Tamora Pierce

[Lioness]

So, Melting Stones has recently come out, has anyone read it yet?
My friend has it and is going to give it to me when he finishes reading it (hopefully tomorrow - he was soooo close tonight)
It follows Evvy and Rosethorn, but that's about the extent of what I know.

[Lioness]

Got it this morning, finished it tonight, and it was good, but not as good as most of her other books. I think I prefer all the books with knights and battles rather than mages. It's more romantic...

[Iqeret]

I haven't gotten Stones yet, but I think her books have fallen off somewhat in recent years. It seems to me that she's shifted from character focus to 'issue' focus, and that's taken the edge off. They're still very readable, but not as compelling as they have been.

[Lioness]

I agree with that, Alanna is my absolute favourite of the lot. It may be because I've gotten older though. I was 10 or 11 when I first read them and I'm almost 16 now, so it may be that, but I still enjoy them.

[Lysalis]

I'm currently reading the Immortals quartet, which are the adventures of Daine. (I'm half through Emporer Mage). First: The story is absolut lovely as was Alanna's adventures. I like the plot and I like the characters.
However I have the same problem as I had with The Song of the Lioness. I'm missing the depth, it's somewhat emotionless. Pierce looses herself too much in description of clothes and banalities. The first book was the worst, but as with Alanna the writing style improves from book to book. She's includes the emotion and feelings of the characters more and more.

All in all, I enjoy it very much. And I'm looking forward to read the adventures of Alanna's children.

[Rosemary]

My eldest is reading Melting Stones at the moment and has told me it is 'awesome'! I might have to start reading her books soon!

[Lioness]

Oh yes, do. I find that I don't enjoy them as much now that I'm older, but they are still good.

[Mark Robson]

Read The Song of the Lioness Quartet in 5 days during my summer holiday this year and I can now see why people compare my writing to that of Pierce. She writes just the sort of stories I loved most when I was in my teenage years. High magic content medieval fantasy with strong characters and a character who displays plenty of tenacity. If I'd read this when I was younger, I feel sure it would have rated very highly among my favourites.

Anyone who enjoyed my Darkweaver Legacy series will definitely enjoy Song of the Lioness.