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classic_kasic's review
4.0
I enjoyed the first three books so much, but the fourth lost me a little.
whisper88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
kassyslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this series! Tamora pierce never fails!! I loved all of these characters and I'm happy that characters from the lioness quartet were in it as well!!!
pos1t1vel1fe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dreams_of_attolia's review
2.0
The major drawback of these were that they were a little young for me; I think if I had read them when I was 12 or 13 I would have absolutely loved them. They’re just a little too positive to be believable (everyone is supportive of the main character, she gets to save animals' lives and almost no one she cares about or any animals ever get hurt). However, I like the world and the concepts. Also, I appreciate that she’s all about women power (women warriors, heroes etc.) and touches on issues of equality, slavery, women’s rights, animal welfare, and pre-marital sex. I probably won’t read more Tamora Pierce unless I find a series targeted at slightly older audiences.
xeni's review
5.0
Of all the series in the realm of Tortall, I am liking the newest books that Pierce is publishing much more than these classics.
Still, of the classics, I'd have to pick Daine as one of my favorite heroine's. (In the realm of Tortall I'd take Ali as my all-time favorite, though!) I love her perspective of the world. Not so much the angsty teenager bits (well, there aren't so many, since she was forced to grow up young) but more so the talking to animals bits. Although I am afraid of a lot of animals, Pierce, through her character, managed to open my eyes a bit more to how animals think (I'd say it's pretty accurate, although I don't know how much research she has done!)
Of the four books in this series my favorite used to be Emperor Mage, then I changed it to Wolf Speaker, and I think now it's Emperor Mage again. I love how she takes the stupid Emperor Orzone down a notch or 50!
I dislike the last book quite a bit, mainly because the writing doesn't flow so well (it gets pretty confusing at some parts, and I'm sure I must have read the books at least 10 times each!) and I'm not all that interested in her struggle with the gods and chaos. The first book was interesting due to being introduced to her magical powers and wild magic, but Diane's abilities just weren't developed enough to suit me!
Anyway, it's a great series, although it's a bit YA (okay, a lot YA!) but it doesn't have that icky-cloying YA feel to it that so many other books these days have. I love it!
Still, of the classics, I'd have to pick Daine as one of my favorite heroine's. (In the realm of Tortall I'd take Ali as my all-time favorite, though!) I love her perspective of the world. Not so much the angsty teenager bits (well, there aren't so many, since she was forced to grow up young) but more so the talking to animals bits. Although I am afraid of a lot of animals, Pierce, through her character, managed to open my eyes a bit more to how animals think (I'd say it's pretty accurate, although I don't know how much research she has done!)
Of the four books in this series my favorite used to be Emperor Mage, then I changed it to Wolf Speaker, and I think now it's Emperor Mage again. I love how she takes the stupid Emperor Orzone down a notch or 50!
I dislike the last book quite a bit, mainly because the writing doesn't flow so well (it gets pretty confusing at some parts, and I'm sure I must have read the books at least 10 times each!) and I'm not all that interested in her struggle with the gods and chaos. The first book was interesting due to being introduced to her magical powers and wild magic, but Diane's abilities just weren't developed enough to suit me!
Anyway, it's a great series, although it's a bit YA (okay, a lot YA!) but it doesn't have that icky-cloying YA feel to it that so many other books these days have. I love it!
gingerunicorn's review against another edition
5.0
I read these books over and over again in my youth, and now as an adult I still find familiar comfort in them. They allow me to escape to a fantasy land, they're easy to digest, and the characters are so engaging!
kerveros's review against another edition
5.0
This book leads on well from the previous book Wolf-Speaker, although the 'Big Bad' of Carthak was mentioned in the first book, the menace that Tortall faces was built upon in Wolf Speaker and this is the culmination of that at least the culmination of Carthak as the menace as opposed to Ozorne! .
I recall when I read this book for the first time 10 years ago it was the only one of Pierces books to actually get my heart beating - the danger that Daine faces seems so much more real, possibly because the Tortallians need to be on best behaviour so cannot protect themselves easily also because we think Numair is 'killed' - I felt much more upset over his 'death' than I did Dumbledores .
The ending of this book is, I guess, a solid ending - this could almost be a trilogy as there are so few things left open ended and even the major one Ozorne becoming a Stormwing can be, in my opinion, easily ended considering how that situation ends.
Considering that I said in my review of Wolf Speaker that that was my favourite this one is a very strong contender!
I recall when I read this book for the first time 10 years ago it was the only one of Pierces books to actually get my heart beating - the danger that Daine faces seems so much more real, possibly because the Tortallians need to be on best behaviour so cannot protect themselves easily
The ending of this book is, I guess, a solid ending - this could almost be a trilogy as there are so few things left open ended and even the major one
Considering that I said in my review of Wolf Speaker that that was my favourite this one is a very strong contender!
therewithal's review against another edition
3.0
Daine is great and I liked her books a lot, except that I can't get behind the Daine/Numair romance at all (I wish Pierce were less into the older man/girl he met as a child trope overall).