The Trickster series, also known as the Daughter of the Lioness, is a two book duology set in the Tortallan Universe. It chronicles two years of the young adult life of Aly, the only daughter of Alanna the Lioness.
Books[]
- Trickster's Choice. The first book of the duology begins with our heroine at residence at Pirate's Swoop, discussing spy work with her father and possible career choices with her mother. She is kidnapped while sailing to Port Legann and taken to the Copper Isles as a slave. She is bought by the Balitang family, after Kyprioth disguise himself as the great god Mithros and intervenes. The Balitang family takes her with them to Tanair for their exile, and Aly becomes part of an ancient rebel conspiracy that wishes to dethrone the cruel Rittevon Dynasty and crown a raka queen.
- Trickster's Queen. After the events of the previous installment, Aly and the Balitangs are in more danger than ever before. They must navigate the snakepit that is the Royal Court in Rajmuat and oversee uprisings dedicated to the conspiracy.
History of the Copper Isles[]
The series features the island nation known as the Copper Isles, which was first mentioned in the Song of the Lioness quartet. The nation lies on the Emerald Ocean to the west of Tortall. Originally, the islands were ruled by the indigenous raka tribes, namely the Haiming Dynasty and their warrior queens. During a time of strife, Rittevon of Lenman and Ludas Jimajen led a mass invasion of the Isles and ousted the Haiming queens from their thrones. Rittevon became king of the Isles, starting a cruel dynasty; and other luarin (white) people who helped him became the realm's new powerful nobles. Mithros and the Great Mother Goddess beat Kyprioth and relegated him to being a minor god of the seas around the Isles. He had a raka seer prophesy about a new age that will bring hope to the raka—this is known as the Kyprish Prophecy. The raka conspiracy formed due to this prophecy and to bring hope to the raka.
Centuries later, there is a succession crisis, because most of King Oron's brood have died, leaving only two of his sons as possible heirs. One of the males is a man who can't have children, and the other is a boy who won't have children for a while. As the raka conspiracy now has its twice-royal queen, the "stage is set for revolution".
Cast of Characters[]
Recurring characters[]
These characters have appeared in past series as main (or major) characters:
- Alanna the Lioness, protagonist of the Song of the Lioness quartet and major character in The Immortals quartet. Also appeared in the Protector of the Small quartet, but as a more minor character.
- George Cooper. Love interest in The Song of the Lioness quartet. Appeared in both The Immortals and the Protector quartets as a minor character.
- Daine the Wildmage. Protagonist of The Immortals
- Numair Salmalín. Love interest in The Immortals.
- Keladry of Mindelan. Protagonist of Protector of the Small quartet. Appears in Trickster's Choice as a very minor character.
- Jonathan IV of Conté. King of Tortall. Has appeared in all quartets as a major character.
- Myles of Olau
- Graveyard Hag
- Tkaa
Cast of Characters[]
The main cast of characters of both books listed below:
Gods[]
- Kyprioth—chief of the trickster gods, former patron of the Copper Isles, ruler of the Emerald Ocean. Overthrown by his brother Mithros and sister the Great Mother Goddess 300 years prior to the beginning of the series.
- Mithros and the Great Mother Goddess
- Graveyard Hag
Raka conspirators[]
- Aly – Protagonist of the duet, Aly - is the daughter George Cooper, Baron of Pirate's Swoop, second-in-command of his realm's spies; and Alanna the Lioness, lady knight, King's Champion of Tortall, and a living legend. while journeying to a nearby town in order give her parents time to cool of after her proposal of becoming a spy she is kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave to the Balitangs, a noble family of the Copper Isles. As a slave and maid, she soon discovers and gains access to a rebel conspiracy within the Balitang household, and takes charge as the rebellion's spymaster. At the end of the series she chooses to become the Royal Spymaster for the Isles. She marries Nawat Crow, and they conceive triplets by the conclusion of the second book.
- Nawat Crow - A crow who turned himself into a man. He has a romantic relationship with Aly through most of the series, but does not truly find his place in the world of men until near the end of Trickster's Queen. He works as a fletcher and a warrior, as well as Aly's main link to the crows. At the end of the series he and Aly are married.
- Ulasim Dodeka—General of the Raka Conspiracy.
- Chenaol - the Balitangs' full-raka cook, a leader in the revolution. She provides the revolution with weapons.
- Ochobu Dodeka—Powerful mage. Leader of The Chain
- Lokeij – Raka slave, chief hostler for the Balitangs, killed in the fighting at Tanair.
- Fesgao Yibenu - A raka man-at-arms and the military leader of the rebellion.
- Taybur Sibigat - head of the King's guard. Joins the raka conspiracy after the death of King Duvenon.
- Junai Dodeka - A raka woman who acts as Ali's bodyguard. She is Ulasim's daughter, and dies in the fighting when the rebellion takes place.
- Ysul – Second-in-command of the rebal raka mage network known as the chain, assumes command aster Ochobu's death.
- Quedanga
- Boulaj
- Vereyu
Balitang family[]
- Mequen Balitang– Duke, fourth in line to the throne, father of Sarai and Dove, married to duchess Winnamine. His first wife, Duchess Sarugani was a member of the raka nobility.
- Winnamine Balitang—Duchess, second wife of Duke Mequen
- Sarugani Temaida—First wife of Duke Mequen. Died in horseriding accident.
- Saraiyu Balitang—the beautiful but impetuous eldest child of Duke Mequen Balitang. She is stubborn about certain things, and not as calm as her sister Dove. She elopes to Carthak with Zaimid Hetnim rather than marry King Dunevon.
- Dovasary Balitang—the twice-royal queen mentioned in the Prophecy. Queen of the Copper Isles.
- Petranne Balitang—Duke Mequen's oldest luarin child by Winnamine.
- Elsren Balitang—- Duke Mequen's youngest luarin child and heir to Dunevon's throne after Mequen's death. He is killed at the same time as Dunevon.
- Nuritin Balitang—Duke Mequen's bossy luarin aunt; head of the luarin conspiracy.
Other nobles and royals[]
- Bronau Jimajen - A non-royal luarin prince, brother of prince Rubinyan, who has a close, romantic relationship with Sarai. He is originally a friend of the Balitangs, but at the end of Trickster's Choice he kills Duke Menquen and is killed by Dove.
- Oron Rittevon - King of the Copper Isles at the beginning of the series, mentally unstable.
- Dunevon Rittevon - King Oron's youngest child, who becomes King after Hazarin. He is only five years old, and is killed by his sister, Princess Imajane, when she is acting as regent.
- Hazarin Rittevon - King Oron's son, who becomes King after his death, before dying of an apoplexy.
- Imajane Rittevon - King Oron's daughter, wife of prince Rubinyan, who is regent to King Duvenon. When the rebellion succeeds, she jumps to her death. Antagonist of Trickster's Queen.
- Rubinyan Jimajen - Luarin brother of Prince Bronau, and husband of Princess Imajane. Killed by Ulasim. Antagonist of Trickster's Queen.
- Lohearn Mantawu - a.k.a. Topabaw, a Crown spymaster who is executed by the regents after Aly spreads rumors of his disloyalty.
- Zaimid Hetnim - A Carthaki healer who falls in love with Sarai and elopes with her to Carthak.
Trivia[]
The books were the result of Tammy's fans assuming that Alanna's daughter would be a knight just like herself. Tammy, who knew "something of mothers and daughters", didn't believe for one second that Alanna's daughter would follow in her footsteps. She also knew that George would be the dominant parent in Aly's childhood. Thus the idea and background for the Trickster Series was found.[1]
Publishing Background[]
A collection of the cover art can be found here.
Gallery[]
External links[]
Notes and references[]
See also[]
Daughter of the Lioness | |
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Set primarily in the Copper Isles from 462—63 HE | |
Books | Trickster's Choice • Trickster's Queen |
The Prophesied Ones | The One Who I Promised • The Wise One • The Cunning One • The Strong One • The Warrior • The Crows |
Main Characters | Aly • Kyprioth • Nawat • Dovasary Balitang • Saraiyu Balitang |
Balitang Family | Duke Mequen • Duchess Sarugani † • Duchess Winnamine • Lady Petranne • Duke Elsren † • Lady Nuritin |
Rittevon Family | King Oron • King Hazarin • King Dunevon • Princess Imajane • Prince Hanoren • Josiane Rittevon |
Conspirators | Ulasim Dodeka • Chenaol • Fesgao Yibenu • Lokeij • Quedanga • Boulaj • Vereyu |
Luarin Characters | Prince Bronau • Prince Rubinyan • Vurquan Nomru • Qovold Engan • Imgehai Qeshi • Athan Fajering • Topabaw • Tulpa • Tyananne • Veron • Zeburon • Sevmire Ambau • Genore Tomang • Ferdolin Tomang • Matfrid Fonfala • Druce Adona • Rosamma Tomang • Isalena Obemaek • Grosbeak • Taybur Sibigat • Acharn Uniunu • Huldean Obeliten • Ankoret Obeliten |
Raka Characters | Ochobu • Junai • Boulaj • Ekit • Visda • Falthin • Gurhart • Pembery • Pilia • Rihani • Hasui • Meipun Kloulechat |
Tortallans | Alanna the Lioness • George Cooper • Alan of Pirate's Swoop • Veralidaine Sarrasri • Numair Salmalín • Sarralyn Salmalín • Rikash Salmalín • Myles of Olau • Eleni Cooper • King Jonathan • Queen Thayet • Tkaa • Keladry of Mindelan • Raoul of Goldenlake • Nealan of Queenscove • Wyldon of Cavall • Musenda Ogunsanwo • Onua Chamtong |
Other Characters | Zaimid Hetnim • Graveyard Hag • Dawn Crow • Sky • Green Lady • Weiryn • Trick • Secret • Peony • Mequen Hetnim • Mithros • Great Mother Goddess • Jaguar Goddess • Gunapi the Sunrose • Konutai |
Animals | Cinnamon • Grace • Darkmoon |
Historical Characters | Dilsubai Haiming • Imiary VI Haiming • Ludas Jimajen • Rittevon of Lenman • Michabur Durse of Queenscove • King Hanoren I |
Places | Tortall: Pirate's Swoop • Port Legann • Corus • Trebond • Frasrlund; Copper Isles: Rajmuat • Kypriang Island • Lombyn Island • Tanair • Grey Palace • Inti • Pohon • Dimari • Kellaura Pass • Azure Sea • Sea of Kypriang • Jerykun Island • Imahyn Island • Birafu estates • Tongkang Island |
Magic and Objects | Sight • Gift • Blood oath • Pregnancy charm • Sunset butterfly |
The fourth series of the Tortallan Universe, preceded by Protector of the Small. |