#copper isles

[dominionjewel]

Alianne Crow, Spymaster of the Copper Isles “Why, I’m just as true and honest as dirt. And I’m even more charming than dirt.” - Trickster’s Choice

[setokaibapetty]

Tricksters - Tamora Pierce

Trickster's Choice

Aly, the narrator, was exceptionally well-done: spirited young girl of rich, famous parents with just enough skill to get herself in and out of trouble coming to realize her mother might be wiser than Ay generally credited her for. The family she ends up enslaved by were surprising likable for slave owners and she was surrounded by a rich, diverse cast. The real draw for me was the spy tricks Aly used to navigate the secrets of the household she found herself in. Two points that kept this from being a 5 star: I had a hard time believing the Trickster god couldn't find/train a native to help his uprising and I was leery of the love interest being a crow (even if he is man-shaped). I ended up being able to mentally file Nawat Crow under magical being - person but not human (like romancing an alien in a Mass Effect game or a werewolf in any number of bodice rippers) - but it felt like the kind of thing to warn a possible reader about.

Trickster's Queen

As a continuation of the high stakes spy games of the last book, this was quite engaging. Aly seems to have shaken off all the mistakes she made in the first book due to having all of the necessary skills but none of the field experience. Very fast paced as well. Though I think that was due to this book putting a much greater emphasis on Aly being brought into a rebellion where she was just one piece on the board. Not an unimportant piece, but she definitely noted the breadth of the operations that happened around her and how the rebellion was a culmination of efforts that had began far before she had arrived at the Copper Isles. It was a bit disappointing to see lots of her success hinge on magic, prior connections, and the incompetence of her opponents rather than her wits or her labor. Plus I know a god vouched for her but it was really weird that Aly got more trust from the conspirators than the two queen candidates in the last book and the beginning of this one. They were candidates because of their blood (not their abilities), but still. If you can't trust someone to keep a secret, how can you also claim you want them to rule?

[fytortall]

[fytortall]

[madam-buffalo]

30 Day Tamora Pierce Challenge

Day 26: Favorite non-Tortall country, favorite non-Emelan country Non-Tortall - The Copper Isles (who doesn't love a country where the patron god is the trickster) Non-Emelan - Namorn, specifically Kugisko with its frozen canals and brightly painted buildings

[visionsofemelan]

Rajmuat court dress, during Dovasary's reign [x]

[referencetortall]

Paku Alam VII, prince of the Pakualaman Duchy within the Sultanate of Yogyakarta from 1903 to 1937.

[ginguzzler]

30 Days of Tamora Pierce, part 6. Last one!

Day 26: Favorite non-Tortall country/ Favorite non-Emelan country - COPPER ISLES

Copper Isles. Hands down. We spend the most time here outside of Tortall and it sounds GLORIOUS. I've noticed that Tamora has become much more descriptive over the years and it really shows in the Trickster books: the highlands, the jungles, the bejeweled capital. It all feels lush and alive in a way Tortall and Carthak never did. You can really tell how much the writing how evolved and fleshed out.

Or perhaps it's just a reflection of how alert and perceptive Aly is. She really pays attention to her surroundings.

Also, I want that FOOD.

Day 27: Pet (immortal or mammal) you wish was yours - NONE

I don’t want any of them to be mine. That would take away from their characterization! Most of the animals/creatures characters come across are developed via their interaction with those characters. They wouldn't be the same if they were "mine", if you could ever call them that.

But I like crows and it would never hurt to have a Peachblossom on your side.

Day 28: Song that reminds you of a Tamora Pierce book and/or specific passage - NONE?

Most of the songs I know/like are pretty contemporary. I can’t really connect any of them to a medieval-type fantasy setting. It breaks the atmosphere for me.

Day 29: The character you wish was your BFF - KEL or DOVE

I’ve expounded at length upon my love and admiration for Kel and could probably go on forever. But even ignoring my undying love for all she represents and all that she's inspired, she also seems totally awesome to hang out with. Very relaxing, good sense of humor, responsive, and willing to call on people's bullshit - when it's wise. She's just great. <3 XOXO call me, babe of my heart ;)

Dove, on the other hand, is terrifyingly intelligent, insightful, and perceptive. It’d be so much fun to talk with her, even if I couldn’t keep up. Also, figurehead of a rebellion against racist tyrants at thirteen. If nothing else did, that alone would speak to a forceful, fascinating personality.

Day 30: Who would you cast to play your favorite characters/book/series/world?

Me as Kel’s love interest.

Other than that, I don’t really have any! I prefer the images in my head to actors or other celebrities. Actors are usually too good-looking for how I imagine them. All the characters are just..normal people.

And that's that, I guess! My informal love letter to Tamora Pierce and her writings is now complete. Yet it doesn't cover everything I wanted to say. Maybe to be continued more formally in the future?

fytortall was kind enough to reblog one of these and it seems like I've picked up one or two followers from it. Fair warning: don't be misled by occasionally serious reblogs. Their messages are in earnest and should be taken as such, but I am actually completely ridiculous and will just as often post silly dancing and comics. 

Thanks for reading!