In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

A Spoiler Free Reread Review

I wrote my notes for In the Hand of the Goddess as more inserts for my review, so that’s pretty much what you’ll get here. In the Hand of the Goddess was pretty good and a fairly quick read. It does largely feel like filler, to be completely honest, but it’s good filler.

“Fencing” is not actual fencing. It’s just a sword battle. Actual fencing uses foils and not just whatever the fuck swords. Fencing is closer to that scene in The Princess Bride between Westley and Inigo, not whatever this swordplay is between Alanna and Dain.

Here we get absolute confirmation that Duke Roger of Conte is a bad guy. I’m just gonna roll my eyes and sigh heavily because “DUH.” His conversation with Alanna during the Drell Valley thing wasn’t really that unsettling, though I have a feeling it was supposed to be.

So, the whole thing in the Drell Valley had zero sense of urgency. The one battle was quickly over with and that’s really where the bulk of the urgency was. Everything else was just… bleh. Nothing. I didn’t even feel any sense of dread while Alanna was kidnapped and not even vaguely tortured.

I remember feeling like Delia of Eldorne was very much Vanessa from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, when I read this last. Vanessa being Ursla’s human form. I don’t know exactly where that thought came from, but she’s definitely a pretty lure for Jonathan so… yeah. She’s also a mere blip in Alanna’s story, all things considered.

I don’t know if the speed at which I’m blowing through these books is affecting my immersion, but I really suspect it might be. I remember when I first read these, this book actually felt like it was taking up the time it takes up on Alanna’s timeline. It also felt a lot more atmospheric than it does now. Part of that might be the speed I’m reading and part might be that I’m just not as into this style of Young Adult book as I used to be. Who knows.

Favorite Lines

"Myles let the kitten watch from the start, saying cats had the right to learn history as well as anyone." - Narrator

"Just because he behaved badly is no excuse for me to behave badly." - Alanna Trebond