Terrier by Tamora Pierce

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

Pages: A Lot (I forgot to check this time, maybe 500 - 600?)

The title of the book, Terrier, refers to the nickname Beka (Rebekah) Cooper gains as a Puppy (trainee) in her first year of training to become one of the Lord Provost's Dogs. (The terms Dog and Puppy are excellent metaphors for the police-like patrolmen that keep the peace and "sniff out" criminals. It is not used in a derogatory manner at all.)

Like a terrier, once Beka gets her teeth into something she doesn't let go. The book starts with several journal entries the first (I believe) starting in almost "present day" Tortall with George Cooper's mother (Eleni) telling us that this is the story she once told George as a young boy so that he would understand why she would not permit him to steal and lie and cheat. The story blossoms from there to show journal entries from Beka's Dog trainers before they knew her and her own mother before we hear from Beka herself.

Beka has all the things that make for a good heroine in a Tortall novel.
1.) The Gift of some kind. In Beka's case she has the ability to hear the dead spirits when they ride on the Black God's messengers (aka pigeons). She can also hear the words held by dust spinners. This is important as it is one way that Beka can gather information.

2.) She has the favor of the gods. The Cat with Purple Eyes makes an appearance (again) as Beka's pet and guide. Now we know how he put up with Alanna's stubborness so many years later. He had Beka to practice on.

3.) She is friends with many people who like/love her despite her faults. I was particularly interested in Rosto, the fellow from Scanra that anyone could plainly see would feature in Beka's story. I guessed correctly that he would become the Rogue by the end of the book but did not get closure on whether he was still WITH either Aniki or Kora. I maintain that he wasn't and hasn't been that kind of friend with either of them for a long while but nothing was implicitly stated and so I'm left hanging. I hate hanging. I mean he made his intentions well-known enough in like the last two pages of the book. Anyone can see where George gets his particular charm with stubborn women...

There are probably more but this is enough for now. I loved this book immensely and can't wait for the next one to come out. I did find this one darker (and more full of death) than many of the other Tortall quartets but I think that is just due to the nature of the time-period and occupation Tamora Pierce has set her character into. I look forward to Bloohound and Elkhound and whatever else is upcoming for Beka Cooper. :)