The Song of the Lioness Quartet
By Tamora Pierce
Review by Mida
Alanna is a headstrong young noblewoman, expected to hone her skills of needle-craft and train to be a respectable young lady while her twin brother Thom trains to be a knight – something she envies and he dreads. The two of them hatch a plan –Alanna will pretend to be a boy, they’ll forge their father’s signature and she’ll take Thom’s place. If Alanna is found out, she could be executed – but if she succeeds, she’ll be a hero.
Alanna is a fantastic protagonist and her journey from page to hero is a fantastic exploration through a vivid and entrancing fantasy world. Rife with dangers at every turn and secrets to be discovered, it’s one of the most lived in settings I’ve ever encountered. Crumbling ruins, hidden gods and sinister wisps of dangerous sorcery creeping in at the edges all serve the compelling narrative of one woman fighting to keep her kingdom safe.
I’m extremely biased with my love for Tamora Pierce’s work. The books in this quartet are the first novels I remember being read by my mum but it’s still one of the best series I’ve read, an inspiring coming-of-age tale with razor-sharp wit (and swords!) even 40 years after its first publication. I reread it at least once every few years. The Song of the Lioness is the first quartet in a large universe of stories; all focused on strong women determined to be more than what is expected of them.
Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Leigh Bardugo and Margaret Owen.
