Terrier discussion

I've loved Tamora Pierce's "Song of the Lioness" and "Immortals" series and so I thought I would enjoy this one too. But I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. First-person books drive me nutty and reading colloquial spelling is like driving spikes into my brain. But I've heard so many good reviews for the book. Does it get better?

It's a bit difficult to get into and could have been shorter overall in my opinion, but I don't regret reading it, or the second book. I'll definately finish off the trilogy. It's not as good as Song of the Lioness of The Immortals though. Have you read Protector of the Small? It's my favorite Tamora Pierce quartet.

Everyone has preferences and dislikes that differ. The first person storytelling doesn't go away. I often find it slightly jarring at first but soon forget about it as I become involved in the story and characters. If you are not enjoying Terrier, perhaps you should leave it for now. Someday you may wish to revist it, but there's no need to force yourself. I enjoyed it as much as any of Ms. Pierce's books, but since you've already given it a good try, it doesn't sound like it is working for you right now.

It is soooooo good! I love those books!!!!

I so think so, i really liked it! Personal though i think her lioness series were alot better.

Orangesky wrote: "...Have you read Protector of the Small?..."

Not yet but I would like to at some point

A very good book, though the first person is not my favorite way to read. Overall though, worth reading. It is long, but when it is over it will have you begging for more. If however you have trouble getting into it at first, let it set for a while then come back. Forcing yourself to read it will make it less enjoyable.

I think Terrier (and the whole series) is quite good and provides a nice contrast to Pierce's other work by showing a side of Tortall we don't see in any other book. The first person/diary format can be a bit jarring, as can the language, but once you get into it a bit more the story becomes more absorbing and the language starts to feel more natural. The start is also much slower as it has to set up *everything* (unlike the previous Tortall books which all build of SotL), but once the case/mystery starts properly things pick up and the other two books are also reasonably well paced. As others have said, however, if you're really not feeling it, maybe it would be best to leave it for a bit and then come back to it later.

Thanks everyone for their comments. I think I'll try reading it again over the summer. ^_^

I really think that reading this book is worthwile. I was kind of confused in the story at first, but once I got past the change in writing styles, I found that I was enjoying myself.

YES! It is certainly worth reading.

Heck yes.

My personal favourites are the Trickster books, but these are different from Tammy's usual third person style but are definitely worth reading.

Yep definitely worth it I personally loved these books for the same reason I liked the kel books its normal not insanely magical/smart heros these are ordinary heroines who rock!

I've read all 3. Each more exciting then the last. I really like fight scenes always makes me read super fast, and I can speed read so books fly by. But it was amazing and I love them all.

I listened to them on C.D.'s from the library, while I was cooking, cleaning, etc. Her C.D.'s are full cast, with different actors playing the different parts with accents. SO MUCH FUN. Enjoyed a lot of her books that way!

thesee books are great, with the story line is such as good as the other books. by the way, she is writting new books that are coming out this year.

The storyline was interesting and original, but there were parts that just got really slow and dragged on. It's still a good book though, I give it 3.5 stars.

Lindsay wrote: "I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. First-person books drive me nutty..."

That's too bad, because the diary character is what gives these books a unique style, compared to all other of Tamora Pierce books. Of course the language (slang) also plays a big part in it.

I thought it was great, among her best work yet. I'd even go as far as saying that readers new to Tortall should start with Beka Cooper and then follow it up with Alanna and everything else.

My favorite Tortall story is the Trickster's Choice/Queen, but it's not a good entry point into the Tortall universe.

This is my second favourite Tamora Pierce series. I do find the three prologues (I mean three prologues? Really?) quite frustrating and unnecessary so I have skipped them in all my re reads and I can understand why you'd be put off. But it does get much, much better.

My advice would be to bear with it until you get into the meat of the story and see if you're still put off.

Lindsay wrote: "I've loved Tamora Pierce's "Song of the Lioness" and "Immortals" series and so I thought I would enjoy this one too. But I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. First-person books drive me nutty..."

Personaly, I think that it does. I really liked the "Immortals" and "Song of the Lioness" and "Protector of the Small" and the Tricksters Choice and Trickster's Queen, and these are not as good, but I still like them.

I enjoyed these books, but I think Tamora Pierce's books have gotten darker lately. The first 2 Beka books weren't as light as some of her stuff, and the 3rd book was quite heavy and covered some difficult material. I've also noticed this trend in the Circle Books Series as they've gone on too. The characters while children seem to have a much brighter world, but as they age, in both series, the world seems to get darker, the lessons harder, the outcomes more shattering. I like the books, but they do have a much heavier feel then the Alanna books or the Protector of the Small books.

Oh yes. SO very YES. I can't imagine not having read these books.

It is certainly very different from the books about Alanna, Diane and Kel, but Beka is very good if you've read any of these. The diary form made me a little uneasy at first, but you get used to it fast and soon the story envelops you. It's a different story type, too, but that doesn't seem that way for some reason. If you want something you are more used to, then try the Protecter of the Small quartet. They are a lot like Alanna, with a bit of Diane, then most of it is simply Kel. Keladry of Mindelan is the first Lady Knight to train openly. Her world is very different from Alanna's, so don't worry, but Kel, Neal and everyone else will make you comfortable in their world if you like the Alanna books. It's purely up to you, but I'd recommend to read it. Goodwin also reminds me a bit of Alanna. Tis is different, but if you like the others, Beka's nooks will probably be a good bet.

Beka also has a different life, more like George. She doesn't roam, so we know her city, too. Corus is portrayed well, 200 years later. Even though there is a time change, it is still makes sense from your knowledge of Tortall. Its worth a read!!!!!!!!

The book was great to me. Beka is related to George. I read the Trickster Choice/Queen first out of all the Tortall books. I was wondering the whole time who were all these other people.

I loved this series. I've read a lot of books and it was nice to see such a strong women protagonist for once and she was her own person too. This book is worth reading as are her other series. All her women are different and she writes them so well which is what i love all her books

I had the same problem. I couldn't get into the book at first so I listened to it on CD. What a difference!!!! I was totally into it!!!!!!! It's a wonderful book!!!!!! Try listening to it on CD.

Sue wrote: "I enjoyed these books, but I think Tamora Pierce's books have gotten darker lately. The first 2 Beka books weren't as light as some of her stuff, and the 3rd book was quite heavy and covered some ..."

You do get the feeling that she's writing to the same people who originally picked up Protector of the Small et al. (IMO her best work so far btw)

I think it's worth reading, though you might want to skip the prologue. I think it's aimed about big fans of the Tortall universe.