the Dalaverse

It's time to reread Tamora Pierce. I'm having such strong Tortall pains, it's not even funny. And I need them all together, in order -- Alanna, Daine, Kel, Aly. Already I'm as loyal to the last two as I am to the originals. I was sitting here musing about the particular strengths of each series, and what makes it so satisfying to read them all together. Alanna is, of course, the strongest heroine -- the first and still the best. Although Pierce's writing has improved over the years, Alanna as a character still gets the strongest emotional reaction from me. Also, there's George, and George is in my top five characters of all time list.

Daine's appeal with the talking to the beasties bit is kind of a childhood holdover, but where I think the series really shines is its main villain. In Emperor Mage, Ozorne is a fucking badass, and the part where Daine totally loses her shit over Numair's supposed death and tears the man's palace down with reanimated dinosaurs is just so awesome every single time I read it. The Immortals also have your classic fantasy, well, immortals.

Kel took time to grow on me, I admit, but I love her because she's so solid and grounded, and because she has no magic. Her story's got the best warrior element with the least mysticism, and I also appreciate the treatment of romance -- namely that it takes a backseat. Kel is maybe the most human of all Pierce's heroines, and I think that's part of the reason why I had initial trouble getting into her story.

And Aly I have less formed thoughts on because she's so new, but damn, the girl is clever. And the social/political situation in the Trickster books is the most fascinating, with a fantastic cast of supporting characters. Dove goes not to my favorite characters of all time, maybe, but certainly at the top of my TP list.

I guess one of these days I should try to get into the Circle series, especially since I hear she put the gay in it, as if I needed another reason to love her. But...it's just not Tortall.

Okay, I really do have to start my ritual paper when I get back from breakfast. Even though Berger only talks about ritual, like, TWICE in the entire book.