Citation: Pierce, T. (1983). Alanna: The first adventure. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Pierce, T. (1984). In the hand of the goddess. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Dear Reader, this book contains material related to sexism and violence that some readers may find distressing. The content of this work may be emotionally challenging, so self-care is advised.
The Song of the Lioness is a series by Tamora Pierce that follows the story of Alanna of Trebond, a young noblewoman who swapped places with her twin brother to allow each of them to pursue their dreams: her to become a knight and him to learn sorcery. The path she has chosen is not an easy one, especially since she must hide who she is while proving to herself (and to her friends) that she’s as worthy as any boy. A quick and fun read involving medieval notions of chivalry but a splash of modern feminism, readers will know a happy ending is on the way while enjoying Alanna’s spunk, courage, and adventures. Most similar in tone to works by Tanya Huff and Patricia Wrede. Not particularly profound, this story is best enjoyed for what it is: fun chick lit. The series ages with the protagonist, but will be most enjoyable to teens aged 12-16.