smolhousewitch's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The older I get, the more I love George Cooper
mysticforestcrafts's review against another edition
5.0
Pros:
What I love most about this book is that the reader gets to grow with Alanna. I e gain knowledge as she does, experience things with her and truly don’t have outside information influencing our opinions of her actions.
Cons:
I wanted to see more of the aftermath of the duel and secrets being torn. What else was discovered in the Duke’s rooms, did the King and Queen say anything of the reveal or focus on the Duke’s betrayal instead….things like that leading up to Alanna leaving.
What I love most about this book is that the reader gets to grow with Alanna. I e gain knowledge as she does, experience things with her and truly don’t have outside information influencing our opinions of her actions.
Cons:
I wanted to see more of the aftermath of the duel and secrets being torn. What else was discovered in the Duke’s rooms, did the King and Queen say anything of the reveal or focus on the Duke’s betrayal instead….things like that leading up to Alanna leaving.
periodic0's review against another edition
4.0
Tamora Pierce has, in some weird way been doing typical YA tropes in the '80. The love triangle, the special girl, the animal friend, and some more. What amazes me is that it is very well done. It's clear even if they force her to put the tropes she managed to make them her own in an incredible feat. They also are very fast pace, a year passes between chapter and chapter and I wished they were a little longer, to linger in Alanna's growth. Alas, they are children's book so they can't be that long and there's still is to books left. I'll be reading them in the near future if I'm lucky.
PD: I Figure out who Alanna reminds me of Will from W.I.T.C.H, the cover of the first book here [bc:W.I.T.C.H., Part I. The Twelve Portals, Vol. 1|35838125|W.I.T.C.H., Part I. The Twelve Portals, Vol. 1|Elisabetta Gnone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592079575l/35838125._SX50_.jpg|57346726] , i doubt they have read each other but if you are interested in magic and children media, W.i.T.C.H isn't a bad choice
PD: I Figure out who Alanna reminds me of Will from W.I.T.C.H, the cover of the first book here [bc:W.I.T.C.H., Part I. The Twelve Portals, Vol. 1|35838125|W.I.T.C.H., Part I. The Twelve Portals, Vol. 1|Elisabetta Gnone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592079575l/35838125._SX50_.jpg|57346726] , i doubt they have read each other but if you are interested in magic and children media, W.i.T.C.H isn't a bad choice
saraotoole's review
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
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.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.lucrezi's review
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:
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.
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.
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.