Alanna
1954
- fiction
- song of the lioness
- tortall
- knights and knighthood
- sex role
- knights and knighthood in fiction
- sex role in fiction
- alanna (fictitious character : pierce)
- juvenile fiction
- fantasy fiction
The story
"From now on, I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight. And so yound Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magin. So one day they decide to switch places. Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin training as a page. But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and discern her enemies from her allies. Filled with swords and scorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins--one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will mke her a legend in her land.
What it’s like
Brisk, plainspoken prose moves through a medieval-style kingdom of drafty stone halls, muddy practice yards, horses, and the clatter of wooden swords, with the sensory detail kept lean and practical. The mood is adventurous and hopeful with a steady undercurrent of unease, the warm glow of a campfire or a crowded mess hall set against the chill of court intrigue. It suits a rainy afternoon, a long train journey, or a reread when you want momentum without dread. Pacing is quick, with short chapters that end on hooks, and the emotional register stays earnest and lightly romantic, following a determined young person learning to trust friends, test her loyalties, and grow into her own strength. Violence is present, mostly in training bouts, skirmishes, and occasional injuries, and it is brief and not graphic; there is some fear and a few tense confrontations, but nothing gory. Romance is a low, slow thread rather than a focus. It is written for readers who enjoy coming-of-age fantasy, classic quest-and-training stories, and heroines who must prove themselves in a world built to doubt them.
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