Telyn's Reviews > Mastiff

"Mastiff is a somewhat disappointing conclusion to Tamora Pierce's Beka Cooper series. I liked this entry better than the previous book in the trilogy, but neither approached the quality of the first book. There are many interesting and entertaining elements here—I enjoyed seeing how magic can be used for detective work and forensic investigation and was charmed by the new member of Beka's hunt team, but the book feels somewhat slap-dash despite its length and it has a number of odd inconsistencies that the editor should have flagged. More time for the author to revise and a stronger editor would have made for a stronger narrative. The controversial subplot that is receiving extensive criticism in other reviews felt unnecessary and contrived.

Beka is strong, kind, intelligent and has incorruptible integrity. It is a pleasure to spend more time with her, but she shines best in the lower city, which does not enter into this story at all. I realize that the writer had a serious message about the degradation and dehumanization caused by slavery, but the level of violence used to convey that message makes this excursion to Tortall rather off-putting. This book, even more than the other two in the trilogy, is more suitable for adults and older teenagers than for younger readers.