The third installment in the Protector of the Small series, which I am greatly enjoying, more so than the Alanna series by the same author. This book is just as engrossing as its predecessors, if about one hundred pages longer. Kel has finally become a squire, to none other than the famed Sir Raoul of Goldenlake, the Giant Killer. She joins the King's Own along with him and enters the gritty work of being a knight. Of course, as the first openly female knight in a century, she faces more handicaps than her fellow males, but handles it all with her Yamani aplomb. A fun series that always keeps me wanting more; I look forward to reading the last book in the series. ( )

This was another good one in the quartet, this one being book 3. In this book, Kel is now a squire, but the only problem is no knights will take her on. When someone does finally take her on as their squire, its not who she expected and everyone is in an uproar that they have to work and fight alongside The Girl.
This is a good book filled with a lot of fighting and with Kel working hard towards becoming a knight. ( )

Well, this book is just like the rest of Tamora Pierce's wonderful books. There's some added romance (which was nice) and I can't wait to read the last book in the quadrilogy. ( )

Tamora Pierce's newest feminist icon enters her squire years faced with battles on and off the field. Keladry continues her training under the infamous Lord Raoul of Goldenlake, head of the King's Own, dealing with discrimination, love, battles, testy griffins, and the looming Chamber of the Ordeal. In the field, Kel faces bloody raids by savage immortals, bone-jarring escapades in the jousting ring, and making friends and allies among her fellow soldiers. Against the rich tapestry of life at the Tortallian court, Kel plays diplomat with old friends from the Yamani Islands, battles against bullying and sexual harassment, and best of all, is knighted. The “perseverance, hard work, and skill” (School Library Journal) that precedes Kel’s knighthood makes the crowning moment all the sweeter. Unlike Pierce’s other protagonists, Kel’s non-magical status makes her accomplishments more accessible to the reader. Pierce once again brings to life the distinctive cultures and relationships that ground this low-fantasy extravaganza. A great addition to any school or public library. ( )

Kel passes the big exams and has become a squire. Lady Alanna is still not allowed to be near her (for fear that she'll enchant Kel to succeed), dashing Kel's hopes of being her squire, but instead Kel is chosen by Alanna's friend Raoul to squire for him and travel with the warriors of the King's Own.

This is one of my favorite Tamora Pierce books - Kel is my favorite, in my opinion the most realistic and the least Mary-Sueish of Pierce's heroines, in part because she has no innate magical ability and therefore must figure everything out without that kind of help (or crutch). Squire is my favorite of the Protector of the Small books, possibly because Kel is such a quiet and serious character most of the time and in Squire, with Raoul and the men of the Own around, her sense of humor comes out. ( )