OMG, I LOVE THE KELADRY BOOKS!! I especially lovethe new cover of a girl in realistic armor — someone PLEASE send an update through for those of us who bought the books before? The covers of my iBooks version are these vague pastel abominations — WE DESERVE THE NEW AWESOME COVERS!! ANYWAY... GODS, I love these books!! The Keladry books are the best of the Tortall series (with the first 2 Beka Cooper books running a very close second). With each series, Tortall becomes more and more real, deep, and developed, and with Kel, we finally get a real, everyday hero. Kel isn’t magic. She isn’t blessed by the gods, nor have any of Tortall’s gods spoken for/to her. She’s real. She’s everyday. She succeeds through her own determination, smarts, guts, and stubbornness, struggling through a misogynistic, sexist culture that wants her to fail. Yet Kel doesn’t do it alone — she makes friends. She wins approval and help from mentors along the way. She knows her goal and she keeps at it. These books should be given to every young girl — to quote another great fantasy writer, fantasy isn’t there to show us the monsters exist. It’s there to show us the monsters CAN BE BEATEN...or won over...or turned into allies. And even today, the monsters of Misogynism and Sexism and Harassment are still baring their fangs and roaring from their marble houses — we need heroes as Kel to show us we can survive and thrive, despite them.

Tamora Pierce is a very talented author. This book was fascinating from start to finish. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

I had stumbled onto this book, while trying to find something good for son to read. Well I read the first ten pages or so ,and found myself off on wonderful adventure... I have since continued to read the whole series , and what a series it is... Filled with strange creatures,and a impeccably written story of a brave girl who wanted to be a knight , that nothing stands in her way of her goal! Superb read,great for any age!!!