In the Hand of the Goddess

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Summary: The BEST Tamora Pierce Book, Yet!
Review: If you read any Fantasy book, it has to be this one! George is the King of the Rouges and is in love with Alanna. The problem is that Jonathen is in love with her too! But Alanna must choose who she loves more and accept it. This is a very well written book. A MUST read!

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Summary: THIS BOOK ROCKS THE HOUSE!!!!!!
Review: If you want to buy this book(and you better!) , GET IT! I've read this book about..............OVER 100 TIMES!!!! And I'm not exagerating! Look I write stories too, mostly continuations on to any book I've read, and Tamora Pierce's novles are out of this world! I mean, I couldn't even begin to imagian a continuation of her books, so I haven't( Which was a start for me!). Her books are so real, they pull you in to Alanna's world and into Diane's world.She makes you feel like the words are not there and that your RIGHT there in Alanna's world with her. Either as a fellow page/squire/knight and your right there with her. Its amazing that someone can do that with some paper, ink, and an idea in their head.In my 12 years of reading books about magic, mid-evil times, and other things, never have I read a book by an athuor who has pulled me into the main characters world as much as Tamora Pierce has with this Quartet. If you've never read this book, you should. Its really great.

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Summary: It's the 2nd part of the Lioness quartret and is thrilling.
Review: I think that its a really wonderful book. I've read this book like 6 times already its my favorite part. I hate George for breaking Alanna and Jon apart. think that they both belong to each other and George is a nut to contend with someone as goodlooking as Jonathan. If I were Alanna I would stay in the Palace with Jonathan for the rest of my life.I think that Jonathan is much more worthy than George for Alanna. After all whom did she love first Jonathan or George.Duh the answer is obvious.

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Summary: One of the BEST adventure series's I've ever read!!!!
Review: I have read this book OVER 30 TIMES COVER-TO-COVER and that is no exaggeration. I completely enjoyed this book, and books, 1 & 3 of the series I have not yet gotten the chance to read book 4 of this series but I look forward to doing so. Tamora Pierce is a truly gifted and enjoyable writer, and I look forward to reading other of her titles.

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Summary: Read or you'll be sorry!!
Review: Dear Team of the world, I personally think that Tamora Pierce's In the Hand of the Goddess is a brilliant book. If you don't agree with me, here are some good reasons why I like it. This book has a great plot that just pulls you in and won't let you go. Some people who can't appreciate fantasy writing might say it's boring, but I assure you, it is by no means boring. There are no lengthy, dull introductions that give billions of little details no one would in their right mind would actually be interested in. This book is not taking ideas from anywhere I have seen. It's a new and unique idea. This book has a great plot. The first page, you find out a little about the character Alanna (introduction). Then she meets the "Great Mother Goddess" (narrative hook). There is a duel, and then a war. During the war, Alanna is taken prisoner (this is all the rising action) and is rescued by the prince, Jonathan. Then she goes to her friend's house, the friend is a woman who lives in the city. There she learns to act like a girl. That result is that she falls in love with Jonathan. She eventually graduates from the Prince's squire to a knight. She discovers that Jonathan's cousin, the popular Duke Roger, is killing the queen. She exposes him and they fight to the death (climax). After she wins, her real identity exposed, she rides of to the desert to "spend the rest of the winter being warm". That plot grabs you and holds you until you're done. This book gets to the point. It's not boring and it doesn't drone on and on in the beginning. As in paragraph two, there is a lot of action. Alanna meets the goddess and beats a boasting knight in the first two chapters! She is the squire to the prince of Tortall, next in line for the crown. There are no long descriptions in the beginning , you go right out and meet Alanna. You learn things as you go along with the girl on her adventures while disguised as a boy. This book has a lot of new and unique ideas. I found a review done by an unnamed fantasy fan, who said, "I liked it because it was a different kind of fantasy." Another reviewer, who gave her name as Ann said, "This book is an outstanding, heart lifting adventure that will make you want to read it again and again." I kept wishing that there were more books like Tamora's outstanding quartet, and since I read a lot, there can't be that many!! This book introduces new types of magic, new people, talking cats whom you only hear when it wants you to, and new gods. I say that those ideas are very unique from any I have read before. Naturally, there are some of you out there that would criticize this book. Susan Faust said, "The story in readable, romantic, robust, but in many ways pedestrian in it's vision." In English, the book is for the slow-minded. Actually, I would rate this book as very complexed. I had a job figuring out how the war was fought and where exactly Alanna was going. It is NOT for the slow-minded at all. Susan also states, "She is a warrior-maiden, but her perspective is narrow, herself and her king." Now if you are going to criticize a great book, could you at least be correct? The king is barely mentioned in the book, it's the prince Alanna looks after. Also, Jon is not the only one she worries about, she wonders if any of her other friends are going to live through the next battle in the war for the valley. She half killed herself to find her friend Thor! An unknown reviewer said, "In this doldrums sequel, Alanna battles a bit, flings with the king and all in all whines and complains that her life is the best." Again, it's the PRINCE she "flings with"! Another thing I don't understand about that quote is; how do you "whine and complain" that your life is the best? Doldrums, by the way, means boring. If you thinks so too, please go back to the second and third paragraphs! There are tons of things going on in the book that are NOT boring at all!! This book is great because it has unique ideas, is action-packed from the beginning, and has a captivating plot line. If you read this book, you may end up getting fencing lessons, calling yourself Alanna, your mean arch-enemy Roger, and your boyfriend Jonathan.

Megan Ligas [e-mail] Carmen Arace Middle School Bloomfield, CT

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Summary: Couldn't Wait
Review: After the first book in the series, I couldn't wait to read this one. This book continues Alanna's story wonderfully. And while it's better to have begun from the beginning, this books explains where to begin. Alanna finally begins to let others love her and in turn loves them. She really grows up. Young Adults should read this series!

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Summary: Best book in the series
Review: Alanna is back in the greatest adventure of all. She had some new friends, namely a cat named Faithful, who is sent by the goddess to help her, and protect her, old allies, George the King of rouges, and the Prince Jonathan. She also has made some new ememys, the Chaming Duke Roger, and the beutiful lady Delilah . Before Alanna can relize it some one is making attemts at her life and Jon's. She must find who is doing this and stop him before it is to late. And in the mist of all this turmoil Alanna finds one of her worst fears coming to life, (another one) she is falling in Love.

This is truly the best book that Pierce has ever written. I would recomernd it to any one, it is truly an instant classic.

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Summary: A series to rember!!!
Review: This is a brilliant book! Although I think I enjoyed the first book best, this is a definite 5 star book!!! The best thing about all Tamora Pierse's books, are the characters. They are allways so real!!!

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Summary: This book is awsome!!!
Review: This book is original and totally cool. You can't get bored and you'll want to read it again and again. It introduces a new world, new people, new adventures, and best of all, MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! It made me want to go live there and be buds with Alanna and do the same things she did. I was happy about the magic... and loved to hear about magic because I believed it really excisted!!!!!

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Summary: This book is totally cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Anyone who likes magic and knights in the midevil times, read this book. It's really great, with lots of action going on. I'm sure you'll love this book. My friend and I have both read the whole Song Of The Lioness series, and both absolutely love it. You will too!