Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure. "From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight." And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn...

Alanna must protect her best friend, the prince, from an evil sorcerer in this second book in Tamora Pierce’s Margaret A. Edwards Award–winning young adult series—now with a new look! Still disguised as a boy, Alanna becomes a squire to none other than the heir to the throne. Prince Jonathan is not only Alanna’s liege lord, but also her best friend—and one of the few who know the secret of her identity. When a vicious sorcerer threatens...

On her first tour as a knight errant, Alanna assumes a position of influence with a fierce desert tribe, makes some changes in the role of women in the society, and continues her own emotional development.

The mage Numair, the knight Alanna, and Queen Thayet enlist thirteen-year-old Daine's help to battle the dreadful immortal creatures that have recently begun to attack the kingdom of Tortall.

Keladry of Mindelan continues her training to become a squire with the aid of a new maid, the support of her friends, interference from some other pages, and some serious, even dangerous opposition.

When sixteen-year-old Beka becomes "Puppy" to a pair of "Dogs, " as the Provost's Guards are called, she uses her police training, natural abilities, and a touch of magic to help them solve the case of a murdered baby in Tortall's Lower City.

Arram Draper, Varice Kingsford, and Ozorne Tasikhe forge a bond of friendship that sees them through many changes as student mages at Imperial University of Carthak.

Beka, who has been promoted from "Puppy" to "Dog" and who is now a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, heads with her former partner to a neighboring port city to investigate a case of counterfeit coins.

When she is sent as part of the delegation from Tortall to negotiate a peace treaty with Carthak, fifteen-year-old Daine must use her powers to communicate with animals for more than healing the Carthak emperor's dying birds.