First Test Protector of the Small: Book 1

Tamora Pierce — 1999

Tamora Pierce returns to the land of Tortall with a heroine who refuses to quit in this first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Protector of the Small series. Ten years after knighthood training was opened to both males and females, no girl has been brave enough to try. But knighthood is Keladry's one true desire, and so she steps forward to put herself to the test. Up against the traditional hazing of pages and a grueling schedule, Kel faces one roadblock that seems insurmountable: Lord Wyldon, the training master of pages and squires. He is absolutely against girls becoming knights. So while he is forced to train her, Wyldon puts her on a probationary trial period that no male page has ever had to endure. Further set apart from her fellow trainees, Kel's path to knighthood is now that much harder. But she is determined to try, and she's making friends in the most unlikely places. One thing is for sure, Kel is not a girl to underestimate.

Reviews

Monicap@insult_the_glory

Apr 29, 2024

Okay, this is probably soemthing that EVERYBODY on goodreads should know about me: Tamora Pierce was my FIRST favorite Author. She is a large part of my reading identity and also the reason I decided I wanted to be a writer when I grow up. That being said, of course I loved this book. **my book grading system has been adjusted for this book, since i can not grade the romance as there is none. The MC is only 10, after all. The Characters: 9/10 Kel is only ten in this book, but she's a very strong character. She's the first girl who wants to become a knight after Alanna in Song of the Lioness, so it's very exciting. But she's told she'll be on probation for the first year and her first reaction is: I won't accept second-best. Then something happens and she decides that what she'll learn in one year is more important than her pride. One thing that disturbed me about her character is that she spends all this time saying "I am stone. My heart is a lake as still as glass. I feel nothing." and stuff like that. she was taught to think like this while in the Yamani Islands, but it... it disturbs me. People should not strive to be stone. It's fine if you don't SHOW emotion, but you should FEEL it. Neal: Oh, what can I say about Neal? He's sarcastic and smart and funny and I love him. Cleon: ...Okay, I'm cheating because I've read this whole series before. not much happens with him... in THIS book. Roald: Is nowhere near as interesting as Jonathan was in Song of the Lioness. Joren: I do love me a good antagonist. Plot: 9/10 So, this books plot is about Kel's first year as a probationary page. she learns everything the other pages are, and everyone knows she's a girl. And, the things that they're learning and the way they're learning them are different from the Song of the Lioness, which is a good thing since we don't want to have the same quartet all over again with different characters. overall grade: 18/20

Connor @cgbart

Oct 5, 2022

** spoiler alert ** Every time I reread this book, I find myself loving it even more. From Kel and Neal's unlikely friendship to her stalwart, solid sense of loyalty and justice, I could probably reread this series every month and not grow tired of it. Plus, nothing sends me to tears quicker than Kel peeling into a hallway shouting to her friends that she can stay for the rest of their training. edit from Nov. 2016: I have apparently reached the "read Kel's books twice a year" stage. I... needed the encouragement after the election, and Kel (and Tammy) came through. What a beautiful picture of resilience and determination--as well as of friendship and hope and hard work. update from June 2017: Keladry and Neal remain the best and yes, I still cried after reading the ending. For the twentieth or whatever time this is.