Song Of The Lioness

Tamora Pierce's Lioness series manages to touch on difficult issues without ever preaching them. Through Alanna, she explores both feminist and gender identity issues while weaving an epic story of action and knighthood.The hook comes in the form of ambition to step outside of society's boxes in a backward and medieval world. Alanna has always longed for adventure, but those kind of activities are restricted to boys. Her parents want to send her to a convent to learn magic, but instead, she switches places with her twin brother to begin training as a page.Pierces plot device works excellently. It creates a prevailing fear of discovery and naturally reduces the focus on romance. There's a sense of dedication and loyalty in Alanna despite her deception and a clear progress from a stumbling page. Ultimately, though, it's a reminder that it's okay to be different, and Alanna's own struggle to find a middle ground between her fake persona and the one society expects her to have.Read if you like: Strong female characters, adventure, sword and sorcery.

Booklists having this book

Top 50 Best Coming of Age Fantasy Books

Coming of age stories are one of the oldest themes in fiction, providing a sense of progression and growth that can't be rivaled. This is a theme that's as old... Read more

Other books by Pierce, Tamora

Wild Magic

This is Pierce’s best piece - a fantastic and touching tale about Daine, a young girl with the magical ability to speak to animals. It’s a perfect blend of adventure,... Read more

Wolf-speaker

When Daine is summoned by the wolf pack that saved her life a year earlier, she knows she has to go. She and Numair travel to Dunlath Valley to answer... Read more

Emperor Mage

The Realms Of The Gods

During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher Numair are swept into the Divine Realms. Though happy to be alive, they are not where they... Read more

Alanna: The First Adventure

While Tamora Pierce's novels are mainly marketed towards younger readers, her Song of the Lioness series is still a worthwhile read, especially if you're looking for a break from some... Read more

Terrier

Beka Cooper is the latest addition to the Provost Guard, a group called the "Dogs." She's only called a "puppy," since she's new. Beka is painfully shy and has few... Read more

In The Hand Of The Goddess

Pursuing her desire to be a knight, Alanna learns many things in her role as squire to Prince Jonathan, but fears Duke Roger, an ambitious sorcerer with whom she knows... Read more

The Woman Who Rides Like A Man

Alanna, the on;y female knight in the kingdom, must come to terms with her identity as a woman when Prince Jonathan proposes marriage. Read more

Lioness Rampant

From Tamora Pierce, the final book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet, honored with the Margaret A. Edwards Award. Having achieved her dream of becoming the first female knight... Read more

Song Of The Lioness

Song Of The Lioness Quartet

Many fantasy-loving women got hooked on fantasy with Alanna as teens. She has her heart set on being a knight, even though it's not "what girls do," and that passion... Read more

The Immortals

Couldn't leave this one out. Yes, it's another Tamora Pierce YA treasure set in the Kingdom of Tortall,; you can even cross paths with the Lioness herself. Yet Immortals takes... Read more

Wolf-speaker

With the help of her animal friends, Daine fights to save the kingdom of Tortall from ambitious mortals and dangerous immortals. Read more

Emperor Mage

When she is sent as part of the delegation from Tortall to negotiate a peace treaty with Carthak, fifteen-year-old Daine must use her powers to communicate with animals for more... Read more

The Realms Of The Gods

While in the mystical realms of the gods along with Numair, Daine learns the secrets of her past and the implications for her future as she and Numair are compelled... Read more

Circle Of Magic

Tamora Pierce is one of the most respected women in fantasy, but attention tends to focus on her Song of the Lioness series. With Circle of Magic, she ventures into... Read more

Tris's Book

While still in their early stages of magic training, Daja, Briar, Tris, and Sandry find themselves in an unexpected battle to defend their school against the attacks of Priate Queen... Read more

Daja's Book

When Daja is cast out of the Trader community, she makes her own family with her fellow mages-in-training. But when danger faces the Traders, it is up to Daja to... Read more