Lioness Rampant

Lioness Rampant

The book that I read was Lioness Rampant, whose main character was a woman by the name of Alanna. This is the fourth and final book in Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness quartet. The world is Tortall and the neighboring kingdoms of Tusaine, Maren, Galla, Tyra, Carthak, and Scanra, during the rein of Tortalls King Roald and Queen Liane, with their son, Prince Jonathan.
Alanna of Trebond didn’t want to be a lady, she wanted to be a knight and worked at the fighting arts from the youngest age, and her twin brother, Thom, didn’t want to be a knight, he wanted to be a sorcerer and perfect his magic, but Alanna was scared of the violet power she held within her. So, naturally, they switched places. Alanna worked hard, disguised as a boy, at the palace. She became friends with Prince Jonathan of Conté, Raoul of Goldenlake, Gareth (Gary) of Naxen, and Alexander (Alex) of Tirragen, all a year older than she; she also made enemies of Ralon of Malven and in her first evening of being a knight, she vanquished the Prince’s our cousin in a duel, for she had revealed his treachery to the crown, wanting it for himself. Alanna had to not only go through the hardships of being naturally smaller than everyone else, but she had to go through the changes of a girl becoming a woman. She saved the Prince from a dreadful sickness, fought ancient demons alongside the Prince, was a squire to Prince Jonathan, fought in a war with Tusaine, getting kidnapped in that war as well, vanquished an evil sorcerer, became a member of the Bazhir, desert nomads, tribe Bloody Hawk and made peace between the Bazhir and the crown, and finally she was adopted by her long time old friend, Myles of Olau, becoming Alanna the Lioness of Trebond and Olau, Bloody Hawk Shaman, and Lady Knight of Tortall.
Now that I’ve brought you up-to-date on the first 3 books we can go to the main focus. Alanna comes back in Lioness Rampant to be on quest for the Dominion Jewel, a powerful stone with immense magic abilities; it’s also said to be a legend. She travels with her Servant-at-Arms and Blacksmith, Coram Smythessen, and her trusty, and abnormally intelligent, talking cat Faithful, heading to the frozen scenery at the Roof of the World, in search and quest for the Dominion Jewel. Along the way she gains a few companions, first it’s the flirtatious Shang Dragon, Liam Ironarm (the shang is a people that train from chidhood in hand-to-hand combat and small arms), then she meets the banished and fleeing Princess of Saraine, Thayet jian Wilima, and her bodyguard, Buriam (Buri) Tourakkam. With her companions Alanna successfully makes to the Roof and after battling an immortal demi-god and his horrible blizzard, she is deemed worthy and gathers her prize, the Dominion Jewel. So, once again, Alanna travels, she heads back to Tortall, and after meeting up with Raoul, she gets back home. But, upon coming home she finds out that her twin, Thom, has risen Duke Roger of Conté, the evil sorcerer from his grave, however he came back with no sorcery. Can this be trusted? Then there is also the matter of the new villain Claw out loose. Will Totall survive, ill Jonathan stay alive long enough to make it to his coronation as King, or will it all be over then? See, as Alanna foils evil plots once more and save the realm of Tortall.
I loved this book. I also like the first 3 too, Alanna is brave courageous, and has an interesting and fiery temper. Her determination got her through the Knight training and through saving the kingdom. Her life made her cry and rejoice, but she still stays a knight. With her morals and chivalry she saves lives and even finds love. If there was any books that I would suggest this book, and series, would be on the list. Tamora Pierce provides you with complicated plots and a brave heroine to entertain and enchant the mind.

Book Review Done by: Cammie