John Lennard
2008-01-01
The four books making up The Immortals are the 5th - 8th (of 15) novels set in Tortall, and introduce the' Wildmage', Veralidaine Sarrasri, who appears in most later novels in the Tortall series. The Notes in this book cover Tamora Pierce's life and work; the world of Tortall (including the geography, cast, and neighbouring cultures); the strange menagerie of immortal creatures who may be friend or foe; and the pantheon of interfering multicultural god/desse/s. The well-illustrated Annotations pay special attention to the many animals who feature, cultural and historical references, and the major thematic issues that develop throughout the quartet. Wild Magic, Wolf-Speaker, The Emperor Mage, and The Realms of the Gods are all covered on a chapter-by-chapter basis, and there is a link to the deleted chapter of The Emperor Mage (in which Daine heals a poisoned camel). The Essay compares The Immortals with its successor quartet, Protector of the Small, for both the brave teenage heroines have a particular and very educational relationship with Pierce's greatest fantasy-beasts, the amazing (and amazingly smelly) Stormwings. The Bibliography has a section detailing works about' Tamora Pierce and Children's Writing'.
Diving into Tamora Pierce's work was like uncovering a treasure trove of empowering narratives. This quartet, following the journey of Alanna of Trebond, offers a fresh take on medieval fantasy through the lens of a determined young woman striving to become a knight in a male-dominated world. It's refreshing to see a heroine who's as skilled with a sword as she is with diplomacy, and the exploration of themes like gender equality and identity is both timely and timeless. The narrative is vibrant and the character development is commendable, making it a wonderful addition to my library.
