I was originally going to do a normal string of individual reviews for each book in Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, but then I was given three all at the same time and couldn’t stop myself from reading them in quick succession without considering the individual storylines in each novel. They are also short reads, so I feel it is best to just throw them all together in one review. If that long-winded sentence doesn’t explain how my emotions are in a frenzy after finishing this series, I don’t know what will. I didn’t even have the books in the right order for this stack, but no matter – it is the content within that matters!

For those unfamiliar with the wonders of Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, it is a series of four young adult fantasy books written in the 80’s. The magic system is made up of two key parts, but it is very layered and intriguing. There are other books in Tamora Pierce’s fantasy world repertoire, more than I will most definitely be getting my hands on as soon as humanly possible. Alanna: The First Adventure‘s blurb sets the scene. 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: 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.

This series is perfect for those wanting that original heroine fantasy storyline, the one where the girl isn’t just a princess waiting to be saved. Alanna works hard to be the woman she grows into, and she is a firecracker from start to finish. I love her, I love her tenacity and her wit and her pure naivety at the heart of it all, that vulnerability she works through throughout the series. From the growing pains of Alanna: The First Adventure, to the wondrous and intense climax of Lioness Rampant, Alanna is a stellar role model and carries an incredible story for so many to enjoy.

This storyworld has so many amazing details and elements that make it so interesting and engaging. The immersion was almost instant, with the effort and sensory description so easily relatable and visible in my mind’s eye. The settings are lush and gritty, rich in difference and detail, while still being linked with the social, political, and historical facets of the story. The characters are leaping off the pages, creating exciting interactions, conflicts, and dynamics that make the books so addictive to read. The political intrigue and various names to remember may take a bit of time, but just like Alanna is learning all of these things, the reader is too, so there is a tandem journey for all of us.

I knew from the first book that I would be getting myself a copy of this series, but now that I have finished it, I need a copy desperately to read over and over again. I have been given such great inspiration for my own manuscript and characters, and I really want to be able to run with these ideas and keep the fire alive in my own work, so I aim to get the books for myself before the month is over. That way, I can also recommend it all over my bookish social media and get more readers familiar with this series that is now so near and dear to my heart. I didn’t need more fictional boyfriends, but boy did I get them with the Song of the Lioness Quartet.

Tamora Pierce is a name I know I will be coming back to this month, in part because I have already lined up the next series I will be reading and in part. After all, once this magical narrative structure revealed itself to me, there was no stopping my delight. If you have read any of the Tamora Pierce fantasy books, let me know what your favourites were. Maybe I can get you to reread them too, because these books need to be remembered and heralded as revolutionary young adult fantasy books.