Tamora Pierce - Song of the Lioness

Alanna, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman who Rides like a Man, Lioness Rampant. nice Young adult stories in the vein of Lackey's original Herald series. a 7. some romance, some growing up and overcoming obstacles, some magic, quests, the woman in a mans job was nicely underplayed, and not an overt theme. The friendships and the villain were a bit too easy or too evil and the first couple felt at times written down to a certain level, but the 2nd 2 didn't have that feel as if she let the story flow on its own.