Tamora Pierce is a bloody fantastic writer.
Earlier today I saw a post about how Tammy’s works were actually just a ciswhitefeminist’s fantasy, and how that blogger was disappointed because they used to love her work. For a second I would’ve agreed, but then I sat back and thought about it. (I will point out where this person might be getting this idea later) Hopefully, this will clear the air for any fans who might be doubting their love for Tammy.
She DOES have POC main characters. It sounded like the writer of the former post had only read Tortallan books. Both Daja and Briar are main characters with point of view in her Emelan series. Sandry is too and she’s mixed. Tris can be interpreted as mixed (there really is no reason against it). At least two of the teachers, Lark and Frostpine, are poc as well. Nico is speculated. Her second half of that series also features Evvy’s point of view in several books. The books are filled with people of different cultures.
In Tortall their are several poc characters but they are a bit harder to spot, especially because many people assume characters are white unless specified. FIRST OFF Verrildaine Sarrasi or DAINE is mixed in cannon (could be more obvious but its true). Her hair is an untameable mass of curls are frequently mentioned, and while she does have blue eyes and come from a place called snowsdale or something, her father is a god so who can be sure. The only thing I remember about her skin might have been freckles which people of darker skin can have. There is some cover art that shows her as pale, but that is usually the book publishers decision not the author.
Queen Thayat is half K’mir, which Tammy describes as
”Actually, they’re based partly on the Mongols in that they’re riders, partly on the Montagnard tribes of the central highlands of Vietnam, and a bit on the Maya at least in their facial bones. Their language is cobbled from the Montagnard. You may have some trouble tracking pictures of them down, but they come from similar aboriginal stock to the Laotian Hmong and Meo tribes and the Thai hill tribes. And their armor is a bit like the armor of the samurai, only it’s lacquer over bamboo in layers and cured to an iron-like consistency.”
which makes all of her children 1/4 K’mir (horselords these are easier to find than I thought they would be). The fact isn’t brought up much after Lioness Rampant but it is mentioned by Onoa (a K’mir) in Daine’s series. Buri is also obviously K’mir.
Daine’s series has great (if mostly male) poc.First off, BAMF-most-powerful-sorcerer-main-love-interest-Numair who is based off of Jeff Goldblum. Sarge, and countless other residents of the castle are. Yes, Ozorne was the villain, but Kaddar was cool! As were the Doi tribesmen. Daine’s series was also hugely about the return of immortals which has many parallels to immigrants/refugees
Keladry’s entire story displays huge respect for the Yamani (Japan) and believes that 90% of her awesomeness came from learning from them (10% from Wyldon). Third and Fourth book include several females Yamanis including the fullblooded Yamani princess Shinkokami who is to marry the crown prince (1/4 K’mir) Also the Bazhir were constant side characters.
Where people might get confused: Now Alanna does come in a little western-white-feminist in Woman Who Rides Like A Man, but she learns. She learns so much about the Bazhir and recognizes that their values may be different but they are just as important. Also, I imagine that Aly might be a bit of the white-feminist-hero to many, but the poc people around her aren’t two dimensional, and they definitely aren’t dumb. On several occasions she is reminded of that. Not to mention every other white character in the books are complete asshats. And in case its not clear, all of these books have a huge cast of POC characters. WWRLaM: Ishak, Kara, Kourrem, Ali Mukhtab, Halef Seif, etc. Tricksters: Dove, Sarrai, Junai, Chenaol, Fesgao, Lokeij, Ochobu, Ulasim, Ysul, Zaimid, Etc.
Furthermore, I highly recommend her Tortall and Other Lands short story collection. A crossdressing female and a Islamic (equivalent) girl who wears a burqa cross paths and we readers get both points of view.
She writes queer characters. Remember the black girl Daja from Emelan? She’s gay. Rosethorn? Openly bisexual and not monogamous. Lark? Longterm relationship with Rosethorn and accepts her fully. Pretty certain Frostpine is asexual. There is a trans woman in Bloodhound (although she couldve been written better). Keladry is completely unphased by homosexuality and Lalasa is a lesbian. There is some talk that Keladry is ace. Now I’m all up for more aces, but she definitely had quite a few men who caught her eye, and there was that whole thing with Cleon. However, I still believe that demisexual is a possibility this has nothing to do with me being demi and idolizing her.
Sure, we can always have more poc and queers in books, but I think Tammy does a pretty bang up job humanizing these people and writing realistic backgrounds. Not to mention how fantastic she writes females in general, and points out so many other issues (classism, education, etc). So if your feeling concerned, reread Tortall, reread Emelan, and reread Tortall and Other Lands. Sorry its long, and I’m probably forgetting quite a few people, so message me if you see any or just want to talk about Tamora Pierce.
(Edit: thank you everyone who left comments about people I forgot/corrections)
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