First Test: Book 1 of the Protector of the Small Quartet

I love how she writes strong heroines that fight for what is right. I love the interactions and development of characters. I have already bought the next one! Very hard to put down.

I. The Beginning: Did It Hook Me?To be honest, yes and no. I mentioned this in previous posts, but I am very new to high fantasy YA. I honestly thought I wouldn't ever read it, but it is now one of my favorite genres. This is hilarious to me since my mother loves high fantasy and I used to tease her for reading them; my have the tables to turned!I think I would have understood this book better had I read the previous ones. I didn't even know their was a whole "world" to this series. I was curious about Alanna the Lioness and was upset when we didn't learn more about her; after going to Goodreads, I now see that there's a series dedicated to her alone.And I will be reading it, along with her other books.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤II. The Characters: Could I Related to Them?Absolutely.Kel. She is ten years old, but she is wise beyond her years. Her focus is on the task at hand, she stands up for what she believes in and has a special kind of resilience. She would've been too perfect had her fear of heights not been introduce. She was a girl I could root for, the one who ran out the front door instead of up the stairs if she was being chased. I just love her!Crown. Crown is Kel's bird friend who can't talk or express ideas, but I loved her so much! I liked how she stood by Kel, defended her and helped her in any way she could. I have the nagging suspicion someone in the palace can change into an animal, hence giving a reason for Crown's intelligence, but the jury is still out on that one.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤III. The Plot: Was It Well Paced?Absolutely. This book was very easy read and didn't have any lagging points. I will say that the action sometimes seems misplaced in the book, though. For instance, the fight with the Spidrens is at the end of the book, but it would've help more worth had it been in the beginning. Kel is trying to prove her way in a male-dominated field; that fight would've been a perfect way to do so.Some parts of the books seemed slightly rushed, but this didn't happen often. I can honestly say some of the plot twists snuck up on me! I thought I had this whole book figured out, and then BAM something happened! I liked this, since books typically are extremely predictable.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤IV. World Building: Did I "Get" It?I don't want to say no, but I think reading the previous books will help with this. It's clear the setting of this book is in the past, but when you think of the mutations in the animals, I started thinking maybe this book is set in a post-apocalyptic future.I still don't understand the role of the trainees and their journey, but I'm learning over time. Their seem to be universal truths when it comes to fantasy, so this may just take time. I didn't have a firm grasp of where events took place or when. This book flows very well, but there really isn't a line of demarcation between "scenes".❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤V. The Ending: Did It Make Sense?Absolutely, but it could've been stronger. I loved seeing Kel triumph after so much hardwork, but it would've meant more if the writer had played up the drama. So much could've been thrown into the mix, but it wasn't. Maybe that's why I love this book; it's anything but typical.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤VI. OverallOverall, I truly enjoyed this book. It has many positives and only a few negatives. I would highly recommend this book even to those who aren't into fantasy; it's just that good. There were a few plot holes I'm hoping will be tackled in the next book, but there was nothing terribly amiss.I recommend this book!

I have to admit that I didn't immediately fall in love with this series of Tammy's for some reason, but on every re-read I just end up more head-over-heels with both Kel and her story to the point where I'm really not sure why it didn't click with me the first time; all I know is that now I absolutely adore it and by now I've read it almost as many times as I have the Immortals despite that earlier quartet's head-start. The writing prowess demonstrated has leaped ahead compared to Tammy's by-no-means-paltry talents displayed in the first two Tortall series, part of which must doubtless be attributed to the fact that she's got so much more room in these books to let the story read since the page-count-limits of YA fiction were greatly loosened by this time--and I could kiss J.K.Rowling's feet every day for that result alone, because the Protector of the Small quartet is glorious! The book manages to be both action-packed and thoughtful both in terms of its plot(s) and its heroine; Kel never backs down from a fight but she also insists on thinking things through. She's a wonderful student and a wonderful mentor at the same time, and watching her grow into herself is as fascinating as the burgeoning war, royal marriage, and social upheavals that serve as the foundation of the plot. And then there's the societal aspects, both in terms of Tortall (how has the world changed because Alanna is a knight? what other social changes have Thayet and Jon attempted since taking the crown? what happens when the culture and citizens of the Japan-like Yamani Islands meet the Western European-style kingdom of Tortall?) and our own world. Unfortunately many of the problems that Kel faces as the first known female page in centuries are all-too-realistic and common in our "more modern" world as well, and neither Tammy nor Kel hesitate to address how wrong these things are, whether they impact Kel directly or through her friends. This series tackles weighty issues like sexism, bullying, classism, poverty, crime, and the injustice of law head-on, all while never once sacrificing the suspense and delight of the story itself. I could not possibly love these books more and I truly believe that they ought to be required reading for every girl coming of age--and for every boy, genderqueer kid, and grown-up for that matter! It's never too late to learn, as some of those who initially balk at Kel discover, and the lessons of this quartet are as important as the story itself is engrossing. I'd give it six stars if I could.

And hard work. It is what is needed in her world and ours.Tamora Pierce's character Kel demonstrates that if you have a goal, that no matter the set back. That you can attain that goal if you keep it (the goal) firm in your mind and continue to work for it. Good work. Kel is an example to me. She may be just a fictional character but Tamora gives her life

This is the third book in the Protector series that I've read by Tamora Pierce. I believe I started Book One about a week ago, and I have RIPPED through these books. Why? Well first of all they are well written. The story is like butter. It's so smooth you just fall right in. Second... and I may not even do it justice... Pierce has captured a character and a story in ways I have rarely seen before. I liked the main character right off. Within just a few pages of her story I was on her side, routing for her, identifying with her and wanting to see her succeed. Through the series of ups and downs, twists and turns that followed, this only intensified. I'm so impressed by this author and these books that I fully intend to buy and read everything Pierce has ever written. I wish I'd found her sooner, but at the same time I'm glad it took so long so that there's a nice backlog of books that I can look forward to! :D All five stars, for sure. If there were bonus stars, I'd give them. One of my top three in great authors and great reads. Oh yeah. It's that good.

Fantastic book by a fantastic author. Tamora draws you into the story as if you are there with the characters. Unable to put this book down.

This is the tale of a girl who wants to be the first openly female page, Squire and finally Knight. It's a brilliantly written book which draws you into the magical world of Tortall where Kel must prove herself worthy to her Training master, the inflexible Lord Wyldol who believes girls should be kept safe.

good to get the whole set

Seit 10 Jahren regiert Jonathan von Conté das Königreich Tortall. Und seit einer offiziellen schriflichen Erklärung, dürfen sich nun auch Mädchen *legal* um ihr Ritterschild bemühen.Auch wenn dies etlichen Männer und Konservativen nicht gefällt. Als nun Keldary of Mindelan, genannt Kel, darum bittet, wird die Regelung auf die Probe gestellt.Der Nachfolger von Duke Gareth als Trainingsmeister der Pagen und Knappen, Lord Wyldon, hält davon gar nichts. Und stellt seinerseits zwei Bedingungen: 1.) Kel muss ein Probejahr absolvieren und nur Wyldon entscheidet, ob sie es besteht oder nicht.2.) Während der gesamten Ausbildung darf Alanna keinen Kontakt mit Kel suchen, damit es nicht heißt, sie hätte ihr auf magischem Weg geholfen.Der König und die Mindelans akzeptieren die Bedingungen und Kel stürzt sich mit Feuereifer in die Ausbildung, auch wenn es ihr die Jungs nicht leicht machen.Mehr verrate ich euch nicht, den Rest müsst ihr selber lesen. Viel Vergnügen.Mir hat das Buch recht gut gefallen, da es einmal andere Aspekte der Ausbildung beleuchtete und auch gut darstellt, wie schwer es ist, von anderen akzeptiert zu werden, wenn man anders ist.Lest einfach mal rein und bildet euch dann ein eigenes Urteil.^^

Keladry of Mindelan ist 10 Jahre alt und möchte eine Ritterin, eine Beschützerin der Schwachen werden. Moment, gab es das nicht schon mal? Eine zweite Alanna von Trebond? Ja, und doch ist alles ganz anders: Seit 10 Jahren haben Mädchen die Möglichkeit sich am Hofe von Tortall zur Ritterin ausbilden zu lassen. Keladry, genannt Kel, ist das erste Mädchen, das als Page in den Palast kommt. Trotz Alanna und trotz der Frauen, die im Krieg gegen die Unsterblichen mitkämpften, hat sich in den Köpfen der Männer nichts geändert: Ladies haben schön und nicht kämpferisch zu sein. Der Lehrmeister der Pagen nutzt seinen Einfluss auf König Jonathan und besteht auf eine einjährige Probezeit. Die edlen Knaben verhalten sich alles andere als edel. "Mädchen unerwünscht!" erfährt Kel von Anfang an. Während Alanna von Trebond ihr Geschlecht versteckte, sehen sich die Pagen einem Mädchen gegenüber, das möglicherweise besser sein könnte. Doch Kel ist stark; ihre Yamani-Ausbildung hat sie gelehrt zu kämpfen und zu gehorchen. Und so kämpft sie sich durch das Probejahr, nimmt die Demütigungen von Pagen und Lehrmeister hin und gibt nicht auf. Sie findet auch Freunde ohne Vorurteile, die ihr helfen: Neal of Queenskove, der Sohn von Herzog Baird und Roald von Conté, der Kronprinz sind die ersten, die zu ihr stehen. Es ist schön mal wieder in Tortall zu sein und alte Bekannte zu treffen: Numair Salmalin und Dhana, Lindhall Reed mit Knochentänzer, Tkaa, der Basilisk und Sir Myles von Olau leben neben vielen neuen Charakteren im Palast. Wie bei allen Büchern, die ich bisher von Tamora Pierce gelesen habe, fiel es mir auch diesmal wieder schwer, das Buch wegzulegen und die letzte Seite kam viel zu schnell.