Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
    Unavailable
    Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
    Unavailable
    Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
    Ebook367 pages4 hours

    Young Warriors: Stories of Strength

    By Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    WHAT MAKES A warrior?
    This gutsy collection of 15 original short stories compiled by bestselling author Tamora Pierce and anthologist-author Josepha Sherman answers this question with thought, heart, a lot of variety, and an occasional wink.
    Contributors include some of today’s most-beloved fantasy and sciencefiction authors: Tamora Pierce, Holly Black, Pamela Service, Margaret Mahy, Bruce Holland Rogers, Mike Resnick, Brent Hartinger, and more.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRandom House Publishing Group
    Release dateDec 18, 2007
    ISBN9780307434128
    Unavailable
    Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
    Author

    Tamora Pierce

    Beloved author Tamora Pierce has written a great number of books, including the Song of the Lioness quartet, The Immortals quartet, the Circle of Magic quartet, the Protector of the Small quartet, The Circle Opens quartet, the Trickster series, The Will of the Empress, Melting Stones, the Beka Cooper series, and The Numair Chronicles. She lives in upstate New York with various cats, other four-legged animals, and birds who feed in her yard, and can be e-visited at Tamora-Pierce.net.

    Read more from Tamora Pierce

    Related to Young Warriors

    Related ebooks

    YA Short Stories For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      ROBBING FROM THE RICH IN MOUNT & BLADE II: BANNERLORD

      Nov 29, 2022

      1. Help the weak and harry the wealthy.2. No alliances, no mercenary work, no fiefdoms.3. Behave and act like a dashing folk hero. There’s an ancient, established tradition of folk tales featuring outlaw heroes. The US has Davy Crockett and Wyatt Ear

      7 min read

    • Article

      John Fram

      Jun 10, 2020

      John Fram
      7 min read

    • Article

      A Quick Guide to the Women’s Prize for Fiction Shortlist

      Jun 1, 2018

      The winner of the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize and the Baileys Prize) will be announced on June 6. Since 1996, the award has recognized the best English-language novel by a woman published in the U.K. in the previous year

      5 min read

    • Article

      Sinister, Yet Sympathetic

      May 8, 2019

      Sinister, Yet Sympathetic
      7 min read

    • Article

      Myth It, Myth Out

      Jul 22, 2021

      Myth It, Myth Out
      2 min read

    • Article

      Novel Moves: Wrestling in Recent Fiction

      Mar 2, 2020

      Though my pro wrestling fandom has waned, I was excited to see several recent works of fiction that leverage the narrative power of the sport: the colorful archetypes and illusions of professional wrestling or the elemental combat of “real” wrestling

      9 min read

    • Article

      Cup Of Tea

      Dec 28, 2016

      What inspired you to write a novel set in World War II? I really made this decision before even writing my first novel Gallipoli Street which is set during World War I. It was an early goal of mine to write a trilogy of war stories in order to encaps

      5 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Aug 1, 2022

      Books
      6 min read

    • Article

      Building The Bildungsroman

      Nov 4, 2021

      Building The Bildungsroman
      5 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Jul 18, 2022

      Books
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Books That Made Us

      Apr 2, 2023

      The Books That Made Us
      4 min read

    • Article

      Male Order

      Mar 5, 2020

      Male Order
      3 min read

    • Article

      Readers’ Letters

      Nov 19, 2020

      SHARE YOUR VIEWS Email: martin.puddifer@futurenet.com I was pretty disappointed to read Chris Warren’s Judge Height Lest Ye Be Judged article [October issue]. Once again, the ugly subject of ‘extreme’ high-bird shooting was discussed rather flippantl

      6 min read

    • Article

      Michael Te Arawa Bennett

      Oct 6, 2022

      'My dad, a decorated Spitfire pilot in "My WWII, gave me a passion for fighting the important fights. My mum, a terrific writer who met dad when she was writing her thesis on his father (my grandfather was the first Māori Bishop of New Zealand), gave

      6 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Sep 19, 2022

      Books
      6 min read

    • Article

      Richard Russo

      Jul 29, 2019

      Richard Russo
      2 min read

    • Article

      Shelf Life

      Oct 5, 2023

      Shelf Life
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Alejandro Varela

      Dec 19, 2023

      I read to be a better writer and hopefully a better human. The post A Year in Reading: Alejandro Varela appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    Reviews for Young Warriors

    3.5/5

    127 ratings8 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Eh. No bad stories, but none that excited me, either. The best was one I know well, Tamora Pierce's "Student of Ostriches". There were a couple others I enjoyed somewhat, like "Serpent's Rock", but none that wowed me, and several that annoyed me, like "The Boy who Cried 'Dragon!'". Silly take on a silly story. Glad I read it, I doubt I'll reread.
    • 3/5
      I originally reviewed this book on my blog - The Cosy Dragon. For more recent reviews by me, please hop over there.

      This is a book of short stories edited by Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman. It has a nice variety of authors. My usual policy of short stories is that I don't like them, except for finding new authors whose longer works I might enjoy.

      'The Gift of Rain Mountain' has a traditional tempter and a traditional ending in my opinion. Although the young warrior thinks he wanted what is best for his community, his efforts leave him lacking. It's hard to say more about it without giving the story away, but the story itself feels very familiar. Nothing too exciting here in terms of narration or characterisation, although it's not badly written.

      'The Magestone' lacks a little in my opinion. I didn't feel attracted to either character (the boy or the mermaid), and the plot with the mermaid unable to go on land - well it just made me think of Ariel! There was no real threat, it felt like the rival tribe members were too easily dealt with.

      'Eli and the Dybbuk' is a slightly strange tale. With both elements of fantasy (the dybbuk spirit) and real life (Eli is Jewish) it is a good mix. It has lovely suspense, and a tight storyline. It feels more complete than the first two stories, with a proper lifetime tale. Eli is a well-fleshed out character, and the inclusion of a riddle does it for me!

      'Heartless' is another well written story. At first it isn't obvious what is going on with Ada, and then suddenly the reader has a lightbulb moment! What isn't clear to me is why the bone was enchanted in the first place. It doesn't seem like the right thing to do at all. Ah well. I can see potential for this concept being extended further. I'm not sure that it really fits in with the theme of young warriors, as the protagonist isn't a young warrior, she is only dealing with one. The language and rhythm of this one is a little disjointed, but I think it reflects the character of Ada well.

      'Lioness' is misleading. Those that are familiar with Pierce's other works will probably be hoping for a short tale about the Lioness. But this short story is by another author, and is very different. Similarly to 'The Gift of Rain Mountain', the author draws on history for making her story. It's enjoyable with the strong female protagonist.

      'Thunderbolt' is a creative take on Helen of Troy's capture. Raised Spartan, Helen's as warlike as the men, and not willing to back down when she is stolen. It's good to see her standing up for herself for once! A well-executed rewrite of an old legend packed with action.

      'Devil Wind' has to be one of my favourites. It has just a hint of magic and the wild, and at the same time rings of truth. The author has included true parts of rich Indian history, and it really appeals to me. The ending is a surprise, but it is fitting. There are things that the author could have done more with, but for a short story it is good. It reminds me a little of a Mercedes Lackey novel I read (I think The Wizard of London)

      'The Boy Who Cried 'Dragon'' is a let down. It belongs in a collection of stories for very young readers - just because the dragon and the knight have teenage problems, it doesn't make the story any more engaging. I wasn't convinced that this was where the story of 'The Boy Who Cried 'Wolf'' came from either. The style isn't bad, but the content! Hopeless.

      'Student of Ostriches' is good. I have to say, I generally didn't look at the author of each story so that I could give an unbiased opinion of the story on its own merits. I liked this one from the start, and then realised it was the Tamora Pierce offering of the collection! So no wonder I enjoyed it. It's nice to have some more information about Shang training, although I would have liked more details of how each kick/punch exactly translated from an animal source.

      'Serpent's Rock' is initially hard to get into. It reminds me of an Aboriginal story song, and so I'm not very fond of it. I would have liked more details - but of course a short story is very limited. The ending wasn't as satisfying as I desired either, he still could die and the tale be left untold.

      'Hidden Warriors' has an interesting concept but I feel that it is poorly executed. I didn't like the style of this author at all, finding it somewhat confusing. I'm a sucker for a woman dressed as a man, but in this case it couldn't work for me.

      "Emerging Legacy' is fast paced with a well fleshed out female protagonist. The novel concept of hunting packs in the trees and mountains was an exciting one, as was the unexpected slavers. I didn't really understand where her clumsiness had come from though. As a young warrior however, she fits the bill. I think I would be willing to seek out more of this author's work in fact!

      'An Axe for Men' is an enjoyable read. The style is initially a little stilted, but you start to feel with the characters and it's good. I found the storyline predictable, but it's bound to happen with me reading so many books. Take a chance and try it!

      'Acts of Faith' mixes the Sight with Jewish and Christian faiths. Although I didn't know that the Sight involves magic too, apparently it does! An interesting take on Ireland's history for being neutral during the Nazi driven war.

      'Swords That Talk' reminds me a little of Need in one of Mercedes Lackey's novels (The Oathbound perhaps?). Except that this story isn't really about the sword at all. The concept was again a familiar one, nothing too exciting here, but it was relatively well executed.

      I bought this book from a specials table for $5 at my partner's old work! The advantages of having someone who works at a bookshop. I can understand why it was discounted though, as I don't think this is really a stand out collection of stories, although a couple are good. Worth collecting if there is a particular author that you love and want more of though.
    • 5/5
      Great anthology.
    • 3/5
      A collection of stories about warriors coming into their own. As is generally the case with collections, it's a mixed bag, though with more good than bad. The bad:
      "The Magestone" by SM and Jan Stirling. The writing isn't great, but the story (about a n00b sailor who tries to help free a mermaid shaman) makes no sense, either in terms of plot or character.
      "The Boy Who Cried 'Dragon!'" by Mike Resnick. Tried too hard to be funny and utterly failed.
      "Hidden Warriors" by Margaret Mahy. The dialog is so, so stilted and terrible.
      Rosemary Edghill's "An Axe for Men" puzzled me. A flood destroys the city of a matriarchal society. As the people journey into the wilderness, one of the young priestesses starts having visions of a new god. And so she takes the power away from the priestesses who worship a goddess in favor of a god. It's all very gender essentialist and framed in such a way that all the women (except the rebelling priestess main character) are presented as foolish and lazy, while all the men are either emasculated or Manly Hunting Men Who are Manly. Apparently men need to be in charge if you want to survive the wilderness?


      I liked "Heartless" by Holly Black, despite the fact that it feels like a novella or novel compacted and edited into a short story. If this were a novel, I would have loved it. As it is, the bones of the plot, the characters, and the language are good enough to make it an enjoyable short story. Tamora Pierce helped edit this collection, and also wrote "Student of Ostriches," which I quite enjoyed as well. Pierce is known for writing the quintessential "young female warriors proving their worth ye olde society" stories, but her quality has fallen off in the last decade. This story, set in Alanna's world but far away, in a desert filled with ostriches and camels, injects fresh energy and flavor to a tired formula.


      I loved "Thunderbolt," by Esther Friesner. Theseus marries Helen, a princess of Sparta. But Helen refuses to pretend her beauty is all she is. Her sarcastic inner voice is a fabulous narration for her badass actions. The story is good enough that I'm going to make a point to find Friesner's other works.

    • 3/5
      A mixed bag of short stories. There are some very strong stories in here, and others I ended up skimming from boredom. Hence the 3.
    • 4/5
      This book is a collection of short stories focusing on strong characters around the are of the its targeted audience (young adults). The main characters were mainly female as is to be expected of a compilation done by Tamora Pierce. Though fiction and often fantastical, the stories are inspiring and motivating glimpses into the world of women who can stand tall on their own. The writing style varies from author to author, but all are well worth the read.
    • 4/5
      This is a short story anthology, so here's a review of each story:The Gift of Rain Mountain by Bruce Holland RogersI like this story alright. In a way, it's a twist on the visit to the fairy realm or or land of the dead, where if you eat the food, you're there for a hundred years or are bound there forever or whatever. The kid is almost smart, but if he'd been completely smart, well, there would be no story, would there?The Magestone by S. M. & Jan StirlingThis story I like - I've found I enjoy mermaid/water people stories when they're interesting, because the idea of people living under the ocean has such possibilities.Eli and the Dybbuk by Janis IanThis is fun, and very like the traditional Jewish or Yiddish folk tales that I've heard before in many ways.Heartless by Holly BlackThis...I've never quite understood this story. But the end is very emotive.Lioness by Pamela S. ServiceI like this story pretty well. I often enjoy well-written stories of women warriors, which this is.Thunderbolt by Esther FriesnerThis is an entertaining look at Helen of Troy from her perspective as the unimpressed - but not helpless - kidnap victim.Devil Wind by India EdgehillI like this one - it reminds me a little of The Secret Garden, which may just be because of the setting. It takes place in India and has to do with the friendship between an English girl and her Indian maid or servant. And magic, of course, and revenge.The Boy who Cried Dragon by Mike ResnicThis one is just cute and funny and if anything reminds me of Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest books, a little.Student of Ostriches by Tamora PierceI like this one, actually. It's entertaining to read about the background of one of the more fascinating minor characters from the Tortall universe, and also I liked the reveal at the end, because the first time I read it, I didn't realize who it was until the very end of the story.Serpent's Rock by Laura Anne GilmanI don't really remember much about this, so I didn't like or dislike it particularly, I guess.Hidden Warriors by Margaret MahyI did like this, with the apprentice there and anther amusing reveal at the end.Emerging Legacy by Doranna DurginAnother one I enjoyed, Kelyn from this story reminds me some of Aerin from The Hero and the Crown.An Axe for Men by Rosemary EdgehillNot the biggest fan of this story, but oppression is oppression and when women are oppressing men, it's just as bad as men oppressing women, so my not liking it has to do with my feelings about the real world, not about how things are in the world of the story.Acts of Faith by Lesley McBainI liked this a lot, and at least it was a short story - I don't read books (fact or fiction) in this setting very often, because they're too stressful.Swords that Talk Brent Hartinger."You want a quiet weapon, get a mace."It's funny and smart in a "think before you act" sort of way. I enjoy this one, and it makes me think of a line from...A Wizard Abroad, where someone tells Nita that "it was a rare sword that didn't tell you its history, back in the old days" and suggested that it's not necessarily a good thing that weapons are so passive these days.
    • 4/5
      Young Warriors is a great collection of entertaining, strong stories about the archetype of the youthful warrior. Edited by Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman, the stories present a range of different takes on the idea of "warrior" and how young people find their way into that line of work. The standouts are stories by Esther Friesner, India Edghill and Pierce herself.Friesner's "Thunderbolt" is a clear, adventurous retelling of a less common Helen myth, incorporating the Spartan tradition of military training for girls as well as boys into a historical character generally written off as "beautiful, therefore dull." Edghill's "Devil Wind" is another slice of historical culture, this one early twentieth century India, with a powerful and touching story about a vulnerable young child-bride who is forced to find the warrior within when her world is torn apart. And Pierce's "Student of Ostriches" fills in an unknown segment of history from her own fantasy world, with a gutsy story about a girl from an African-style culture who teaches herself to fight by watching the animals around her, and is called on to use her non-feminine skills to defend the honour of her older sister.Yes, the stories in these anthologies are predominantly about girls as warriors, though there are several boy stories as well. The theme, however, is entirely gender neutral - the female-heavy nature of the book is a side effect of the large number of female authors and, for this reader at least, this was refreshing and neutral.The presentation, though, should appeal equally to male as female teenagers, and it would be nice to think that the theme (as well as the popular name of Tamora Pierce attached) would lead young men as well as women to enjoy these gritty, action-packed tales. And for adult readers, it's a good way to catch up on most of the current popular YA authors (though my ideal version of this book would include tales by Scott Westerfeld and Nina Kiriki Hoffman).