Series about Tortall by Tamora Pierce


All of the books in this posting take place within a universe created by the author, centered around the country of Tortall. Each series can stand alone, although several of the characters appear in multiple story lines, so some of the 'back-story' is in previous books.

• Song of the Lioness Quartet:
  

  1. Alanna, the First Adventure - Alanna of Trebond is getting shipped off to school to learn how to be a lady and her twin brother is off to start his training to be a knight. But that's the last thing either of them wants, so they conspire to switch places: Alanna will pretend to be 'Alan' and earn her shield while Thom studies to be a mage. Training is difficult - and so is hiding her real sex, but Alanna is determined to get through her first four years as a page.

  
  

  2. In the Hands of the Goddess - Alanna continues her training as Prince Jonathan's squire. Throughout those four years, she discovers even more difficulties, including war with a neighboring country, but also has help since the Great Mother Goddess has decided to adopt Alanna as one of her own. Soon, the young squire will find that being a Chosen one of the gods is incredibly complicated...

  
  

  3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man - The newly knighted 'Lioness' leaves Corus to let outrage die down, now that her identity has come to light. She finds far more than she bargained for when she kills a Bazhir mage and the tribe forces her to take his place. Alanna must face her fears about magic and learn that there's more to being a knight than just swordfights.
  

  
  

  4. Lioness Rampant - Although Tortall is a strong country, they are threatened by political upsets all around. The only way to unite and consolidate Tortall's power under Jonathan's rule is for Alanna to bring home the Dominion Jewel - a mythical gem that a ruler can use to bond the land of an entire country to the Crown. The path to get the Jewel, and then bring peace to Tortall is long and difficult, but Alanna can do it if anyone can.
  

  
  



• The Immortals Quartet:
  (This series mentions some of the same characters - like the King - but can stand alone.)
  

  1. Wild Magic - When Veralidaine Sarrasi goes to the horse fair looking for a job, she never dreamed that she would meet people who could see her true potential - although she doesn't have the Gift, she's a wild mage. Daine has the power to talk to animals and even shift into their shapes. When Numair Salmalín (the most powerful mage known in Tortall or elsewhere) discovers her talents, he teaches her to use them and Daine finds herself thrust in the midst of adventures.

  
  

  2. Wolf Speaker - Daine gets word from the wolf pack that she used to live with (when she was first orphaned) that the humans in their valley are destroying the land where the pack hunts. Numair and Daine (now with the dragon kit Skysong in tow) head out to help them, but when they get there, they discover that the problem is far worse than they imagined: treason. Suddenly, it's up to them, with the help of the wolf pack, to save Tortall.

  
  

  3. The Emperor Mage - When Tortall sends a delegation to Carthak to forge an agreement between the countries, Daine goes with them, to look at the Emperor's prized birds. But when she gets there, a forgotten local goddess, the Graveyard Hag, decides that Daine presents the perfect opportunity to make herself known to the people again. Temporarily given the power to bring dead animals back to life, Daine suddenly discovers that when the gods meddle, her life becomes far more complicated. Her only hope is to find a way to fix the situation fast...

  
  

  4. In the Realms of the Gods - During an attack from some particularly nasty Immortals, Daine almost dies and wakes up in the realm of the immortals where she finally meets her father and discovers that her mother has become a low-level goddess herself. Unfortunately, she and Numair (who got pulled in with her) can't stay long because their friends in Tortall need their help in the war. Although it's difficult, the two must trek across the immoral realms to find the dragons, who might be able to take them back. It turns out, however, that where they /are/ isn't much safer than where they're headed. Getting home is going to be a challenge.

  
  



• Protector of the Small
  (This series is also a stand-alone, but there are more characters from the Lioness series)
  

  1. First Test - Although it is no longer illegal for girls to earn their shields, none have trained to become knights. Keladry of Mindelin has decided to be the first. After living with her parents in the Yamani Islands as diplomats, Kel understands the importance of training and what it will take to be a knight. Her parents agree, but Kel discovers that, unlike the other pages, she'll be on probation for a year, simply because she's a girl. Although she's frustrated by the injustice, Kel is determined to prove that she can keep up with the boys - and maybe surpass them.

  
  

  2. Page - Having survived the first year, Kel gets permission to continue her knightly training, but she discovers that making it this far doesn't mean any of it is easier. Kel still struggles with her fear of heights, but she works hard in her studies and continues to prove her worth, slowly gaining the trust of her fellow pages. She'll have to put her skills to work, though as she ends her first four years.

  
  

  3. Squire - Kel is excited when Raoul of Goldenlake chooses her to be his squire. Together, they set off on the royal progress, training and fighting in tournaments. Occasionally, there are adventures, however - like the one that lands Kel with a baby griffin that only she can take care of. Although her four years as squire are difficult, it all comes down to the final test of knighthood; everyone is waiting to see if Kel will make it past the Chamber of the Ordeal and be the first (legal) Lady Knight.

  
  

  4. Lady Knight - Having earned her shield, Kel gets sent to a distant outpost where she has to build a refugee camp from scratch. Although it takes more work than she had expected, Kel soon becomes attached to 'her' people. When their peace is threatened, Kel takes on the 'killing machines' that she saw in the Chamber of the Ordeal. It will be her biggest challenge yet, but Kel is not about to abandon the people that she has sworn to protect.

  
  



• Trickster's Choice & Trickster's Queen
  (The main character is Alanna's daughter, so reading the other series helps, but isn't necessary)
  
  

  1. Alianne of Pirate's Swoop is the daughter of Alanna, the King's Champion (the Lioness) and George Cooper, the King's spymaster. Her mother hopes that she will find something thing occupy her time, but since Aly doesn't want to be a knight or learn to be a proper 'lady,' Alanna is at a loss. What Aly really wants to do is become a field agent for her father, but neither parent will let her spy. When Aly sails away to visit friends, she gets abducted by pirates and sold as a slave. Suddenly, her world has turned upside down. It gets even more interesting when a local god (who claims to be her father's patron) makes her a bet: if she can keep the household's children alive through the end of the summer, Kyprioth (the god) will send her home. He assures that she will have help from him and from the crows (who are the animals of his domain). Aly takes the bet, although it will take all the spying skills that she has learned to keep her end of the bargain.
  

  2. In the sequel, Trickster's Queen, Aly has agreed to stay in the Copper Isles as the spymaster for the raka movement. Now that the family has moved back to Rajmuat, plans to put Sarai on the throne have stepped up. Aly's talents come in handy as she coordinates the activities and information of her spies throughout the city, slowly working to bring down the regents. Now, with the help of raka servants and the crow warriors, it looks like it might finally happen.

  
  

Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite authors; these are books that I come back to time and again when I need something good to read. Each of these series features unique, but realistic characters that are hard to forget - particularly the strong, self-possessed heroines. The setting has a sort of King Arthur feel, with knights, monsters, and magic (albeit different from the sort Merlin used), but it is set in a fantasy world. The only thing that occasionally annoys me about these books is that each series seems to cover less time, which means I tend to be left wondering what happens next and wishing there were another book. Despite that, I would recommend any of these books to fantasy readers.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Poison Study, Howl's Moving Castle, or The Last Apprentice

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding

Rail and Moa live in Orokos, the only city in the world, or so everyone believes. Unfortunately, it isn't a particularly good place to live despite having no escape - much of the population is poor, living in shacks and eating government-issue gruel. Although the poorest citizens bear the brunt, the whole city is at the mercy of 'probability storms,' terrifying sweeps of chaos that can change nothing or everything, often rearranging streets or moving buildings and people. The storms cause death and destruction in their wake. They have already taken a toll on Rail who can no longer breathe without the aid of a respirator as a result of one storm.

As ghetto-folk, the two make their living as thieves, barely maintaining their existence, although Rail dreams of moving up in the world and giving Moa a better life. On one trip, however, Rail discovers a treasure - a piece of technology from before the 'Fade' and the probability storms. This particular item causes them more trouble than he could have imagined, forcing them to run as fugitives and venture into dangerous places as a way to survive. Soon their path will cross that of a golem from another part of the city - between the three of them, they will discover the darkest secrets of the city and have to make difficult decisions which will affect their lives and the fate of Orokos.


This was an interesting book - although it is fantasy, more or less, it reads like a SciFi novel, with a lot of emphasis on technology and political aspects of the world rather than magic. Also, there were several aspects of the book that reminded me of SciFi movies rather than fantasy - so, readers who prefer 'pure' fantasy should probably pass this one up.

I really liked the characters in this story - particularly the golem, although the relationship between Rail and Moa is kind of ambiguous despite its strength (not a problem although I found myself speculating throughout the book).

I think it's also important for readers to know that this book is kind of dark - very solemn and with the constant feeling of the oppressive storms hanging over the city. Additionally, the ending is incredibly vague, without any real resolution - I don't know if there's going to be a sequel or not, however, according to Wooding's site, a new book called The Fade will be coming out soon (it sounds like it's related, but possibly a prequel).

Another random note: Wooding writes in British English, which doesn't make very much difference, but once or twice it made me blink for a moment, so readers who are bothered by that sort of thing should take it into account.

Given all of this, I have to say that it was an interesting book - and it certainly held my attention - but is probably not one of the best novels I've read. Readers who like more serious, SciFi-inclined books might want to check it out, but if you're looking for dragons or magic, this is not the book for you.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Lady in Gil, Fly by Night, or The Summoning

Resenting the Hero & The Hero Strikes Back by Moira J. Moore

These books take place in a world home to constant natural disasters, averted only by talented individuals known as 'Sources' (who channel power to deflect disaster) and 'Shields' (who keep the minds and bodies or the Sources safe while they channel). Dunleavy Mallorough was taken from her family when she was four to train as a Shield and has finally made it to 'graduation.' Sources and Shields can only work in pairs, and the best pairs are 'bonded' - a spontaneous, unpredictable, uncontrollable, and permanent connection formed as soon as a pair sets eyes on one another. Dunleavy has her sights set on several of the Source candidates, but is disappointed when she ends up bonded to Lord Shintaro Karish, a talented Source with a reputation for being very popular...with everyone. Dunleavy has little time to get used to the idea since they get shipped off, almost immediately, to High Scape - a large city with enough disasters to boast a large compliment of the most experienced Pairs. They'll have to get over their differences fast, though, since disasters (natural and otherwise) come straight at them as soon as they settle in.

In the sequel, The Hero Strikes Back, Lee and Taro have recovered from all of the problems they faced in the first book and life in High Scape has settled down to normal. Well...almost normal. It's snowing in the middle of the summer. Unfortunately, there's nothing that the Pairs can do about (ab)normal weather if it doesn't involve major forces of nature. That doesn't keep the citizens from being hostile about the abrupt changes in the weather which are destroying their livelihoods, however. Meanwhile, both Lee and Taro have to deal with personal problems, too. Lee's mother has come to visit and Taro's is threatening to come force him to bend to her will. Without a choice, Lee and Taro must rise to the occasion to meet all of the new challenges thrust upon them.

I have really enjoyed these books. The plots are interesting, although the first book has more action while the second has more character development. The characters are very realistic and they interact well. Also, the situations surrounding Sources and Shields is well described and everything is easy to follow. The stories are told from Lee's point of view and infused with her thoughts and wit.

I'll admit that my first inclination was to think of the parallels to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series which involves 'channeling the Source' and 'bonds' between the person who channels and the one(s) who protects her (for those who are unfamiliar). However, despite the similarities in terms, these books really aren't at all alike - the characters and their powers work very differently and the ideas behind this series is original and in a very different style.

Although these books are fantasy, the emphasis is definitely on the people and the situations - good for readers of all sorts. Overall, I would definitely recommend these books. I'm looking forward to the third book which comes out sometime in 2008, and also the fourth book which is still in the works. Update: here's my post about Heroes' Reward and the end of the series.


Anyone who wants commentary, updates, and excerpts on upcoming books can check out Moira J. Moore's LiveJournal. (She also has a webpage, but it seems to have far less information.)

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: The Immortalsseries, Harper Hall Trilogy, or Spirit Fox

Heroics for Beginners by John Moore

This novel is a parody of fairy tales (borrowing liberally from popular culture and favorite stories) which looks at the 'real life' side. At the beginning, several suitors are vying for the hand of Princess Rebecca of Deserae - but all of this comes to an end when the kingdom's Ancient Artifact (a Model Seven) gets stolen by an Evil Overlord. Lord Voltmeter (He Who Must Be Named) has plans to use the Artifact to power his Diabolical Device and take over the twenty kingdoms. Prince Kevin Timberline from Rassendas has decided to get the Artifact back so that he can marry Becky. Armed with The Handbook of Practical Heroics, Kevin heads off to the Village of Angst and starts scouting a way into the Fortress of Doom (open Mon-Fri, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM with extended hours for the ventilation shaft) on his quest to save the day.

I have to say that this is an amusing, if irreverent story. The characters are certainly interesting and the plot follows a predictable, if twisted path. Any fans of the list 'The Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became an Evil Overlord' and similar writings/lists/etc. will certainly enjoy the quotations from The Handbook of Practical Heroics and the efforts of all of the characters to anticipate 'traditional' problems that storytale heroes run into. It is important that readers understand that the story is not serious in any way, shape, or form - it's fun, but it isn't for everyone or for every mood. That said, I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy fans.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Dark Lord of Derkholm, The Wish List, or Flora Segunda

Cecelia and Kate

Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer have written a series of books about two cousins by using what they call the "Letter Game." The way it works is that each writer chooses a character/persona and writes (as the character) to the other author. The finished books are then a series of letters (called epistolary novels) or other writings.

The first book Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot introduces readers to cousins Kate and Cecelia who live in Regency England. Unlike 'our' England, however, magic is commonplace, causing the cousins to have ordinary as well as arcane adventures. Kate has been taken to London by her Aunt Charlotte so that she and her younger sister Georgina can come Out and have their Season. Meanwhile, Cecelia is stuck in their country home with their Aunt Elizabeth. The trouble starts when Kate unwittingly stumbles onto a magical trap meant for someone else and gets embroiled in a magical battle for power. Cecilia, on the other hand, decides to teach herself about magic and starts to wonder about some of the neighbors. Although they're far apart, the cousins quickly manage to get themselves squarely in the midst of

In the second book, The Grand Tour, Cecelia, Kate, and their husbands leave for the Continent on a wedding trip, only to discover that there are just as many adventures in Europe. A series of thefts throughout the continent along with unrest about Napoleon have everyone wondering what could happen next. As they travel, all four begin to investigate and unravel the mystery behind it all to find out what the magicians are planning and what chance they have of stopping it.

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years Later takes place (as the title suggests) ten years after The Grand Tour. James has gotten orders from Lord Wellington to investigate the disappearance of a magician who was surveying the new railroad. Thomas and Kate take temporary custody of the children (a total of six) which wreaks all sorts of havoc (magical and otherwise) on the household during the months that they stay at Skeynes. Meanwhile, James and Cece discover that the situation with the railroad is far more complicated and dangerous than they imagined.

These books are really fun - the stories are intriguing and the epistolary style makes them easy to read, but also adds a sort of familiarity with the characters. Each of these books is slightly different - the first is purely letters written by Cecy and Kate; in the second, since all of them were traveling together, the book is a collection of journal entries and reads a little differently; the third book is also letters, although they are written by all four adults. The downside to these books is that the format makes the books a little slower since readers have more connection to the characters, but less connection to the things that happen to them. Particularly by the last book, it seemed a little tedious, even though the stories were really interesting. Overall, however, I would definitely recommend these books to fantasy fans, especially readers who have enjoyed other books by the authors or who like stories about magic in the 'real world.'

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: The Elemental Masters series, The Harper Hall Trilogy, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or Now You See It

Lady in Gil by Rebecca Bradley

Tigrallef isn't supposed to be a hero - his brother has that job. But then an accident means that he is next in line to reclaim his homeland. Years ago, an ancestor of Tig's family brought peace and prosperity to Gil that lasted more than 900 years. Then came the Sherkin invasion that destroyed their ways of life and sent the royal family into exile; only a member of the royal family has the power to restore Gil to its former glory, but so far, many have failed. No one expects Tig to succeed - he's a memorian who spends all his time in the archives, not a knight in shining armor. But when Tig arrives in Gil, he discovers that while many things are worse than he expected, an underground group called the Web has been established inside Gil and just might give him the keys to save the country after all.

Overall, this was a decent book. Everything seemed very realistic - I liked that the characters were all very human and the situations in Gil were described rather graphically. I don't think I would count this amongst my favorite books, but it was pretty good. The plot was definitely not predictable which made it an interesting read, but it was not a fluffy book - it's about a lot of the negative aspects of humanity with explicit descriptions of poverty and life under hostile rule. I would, however, recommend this to fantasy readers who are looking for something serious and a little different.

Note: There are at least two sequels: Scion's Lady and Lady Pain, although I have not read those yet. I'll be sure to comment on them if I do.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fly By Night, Poison Study, Keys to the Kingdom, or Annals of the Western Shore

Flora Segunda: Being the Magickal Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), a House with Eleven Thousand Rooms, and a Red Dog by Ysabeau S. Wilce

Flora Nemain Fyrdraaca ov Fyrdraaca finds being (almost) fourteen a difficult age. Her birthday is in only a few days, when she'll reach her majority and be expected to follow the the family tradition of soldiering, even though it isn't what she wants to do. In fact, she has to do a lot of things she doesn't like. Her mother (the General) and her sister (another soldier) are often away leaving Flora to fend for herself and watch Poppy, her father who has been mourning for years and tends to drown his misery drinking. Ever since her mother banished the magical Butler from their house (Crackpot Hall) only a handful of the eleven thousand rooms are accessible and the house has a tendency to change unexpectedly without the Butler to keep it in line. So when a shortcut unwittingly leads Flora to the missing Butler, she embarks on a quest to free him and suddenly has more to worry about than turning fourteen.

Flora Segunda takes place in the Republic of Califa - a world steeped in bits of Aztec mythology and magic. This is a YA book, although the slight twists on the language (which add to the setting) tend to make it sound a little more childish, I think. The characters are very realistic - the General is military-esque, but also human, and the other main characters all have distinct personalities. I also really enjoyed the story - it's original and unpredictable. Overall, I thought this was an interesting, but also a fairly easy read. I definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy - particularly if you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary.

For those who are interested, the author has a website, although it seemed a little confusing.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Keys to the Kingdom, Howl's Moving Castle, Fly By Night, or Dark Lord of Derkholm

Once Upon a Marigold and The Frog Princess

My own, personal philosophy is that when things get stressful, there's nothing like a good kid's book to help refocus the mind. Books classified as 'junior' fiction are quick reads (so they don't take up too much of the time that you don't have) and they're usually a little fluffier and take less energy. In this spirit, here are a couple pretty good books written for young teens.

The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker tells the story of Princess Emeralda who finds a talking frog in the swamp near the castle. He claims to be Prince Eadric from a nearby kingdom and says he's been turned into a frog for questioning the fashion sense of a witch. When she finally decides that it can't hurt to kiss him and see what happens, she discovers just how much it can hurt because he stays a frog, but she turns into one, too! Emma must learn to live as a frog as the two of them embark on an adventure to become human again.

This was a cute little story - some of the elements of plot were a bit predictable, especially regarding the characters, although the story as a whole was interesting. I liked the characters for the most part, especially the different sorts of animals that they encounter. There was quite a bit of variety, and the author did a good job of dealing with a human character who suddenly had to adapt to life as a frog. I have just discovered that it's a series (with at least four books) and I don't think I liked it enough to read all of them - a younger reader would probably enjoy them - but it was definitely worth a quick read for a change of pace.

In Once Upon a Marigold, Jean Ferris introduces Christian, a young boy who runs away from home to live in the forest with Ed, a troll. As Christian grows up, he watches the royal family of the kingdom where they live and notices that one of the princesses is a little different than the others - thus begins his interest in Princess Marigold. He begins writing her letters and conversing through pigeon-mail (p-mail) and finally decides to get a job at her castle so that he can be close to her. Once he gets there, however, he discovers that not all is well in the royal family - the Queen has decided that family interferes with her own plans. Suddenly, it's up to Chris to find a way to save his princess and the kingdom.

This really is a great story. Written in Ferris's off-kilter style, it's a fantasy story that doesn't feel quite like any other. I really love the characters in this story - they seem believable in part because each one has entirely unique thoughts and personality traits. The storyline is also fun and, although bits of it are a little predictable, there are enough twists in the story, I think, to keep it interesting. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book - it isn't deep, but it's definitely fun.

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: Heroics for Beginners, Princess Academy, The Last Apprentice, or Princess Nevermore

The Harper Hall Trilogy & Dragonsdawn

Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy (Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums) takes place on the planet Pern. For those who are unfamiliar, a group of colonists from Earth settled on Pern and then discovered that every so many hundreds of years, another planet in the system passes near Pern and drops a life-form that they call 'Thread.' Thread is a sort of parasite (for lack of a better description) that literally disintegrates anything that isn't plastic or metal and must be burned or drowned in water before they will stop. To combat Thread, the colonists genetically engineered life-size fire-breathing dragons patterned after smaller lizard-sized dragons native to Pern. Dragons are telepathically linked to human dragonriders when they hatch - together, dragons and dragonriders sweep the skies when the Thread falls, burning up as much as possible to keep the people safe.

Readers interested in the original colonists should read Dragonsdawn. I definitely recommend it - the book gives a lot of insight into the founding of Pern, and also has a great cast of characters with realistic lives as colonists. The main story follows Sorka Hanrahan and Sean Connell who are only children when they arrive at Pern, however, there are dozens of other characters which makes for an interesting story.

By the time that the Harper Hall Trilogy takes place, the settlers on Pern have spread out and populated most of the planet. However, they have also lost most of their technological origins and spread most of their traditions and stories through the songs of 'harpers.' The first two books follow the journey of Menolly, a young girl who lives in a fishing village. She has incredible musical talent, but her family believes that music should be left to men and attempt to quash her gift. Menolly runs away and is only found out-running Threadfall. At this point, her life changes forever.

The second book, Dragonsinger, picks up immediately where the first leaves off, talking about how Menolly's life changes after the truth about her talent is discovered and she goes to Harper Hall to learn about music.

Finally, the third book is really more of a stand-alone book that happens to include the same characters as the first two. It takes place several years after the end of the second book and the main character is Piemur, a boy whom Menolly meets at Harper Hall. Although Piemur is an incredible singer, his voice has begun to change and the Masterharper decides to send him out on political errands. Soon, however, Piemur ends up finding more adventure than he expected.

I really love this series for a couple of reasons. For one thing, the books are very short which makes them quick reads. I have to admit that I like the first two more than the third because it doesn't seem as relevant to the series (Menolly and the main characters from the other two books do not show up much) and because I don't really enjoy 'political intrigue' which is the central point of the third book. Menolly and the other characters are easy to relate to, and the storyline is an interesting approach to the way of life on Pern. I also enjoy the poems/songs at the start of each chapter - they are all unique and add something to the story. I definitely recommend these books to fans of music and fantasy - and to anyone looking for something a little different.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, Spirit Fox, Dragonhaven, or Dark Lord of Derkholm

The Two Princesses of Bamarre

By another of my favorite authors, Gail Carson Levine, The Two Princesses of Bamarre tells the story of Meryl - the adventurous older sister - and 12-year-old Addie, the younger, more timid and reserved sister. The two are best friends, although Meryl wants to save the kingdom from all of the nasty critters (like ogres) and also from the strange disease, called the Gray Death that strikes without warning or regard to rank, while Addie wants to stay safe at home. When the Gray Death strikes Meryl, however, Addie must face her fears and find her own answers. With the help of a sorcerer, Rhys, Addie embarks on the adventure of a lifetime in an effort to save her sister and, perhaps, find herself.

This is a wonderful story. Pure fantasy, this story gives readers well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. It's a quick and easy book to read, but definitely worth it. This is one of those fun stories that you'll find yourself going back to time and again. I definitely recommend it!

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Academy, Dark Lord of Derkholm, Black Pearls, or Princess Nevermore

Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms

I am definitely a fan of Mercedes Lackey in general, but I truly enjoy her Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series. The premise is that all of the stories take place in a world where magic is ruled by the Tradition - which refers to common fairy tales. Daily life tends to take the shape of the fairy tales that the people tell. Note that although all of the stories are linked in some way, each one is written to be stand-alone. In fact, each story looks at different kingdoms which have different stories so every book has a unique voice, despite the fact that they are all in the same series.

The first, The Fairy Godmother tells the story of Elena Klovis, who was supposed to be a Cinderella. Unfortunately, however, her prince was still a child and so the Cinderella story could not be fulfilled. Instead, Elena gets the chance to become a fairy godmother and carry on the work of 'herding' the magic of the Tradition to keep evil from creeping in. As a godmother, Elena faces many challenges, most notably, a prince needing to be reformed. Godmothers always have something going on! I love this story because it's a unique look at fairy tales, and also because the story and characters are richly developed.

In the next story, One Good Knight, Princess Andromeda lives in a kingdom reminiscent of Greece. Her mother, Queen Andromeda has enough ambition for the whole of the kingdom, while Andromeda is rather bookish wishes that she could measure up to her mother's standards. Andromeda's life changes drastically, however, when her name is drawn in a lottery forcing her to be sacrificed to the dragon that has invaded their kingdom. I have to admit that this book doesn't feel quite as 'deep' and engaging as the first. However, the story and characters are just as unique and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to book lovers who will empathize with the bibliophiles in the story.

The third, and newest installment, Fortune's Fool, looks at the Russian tradition. This story follows two characters: Prince Sasha Pieterovich, the seventh son in the kingdom of Led Belarus and Princess Ekaterina, the seventh daughter of the Sea King. As a Songweaver, Sasha keeps his kingdom safe by creating songs that reflect pleasant ways of life, and also by drawing on his extraordinary 'luck' by virtue of being the seventh son. Although few know it, Katya serves as her father's spy: as someone who can come and go as easily on land as in the sea, she is uniquely suited to scout out problems on land before they reach the sea kingdom. The two meet and fall in love, only to be separated when Katya is captured by a Jinn, leaving Sasha to find some way to get her back. This book definitely has the feel of the first - any lack of depth in the second is not present here. Once again, the book has a unique style reflecting the 'Tradition' of the kingdoms, and the characters and story are well developed and fun to read.

These are some of the most creative books I have read - drawing on 'traditions' and fairy tales, but also turning them around to make completely different stories. Mercedes Lackey creates life-like characters and intriguing story lines. I definitely recommend all of these books to fantasy readers.

For more information about the author and her books, check out her website.

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: Cecelia and Kate, Wicked Lovely, or Black Pearls