I really liked TQ. It might have been my favourite book by Tammy if I hadn't hated a big aspect of it. I forget the details since I read it months ago, but here my main thoughts:

Good Stuff

*I think it was Tammy's best plot yet. It was unique and intelligent. It wasn't straight forward and character driven like the rest of the Tortall books. The story was primarily about a culture and their history, not a young girl discovering herself. I also liked how it was more puzzley, not everything was clear cut.

*I'm glad she killed off several mainish characters. Finally! I'm so sick of most the main good characters surviving danger. It's more realistic to have characters you like die during trouble, even if it hurts. I did cry during the scene at the docks where they carry in Elsren's body. I would have liked Aly and Nawat to be killed, but I guess that's hoping for too much.

*Not many fight scenes because the story was more intellectual. Yay! I don't like fight scenes. I usually skim them. I liked how the conflict was resolved through plotting and thinking. It kept my attention.

*The Copper Islands culture. Really interesting and a nice change.

Bad Stuff

*Aly wasn't killed/lost forever. I wasn't seriously expecting that to happen, but I did hope for it. :(

*Nawat didn't turn back into a crow. I thought Tammy might surprise us and have Nawat go bye-bye. But no, it didn't.

*Sarai got pregnant. Surprisingly, I liked her elopement, as sick of young marriages in Tortall as I am. But was yet another young pregnancy really necessary?

*Dove became queen. I knew before I read the book this would happen, so I wasn't shocked or disapointed. Dove would be so much happier in the field. Yes, she's a better queen than Sarai, but that's not what she'd be happiest doing. I'm not too upset though, I understand her being made queen. And she'll do a good job.

*So many characters were introduced and given parts big enough that you actually had to remember them. I probably mixed up tons of these characters through the book.

*I also didn't get attatched to any characters as I did in the other books. But I guess she'd have to give more time to character developement and less to plot for this to happen, which I wouldn't want.

*This next point is a rant about Nawat and Aly. If you don't want to get offended don't read it.

<RANT>



DID THEY HAVE TO GET MARRIED AND PREGNANT AT SEVENTEEN???? GRRRR! I almost threw my book when I read this. I hate them so much. They are some of the worst characters in the Tortall books. GSFESDLFJ! I hate them. Stupid people. "Oh Aly I am a MAN now. See me being MANLY? Now I will pressure you into sex because I am a MAN." Grrr shut up you stupid crow. She treats you like crap, is spoiled and condescending, and you worship her and can't shut up about being a MAN! Get a backbone and a brain. And then she gets pregnant at 17!!! That part pissed me off so much. Ok, be together, whatever, that's to be expected. But must they get hitched and pregnant so young? BAH!!!! So. Annoying. DSLFJSSESFMSEDF!

I have serious issues with romance in the Tortall books. And this was by far the worse romance. I need to stop thinking about this.



</RANT>

Luv, Bec

"It actually DOES say "Adam and Steve," that's what you get for reading the translation." ~God