Customer Reviews

Trickster's Choice (Daughter of the Lioness)

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

First of all, I'd like to offer my congratulations to Ms. Pierce. After years and years of simply awful covers that publishers have slapped onto her books, she has finally been given a decent one. I mean, have you see some of her other covers? I'm not talking about these incredibly cool ones like the one for "Trickster's Choice". I'm talking about the ones created for such classic tales as "Wild Magic" or "Alanna: The First Adventure". Ms. Pierce has paid her bad-cover dues. Now she has truly earned a couple beautiful ones. I admit that much of my attraction to this tale was due to its alluring cover illustration. It was just my own good luck that the story inside was wonderfully gripping and well written as well.

This book follows Pierce's "Lioness Quartet", a series of books that centered on the lady knight Alanna. In "Trickster's Choice", Aly (Alanna's daughter) is now the center and focus. Aly is the daughter of a famous knight and a famous spy. Both her parents are fighters by nature, but somehow they just can't get it through their heads that all their sixteen-year-old daughter wants to do is become spy like her dad. When Alanna decides that her daughter has become too bull-headed about the matter, Aly takes off on a small adventure of her own. She gets more than she bargained for, however, when her boat is captured by pirates and she is sold as a slave to a foreign noble family. The fact that she has winded up with this particular group of nobles is no accident, however. The trickster god Kyprioth is determined to use Aly's spy skills to protect the family's children, whatever the cost. Before she knows it, Aly is caught up in court intrigues and a political battle between the dark skinned raka and their white skinned luarin oppressors.

I wanted to read my first Tamora Pierce book without having to read through all her previous novels. So I picked up "Trickster's Choice" and hoped for the best. As it happens, you don't necessarily need to have read its predecessors, though it certainly couldn't hurt. Pierce is fond of explaining all past activities and events in such a way that even a person beginning with this book (like myself) catches up easily. Admittedly, I was disappointed with her decision to continually comment on characters and events that had little to no bearing on the current plot. Still, these moments mostly came at the beginning of the book. If you can get through three chapters of this story you'll be successfully hooked and ready to read on.

As for the book itself, it's excellent. I was amazed to find it a wonderful spy novel. Forget Modesty Blaise and Emma Peal; Aly is the best female spy I've encountered in a long time. Pierce has a way of making her quick on her feet without rendering her perfect or flawless. She is mature for her sixteen years but very much the teenager. She's smart as a whip but incredibly funny and endowed with an excellent sense of humor. Maybe it was this humor that made me greatly prefer her to her well meaning but laughless mother. Tamora Pierce has a website dedicated to, what she calls, "sheroes". Aly is a worthy addition to this particular feminist genre. I even liked her choice of mate. Rarely do I ever understand the male heartthrobs in teen girl novels. But Aly's fella is not only adorable but danged sexy to boot. And I loved that though Aly was a fighter, she was by no means invincible. When Aly fights she does so to the best of her abilities. She's Buffy without the super powers, this one.

I was pleased to see that the sequel to this book, "Trickster's Queen", is available and promises to be just as good. If you've any interest in reading about a gal who outwits nobles and gods and is the companion of crows, this might be just the book for you. It's a great tale and one worth reading again and again. If you're tired of books in which the girls gossip and giggle, cleanse your palate with a little "Trickster's Choice". You're hardly gonna find action, humor, and great writing as easily anywhere else.

I have been reading Tamora Pierce for years now. I first picked up the Alanna series when I was about eleven or twelve and I absolutely loved them, I have enjoyed all of her books, Totallan or not.

This is the newest installment in her Tortallan books. The other characters from Tortall include: Daine, Alanna, and Kel. I have read about and loved each of these characters. The newest heroine in Trickster's Choice is Aly, Alanna and George's daughter. Unlike the other heriones Aly as a very noticeable sense of humor, she is more real than the other characters. She makes mistakes, she acts cocky, she loves her mother but gets easily annoyed by her. All of these things make Aly endearing to me. She isn't really good at the physical part of things like the other three heroines were, she uses her mind, her wit, and skill. I really liked the god, Kyprioth, he provides a lot of the humor in the book. I loved catching up on our old friends, Alanna and George, Daine and Numair, and Jonathan and Thayet, it's fun knowing what they're doing now.

I didn't really find this book fitting for the nine to twelve catagory that it's placed in. No there is nothing in it that wouldn't be suitable for that age group but I don't know if kids that young could follow the plot. This is a different kind of book than the rest of Ms. Pierce's collection. It is filled with an intricate plot and a lot of political intruige, I find this book more suitable for 12 and up, they would appreciate the plot more than anyone younger than that.

All in all, this is a wonderful book and a fantastic installment to the rest of the Tortallan series. Now... When does Trickster's Queen come out?

I love all of Tamora Pierce's books and this chapter of the Tortall era is no exception. Aly (Alianne) starts off this two part series with a blueberry-blue head and a plea for work as a spy. This particular plea is adressed to her father Baron George Cooper and later to her mother Alanna, the Lioness. Aly is on shakey ground with her mother, though throughout the book the trickster god Kyprioth (who inlists her aide in gaining control of his kingdom behind the backs of the Great Mother Godess and Mithros)shows her how much Alanna really cares. She gets caught by pirates, sold to a noble family, aides a revolution between raka and luarin, falls in love with a crow turned man, finds her calling, does some major spywork, and still keeps her identity and status a secret.

If your looking for a lot of kick-butt fighting sceanes, magical battles or struggle to be accepted as in Pierce's pre-Aly books, watch out because Aly is her own person with very little magic, insecurity, or major fighting skills.

Pay close attention to Daine and 'Uncle Numy's new baby, the fact that all the children of Alanna and George are named after Alanna's family [Thom, Alan (Aly's twin),and of course Alianne], and also the discription of the great mother godess.

All in all this book is totally awesome. Go and Buy it!!!

I was so excited about this book. I went out and bought it ... well, as soon as I could, since I wasn't able to on the 23. And it definitely didn't disappoint.

Aly is very different than Ms. Pierce's other heroines, to be sure. But then, they're all very different. Kel was previously by far my favorite, but now I'm really unsure. I think it's a tie. Aly has a sense of humor, and she doesn't have the blind idealism found with Kel or Daine, for example. She also doesn't have their ambition, their determination, their focus, which keeps her from being too perfect. She's definitely a real character, and one I, for one, can relate to.

She also had some good friends, while they can't, of course, compare to Neal and Dom and Owen and such. Nawat is incredibly sweet, and I love him to death. Sarai and Dove are also fun, interesting characters. Alanna, George, Jon, Kel, Neal, and several others make appearances in this book, which is good, although I would have preferred to see more of them, personally, but there's a perfectly good reason for that.

The plot has to do with Aly's arguments with her mother over what she should do with her life. Alanna wants her to do something, anything, and Aly's found something - spying - but neither of her parents will let her. She runs off to Port Legann, in the hopes of winning them over, and in the process gets captured by Copper Isle slave runners. She gets sold to a duke and duchess who are related to the royal family and are very kind to her, but they end up being sent into exile. Aly, not being an essential part of their household, would get re-sold except for one thing - Kyprioth. The trickster god appears to Duke Mequen and Duchess Winnamine in the form of Mithros, telling them she is his chosen, and makes a bet with Aly - if she can keep all of the children of the family alive for the entire summer, he'll provide her with a way home at the end of all that, and speak to George about letting her spy. She accepts the wager, and they move into exile. Aly, in her turn, has to figure out why exactly Kyprioth wants them alive, and what the raka (dark-skinned) people have planned for Sarai, the oldest, half-raka daughter of the family. She's provided with help in some of the other servants, Sarai herself and the younger daughter Dove, the duke and duchess, and an assortment of crows, including one who turns into a man.

I enjoyed the plot. It had a lot more to do with politics than the previous books, and was much more intriguing. There certainly isn't nearly as much in terms of action, although there is some, but this new thing of multiple secrets, and no one knowing who she really is, is fascinating. There are also some grey areas as opposed to the blindly idealistic views of Protector of the Small, which is good. There's some of the romance that was lacking in Lady Knight, as well, and just as much humor as any of Tamora's other books. The only thing I have a serious objection to is the ending.

It wasn't that the ending wasn't well-written or enjoyable, it was just that, like Lady Knight, it didn't seem to really end. It just ... sort of ... stopped. And the way George acted wasn't exactly out of character, but it certainly wasn't the way one would expect a loving father to act (and the idea of George not being a loving father is ... not possible). It didn't really seem to fit in with the rest of the book.

It did, however, leave me desperately awaiting Trickster's Queen! I absolutely cannot wait!

In a step away from the more physical challenges of Alanna, Daine, and Keladry, Tamore Pierce sets her newest heroine in a land of political turmoil. Less important are the skills of a warrior, more so those of the diplomat, the seasoned spy.

Those looking for swashbuckling fun won't find it in "Trickster's Choice." The plotline is much more political in nature, a swirling amalgamation of court maneuvers and a wronged people. Alianne relies more on wit and intelligence than Pierce's previous characters, making the book both more complex, but all the more fun for those who can keep up.

Alianne is taken as a slave to the Copper Isles and is slowly entangled in a centuries old rivalry between the raka and the luarin, the slaves and the slaveholders. Enlisted by Kyprioth, patron god of the raka, she is trusted with the duty of protecting his future queen with the aid of the crows and Nawat Crow, a love-interest shape-shifted into human form.

She works through the twists and turns of court deceit, soon realizing that she has as big a stake in the coronation of the half-raka Sarai as everyone else involved. The book ends with a promise of more of Pierce's traditional action style, though as Alianne is less of a trained warrior than a quick witted street-fighter, the intricate details of politics and intelligence are sure to continue their strong presence.

Many will be disappointed in the lack of sword fights and general action found in the previous Tortall-based books. But if you are keen of mind and enjoy a heroine whose actions are based more on rational, behind-the-scenes action within the swirl of royal court intrigues, then you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I loved Alanna, Daine, and Keladry, but it is refreshing and promising to have a character who relies less on the supernatural and sheer strength than on her own wholly human skills with Pierce's trademark sparks of magic and outside aid.

Wow. Tamora Pierce has written another book that girls like me will love! As a devoted Pierce fan, I was so excited for this book to come out. When it finally did, I picked it up and didn't put it down. For those who already love Tamora, this book is just what you want. And for those who know nothing about Tamora, you shouldn't be wasting you time reading this review, you should be out there experiencing her books for yourself!
In this new book, Pierce chronicles the adventures of Alianne (Aly), the daughter of Pierce's first character, Alanna. Aly lives with her two famous parents, but she is bored and wants nothing more to be a spy. When she gets kidnapped by some pirates and sold as a slave in the dangerous and politically unstable Copper Isles, she may just get her wish. Thrown into a shaky situation full of political intrigue and forced to use all her wits, it doesn't help that Aly is the chosen tool of a trickster god, Kyprioth. This book is amazing, not only for its exciting plot, but for its interesting characters and good writing. Everyone should read this book!

As an avid reader of fantasy, even as a kid, I never knew Tamora Pierce existed. I discovered her while at the local library searching for books the girls in my class might enjoy. Pierce's characters (both male and female) have flaws, but they are strong, smart, brave, and believable. Yes, some of the subject matter might be a bit mature, with the talk of "bedding" and "mating" but I think that the less mature readers will ignore it and the more mature readers will understand that in the times Pierce's books are based on (Tudor England) that is what young girls were dealing with. I look forward to reading Pierce's other works not only to recommend to my students, but for my enjoyment as well.

Tamora pierce has been my favorite author since I read her first book Alanna, I have loved each and every one of the books of hers that I have read, and I believe that I own them all, but I could be wrong. I was really excited when I found out that there was a book coming out about Alanna's daughter, I waited and waited for it to come out in hard back, (normally I get paperback books, but for one of Tamora Pierces, I made an exception) I was amazed when I got the book for christmas, and I read it that very night. It was a book that was able to lift me off of my feet and pull me right into it's pages as if I was the shadow of Aly herself, following her around, and even feeling some of the things that she had felt. That's how great it was! I loved how it was a book that was hard to predict, something that would keep me reading to the very end. I cant wait until the second book about Aly comes out! Yay, another book about Aly!!!

Now I've been reading Tamora Pierce's books since I was 12, at least (I'm 22 now), but this book...

I felt done with it after 2 readings. Now compared to Wild Magic, which I read about 8 times back to back, or Lady Knight which was at least 5 (due to my refusal to believe there was no 4th book romantic conclusion, argh), it didn't rate very high on my re-reading factor. There wasn't seemingly anything in here to mull over, like there was in the idealism of Lady Knight, or the magical workings of the Immortals or even social implications and pure action of Alanna.

The book feels a bit like a prologue in a way, Pierce keeps setting up and setting up, and it seems we really have to wait for the next book for much of what this book offered to come into play. I was incredibly interested in the culture and politics of the raka and luarin, its wonderfully described and set up, and am really hoping there are is more in the next book.

As for Aly-- good character whom I sympathized with, but not one I wanted to daydream about being in her shoes. I've already been in her shoes. But thats probably age talking, anyways.

I did love the new insights into old characters that Aly presents. Her view of the world is a fresh one, specially being reared by George and Alanna, and it was great to see how the progeny of two legends views her life and her society. And Pierce introduces Nawat, who is so intriguing and interesting. The interaction between him and Aly and the raka is wonderfully done, humorous, delightful.. I loved it.

And finally we get to see why Josiane would have been such a bad choice for Jonathan... I mean good lord.

I'm so excited that the story takes place in the Copper Isles-- the world of Tortall is expanding and fleshing out in incredible ways. The relationship of the Winged Horses to the Islands was great detail, I wanted to know more! Ah well, next book maybe!

I loved this book and have already re-read it.
I enjoyed it just as much on the third reading as the first.

The book returns to the world of Tortall with the story of Alianne (called Aly), the daughter of Alanna and George Cooper.
It gives us glimpses of what is happening with other characters in Tortall while introducing us to a new part of the world, the Copper Isles. Aly definitely takes after her father. Aly takes those things she learned from her parents and applies them when she is kidnapped and sold as a slave in the Copper Isles. Aly is not a typical slave. She makes a deal with a god to keep the children of her owners safe. While this book has plenty of action, it also shows Aly thinking about her relationships with others.

My favorite Tamora Pierce book before this was Wild Magic. Here is another young girl who knows how to stand on her own.