First Test

The Protector of the Small Quartet, Book 1

By: Tamora Pierce

Narrated by: Sarah Ovens

Kel will not allow this first test to be her last.

The adventure begins in the New York Times best-selling series from the fantasy author who is a legend herself: Tamora Pierce.

A powerful classic that is more timely than ever, the Protector of the Small series is about smashing the ceilings others place above you.

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of the new rule in Tortall that allows females to train for knighthood. After years in the Yamani Islands, she knows that women can be warriors, and now that she’s returned home, Kel is determined to achieve her goal. She believes she is ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page. But standing in Kel’s way is Lord Wyldon. The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights. He says she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. It’s just one more way to separate Kel from her fellow trainees. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even when the test is unfair.

In a landmark quartet published years before its time, Kel must prove herself twice as good as her male peers just to be thought equal. A series that touches on questions of courage, friendship, a humane perspective - told against a backdrop of a magical, action-packed fantasy adventure.

©2019 Tamora Pierce (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Tamora Pierce didn’t just blaze a trail. Her heroines cut a swath through the fantasy world with wit, strength, and savvy. Pierce is the real lioness, and we’re all just running to keep pace." (Leigh Bardugo, number one New York Times best-selling author)

"Tamora Pierce creates epic worlds populated by girls and women of bravery, heart, and strength. Her work inspired a generation of writers and continues to inspire us." (Holly Black, number one New York Times best-selling author)

"Tamora Pierce’s books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a young woman. Her complex, unforgettable heroines and vibrant, intricate worlds blazed a trail for young adult fantasy - and I get to write what I love today because of the path she forged throughout her career. She is a pillar, an icon, and an inspiration." (Sarah J. Maas, number one New York Times best-selling author)