#Review of First Born by @LorieAnnGrover

 

Tiadone has been forced to live her entire life as a female accepted as male in her community in order to survive as a firstborn child. But when she needs to pass the rites of manhood, she finds the Creator may have use for her feminine traits after all.

About the Author

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Biography

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. I used to pretend to read before I could by carrying around Nancy Drew books and flipping through the pages. I studied ballet for ten years and was a member of the Miami Ballet Company. When I grew too tall for the profession, I turned my focus to fine art at the University of Miami. Eventually, my love for the written word yielded verse novels and board books. My fantasy novel, Firstborn, received a Kirkus Starred Review, and my board book, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish, was named a Parents Magazine Best Children's Book. I co-founded readergirlz and readertotz. Living with my husband in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, I write, practice weapons tai chi, and watch hawks take flight.

Sometimes things don't work out the way you think they will......

Before Tiadone's birth the R'tan were conquered by the Madronians and their religion has been oppressed since before she was born. Worship of the Creator Spirit and reading of the Oracles is a punishable offense by either whippings or death.  The other thing that has changed is daughters who are the firstborn must be declared male or discarded.

Tiadone's father declared her male after his wife died in childbirth. She is the first declared male among her people and her father hopes that others will declare their first daughters male if she succeeds .  Being a declared male Tiadone must live the life of a man and at 16 she finds herself struggling to not have feelings for her best friend. Whom all but shuns her when the egg that each male and female are given at birth turns out to be a singer when all the other Rapion's are silent.  This is where the story reminds me of the Taltos series by Steven Brust. As he has a pet dragon which communicates in the same way as Tiadone's Rapion does ie. by mind.  They are bonded together as the Rapions are to protect the male's while they defend what is called the Perimeter. 

Firstborn is a story of not only female repression but also of life worth.  As they believe that the firstborn daughters are worthless. Tiadone hopes to prove them wrong.  But will she succeed in defending the Perimeter for 1 year or will she fail? This book is unlike any other book that I have read.  With similarities to both the Vlad Taltos series and Mulan it is one nail bitting adventure.  It really makes you think, that if you were in this situation. What would you do?  Could you live your life as a lie not being who you are? Or would you run away?  I don't think I could live my life as a male but, Tiadone knows of nothing else.   

I found myself feeling for Tiadone's situation as she is faced with the truth of her womanhood.  She has to question her beliefs and make a choice that will forever change not only her life path but all the lives of all Firstborn Daughters.  I really hope that the author decides to come back to Tiadone's world and live as I would love to read more about this world.  I want to know more about if her decision changed their way of thinking.  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information

Posted in: 5 Stars, Lorie Ann Grover, Readon, Review, Young Adult