I won’t pretend that the books are perfect - they were written throughout the 1970s and published in the 1980s, and in some ways they show their age. Alanna didn’t have to choose, and as the series progresses, she holds fiercely to her independence, valuing it more than personal gain or even romance with a man she loves. What I took from that was that girls can be tough, capable, and strong - but they can also be soft and feminine.

But despite years pretending to be a boy, as she matures she realizes that while she might have wished to be born a boy because of the opportunities afforded to them, she also likes being a woman, and wants to indulge in feminine things as well. What particularly resonated with me was Alanna’s desire to be a knight, no matter what it took. They also feature lovely coming-of-age storylines and are about the importance of following your path and standing up for what you believe in and those you care about, and forging a found family. Not only are they great stories, but these books deal with issues that, looking back, I saw rarely in the contemporary books I read at the time, let alone the fantasy ones: getting your period, healthy relationships (both romantic and platonic), forging your identity when you don’t fit into society’s expectations, and having sex for the first time. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man and Lioness Rampant follow Alanna’s first years as a knight, traveling the continent and facing dangers, prophecies, enemies at home and abroad, and helping people in need. The first two books, Alanna: The First Adventure and In the Hands of the Goddess, cover Alanna’s years as a page, then squire, in the king’s court. By signing up you agree to our terms of use Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Alanna the song of the lioness