Page: Book 2 of the Protector of the Small Quartet

The book is great on audio, but the narrator makes some characters way too old sounding. A little more information for the narrator so that she knew the characters weren't in their 60's but were only in their mid 30's would have been nice. That was the only disheartening thing about the book and it kind of grates on your nerves after a while and takes away from the story.

This is not the fault of the narrator - I am not sure whether she read two different versions and someone did a bad blend, or she was given a mixed script - but the first 1/3 of the book is the UK translation (meters, kilograms) and the other 2/3 the American English is was written in (feet, pounds). For someone who has read the book several times, I found this very annoying.
I also agree with the previous reviewer that some of the voices (particularly Owen's) were just a little off. However, I thought that Berdadette Dunne did a great job with the other 3 books in this series.
Of the four, this is my least favorite listen. (Squire is my favorite).
Plotwise, the book is excellent, spanning Kel's second through fourth years as a page. She makes new animal friends and new human friends and enemies as she gets ready for her final trial as a page, with (of course) lots of tests and tribulations, especially at the end. The development of Kel's new maid is particularly interesting to watch.

Yes and No. I enjoy reading but if the story is really good I also enjoy listening to it.

yes. Great as ever.

Yes.

Tamora Pierce has filled such a need for well written characters in YA fiction it is difficult to describe her for a review to someone who might not have heard of her yet. Her writting is well crafted, and her main characters who are often girls are strong, moral, upright and worthy. Character is written deep in the roots of her characters. Problems are solved with thought and events while possibly magical are never unbelievable. Relationships are the foundations of her stories and she treats each with care and concious. I would reccomend her books to any mom of a young adult. She never forgets she is writing to an audience still growing and learning who they are and she does very well by them.

This series, Protector of the Small, is well written and carries the plot forward with considerable momentum and ease. Of the four books, this is my least favorite, merely because there is no significant change from the first book in regards to the setting and characters. However, it is a crucial piece that shouldn't be omitted from the series. Triny Alverado reads the book well, with slight changes in tone and pitch for the different characters. I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to this book. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a strong female protagonist. I have read this book about 7 seven times, I look forward to listening to it at least that many times, if not more.