Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Searching... Bayport Public Library | J FICTION PIE | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Aly's adventure continues. . . . No longer a slave, Alanna's daughter is now spying as part of an underground rebellion against the colonial rulers of the Copper Isles. The people in the rebellion believe that a prophecy in which a new queen will rise up to take the throne is about to be realized. Aly is busy keeping the potential teenage queen and her younger siblings safe, while also keeping her in the dark about her future. But Aly, who is usually adept at anticipating danger and changes, is in for a few nasty surprises."New York Times and "Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tamora Pierce captured the imagination of readers 20 years ago with "Alanna: " The First Adventure. As of August 2003, she has written 21 books including three completed quartets: The Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and The Protector of the Small, set in the fantasy realm of Tortall. She has also written the Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens quartets. The author lives in New York, NY.
Author Notes
Author Tamora Pierce was born in South Connellsville, Pennsylvania on December 13, 1954. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Her first book, Alanna: The First Adventure, was published in 1983 and she became a full-time author in 1992. She writes fantasy books, mainly involving young heroines, for young adults. She is the author of numerous series including Song of the Lioness; The Immortals; Circle of Magic; Protector of the Small; The Circle Opens; Daughter of the Lioness; The Circle Reforged; Beka Cooper; and The Numair Chronicles. Her novel Battle Magic was a New York Times bestseller.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Aly and her fellow rebels return in Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce, the sequel to Trickster's Choice, which PW called "densely political, rife with cultural background and sprawling character trees." Aly insinuates herself into the graces of the Rittevon rulers as she accompanies the Balitang family, disguised as a servant, and assists them in their attempt to reclaim the throne. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Aly, the hero of Trickster's Choice, continues her work for the raka rebellion, using her spying network to overthrow the evil regents and bring her mistress, Dove, to the throne. The flaccid plot and the cookie-cutter sameness to the characters make this 400-pager drag, but the magic and exotic settings, plus Pierce+s trademark quips and strong female characters, give the book bounce. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 7-12. Pierce concludes the story of Alanna the Lioness' daughter, Aly, spymaster par excellence, in a fantasy thriller that continues the rich and complex tale begun in Trickster's Choice BKL D 1 03. Still bound by the trickster god Kyprioth to keep the Balitang children safe, Alanna now must make certain that the rebel conspiracy against the harsh Rittevon Crown and its supporters succeeds so that Sarai, the oldest of the Balitang children, will ascend the throne. But Sarai throws a wrench in the plans by eloping, and it's left to her younger, more intelligent and more committed sister, Dove, to prove herself to the people. Characterizations are complex and well developed, and the intricate intrigue is compelling as Aly uses her cadre of spies to collect information and manipulate events leading up to revolution. The growing love between Aly and Nawat, who had once been a crow and now leads the horde of crows in battle against the crown, adds its own spice to a thoroughly engrossing novel, sure to please. --Sally Estes Copyright 2004 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-10-In this sequel to the well-received Trickster's Choice (Random, 2003), Pierce deftly weaves an unforgettable story about Alianne (Aly) of Pirate's Swoop. As the novel opens, the wife and children of the late Duke Mequen Balitang return to the capital city of Rajmuat from their exile on their distant estate. Aly has become a maid to Lady Dovasary, daughter of the late duke, and, more importantly, she is now the spymaster of the raka rebellion that is determined to put Dovasary's sister on the throne in place of the four-year-old luarin king. The light-skinned luarin have oppressed the dark-skinned raka for centuries, and the luarin co-regents now in charge of the Copper Isles are losing their grip on reality as well as on their kingdom. With Aly in control, the raka rebellion is able to stir up enough unrest to cause the uprising to begin. Aly, who is the daughter of Alanna the Lioness of Tortall (from the "Lioness Quartet" series), is delightful in her deviousness. The teen is exceptionally brave, sassy, and diplomatic. She is surrounded by a large supporting cast, which is well developed and necessary to the story. The plot sweeps readers along in a whirlwind of court intrigue, deception, murder, and romance. The humor is wicked, and the plot twists will keep the pages turning to the supremely satisfying end. Teens will be inspired by Aly's determination, her resourcefulness, and her heart.-Anna M. Nelson, Seabrook Library, NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A mix of best and worst in this exciting but oddly paced conclusion to the Trickster duet. Several months have passed since the conclusion of Trickster's Choice (2003) and Alanna's daughter Aly has been training her network of raka rebels against their colonial luarin overlords. Now the Balitang family--Aly's former owners, current unwitting hosts to the rebellion's leaders, and home of two half-raka daughters prophesied to rule post-rebellion--has returned to the capital city. Aly must hold her simmering rebels in readiness, keep her identity secret, succeed at romance, and prevent an all-out bloodbath. Along the way, she plays nursemaid to Balitang daughters Dove and Sarai and a tense and dangerous city. Aly's cleverness and a god's help bring an idealized conclusion to the realistically complex colonial setting--if only it were so easy in the real world. Too rushed for satisfying depth (another volume would have helped develop the fascinating but shallow web of secondary characters), but Aly is easily among the most interesting of Pierce's heroines. Thrilling fun, despite its flaws. (Fantasy. 12-16) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Excerpts
Excerpts
There were spells written deep within the walls that surrounded the Balitang home. They appeared as a shimmering silver blaze in Aly's Sight. As the processsion passed through the gate, she saw magic sunk below the stones, wood, and carvings. It was partially covered by common magical signs for protection and health that any house possessed. They gleamed silver in the carving on the foundation stones and front steps. Unless someone else in Rajmuat had the Sight in the strength Aly had it, no one would see anything but the everyday spells. The raka mages were very good at keeping their work hidden. Ornately carved pillars lined the long front porch and framed the front door of Balitang House. The roof was layered, each lesser roof sporting upturned ends. After the summer's heat and rains, and the winter's cold and rains, with no staff to keep the place up, the house should have looked run-down. But this house gleamed. Not one clay tile was missing from the roof. The stucco was the color of fresh milk. Gold and silver leaf glimmered on the eaves and on the carved wood above the posts. The staff was lined up on either side of the flagstone road. They wore luarin tunics and breeches or hose, raka wrapped jackets and sarongs, or combinations of styles in an explosion of colors that made Aly blink. Housemaids wore white headcloths; the men wore round white caps. They all looked to be wearing every piece of jewelry they owned. Aly counted. Nearly sixty people were here, not including the men-at-arms. Balitang House was as fully staffed as it had been the previous spring. The duchess could not afford this. When King Oron had exiled them, he had made them show their loyalty with gold, emptying Duke Mequen's coffers. Winnamine had drawn on her dowry to pay household costs. If Prince Rubinyan had not virtually commanded her to return to court, she would have remained at Tanair, which was affordable. "Fesgao," Aly murmured. The man had come to stand by her elbow. "Who's paying for this?" "Don't worry," the raka man told her. "It seems our situation has changed. Ulasim will explain." He went to help the duchess out of the litter. Aly looked at the steps. Ulasim waited there on the ground, smiling. He was a hard-muscled man, in his forties with the brown skin of a full-blood raka. His nose had been mashed against his face on several occasions by someone not kindly disposed toward him. A tightness in Aly's heart loosened at the sight of the head footman. He was the leader of the far-flung raka conspiracy, wise and strong at every trial. He had drawn Aly from suspicion to respect. Back under Ulasim's wing, the Balitang family seemed much less exposed. Back under Ulasim's eye, Aly could turn to her specialty and leave him to deal with assassins and alliances. The big raka bowed to Winnamine. As Aly watched, reading his lips, Ulasim told the duchess that they had not spent money they did not have. He reassured her that all would be explained to her satisfaction. once she'd had a chance to eat and rest. As he soothed her, Aly identified a familiar face at Ulasim's elbow. Quedanga, the housekeeper since Sarai was born, had stayed in Rajmuat when the family left the city. She had now returned to Balitang House. "How did they afford this?" Dove murmured as Aly handed her down from the litter. "It will be a lovely tale," Aly replied, her voice sweet. "Some parts may even be true." Dove looked up at Aly, smiling slightly. "You sound as if you wouldn't put it past them to have raided the royal treasury." Aly raised an eyebrow at her mistress. "Do you think they wouldn't, my lady?" Dove sighed. "I hope not. It would complicate things." Dove had understatement down to an art. Hands folded in front of her, Aly followed Dove toward the house. They did not get far. A tall woman stepped out of the house. She was a silver-haired luarin with perfect posture. Her luarin-style gown was pale blue with a high collar. Instead of the traditional over robe, she wore a stole like the raka wrapped jacket, made of shimmering white lawn. Sarai and Dove looked at each other. "Aunt Nuritin," they whispered in shock. Aly had heard of Nuritin Balitang-or as Sarai and Dove called her, the Dragon. Though Duke Mequen had been technically the head of the family, it was his aunt who ruled it. When he had sunk into mourning for his first duchess, it was Nuritin who had badgered him into making a new marriage and a new life. Among the Balitangs, her word was law. Among the nobles of her generation, her opinion was the first they sought. It did not bode well that she looked very comfortable in Balitang House. Winnamine was the first to recover. She approached the old woman with outstretched hands and an apparently genuine smile on her face. "Aunt Nuritin, it's wonderful to see you. Girls, come greet your great-aunt. Elsren, Petranne, come." Aly looked at Ulasim and made sure the nobles couldn't see her before she hand-signed: Does she live here? Ulasim nodded slightly. Again Aly's fingers flew. Are we safe with her in the house? Ulasim came over to whisper, "As safe as anywhere in Rajmuat. We're stuck with the old Stormwing, and that's that. She will learn nothing we do not allow her to." Aly shook her head. "Well, then," she said, "we'll all just be one happy family. What harm could come of that?" Once inside, the duchess looked at her late husband's aunt. "Lady Nuritin, may we have some time to settle in before we talk? I'm not at my best so early in the morning, and this is quite a surprise." "Of course you need rest, all of you," the old woman said. "Go. Bathe, change, unpack, take naps if you need to. We shall have our talk after lunch, and I can explain everything then." Excerpted from Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
Table of Contents
Prologue | p. 1 |
1 Rajmuat | p. 5 |
2 Dragons, Crows, and Doves | p. 27 |
3 Topabaw | p. 53 |
4 The Pavilion of Delightful Pleasures | p. 73 |
5 The Demands of Rebellion | p. 96 |
6 Spies | p. 120 |
7 Putting Darkings to Work | p. 139 |
8 Plots Hatch | p. 161 |
9 Reports and Conspiracies | p. 180 |
10 Eclipse | p. 197 |
11 A Few Changes | p. 221 |
12 Meddlers | p. 238 |
13 A Change of Plans | p. 262 |
14 Dove Among the Nobles | p. 282 |
15 Rebel Preparation | p. 304 |
16 Dunevon's Birthday | p. 321 |
17 Mourning | p. 346 |
18 Conspiracies | p. 364 |
19 Rittevon Square | p. 385 |
20 Battle Joined | p. 403 |
21 Work | p. 423 |
Epilogue | p. 441 |
Cast of Characters | p. 445 |
Glossary | p. 456 |