Books › Trickster's Choice
Trickster's Choice
First published 2003 · 591 pages
A clever, sun-drenched game of political chess where a legendary hero's daughter steps out of the shadows to orchestrate a rebellion.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like stepping into a sun-baked, high-stakes game of political chess where the protagonist is always three moves ahead. The atmosphere is thick with tropical heat and simmering rebellion, balancing the tension of espionage with the triumphant thrill of watching a brilliant mind at work. It trades the clashing swords of traditional epic fantasy for whispered secrets, forged alliances, and quiet subversion. The narrative voice is wry and pragmatic, grounding the divine interventions and royal conspiracies in a deeply relatable coming-of-age journey. It is a deeply satisfying read for anyone who loves a hyper-competent, unapologetically clever heroine who realizes that she doesn't need to wield a broadsword to change the fate of an empire.
- Mood
- intrigue-laden
- sun-baked
- tense
- triumphant
- Tone
- wry
- pragmatic
- clever
- adventurous
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- forging an independent identity · the burden of legacy · political rebellion · the ethics of espionage
- The writing
- Direct and accessible, laced with dry humor and sharp, observant details suited to a spy's perspective.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from feeling stifled by her legendary lineage to confidently orchestrating her own destiny through wit and subterfuge.
- Who it's for
- Readers who delight in hyper-competent, pragmatic heroines who outsmart their enemies from the shadows rather than overpowering them on the battlefield.
Content notes
- slavery and human trafficking
- colonial oppression
- fantasy violence
- kidnapping
About the book
Tamora Pierce brings readers another Tortall adventure! Alianne is the teenage daughter of the famed Alanna, the first lady knight in Tortall. Young Aly follows in the quieter footsteps of her father, however, delighting in the art of spying. When she is captured and sold as a slave to an exiled royal family in the faraway Copper Islands, it is this skill that makes a difference in a world filled with political intrigue, murderous conspiracy, and warring gods. This is the first of two books featuring Alianne.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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