“Briar: "They never tell you some things. They tell you mages have wonderful power and they learn all kinds of secrets. Nobody ever mentions that some secrets you don't ever want to learn." Rosethorn: "All you can do is learn good to balance the bad. Learn and do all the good within your reach. Then, if you wake in a sweat, you have something to set against the dream.”

American fantasy writer

Tamora Pierce is an American fantasy writer best known for fiction for teenagers. She was born in 1954 and became widely known through her first book series, The Song of the Lioness. That series, published from 1983 to 1988, follows Alanna as she trains to become a knight and faces the tests that come with that path. Pierce is especially associated with stories centered on young heroines, and her work has often spoken to courage, growth, and the demands of finding a place in a rigid world.