First Test - Tamora Pierce

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Title: First Test Author: Tamora Pierce Genre: Fantasy Rating: 9/10 # pages: 204 Date read: August 2007, February 2009, October 2012, October 2015, January 2019

Summary: Ten years after the proclamation that girls are eligible for a page's training at the court of King Jonathan of Tortall, 10-year-old Keladry applies and is accepted, but on probation, a condition never forced on male applicants. Resolutely accepting the challenge, the hostility of the royal training master, and harassment by fellow pages, Kel makes her way through this difficult year. Trained from early childhood by stoic Yamani warriors, she is capable of hiding her feelings, fearless in a fight, and willing to work hard to develop the necessary physical capacity. Her sympathy and support for the underdog and her sense of chivalry earn her the admiration of a group of fellow pages. She also befriends the sparrows that live outside her window and wins over a difficult horse. Kel performs well in her first real battle and is grudgingly allowed to stay for another year of training.

Review: Kel is by far the most ordinary heroine of Tamora Pierce's books, which is part of her charm... even if I do miss the magic. "Alanna" will always be my favourite Tortall quartet - especially since she was how I discovered Tamora Pierce in the first place - but "Protector of the Small" runs a close second.

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