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blowp0p's review against another edition
4.0
I actively really enjoyed this book. The betrayal in it made me angry and scream out "NO!" but once it was explained in further detail I could completely see it. Still angry about it but at least it makes sense especially as far as the character/s concerned go.
The part with Achoo almost made me cry. Because I'm REALLY attached to that dog. I actually liked her choice of consort. At least he knows what he's getting into.
I would have liked a short story in between Bloodhound and this about her prior fiancee instead of just kind of being told it happened in between books. I'm very much a show don't tell kind of person. I mean I know it would make me angry but at the same time it'd be nice to see.
The ending was great. The motivations of the people in the book were understandable (but not excusable). Overall, a good book. Nice ending to the trilogy.
The part with Achoo almost made me cry. Because I'm REALLY attached to that dog. I actually liked her choice of consort. At least he knows what he's getting into.
I would have liked a short story in between Bloodhound and this about her prior fiancee instead of just kind of being told it happened in between books. I'm very much a show don't tell kind of person. I mean I know it would make me angry but at the same time it'd be nice to see.
The ending was great. The motivations of the people in the book were understandable (but not excusable). Overall, a good book. Nice ending to the trilogy.
secretmagic's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so sad this is the end of Beka's story. An amazing book, I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed 'Mastiff'. Being back in Beka's head made me miss all the Tortall characters I know and love, and I was so happy to at least have a few of them in this one: Beka, Pounce, Sabine, Tunstall and Achoo.
Beka's on the biggest Hunt she could have ever imagined, dealing with the slave trade and a missing royal. A lot rests on her shoulders and there is literally danger around every corner. The amount of fighting, tracking and magic involved in continuing the Hunt was just insane, but it kept the characters on their toes and meant you were swept up in every little movement. It was hard not to feel like part of the team.
I loved the new edition to the team, Master Farmer Cape. He sort of reminded me of Numair in terms of his amazing magic skills, but he went beyond that. He was a good friend, a powerful mage and I really liked that that power didn't go to his head. He did rely on his magic a lot, but he tried not to underestimate his (or others') power.
I was shocked at the end of the book. It's an emotional ending and I just couldn't believe something like that could happen. Extremely cryptic, but necessary that way. Just be warned, there's a twist that I never imagined happening; still trying to process it.
I was sad that some of the regular Corus friends weren't really in this one. Goodwin is only mentioned a few times; Kora, Aniki and the other Rogues feature at the beginning and then are not seen again. And the hardest one to deal with was Rosto; who I adore and wanted to see more of. But I LOVED the George Cooper Epilogue. It was definitely needed and makes me want a lot more George than we have. Looks like I'll be rereading Song of the Lioness again in the near future.
So much fun being back in the Tortall world.
5/5 stars
Beka's on the biggest Hunt she could have ever imagined, dealing with the slave trade and a missing royal. A lot rests on her shoulders and there is literally danger around every corner. The amount of fighting, tracking and magic involved in continuing the Hunt was just insane, but it kept the characters on their toes and meant you were swept up in every little movement. It was hard not to feel like part of the team.
I loved the new edition to the team, Master Farmer Cape. He sort of reminded me of Numair in terms of his amazing magic skills, but he went beyond that. He was a good friend, a powerful mage and I really liked that that power didn't go to his head. He did rely on his magic a lot, but he tried not to underestimate his (or others') power.
I was shocked at the end of the book. It's an emotional ending and I just couldn't believe something like that could happen. Extremely cryptic, but necessary that way. Just be warned, there's a twist that I never imagined happening; still trying to process it.
I was sad that some of the regular Corus friends weren't really in this one. Goodwin is only mentioned a few times; Kora, Aniki and the other Rogues feature at the beginning and then are not seen again. And the hardest one to deal with was Rosto; who I adore and wanted to see more of. But I LOVED the George Cooper Epilogue. It was definitely needed and makes me want a lot more George than we have. Looks like I'll be rereading Song of the Lioness again in the near future.
So much fun being back in the Tortall world.
5/5 stars
burningupasun's review against another edition
3.0
This is my second time reading this book (I must not have reviewed it the first time around), and you know, I didn't get as angry at it this time around. I mean, it's still my least-favorite of the Tortall series, and I'm still upset at the surprise reveal, and I do think it plodded a bit, but it's not an awful book by far. And I do love Farmer. Tamora Pierce always does good with her semi-quirky male mages, haha.
8/10/22 - You know, I liked this more the 3rd time around. 3.5 stars. Still mad about the betrayal from you-know-who.
8/10/22 - You know, I liked this more the 3rd time around. 3.5 stars. Still mad about the betrayal from you-know-who.
freevortex's review against another edition
3.0
Without spoilers, I will say that the ending seemed a bit contrived and not what I would expect of the character, with all we've learned about that character previously. Other than that, a good way to end the series. The plot was certainly more interesting than book 2.
txag08's review against another edition
2.0
I did really like the first book in this series. But this one was kind of long and tedious and also I can not stand the character assassination. No thank you.
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
I get the problems, but I liked it. Beka Cooper, the ancestress of George Cooper of later books, deals with the problems of love that wasn't, losing a partner, finding love, being betrayed and rescuing a prince. She's a great character and I liked how it was done. Yes I would have liked to know how Holborn played with her but it's almost irrevelant. I am somewhat sorry that she didn't make it with Rosto, but this was a nice change from the insta-eternal-love that often over-populates fiction.
rahnawyn's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot write a proper review of this - at least not now.
A lot of it near the end was me going WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT and then there was some where I teared up and might have cried a little bit. And then there was more that made me laugh and smile.
Um.
It was good.
But it's Tamora Pierce, so we already knew that.
A lot of it near the end was me going WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT and then there was some where I teared up and might have cried a little bit. And then there was more that made me laugh and smile.
Um.
It was good.
But it's Tamora Pierce, so we already knew that.
ladyofthegreatlakes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kaoden39's review against another edition
5.0
I was so sad to finis this book. I cried while I read it. I want to say so much but I am going to stick to my no spoiler rule as much as it kills me. I remain a faithful fan of Ms Pierce, I always feel as though I know her characters and that they are a part of my life. This book is no different. As always I wonder which series of her great books are my favorites. Well my favorite universe is her Tortall universe. But, series I would have to say whichever one I am reading at the time. My daughters and I were talking about that earlier. My younger daughter was talking about how her sister had read her favorite series by Ms Pierce she read them so many times they were in pieces. That is a sign of a favorite book and this is what Ms Pierce does with her words. Plus she makes me cry. For the first time though she was almost able to trick me, but here we enter the realm of spolier so I will leave it there.
Our protagonist is Beka Cooper. She is an honorable soul and a good Dog, which in Tortall is a police officer. She is the handler of a search dog named Achoo, who got her name from sneezing when she gets a scent. Also along for this tale are Tunstall who is Beka's partner and mentor. Lady Sabine a woman knight, and Farmer a silly mage. Oh and of course Pounce Beka's purple eyed cat that is quite the cat. If you have read any of the books you know Pounce, he makes the books quite enjoyable. There are sent on a search to find Prince Gareth who was kidnapped. Their trip is a hard one met with many obstacles.
Did I like this book? Obviously yes I did!! Should you read it? Oh yes you should!! This is a great book!!
Our protagonist is Beka Cooper. She is an honorable soul and a good Dog, which in Tortall is a police officer. She is the handler of a search dog named Achoo, who got her name from sneezing when she gets a scent. Also along for this tale are Tunstall who is Beka's partner and mentor. Lady Sabine a woman knight, and Farmer a silly mage. Oh and of course Pounce Beka's purple eyed cat that is quite the cat. If you have read any of the books you know Pounce, he makes the books quite enjoyable. There are sent on a search to find Prince Gareth who was kidnapped. Their trip is a hard one met with many obstacles.
Did I like this book? Obviously yes I did!! Should you read it? Oh yes you should!! This is a great book!!