Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature)
Pierce is back, with a handsome upscale cover, for the continuation of her Kingdom of Tortall fantasy saga. This entry smoothly segues into the story of Aly, the sixteen-year-old dilettante daughter of Alanna the Lioness, the King's Champion. After an adolescent spat with her formidable mother, Aly sails off for some breathing time--to be promptly seized by pirates and sold into slavery in the Copper Isles. Aly, being her parents' daughter (her father is spymaster to the king) accepts this as an opportunity and promptly insinuates herself into a royal family and their political problems, with a little nudge from the local trickster god, Kyprioth. Following Aly and her new masters into exile, Pierce overcomes her former over-emphasis on magic and allows the non-gifted Aly to solve each challenge through sheer intelligence alone (mostly). This refreshing change turns the story into a non-stop adventure that could be taking place in any medieval empire . . . well, any medieval empire that contains a cast including a charming man-crow who adds a new touch to romance scenes by preening the heroine's hair! Pierce's dedicatory offer of thanks for editorial advice to "read aloud" is well given. Her writing style has improved by degrees. The result is the usual Tamora Pierce page-turner that's also a pleasure to read. Aly herself grows from merely trying to win a wager with an unprincipled god akin to the Navajos' Coyote--into a young woman of mission who cares deeply for her charges. Bring on the sequel! 2003, Random House, $17.95. Ages 10 to 14.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2004)
With the 1983 publication of Alanna: the First Adventure (Atheneum), readers first met the memorable character Alanna, a strong heroine who poses as a boy in order to become a knight. Her story continued throughout the four volumes of "The Song of the Lioness Quartet" and gave Alanna a solid seat in the pantheon of commanding female protagonists, both within the fantasy genre and beyond. Twenty years later, Tamora Pierce delights Alanna's legions of fans and welcomes a new audience with this introduction of Aly, Alanna's 16-year-old daughter. In a deliciously satisfying case of "the shoe's on the other foot now," Aly pursues her dreams of becoming a field agent spy despite her mother's objections. Often absent from home in her demanding job as King's Champion, Alanna is frustrated by Aly's choices and seeming lack of direction. When they are together, mother and daughter often clash. As Aly says, "You try being the daughter of a legend. It's a great deal like work." Behaving like the adolescent she is, Aly plans an unauthorized solo sailing trip, rationalizing that her parents will be pleased to welcome her back upon her return. Of course, nothing goes as planned, as shortly after setting out on her journey, Aly is captured by pirates and transported to a distant island, where she is sold as a slave to a noble family. Plenty of opportunity for spying soon presents itself, and while Aly discovers that she has a natural gift for the work, she also learns some hard lessons about growing up and the consequences of her impetuous behavior. Along with political intrigue and action-packed battles, Aly's adventure includes a manipulative trickster god who intervenes at moments of crisis and her budding romance with Nawat, a crow who can assume human form. Nawat's attempts to woo Aly with offerings of choice grubs and other avian-minded courting strategies provide prime moments of comedy. Despite a dense opening section explaining the story's setting, this fast-paced tale of adventure is readily accessible to newcomers to Pierce's fantasy realm. CCBC categories: Fiction for Children. 2003, Random House, 432 pages, $17.95 and $19.99. Ages 12-16.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 17))
The new Tortall page-turner will delight existing fans and create many more. Alanna's daughter, Aly, is a rogue like her father, the former thief who's made legions of Pierce's girl fans swoon. At 16, Aly's an accomplished flirt-and brilliant at the intelligence work learned from her spymaster father. Her parents demand she pick any career but her beloved spying. After a fight with her mother-"try being the daughter of a legend"-Aly sails off in a snit, is captured by pirates, and sold as a slave in the Copper Isles. A bet with a local trickster god plunges her into a simmering race war, court intrigue surrounding a mad king, and a centuries-old conflict between gods. Winning will take all her diplomatic and spying talents. Unlike Pierce's earlier protagonists, Aly arrives fully formed, a snarky, talented uber-heroine. Cameos of old favorites complement a rich cast of new characters. Aly's difficulty with the complexity of colonialism adds surprising, welcome depth. A ripping good yarn that introduces a new series. (glossary, cast of characters) 2003, Random, $17.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 10 to 15. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, November 2003 (Vol. 37, No. 6))
It's not easy being the daughter of a legend. Aly's mother is the bold and brave Alanna (heroine of Pierce's The Song of the Lioness quartet), but Aly doesn't aspire to be a knight like her. Instead the 16-year-old dreams of helping her country, the magical kingdom of Tortall, by serving as a spy, though her parents worry that it is too dangerous. Aly gets a chance to prove her worth as an undercover agent when she is captured by pirates and sold as a slave in another land. A trickster god named Kyprioth intervenes in her fate, promising to return her to her home and to convince her parents to let her become a spy if she will safeguard her master's children through the summer. The master and his family are out of favor with the king, and they have been exiled to a remote tropical island. Aly accompanies them there, and gets involved in politics, murderous plots, the machinations of the gods, and racial issues, too. A raven-turned-boy comes to her aid, and offers some romantic interest as well in this adventure-filled, well-plotted tale. Pierce is particularly good at creating strong female characters, and fantasy fans both young and old will enjoy her imaginative and engrossing tales. Readers will eagerly await the next volume in this exciting new series. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JSA*--Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Random House, 446p., $17.95 and $19.99. Ages 12 to adult.

Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, November 2004 (Vol. 38, No. 6))
To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, November 2003: It's not easy being the daughter of a legend. Aly's mother is the bold and brave Alanna (heroine of Pierce's The Song of the Lioness quartet), but Aly doesn't aspire to be a knight like her. Instead the 16-year-old dreams of helping her country, the magical kingdom of Tortall, by serving as a spy, though her parents worry that it is too dangerous. Aly gets a chance to prove her worth as an undercover agent when she is captured by pirates and sold as a slave in another land. A trickster god named Kyprioth intervenes in her fate, promising to return her to her home and to convince her parents to let her become a spy if she will safeguard her master's children through the summer. The master and his family are out of favor with the king, and they have been exiled to a remote tropical island. Aly accompanies them there, and gets involved in politics, murderous plots, the machinations of the gods, and racial issues, too. A raven-turned-boy comes to her aid, and offers some romantic interest as well in this adventure-filled, well-plotted tale. Pierce is particularly good at creating strong female characters, and fantasy fans both young and old will enjoy her imaginative and engrossing tales. Readers will eagerly await the next volume in this exciting new series. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.) Category: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror. KLIATT Codes: JSA*--Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Random House, 422p. maps., $8.95. Ages 12 to adult.

Vicki Arkoff (Midwest Book Review, "Vicki's Bookshelf" column, October 2003)
Fantasy fans particularly teen girls -- will rejoice with the discovery of "Trickster's Choice," a richly told tale that introducing a compelling new heroine worth cheering for. It features Aly, the headstrong 16-year-old daughter of Alanna the Lioness, the famed character from best-selling novelist Tamora Pierce's best-selling medieval fantasy "Alanna: The First Adventure." Aly dreams of working for the Tortallian intelligence, but when her parents forbid it she sails off in a rage only to find herself captured by pirates and sold as a slave. In exchange for her freedom, she makes a deal with Kyprioth, a Trickster god, then must protect the rightful heir of the Rajmuat throne until the autumn equinox. Caught in a world filled with race tensions, corrupt rulers and more than a few players vying for the throne, Aly must use all of her wit and cunning to make sure she and her new charge survive. Inspired by the tumultuous history of Tudor, England, the elaborate story appeal to both historical fiction and fantasy fans. Filled with adventure, suspense, intrigue, emotion and exotic settings, "Trickster' s Choice" is a genuine page-turner that will leave readers waiting impatiently for Pierces next sequel. 2003, Random House, $17.95.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November 2003 (Vol. 57, No. 3))
Aly, sixteen-year-old daughter of Alanna the Lioness, the King’s Champion, has a lot to live up to, and she plans on doing so, despite the efforts of her parents to keep her safely at home. Determined to avoid an inevitable confrontation with her mother, Aly takes her small boat to visit nearby friends; she is captured by marauding pirates and winds up as a slave in the house of Duke Mequen Balitang of the Copper Isles. This is just the beginning of Aly’s adventures: a bet with a trickster god, the delusions of a mad king, and the growing revolution centered around the daughters of the Balitang household involve the capable Aly in a maelstrom of racial politics. Her plan to escape quickly disintegrates in the face of her growing involvement with and affection for the individuals and peoples of a country long at odds with her own. The ethics of patriotism and loyalty bend around assassinations and assignations, and Aly finds herself reexamining her own actions in light of the actions of others. In what one hopes is the first of a new series, Pierce has set the stage for a complex adventure. Aly is a promising character with depth and humor, and her wit and daring make her a natural leader readers will be eager to follow. There is intelligence to the complex plotting that supports the unfolding events, and believable relationships add the necessary emotional note to the rising crescendo of action. Secondary characters have nuance that makes them intriguing, and even the villains are multidimensional; good does not always triumph, and loss is an accepted part of battle. The threads of the emerging plot weave a compelling tapestry that will leave old fans impatiently waiting for the next installment and new fans searching for other Pierce titles. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2003, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2003, Random House, 422p, $19.99 and $17.95. Grades 6-9.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004)
Alianne, daughter of the woman-knight Alanna from Pierce's Song of the Lioness quartet, finds herself to be the brains behind a large operation conspiring to return the Copper Isles' subjugated native class to power. Pierce convincingly portrays a girl raised to espionage and combat, but secondary characters are less convincing. Readers hooked on Pierce's spunky heroines will have more adventures to anticipate in this new quartet. (Daughter of the Lioness series). Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2003, Random, 423pp, $17.95, $19.99. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Caitlin Augusta (VOYA, October 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 4))
With this novel, Pierce begins a series featuring Alianne Cooper, daughter of Alanna, the heroine in the Song of the Lioness Quartet. Sixteen-year-old Alianne, or Aly, wishes to become a spy like her father, but neither parent supports her dangerous aspirations. When Aly is captured by slave traders in the Copper Isles, she fulfills her desire in unexpected ways. Making a wager with the Trickster god, Kyprioth, Aly contracts to safeguard two girls who are related to the current luarin royal dynasty as well as the dispossessed raka rulers. Aly must create a secret spy network and fighting force to defend her charges from royal assassins, bringing hopeful raka slaves and haughty luarin nobles under her command. Expect teens to snatch this book the very second it hits the shelves. Pierce delivers not only the continuation of her beloved Alanna series but also creates a smart, sassy heroine whose struggles to escape her parents' expectations and find her own niche will resonate with teens. Furthermore, no reader will forget Aly's love interest. Transformed from a crow, Nawat's devotion consists of offers to "mob" Aly's enemies and feed her fresh bugs. Pierce melds political intrigue, interfering gods, and memorable mortals to fashion a powerful story line with humorous undertones, marred occasionally by plot contrivances inserted to prevent Aly's family from intervening. Nevertheless, this series opener is packed with Pierce's alluring mix of fantasy, adventure, romance, and humor, making the book an essential purchase for school and public libraries. VOYA CODES: 4Q 5P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Random House, 446p, $17.95. PLB, $19.99. Ages 11 to 18.