Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce (born December 13, 1954) is a fantasy author who writes books for young adults. She is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania.
Most known for writing stories involving young heroines, she made a name for herself with her first quartet (originally intended to be a single book) The Song of The Lioness, which followed the main character Alanna through the trials and triumphs of training as a knight.
Books
The Tortall Universe
The Song of the Lioness quartet
The story of how Alanna of Trebond(disguised as the boy Alan) took her brother Thom's place to train as a knight. She is a girl attempting to do what girls were thought to be unable to do. Alanna meets many new friends along her journey, including George, the charming, mischievous Thief King, Sir Myles of Olau, a lovable, unkempt scholar, His Highness the Prince Jonathan of Conte, Alanna's best friend, Princess Thayet of Sarain, Liam, the Shang Dragon, and Raoul of Goldenlake and Gary (Gareth) of Naxen. She also meets several foes, including Ralon of Malven, son of Count Viljo and Lady Gaylyah, and Duke Roger of Conte, Jonathan's charming, but treacherous, first cousin. Alanna also acquires a new pet-her mysterious black cat Faithful, who, true to his name, dogs her every move. From the desert tribes of the Bazhir to the cold, distant Roof of the World, Alanna's ventures are tales, once heard, never to be forgotten.
- Alanna: The First Adventure (1983)
- In the Hand of the Goddess (1984)
- The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (1986)
- Lioness Rampant (1988)
The Immortals quartet
Daine is an orphan with an unusual talent: she can speak with animals. She is accompanied on her travels by the black-robe mage Numair (called Arram Draper); Onua Chamtong of the K'miri Raadeh; her pony Cloud, the sole survivor of a bandit raid on her farm; Lady Alanna of Pirate's Swoop; and a various assortment of other immortals and animals, including the pygmy marmoset Zek, ogre Iakoju, Stormwing Lord Rikash Moonsword, and basilisk Tkaa.
Protector of the Small quartet
The story of Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl to copy Alanna and become a knight. Kel spent her early years in the Yamani court, where her father was the Tortallan ambassador. She still carries remnants of that life with her, since her principal weapon is a naginata, or glaive. Kel, as she becomes a knight, is constantly plagued by doubters-even though the lady Alanna became a knight, could another girl follow in her steps? Kel meets some lasting comrades throughout the series, including the cynical, but comical, Nealan (Neal) of Queenscove, son of His Grace Duke Baird, chief of the Tortallan palace healers; Seaver of Tasride; Esmond of Nicoline; and others. She also meets some key enemies, including Joren of Stone Mountain. However, from Kel's acquaintances to her adventures on the road to knighthood, this series is a sure winner with fans of Pierce's other novels.
Daughter of the Lioness series
This series is the story of Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, a 16-year-old girl with a knack for spying. When her father, Baron George, and mother, Lady Sir Alanna, refuse her a job with Tortall's spy forces, she sails off, only to be captured by Copper Island pirates. She soon discovers the beginnings of a rebellion there, between the dark-skinned raka natives and the light-skinned luarin invaders. She accepts a wager from the Trickster god Kyprioth (the Crooked God) to keep the children of the Balitangs, her masters, alive, but is in for much more than she bargained for. Accompanied by her mistresses, Lady Dovasary (Dove) and Saraiyu (Sarai), she sets out to put the Isles to right, once and for all. A hint of romance appears, as well, as complications arise. Kyprioth wants to put a half-raka queen on the throne of the Isles, and Aly has to help him accomplish it. Her spy talents are put to great use in this new enthralling series by Ms. Pierce. An ambiguous prophecy lurks here, too, about a raka queen returning to the Isles' throne-only, the king of the Isles, Oron Rittevon, is insane. Read on for more stories of Aly's adventures, and the extraordinary destiny she is to fulfill.
The Emelan Universe
These tell the story of four children—Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar—who discover that they are ambient mages which means that they use magic from outside themselves. They are all powerful individually, but they discover that together they are even stronger. As children skilled in an uncommon magic, they struggle to earn the respect of the adults they encounter.
The Circle of Magic quartet
In which the children discover their magic
- Sandry's Book, UK title The Magic in the Weaving (1997)
- Tris's Book, UK title The Power in the Storm (1998)
- Daja's Book, UK title The Fire in the Forging (1998)
- Briar's Book, UK title The Healing in the Vine (1999)
The Circle Opens quartet
In which the children learn about passing their teaching onwards
Short Stories
- Plain Magic (1999) (published in Flights of Fantasy)
- Testing (2000) (published in Lost and Found)
- Elder Brother (2001) (published in Half Human) (Set in the Tortallan universe)
Further books planned
- The Provost's Dog trilogy, scheduled to begin in 2005 (includes Terrier, Bloodhound, and Elkhound)
- The Circle Reforged (working title), tentatively scheduled for 2005 about Daja, Tris, Sandry and Briar as they come back together as young adults.
- Not yet titled books featuring Tris, Numair, Briar, and Maura of Dunlath