Small is Not A Bad Thing

So, I originally planned to end the week with a blog about one of my favorite childhood classics, The Secret Garden.  However, in the wake of Tempests and Slaughter and how I waxed poetic (Hah!) about Tamora Pierce's writing, I thought I'd take you in depth with another of her series.  Recently, I've reread two different series by Pierce, so it was a matter of picking which one I wanted to discuss.  I thought about the Immortals Quartet, because Daine is one of my favorite characters in all of Tortall,but I think in today's world, the Protector of the Small quartet is more appropriate.

In the same NPR article that I quoted on Wednesday, Pierce was asked about the #MeToo movement and if she saw that movement and other current events reflected in books of her genre.  She answered that science fiction and fantasy give children exposure to real world problems at a distance, allowing them to close the book at the end, think about what they've read, have discussions and come to an opinion.  I think this is a particularly astute answer because it's true.  I hadn't realized it before, but it is true.  The Protector of the Small quartet deals with bullying, prejudice, assault, cruelty and a number of other topics, but in a way that gives you food to think about instead of saying "This is bad."  Characters have their own opinions which leaves you open to decide where you stand.

First Test is the first book of the quartet.  We are reintroduced to the only female knight in the land of Tortall, Alanna the Lioness, because a girl has come forward wanting to be a page.  The Training Master, Wyldon of Cavall, doesn't think this is a good idea, but he is convinced by the king to allow the girl to try.  Wyldon places her on probation--if she doesn't finish the year and prove herself, she will not be allowed back.

The girl in question is ten year old Keladry of Mindelan, or Kel to her friends and family.  Her parents were ambassadors from Tortall to the Yamani Islands, where women are trained with weapons and without to protect themselves.  She also learned to hide her emotions in the Islands, because that is what is done.  She is not happy about the probation--it is asked of no other page--but she agrees.  Her first night in the palace her room is vandalized by the boys.  This leads to one of my favorite exchanges.  Salma, basically the housekeeper of the wing, points to a piece of vandalism that says women can't fight and asks what they think their mothers do when raiders come and the lords are away--"Sit in their solars and tat lace?"  Kel tells her about an aunt who lit barrels of flamable materials on fire and had them catapulted at the enemy raiders.  Salma replies, "As would any gently reared noblewoman."  I don't know why, but I crack up every time I read this.  Kel's best friend quickly becomes Nealan of Queenscove, a fifteen  year old late arrival to the pages.  Honor is everything to Neal--Queenscove is a pillar of the country, and his older brothers died in the Immortals War leaving no knight for the country.  So he steps away from learning to be a healer and turns to knighthood.  By the end, he manages to balance both.  Kel manages to excel in her classes during the first year, but shows her skill in a final hunt at the end of the book.  Wyldon allows her to return the following year.

In Page, three years pass.  Kel gains a maid of her own, named Lalasa, who was assaulted by another noble.  It was not reported because it would be the word of a maid against that of a noble.  Who would believe her?  Kel teaches her how to protect and defend herself, which she is able to successfully do, a huge boost to Lalasa's confidence.  She continues to pass her classes with ease, particularly as Lord Wyldon makes things more difficult for her.  This time, he doesn't do it because he wants her to fail, but he's trying to make her better.  Kel also shows another flash of being a successful leader when she manages to rally some of her fellow pages in a small skirmish, keeping them alive until help can arrive.  Discovered in the first book, Kel is afraid of heights, and her character as person and her ability to overcome problems is tested when her maid is kidnapped.

Squire sees Kel as squire to one of the most interesting men, I think, that Pierce has written.  Lord Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak was a year mate of Alanna and King Jonathan.  In the book, he commands the King's Own, an elite force that is often on the front lines.  With Raoul, Kel gets an education in command, supply, tactics, strategy, and warfare.  They hunt immortal bandits.  They fight in some of the first skirmishes of the new war.  And Kel begins to fight in tournaments, allowing others to see her skills.  During this book, Prince Roald's new bride finally arrives from the Yamani Islands, and it is a childhood friend of Kel's. She is able to help smooth the way between them so that their marriage can be successful.  Kel proves herself capable of being diplomatic as well as a good warrior.  However, in her Ordeal of Knighthood, Kel is given a task. A man named Blayce the Gallan is creating monsters of steel from the souls of kidnapped and killed children.  Find him, she is told, and kill him.  And now Kel, who protects anyone who cannot protect themselves (and tries with some who can protect themselves), is given her greatest challenge.  In an incredibly touching moment, Kel is presented with her shield by some of the most important women in the land.  Her shield carries a distaff border--one with two colors-- that signifies a lady knight.  She is the only one with this honor.  Lady Alanna never claimed one.

Full war has broken out in Lady Knight.  Kel goes north with her newly knighted year-mates where she is placed in command of a refugee camp.  She is not happy about this--she wants to go and hunt Blayce and I don't blame her one bit.  He is an evil piece of work who, in the final confrontation, basically says its' not his fault his powers lie in necromancy and death.  Well, no, but you don't need to be creating creatures of ultimate death with the souls of CHILDREN you monster.  Sorry.  I'm a bit opinionated about that one.  Anyway.  Kel is actually really good at managing the camp, and everyone says so.  But when she is away and the camp is attacked, and her people stolen, she's a scooch upset.  She totally goes down the treason route, chases her people to Scanra, and with a little bit of help, gets them back.  You go Kel.  I don't want to give too much away!

Always the hard part with these is not giving too much away.  I want you to be interested in the story but not have all the details.

I've said before that this Quartet is my favorite although the main character is not.  Why?  In Pierce's other quartets, her characters are gifted with some kind of magic.  Kel isn't.  She's truly the result of what hard work and determination can get you, and I appreciate that.  It reminds me that I can do more with my life.

Anyway.  I'm going to leave you there for today.  I'll be back on Monday with a new book and a new genre!