Squire - Tamora Pierce

[goodreads]

Title: Squire
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 339
Date read: August 2007, October 2010, January 2019, June 2024

14-year-old Keladry of Mindelan is ready to begin training as a squire after undergoing four grueling years as the first girl to be officially educated as a page. Disappointed at first that Lady Alanna does not choose her, Kel is delighted when gruff, good-natured, down-to-earth Lord Raoul takes her on. The next four years prove to be tough but happy, for the most part, as Raoul and most of the others in the King's Own (a corps of 300 men--299 now, plus Kel--that enforces the law and helps local nobles deal with problems such as centaur attacks and forest robberies) treat Kel as an equal. Throughout, Kel is physically and mentally preparing herself for the final test in the Chamber of the Ordeal, in which fourth-year squires must successfully face their greatest fears before becoming knights.


A bit repetitious, especially as we're told 5 or 6 times thoughout the book just *why* Kelandry is no longer petrified by heights. I think we got it after the first time, thanks!

Still a charming book though, and a quick and pleasant read. Probably my favourite of the lot as it's more diverse than the others.

Reread 2019: I actually didn't find it repetitious this time around... maybe I just knew that it was coming, so it didn't bother me.

While I did miss reading about Kel's life at the palace, there was so much to love in this book - Kel getting Raoul as her Knight-Master, the tilting, the Yamani, Cleon - and of course, Kel finally meeting Alanna. I don't think I'd claim it my favourite any longer, because the two first ones are excellent as well, but it certainly is very, very good :-)