Alanna: The First Adventure

This is a great kick butt girl hero sword and sorcery book for the 10-12 set.

It doesn't hold up that well reading it as an adult, but I still enjoyed it.

I can't even remember the first time I read this (probably about 17 or 18 years ago), but it gets an automatic 5 stars from me.

I was in the mood for a gender bender and I remembered the book I skimmed through in the library when I was 12. For some reason, I never checked it out or finished it. Probably because of the topics I deemed “adult” at that age, like Alanna getting her period which is basically all I remembered every time I thought about reading this book. Now that I'm older, I figured I'd probably like it more. And I did, and I was eager to read the sequels. But being the evil person I am, I read the reviews for those sequels, spoiling it for myself (if there are accessible spoilers, I will read them). And well, even if the series isn't all about the romance, that's one of the main factors that keep me invested in stories, no matter how understated the romance is. In fact, the more understated it is, the more I end up loving it. And the romance in this series just isn't my cup of tea. I like the subtle kinds full of innocence, like in the books by Diana Wynne Jones. So I agree with my 12-year old self on not wanting to continue the series :)

I was worried about re-reading these books, simply because I love them. I was worried they would not hold up to a more critical re-read as an adult, and because of my disappointment with Pierce's latest book [b:Battle Magic 8306725 Battle Magic (Circle Reforged, #3) Tamora Pierce https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352504621s/8306725.jpg 13155766]. But, having bought Kindle versions (my dead-tree ones are falling apart), I had to justify the money by at least reading them once.The first of the Alanna quartet is pitched at a younger age than the rest, and it's noticeable, especially in light of the other books later written in this world. But, sins are forgiven because I love it, and it's still a quick read, like a comfy blanket of old friends.

Nostalgia had me seek this out - this was the book that started me on a life long love of fantasy. Now, more years later than I care to admit, this book brought the same spark of excitement to my imagination as it did then.

Love this book! It is the book that started my enjoyment of Fantasy genre, and for that it will always be one of my favorites.

I am always on the lookout for books that I think my thirteen-year-old daughter might like. She's a reluctant reader, at best. (I think it's symptomatic of a society where kids have all the video-on-demand they want.) So, when a thread on a fantasy novel board I visit started talking about Tamora Pierce's “Alanna” series, I thought I'd check it out. Now, given that's it's written for 11-15 year olds, the prose isn't quite what I was used to for fantasy novels, but it was on par with John Flanagan's stuff in the “Ranger's Apprentice” series. After I got past that, and the intro chapter that set up the rest of the story much too quickly, it was a highly enjoyable romp with an ultimate Mary Sue.

I understand fully why people bag on Mary Sues. I get it. As much as writers try to make complex, deep characters, Mary Sue-ing them tends to happen. There could even be made an arugment that Mark Lawrence's dark and gritty Jorg Ancrath is something of a Mary Sue. Alanna of Trebond is a girl who wants to be a knight. Her twin brother wants to be a sorcerer. Using a highly implausible tactic, they switch places when their father sends them to training schools, and Alanna (using the identity of her brother, Alan) becomes a page and begins training to be a knight.

Pierce guides us through the first three years of Alanna's ordeals of being a page and having to hide her identity. She is the smallest and weakest of the boys in the school, but she grits her teeth and puts in the extra work to become formidable in her own right. She has to deal with a bully. She has to contend with a teach who is clearly a bad guy in disguise, and she has to deal with becoming a woman, as well.

The book was worth the read, and I clearly understood how a young girl reading this could find a hero to emulate and aspire to be. For that, it has incredible value. I've already begun reading the second book in the series. I need to see Alanna achieve her goal.

I loved the beginning, but the end was a bit hurried. I wish it had been more prepared, you know, more discussions and so on, right now they just went there, for no reason, really, and did that, and the end.
And she is like 11 or so. (I forgot and as it's the middle of the night, or actually very early morning (4 a.m.) I can't be bothered to go and check. Anyway, as in many other books, these teenage heroes feel more like adults with adult reasoning and skill set, and abilities. I seriously can't see an eleven years old beat a sixteen years old in sword fighting. Especially when it's medieval-type fantasy swords and not some light foil :-D It wasn't as bad though as in Percy Jackson :-D At least Alanna worked really hard on her skills.
Also, it was very nice of the villains to leave Alanna her sword, and then wait politely for her to get dressed. :-D
I'm also a bit unhappy about how easily she got her horse and magic sword, and how no one is asking any questions. Except what-his-name the smiley one, you know. I mean, they are really amazing. Well, well... it's a good book, and I'm looking forward to its continuation.

I know these books are BELOVED but I had never read them as a kid! I just wasn't this flavor of nerd, idk! But I absolutely understand the legacy here. I love this little guy Alan!

https://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-245-alanna-the-first-adventure/

If you can meet it halfway as a children's wish-fulfilment tale in which a moody tweenage girl can outwit numerous adults to get into the wrong school, befriend the king of thieves, and swordfight a demigod, then it's fine. The world and characters lack detail, the writing is basic, and the whole thing's a bit too cute and convenient. I enjoyed the training stuff the best. The climax is nonsense out of nowhere. All that said, there's something I fundamentally like here, and I gather Pierce's books get better. I'll check them out at some point.

So if you've read any Pierce you've read this. It's a little familiar given that I came to it after reading the Kellis books etc but still worth it if you want to run away for a while into the “girls can be awesome like boys too!” thing Pierce does so well.

Fast and fun read. Blew through it in about a day (and got my laundry done - so I technically ‘multitasked' and I don't feel too guilty for the lazy reading day) Definitely for younger YA. Really liked the story. Alanna is a feisty young woman and driven to reach her goal of becoming a knight. In the mean time she learns many lessons and makes some good friends. This series takes place before the “Protector of the Small” series (which I've read and really enjoyed). I finished this one and immediately downloaded the 2nd in the series onto my Kindle so I could jump right in and continue the story.

If I were to sum this book up in a single sentence, it would be that this was a better Throne of Glass novel. This book and Throne of Glass have many similarities, including a girl who journey's into a castle to get something. And the women both also has to learn about her own powers that are beyond fighting with swords and knives. But where Throne of Glass stumbles and this text succeeds is in the hero herself. Instead of being told that she is a badass, like in Throne of Glass, we see Alanna become the warrior that she was meant to be. Even then, when she does fight people, the message is a positive one: you may like the action of fighting itself, but you should remember why you fight, and not to abuse the ability.

Alanna herself is an interesting character, as we see her struggle to become a squire, a portion of her journey to become a knight. There is something charming and humbling about Alanna that I never got with Celaena, the protagonist in Throne of Glass. I think this is because it is nice seeing someone become a awesome fighter, compared to meeting them when they already are. The other characters that we meet in this text, are also nice to see. I liked Price John, and all the other pages that Alanna meets, if they were at times a little interchangeable.

As for the weaknesses, this novel does have a weak villain. He just does not have the presence of others in a fantasy series out there. Still, the second installment will most likely flesh him out a bit more, so, it will just be a case of waiting and seeing. Another weakness is that this novel just sort of ends. No real cliffhanger, which maybe is a sign that I have been reading too many modern Middle grade books (this was originally published in the early 80's), that I find this odd. Still, it was something that I noticed, but it left me wanting more, so I guess it is a minor complaint.

This novel was very fun and set up a world filled with characters I am excited to see more of. I give it a four out of five. It is fun and filled with potential. If you are wanting for a book that is a classic among fantasy, give this a read. It might just surprise you.