What impressed me so much about this series is that although it follows a similar arc to the Song of the Lioness Quartet, the characters and their stories are very different! Kel’s knight training is marred by a declaration of war, and she is the first character Pierce writes that isn’t magical-her strengths lie in becoming a strong leader and grappling with complex moral issues. She faces a lot of unfair standards and is bullied horribly for just being a girl, but this experience gives Kel a passion for standing up for the others, and eventually earns her the title The Protector of the Small. Girls are finally allowed to train for knighthood without having to disguise themselves, but because the patriarchy is hard to overthrow and sexism is the worst, Lady Keladry is the first to give it a go. What I loved about this series is that is expands the world of Tortall, both geographically and magically, and we get to see cameos of our favorite characters from the Song of the Lioness quartet!Īfter the Immortals, read The Protector of the Small series! Which is really helpful when immortal creatures suddenly begin appear in Tortall, some evil and some benign.

This series follows Daine, a young orphan who has always had a way with animals that made people believe she was a bit funny, until a young mage named Numair recognizes that her abilities are a rare form of wild magic and that she can communicate with all creatures. I recommend starting with the Song of the Lioness Quartet: When beginning your journey, you have two series to choose between as your entry point: The Legend of Beka Cooper, or the Song of the Lioness Quartet. But never fear! As someone who is a believer of the religion of Tortall and is the first acolyte of the Lady Knight, I am more than happy to offer some direction.

And that’s where things can get confusing-with so many different books and series, it’s hard to know where to start. Since the publication of the Song of the Lioness Quartet, Pierce has written nearly twenty novels set in her Tortall universe.

It’s set in Tortall, a kingdom populated with lords and ladies, knights and sorcerers, and where few people are lucky enough to possess magical Gifts. That book was Alanna: The First Adventure, and despite the hokey title, it changed my life.Īlanna: The First Adventure is the first in the Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce, a fierce, feminist fantasy series published in 1983. I was eleven when I picked up a book with a redhead and a horse on the cover, thinking it looked sorta cool.

Alanna by Tamora Pierce