In the Hand of the Goddess

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!!!!
Review: A brave new warrior that's not a man. Though unusual Alanna really pulls it off. You might call her the fiction Joan of Ark. This book really got my heart to race and not want to put it down. Also for you romance readers it will make you blush in a sense of awe. Go get it!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: I can't decide which book was better!
Review: I Loved both Alanna, The First Adventure, and In the Hand of the Godess, I loved the whole Song of the Lioness series! I could never be as brave as Alanna to even want to be a knight! I read these books both in two days! I love all the charecters in all of these books. You've just got to read these books. You'll be surprised on how much exitment there is

Rating:
Summary: More fun adventures of Alanna and her friends
Review: This book is a fun continuation from Alanna: the First Adventure. I loved watching Alanna and her friends grow up. Tamora Pierce does a good job of letting the characters evolve in their personalities, adn their relationships with others. One more great character enters in this story, Faithful her magical cat. We also get to learn more about the great goddess in this book, and Alanna struggles to become a knight. it is a very fun book. I couldn't put it down

Rating:
Summary: An interesting book of swordplay.
Review: This book can be noted for it's forwardness and calabar, it's well writen and very moving but has some parts inapropreit for children.

. this book is about Alanna's last years at the palace and how she over comes her three fears, the Ordeal of Knighthood, her fear of love, and her fear of Duke Roger of Conte

Rating:
Summary: Alanna again!
Review: She's back with all of her fiends from Alanna:The First Adventure! They're all here: Prince Jon,George(King of the Thieves),and George's mother, a healer,(who all know her secret), her teacher, Sir Myles, who made a guess, and the King, Duke Gareth, and most of her pals (who are totally clueless!). But this time she's the prince's own squire, she's got a magic cat, her problems with Duke Roger are worse then ever, and she's at war by the River Drell! In this complex, perky new Alanna adventure she emerges mature and triumphant.

Rating:
Summary: turn the page, and keep on going!
Review: This book, In the Hand of the Goddess, is my favorite book of all, not just out of the whole series, but out of all the books I've ever read. In the beginning of the book, "Alan" (I'm assuming you read the first book, but if you didn't; Alanna of Trebond disguises herself as a boy to become a knight, because women aren't allowed to be knights.) becomes the squire to none other than Prince Jonathan. Alanna has to deal with 3 fears, as she is told by the Great Mother Goddess herself in the first chapter; The Ordeal of Knighthood, (the ceremony she has to go through with to become a knight) Love, and Duke Roger of Conté. The Duke, who wants to be the King of Tortall, tries to kill Jon and the King and Queen, in his hopes of becoming King. He thinks Alanna suspects him, so he tries many things to 'rid' himself of her. I won't tell you too much, but there are a lot of things that make the plot more understandable through the whole story (war, *romance*, battles...) Tamora Pierce has never failed to write an amazing story, and I doubt she ever will. To all those you complain about the "relationship" between Alanna and Jon: deal with it. Although I didn't order this book online, I got it under the "Young Adults" section in a bookstore. There are many words to describe young adults. Mature is one of them. If you can't understand and accept why Alanna did what she did, didn't you read the first chapter? Alanna has to deal with love. And didn't she accept it? Maybe if you can't, you should skip that part in the story. But what good is a story without it? Anyway, other people have other opinions. If you can't handle it, save it until you think you can... This will probably be my favorite book for a long time. And I recommend you read it, because this book is not something you can live without!

Rating:
Summary: Womanhood and evil men...interesting
Review: As I have said before, I love strong women...Alanna continues her journey now as one of The Chosen...and Roger becomes more of a threat, and don't get me started on Lady Delia. Alanna is coming into womanhood and already had two, count them, two men trying to win her heart...personally I would chose Jon, but I love the blond haired, fair eyed kind of guy...And since I know what happens in the next 2 books, I won't be reading or reviewing them...

but I will say this *SPOILER*...I am going to be disapointed if I do...because marrying George was a big mistake I'll tell you that

Anyway, the Ordeal is made to be this big huge scary thing all along and while it is hard and scary when she gets to it, it's not nearly as bad as she hypes it up to be...It's a good book, but already you can tell that someone she trusts completely is going the wrong way with sorcery...I'd recomend it but if I were you, I wouldn't read the other 2.
BW~

Rating:
Summary: A Warning: Be carefull what you wish for.
Review: I am giving this book 4 stars because it was really excellent. Most of this review is a warning though about what is in it. Don't take this the wrong way. Just read it and try to understand where I am coming from. This was a wonderful book filled with excitment and romance. I was a very advanced reader and read the books at a very small age thrwoing the books at the wall after reading them because I was confused why the books ended why they did. Now that I am older I have come to an understanding which has opened my eyes. When I was younger I brought the book to camp and lent them to my friends who read them in a week. We sat on the bus sighing as we read the romantic parts to each other all squished up into one bus seat so that we could hear the reader. Here is what I am saying to parents, kids, and anyone else who is wondering about this book.

I know some girls who thought that the adventure ws nothing and skimmed the book looking for romance. Let me tell you, you will miss a lot. Alanna's adventures show her stregth as a female. Although, (please don't hate me for this) it is true that when Jon finds out that she is a girl in the first book, he starts to treat her like he would a woman, weak. She gratefully accepts his strong arm around her waist when they're riding along, she strains herself healing and he steers her our, and Jon holds her head for support while she's throwing up. Think about it, is she being treated equally. And although her friends know not of her womanhood, she is the one who gets extra care in the group. Perhaps because she is the smallest? But isn't that why women were treated lesser in society? Perhaps weaker? But she has proven herself against that. Alanna can fend for herself.

Now, about the romance. Weather you read it or not should be based on machurity level not age. Unfortunetly, I have so much so a lack of experience to judge what age is probably right. I could use myself as an example, but I am unique as is everyone. Although the romance is sweet, there is more to it. When Jonathan tries to unlace Alanna's bodice and she runs away in fright, she thinks Jon will go to Delia. He doesn't and comes back, and now Alanna feels sure that he only want's her. Doesn't it seem as if he is forcing her, or if not encouraging her, to go to bed with him. If I were a mother, I for one would not like my daughter at 17 thinking it is okay to go to bed with someone who is 21 (maybe 20, I forgot). And, ummmm, how does he "teach her about love?" By sleeping with her? Can't anyone in teen books have a good relationship without getting that serious? This is another "action withought consequence" book. No charm will "ward of pregnancy!" Not even a condom is a magical charm, problems occur and things go wrong.

Now, don't think that your getting this from some adult who doesn't understand why teens feel they can read this book. I am only 13 and writing this review in one of my scarce moments of sanity (quick before the hormones take over)! I love this book, with all my heart I truely do. This review was not a "Trash Tamora Pierce" fest. There is so much wonder, and excitment in this book. Unfortunetly my review is to long to add anything. This was just a warning. Not to parents, or teachers, or librarians. But to the teens who want to read this book. By all means read it, it is a plentiful liteature (maybe not the best) but still good. I am just saying, be carefull what you wish for.

Rating:
Summary: In The Hand of the Goddess
Review: The second book in Alanna's series, In the Hand of the Goddess is just as entrancing, brilliant, and suspenseful as all Pierce's others.

Alanna begins her years as a squire to Prince Jonathon. Her friendship deepens not only with the prince, but with her other friends, including George, the King of Tortallan Thieves. However, George is beginning to pursue her in ways frightening to Alanna. Tortall has been receiving reports from their spies that Tusaine is preparing to go to war with Tortall for the Drell River Valley. Not even sixteen, Alanna is taken off to war with the rest of her friends and associates at the palace, including the mysterious-and apparently dangerous-Duke Roger. Returning home from the Tusaine War with a new peace treaty securely intact, Alanna goes to George's mother for advice in the realm of womanhood. Meanwhile, Jonathon has also begun to pursue Alanna romantically. Finally admitting to herself that she does love him, the begin an affair. But still Duke Roger is bent on her beloved Prince's destruction-as well as her own. Alanna is willing to fight for anything to keep her Prince and her realm safe, but Duke Roger is a very powerful man...

With a beautiful romance, a hair-raising plot, and the elements of magic and goddesses in the air, this book is one of my all-time favorites. I will read it until the day I die and never get tired of it.

Rating:
Summary: Alanna (...) - again!
Review: this was a gr8 book. Its true that some sexual material goes on. BUt its not innapropriat for kids in this generation w/ health in school and learnin bout the birds and the bees. wat r some peeps goin on bout dat she shouldnt do 'it' b4 shes married? being hat really no 1 obides by that anymore y try 2 reinforce it? If u knew alanna's character and read dis thoroughly u'd have understood wat john said bout love and if he talked bout marriage alanna wood run off. Obviously he was right 'cus then she stopped him from talkin more about it