Underrated books: Beka Cooper

I thought it would be fun every so often to highlight books that I think are underrated and need more attention. I’ve structured it like a mini review, with bullet points about why you should read the book.

To start, I’m highlighting the Beka Cooper Trilogy by Tamora Pierce

---

Paraphrased from Goodreads (for the first book, Terrier)

Beka Cooper is a rookie with the law-enforcing Provost’s Guard, commonly known as “the Provost’s Dogs,” in Corus, the capital city of Tortall. To the surprise of both the veteran “Dogs” and her fellow “puppies,” Beka requests duty in the Lower City, a tough beat. But it’s also where Beka was born, and she’s comfortable there. Beka gets her wish and she’s assigned to work with Mattes and Clary, famed veterans among the Provost’s Dogs. They’re none too happy about the indignity of being saddled with a puppy for the first time in years. What they don’t know is that Beka has something unique to offer. Never much of a talker, Beka is a good listener. So good, in fact, that she hears things that Mattes and Clary never could – information that is passed in murmurs when flocks of pigeons gather, murmurs that are the words of the dead. In this way, Beka learns of someone in the Lower City who has overturned the power structure of the underworld and is terrorizing its citizens into submission and silence. Beka’s magical listening talent is the only way for the Provost’s Dogs to find out the identity of this brutal new underlord, for the dead are beyond fear. And the ranks of the dead will be growing if the Dogs can’t stop a crime wave the likes of which has never been seen. 

---

5/5 stars

Why you should read it:

• it’s a fantasy series with a female main character who has magical powers who
  • is in charge of her sexuality
  • does not need a love interest but happily has them when she wants them
  • is mocked for doing what she does but does it anyways and loves it
  • understands grey morals and tries to do what’s right
• bad-ass female side characters
• unique but useful magical powers
• great villains
• a great bad-person-who-isn’t-a-villain (grey morality is what I’m trying to say)
• it’s a fantasy series written by a female author
• possibly the most heart-wrenching ending to a trilogy ever, but also so good and really demonstrates the whole “good people do bad things for questionable reasons even though they had good intentions” thing

In short please read it.

---

Thanks for reading! xx