I'm really confused. I found "First Test" and "Alanna the first adventure" at my library and they are the first books in different series. But, what are the other books in her series. How man series does she even have?
First Test is the first in The Protector of the Small series (the main character is Kel) and the rest in that one are Page, Squire and Lady Knight.
Alanna, The First Adventure is the first in the Lioness series and I would suggest you start with this one because it is set a while before PotS series and some characters reappear in later books so if you don't want to spoil anything start here!! The other books in this series are In the Hand of the Goddess, Women who rides like a man and Lioness Rampant (I know, she has some err "creative" titles doesn't she??)
TP has quite a few series but if you enjoy the Lioness series, I would suggest following that up with The Immortals Quartet - Wild Magic, Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage and The Realms of the Gods
Thanks for all your help.
No worries! I guess its got to be a little confusing with all the series she has done! Its kinda good there are so many though because they aren't the longest of books ;)
Yeah I suppose. I just get confused really easily with authors who have this series and that series and this triology and that saga etc. It makes it really confusing.
Well they are not the most complicated of novels but I read them as a tween and love revisiting them (fairly frequently) these days. I guess if you read them as an older person you may not be able to get into them as much...
Ashlings' guildleader
13 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
I actually have a theory about the Song of the Lioness and The Protector of the small books. So many people only like one or the other set and most prefer the Song of the Lioness. But when I started, I didn't know that. I started TPotS first, so thought that mabey I didn't like the first series because TP was a less experienced author then or something, but then I found out how so many people think TPotS is sub standard, so then I changed my mind. I think that maybe they're just too similar, but too different at the same time. I think that because they're both about girls training to be knights, we secretly want them to be almost exactly the same, and they're not. So we only like the first one we read.
Point is...if you only read one of each, they might conflict with each other as much as they do if you've read the lot, but you don't already have a prefrence so neither comes out on top and you end up disliking both of them...
Then again, one of my friends told me off for reading TP once, claiming that "There's a line, and IC almost crosses it but TP gladly dances on it."
- You can be sure that I gave her a good telling off for suggesting that IC could be anything less than perfect ;) :P
Mystic Ward
13 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
LOL Sian, I really like both series but have to admit to liking SotL a bit more.
Lauren I'm 44 and only read them for the first time about six years ago, but maybe I'm an exception to the rule. and besides i think I'm really only about twelve inside so maybe thats the answer. :P
Ha ha! You must just be more in touch with your inner tween, Deb! Nothing wrong with that!! |;)
I find that I like both quartets about the same. Although the setting and basic plot line is similar in both, there is enough difference in characters and atmosphere that it doesn't matter.
The last few years I've actually come to like the Emelan books (Circle of Magic, Circle Opens, Will of the Empress) better.
I adore TP. I also feel like an exception, because I love both SotL & TPotS - yet I don't think much at all of Immortals.
I do own all of her books, both Circle and Tortall, though I do have a preference for Tortall (and can't wait for the 3rd Beka Cooper book, Mastiff). I never used to like the Circle as much, but after some re-readings of all her work, it's growing on me.
Maybe, I'll try some of her other series. ;D
13 years ago
Sat May 08 2010, 02:03pm
I love all of Pierce's Tortall related books, but I must say I never got into the circle series. The Alanna series is my favourite of all the Tortall books, perhaps because it was the first tamora pierce books I read, maybe just because it is the beginning of the whole world. By the time you get to Protector of the Small, if you hadn't read Alanna or Immortals then you don't necessarily get all the links/references (not saying you have to read those books before protector of the small, but I would argue that you understand more of what is going on). Saying that, I still love Protector of the Small series, and the Immortals- I don't think either are 'sub-standard'.
edit: oh and can't forget Trickster's choice and trickster's queen! They are also amazing! (and I love that they are a little bit bigger than Pierce's earlier tortall books) :D
Ha! That's fantastic, Lioness! ;P Love it!
Mystic Ward
13 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
OML> Love it. Now I want one. :P
It's so cute!
I'm currently rereading the Song of the Lioness Quartet again. After reading the later series so much, it feels strange seeing Alanna as a page/squire again.
I've just recently discovered Tamora Pierce, after reading Melting Stones. I really want to get all her books, and so I bought Terrier, which I love, and now I can't wait to get Bloodhound... :-}
Whats terrier and bloodhound about are they linked to any of her other series
Mystic Guildmistress
13 years ago
Mystic Guildmistress
Mage
They are kind of linked, they are a pre - Lioness series and at the beginning of Terrier George's (ie Alanna's George) mum writes a diary entry of her ancestor who is the main character in the story.
So you don't really find anything new out about her other series but it's a good read just for Beka and the story behind the Provists guard and everything.
A deterrent for some, though, is the fact that the books are composed entirely of diary entries, which is a new angle for Tamora Pierce.
Yes, they are comprised entirely of diary entries, but they don't really seem like it. They're actually pretty impossible (have you ever tried to write daily diary entries like that?!), but their length, style and detail diffuses some of the diary-feel.
They're very good, and do showcase Tamora's ability to create (plausible and realistic) entirely new realms with their own accompanying history. It all fits very nicely.
Although I do think that they give some new information on the other characters & stories. There's the structure of the lower city, more information about Faithful, more about the female knights of old etc.
Dreamweaver Ward
13 years ago
Dreamweaver Ward
Dreamscape Artist
As a general rule, I like books that are written as diary entries or letters, but I must admit I wasn't that taken with Terrier. I think it was mostly to do with the character's way of writing (her "voice," if you will) and not being that interested in most of the characters.
My favourite TP series are The Immortals and Song of the Lioness, then the Tricksters series, then Protector of the Small (I just found her character a bit annoying, so even though there were many other things about that series I liked, I wasn't as interested). But I really do love The Immortals - I love all the characters, and the idea of Wild Magic, and I love Daine, and her interaction with animals. And I love the SotL series because Alanna is awesome, I love that she's so strong-minded and yet flawed, and I adore Faithful.
I'm also not as fond of the Circle books - I really like the characters and their interaction, but I always found the stories too obvious and contrived. Even when I first read them in late primary school, I didn't like them as much as SotL (although at that stage I did like them more than I do now).