– Customer review on 20/09/2007

This book by Tamora Pierce is the second in its series and i would suggest if you have not already read the first book, Alana: The first adventure, that you read it. I would also recommend the rest of the series. This book is one of my favorite books and i hope you read it.

– Customer review on 15/09/2007

This is the second book in a fabulous series of four. Here, Alanna has her first meeting with the Goddess, who leaves her with a magic 'emberstone', a black cat called Faithful and a piece of advice: 'Lean to love.' War is raging, and the squires are sent to help their masters in the battle. Proves herself in battle, but is still worried about the seemingly innocent Duke Roger of Conte. She realizes that she has feelings for Prince Jon, after an abrupt comment from Faithful. George Cooper also admits his love for her.
I recommend this book to all, but especially to girls in their teens, as it targets the changes and ideas bouncing about in their heads. Though it is perfect for girls, males may find it soppy.

– Customer review on 08/07/2007

The second installment in the 'Song of the Lioness' quartet, this book is as charming and engaging as the first. Alanna is growing up and becoming a young woman, and this book reflects this growth rather than stifling it, as some others may have. All the characters grow and change throughout this book, and the others - you see a genuine change in their characters, which is a welcome change from the norm.

– Customer review on 18/06/2007

A heartwarming sequel to Alanna: the First Adventure. I loved it, abslutely loved it. I felt it was realistic in that Alanna's character continued to mature. Faithful, the cat, was an amazing character and the romance that is weaved into the story was both interesting and surprising. Her first experiences with war and the growing intrigue surrounding Duke Roger captivated me further. Definitely worth a read.

– Customer review on 05/06/2007

I think that this book is my favourite of the quartet. The magic and intruige surrounding Alannas' world is enthralling and definately draws you into the story. Poor determined Alana wants nothing more than to be left alone to become a knight. The romance that sneaks it's way cleverly into this book is not at all what she expected!

– Customer review on 25/05/2007

Sent north to fight the marauding Tusaine, Alanna is swept into a world of danger and intrigue.But while she proves herself in battle, she cannot vanquish the fears in her heart.
She must uncover Duke Roger’s secret before facing the terror of ‘The Ordeal’. The ceremony that will make her a knight … or destroy her.

This is the second book in one of the best series ever, by the best author ever. I can not say enough to recommend not only this book, but anything by Tammy. I would recommend her in general to 11 – 14 year olds and mainly girls because female heroines are her specialty. She isn’t just limited to that age group though, I am 21 and I can still pick up one of her books and be totally sucked into the worlds and adventures she creates.

Another great thing about her is that any book she writes it is always set in one of two worlds. One is Tortall (Song of the Lioness is set here) and the other is Winding Circle. So you get to see how past main characters are going. This is the order I recommend these books be read. You don’t have to read them in this order if you don’t want to, each series can stand alone. But if you read them in this order you get the behind stories of why certain things happen.

TORTALL
The Song of the Lioness Quartet
1. Alanna: The First Adventure
2. In the Hand of the Goddess
3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
4. Lioness Rampant

The Immortals
1. Wild Magic
2. Wolf-Speaker
3. The Emperor Mage
4. Realms of the Gods

Protector of the Small
1. First Test
2. Page
3. Squire
4. Lady Knight

These don’t have a Series Title
1. Trickster’s Choice
2. Trickster’s Queen

Beka Cooper – Set 200 years before Song of the Lioness, but best read after reading it
1. Terrier
2. Bloodhound (2008)
3. Elkhound (2009)


WINDING CIRCLE
Circle of Magic
1. The Magic in the Weaving
2. The Power in the Storm
3. The Fire in the Forging
4. The healing in the Vine

The Circle Opens
1. Magic Steps
2. Street Magic
3. Cold Fire
4. Shatterglass

The Circle Reforged
1. The Will of the Empress
2. Melting Stones (2008)

– Customer review on 13/05/2007

How could I even think of giving this book less than 5 stars?! In the second installment of Pierce's amazing Quartet, we meet up again with the fiery tempered Alanna. Still disguised as a boy, Alanna is now the squire to Tortall's heir and working her way up to becoming a knight.
I found this book even more enjoyable than the first. The characters are full and vivid, plot twists come hard and fast with a whole lot of magic thrown in the mix to spice things up!

– Customer review on 27/03/2007

The second book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet, Tamora Pierce again brings you this spunky character! Alanna is now a squire and on the fast track to becomming that knight she dreams to be. It is harder than ever to keep her secret as enemies continue to throw stones at her plans, not to mention the hansome prince who insists on confusing her - by blowing hot one minute and cold the next - men!

– Customer review on 20/02/2007

This is the second book in the Songs of the Lioness Quartet. In this book we follow Alanna's adventure as she goes from Squire to knight over her next four years. (In the end of the first book she was 14, at the end of the 2nd she's 18), with as many twists and turns as the first book. Now, though, some know her to be a girl, but they keep her secret along with her. She also comes to grips that the magic she shears with her brother is more important then she realizes and so she starts to use it more. A wonderful book and just as mind blowing as the first.

– Customer review on 14/01/2007

Alanna of Trebond is a girl, disguised as a boy, who becomes Prince Jon's squire, with only a handful of her friends knowing her true identity. She is just as good a fighter as any other training to become a knight for the realm of Tortall, but its is forbidden for women to try. Alanna, still a young girl, is helped a lot by her best friend Prince Jonathan, but perhaps he wants to be more than that. The prince is not alone in his affections for the young redhead, a royal of another nature, George, The Prince of Thieves, is another good friend of Alanna, and he also wishes to make his attentions known. Aside from these possible lovers,throughout this book Alanna fights enemies of all shapes and sizes, and is the only one who mistrusts the Prince's Uncle Roger, who is heir to the throne of Tortall if Jonathan should die.