Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1)
by Tamora Pierce
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Book Reviews of Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1)
Book Review: First Rate Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book AFTER reading the other books in Tamora Pierce's Tortall series and I found it especially interesting to learn the background of Alanna, the King's Champion and to see how all the characters fit together- and to learn their history.
In this first book in the Lioness Series, Alanna and her twin brother, Thom trade places. Thom goes to convent school to learn how to use his magic powers and Alanna disguises herself as a boy and goes to learn how to be a knight. Things do not come easily to Alanna, she is small compared to all of the other pages and squires and has to practice extra hard to be as good as or better than they are. However, she perseveres and earns the respect of the other pages and squires.
This is a great book with a strong, realistic female character. If you enjoy the Pern series and Lloyd Alexander's high King series, you will enjoy this book.
Book Review: Ana Clara
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the first Tamora Pierce books I have ever read, and one of the best. It shows how women are just as equal as men, and that we should always try to reach our goals, no matter how hard it can be.
I really recommend it to young girls and boys, since among other things it is a great fantasy book.
Book Review: Ramblers are wrong
Summary: 5 Stars
All of you who ramble on the "message this novel is sending to young girls" and the "low reading level" have yet to grasp the reason anyone would read the Song of the Lionness Quartet. I am like Alanna. I have a temper that often causes me to be ashamed of it. I have weaknesses that I hate having my face rubbed in. When Raoul says in his older brother voice, "Alan, you seem to think we won't like you unless you do things just like everyone else. Have you ever thought that we might like you becasue you're different?" every person who's been called names can relate.
I can just see how gorgeous John looked when they were fighting the Ysandir. And I know how scared Alanna must have been with George in the second book.
I first read these books when I was 8. I know, I know, not the most age appropriate books, but all of you overprotective mothers, SO WHAT?
The books are brilliant.
And they're about me.
Book Review: .
Summary: 3 Stars
As others have said, this is a story of a girl who wants to become a knight. This plot is already overused. Well, that would have been okay if Tamora Pierce had crafted an innovative, witty story. Unfortunately, she did not.
Alanna has a remarkable appearance. She has striking purple eyes! And flaming red hair! Maybe she's not beautiful, but she's not plain. She's definitely striking.
...In fact, purple seems to be associated with her. I do not see how purple ties into the plot. Maybe it doesn't, but the way Pierce handles it, it could go either way. As in it could be significant or not. This enigma doesn't intrigue the reader at all; rather, it confuses and frustrates.
The characters are not developed...Alanna definitely has her faults, but one only likes her for it. The ones who like her are the virtuous, also likeable characters. The ones who don't are always unreasonable and all bad. Are you telling me that decent humans don't have problems amongst each other? She's spirited and all, but where's the emotion? The conflict? There's far more emotion in an average girl of her age who DOESN'T need to pretend to be a guy...
George...well he's LIKEABLE. And that's the problem. I see Tamora can portray a double-sided character. WHO he is is completely at odds with WHAT he is. It's possible to have a shady occupation but be a good person. However...the shady occupation is down played. One begins to forget that he's a thief. Or, should I say, his job only romanticizes his character.
In general, the characters were okay. They never could get much emotion out of me, only mild interest in their doings.
The plot, once again, was not original.
Tamora Pierce's strong point is her ability to create another world. A world which shows resemblance to our own. Maybe she cannot fill her world with living, breathing characters, but she can create Tortall. Perhaps if she fleshed out her characters, Tortall would be magical. As it is, I delight in imagining a place where hopeful youths dream of becoming knights, encountering friends and foes and all sorts of things. It's quite marvelous. It's too bad that Alanna & co. are just so...underdeveloped.
Book Review: My review for The First Adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
My Review for The First Adventure.
Allana always wanted to be a knight. In The First Adventure, the 1st in The Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce, she started her journey to knighthood, just not as she thought it would happen. This is a story of friendship, loyalty, & going that extra mile to achieve the impossible. I enjoyed the first adventure very much. It is well thought out & easy to follow. I invite YOU to enjoy it also.
Allana, Prince Jonathan, & Roger, who is the king of thieves, are the main characters of the book. The main part of the story is about Allana the Lioness. She is the main character. The book covers the time Allana the Lioness served as a page, or the first stage of becoming a knight. It also talks about the friends she had met along the way.
Prejudice, friendship, & perseverance are a few of the many themes of the book. Here & there humor is thrown into the book, lightening the overall tone of the book. The themes are all very clear. There are many themes, but the main theme is friendship. All of the different themes make this a fun & enjoyable book.
The story takes place in the Kingdom of Tortall. The time era that this book takes place in, the medieval era, makes the book very interesting & unique. The setting is very accurate. Tamora Pierce makes the setting fun & believable. This makes the book enjoyable to read.
I liked The First Adventure very much. It is fun & exiting, & well thought out & easy to read. If you like stories of adventure, friendship, & perseverance, this book is for you. The First Adventure is very detailed & I hope you enjoy it as much as I had.