Title: Lioness Rampant
Author: Tamora Pierce
Series: Song of the Lioness Quartet #4, Tortall #8
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Medieval fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Year: 1988
5th sentence, 74th page: Since the night before, Liam had been careful and deadly serious, concentrating on keeping their company safe until they arrived in Rachia.
Alanna has fought shaman, bested wraiths and vanquished magi, but nothing could prepare her for this challenge. Accompanied by the legendary Shang Dragon, a man Alanna finds unbearably attractive, she must attempt the impossible. Recover the fabled Dominion jewel. And she must work fast because Tortall is in terrible danger. Thanks to her brother, Thom, Roger of Conte is back, and more powerful than ever.
Lioness Rampant is a great conclusion to the Song of the Lioness quartet. Alanna’s years of travel, training and testing help to bring her powers to the fore. And luckily, because this is an epic battle and journey that helps to cement her fame as a hero in the Tortallan world. Yet, it is also where Alanna is able to come full circle – she finally accepts herself for everything that she is, she finds herself someone that she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and she is able to find her place in the world that makes her happy and fulfilled.
Every literary hero has one true enemy that challenges them, forces them to not only battle their external demons, but also their internal ones. For Alanna, this is Duke Roger, and the lingering effects of their last battle have reflected on her every action since. Finally, in Lioness Rampant, Alanna is able to face up to this aspect of her past, and not only realise what she did was justified, but also save her family, home and kingdom.
There are so many things that I love about the Song of the Lioness quartet – not just the characters, and Alanna’s ability to constantly grow to accept herself. But it also highlights the fact that woman can do anything (and everything) that a man can do. Although some of the more physical aspects required a lot more work, it is a woman, not a man who is able to eventually save the day. She is also able to turn down marriage, and although Alanna does find her perfect partner, it is a tiny subplot to the series. It isn’t the aim of the story to find a man and live happily ever after, rather, it is just an addition to the overall happy ending of the characters within the series.
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