The first graphic novel in the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce adapted by Vita Ayala and illustrated by Sam Beck is a delightful introduction to the world of Tortall and adventures of Alanna of Trebond. The original text is one of my favorites from childhood. However, depictions of race and gender in that version are outdated. The graphic novel treats these themes with much more care and I am excited to see the rest of the series adapted.

I have not read the original books, so all opinions and comments are based solely on this graphic novel.
Alanna and her brother Thom swap roles so both can pursue their dreams; one to be an adventuring knight, the other a powerful sorcerer. Separating to begin their studies under this deception, Alanna becomes Alan and 'his' training commences in both academic and practical arenas, alongside other aspirants. Duelling, magic studies, wrestling, and sabotage all consume Alan's life, even as she tries to conceal the truth of her identity and outgrow the expectations other create based on her smaller size.
The art work has clear details, fabulous scenery, and expressive illustrations throughout. With limited experience reading graphic novels, I cannot compare it to others, but can state it was a well-flowing story that welcomes newcomers to the series. The legibility is consistent throughout (barring some minor text inconsistencies near the end, though these may have been my device), and I look forward to continuing the series and potentially exploring it in other formats.
I enjoyed both the story and the artwork. Though I felt there was a great deal more tell than show in some areas, this may be my inexperience with graphic novels, and did not inhibit my enjoyment of the story. The moments of humour were well-timed; certain scenes tugged at my sense of empathy; and the interludes helped expand the view of the series into the wider city and Alanna's life.

Trigger warnings: Mild body dysmorphia, serious illness. and death of someone close.
Thank you to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for giving me advanced access to this book for review purposes.

Thank you to Abrams Kids and NetGalley for the eARC!

As someone who never read the original story of Alanna, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The story was adventurous and daring, and the friendships formed were really wonderful to see. This will definitely catch the eye of students who like fantasy, graphic novels, or both!

I will say, there are moments when the novel goes from black and gray shaded sketches to simpler line sketches and it made it really hard to follow who was who with the characters. However, I know the full book is being published in dolor so I will happily reread when it is out! I feel like the problem of it being a little difficult to follow at times will disappear once I read the book in color.

All in all, I really enjoyed this! Hopefully, they continue the series!

It was so fun to read this updated graphic novel version of one of my favorite books from when I was a teenager! This retells the story of Alanna well, even though many parts had to be simplified in order to fit into a graphic novel format. Along with a few tweaks to the story for formatting, some changes were made in the way the book discusses race and gender, aligning more with good 2025 morals instead of ones from 1983 when the print version was first published.

The copy I read was not yet colored, but there was a sneak peak in the front of what it might be like in a finished product. I imagine it will be beautiful, and I can't wait to take a look at an actual published copy.

Hopefully this edition will help the story of Alanna connect with modern readers.

A great adaptation! I first read the Song of the Lioness quartet when I was in middle school and have read it through multiple times since then. I think this graphic novel version does a solid job of summing up key points of the first book. Also, the art is fantastic! I really like how Alanna is depicted and the backgrounds and architecture are stunning. The illustrations of the ruins in Olau and the Black City are particularly striking and really convey the history and magnitude of Tortall and beyond. I will say that the white-savior/chosen one aspect of the ending is definitely still present, and I feel weird about it despite how brief it is and how striking the art is for this portion of the story. Curious to see if any changes will be made as the books progress, because Alanna does return to the desert. I will say that both the original book and the graphic novel do indicate the complicated nature of the relationship between Tortall and the Bahzir, so we'll see. Aside from that I am very happy to see these familiar characters in graphic novel form and I look forward to more of Alanna's adventures.

(So now that Kel and Alanna's stories both have adaptations...does that mean we'll get one for Daine too??)

hank you to the author and NetGalley for kindly giving me an ARC.

I really love the narrative of Alanna wanting to be a knight so badly that she disguises herself as a boy and through sheer stubborness, they are able to fulfil that dream. I loved their determination and that although they did fail at times, they always got back up and tried again. I can really sympathise with wanting to rebel against what's set out that you 'have' to do and wanting to take control of your own life.

The inclusion of magic was great and I really liked the world-building. The art was absolutely incredible and it really brought the story to life.

I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

***eProof gifted via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***

As am reading wonderful complex and meaty books & audiobooks (“Sunrise on the Reaping” and “The Ragpicker King”) as well as other titles over past few months (“Hungerstone”, “The Eye of the World” & “The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV” to name a few), I needed an easy, platter cleanser and so glad I discovered this on my NetGalley Reader.

It did exactly what I needed: something easy, quick and adding something new to the fantasy genre. But I will be honest and say that at times, the art style seemed a little simple and lacking depth. Because of that, this lack spark that this series has for its fans.

I’m going to read the novels from Tamora Pierce and glad this cleansed my reading platter. But do I think fans of this world and these characters will embrace this to their hearts? I’m not so sure…

I am a big supporter of adapting classic fiction into graphic novels, especially if it helps induct a new generation of readers. Tamora Pierce's classic Song of the Lioness quartet looks like it will take the adaptation well, if this first volume is any indication. Ayala and Beck did a marvelous job interpreting Alanna and the other characters; the visual storytelling will appeal to old and young readers alike, especially in full color. As someone who did not read Pierce's work as a child, I was able to easily follow the story and characters introduced, though I'm not sure how much was covered by this first volume. I plan to keep following this graphic novel version of the classic fantasy story, and I hope old fans give it a try as well!

As always, 10/10. The story does not age and the illustrations are amazing. I will be purchasing a copy upon release, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy. Both I and my kids thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

I received this graphic novel as a digital ARC from NetGalley (Thanks NetGalley!). I read this on my eReader and the ARC did not yet have the color added to the artwork. Because of this I cannot yet comment of the quality of color usage within this graphic novel, however the artwork without the color is still absolutely breathtaking. I would recommend adding the physical copy of this graphic novel to your collection over the e-version as there are some full spreads that aren't done justice by advancing back and forth on an eReader.

I love that this graphic novel adaptation brings such a beloved YA classic back to life in such a pressing and relevant time! Alana presents such a relatable look into self discovery during a pivotal period of life! Song of the Lioness is about courage, strength, friendship, and acceptance told through a "period" of time that allows for readers to imagine and separate magic from realism. Alana is a perfect heroine for young readers to root for, to model, and to relate to. I am dying for the next installments of this masterpiece and cannot wait to add this to my library collection. I know teens will love this graphic novel. I think this book is important, creates spaces, and may encourage readers to explore more topics like this in other literature they may have felt reservations with before. Be ready to get your hands on this Graphic Novel May 15th!

A welcome addition to Tamora Pierce's Tortall universe! This graphic novel adaptation will introduce an entirely new audience to Tortall and Alanna of Trebond. As someone who has read Alanna, the First Adventure, dozens of times, I can say that the adaptation is very true to the original, especially with dialogue, and the artwork truly enhances the experience. Anything omitted makes sense and the story flows naturally. My only sadness is that my digital ARC isn't colorized, so I'm eager to reread it in full color once it's released. I'll be recommending this to new and existing fans of all ages. Received from #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful adaptation of Song of the Lioness! The story was very fast-paced! I love reading about a young girl’s struggle to be a knight! I loved the artwork and thought the illustrations were beautiful! Therefore, this is a must read for Tamora Pierce’s fans!

The Song of the Lioness quartet was a formative book series for me as a kid and I am so glad it is getting this awesome adaptation! The art looks great, and the story has been translated well. Of course when going from novel to graphic novel things must be cut or one book would be a whole series, but the story still feels full and fleshed out for new fans, while old fans will be happy to see significant scenes and characters. I can’t wait for the next one!

I speak from a place of bias but Alanna was the first real female character I ever read about. thanks pierce <3

Tamora Pierce always writes fantastic work. This graphic novelization is very well done. The artistry is wonderful and represents the story well. Although not every nuance can be put into graphic form, this was very well done and will be a great lead in for new or tentative readers in the fantasy genre.

As it is a graphic novel, it was great to see the characters come to life. Some of them were how I envisioned them while reading, but some were not quite there.

Can't speak to this as an adaptation, as I've never delved into the series before this, but on it's own it stands well enough. Art style was good overall -really like how magic was portrayed, particularly the scene where Alan heals Jon.

A more than competent adaptation, however fails to catch the spark of the original novels. Feels like there's something a bit too simple or generic with the artwork. The story remains great.

I enjoyed reading this traditional knight's tale that has a slight twist. The protagonist is a young woman who wants to be a knight. It was enjoyable to see the gender role flipped in a realistic way. I look forward to reading more of Alanna's adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This graphic novel version of Song of the Lioness is an exciting and heartfelt coming-of-age fantasy story. I think that both boys and girls would be interested in this story about a young girl who wants to be a knight. It would be especially helpful for reluctant readers, and/or readers struggling to transition from picture books to chapter books. I appreciate the way Pierce approaches the subject of Alanna's changing body and the tumultuous emotions that accompany that- especially since Alanna is pretending to be a boy. Gender, and defying gender norms, is a main theme in this book and that may be controversial for parents. I would recommend this for kids aged 12 and up.