Review: Lady Knight

Novel: Lady Knight
Author: Tamora Pierce
Pages: 464
Genre: YA (Fantasy)



In the final thrilling installment of Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small series ( First Test, Page, and Squire), our sturdy young heroine, Keladry of Mindelan (a.k.a. Kel), has finally been knighted. Never one to rest on her laurels, Kel champs at the bit, ready to tackle the horrific magic killing devices she was shown in the Chamber of the Ordeal during her knighthood initiation. The huge, insect like machines, "made of iron-coated giants' bones, chains, pulleys, dagger-fingers and -toes, and a long whip like tail," feed on the souls of dead children and are systematically killing off the citizens and warriors of Tortall.
Thoroughly disgusted to discover that not only is she not going to be assigned a combat post, but she has been placed in charge of a refugee camp instead, Kel, in her usual noble, stoic way, swallows her disappointment and sets out being the best refugee camp commander possible. Of course, destiny has a way of sneaking up on a young woman like Kel, and soon she is fulfilling the ordeal the Chamber set out for her... and then some.
Tamora Pierce once again draws her legions of fans into her story, blending humor, pathos, exhilarating battles, and gripping drama with a very real, very appealing protagonist. It's easy to make war appear black and white, a matter of good versus evil. Pierce finds the shades of gray. (By Amazon Reviewer Emilie Coulter )



(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.)

Warning:
This review is somewhat more violent than others simply due to the need to properly explain the story. It does not post spoiler for individuals who have read the first three novels in the series but if you have not as of yet read the three first novels then you may not want to read on.

This novel was a big part of what made me consider writing in that it showed me just how much words can affect you. For those of you who read the description above you know that Kel has to face monsters, "made of iron-coated giants' bones, chains, pulleys, dagger-fingers and -toes, and a long whip like tail," I say monsters and not the nicknames they were given because these silly things managed to horrify me. Literally, I don’t get scared easily but the first time I read this book I was in a waiting room at a retirement home and suddenly I was looking around the room to make sure it wasn’t actually happening and none of the sweet elderly ladies next to me were actually monsters… I was that scared. Keep in mind I was much younger when I first read this novel but re-reading it awakened an amount of that fear even at this age.

That said I still love this book, it makes you feel and as you can see above takes you into the world that Tamora Pierce has created and suddenly you wonder how you will find your way back out. I also features more of Kel’s wonderful friends from series who were not mentioned nearly as much in Squire which was something that I personally missed a great deal. Yes ladies, this does mean more Neal and Owen are coming your way in this last installment of the Protector of the Small Quartet.





Would I suggest you read it:

Yes, as long as you aren’t too squeamish. It is a more violent novel out of the Tamora Pierce collection but it is essential to Kelandry’s story. However, it does also feature children being harmed and I do understand that this is not something many people want in a book so fair warning not to read this novel if that is something that might bother you. I was somewhat shocked the first time I read it but it did convey the message she was trying to show and it is a wonderful novel. Overall, it is an amazing novel and conclusion to an amazing and heartfelt journey.

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