there were just too many characters introduced, which made it difficult to stay fully invested in the story.

Also, it seems that the character Alana is portrayed as being flawless, which might not have aged well for me. Overall, while the series may not have stood the test of time, it's interesting to see how my taste for good writing has evolved and developed with age.

Still my favorite.

I like pretty much everything about it. The story, the characters, the setting - it all just clicks for me.

However, there is one thing that really bugs me, and that's Liam. He's such a jackass! The way he acts towards Alanna is just unacceptable.

He constantly pulls this crap where he thinks he's too good to ever apologize to his partner. It's so frustrating to read about.

Alanna should have stabbed him the first time he did that. Maybe then he would have learned his lesson.

But despite Liam's flaws, I still love this story. It has so many other great aspects that make up for his annoying behavior.

I can't wait to see what happens next in the story.

Re-read February 2016

Hey, my original review is actually quite good. You know, what I said back then. I'm referring to myself. Okay, wait a moment. There's something that has been bothering me. I find myself more curious about Alex. Is his entire character just defined by the need to be the best? That seems a bit one-dimensional to me. Also, I really wish more time had been spent on Thom. He's an interesting character and I think there was a lot more that could have been explored about him.

Original Review

I forgot just how much happens in this book! It's truly amazing. Anyway, I really enjoyed seeing Alanna among her friends again and realizing how much she (and they) had changed. The relationship with Liam makes a lot of sense. Even though she has three love interests, it never feels overwhelming or too many. I kind of wish a bit more time had been dedicated to her and George's relationship in this book. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love their relationship and I'm glad that he ended up being the right guy for her. He's the one who loves all aspects of her and whose dreams align with her own. However, I felt like a lot of that might have been a bit too subtle. The first time I read these books, I was rooting for Jon. But after that, I was always happy that she didn't end up with him. In re-reading this, I can understand how my younger self didn't quite grasp the significance of the George thing. Alanna's feelings aren't examined in great detail. I can see that she changes her mind about marriage, but it's not entirely clear that she's specifically thinking about George. And George isn't as forthcoming about his feelings. Of course, maybe if there had been more focus on it, it would have been too much and I might not have liked the relationship as much as I do now.

I have always been deeply in love with these books. To be honest, perhaps I love them more than anything else I've ever read. Of course, other books can make me think, but there are very few, if any, other books that I can read repeatedly in one sitting and still shed tears at the end every single time. For many years, I desired to end up as an old maid. I dressed more like a boy. I'm twenty-two now, and I still feel like I'm just learning how to accept being a woman and liking pretty things. Now my question is, where is George? This is definitely the most epic book in the series. It features quests for fabled objects of power, arch enemies returning from the dead, beautiful queens, legendary heroes, the crowning of a king, and of course, a touch of happily ever after.

The previous review stated that this final book has the richest description and the best characters. It is a perfect culmination of all the wonderful things in the previous books. Enemies of all kinds reappear, and loved ones are lost. The circle of "boys" that you loved so much from the beginning are now a woman, men, and a king. The danger is elevated to the next level. One thing I find truly amazing about these books is that the reader grows with Alanna. No matter what your age is, you grow a little each time. And then, of course, this amazing world draws you into the next series, where you see some old friends in a new light and meet all sorts of new friends.

(This is the fourth book of The Song of the Lioness quartet, a Tortall series.)

The Song of the Lioness quartet has finally reached its conclusion! I would rate this particular book 3 stars and the entire series an overall 3.5 stars.

In Lioness Rampant, Alanna acquires even more elaborate artifacts and enhanced magic powers. Additionally, she gains yet another renowned and powerful lover. Alanna is undoubtedly a Mary Sue, but in a campy and old-fashioned way that doesn't bother me. Her Mary Sue qualities don't overshadow any other character, especially not the female ones. So, I'm okay with Tamora Pierce bestowing upon Alanna every special power in the world. Let her live her life to the fullest.

I truly appreciate Alanna's attitude towards romance and sex. She essentially does as she pleases, whenever she desires, with whomever she chooses. And all her love interests are like, "Yes, honey, whatever you like, sweetie. I'll have dinner ready whenever you get home, darling."

This last book is about Alanna on another exciting quest. Her mission is to obtain the Dominion Jewel for the realm of Tortall.

Acquiring this jewel will not only bring Alanna great glory as a true knight but also bestow significant power upon the kingdom. She embarks on a series of crazy adventures, encounters more love, and battles against the evil that menaces the kingdom.

However, this book and the entire series come to a rather hasty and bittersweet conclusion. The main emphasis of this book is indeed her pursuit of the Dominion Jewel. But then, in the last 75 pages, it seems to rush to an end.

Surprisingly, although the bad guy is supposed to be the main conclusion, he hardly plays any role in the story throughout the last book. As a result, to me, there doesn't seem to be a genuine threat that drives Alanna to save everyone at the final moment.

Nevertheless, I have a deep affection for Alanna and her unwavering quest to become who she truly desires to be. I will always cherish and enjoy this series.

I'm still attempting to assemble my thoughts regarding this book.

I truly adored every aspect of it, with the exception of a significant portion of the first half of the book. It gave the impression of two distinct stories forcibly combined into a single volume.

I believe it might have been the pacing, but the initial half of the book struck me as a bit dull. All the characters that were introduced were fascinating, yet again, I wasn't fully engaged with the story.

However, that all changed approximately halfway through when the story redirected its focus back to the settings and characters of the previous three books. From that point on, I devoured this story.

It's challenging to explain precisely why the latter half was so excellent due to spoilers, but everything seemed to have been neatly wrapped up.

Although I did have a few criticisms in this series, I'm extremely glad that I read it. Throughout my experience of reading fantasy, this series felt unique to me.

Alanna might very well be one of my favorite characters within the fantasy genre, and I wholeheartedly recommend this series to young readers and enthusiasts of fantasy. I truly relished this.

4.5 stars, and perhaps I'm being overly picky.

Unlike "The Woman Who Rides Like a Man," Lioness Rampant doesn't give the impression of being the first half of a story (and it shouldn't be - it's the final book in this particular series). It's truly well-crafted. I really relished a great deal of it.

Jonathan as King and friend is far superior to Jonathan as a love interest. Generally speaking, he makes a fine King. I highly appreciate his focus on getting to know his people and understanding them. He desires to be just rather than simply being lenient with people. That's a nice distinction. I like the way he and Alanna end up in this book.

Liam, sigh. I feel that I liked Liam better on my initial read-through of this. I understand Liam; I really like the lesson Alanna learns about why they were doomed from the start (both reasons). However, he's just so extreme. I have an issue with characters who are so unwilling to bend in any way or even truly acknowledge that they're wrong (which Alanna is at least better at, though like most people, she doesn't enjoy it). I'm not saying he's not noble, courageous, etc. But I don't think I like his personality much in this one.

Gary and Raoul! Gary loves being Prime Minister and running a government! Of course he does. And I always enjoy Raoul. I also like Lord Gareth the elder's appearance in this, and Alanna's reaction to him. Also Myles! The moment when George says, "We have to watch out when Myles is riled." I continue to adore Myles.

I had actually forgotten a significant portion of the plot in the second half of this book. I remembered Alanna getting the jewel. I remembered Liam. I semi-remembered Buri and Thayet. I remembered Jonathan using the jewel. I remembered little else. Everything really does come together all at once, doesn't it? I do enjoy how Alanna defeats Roger in the end. I enjoyed everyone living at Myles'. That was really great. I wish we'd gotten to see more of Buri (though I know she shows up in later books). My Lord Provost was quite entertaining. I enjoy how proud the city is of him.

George. I liked George in this. I think the resolution felt too neat to me the first time I read this. But (and maybe it's because I've now read the later series'), I really enjoyed the romantic resolution this time around. Rather than feeling too easy, it felt like both he and Alanna choosing the life they wanted and both figuring out what they want. I still don't think it's a perfect journey (books two and three leave much to be desired in that regard), but on this readthrough, I at least think it ends up in the right place. And this book does it well. So that's nice. Also, George as spy!master is somewhat perfect (particularly if we ignore Aly). (Anyone remember if it's ever textually confirmed that that was Myles's old job? I feel like it might be.) Either way, I think George/Alanna has been bumped to the top of my list for "Best Tamora Pierce romance" (not that there is a lot of competition).

My one sort-of-fly in the ointment? Thom. I accept that the story essentially had to go the way it did for plot reasons. But I also feel like there isn't enough justification for some of it in-text. Like, Thom's arrogance, sure. That's well set-up. But enough that goading would cause him to resurrect the man who tried to kill his twin sister? The only person he cares about at all? And given that he brings Roger back from the dead, I feel like everyone's reactions to him are disproportionate. Bringing someone back from the dead is bad enough. Bringing back someone who has attempted to kill the entire royal family? I mean... okay. I just feel like at the very least Alanna needed to yell at him for it. I'm not saying she needed to resent him forever or even be mad at him for a long time. But surely her outlining the reasons what he did was stupid and trying to figure out if he knew what he was doing... I think I just needed more context/grounding for the whole thing. Because as it is, Thom felt more like a plot device than a character in the later books of this series. It's very much, "Well, a pretty girl dared me to. So I essentially did something to destabilize the kingdom." Which, I'm not sure I buy.

Oh, I remembered another small issue I had. Alex. Why so underdeveloped? Is his whole thing (like Thom) to prove that he's the best swordsman ever? If so, why ally him so completely with Roger? Sort of do not get it. He just sort of feels like he's there...

But yeah, mostly I like it. (A little nervous to reread Daine now though, just because they were always my favourites.)