Ah, The Song of the Lionness. The quartet that helped put Tamora Pierce on the map as premiere fantasy novelist with a feminist hero for the ages. It also founded the expansive Tortall universe.

Since the books have been around since the 80s I’m not going to repeat what happens in them. Everyone has probably read it by and if not, here’s why.

Alanna is amazing. Yes, it’s easy to say that since she’s a beloved fictional hero but she really is. She may be the “chosen one” but because she fears magic (referred to as the Gift in-universe), she doesn’t use it as much. Pierce makes it a point to show how Alanna consistantly trains and earns every triumph she wins.

Alanna is the hero that fails many times, because of her size when she was younger, she was easily overpowered. But the knightly virtues of discipline and consistant practice aided her as she worked twice as hard to utilize her skills to make up for her lack of size.

And she cotninues the same efforts when she does begin to learn to master the Gift and to learn the Shang discipline of fighting. It also helps that Alanna is a curious person who wants to learn many things from feminine weaving to metalwork to the Bazhir history.

Speaking of Bazhir, they are just one part of the grand Tortall universe. In only four books, Pierce paints a vivid picture of different lands, loosely recognizable as our own. Like the desert Bazhir who are fierce elite fighters, “primitive” and superstitious. The Asiatic-influenced Manthian priests, Shang warriors and warring Sarain land. And Torrtell itself that has forests, coasts, and wide open valleys remiscent of medieval Euope which is further echoed by the knighthood training Alanna undergoes.

Pierce also paints great detail on how the magic in this universe is defined. She weaves it organically as magic/the Gift is common in the universe so information is relayed at suitable moments rather than just a giant info-exposition.

Alas, the book is not only Alanna. Various allies, lovers and enemies get their due as well. While some might tire of the love triangle and at one point love square in book 4, I found the romances decent. They each reveal the flaws in the relationship and why it wouldn’t work out in the long run. Each were needed to show Alanna how to trust someone else and figure out what she really wants.

As for the enemies, they’re not too complex. This was a time when anti villains and heroes weren’t a thing so Duke Rogers and his allies remain firmly evil, greedy, overly ambitious etc. But Pierce does pull complexities out of the good guys like Alanna’s guilt and letting go of her guilt in regards to killing, Thom’s ambition and cynicsm, Jon’s pride and restlessness etc. They bring the humanity in this magical world.

Also I enjoy how the adults aren’t useless. A trope that can get pretty tiring and provide big inconsistancies. rather they provide good role models if stern teachers for Alanna and her friends. Plus I loved the inclusion of Alanna’s female friends as they slowly change peoples’ minds on what a woman can do.

Not to say, the whole land is immediately all girl power. Quite the opposite. Like I said before, Pierce shows how Alanna has worked and earned her triumph. Only then do people respect her. Same with the female shamans and new queen. But even they still have their detractors, much like in real life.

I do have a minor quibble in that it did feel a bit chosen-one-ish for her to teach the three young teens how to be a shaman since she didn’t have much practice with magic herself but minor one considering everything else Pierce does right.

Alanna’s story and character development is strong from going to an unsure young page to a world-hardened knight. From fearing love to choosing it. From fearing magic to relying on it to finding her own strength again. Learning when to fight and when to let go.

It’s an epic journey that really stands the test of time. Let’s hope the upcoming tv series lives up to its essence.