Bloodhound

Copy I received did not have a dustjacket so I'll have to find another to finish my collection

There is Good Condition, and then there is what I got. I LOVE these books and was so excited to add it to my collection, but for the amount of damage, this is acceptable at best. I'm really disheartened.

Check me out on [...] I love, love Tamora Pierce's books, her first book Alanna, is what first got me addicted to reading, well that and my Dad who is also an avid reader. Needless to say I was beyond excited that another book set in her Tortall universe was coming out! My favorite thing about the the Beka Cooper series is the slang that the common city and street folk use in this book, occasionally I would have to look up what a word meant but there is at trusty glossary at the back of the book that came in handy so I didn't have any troubles. I also sometimes found myself talking like Beka after reading because their language stuck in my head after putting it down. Also this book is written in a journal like format from Beka's point of view which is a refreshing take on books written from first person. Tamora Pierce is well know for her strong female characters and Bloodhound shows that again and again with Beka and her partner Goodwin. They are strong, they can take care of themselves and they know how to have a good time. Beka's unusual 'magic' gifts are different and I was glad to revisit them again. The story kept me interested and turning pages for more. I had taken this book on my family's annual camp out and I didn't hear the end of it, everyone was quite annoyed that I couldn't put it down! I cannot wait to read more about Beka Cooper & company and I hope that the next book does take too long to come out

I have been patiently waiting for this book to come out for a long time! I have been an avid Tamora Pierce fan since I was in 5th grade and read Wild Magic. Since then I have read all of her Tortall Series (Multiple Times) and although with her newer books they are a bit different they are just as great and I love them just as much as I did 12 years ago! This book does not disappoint! Tamora did an amazing job of turning Beka into a women and a real Dog. I can't wait till the next one comes out!

I have been waiting (sometimes patiently) for this book for a year and a half. I am happy to report that my excitement for book 2 was well deserved. I have thoroughly enjoyed the character development, both the new characters and the familiar ones. Bravo, Ms. Pierce.

Wow! Once again Tammy has done an incredible job of bringing us back into Beka's life and enfolding us in the sights, smells and ambiance of Corus and Port Caynn. There are many fascinating new characters and the fun of seeing what has happened in the lives of old friends. Above all, there is the hunt for a menace that could ultimately destroy the entire economic structure of the kingdom. As always, you're left waiting anxiously for the next book... Hmmm, maybe I'll have a Kindle 2 by then. :D

I'll start by saying that I normally don't like 1st person narratives and avoid them whenever possible. It took me a few months before I finally picked up Terrier, the first book in the series, and flipped through it in the bookstore. I ended up buying it, even though it was still in hardcover, which is another thing I normally don't do. The second book, Bloodhound, is equally absorbing. I won't summarize the plot, as that is covered elsewhere, but I will mention a few things that I love about this particular series (note that these are geared towards current fans of Pierce's Tortall universe): 1.) Since the heroine of Bloodhound lives so many years before the time of Alanna the Lioness, there are key differences between the two timelines. In Beka's time Tortall has slavery and in Alanna's time Tortall does not. Beka's time has Lady Knights and Alanna's time does not. These differences make me anticipate reading how these changes come about. 2.) Beka works in the worst part of the capital city Corus. The world you see through her eyes makes the court world of Alanna and Keladry seem innocent and pampered. And yet, the book is not dark and gritty as you would expect. Seeing things through Beka's perspective gives color, humanity, and compassion to what could have otherwise been a very depressing atmosphere. I found that Beka's book gave the world of Tortall, overall, a greater richness and depth. 3.) From the very first few pages of Terrier, the first book in the series, I expected Beka to eventually end up with the Rouge (romantically). It seemed just perfect, considering Beka is the ancestress of the Rouge that Alanna eventually marries. It made me chuckle. However, Beka refuses to just fall in line with the inevitable plot mechanisms and continues to go her own way throughout Bloodhound, developing other romantic interests and growing as a character. If she ever does end up with the Rouge (which I still root for) it will be a relationship developed over time and requiring a lot of work from both parties - which is much more satisfying, I must admit. I highly recommend this book to anyone age 10 to 100. It is an absorbing story that blends adventure, detective work, and fantasy. If you are like me, and don't usually like 1st person narratives, give this series a try - it might change your mind. A note about adult content: Since the book deals with the criminal underworld (albeit a fantasy one) there is some adult content (example: murder), and Beka is involved in adult relationships. In my opinion this is no darker than found in the HP or Twighlight series, but if you are considering this for someone under 6th grade you may want to flip though it and determine your comfort level.