Personal Challenge and Review!

I have given myself a challenge. I am having trouble on my fourth book in terms of momentum. I know what I want to have happen, I have a full outline and yet... I need some encouragement. I also need some YA novels to read so that I can get a start on the other challenge I signed up for. Thus, I have decided that I will reread the novels that first made me want to write. I will be reviewing them all and here is the first review of the bunch:

Novel: Alanna: The First Adventure

Author: Tamora Pierce

Pages: 240 (may vary depending on region or hardback)

Genre: YA (Fantasy)

Call it fate, call it intuition, or just call it common sense, but somehow young Alanna knows she isn't meant to become some proper lady cloistered in a convent. Instead, she wants to be a great warrior maiden--a female knight. But in the land of Tortall, women aren't allowed to train as warriors. So Alanna finds a way to switch places with her twin, Thom, and take his place as a knight in training at the palace of King Roald. Disguising herself as a boy, Alanna begins her training as a page in the royal court. Soon, she is garnering the admiration of all around her, including the crown prince, with her strong work ethic and her thirst for knowledge. But all the while, she is haunted by the recurring vision of a black stone city that emanates evil... somehow she knows it is her fate to purge that place of its wickedness. But how will she find it? And can she fulfill her destiny while keeping her gender a secret?

(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

Let me start out by saying that I reread this book more often than most people will ever reread any book in their entire life. I LOVE Tamora Pierce and whenever I am feeling uninspired or as though I don't understand why I am working so hard I reread her series. It reminds me why I started writing and what I wanted to accomplish. I think back to the first time I opened her novel, In the Hands of the Goddess and how for once I could hardly put a book down. Even though I was so sick I could hardly get out of bed and I was extremely upset over something that had happened it all seemed to disappear and suddenly I was a strong redheaded girl on her way to becoming a knight and willing to do anything to get there and get past anytime that might stand in my way. This novel again was able to reawaken that feeling in me. There are some moments that not all men will appreciate but that will very likely make any woman laugh hysterically. Tamora pierce captures so much that no other author has been able to and while the writing feels as though it is aimed at younger teens at some points it is catchy and a great read. I love the characters and especially Pounce! The violet eyed cat who has a wonderful sense of humor and is always keeping Alanna on her toes... or in some cases in or out of trouble. I will be posting reviews of the rest of her books as I reread my collection!

Would I suggest you read it:

YES GO READ IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other covers:

Author’s Website:

http://www.tamora-pierce.com/