Reviews

In the Hand of the Goddess, by Tamora Pierce

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goodbye_alex's review

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

bandofoutsiders's review

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adventurous challenging funny fast-paced

4.75

I was going to give this 5 stars, but the more I thought about it, the more I had to give it 4/4.5. I think it might be because I read this series last out of all of Tamora Pierce's, when I should have read it first, and so I already know what happens to Alanna and who she ends up with. The whole George-Jonathan little love triangle really bugs me. George professes his love for her, and kisses her, and she doesn't object much, so she obviously has feelings for him, and then John comes along and does the same thing, and she also lets him, and then says she loves him and forgets all about George. Maybe the later books will resolve this for me, but it bugs me that Alanna does this knowing John can't be with her, and then eventually ends up with George, and becomes
the Kings Champion. I mean, I could see it if she was 16, and her feelings
changed, whatever, but she's 18 and ready to go out into the world, and is coming back to two men who are friends, and both love her, and basically has to decide. but the decision is kind of already made for her, because John can't marry her. Anyways, I hope that it's all cleared up in the next couple of books, and makes sense to me. the only other problem I had with the book is how fast paced it was. I mean so much happened, and yet the book is so tiny! I just feel the plot could have been developed just a little more.

bahbadook's review

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

<strong>Second book better than the first</strong>

Weird love triangle aside (Hmmm, I'll have to think about if it's actually a love triangle... Well, I wouldn't necessarily say it wasn't either a line or a triangle. So I'll accept either/or), can I just say that, even knowing who she ends up with because this is far from my first time reading these books, George just brings me joy and Jonathon makes me smile.
For instance:
Alanna decides to start practicing looking like a girl at some point in this book. So that after she passes her Ordeal and reveals herself as a lady knight, she doesn't have to learn that on the fly as well. And George and Jonathon, who are buds now, walk in as she's finishing getting dressed. And they both have the vibe of guppies gaping. And I laugh every time I read it. It's worth rereading that part several times. I also laugh at the courtship attempts from the two to Alanna. Bless.
Once again, we have a plot that stretches over several years, starting at about fourteen and ending at eighteen. And Alanna has some problems. This is gentle fantasy. This is like...teen's first fantasy. It wasn't mine. But I was a lunatic and we're going to ignore me. But it was one of the two authors I read who settled me into the fantasy genre of sword and sorcery. So that's nice of it. So if you’ve got a thirteen year old or so who would like some nice fantasy and spectacular characters (Alanna also gets a cat in this one), I'd recommend it.

danireadsbooks1's review

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5.0

Alanna has been and forever will be one of my favorite characters of all time. Why you ask? This is a story about:
-a strong, independent woman working to achieve her goals
-men who support her unconditionally and not toxically
-achieving goals and ambitions not because of a gift but because of hard work and dedication
-a young girl growing up and learning and exploring and becoming a woman

I have been reading these books since I was young and I'm so excited to be returning to this world once again. Incredible.

potatomcgee's review

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4.0

This second book in the Alana series focuses on Alana's training to become a knight. She becomes more real in this book than the first one. We see her fears and weaknesses, as well as her ideals butting against her realities. I think this book, as well as the first one, ended very abruptly, but that just makes me want to read the next one even more.