Alanna: The First Adventure

While Tamora Pierce's novels are mainly marketed towards younger readers, her Song of the Lioness series is still a worthwhile read, especially if you're looking for a break from some of the darker and denser suggestions on this list. In the series, started in the first book, Alanna: The First Adventure, the protagonist, Alanna, ditches dresses to don britches and masquerade as her twin brother, Thom, in order to train as a knight. The book is a good deal shorter than many other fantasy tomes, with Pierce choosing her words carefully and packing in the action. The story is set in Tortall, unsurprisingly very much like medieval Europe, but with its own unique touches, and of course, a good deal of magic. Readers will love the plucky and stubborn Alanna, perhaps even seeing themselves in the young heroine. The plot is a straight forward, good vs. evil story, which critics may take issue with. But for a lighthearted and fast book for a rainy Sunday afternoon, Alanna perfectly fits the bill. Read if You Like: young adult novels, coming of age stories, magic, swordplay, medieval Europe, romance, character driven stories