Review: Trickster's Choice

Novel: Trickster’s Choice (Daughter of the Lioness Quartet)
Author: Tamora Pierce
Pages: 448
Genre: YA (Fantasy)



Alianne, daughter of Alanna (Alanna: The First Adventure [Random, 1989]), is ready to create her own legend. As the book opens, Aly, 16, longs to follow in her father's footsteps as a spy, but her parents refuse to allow it. Annoyed, she sails off in her boat, only to be captured by pirates and sold into slavery, fortunately to kindly Duke Balitang. She meets Kyprioth, the Trickster, and strikes a bargain: if Aly keeps the Duke and his family safe for the summer, Kyprioth will return her to her family and persuade her parents to let her be a spy. With magic, spells, winged horses that are part human and part metal, crows that take human form (and provide a romance for Aly), brutal fighting, treason, and attempted kidnapping, this fantasy has plenty to hold readers' attention. It also offers an interesting examination of race, as well as a look at an adolescent's finding her independence, an especially difficult task with such a powerful mother. Aly is a strong, intelligent, and resilient feminist who stretches this fantasy to a parable of girl-power. The book at times bogs down in the sheer number of characters and relationships, and in the author's zealous attention to descriptive details, but Pierce's fans will enjoy it.
(By Connie Tyrrell Burns with the School Library Journal)


(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 just say that as an Alanna fan I was already fairly certain when I started this novel that I would love Alianne. The novel starts off wonderfully and it is very obvious that Aly is Alanna and George's daughter. With George's mischievous nature and Alanna quick mind Aly is able to easily win your heart. After a short while of reading it is no longer your love for George and Alanna that fuels your wanting to learn more but instead your love for the intelligent and unique young woman who is slowly learning to be herself even when hiding in plain sight.

You also meet two wonderful characters Sarai and Dove, along with many other related characters who I won't say too much about because it is just too much fun for you to learn while reading. Sarai has a heart willed with a passionate fire while Dove in contrast keeps to herself and is very calm and calculating. When these two characters interact with with Aly it is like magic. Though Nawat's magic is much more potent. You can't help but enjoy his humor to say the least. Overall, wonderful new characters and very lovable.





Would I suggest you read it:

Yes! It is another novel from the challenge I gave myself to re-read all of the novels that made me want to write. This novel is well written and easy to love. Not to mention a must read for all Alanna and George fans.

Other Covers:

^Book two but so beautiful I couldn't leave it out^