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Tamora Pierce
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In the Hand of the Goddess (Song of the Lioness) Paperback – January 1, 2005

by Tamora Pierce (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,640 ratings
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"I don't want to fall in love. I just want to be a warrior maiden." Still disguised as a boy, Alanna becomes a squire to none other than the prince of the realm. Prince Jonathan is not only Alanna's liege lord, he is also her best friend -- and one of the few who knows the secret of her true identity. But when a mysterious sorceror threatens the prince's life, it will take all of Alanna's skill, strength, and magical power to protect him -- even at the risk of revealing who she really is... Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's second adventure continues the saga of a girl who dares to follow her dreams -- and the magical destiny that awaits her. Alanna's journey continues...
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Book 2 of 4
    Song Of The Lioness Quartet
  3. Print length
    288 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    7 - 9
  6. Lexile measure
    750L
  7. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
  8. Publisher
    Simon Pulse
  9. Publication date
    January 1, 2005
  10. ISBN-10
    0689878567
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0689878565
  12. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beloved author Tamora Pierce has written a great number of books, including The Song of the Lioness quartet, The Immortals quartet, The Circle of Magic quartet, The Protector of the Small quartet, The Circle Opens quartet, the Trickster series, The Will of the Empress, Melting Stones, and the Beka Cooper series. She lives in New York and can be visited at TamoraPierce.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon Pulse; Reissue edition (January 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0689878567
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0689878565
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 750L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,640 ratings

About the author

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Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Tamora Pierce is a bestselling author of young adult fantasy books that break past the traditions of the fantasy genre to feature teenage girls as knights, wizards, and above all: heroes. A #1 New York Times bestseller and the recipient of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards award, Tamora has written over 30 books, including the newly-released TEMPESTS AND SLAUGHTER.

Tamora was drawn to books from a young age. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, the child of a "long, proud line of hillbillies," her family never had much. "We were poor, but I didn't know it then. We had a garden where my folks grew fruit and vegetables and our water came from a well," she explains. But one thing they did have was plenty of books. So Tamora read.

A self-proclaimed "geek," she devoured fantasy and science fiction novels, and by the age of 12 was mimicking her literary idols and writing her own action-packed stories. It was thanks to her father that Tamora began writing. "He heard me telling myself stories as I did dishes, and he suggested that I try to write some of them down," Pierce says.

But Tamora's novels had one major difference: unlike the books she was reading, her stories featured teenaged girl warriors. "I couldn't understand this lapse of attention on the part of the writers I loved, so until I could talk them into correcting this small problem, I wrote about those girls, the fearless, bold, athletic creatures that I was not, but wanted so badly to be."

Seventeen years later, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, a brief career in teen social work and some time spent writing for radio, Tamora Pierce held true to her childhood crusade, and published ALANNA: THE FIRST ADVENTURE, the first in a quartet about a valiant, young, female warrior. Pierce's heroine struck a chord with readers across the country and quickly earned her a loyal following.

Now, with over 30 critically-acclaimed books to her name, Pierce lives in upstate New York with her husband Tim and their menagerie of nine cats, two birds, a flock of pigeons, various raccoons and squirrels, and one opossum. "It's a pretty good life, if I do say so myself. Struggling along as a kid and even through my twenties, it's the kind of life I dreamed of but never believed I would get. Yet here I am, after a lot of work, a lot of worry, a lot of care for details, and a massive chunk of luck, the kind that brought me such strong friends and readers. Pretty good for a hillbilly, yes? And I never take it for granted."

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
2,640 global ratings
Wrong Dust Cover, not as pictured
3 Stars
Wrong Dust Cover, not as pictured
I bought all of these under the impression that they would match. The cover I got is different from the one pictured. I'm very picky on having my sets match, so now I have the other 3 as they are pictured and this one is bright purple. Doesn't obviously take away from the book still being amazing, but I know some other people may want a matching set as well.
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Top reviews from the United States

Steven
5.0 out of 5 stars A good adventure
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
Second book of the Lioness series the books is a good tale of a girl who becomes a knight and the trials she has reaching that goal.
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Kenneth Schunke
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book of the series
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2011
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I love this book and it was always one of my favorites growing up. My mother read the series then passed it on to me, and to this day at 25 years old I love to re-read this captivating series about the empowered woman who does what it takes to accomplish her dreams. My daughter is only 2, but when she gets older I will pass these books to her and in the mean time I will recommend them to anyone else who enjoys fantasy and excellent writing.
They may be "young reader," but Tamora Pierce writes in a way that draws you into her story and really lets you relate with her characters. This world of magic and knights is reminiscent of the middle ages of King Arthur and Merlin, but with a new world twist that makes the concept new and exciting. Join Alanna on her daring journey to finding out who she is and making her own place in the world that doesn't want to accept her. A truly inspiring series about being yourself and finding your path when the odds are against you.
This is my favorite of the 4 Lioness Quartet series, but I highly recommend all 4!
2 people found this helpful
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NancyT2U
4.0 out of 5 stars Learning about Girl Power
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2013
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I like fantasy. This is well done without dwelling too much on the past story to hook the reader into the series. I did read them as a series but I could have picked up this one a random and had a quick read without feeling like I was lost. This series is based on a young girl that trains from boyhood to become a knight. Of course no one knows she is female during her journey to become a knight and she does not revel her gender until she has been knighted. This part of the series mostly involves her journey to become a knight and righting the wrong of her world while discovering her powers. A fun read and would work as part of a young reader's introduction to fantasy. No serious made up words, descriptive sexual themes, or gore.
One person found this helpful
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K. Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars Sophomore Slump?
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2013
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I don't think so! Anything is an improvement as Alanna continues to grow older.

Tamora Pierce is an incredible author. I just love her work. The Alanna series is amongst my favorite books. What girl doesn't like to hear about the great deeds and accomplishments of another strong woman?? I only wish she would rewrite the books now, after she's had so long to work on her writing style. But alas, I still love the books the way they are.

In the Hand of the Goddess is where the story begins to get interesting: Alanna is growing into her teenage years, is a squire in the beginning, and quickly is taking the tests for her shield. We begin to see her soften a bit and become less of the hard soul she had been through her childhood. As she lets friends in, she begins to realize that people do care about her. I don't want to ruin any surprises, so I won't say anything more than you'll be dying for the next novel. I'll just leave it at that.
One person found this helpful
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Kay
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this series
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2018
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Hi Hi, I reviewed the first novel and my reaction is the same. I love this series, its a wonderful narrative, has wonderful characters, and has someone wonderful bringing life to the characters. I like the story but Trini Alvarado is the one that made me LOVE the series, she gave life to all the characters and it is a fully immersive experience. I think everyone should read or listen to this book and the rest of the series. And if you like the reader I'd say check out her other work especially Tricksters Choice and Tricksters Queen they are equally great audio and traditional books. I'd also recommend checking out the Bekka Cooper series.
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Lexi
5.0 out of 5 stars Just as amazing as the first time
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2019
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5th grade, I remember having library duty and saw this book laying on the table. At that time I was super obsessed with the baby sitters club. (Yes I am that old LOL) the original cover had her as a young girl riding a horse with a sword in hand.

Ever had a book call to you? Well, this one did, and I couldn't have been more thankful. Alanna helped me through a tough transition in my life, and many times since then.

She was so tough, determined and strong. Tamora pierce is a legend in this genre and very few can compete. She is literally the Goddess of Lit Fantasy.

If you've never read this book, PLEASE take a chance!

Get lost in Tortall with Alanna, ride along side her on her journeys! I will never tire of reading this book. When I'm feeling particularly low and need a reminder of just how bad ass I am, I just pick this book up to give myself a boost.
2 people found this helpful
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Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Tamorah Pierce rocks it!
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2012
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If you want to buy a book for a girl from 9-14, who enjoys fantasy and wants a female character to love and admire, this is the series and the author to get! I love the characters. The main character, Alanna, is a girl pretending to be a boy in a school for future knights. She makes friends and enemies and tries hard to keep her secret from everyone. She is teased and bullied and always prevails by being smart and using her skills. She is never snarky, vain or shallow. The other characters are developed well and add to the adventures. What a wonderful tale. As an adult, it read a little juvenile, but I liked it anyway, and it is written for a juvenile crowd. In a world that loves nasty teenagers who are smarter than their doltish parents or maudlin co-dependent girls whose only goal in life is to be loved by some vampire boy, this book shines like gold. Alanna really is a girl to admire and hold as a hero. I think her author probably is too.
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Marie
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Quick Read: Printing Mistakes though.
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2011
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I've read Tamora Pierce before, and delight in reading her books for when I need something quick and easy. They're delightful, and amusing.
I was, however, disappointed to see that the cover quickly got scuffed (something that should not have happened so quickly from taking the book out of my bag) and that the text had quite a few printing errors (made instead of mad, etc.)
I will keep the book, but only because I got so frustrated while reading the book that I took to correcting the errors as I read.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks
Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2020
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Love this series.
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Charlotte Hardy
5.0 out of 5 stars Always good to reread!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
I’ve been rereading this book for 20 years and it is still amongst my favourites. Alanna is an excellent heroine, but her human side is never forgotten and that is what makes it truly special.
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Lalenja
5.0 out of 5 stars Mein absolutest Lieblings Buch!
Reviewed in Germany on January 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
Ich kann nicht mal sagen, wie oft ich es nun in den letzten Jahren gelesen habe. Sicherlich an die 50 mal oder sogar mehr, trotzdem nehme ich es immer wieder gern zu Hand.
Ich war zudem erstaunt über die unterschiede in den Übersetzungen. Daher empfehle ich jedem der Englisch kann oder auch sein eigenes Englisch verbesser möchte, es auch in Englisch zu lesen.
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S. Lacey
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book and seeing Alanna achieve some of her goals in this instalment of the series! Looking forward to starting the next book!
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Simone
5.0 out of 5 stars Kindheitserinnerungen
Reviewed in Germany on August 17, 2014
Verified Purchase
Ich kenne dieses Buch seit meiner frühen Jugend. Ich war sehr froh, als ich die Kindle Version endlich entdeckt habe.
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