Trickster's Choice

I got this book to complete its duo. I have both the first and its sequel.

I must admit that I was lax to read Tamora's new series because I am usually disappointed by author's new writings -- but I must say that Tamora has impressed me again and again with this new series.First of all, I think her writing has changed age groups. I know that it's recommended for the same as her others series (middle school and up), but I think that this series will appeal to adults as much as children, and maybe less to some of the younger ones. (Do not fear; any die hard children fans of Tamora will appreciate and love this novel as her others, I'm sure.) Her writing is more intricate in this book, more detailed, aimed on a girl who is more of a woman from the start. While Alanna's & company (Daine, Kel) took place when they were far younger, Aly is 16 in this book. I think that it sets off at a place where more mature thoughts / actions / plots can be established, and in this case, very believable.This novel is well crafted. Tamora does a wonderful job of fleshing out the characters, though for the first chapter or two, you may fumble with all the names. By chapter five though, at the latest, she has made them all seem very life like.I also enjoyed how real Aly was. She is not the ultimate spy. She messes up just like any other, and she is still a child in some ways. I must also admit that her views on flirting are so amusing, I was grinning through a lot of the book. I do wish Aly had more interactions with Nawat, in general. He's a fun character, and he seems to randomly appear and disappear for pages, which was annoying.It was also good to hear about Uncle 'Numy' and Aunt Daine, as well as seeing more of George and Alanna (though they are by far minor compared to other characters in these series).It should be noted that this series is not as magic based as her other ones have been. This is more like Kel's than like Daine's, because Daine was very magic centered. Aly is more about politics, relationships, how people interact, and about a young woman trying to find herself. If it sounds cliche, oh well.I would recommend this to all who have any interest in Tamora Pierce's previous novels, as well as Kushiel's Dart. While this is not a sexy plot twister like Kushiel, it is an easier, lighter read of the same line of thought. Yes, that is a compliment. :)I cannot wait for my order of Trickster's Queen to arrive!

I previously read this book a little over ten years ago and wanted to revisit it. I'd forgotten just how easy it is to get drawn into Aly's adventures and I'm so glad to have revisited because it was similar to visiting with an old friend.This is the story of Aly Cooper who is the daughter of the famous Lioness of Tortall and Spymaster Cooper. Her parents wish her to find a task to be happy with instead of choosing to be idle. Aly knows she wants to follow in her Dad's footsteps as a Spy but when she approaches the subject with her parents, they refuse to budge on the matter. Deciding to take a couple of days to head off to visit family and friends nearby in her trusty rowboat, Aly is surprised to see Pirates in the Bay. Before she can turn around, she finds herself captured and soon sold into slavery. It's a good thing Aly has had some interesting training growing up and doesn't let that stop her from being determined to get free and back to her family.Little does Aly realize that this unexpected adventure will lead to a much more exciting time in her life and luckily is taken in by a well of family named the Balitangs who treats their servants very well. When she reluctantly makes a wager with the Trickster God Kyprioth, Aly finds her hands very full in trying to see to the safety of her charges and slowly realizing that a rebellion may be on the horizon. She will soon find herself drawn to a crow turned man named Nawat, coming to care for her charges, adventure, making friends, learning how to speak Crow, spywork including playing a variety of roles for the family, and starting to realize that there's a rebellion brewing on the horizon.Full of adventure, a touch of magic, a meddling God, some court intrigue, laughter, the power of family love, friendship, loyalty and surprises, it was a pleasure to get immersed back into this story.I can't wait to read the next book and all the books I can get my hands on by Tamora!

I love it when I close book, and I'm smiling And this book provides that kind of delight.The central character in this novel is Aliane, the teenage daughter of the King's Champion and the Spy Master for Tortall, the kingdom that has served as the setting for many of Tamora Pierce's fantasy books. As the novel opens, Aliane feels stifled by her life's duties and roles: behave in a manner that befits her station in life. Although both of her parents are embroiled in active, dangerous lives, they expect her to remain home, where the bulk of her duties extend only as far as breaking codes for her father and playing the role of a young lady of the castle. Boring! She wants to go in the field as a real spy. Frustrated by those limitations, she decides to sail her small boat down the coast to visit some friends.And that is how it all starts. She is soon captured by pirates who sell her into slavery to a high caste family related to the king. In a strange visit, a minor deity makes her a bet: if she can keep the family's daughters alive, he will send her home. But she quickly learns that the task is not easy: the king is crazy, the elder daughters are members of both castes, a difficult life in a kingdom where one group has all the power, and the other is impoverished, living as slaves, servants, or poor villagers. Moreover, one of the daughters is the future queen of the Raka.It is delightful to watch Aliane mature as she lives within the society, recognizing her moral need to protect the girls and to create a system where both castes can live peacefully. This is another book that shows how girls and women can do crucial and important work.If you start this book without much daily reading time, you may discover a craving for the weekend so that you can just sit and read this engaging book--but remember that it is only the first of two books!

Nice book

Vor Jahren hat mir jemand das vierte Buch der Alanna-Reihe geschenkt (auf Deutsch), das ich aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen gelesen habe. Erst kürzlich habe ich mir dann, auf der Suche nach neuem Lesestoff, die komplette Reihe (auf Englisch) zugelegt. Man sollte Alanna und Immortals gelesen haben, bevor man mit Tricksters anfängt, da die Charaktere aus diesen Büchern in der Geschichte doch mehrmals vorkommen. Ansonsten kennt man Tortall nicht und kann nicht ganz so tief in die Geschichte eintauchen, und man bekommt ein paar Spoiler, falls man die vorangegangenen Geschichten später doch lesen will.Trickster ist vielleicht nicht die schönste Geschichte von Tamora Pierce, da die Hauptfigur nicht durch die Lande zieht sondern mehr an Haus und Hof gebunden ist, aber dafür die (in der Tortall Reihe bislang) spannendste und ausgefeilteste. Was in der Geschichte an Rittertum (und damit in der Weltgeschichte herumreiten) fehlt, wird durch Spionage, Intrigen und Sabotage wettgemacht. Das ist ein ganz anderer Ansatz als in den bisherigen Geschichten, und er funktioniert, da das Thema detailreich und glaubwürdig behandelt wird, nicht so eindimensional und vorhersehbar wie bei Alanna.Ich konnte Trickster kaum aus der Hand legen und werde diese beiden Bücher in jedem Fall noch ein zweites und drittes Mal lesen.

das buch war anders als ich es mir vorgestellt hatte und anders als die rueckseite des buches vermuten liess, finde ich. mehr fiese intrigen, misstrauen, nervenkitzel.. ach und etwas mehr romantik.. hatte ich mir so gedacht. die lockere, selbstsichere art von aly hat irgendwie die spannung aus der geschichte genommen, aaaber dennoch, ich mochte das buch sehr. es war einfach aus der hand zu legen, aber ich habe mich jedes mal wieder drauf gefreut. aly ist ein toller charakter. und sie ist nicht der einzige sympathietraeger. ich hab mich in der geschichte wirklich wohl gefuehlt. >tricksters' choice< war mein erster versuch und ich werd mir die anderen auch holen. :)

Ein weiteres Mal entführt uns Tamora Pierce in die Welt von Tortall.Nach Alanna (The song of the Lioness), Daine (The Immortals) und Kel (Protector of the Small) reiht sich mit Aly, Alannas Tochter, eine neue, liebenswerte Heldin in die Reihe der starken Frauen ein.Als einzige Tochter der ersten Ritterin und des Geheimdienstchefs von Tortall hat sie es nicht immer leicht. Als sie vor der Küste von Tortall jedoch von Piraten entführt und als Sklavin in ein fremdes Land verkauft wird, hat sie plötzlich ganz andere Probleme.Doch als ob das Leben als Sklavin und das Schmieden von Fluchtplänen nicht schon anstrengend genug wären, geht Aly mit dem Gott Kyprioth eine überirdische Wette ein: Wenn es ihr gelingt, die Kinder ihrer Besitzer während des Sommers am Leben zu erhalten, wird sie der Gott nach Tortall zurück bringen und ihr helfen, ihren größten Wunsch zu erfüllen.Die Aufgabe ist jedoch schwieriger als gedacht: Ein geisteskranker König, Intrigen und Ränkespielchen bedrohen die Familie immer wieder aufs Neue und halten Aly auf Trab.Wie es letztendlich ausgeht, ob Aly die Wette gewinnt, was ein Raben-Mann damit zu tun hat, und wie es Alanna, Dhana, Kel und Co. geht, sollte am besten jeder selbst erleben. Diese 'Fortsetzung' ist mehr als zu empfehlen!

As usual, Tamora Pierce immerses you in the wonderful world she has created as seen through the eyes of her newest character, taking you along on a wonderful trip of intrique and adventure.