Vicky T. (VickyJo) -
Helpful Score: 4
Trickster's Queen is a perfect sequel! It continues the story of Aly, a spy in the Copper Isles who is working towards helping the raka people rise up out of slavery and gain their independence from the ruling luarin.
Aly is clever, confident, and has a great sense of humor! We learn the fates of all those characters we came to know and love in Trickster's Choice, and the ending was so satisfying! I loved this one.
Aly is clever, confident, and has a great sense of humor! We learn the fates of all those characters we came to know and love in Trickster's Choice, and the ending was so satisfying! I loved this one.
Althea M. (althea) reviewed Trickster's Queen (Daughter of the Lioness, Bk 2) on + 774 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Trickster's Choice
Trickster's Queen - Tamora Pierce
One story, two books.
These are also actually a follow-up to "The Song of the Lioness" quartet, which I haven't read. They are about the daughter of the heroine of those novels, so these do stand alone - but on the other hand, I felt that I was probably missing some of the world-background that had been drawn in the previous books.
These tell the story of the 16-year-old Aly, who has grown up in her famous mother's shadow, but has also been trained in spycraft by her father. Although she's eager to 'grow up,' her parents don't seem to want her to actually work as a spy (this is really a flaw in the book, from my perspective, because why else would they have trained her to BE a spy from early childhood?) Rebelliously, she runs away, is kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave - but, luckily, she is Chosen by a Trickster god to become involved in an incipient rebellion on the colonial islands she is sold into. Therefore, he makes sure she is sold to the Nicest Slaveowners EVER, and she is charged with guarding their children, including two half-breed daughters who just happen to be royalty on both sides of the family. Lots of intrigue and action ensues...
Fun story, with some not-too-overbearing commentary on racism, colonialism, etc, as well as some somewhat-too-obvious Advice For Young Women regarding appropriate relationships and self-respect.
However, Aly is just RIDICULOUSLY competent. There's nothing she can't do, seemingly - and if there was a possibility she couldn't do it, her god-patron helps her out. Her romance (and it is a rather sweet one) proceeds without a hint of a problem... (but maybe I objected to that just because I have been feeling rather bitter about romance this month!) Quite a lot of the events are very much idealized and not very believable - but this is pretty much a fairytale, after all...
Trickster's Queen - Tamora Pierce
One story, two books.
These are also actually a follow-up to "The Song of the Lioness" quartet, which I haven't read. They are about the daughter of the heroine of those novels, so these do stand alone - but on the other hand, I felt that I was probably missing some of the world-background that had been drawn in the previous books.
These tell the story of the 16-year-old Aly, who has grown up in her famous mother's shadow, but has also been trained in spycraft by her father. Although she's eager to 'grow up,' her parents don't seem to want her to actually work as a spy (this is really a flaw in the book, from my perspective, because why else would they have trained her to BE a spy from early childhood?) Rebelliously, she runs away, is kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave - but, luckily, she is Chosen by a Trickster god to become involved in an incipient rebellion on the colonial islands she is sold into. Therefore, he makes sure she is sold to the Nicest Slaveowners EVER, and she is charged with guarding their children, including two half-breed daughters who just happen to be royalty on both sides of the family. Lots of intrigue and action ensues...
Fun story, with some not-too-overbearing commentary on racism, colonialism, etc, as well as some somewhat-too-obvious Advice For Young Women regarding appropriate relationships and self-respect.
However, Aly is just RIDICULOUSLY competent. There's nothing she can't do, seemingly - and if there was a possibility she couldn't do it, her god-patron helps her out. Her romance (and it is a rather sweet one) proceeds without a hint of a problem... (but maybe I objected to that just because I have been feeling rather bitter about romance this month!) Quite a lot of the events are very much idealized and not very believable - but this is pretty much a fairytale, after all...
Helpful Score: 1
In this story, Aly continues to be cocky and annoyingly self-sure. I think it's for this that she's my least favorite and least likable of the Tortall heroines. I also think she does not make a believable spy because she's not constantly in the role as she should be and only goes into "simpering maid" mode when absolutely necessary. Plus, she shares too much information with too many different people to be an effective spy.
I also felt this story was just not as interesting with all of its court intrigues. I much preferred the 3 previous series by this author compared to this one. This book in itself was okay, but disappointing compared to other works I've read. I really could have taken it or left it and not been bothered, but wanted to know what was going on with outside characters so I kept reading it.
I also felt this story was just not as interesting with all of its court intrigues. I much preferred the 3 previous series by this author compared to this one. This book in itself was okay, but disappointing compared to other works I've read. I really could have taken it or left it and not been bothered, but wanted to know what was going on with outside characters so I kept reading it.
Helpful Score: 1
In this story, Aly continues to be cocky and annoyingly self-sure. I think it's for this that she's my least favorite and least likable of the Tortall heroines. I also think she does not make a believable spy because she's not constantly in the role as she should be and only goes into "simpering maid" mode when absolutely necessary. Plus, she shares too much information with too many different people to be an effective spy.
I also felt this story was just not as interesting with all of its court intrigues. I much preferred the 3 previous series by this author compared to this one. This book in itself was okay, but disappointing compared to other works I've read. I really could have taken it or left it and not been bothered, but wanted to know what was going on with outside characters so I kept reading it.
I also felt this story was just not as interesting with all of its court intrigues. I much preferred the 3 previous series by this author compared to this one. This book in itself was okay, but disappointing compared to other works I've read. I really could have taken it or left it and not been bothered, but wanted to know what was going on with outside characters so I kept reading it.
This an excellent finish to this line of the Tortallan world. Tamora Pierce is a great writer and makes you not want to put the book down until it is finished.
In this story, Aly continues to be cocky and annoyingly self-sure. I think it's for this that she's my least favorite and least likable of the Tortall heroines. I also think she does not make a believable spy because she's not constantly in the role as she should be and only goes into "simpering maid" mode when absolutely necessary. Plus, she shares too much information with too many different people to be an effective spy.
I also felt this story was just not as interesting with all of its court intrigues. I much preferred the 3 previous series by this author compared to this one. This book in itself was okay, but disappointing compared to other works I've read. I really could have taken it or left it and not been bothered, but wanted to know what was going on with outside characters so I kept reading it.
I also felt this story was just not as interesting with all of its court intrigues. I much preferred the 3 previous series by this author compared to this one. This book in itself was okay, but disappointing compared to other works I've read. I really could have taken it or left it and not been bothered, but wanted to know what was going on with outside characters so I kept reading it.
Mari N. (kittyclub2005) -
It started a bit slow but once it picked up speed there was no way to put it down. A very good read.
