Alanna (Song of the Lioness #1)
Summary:
And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.
But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.
Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins - one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land. (Summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
I read a lot as a kid, but when I hit Tamora Pierce’s book, I grew to have a love affair with reading. Growing up a huge tomboy Alanna was my role model, inspiration and friend to go to when I wanted to escape for a bit. Alanna is a strong character, not just in following her heart, but also in becoming comfortable within her own skin. Everyone goes through a gangly awkward stage and these books definitely helped me get through mine. I must have read the full series half a dozen times and now I want to go back to read them all over again.
This is a book of action, adventure and learning to be true to yourself. As Alanna also has magic, she has an added level of responsibility and must learn how to protect herself and those around her. I believe this is a must read for young girls and would still highly recommend this series to fantasy fans.
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? All young adults and those who are young at heart.
Want to read the whole series?