First Test
Book 1 of the Protector of the Small Quartet
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4.6 • 149 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Kel will not allow this first test to be her last. Her adventure begins in the New York Times bestselling series from the fantasy author who is a legend herself: TAMORA PIERCE.
Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in Tortall—one that allows females to train for knighthood. After years in the Yamani Islands, she knows that women can be warriors, and now that she’s returned home, Kel is determined to achieve her goal. She believes she is ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page. But standing in Kel’s way is Lord Wyldon. The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights. He says she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. It’s just one more way to separate Kel from her fellow trainees. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even when the test is unfair.
More timely than ever, the Protector of the Small series is Anti-Bullying 101 while also touching on issues of bravery, friendship, and dealing humanely with refugees against a backdrop of an action-packed fantasy adventure.
"Tamora Pierce's books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a young woman. She is a pillar, an icon, and an inspiration. Cracking open one of her marvelous novels always feels like coming home."
—SARAH J. MAAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Tamora Pierce didn't just blaze a trail. Her heroines cut a swath through the fantasy world with wit, strength, and savvy. Her stories still lead the vanguard today. Pierce is the real lioness, and we're all just running to keep pace."
—LEIGH BARDUGO, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Customer Reviews
Great story!
Tamora is one of my favorite authors, and really gets around to showing the idea of girl power in new ways, at the same time as opening the way to LGBTQ+ acceptance, and introducing readers to the problems racism and sexism impose on society. While her Alanna series I wouldn’t recommend for younger audiences, as it has more sex and such, her other series are perfect for teenage girls between 13 to 45 and older. It’s fun, exciting, and wonderfully creative!
Awesome!
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.
Yet another great series!!
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!