I really liked the Daine books and thought Kel was pretty cool, but the books I don't like as much are the Aly ones (well "book"- I've only read the first one so far). But you're right- the Alanna ones are definitely the best! :) I didn't read Tortall until I was an adult, though, so I don't have childhood memories making them seem better, ya know? (That's why I haven't read Phantom Tollbooth lately; I loved that as a kid and I'm afraid that now that I'm grown, it won't be as I remembered it.)