This book was much better then the last two. I love how far allana came and also the new setting. I like how the relationship between her and john changed and i liked how the all the romance elements developed! ( )

This book was much better then the last two. I love how far allana came and also the new setting. I like how the relationship between her and john changed and i liked how the all the romance elements developed! ( )

I liked this book best out of Pierce's "Song of the Lioness" books. It had the best story. Of course, I have a weakness for desert stories, so I'm probably just biased.

Alanna also leaves Jonathan, which is a plot shift for the story. She and George also finally get together, which was very nice to see. It's also nice to see Coram finally finding a place to be. I wanted him to have a nice, happy ending.

It's also nice to see Alanna connect to younger people. I was curious about what would happen if she were to squire anyone, and we get our chance in this novel.

Overall, it's a fun story and a very enjoyable addition to the series. ( )

A bit dated -- which makes it an interesting read in itself. On the one-hand, the depiction of Bashir culture is a little too tribes=primitive. On the other, Alanna approaches Bashir society with respect and genuine interest in their culture. I don't love the white savior trope; I do like the strategic partnership that the Bashir gain by pulling Jonathan into their culture. I very much like that Alanna is developing her own mind and opinions about romance, and that she travels that journey with courage and confidence, even when it is hard. I think this is a book that still has a lot to offer young readers. ( )

I just finished rereading the whole Song of the Lioness. Miscellaneous thoughts:

* This is the best story Tamora Pierce has written, by far. If you've read other Tamora Pierce books and didn't like them, I still recommend this one to you.

* While it's sold as four separate books, and each book does manage to stand on its own, they're best read together as a single long story and all at once.

* Simple, straightforward style of writing.

* I just love it, ok? It's not always perfect but I even love the imperfections. ( )