Alanna: The First Adventure

While Tamora Pierce's novels are mainly marketed towards younger readers, her Song of the Lioness series is still a worthwhile read, especially if you're looking for a break from some of the darker and denser suggestions on this list. In the series, started in the first book, Alanna: The First Adventure, the protagonist, Alanna, ditches dresses to don britches and masquerade as her twin brother, Thom, in order to train as a knight. The book is a good deal shorter than many other fantasy tomes, with Pierce choosing her words carefully and packing in the action. The story is set in Tortall, unsurprisingly very much like medieval Europe, but with its own unique touches, and of course, a good deal of magic. Readers will love the plucky and stubborn Alanna, perhaps even seeing themselves in the young heroine. The plot is a straight forward, good vs. evil story, which critics may take issue with. But for a lighthearted and fast book for a rainy Sunday afternoon, Alanna perfectly fits the bill. Read if You Like: young adult novels, coming of age stories, magic, swordplay, medieval Europe, romance, character driven stories

Books in Song Of The Lioness Series (3)

Booklists having this book

Top 25 Best Fantasy Books by Female Authors

In the fantasy genre, female authors are notoriously underrepresented, and although a few of their names have become well-known, these are in the minority, especially when compared to their male... Read more

Other books by Pierce, Tamora

Wild Magic

This is Pierce’s best piece – a fantastic and touching tale about Daine, a young girl with the magical ability to speak to animals. It’s a perfect blend of adventure,... Read more

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The Realms Of The Gods

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Alanna: The First Adventure

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In The Hand Of The Goddess

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The Woman Who Rides Like A Man

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Lioness Rampant

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Song Of The Lioness

Tamora Pierce's Lioness series manages to touch on difficult issues without ever preaching them. Through Alanna, she explores both feminist and gender identity issues while weaving an epic story of... Read more

Song Of The Lioness Quartet

Many fantasy-loving women got hooked on fantasy with Alanna as teens. She has her heart set on being a knight, even though it's not "what girls do," and that passion... Read more

The Immortals

Couldn't leave this one out. Yes, it's another Tamora Pierce YA treasure set in the Kingdom of Tortall,; you can even cross paths with the Lioness herself. Yet Immortals takes... Read more

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Circle Of Magic

Tamora Pierce is one of the most respected women in fantasy, but attention tends to focus on her Song of the Lioness series. With Circle of Magic, she ventures into... Read more

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