Alanna: The First Adventure - Book Review

Alanna: The First Adventure

Tamora Pierce

Simon Pulse

January 6th 2005

Middle Grade | Fantasy
Magic

Official Blurb - 
"From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight." And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.

But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.

Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins -- one that will leard to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

Alanna's journey continues...

This didn't quite live up to all the recommendations I got for it.

Luckily it was a very quick read. It was nice that time passes quickly in the book. I didn't read hundreds of pages and only witness the passing of a handful of days. Plus the story wasn't very deep.

The bones of the story remind me very much of Eon by Alison Goodman. Girl masquerading as a boy in order to learn to be a warrior or knight. Eventually the secret gets out. A future king in peril of his life. The girl helps the future king, and so on.

I am curious enough to try out the next book. Perhaps the recommendations were based more upon the entire series than just the first book.

Content:
Violence: Moderate