Sunday, November 07, 2004
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce
Trickster's Queen is sequel to Trickster's Choice. Aliane, daughter of the spymaster of Tortall, runs away from home in search of adventure and in a fit of temper. Adventure finds her! She is taken by pirates and sold as a slave in the Copper Islands. In Choice Aly is sold to a leading family who is in disgrace. The Trickster God Kyprioth has plans for Aly; her spying skills and quick wits help the family survive and bring power to Kyprioth.
In Trickster's Queen, the family is back in the capitol city and the raka revolution is at hand. Sarai, the expected Queen to be, is anxious at the stress and does not seem solid in her leadership. Aly struggles to keep the chain of rebellion linked, to manage her "job" as maid, and her love life with crow turned man Nawat.
The cost of rebellion, even against a corrupt regime, is spelled out many ways. Innocent people will suffer and die and the rebellion must weigh the costs and benefits. Unfortunately the regime cares only about retaining power. Perhaps the rebels can make this work for them even as they despise the attitude.
Aly is also playing a risky game by keeping secret from the rebellion her ties to Tortall.
A nice series from the author of the Alanna series and the Circle of Magic series directed at older readers.
Strong smart female characters are a signature of Tamora Pierce.
In Trickster's Queen, the family is back in the capitol city and the raka revolution is at hand. Sarai, the expected Queen to be, is anxious at the stress and does not seem solid in her leadership. Aly struggles to keep the chain of rebellion linked, to manage her "job" as maid, and her love life with crow turned man Nawat.
The cost of rebellion, even against a corrupt regime, is spelled out many ways. Innocent people will suffer and die and the rebellion must weigh the costs and benefits. Unfortunately the regime cares only about retaining power. Perhaps the rebels can make this work for them even as they despise the attitude.
Aly is also playing a risky game by keeping secret from the rebellion her ties to Tortall.
A nice series from the author of the Alanna series and the Circle of Magic series directed at older readers.
Strong smart female characters are a signature of Tamora Pierce.
# posted by JJ @ 5:27 PM 
