Tamora Pierce Fan Club

[Ruthla]

Who else here loves Tamora Pierce?

At this point, I've read almost all of her books, except for Terrier (which is next on my list to read, once I'm finished re-reading Cirle of Magic) and Bloodhound, which I've reserved at the library.

[stik]

I am!

I had lunch with Tammy once, in 2004. She confessed to having gotten her start by writing schlocky stories for "True Confessions" magazines, back in the day. She wouldn't tell me which ones, though, or I would have ruthlessly tracked them down.

[MusicianDad]

Huge fans here too! We just finished Bloodhound and it was good. I was little upset that Rosto doesn't have a big role in it though. *sigh* maybe next one.

[AFWife]

I LOVED the few books I've read of hers...I just get upset because libraries around here don't usually carry her stuff.

[sapphire_chan]

:

[TEAK's Mom]

If a person wanted to read her books, where would said person start?

[Keeta]

Originally Posted by TEAK's Mom

If a person wanted to read her books, where would said person start?

:

I saw her speak on a panel at a con once, and she seemed really cool. I've always wanted to read her, but never knew where to begin!

[MusicianDad]

Either with Circle of Magic Quartet (in order Sandry's Book, Tris's Book, Daja's Book, Brair's Book) or Song of the Lioness Quartet (The First Adventure, In The Hand Of The Goddess, Woman Who Rides Like A Man, Lioness Rampant). They are two different timelines but the first in each.

Though in all honesty you can start with any group, but there will be more easily understood if you start at the begining.

Note: Titles may vary depending on where you are.

[MusicianDad]

I read the Immortals first and did just fine.

I'm not super anal about doing things in order though.

[MusicianDad]

Like she would have married anyone else. The other option wasn't even all the likely.

[MusicianDad]

That's true. But I've only found one person who read Lioness first and didn't see it coming out the way it did.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by TEAK's Mom

If a person wanted to read her books, where would said person start?

You can read the series "out of order" and thoroughly enjoy the books you're reading- each book gives enough background so that you don't feel like you're missing any important details to help you understand what's happening in the current story.

But, in Song of the Lioness, the last 2 books contain a LOT of drama about who she wants to marry. If you've already read the later books, then you know who she marries (as she's briefly introduced along with her DH, and one of the other guys she was considering is introduced with his DW.)

DD1 is the only one in our household who read those the Alanna books first. She did guess who Alanna ended up with, but she enjoyed figuring it out. I got bored with it when I read the book because I knew who she ended up with.

Romantic drama isn't really part of any of the other series. IMO, it won't ruin the Daine books (the Immortals Quartet) if you've read the Kel books first, as who Daine ends up with isn't nearly as important to the story (although she does develop a special magical talent over the course of the books, and that could be "spoiled" by reading a later book first.)

The newest series, that takes place about 200 years before the Song of the Lioness et al, can be read in any order (relative to the other series.)

[Penuche]

I always read in order; I'm a tad anal that way, but I think also, that if you read the Lioness quartet first, you get to see how Pierce grows as a writer. The Lioness books are good, but as she really gets into her world building and characters, the books just keep getting better. IMO.

I'm anxiously waiting for Bloodhound to hit the library, since it's not in my budget just now.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by Penuche

I always read in order; I'm a tad anal that way, but I think also, that if you read the Lioness quartet first, you get to see how Pierce grows as a writer. The Lioness books are good, but as she really gets into her world building and characters, the books just keep getting better. IMO.

I'm anxiously waiting for Bloodhound to hit the library, since it's not in my budget just now.

Budgetted or not, I was forced to buy Bloodhound under pain of death, or at least silent treatment. Even DS threatened to ignore me.

[MeepyCat]

Originally Posted by AnnoyingReader

why would your DS care if you got the book or not?

I'm not the person you asked, but the answer is quite obvious - So he could READ it!

[Ruthla]

Isn't your DS a bit young to even be eating books?

I could see, though, DD or DH saying "I won't let you hold DS if you don't buy the book." 10yos can be quite persistent.

[cschick]

Originally Posted by Penuche

I always read in order; I'm a tad anal that way, but I think also, that if you read the Lioness quartet first, you get to see how Pierce grows as a writer. The Lioness books are good, but as she really gets into her world building and characters, the books just keep getting better. IMO. .

Yes, this.

I actually think that the Trickster books were the best-written, best-plotted books she's written in that universe. I just bought the Lioness series from Amazon, and I'm re-reading many years after I first read them and I've been made sad to realize that the quality of the writing is definitely not up to what she's matured into.

[MusicianDad]

DS's reasoning (as I translated it) was that "Daddy and big sis are important to me and I enjoy their happiness. If you buy the book they will be happy and in extention so will I."

[Ruthla]

That reasoning is sound. And wow, he's 5.5mo already? How on earth did that happen? I guess he IS old enough to eat books if you leave them in his reach!

I noticed the same thing about the Alanna books. I enjoyed them, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed the Kel books (and after reading the Kel books and being introduced to this fascinating character, I was dissapointed that we didn't get to know her better- then I realized she's had her own quartet that I'd missed!)

I read Circle of Magic first, then the Kel books, then the Alanna books, then the Daine books (the last two from the same library trip), then The Circle Opens, then The Will of the Empress, then Melting Stones, then I re-read Circle of Magic and now I'm reading Terrier. Honestly, I'm not enjoying this new series as much as the others. I'm having a hard time getting to know this new character- I just don't find her as fascinating as the characters I've met from earlier books. The Will of the Empress read to me like "book one in The Cirle Reforged quartet" and I want to read the next 3 books in that series, even though they don't exist and they're not even being written.

I do have some questions about the whole setup of Winding Circle and the nature of Temple Dedicates. Are they like monks and nuns, having taken vows of abstinence, or are they just dedicated to helping Mankind and their personal lives are their own? Specifically, it's clear that Lark and Rosethorn care very much about each other, but I can't figure out if they're lovers or if it's a sisterly kind of love.

[MeepyCat]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I do have some questions about the whole setup of Winding Circle and the nature of Temple Dedicates. Are they like monks and nuns, having taken vows of abstinence, or are they just dedicated to helping Mankind and their personal lives are their own? Specifically, it's clear that Lark and Rosethorn care very much about each other, but I can't figure out if they're lovers or if it's a sisterly kind of love.

Ruthla, Tammy has commented that they are lovers (I think, in Will of the Empress, the kids say as much when they're discussing Daja's relationship). I agree that it's hard to tell exactly what Temple Dedicates promise. I'm pretty sure they can't get married, but abstinence doesn't appear to be an issue (I think there are comments that Frostpine plays the field a little, as well as the Lark/Rosethorn relationship).