Reviews

In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

saraotoole's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

kmacgahan's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

cicadaknight's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

• Genuinely love Alanna’s wit and banter. Her characterization is probably what’s made this series stick with me for 2 decades. 
• A story from the 80’s where men have loving, tender, and affectionate friendships with each other and a girl? Delightful.
• Pushy, waaay-too-old-for-the-protagonist love interests? Less delightful. 
• At least for the era it was written, pretty fascinating for a girl character to reject sexuality entirely and then overcome her fear of it. When she IS ready to explore it, she isn’t oversexualized nor is her desire demonized. 
• Also appreciate that this book fully avoided homophobic tropes around fear of the protagonist and her lover being caught or suspected of being involved while she’s disguised as a boy. 
• Regrettably, no exploration of her two love interests being attracted to her masculinity given that she presents as male for 8 years. Bicurious kings lmao

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Pedophilia

Minor: Drug use and Racial slurs

Use of “yellow” to describe an asian-coded character. How this character is “asian-coded” should be its own discussion.

Spoiler

10(?) year age gap between 15-16 year old protagonist and her adult friend. He’s persistent, pushy, kisses her without consent repeatedly when she tells him she’s not interested. Tells her he’s waiting for her to grow up to marry her.

Also tagging for drug use as in “drugging” since this guy ^ drugs the protagonist’s drink. Narratively, he drugs her so she’ll rest instead of wear herself out before an important event. He takes her to his room and tucks her into his bed. Nothing untoward happens, but it was unnecessary.

Spoiler

3(?) year age gap between same 15-16 y.o. protagonist and another love interest. Likewise, this guy is pushy and barely takes no for an answer. “Leave before I change my mind,” he says about not wanting to let her go after she initially rejects his proposal to sleep together. Should be noted, protagonist is interested in him and consensually pursues an affair.

Protagonist is once again outed (previously outed in book 1) by someone exposing her body.

lucrezi's review against another edition

4.0

I haven't read this as many times as the first book but it's still fun.

I really don't like George as a love interest for Alanna though. They officially meet when she's around 11 years old, and he's 17. He watched her grow up. He starts showing interest when she's 15, and when asked about him settling down, he says "I’m waitin’ for my chosen bride to grow." This could just be my modern sensibilities but that I found that line repulsive, along with this:

The thief’s fingers touched her chin gently, making her look up. Alanna blushed. He hadn’t kissed her since Jon’s birthday almost a year ago; but he let her know—with little touches, with softness in his eyes when he looked at her—that he was stalking her.

I know it had been established that George has had his people keeping an eye on Alanna since she was a child for her protection and stuff, but this is a whole other level when you bring in feelings of attraction into the mix.

It was enough for me to knock off a star. I reaaaaally don't like when creepy actions are portrayed as good things.

ecorinnes's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

hstapp's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this one more than the first despite the romance. It also has a perfectly decent ending. The quartet could end right here.
The opening is a bit confusing. I expected this book to pick up where the 1st left off and it doesn't. It takes some adjustment. It also skips through quite a lot of time which is a bit jarring at times though they're all transitioned better than the time jump the book starts out with.

joviyanna's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

everthereader's review against another edition

3.0

This was not as good as the first book. I really liked Alanna but I hated the love triangle in it. I hated that she had to choose between George and Jon. I really hate love triangles overall, though. I did like the end and was satisfied so I will be continuing the series.

qorgulch's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

micho_214's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0