Tamora Pierce is a lover of strong female role models and most of her books are aimed towards young women ages 8 - 16. This series is a perfectly wholesome series, age recommendation is a loose thing. If you have a junior younger than 8 who churns through books, then by all means get them to read some of Pierces work. Though there are plenty of fighting scenes and wars so it may also appeal to young men out there too. So Steemians! If you enjoy some light reading or have some young adults and would like to give some wholesome reading, this is for you.

Squire

So Kel has become a Squire. She has conquered her fear of heights, albeit in a manner she would have preferred not to have gone through. We find her trying to stay busy and well trained whilst being extremely frustrated. She is a squire but no knight will take her.

She does jousting practice and manages to strike a small wooden ring made of willow. At the sidelines congratulating her is Raoul of Goldenlake. Leader of the Kings Own (a small militia of highly trained soldiers) and a hero in his own right and one of the few knights who ever treated Kel with any kindness. Raoul has never EVER taken a squire before but he asks Kel now.

The King is about to go on Progress with the Yamanis in order to view the realm and for the realm to meet their new princess. The Kings Own is to act as a form of honor guard during the Grand Progress. Only Raoul knows nothing about Yamanis and Kel knows almost all there is to know. Raoul needs Kels help in a way that almost no others can assist him

Upon returning to her room to pack, her best friend Neal comes in nervous and agitated. He informs Kel that her inspiration and hero Alanna the Lioness has chosen Neal to be her squire. Alanna when she's not being a knight is a mage and a healer. Neal himself has the gift with a knack for healing, him getting chosen by the Lioness is the best thing for him. Despite him being squired to the knight she had always dreamed of being squired to, she can't findi it in her to be angry or upset. As time goes on she realizes that she probably got the better deal in the bargain.

This is a story of Kel realizing that she has a knack at commanding and learning that she can like and respect the people she's under command. She starts looking at the boys in her life as more than just fellow pages/squires. She gets to see and help against horrors, both natural and very unnatural.

Thoughts

This book is a bit of a self-discovery book. Mixed with this is that it's a builder book. Lots of things obviously put in to make the reader very eager to read the final book. Pierce has done something different for a change with her romance and has made Kel somewhat fickle. Having crushes on one person and lose that crush and develop a crush on someone else within a matter of months.

We also meet centaurs for the first time in all the series and get a better look at a few other immortals (legendary beings) in this book. In particular, griffins.

As much as I say it's abuilder book, the plot line is engaging and you quickly find yourself empathising with the characters.

Finale

9/10 for young readers and 7.8 for adults. Fellow people who have read the series. If you could have named the griffin, what would you have named him?

If you enjoyed, please read my review of;
Book One: First Test
&
Book Two: Page