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Daine Thomas
''The Immortals'' quartet, by Tamora Pierce, is the story of Veralidaine Sarrasri (known as Daine), an orphan with an unusual talent: she can speak with animals. Books # '' Wild Magic'' # '' Wolf-Speaker'' # '' Emperor Mage'' # ''The Realms of the Gods'' Brief summary The orphan Daine applies for a job that takes her and her trusty pony Cloud from her birthcountry of Galla to the kingdom of Tortall. Here she finds a new life and a new family, and learns that she has the magical ability known as "Wild Magic", which enables her to speak to animals, heal them, and take their shape as well as bend them to her will. She makes friends with a lineup of characters and creatures, including the black-robe mage Numair Salmalin, a young dragon named Skysong (nicknamed Kitten), the legendary Lioness, Alanna of Trebond, King Jonathan, and Queen Thayet of Tortall. Characters Main *Veralidaine "Daine" Sarrasri: The main character of the quartet, she is a young woman possessing "wild magic," ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce (born December 13, 1954) is an American writer of fantasy fiction for teenagers, known best for stories featuring young heroines. She made a name for herself with her first book series, '' The Song of the Lioness'' (1983–1988), which followed the main character Alanna through the trials and triumphs of training as a knight. Pierce won the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association in 2013, citing her two quartets '' Song of the Lioness'' and '' Protector of the Small'' (1999–2002). The annual award recognizes one writer and a particular body of work for "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". Pierce's books have been translated into twenty languages. Early life and education Pierce was born in South Connellsville, Pennsylvania in Fayette County, on December 13, 1954 to Wayne and Mary Lou Pierce. Her mother wanted to name her "Tamara" but the nurse who fil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pony
A pony is a type of small horse, usually measured under a specified height at maturity. Ponies often have thicker coats, manes and tails, compared to larger horses, and proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier , thicker necks and shorter heads. In modern use, breed registries and horse shows may define a pony as measuring at the withers below a certain height; height limits varying from about to . Some distinguish between horse or pony based on its breed or phenotype, regardless of its height. The word ''pony'' derives from the old French ''poulenet'', a diminutive of meaning foal, a young, immature horse. A full-sized horse may sometimes be called a pony as a term of endearment. Definition For many forms of competition, the official definition of a pony is a horse that measures up to at the withers. Standard horses are taller than 14.2. The International Federation for Equestrian Sports defines the official cutoff point at without shoes and with shoes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantasy Novel Series
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or magical elements, often including imaginary places and creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, which later became fantasy literature and drama. From the twentieth century onward, it has expanded into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga, animation, and video games. The expression ''fantastic literature'' is often used for this genre by Anglophone literary critics. An archaic spelling for the term is ''phantasy''. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by an absence of scientific or macabre themes, although these can occur in fantasy. In popular culture, the fantasy genre predominantly features settings that reflect the actual Earth, but with some sense of otherness. Characteristics Many works of fantasy use magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Magic, magic practitioners ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trickster's Queen
''Daughter of the Lioness'' series (also known as the Tricksters series) by Tamora Pierce is a series of two novels set in the fictional Tortall universe. It is centered on Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Tortall's legendary lady knight, Alanna the Lioness, who was the subject of '' The Song of the Lioness'' quartet. The novels take place approximately 24 years after the last book in the quartet, '' Lioness Rampant''. History, politics and culture of the Copper Isles Most of the series is set in the fictional Copper Isles, a group of islands roughly west of Tortall, in the Tortall Universe. They were once ruled over by the native Raka, whose inheritance came from the mother's line, and who allowed the oldest child to inherit, whatever gender. The Raka are dark-skinned folk who live in tribes. However, the Raka were often engaged in disputes between tribes, and when the Luarin—white-skinned invaders from the Eastern Lands, led by Rittevon of Lenma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Envoy (title)
An envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, usually known as a minister, was a diplomatic head of mission who was ranked below ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an envoy was known as a legation rather than an embassy. Under the system of diplomatic ranks established by the Congress of Vienna (1815), an envoy was a diplomat of the second class who had plenipotentiary powers, i.e., full authority to represent the government. However, envoys did not serve as the personal representative of their country's head of state. Until the first decades of the 20th century, most diplomatic missions were legations headed by diplomats of the envoy rank. Ambassadors were only exchanged between great powers, close allies, and related monarchies. After World War II it was no longer considered acceptable to treat some nations as inferior to others, given the United Nations doctrine of equality of sovereign states. The rank of envoy gradually became obsolete as countries upgraded t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basilisk
In European bestiary, bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a Serpent symbolism, serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes. According to the ''Natural History (Pliny), Naturalis Historia'' of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene, Libya, Cyrene is a small snake, "being not more than twelve inches in length", that is so venomous, it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its path, and its gaze is likewise lethal. According to Pliny, the basilisk's weakness is the odor of a weasel. The weasel was thrown into the basilisk's hole, recognizable because some of the surrounding shrubs and grass had been scorched by its presence. It is possible that the legend of the basilisk and its association with the weasel in Europe was inspired by accounts of certain species of Asiatic and African snakes (such as Naja, cobras) and their natural predator, the mongoose. Etymology The word originates from the Greek form ''basilískos'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trickster's Choice
''Daughter of the Lioness'' series (also known as the Tricksters series) by Tamora Pierce is a series of two novels set in the fictional Tortall universe. It is centered on Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Tortall's legendary lady knight, Alanna the Lioness, who was the subject of '' The Song of the Lioness'' quartet. The novels take place approximately 24 years after the last book in the quartet, '' Lioness Rampant''. History, politics and culture of the Copper Isles Most of the series is set in the fictional Copper Isles, a group of islands roughly west of Tortall, in the Tortall Universe. They were once ruled over by the native Raka, whose inheritance came from the mother's line, and who allowed the oldest child to inherit, whatever gender. The Raka are dark-skinned folk who live in tribes. However, the Raka were often engaged in disputes between tribes, and when the Luarin—white-skinned invaders from the Eastern Lands, led by Rittevon of Lenma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shapeshifting
In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shapeshifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through unnatural means. The idea of shapeshifting is found in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as the oldest existent literature and Epic poetry, epic poems such as the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' and the ''Iliad''. The concept remains a common literary device in modern fantasy, children's literature and popular culture. Examples of shapeshifters are vampires and werewolves. Folklore and mythology Popular shapeshifting creatures in folklore are werewolf, werewolves and vampires (mostly of European, Canadian, and Native American/early American origin), ichchhadhari naag (shape-shifting cobra) of India, shapeshifting fox spirits of East Asia such as the huli jing of China, the obake of Japan, the Navajo skin-walkers, and gods, goddesses and demons and demonesses such as the Norse mythology, Norse Loki or the Greek mythology, Greek Proteus. Shapeshifting to th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alanna Of Trebond
''The Song of the Lioness'' is a young adult series of fantasy novels published in the 1980s by Tamora Pierce. The series consists of four books: '' Alanna: The First Adventure'' (1983), '' In the Hand of the Goddess'' (1984), '' The Woman Who Rides Like a Man'' (1986) and '' Lioness Rampant'' (1988). Plot summary Noblewoman Alanna of Trebond, disguised as the boy "Alan", exchanges places with her twin brother Thom, to go to the royal palace in the city of Corus to train for knighthood, while Thom studies magic. Throughout the four novels Alanna deals with her secretive and unusual status as an aspiring female knight; friendships; romances; physical hardship; world-changing quests and duty. She experiences such challenges as puberty, bullying and defying social convention. Alanna befriends characters of a wide background during the quartet including George, the commoner king of the thieves; the scholar Sir Myles of Olau; senior students Gareth (Gary) of Naxen, Raoul of Goldenl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
