Trickster's Choice (Trickster's Duet)

This book was yet another classic from the Tamora Pierce we've all come to love. The reunion of all the characters is nice, even if it's not completely necessary to the story and Aly is such a fun character. Personally I found that the lucky she exerted was a bit much in finding masters both kind and unabusive, but as fate would have it, gods had a hand in it, so it's answered nicely before I got too annoyed by the unlikelyhood of it.My only real qualms about this series is that there will only be two, the second of which should be coming out soon. And after reading this book, I know that I, as well as a few thousand fans will be eagerly anticipating it's arrival.

This and Trickster's Choice were the first books I had ever read by Tamora Pierce. But let me tell you, I am hooked for life! This book was awesome! I couldn't put it down. I'm not even a big fantasy reader but this was great. It has everything from pirates to espionage. But I won't say anything else, besides there are about 75 other people's opinions you can read for that. Anyway I highly recommend it. K.K. Age 17.

*SPOILER ALERT*

As this amazing book wraps up the series, Alianne continues back to Rajmuat with the Balitangs. Wrapped up in a wild goose chase she is unable to find and stop Sarai before she elopes. The raka are devastated. There is only one opportunity left. Dove. I won't tell you any more, that would completly spoil the book (instead of the partly spoiled I've already made it. I loved loved loved this book, and I highly recomend it.

Trickster's Queen is the sequal to Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce. The main character, Alianne had been trained by her father, Baron of Pirates Swoop to be a spy. But when she gets captured by pirates she is taken as a slave to the Copper Isles. There she learns about and joins a rebelion against the rulers of the Isles. Trickster's Queen tells all about her adventures and the underground rebelion as she works her way through obstacle after obstacle, trying to help the rebelion and the trickster god Kyproth and find her way home.

WOW!!! I haven't read any of Tamora Pierce's other books, but you don't need to to love this book! Trickster's Choice is the story of teenage Aly, who is the daughter of a famous knight and a famous spy. Aly is quick, thoughtful, and unforgettable! This book combines conflict, spying, politics, and romance all in one book! I can't wait to read Trickster's Queen!

This book was great and a fast read; too fast really. I wish it was longer. The end left me wanting. The adventure, the polotics and intrigue, the command decisiveness, the intellectual guess work and a hint of romance all rolled into one; it's almost unbelievable how enthrolling Ms. Pierce's books are. The character protrayal is masterful. I love how Ms. Pierce protayed Kyprioth the Trickster god and Nawat Crow. They were hilarious and two of the best characters in the book beside Aly. I greatly anticipate the second book it should be even better if that's possible.

I loved this book. It was such an intriguing mixture of advneture and mystery that I couldn't put it down. There was also some romance, too, which brought a little weakness to Ali, something normally not like her. I enjoy all of Tamora Pierce's books, but I have to say that she truly out did herself on this piece. It was definately something new. Most of her other characters are knights or mages, so to read a book about a spy, especially coming from her, was quite refreshing.

This book not only has a great plot, but it really makes you think. At first you can't figure out what the heck they're talking about since it all has to do with spying and politics. But eventually you get used to it and really get into the story.

I really enjoy this book and would recomend to kids ages 10 to 50. it's great for most ages, and is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Can't wait for the 3rd!

The only bad part of this book is that it ends! The characters are so clever and human. The drama kept me entranced! I'm annoyed with myself for reading it so quickly; I could happily spend weeks in Tamara Pierce's worlds!

Whoever reads this book will be so stunned, that they will not be able to stop reading before they finish it!!! Ally is running away from home when she is captured by pirates. Her father is second in charge of her country's spy network. Her mother is the legendary "Lady Knight" It is a fiction book based on history, and the present. You'll re-read it again and again...

The first book in Tamora Pierce's Daughter of the Lioness book, Trickster's Choice tells of Aliane or Aly, who lives in Totall, and is taught swordplay and code-breaking at a royal court. A long novel, complete with maps, Totall historic deeds, and a story or a saga full of adventure, romance, and mystery. At first, it may take a while to learn the map and people in this engrossing world, but once you do, the world is as alive as Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin. A great fantasy series with strong girl protagonists, Daughter of the Lioness is a good read for anyone who loves Lord of the Rings, Eragon, and of course Earthsea.

Wow. That's a good way to describe this book. I have always been a great fan of Tamora Pierce, and have read all of her books and this is definetly one of her best.

Aly is returning to the capital, Rajumat(?) and is leading the rebellion against the monarchy in the Copper Isles as the spymaster. With war imminent, what will all of this mean for the future of Aly and Nawat? Aly is distracted by the rebellion, and Nawat is trying to find out what it really means to be a crow-man. How will it effect their relationship? With the help of the darkings, brought back from Daine's adventures in THE REALM OF THE GODS and many loyal friends, readers turn mysterious and exciting corners on an adventure full of suspense. When a surprising event falters the rebellion, will Aly be able to get the rebellion back on its feet? But most importantly, will they succeed in their goal?

This suspenseful story, with Pierce's magnificent writing skills, is a must read for all book-lovers! Although this is a fantasy novel, it combines many real-life lessons in spying, all of which are very intriguing. A real page-turner, this book will leave you begging for more of Tamora Pierce's writing.

I really liked this, because the heroine is not the normal sort of adventurous girl who gets into scrapes. She plans and schemes and helps the good guys to win by manipulating the bad guys. She's really controlled and she always knows what she is doing. The only thing she can't control is falling in love, which is really sweet.

I liked how the world was set, because the cultures were really unusual and different, and the 'culture clash' was great. The author did not write just another LotR-alike world.

The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is that there's not THAT much romance - it's all kind of secondary, and then the hero goes away, and then he comes back and that's that. And I didn't cry at the end like I did with 'Lioness Rampant', even though there were some sad bits in the final battle. But this is still a really, really good read, and I could not put it down.

Its been a while since I revisited the part of the bookstore that holds Tamora Pierce's books. I have to say I am glad I went there. This is the first time since I was seven (and read the Lord of the Rings trillogy) that I have had a crush on a fictional character...but hey thats what makes fiction fun. I cannot wait to read the next one. I just ordered it online so it should come soon. *hope*

Tamora mixes her great skill at story telling with the adventures of a girl that could be any one of us. She has the same problems as any teenager rather than becoming one of the more "super-heroy" types of some of the earlier Tortall books. I love it when I can read a book that takes me several days and not grow bored with any aspect. I have already re-read this book twice and am beginning my third read.

This is what fantasy should be. Absolutly delightful.

I liked the book a lot. There was a lot of action when they go into battle and they are trying to figure out how to weaken the Crown's forces. There is suspense when Aly gets caught by other spies, and she tricks them but they still have the chance to kill her. There is also some humor in the book. This is the second book in a series.

Alianne, Aly for short, is daughter of George Cooper, second in command in Tortallen spies. After she won her wager with the raka god, Kyprioth, Aly is determined to make the half raka, Sarai Balitang, queen. This begins the group of servants and slaves to form a rebel to help Aly do her job. While Aly is missing her friend Nawat Crow, Sarai elopes. Her little sister dove is next in line. A riot begins on the street and Aly's pack decides it time to make Dove queen. The King dies in battle and the Queen jumps off her balcony. Dove is then crowned Queen of the Copper Isle. Dove wants Aly to be her royal spymaster but Aly doesn't think it's a good idea because she will have to tell Dove who she is and where she's from.

It you are a girl, sixth grade and up you will like this book. If you like fantasy, medieval, and suspense you will like this book. Or if you are a Tamora Pierce fan like I am, you will love this book.

No need to give a summary, as many people have. It is a deliciously wonderful story, much more complex and real than the previous series. Unlike the old characters who are always thinking of the 'right 'side, Aly thinks of the crooked side, which is a refreshing change. Though there was an abrupt stop at the end of the story, it does leave a good taste in my mouth. I look forward to the next installment.

Dear reader,
Now you must admit if you have read this book that it is truely a masterpiece. I started reading Tamora Pierce's books only about a year ago. After I read one book I was thrilled to find I had found an author I liked that had writen more then one book. I immediately bought and enjoyed all of her books. If you have not read any of her other series I sujest you go buy them for you wont regret it.
Her books are a must read. I re-read her books quite fequantly and I will continue to I am sure. If you dont buy this book you are missing out.

Not to be too redundant, but I have to agree with the majority feeling about this book. It just didn't have the same "umph" of any previous stories by Pierce. Trickster's Queen seemed almost rushed to be done with and did not, as was also previously mentioned in reviews, have the same character or plot developement as some of the other quartets.

Despite my mild disappointment I would still recommend this book on pure basis of being part of the Tortall series. Though not equal in quality of the other books, the Trickster books are fun to read and catch up on what the other characters in Tortall are up to.

This book is definetley the best of the Trickster's duet! I fell in love with the story starting at page 1. She's finally gotten her mother and fathers trust to become and actual spy and she's about to finish her job by making Sarah the part-raka queen. Yet Aly is tricked by another god and Sarah can't go on the thrown. But Dove a young girl smarter than most think is next in line for queen. Will Aly fulfil her duty or will disaster come to her? Find out in the sequeal TRICKSTER'S QUEEN!

-Hannah M.

I personally consider this to be Tamora Pierce's best book yet. Her writing style has really matured into something beautiful. I wasn't just in love with the story in this one, I loved the way it was told to. And this character was very original and human, especially after the Protector of the Small series. It's just a very new, wonderful step for Pierce and I enjoyed it immensely I recommend it for every fantasy fan.

This book keeps you going from start to finish. The political and psychological sub-text of the book keeps you guessing until the end. The characterization of Alianne was brilliant. It was refreshing to see Alianne who is so much of a contrast to Alanna. She uses her brain not her brawn, and it makes for a great read.
The sub-plot of the romance with Nawat was great fun and makes you want to read more. Dove and Sarai are great well-rounded characters. Even minor characters in this book are done extremely well with strong characterizations. The end of Trickster's Choice was absolutely gut-wrenching and completely unexpected. This is what a fantasy book should be all about!
Tamora Pierce is a truly brilliant author. I can't wait for the second book to come out. Much applause for a great book overall!

Well, Tamora Pierce has done it again, with her twenty second full length novel. Her loyal readers are especially pleased with the increased lenght of both TC and TQ, as the two books have been termed. While I had some spoliers thanks to a couple of online sample chapters, the storyline was not at all spoiled. The plot is interesting, just the right mix of fighting, intelligence, and fun, as well as a few twists and turns - the major one (which some people I know loved as well as predicted) being relatively easy to hurdle over.

One thing I would like to mention - Tammy (as she is dubbed by loyal fans) deliciously weaves factual cultural influences into all of her novels. For example, kohl is mentioned a couple of times and was used in the real world as eye makeup in ancient Egypt. Also, it was pointed out to me today that the word used by the natives of the Copper Isles for the flying horsed, Kundarung, is a mixture of two real Indonesian words meaning "horse" and "bird".

To get the gist of this book, the only other book you need to read is Trickster's Choice, in which the main character Aly must protect two girls, both having blood which would but them in the line to the throne of the country, until the end of summer. Trickster's Queen picks up during the next spring, and the Copper Isles are ready for revolution, with the girls being the key. Aly, now seventeen and already a master at the arts of espionage, takes the role of the conspiracy's spymaster, teaching us how to navigate the shadow world, where the whispers and lies told are easy for her to read.

As Aly's mission deepens, so does the relationship with Nawat, a crow who turned into a man for her in TC. It should be noted that the book is PG, possibly, but not in my opinion, termed PG-13.

I would also like to note: "Uncle Numy"? I laugh every time I read that. And the subtle tidbits information on characters from Tammy's other quartets were very welcome.

Once again, Tammy is awesome, and I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action and adventure spiced up with intelligence and humor. Thirteen year old Dove - one of two royal blooded girls, who is very intelligent and with varied interests - has particulary good lines of dry humor.

To wrap it up, I'm on my third read of this book and I'm still not tired of it. Tammy, you've done it yet again.

Tamora Pierce once again lives up to my high expectations in this brand-new Tortal series, the Daughter of the Lioness. Pierce carries on the story of Alanna the Lioness, Champion of Tortall, through Alanna's daughter, Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, or Aly, as she prefers. Aly longs to be a spy for the royal spy network, of which her father, Baron George Cooper, is a ringleader for. This thrilling novel finds Aly being kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery. She then makes a deal with the god Kyprioth, known as "The Trickster", in which she must protect the Balitang family, to whom she is enslaved.
Pierce gives an exiting account of Aly's attempt to protect her charges and prove herself capable and worthy of spywork with her father. This is a must-have edition to everyone's Tamora Pierce library!

Here i am, reading this book, and suddenly i realize somthing. Aly might, i only said might, be an even more interesting charecter than Alanna. if you've read alanna's books, you'll know she's hard to beat, but trickster's choice might have done it. i highly suggest this books.
PS I'm going to die if september doesn't come soon, i want tricksters queen!

This is a really awesome book. I wasn't a huge fan of the Song of the Lioness quartet, so I thought this series would disappoint me, also. Suprisingly, it didn't. Pierce's characters keep getting better and better. There are lots of twists in here. The minute I get the money, I'm getting this book and adding it to my collection. Words can't say enough about this book.
Aly (Alianne of Pirate's Swoop) is a realistic girl who isn't afraid to show how smart she is. A very good role model for girls growing up in this age where the smarter the girl is, the less likable she is. Cheers for Aly and Pierce!!

Tamora Pierce's newest Book "Trickster's Choice" combines many of the older elements that Tamora uses so well with politics; something that she only dabbled in before. I was thrilled to read about the rich political background in the Copper Isles. The tumultous power play surrounding the throne enthralled me. Instead of changing the world with her sword swinging, Aly uses her cunning, intellect and sharp wits to protect those around her. Of course that's not to say she doesn't fight when she needs to, but I find Aly to be a much more rounded character than Alanna, Daine or Kel. I can't recommend any book more. I'll be waiting with both Tricker's Choice and Tricker's Queen in hand for Tamora Pierce to sign them. They promise to be her best series thus far.

Tamora Pierce is one of my all time favorite authors who could only improve upon her writing skills by turning out her books a bit faster. This book like most of her books has wonderful characterization and story line. The world she creates is intriguing and everyone in it seems real and fascinating.

Tamora Pierce is one of my all time favorite authors who could only improve upon her writing skills by turning out her books a bit faster. This book like most of her books has wonderful characterization and story line. The world she creates is intriguing and everyone in it seems real and fascinating.

I recently read this book and I loved it. I have to admit though, i would have never picked it up if I hadn't read and fell all over Tamora's The Immortal series, but i'm glad I did.

This is about the raka rebellion finally taking action, the outcome, and Nawat realizing who he is, a crow or a man. There's a suprising twist that has to do with the return of everyone's favorite goddess, the Graveyard Hag! Star of the Immortals book, Emporer Mage!

I also have read Tamora's Protector of the Small's First Test and Page.

I'm really looking foward to finishing that series.

I do have to say, though, of all of Tamora's heroines, my favorite is Daine. I just like her, and her adventures are awesome.

Still, I recomend any of Tamora's books.

Don't get me wrong- I love Tamora Pierce, and I have read her books about Daine, Keladry, and Alanna countless times. However, this book was a let down.
The book centers around Ali, the daughter of Alanna and George. Ali has lived a rather sheltered and protected life until she is kidnapped by pirates and taken to the Emerald Isle where she if sold as a slave.
As if this isn't enought trouble, Ali's masters are forced to go into exhile, and take her along as a God tells them that Ali will help them. Togethor, Ali and her masters move to a crude castle in the middle of the jungle where they are forced to fight off assasins, and make peace with the minorities. Ali becomes a trusted companion to her masters, and helps save them multiple times. As this book is part of a two-book series, not much of the conflict is resolved by the end of the book.
Things I disliked:
1- Ali is a Mary Sue (a female character who is perfect). She is good at everything she undertakes, and really has no failings. This makes her a boring character. It is the flaws that can make a character interesting.
2- Nawat, so it seems, is going to be Ali's love interest. This would be fine, except for the fact that Nawat is a crow-turned man and retains his bird brain in human form. So, about every sentence out of his mouth is "Let's have nestlings and mob them!" In short, he is Tamora Pierce's equivolent to Jar Jar Binks. There really can be no salvaging of this character.
Things I liked
1- This books focuses on politics, instead of the usual action. Pierce claimed that she tried to model a lot of the court and politics on Tudor England, and you can tell. Because the emphasis of this book was on politics, it made the story more complicated (in a good way), and it added a new level of intrigue.
2- The time before Nawat came. This book was fairly decent in the begining. Ali's Mary Sue tendencies hadn't really appeared yet and the evil Nawat hadn't entered the scene.
In short, this was an OK book, and I probably would have given it a four, if Nawat hadn't showed up. If you've never read a Tamora Pierce book anymore and you figure you might as well read her latest first, I would strongly urge you not to. Pierce is a great author with a lot of talent, as can be exemplified in her earlier series (particularly The Immortals quartet).

I started to read this book only few days ago. A friend of mine told me this book was a very good book so I borrowed it from the library. A good book? I would discribe it "boring".

I have already read the first book. I was very curious of what will happen to Aly. And I was all ready to read book 2.

The book had too much explanation and too much narrating. The story needs more diologues and actions. Lots of kids, even I who likes to read, would skip the pages that were explanation...Blah...Blah...Blah...

The names and words they use were SOOO confusing and in the middle of the story, i would always say, "who was that again?"

Other than that, I think the story was pretty cool. The story just needed more excitiment!

Ok so as an avid Tamora Pierce reader i must say i am deeply sadend to see that Aly only has two books instead of the tradtional four. But thats not to say that this book was AWSOME! I absolutly hate that fact that Aly was not aloud to be in contact with her mother. Cause hullo its Alanna. I mean its not like she wouln't understand hiding her identity. Alanna hid the fact she was female for like what four five years? But Kyprioth was by far the best (with Dove in a close second) in this book! I love how we got to see Kyprioth get angry. That was cool i was like wow he really needs this. But...the fact that Nawat finally convinced aly to sleep with him really made me mad. I was like yes they belong to each as George and Alanna do, but It wasn't the right timeing. I do have to say that i so wanted Dove to become Queen. Sarai was just too flakey. She wouldn't have made the right Queen. Dove has the Patience and Skill to become the best Queen they have ever seen. I will say that the ending was by far my favorite cause of her and the kids. OH and that Daine and Numair were there woot woot* It was a great book.

What a fabulous book. Not only is TQ one of the best books written by Tamora Pierce, it is an amazing fantasy novel. While all her books are good, TQ stands above them all. Some parts of the story are predictable, but the richness of the characters and the way Tamora Pierce weaves the novel together makes this novel a worthwhile read. Very few fantasy novelists create a story as thorough and intriguing as Tamora Pierce does. TQ is filled with spies, adventure, conspiracies, magic, and everything else that could be desired for a good read; it not only winds up the story of Aly in the Copper Isles, it also manages to tidey up previous stories by Pierce. Best of all, the female characters in TQ act in a human manner. They are not weak or cold-hearted. Each character behaves true to who they are, improving the overall quality of the book. TQ is just too good of a book not to be read.

Over all this was a very good book although I have to say that when Aly refered to the Goddess as "Her mothers goddess" I was slightly unhappy. The Goddess to me is extremely real and I don't want anyone, exspecialy Alanna's daughter disrepecting her.
But it was a good book and I cannot wait for the next one!

Trickster's Queen is a worthy sequel to Trickster's Choice. Alianne (Aly), the daughter of Tortall's spymaster and the King's Champion of Tortall, is part of a raka (native people) conspiracy to put a raka queen back on the throne of the Copper Isles. Filled with action, adventure, romance, and surprising plot twists, this is Tamora Pierce's best book yet!

I have always loved Tamora Pierce. I've furiously read every book she has ever written, my favorite being Song of the Lioness. So it is reasonable to say that when I spotted Trickster's Choice, I was overjoyed without even knowing that the main character was Alanna's daughter. But it was completely disapointing. Where Alanna and Dane had capture my imagionation and left me begging for more, Trickster's Choice had left me with nothing of the sort. It wasn't a particularlly bad novel, but it wasn't something I'd expect from Tamora Pierce where everything else had left me breathless.

This book bored me to death. Aliane seems a bit stuck up in my opinion. Also, Tamora Pierce wrote her to be perfect at just about everything she does. Aliane's character seems way too unrealistic for my taste; I like to be able to relate somewhat to the characters, personally. plus it feels sort of rushed, and at the same time very slow paced. Nothing much exciting happens during most of the book; it's just about how perfectly Aliane came figure things out to protect the Balitang family. AND nothing ever seems to phase Aly; not even when she's taken and sold as a slave. She's just all "Oh it's no big deal, I'll just get away once I'm sold 'cause im so smart." Seriously, that's how she acts most of the time. This book is no where near as good as Tamora's last books. Lucky for me I only checked the book out from the library; I'd suggest that if you're interested in this book that you do the same.

it rocks trust me(really) i don't understand why some people would hate it.....also i don't understand why other people criticize an authors work i mean all people have feelings, right? i'm not afraid to admit that i like eragon, eldest and the person who wrote that arya is a cruel person, in my view she's just a person doing her duty well maybe a bit cold hearted *grrrrrr*[wouldn't you?]and i shout loud and clear THEY'RE ARE GREAT BOOKS NO MATTERS WHAT ANYONE SAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After reading Trickster's Choice, I definitely had to read the sequel! This book is even better than the first. I love the character development in Aly as she starts to mature and her adventures even better. I also love the humor Pierce adds to the book, making it all the more enjoyable to read. This book kept me off my feet so often that I ended up finishing the book within four days. However, I was slightly disappointed that Pierce did not place Nawat in throughout all of the plot. Overall, I still think it's a great book filled with humor and thrilling adventures.

I was amazed at how good this book was. Seeing how the Protector of the Small books were such a letdown from Allana. The plot was full of twists that left me spinning. I loved Aly she was a great improvement, I really didnt want to rerad another series about knights. I think spycraft is much more intriguing. The Song of the Lioness books were so good that her daughter just hade to be awesome too. loved every part of this series, except that it was only two books long. The length of the series dissapointed me would have loved another quartet

I was very surprised to read such positive reviews for this new Tamora Pierce series. I have been a long time fan of her work, but I was very disappointed with Tricksters Choice and Tricksters Queen. The characters in both of these books are flat and remain static throughout the series. The plot for both books provides no obstacles for the characters to overcome; this leaves no avenue for Aly, Nawat, or any other characters to develop as individuals. The reader is never in doubt that everything will work out in the end.

Both books also lacked the gritty reality found in the Song of the Lioness series. Those books allowed the reader to grow with the main character. We discovered Allana's strengths, weaknesses, and loves right along with her. We didn't know if she would succeed in her quest, who she would fall in love with, or who she would end up marrying.

I guess that I am trying to say that the Trickster series failed because it didn't have any surprises, and because it didn't make me fall in love with the character the way that I am sure we have all fallen in love with Alanna, George, and Jonathan.

This is one of the best books I Have ever read. In the year since I first read Trickster's Choice, I have read it eight more times and every single time I say, "Wow, that's cool! I never noticed that before!" I LOVE Tamora Pierce books. Read this book. Read all the other ones too!!

This book is simply not that great. Aly is one of the worst Mary Sues (flawless to a fault) that I have encountered. The characters aren't written well enough to care about and there is absolutely no suspense. The plot goes something like this:

Aly: I am just the bestest spy ever! I have the greatest spy network consisting of hundreds of people and not one of them will ever betray me. And even though I don't need them, I just acquired a bunch of super spy critters that can tell me absolutely everything I want to know. This book might as well end right here. Even though I'm a relatively inexperienced teenager I can think circles around every other character in this book because the author has kindly reduced their collective intelligence to that of a lobotomized six-year-old. The bad guys are so dumb that they kill each other off for me! They won't understand what happened to them until the last 20 pages of the book, if then. My own allies are pretty stupid too. Aren't they lucky to have me to point out the obvious to them? Oh No! Something just went terribly wrong. But wait! It really only made things better for me! I win! And only a few characters that nobody cared about died along the way. Hooray!

I love all of Tamora Pierce's books and this chapter of the Tortall era is no exception. Aly (Alianne) starts off this two part series with a blueberry-blue head and a plea for work as a spy. This particular plea is adressed to her father Baron George Cooper and later to her mother Alanna, the Lioness. Aly is on shakey ground with her mother, though throughout the book the trickster god Kyprioth (who inlists her aide in gaining control of his kingdom behind the backs of the Great Mother Godess and Mithros)shows her how much Alanna really cares. She gets caught by pirates, sold to a noble family, aides a revolution between raka and luarin, falls in love with a crow turned man, finds her calling, does some major spywork, and still keeps her identity and status a secret.
If your looking for a lot of kick-butt fighting sceanes, magical battles or struggle to be accepted as in Pierce's pre-Aly books, watch out because Aly is her own person with very little magic, insecurity, or major fighting skills.
Pay close attention to Daine and 'Uncle Numy's new baby, the fact that all the children of Alanna and George are named after Alanna's family [Thom, Alan (Aly's twin),and of course Alianne], and also the discription of the great mother godess.
All in all this book is totally awesome. Go and Buy it!!!

This book is so incredibly intriguing that you literaly feel like a scene is taking place in front of you. I would recommend this book for middle schoolers and high schoolers. one of the best or the best book Tamora Pierce has ever written. It is an absolute must read for any book worm.

This was a hundred times better than Protector of the Small...Aly is a bright lively character that stays interesting right to the end!(even though the story is not over yet! We have to wait til Trickster's Queen!) She's so much better than angry little Keladry. Aly takes lots of characteristics from her father, George Cooper, which is perfectly fine! A[...] I love Nawat! :-D

I adore the character of Aly in Trickster's Queen and Trickster's Choice. She's strong and capable and driven - but has such a sense of humour and a delightfully laid-back view on life. Too many heroines in fantasy novels are one-note, but Aly is a symphony. She knows who she is, and is confident in her abilities, which makes other confident as well. The story is exciting, romantic and has a important message, yet Ms. Pierce doesn't beat you over the head with it. This book is perfect for fantasy lovers of all ages.

... and I mean that in a good way. Ms. Pierce seemingly pulls characters from 20th century fantasy central casting and does a great job building a compelling page turner. This is light fare when so many authors seem to be driven to "go dark" to the point of being just plain depressing.

Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen are a lovely departure from the girl warrior hero genre. This heroine is cunning and crooked in the most inspiring of ways. It's not just her heart, or her determination that make her a success, but her slanted way of looking at things.

I, for one, very much enjoyed this more political adventure. The usual hack and slash is still one of my favorite themes but I love heroes in all their infinite variety, and I'm of the opinion that this book helps spread that view point too.

Highly recommended for anyone of any age.

I loved this book! loved it,loved it, loved it! I have read all of her books in fact I would have to say that her books have been the reason I turned my life around in middle school. I went form D's and F's to A's and B's. I hated reading but her Wild Magic book turned that around, I'm now a 3.8GPA student in college and I will never get enough of her books! this book had to be tricky to write but she pulled it off famously. she was able to make a new charater that was different but not a total departure from the others. you have to read this book! and all her others!!!!!!! thanks tamora, IOU one!

All you Tortall fans, look out, Ms. Pierce has done it again. Done what you say? Create a book with a lovable main character full of wit and charm, and a plot full of intrigue and mystery. For those who doubt its originality, well, dont. This amazing book will keep even the most arduous critics at bay. Though Alianne is certainly Alanna's daughter, as well as <plot spoiler if you haven't finished the Song of the Lioness> George's, she is carving her own path and won't be held back by her lineage. A new hero has been made, one who wont be content simply to sit at home and do lady like things. Also, for those who like Alanna, and for those who dont, this book provides an interesting new perspective on her.

I have been reading Tamora Pierce books since I was 11 (I'm 25 now!) and I was so excited to see the new Tortal book that I ordered it from the USA to get it sooner! What's incredible is the way Pierce's charaters have developed - they are real people to her, and the many of us who read her books with such joy. If you go to her website you see that even when she is not writing about them she is thinking of them. That's what makes her books so enjoyable and fun! It's not often a series of books for young people concentrates so on showing how strong and resourceful women can be! Definately ones I'll hold on to for my daughter. Can't wait to see what happens next.

My daughter has been reading the Harry Potter Series and the Twilight books over and over, nothing I brought home could hold a candle to those until I discovered Trickster's Choice. We both think this book is fantastic and the sequel is solid. Agree with the cover of the book comment, Tamora Pierce's other books look like dreadful run of the mill dreck (based on the cover). This cover was more grown up and intriguing. We will now get her other books and read them.

I highly recommend this book.

I love all the Tortall books. When I'm able to pry them out of my 14-year-old daughters hands and read them myself, I easily see why she's nuts about them. The heroines are girls, beating the boys at their games, taking up life on their own terms and helping my daughter's self-confidence along the way. Thank you, Ms. Pierce!

I was so excited when I found out Ms. Pierce wrote another book to add to the collection. I've read all of the Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and The Protector of the Small Quartets more times than I can count and I never get bored of them. Trickster's Choice is a great addition to these quartets. It is a story about Alanna's daughter Aly who wants to be a spy like her father, George Cooper, and how she managed to get tangled up in the Trickster God's plot and protect a little girl and her family. I can't wait until the newest book comes out, Trickster's Queen, so I can read on to find out what Aly is going to do next.

As mentioned in my review of the first book in this series, I wish she would write more. I've read the Squire series, Lioness series, the Circle of Magic, etc etc. Wonderfully, they all tie in together too. I loved Trickster's Queen, perhaps the best of all. Ms. Pierce's web page doesn't mention any plans for another book in this series. I wish for more and more. Queen Dove's reign has to be fascinating. I want to read about it. You can't go wrong with these books!

This book is really good. It's plot twists are unexpected, yet always for the better. It's a story about proving you can do what you want. it has a strong woman protagonist who is very witty and fun to follow. At first, i didn't know it was a series, so i was very dissappointed with the ending, not understanding a thing. But now i realize it was a series and i'm mad because i can't find out what happens till the next book comes out and who knows when that'll be?
But, it was really good, sometimes a bit slow, but weather on, because it really is amazing. Really.

As a kid I've always loved reading about sci-fi/fantasy genres and by far this is one of my favorite books. In Trickster's Choice, Tamora Pierce invites the reader to Tortall and captivates the reader's interest by describing the adventures of Aly. Pierce deffinitely has a unique style in writing that is outstanding and they way she illustrates her storyline through writing is truly enchanting. I also love how she hinted a bit of romance in the plot as well, which in my opinion added an extra spice to her storyline. I would definitely enjoy reading this book over again.

I am 12 years old, and love to read more then anything. Tamora Pierce and J K Rowling are my favourite authors. I was extremly excited when Trickster's Choice came out, and was the first person at the local Chapters that morning. By evening, I was re-reading it in exhilration! I just LOVED this book. I have named it the GREATEST BOOK EVER!!!!! I actully refer to it as "the scared of book of all that is great in our shattered world", and it has a place of honor in my bedroom. If you liked Harry Potter, you'll LOVE Trickster's Choice.
I just have one question. WHEN IS TRICKSTER'S QUEEN COMING OUT?????????

im 13 i read the book for 2 days nonstop. This book is amazing. It describes from a teenage view about love,courage and bravery in a different world. This book is the best i've read si far in may life. Tamora Pierce has done Excellent work.

This book is about Aly's continued struggle to put the half raka, half Rittevon girl on the throne. Instead of the book taking place in Tanair, it is now in the capital, Rajmuat which has new challenges for Aly. There are lots of new characters and new intrigues (more political than spy) for Aly to mess with. The five main conspiritor remain, and there are some surprises that help aly out alot

I started reading the Song of the Lioness Quartet when I was eight. Those books

had everything. Three dimentional characters, believable villains, the perfect romantic quandries, great plots and above all extremely good writing. And now i am seven years older, i never get tired of them. But with this book and Trickster's Choice, i found that only one of those things, and that was the good writing. I could tell that the plots were getting worse as i read lady knight (at the time i thought Kel was the worst character ever written, i was wrong aly and nawat are worse) but nothing prepared me for Trickster's Queen not even Lady Knight, Cold Fire or Trickster's Choice. The plot was so slopy, i mean the way she got rid of Elsren and Dunevon seemed just a convienance instead of facing the issue of two living Rittevons. And the way she made Sarai seem like a spoiled child instead of the mildly intelligent young woman who was in Trickster's choice. And Dovasary was just the stereotypical intillectual, not actually someone you could put the kingdom in good hands on. Nawat got on my nerves so much it made me want to scream. Enough with the crow stuff, i get the point. There were no worthwhile characters in the book, the only reason to get to the end is to find out the names of Daine and Numair's children. And the way alanna is portrayed seemed to go against everything written about her before hand. There were no surprises in this book and i am really disappointed in Tamora Pierce, she hasn't turned out a great Tortall book since Lioness Rampant.

*Just to add something off topic, but the way Jonathan is made out to be in Protector of the Small really disappointed me, he wasn't the man that Alanna fell in love with in In the Hand of the Goddess, but a cold hard monarch worthy of Sarain

So, basiclly, i love Tamora Pierce. Long and short of it. Love Tortall, and would give anything to be Alanna, or Daine, or Kel. Simple as pie.
Naturally, I rush to get my hands on Trickster's Choice, hyperventilate, and begin to read. I am stuck in my room for three and a half hours with sheer happiness in my mind, gobbling and savoring the book.
Personally, I thought that Trickster's choice was a bit more confusing (therefor, not as good) as previous Tortall books. The whole history of the Copper Isles (Raka and luagin) was confusing, and the beginning was a bit rushed to get to Aly betting with the Kyprioth. Since it was Tamora Pierce, i loved it, but personally I think it needed a bit more editing to be as good as it had the potentional to be.

I was very disappointed with this new addition to Tamora Pierce's fantasy world of Tortall. There is much less action...MUCH less. I became bored with a lot of parts in this book. Also, the politics revolving around the new lands and their luarins and raka are confusing at first and there are many minor characters that are hard to keep track of in the begining too. The main character (a strong heroine of course) is very likeable, and all the characters are very believable. I just wish that the story was as good as it's characters. It's not that I hated this book, but I wouldn't recommend it, not when there are many other great books out there. If you haven't read a Tamora Pierce book yet, read a different one, like the first ones: The Lioness Quartet.

This book was about 3.5 out of 5, okay, but nowhere near as good as the others.

This book, Tricksters Choice, is the best book ever!
I liked all of Pierce's other books but this book shows a different side of her writing.
Alyanne of Pirates Swoop was leaving home and she got captured and was turned into a slave.
She was a choosen one of Kyprioth, the Trickster God.
Aly makes friends with the crows and learns to understand them.
There is a little confusion when the crow that turns into a human, and he begins to be enamored with Aly.
Overall, it is a great book and I read it in one sitting! All four hundred something pages of it! I couldn't put it down!

This is a great book, but the ending was totally left off! I turned the page in the end of the book, only to find it blank, I was expecting more! Anyways, this is a good book, I won't talk about what it's about since you get the picture from other reviews. Don't expect any great fights though, although Aly has the Sight with magic from her father and mother, so there is some magic included. You've gotta read this book if you're a Tamora Pierce fan like me!

There are previous reviewers who say this book has no action.

--I don't know how they missed it, becuase there is plently of action. I don't want to spoil it for you, but hello, this is a book about a rebellion.

Aly is too perfect.

--I don't know where they got this either. Aly has made mistakes, and is constantly full of self-doubt. She has a large group of supporting characters, and without their help, she would have issues.

Nawat is boring.

--Ok, so maybe he could be..different. I like the sweet, innocent character though, it's a change from the powerful romantic interests in her other series.

There's too much to remember.

--It's true there is an involved story line. If you just want a fast and easy read, this isn't for you.

I would just like to ask, why does everyone like Tortall better? I like Tortall, but the Circle books have a special place in my heart.

If you love YA fiction this is the book for you. I teach English to students who hate to read, declare they don't like magic stories but who love this book. The basic theory of the magic does not overshadow the story line. The author weaves many threads into a beautiful tapestry to create a very satisfying book!

i wrote a review for the first book of this series, and I would like to reiterate my opinion that I enjoy this most of all of Tamora Pierce's series, but as a sequel, I was a bit disappointed. It felt as though it ended rather abruptly, especially if you have read her other series, which are all four books long. I know that the plot line of this series could not have been stretched that far, but the wrap-up at the end of this book was, I felt, a bit too pat. Other than that, it was a well-written and engrossing book, well worth reading.

Overall, this was a very good book. Four hundred pages, and I read it in two days. It was hard to put down. My main problem with it was a few scenes that were summarized, and would have been incredibly interesting had they not been. (Particularly the scene in the beginning where she gets kidnapped by the pirates- that left me dissapointed for quite awhile) Other than that, however, this book was very good.

this book was as fantastic as tamora pierces many other books. as soon as I heard it was out, I ran to the nearest bookstore to buy it. I love her books because they deal with maturity, and have strong female roles. this book deseres five stars!

Tamora Pierce does an excellent job using imaginative words to emphasize her point, in the book Trickster's Queen. She has a way of making all the characters unique with their bizarre names and far-fetched personalities. Through all the trickery and hardship, Tamora Pierce is able to add a slice of romance, as the main character falls in love with a crow-man. Their romance, however, does not overcome the plot but only adds to it. Tamora's words vividly portray the people and scenes, making the action and consequence of each crisis more and more intriguing. "There were spells written deep within the walls that surrounded the Balitang House. They appeared as a shimmering silver blaze in Aly's Sight" (21). She adds twists and makes the book unbelievably hard to put down. Pierce's ability to use unusual adjectives and verbs places a clear picture in your mind as if you saw it before. "On it `cushion' shone gold shaped as a crowned headdress at the front with a spray of copper sprigs at the back, each dangling gold drops" (440). Tamora Pierce's work is admirably exquisite and she is unbelievable at making her book come to life.

Tamora Pierce has once agin stunned me with her brilliance. This book has indeed become one of my favorites and is a welcomed addition to my shelf. She tells the story of the rebellious daughter of the Lioness, Aly. Aly runs away and finds herseld making a bet with the god the Trickster, a Raka god. I will not spcify as to what the bet wagers because that is for you to find out. read this book and you will fing yourself lost in the enchanting world wovenBy Tamora Pierce. Enjoy!

The characters comes alive on the page, each with their own breath of life. If Icould choose any book to have to read on a noisy plane ride, this would be it. Even though I'm too old for some of her books, Pierce still captures my attension and my heart with her wonderful creativity.

First let me start off saying that I've always been a huge Tamora Pierce fan. This book (and Trickster's Choice) had a few good moments but at times I couldn't believe it was written by the same person as her other wonderful books.

The main character constantly annoyed me because she knew practically everything. Sure, Ms. Pierce had her make a few mistakes to make it seem believable. She was just overly perceptive and put facts together very quickly. No where in the book did it say she was a "genius". The book also explained certain connections in great depth. Those connections were usually one's you could make on your own. She made me feel like a child having to be spoonfed answers.

I won't give anything away, but the ending was a huge let down and not what you'd expect at all. There was about a 80 page period where I really loved reading the book. Then again there were 444 pages.

I am a big fan of Tamora, reading Alanna, and Daines stories were just really great, but if you expect this to be the same, well don't. The book was good, it had a good ending, climax and small romance,Aly was an unforgetabble heroine, really quick smart, and witty, but it was just too slow! Nothing happend for like 100 pages. I found myself dreading it and just wishing for it to end, because it was a good story, and I wanted to find out how it ended! But Tamora could have taken away couple of pages, and unimportant things, that weren't even interesting to read. I do recommend this book if you just insist on reading it, enjoy a lot of fantasies, but I warn you, you might be disapointed like I was.

I highly recommend this book to people of all ages. No matter what your age or reading level is it is highly entertaining. Pierce's writing has matured greatly since her first series about Aly's mother, Alanna. Very well written and definately worth your time and mony to get even in hard cover, besides, who wouldn't appreciate a girl who can get away with kicking the very annoying Trikster God...oops, probably shouldn't have said that...

I was very disappointed in this book. It bored me and I could not even finish it. The whole idea rang false with me. The main character never gets upset about ANYTHING! She is sold into slavery, beaten etc. and she just laughs through the whole ordeal. Basically, I could not connect with any of the characters and found them all very flat and unsatisfying. Pass on this one and read The Lioness Quartet--still Pierce's best in my opinion.

This book is fabulous, usually continuations involving the main character's children leave something to be desired but all thats to be desired this time is the next book in the series! Alanna's daughter Aly has never been able to quite find her place in the world. Her only gift seems to be for spy work which her parents have forbidden her. With a little help from a certain God and a lot of bad luck Aly falls into a great adventure that may be the making of her.

I know I was harsh on the Lioness series, but I must say that this was much better. It was very intricate and detailed, the characters were much more palatable, and the mixture of adventure, romance (Pierce just can't resist, can she?) and politics makes a great read. This is not reccomended for readers who were so easily satisfied with the Song of the Lioness Series. The writing is deeper and much harder to understand, but if you make it through the rather thick book, it is very satisfying.

I loved this book. Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite authers. She has a way of making the book come alive. The first book (Tricksters Choice) is by far better, but this one is also good. If you like this book, look at her other books, Circle of Magic for younger kids (10-13) but age doesnt matter I still read them, and my younger brother started reading them at 7. Also the Immortals by Tamora Piece are amazing! They are better for (11-14)....

Tamora Pierce has created yet another masterpiece!
A strong and fabulous but realistically portrayed young woman is the focus of this brilliant work. I read it in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. A marvelous "role-model" book for young girls and a fabulous read for anyone! I _highly_ recommend this book!

Well It is uterly amazing Alianne gets taken away from her famly after running away to get away from her mom and becomes a slave she is given to the Balitangs She makes a deel with a god and has to keep the family alive untill fall. Alliane uses all of her spunk courage wit and sight (how to tell when people are lieing) to get herself and the family through the summer and oh wait I can't tell you the rest oh well. When does Tricksters Queen come out

As a Tamora Pierce fan, I am happy to say that I LOVED THIS BOOK! Aly is the perfect heroine: clever, resouceful, witty, and determined. She is "the chosen one" for Kyprioth, a trickster god, to put a raka queen on the throne of the Copper Isles. Will she succeed with glory? Or suffer a humiliating blow to the lower class? With just the right amount of wit, politics, and romance, Trickster's Queen is a must-read for all ages.

She blends the old characters with the new in seemless fashion leaving you to laugh at her old refrences that only you and Aly understand. Aly remindes you of her parents constantly for you Alanna series fans. As usual there is a romance, an enemy that can be beaten, gods, unruly townsfolk, prophesy, and mage trouble. Lets hope a certain present from Daine will be able to help. (hint: starts with a d and lives with the dragons). All in all after you finish reading you're going to want to reread it almost instantly and start your wait for tamora pierces next books.

This book is probably part of the best series that Tamora Peirce has yet written. This is totally bound to be a favorite of teens(and even older)everywhere. She has the perfect balance of action, romace(yay!),and heroine's wit.Even better than the first by a little bit, if that's possible. I was totally into this and couldn't put it down.Total page turner.The likes of which not seen since Sabriel and A Great and Terrible Beauty!You will NOT be sorry to read this.

Now, this book is what I would call an absoulutly astounding start to what I'm fairly sure will be a fantastic quartet. It brings in an impossible amount of my favorite elements to a book:spys, romance, adventure, action, and a whole lot more! I also like that it involves Allana, also one of my favorite charecters Tamora Pierce has created, and, to my pleasent surprise, Daine is also in it! Well, to sum it all up, I highly suggest reading The Trickster's Choice, it is so good!

After praying for years that Tamora Pierce would write another Alanna book, I was incredibly excited when I heard that a book about Alanna's daughter was coming out. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and when I did, I devoured it. This beginning of a series captivated me, and I hope it does the same for you. It give you a different look on having a hero for a mother, and once again shows that girls really can do anything they want.

Ok, I love Tamora Pierce. I read, like, all of her books. This perticular series was great. I thought it was an awsome follow-up to "The Song of the Lioness." Trickster's Choice was awsome. It was really the perfect novel. Full of suspense, romance, drama, action, and adventure. But, her second book lacked in some areas. I feel that it was a bit confusing and hard to follow. There was just too many things to remember!

Tamora pierce's Triksters Queen is a memorable sequel , to say the least. Although i cannot honestly say that this was one of her best works. I can say that it is well suited to be the sequel to Trickster's Choice. If you have read Trickster's Choice you will remeber the forever watchful Aly, daughter of the lioness of tortall.In this book Aly fights to protect the "twice royal", a girl who is to be crowned queen of the raka. I must confess that I am uneasy about reavealing anything about this book because i believe that you should read it and discover the plot instead of someone telling you. If you are a devote fan of Mrs. Pierce's work then you should read this book. i do recomend it and i hope that you enjoy it.

From the very first page you are drawn to this amazing girl who seems to attract troubles attention. This book is filled with magic and sarcastic wit. You will happily follow this character as she outwits all around her, giving you a sense of awe. By being able to follow her though every plot she devises, you will drawn to her wild nature. Her sarcastic additude will entertain you through out even the most dire of situations and maybe even have you laughing out loud. If you are looking for a lighthearted book of magic and fantasy I recommend this to you whole heartedly. Enjoy!

Here's the basic storyline. Aly, a teenager, lives in Tortall with her knight/mage mother and her father who is a spy for the king. She becomes involved in a God's plan to bring down the Lurian kings and replace them with a raka queen. Aly is placed right in the crossfire, acting as the God's interpretor.

Personally, I did not think this was one of Tamora Pierce's greatest books. It was a little too predictable and there was not much action. I belive that her series "Protector of the Small" was quite a bit better. However, this book did have some well-developed characters and many details.

First off I would like to say that was a very good book that I enjoyed reading, but it definately did not measure up to Song of the Lioness or the Immortals. the main reason I think is because it lacked action until the very end of the book. The other series were packed with action, so it was a bit of a disappointment

I have loved Tamora Pierce since the first ALanna book came out. I've been reading these enchanting books ever since. I am a seventeen year old girl and I just finished Trickster's Choice and was amazed. I reccomend this book to anyone who loevs magic, well written battles scenes, and jsut a touch of something more than just your average novel.

In my opinion this was a bad piece of writing on Tamora Pierces part. In the past she has captured us with extrodinary tales that have taken writing to a whole new level, however I feel that in this book she has taken away everything that once made her books so wonderful. The plot was slow and boring, there was nothing that the character did that really captured my attention, although I like the idea of someone following George's footsteps,I thought this book could have played out much nicer. It lacked the suspense and emotion that is normally shared with one of her books. I hope that her next writing gives us a little more magic and fun than what was shown in Tricksters Choice.

I'm an adult, but love Tamora Pierce's stories. I've read four of her other series, and just discovered this two book set. (Trickster's Queen follows this book). it was hard to put down--and as an avid life-time reader that's not something I say often. Whatever your age, it's a great read!

I've read virtually everything she's written. She wins awards for good reason. And her stories get better with every new one she writes. The Trickster duo are exceptional and so much happens in Trickster's Queen, the 2nd book, that I could barely keep up. I'll have to read it again a few times.

It was such a pleasure to read about a character who isn't somber or driven, someone who takes all the pleasure in being alive that she can. I loved this book.

Trickster's Choice does take me back to the "good old days" of Alanna's time, but something is lacking in this book. It's a twisting, confusing mass of "raka" and "laurin" glob that keeps growing and growing. Aly's character is likeable enough, but her power is sloppy. She can't wield a sword like her mother and doesn't have a take-charge attitude....yet. I loved Dove (Dovalyn) because she's that kind of gal that you have to watch out for; intelligent, cunning, and will eventually come to save everyone's backs. (More my cup of tea!) Also, the whole reunion of people from all of Tamora's previous Tortall books was just plain....MUSHY. Gathering everyone from Numair, Daine, Buri, Kel, and Raoul together...even FAITHFUL (only that bit I liked, heh) was a bit too much. It was over done, in my opinion. Their stories are done with, their tales are part of Tortall's history...but now a new history has to be set down, and that is of Aly's fight to save the family she has wagered to protect.
There are elements to the character of Aly that are missing. Since we're meeting her now, without having a background on her from any other book, we need a foundation to start on. The foundation Tamora gives is not a solid one...it lacks and she makes up for it by placing certain actions/events/things in places, as if to explain her character as the book goes along. But the placement is awkward. It should have been done at the beginning of the book!
The first book is a slow-paced, half-adventurous jab, which is sort of good because I realize that the second one will be twice better, as it will have to explain and unfurl the tangle that has stacked up in the first one.
Trickster's Choice is a good read, but I think (and I'm hoping) the second book will be much better - with more twists and turns than this dragging first book.

I didn't like Trickster's Choice very much, but because I was a fan of Tamora Pierce's I bought this book and read it, hoping the story of Alianne, the daughter of Alanna could be redeemed. Apparently, it couldn't.

Trickster's Queen is a continuation of Trickster's Choice, and in this book we learn what happens to Aly, Nawat, the Raka rebellion, and the whole attempt to put the "twice royal" girl, Sarai, on the throne. Unfortunately, everything is totally predictable, and, well, boring.

The book was fairly long, and that in itself is perfectly alright, but on top of that, it was boring. I don't know how anybody can make a rebellion boring, but Tamora Pierce certainly can. I mean, maybe I just bought a faulty copy with missing pages, but as far as I can tell, nothing ever went wrong for Aly and her crew- everything seemed to work out as planned- even better than planned thanks to the appearence of the darkings (things first introduced in the Wild Magic Quartet), Aly's "charm" and rescourcefullness, and a huge spy network which Aly sets up within the first couple pages of the book. Had Aly and the raka raced any setbacks, or an intellgent villian, the book would have been infinately better.

My second problem with the book is the "protagonist" of the book, Aly. I found Aly to be a boring character thanks to her lack of personal flaws; not only was she daring and brave, but she was beautiful, charming, and daring. I'm not saying Tamora Pierce had to make Aly stupid or ugly, or anything like that, but had Pierce added some personal quirks like, maybe Aly could be afraid of heights, or spiders, or whatever, she could have been an interesting, real character. Right now I feel that Aly is a boring character whose every move is predictable.

My third issue with the book is Nawat and his little romance with Aly. I'm sorry, but I just cannot get over the fact that the love interest is a crow-turned-man. This would be alright had Nawat gained a brain when he became a man, but the fact that he retained his bird-brain killed me. Everything out of his mouth was along the lines of "Aly, lets make nestlings!" And thanks to Nawat's one track non-existant mind, the romance between him and Aly was so, for lack of a better word, stupid. I couldn't figure out why they liked each other so much as their romance seemed to be all about "making nestlings." I just gained no insight into either character.

And my fourth (and don't worry, final) problem is the ending of the book. And I wish I could say why but I don't want to ruin this book anymore for people.

Despite it's flaws, the writing was pretty good. *Just* the plot and characters were more than lacking. I know I'm going against the flow with this review, as everybody seems to love this book for some reason. Maybe I'm just out-growing Tamora Pierce, but I don't know... I still love her books about Daine and Alanna. I think this book would be best for those 12 and under, but for me, at age 16, this book was just a great big dissapointment.

This book simply had to many characters. And those characters all had similar sounding names. I think Tamora Pierce has lost her spark in her old age, <relatively speaking of course> Honestly, Trickster's queen is almost exactly like the first one, Trickster's Choice, except their in a new city.

And I really hate that crow dude, Nawat. He is an idiot. Ally is, as it has been said, a Mary Sue, which is by the way a disgustingly perfect person. (i'm only defining "Mary Sue, because i didn't know what one was for the longest time.)

Then the book's a bit long. Like 150 so pages, too long. It could have been shorter, Tamora, way shorter. Then i would have liked it better. Books rarely drag on for me, i read fast, but this book i just read to finish it.

Then the royal family was just a tad to stupid.

And there's never a cloud in the sky, in less of course you need one.

-Qoute taken from Walgreens commercial. (also inside joke)

I disagree with the people who say that Tamora Pierce has lost her touch. I think that I prefer the whole 'knights and castles' plot better than spys in another country (hence the 4 stars), but these were still awesome books. I recommend all of Tamora Pierce's books to any girl looking for a great fantasy/romance series.

I have been an avid fan of Tamora Pierce since I was nine years old. I have read all of her works, but as time as gone by I have noticed a disintegration in the quality of her work. Trickster's Choice is a prime example of this. Not only is the story, and its sequel, predictable and bland, Pierce has sucked out all possible interest in this particular time period of Tortall. All in all this was a particularly weak show by a very talented author. However, Tamora has redeemed herself with her newest novel Terrier (Beka Cooper).

Won't disappoint but the plot moves pretty slowly throughout the book. There's a lot of background information you have to keep up with. I would suggest it to the patient readers who can appreciate a well written piece over a fast moving plot.

You probably think that I am some big pessimist trying to put the author down, but I am not. I read Trickster's Choice, the one before it, and liked it. Than, i got this one. It dragged quite slowly and was a bit disappointing compared to her other fabulous series. The biggest problem with this second book is the main character. She knows everything! She knows when to do this, or when to keep her mouth shut, or when to act innocent. She has no flaws, which makes the book quite boring. Another reason why this book is not very good is because it drags on forever. There are no real big jumps that grip you, not once in the book. I am sorry to say that it was very dull.

Please agree with me, no matter what the other people say. Or, at least read other series of Tamora Pierce, because this is not a big winner as you might think.

If you haven't read the Alanna Series you may find yourself very confused. Or you'll have to read over it twice in general to make sure you understand properly. The book is very good. Its a complex world the author has created where the characters and the actions are so realistic.
You will be reeled in and find yourself thinking about the book for countless hours. Truly a masterpeice.

Ok,I've been reading Tamora Pierce's books for a long time and they're all great!(I own all of her Tortall books and read all of her circle books~~~also i've read all the tortall bokos at least 10 times each!)It was a bit confusing in this one because she went a bit further into the politics and cultures.Personally I do like the other books more but this one was still great!

My applause to both Tamora Pierce for an excellent story and Trini Alvarado for bringing it to life. An excellent series for those long rides home.

For you Book Reviewer Want-To-Bees, please keep it to a paragraph or two, you tell to much and help no one.

I'm a extremely large Tamora Pierce Fan. I have read every single one of her Tortall books, and found that this series was my least favorite.

First of all, it was filled with too many sub plots and small missions that, in the long run, didn't matter. In reality, you could skip over basically half of the book and skip to selective parts, such as when Sarai leaves, Nawat comes back, and the war at the end.

Also I didn't like how everyone died in about...oh...a paragraph. Not only that, but I didn't even care they died. I only cared about Nawat and Aly, who seemed to steal all of the attention.

I found there were a lot of plot holes. I really enjoy how in most tamora pierce books, there is a daunting overall villian that seems nearly impossible to beat. Taybur Sibigat would have been a wonderful example of this. If she had kept Dunevon and Elsren alive, the book would have been much more interesting. That way, Aly would have had to engage in a battle with Sibigat, while not truly wanting to kill him. That would have been very interesting.

Also, I hated how Sarai left. What was that? I always predicted that Dove would act not as queen, but sort of the management of all of her affairs. It irked me that Sarai suddenly left.

The ending was extremely disappointing. Nearly 900 pages built up to a 15 page battle scene that involved Aly doing...what... more paper work? Seriously.

The only part of the book I really enjoyed was Nawat's transformation from idiotic and moronic to a man. Their romance and sexual relationship seemed very real to me, though I couldn't help but wonder why Aly was so attached to such a shallow man.

Overall, I missed a ton of details in the novel because it was so boring I didn't care to read them. The entire book, or at least 400 pages of it, is just recalling details. This happened, that happened, this siege happened, then another mission went successfully.

Overall, the book should have been shorter and structured differently. Pierce took the easy way out when she killed off vital characters, and left the entire Isle to "accept" Dove as queen. She alluded and built up plot lines but never fulfilled them. There should have been more of a struggle, more faults with their sieges, and a more interesting and suspenseful climax. All along it was obvious they would win. That's why it was boring.

Overall, if Pierce had graphed out an actual plotline, this book might have been better. It was too picture perfect, mundane...

Yet, I did read it quite quickly. Despite all of that, I do enjoy her books and will continue to read them. I just don't understand why she suddenly started writing so horribly.

This is one of Tamora Pierce's best books, almost as good as the alanna/immortals series. Aly, daughter of Alanna and head spymaster George, is a truly lovable character, very resourceful, witty, and interesting to read about. I could not put this book down ... the plot was very good too.

I first read this book a year or so ago. When it came out, I anticipated it highly, envisioning Alanna's daughter (Alianne) to be much like her parents, being a highly ambitious and goal-oriented person. This was not at all the case. Alianne seemed to be rather intent on being the only one in her family, both adoptive and blood-related, to not contribute at all, except in the area of spying.

I had thought Tamora Pierce's books were of a similar theme, showing the coming-of-age of people that originally were thought to be typical of their age, such as Keladry and Alanna being noble-born females, and Daine being a commoner, born to a single woman. Alianne, it seems decided that she would reject what everyone expected of her and sort of go in a different direction (to all appearances), dying her hair blue and going to a university to flirt with some male students. She was also determined to ignore her mother Alanna's insisting that she actually do something with her life, unless it was something that her family clearly didn't approve of: spying.

This novel could have been interesting, except it died very shortly after it began for me. Where were the ideals seen in the other Tortall books; the desires, the ambitions, the doubts? Where was the action, the suspense? Both Alianne and the book seemed to possess little of any of these qualities. I find Keladry, Daine, and Alanna to be a lot more "real" than Alianne is. Additionally, this book simply seemed to have TOO MUCH INFORMATION. It is very difficult for a reader to remember so much brand new information regarding an entirely new culture and an entirely different set of characters for the majority of the book. I hope Trickster's Queen remedies at least some of the problems seen in Trickster's Choice, though it seems like a long shot. I rate other Pierce books highly, but this one fell very short.

Trickster's Choice has an exciting beginning with Aly (the main character, Alanna's daughter) feeling slightly rebellious against her mother and eventually getting captured by pirates. The introduction of newer and more different characters adds a vivid twist to the story. However, the momentum of the story does slow down a little towards the end, which I had to force myself to read. At first, Pierce convinced me that her story was something new, but it's getting a little old. I would not call this book good or bad, but one that is still an okay read.

I am so bored by this book; it is just so hard for me to pick it up. I have read other books by Tamora Pierce, ok only the Alanna series, but I thought that series was really amazing. When I saw this one and found out that it was Alanna's daughter I was so excited. I started reading to a pretty good conflict. Then I am completely bored by the constant dragging on about the story. I keep hoping something exciting is going to happen but it doesn't seem to ever happen. I guess it's your choice if you want to get this book or not. Looking at the other reviews I see a lot of them really liked the book. In my opinion it was one of the worst I have ever read so far.

Tammy has done it again. Trickster's Queen is a GREAT sequel. Tammy's writing style has changed slightly from her Alanna books written 20 years ago, but that is one that thats great about TQ. The plot twists and turns. It is a little slow at times, but don't let that discourage you from reading this.

I am 12, I highly enjoyed it. I warn cautious parents, there is, like someone else said, a very highly restricted but obvious sex scence. The concepts might be hard to grasp for someone younger than 12. There is also a bloody war and quite a few deaths. I think people 12 and up would like Trickster's Queen.

Tamora Pierce does it again. An excellent book which keeps you on yours toes every minute. Aly is as witty and intriging as her mother. This book was wonderfully written with a great plot. I loved the contresversy between the lurnarian and the raka. It was an amazing book, my number 1 choice!

Aly is a most complex character that i absolutley loved!

This book is excellent and is enjoyable to all ages. Pierce uses old as well as new charactors to weave an excellent story. This is a very good book and will satisfy those waiting for a sequel to Tricksters choice

I have always enjoyed Tamora Pierce's books. I believe this book is one of her crowning achievements. When I started this book, I stayed up past 2 a.m. just to finish it. I am glad Aly has found happiness with an-interesting person, to say the least. If you are going to read this book, read Trickster's Choice first, so you won't be lost.

I've read and loved all Pierce's books, but this series reads like it was a struggle to write. Too much plot without action, too many names and characters, unconvincing characterization, and severe moral ambiguity. Difficult to really get behind a spy hero in this day and age, particularly one orchestrating a revolution that kills innocents. If you're new to Pierce, try another series first. My favourites are Protector of the Small and Circle of Magic.

Personally, I enjoyed the book. However, be forewarned that it ends with a bit of a cliffy and you'll be screaming for certain truths to be reveiled by the end of the book. All I have to say is that Tamora Pierce better hurry up with that sequel everyone will want to have pretty quickly!

This is another great book written by Tamora Pierce, and the best part is that the main character is Alianne, Alanna's daughter. If you want to read this book I strongly recommend that you read beforehand the rest of Tamora Pierce-s book in the realm of Tortall.

I have read may of Pierce's books and she has yet to dissappoint me. Trickster's Queen is a great book about a young woman coming of age into her own talents, finding love and making a place for herself in the world. There can never be too many books like this!

I have been a huge fan of Tamora Pierce's books ever since I first got my hands on the Song of the Lioness Quartet, so I had high expectations for this book. I enjoyed it, but I prefer some of her earlier books, where the characters and their realationships were developed in more depth. However, this book does have a great plot, and has the same blend of action and politics that worked so well in her previous novels.

Trickster's Choice is another sucess for Tamora Pierce. Aly is a strong character who uses her brains more than brawn. Aly with the help of both magic and friends is able to accomplish the challanges she is presented with.

Tricksters Choice continues on the tradition of "sheros" and is just as enjoyable as the predecessors.

it was absolutely fantastic. my only complaint is that is ended too soon. The only thing i'd warn people of is the sex scence, which really isn't detailed or anything. It's more the before and after of her& Nawat's escapade. on tamora's website it explains why there's sexual content involving teenagers,and after reading it i think some wary readers will be more understanding of the material.

Please don't skip over it, it's a great read. I loved the ending, i always thought Aly and nawat should end up 2gether!

It's a good book, people. sheesh. its book 13. u can start at 1. remember Roger is EVIL!!!!!!!!!!! If you think he's a good person you have no taste and should jump off a cliff. Delia is evil too. Alianne is awesome and roger is evil. after u r done reading all 14 books u should start memorizing them. i have finished memorizing the first 1 and am working on the second. Roger is evil, Delia is evil and Jon is a prig. remember that. k. if u dont like this series, jump of the Empire State Building and Die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved this book, and most of the people whe said it was bad were too young to understand the politics and complexity of this book. though it is not the best of the tortall series, it is still another one of tamora pierce's masterpieces and I CAN'T WAIT FOR TRICKSTERS QUEEN!

I read this book in sixth grade and am about to read it again. I loved it. Being the extreemly fast reader i am I had to stop and think after to make sure i took it all in. Very complex yet amazigly interesting.

This book was definitely not my thing. I could not take it anymore. It was wordy, actionless, and very difficult to read. I expected a fabulous read, but it took me 4 weeks to get me to page 150, whereas it usually takes me two-four days. I had to return it to the library. I am so glad I did, because I read the next book I got in a week! Trickster's Choice is not as wonderful as it seems.

I'm 15 and I have read all of Tamora Pierce's books. I have LOVED them all. Her best books are the ones with Tortall in them (Alanna,Protecter of the small,Wild magic,and the trickster books)If you have not read them i highly suggest you do they are simply amazing.

I loved this, but the first one was definitely much better. This is probably the least exciting of Tamora Pierce's books. (I'm not saying it isn't good, just the less so than the rest of her tales.) Pierce my favorite author. She works wonders with storylines.

It's a good book, people. sheesh. its book 14. u can start at 1. remember Roger is EVIL!!!!!!!!!!! If you think he's a good person you have no taste and should jump off a cliff. Delia is evil too. Alianne is awesome and roger is evil. after u r done reading all 14 books u should start memorizing them. i have finished memorizing the first 1 and am working on the second. Roger is evil, Delia is evil and Jon is a prig. remember that. k. if u dont like this series, jump of the Empire State Building and Die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the first series by Tamora P.; I also read Song of the Lioness, Protector of the Small, and the series about Diane in Wild Magic. I would also give Aly's mother's series, Song of the Lioness, five stars.

I really liked this book and I think it is a great addition to the Tortall books. I like the addition of politics, I think it makes it a more interesting read. I think Aly is a strong believable character. Anyone who loved the Alanna series will love this.

I thought Trickster's choice was an amazing book and I've been waiting since april for trickster's queen to come out. I was very dissapointed with trickster's queen. It was a slow paced book with very little action untill the end. The main character Aly lost her spunk and it was just arelly boring book.

Tamora Pierce brings her characters to life in Trickster's Choice. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey to the magical medieval realm of Tortall. I can't wait for the next installment of Aly's captivating adventures.

This looks like a boring book at first glance but it is everything but that it is fast paced from start to finish and once again Tamora Peirce includes a strong heroine. I believe the cover picture is misleading as it made me think of fashion but the inside is much better.

Alanna's daughter Aly is a sparkly new Tortall character, but her shine wears off early. The story begins with Aly bouncing into her father's office with blue hair-- "It's all the fashion at the university, Da! It makes a statement!" Amusing, and introduces her rebellious personality, but there's an obvious modern day influence that seems out of place.
Aly has a knack for spying and decoding. She and her father argue: she wants to be a field spy, but he doesn't want to lose his only daughter. Her mother is hardly around, but has also put her foot down about the spying issue. So Aly runs away. It was only supposed to be for a little while, but a pirate slave ship overtakes her. Aly strategizes her way out of being a pleasure slave. She lands in a goodhearted family who introduces the politics of race in the Copper Isles--"raka" and light-skinned people, native nobles and foreign ones--that causes so much tension.
A trickster god has been watching Aly for her entire journey, and he makes a deal with her...
And do you know what, that's where I closed the book and tossed it in my pile of really dense fantasy stories I'll spend time with on a rainy day. Those books that are too slow to grab interest, that are probably okay but not great.
Although Aly is interesting, she is not as amusing as Alanna. After reading Tamora Pierce since I was 9 years old (I'm almost 13) I've met all her main characters and Aly is nothing exciting. I guess fans more loyal than I am will sort through the dense politics and put up with Aly for 400 pages, but I won't. The politics are as deep-rooted and confusing as the war agenda in LADY KNIGHT, without the redeeming factor of action. So I've moved on, and unless you fall into the category of really bored, or die-hard fan, I suggest you move on too.

First of all, I liked this book. Most of the characters were good and the setting and stuff. But Aly annoyed the HECK out of me!! It is like the first book character that I have really not liked at all.

But besides that, the book was very good.

i've been i fan of tamara's for years but this time she out did herself so much action its almost like a movie but better much better.

aly is for filling her dream to be a spy but as always its not easy.

this book is awesome!!!!!!!!!

alright this is one of the best books in my oppinion she has written besides ne of the protector of the small Quartet.it's clever,filled w/suspense and curisity....you just can't wait to see what happens next.

This book doesn't have enough action! Often during the book Aly lets people do the fighting for her. For the daughter of the Lioness, I would have thought that she would have had more spunk. I love action stories and this wasn't one. Aly is such a girly-girl! She dies her hair BLUE for godness sake! I'm not interested in spys, I'm interested in fighters! She needs to get a life!

This book starts a couple months after the end of the 1st book. I think that the book was one of the best of Tamora Pierce's book, but it would have been better if Nawat would fall in love with some other girl; Aly deserves someone who likes the same stuff as her. Not that Nawat is not a good character...lol. It's just my opinion...

I do not see anything new in Pierce's general plotline. While reading this book, I lost a severe amount of interest in it. The writing didn't impress me, and I was pushing myself to read this. It got a whole lot better towards the end, though. I'd still recommend this book to any one of Tamora Pierce's fans.

This book is a fast-paced adventure that tells the story of a young rebellious girl named Alianne who ran away in order to make her parents pay more attention to her. When she ran away, she was captured by the coastline by pirates, who sold her as a slave. She did not cooperate with her captors, and was given to the Balitang family for free.

There she became a well respected part of the household and uncovered some of the family's deadliest secrets. She maintained these secrets and her loyalty to the family while keeping some secrets of her own, and trying to escape.

The god ruling over the Copper Isles, the location of the Balitang family, made a wager with Ali that she couldn't refuse. In order to win this wager, she would need to stay in slavery to the Balitangs for the remainder of the summer.

This proved to be a much harder task than she expected.