Unlike the first two books, this book actually did focus heavily on the titular character, which was refreshing. The other three were also present and heavily involved in the plot, but at the heart of it, this story was Daja's.

I wished this hadn't been a children's book because there seemed to have been some absolutely fascinating political behind-the-scenes stuff going on with the Duke that was only touched on.

I liked this book better than the first two. For one, the characters have truly formed into a unit and there was less bickering and more actual working together. For another, I liked seeing part of Emelan that wasn't Winding Circle. And lastly, I just really liked Daja's story and her having to interact with Traders again. ( )

I love any book by Tamora Pierce. This series (Circle of Magic) is good and if it was by any other author I would call it great. However, since I have such high expectations for Tamora Pierce I cannot call it truly wonderful. The characters are where it falls a bit flat for me as the story line I quite like. ( )

Just delightful, once again--I think this might be my favorite of the series so far. It manages to build a broader world and take the consequences of the last two books very seriously, while also give the children agency in how they approach the problems. Daja's arc here is so compelling and interesting and it's (I think) a pretty beautiful conclusion to the narrative (though obviously her story continues!) I found the ending kind of predictable, but for me that didn't hamper the story at all, and in fact made it more satisfying than anything else. ( )

This is one of my favorite series. I love how the characters come together and the journeys they go on. ( )

"On the horizon the landscape's burnin' red..."

On the heels of the earthquake and the ensuant pirate attack, the Duke is taking a tour of the Northern districts and is, of course, taking along our four kids and their teachers as part of his retinue. There's been a severe drought going on for three years and grass fires are becoming more frequent as a result. A mage hasn't allowed a forest fire for decades, its at the point where mast lays thick under the dry canopies of the trees. He scoffs at the Winding Cirlce mages and their circle of life nonsense. He also says some very pointed things about how magic is proper only when it can be assessed and measured in books -- Pierce has Opinions about education.

The four's magic is becoming more enmeshed daily, to the point where it leaks uncontrolled into their workings with mixed results: Daja creates a living metal plant, Briar fries a field of flowers. A solution is found, but not without some sacrifices.

The core of the book though is Daja having to deal directly with her people, the Traders, who named her an unlucky trangshi after the sinking of her family's ship and have refused to acknowledge her existence ever since. But with that living metal vine, the Traders must meet Daja on her own terms. That plot gave some depth to the story and something for us to care about other than a valley that brought a bad mess onto its own head and the problems of the kids getting crazy levels of power unearned. Really, as much as their teachers make the point of how they need to learn control to get anywhere, they seem to manage just fine doing whatever they feel like with barely any consequences.

Daja, as well as Tris, and sometimes Sandry, are great female characters in a field that is strewn with vapid girls helpless without their man friends. I just keep getting distracted by the fact that they went from zero to super-powered in only a matter of months. I don't think I noticed when I was eleven though, so I guess the objection doesn't matter.

Circle of Magic

Next: 'Briar's Book'

Previous: 'Tris's Book' ( )