Sandry is the last of her noble family left alive after a plague, left in a hidden room by a dying servant. Daja, the sole survivor of the
shipwreck that claimed the rest of her Trader kin, has been cast out of her kind as bad luck. Briar, a thief, has lived his life in squalor,
destined for a life of cruel imprisonment. Tris is a stubborn girl whom none of her relatives want, bounced from one to the other until nobody
is left to take her in. All four share one thing: a rare yet powerful gift for magic that has gone undetected by traditional mages. The strange
wanderer Master Niklaren gathers them all from where Fate has washed them and brings them to the famed Winding Circle temple. Here, among some
of the greatest mages the world has ever known, they must learn to accept and control their unusual powers... but first, they must learn to
trust each other.
Review
The title of this story is inaccurate. This book is about all four children, not just Sandry. In fact, I didn't consider her to even have a
prominent role in the story. Her character doesn't undergo as severe a transformation as the others, so, aside from er assistance at the story's
climax, I have no idea why this book was named for her specifically, except to create symmetry in the series. Seemingly random title aside,
however, this is well-written and interesting story set in a different world than her Tortall books. The protagonists are different than Pierce's
previous heroes and heroines, and their adventures have a more introspective and subtle feel. This isn't so much a book about strong-willed girls
blazing trails in male-dominated circles (like the Tortall books) as it is about learning to accept one's gifts and the gifts of others, and to
carry on despite great losses. I enjoyed this new world, and look forward to future adventures here.
After the devastating quake that rocked Winding Circle Temple, the countryside is still struggling to pull itself from the rubble when a new
danger arrives: pirates. Pirates are nothing new to the lands around Summersea Harbor, but they are usually scattered ships preying on isolated
ships and settlements. A new pirate queen has risen to unite a great fleet, and with her stands a great mage. That alone makes them a force to
be reckoned with, but they also bear a new weapon, one that blasts and destroys whatever it touches. These pirates may do what no other invaders
have: throw down the walls and magical defenses of Winding Circle. Tris and the young mages of the House Discipline must again test their
untrained talents against a great enemy... but Tris herself has personal troubles to tend to, as a relative's arrival brings back dark memories
of the days when she was an unwanted family burden.
Daja was cast out of the Trader kind as the worst kind of bad luck, invisible to her former people, after being the sole survivor of the shipwreck
that claimed her clan. Though she has found a new life at Winding Circle with her friends and teachers, finally able to explore her gifts and interests
in metalwork that Trader folk considered beneath them, Daja has never truly lost her longing to redeem herself to the Traders. Now, on a journey to the
drought- and wildfire-plagued Gold Valley, Daja finds herself once again sharply reminded of her status as outcast when a Trader caravan comes to the
castle where she is staying. An accident of magic may provide her with a chance to reclaim her status as a Trader; but first, she and her friends must
survive their inexplicably melding powers and the wildfires that ravage the land.
Review
This wasn't as obvious as Tris's story, and I liked it better as a result. Daja really struggles with her life, and her magic, here. Additionally,
more comes of earlier suggestions that the bond between the four young mages runs deeper and more complicated than their masters understand.
On a side note, I have to wonder if the artist who did the cover for this edition had ever seen an actual horse, or if, like their predecessors in history,
they merely rendered the animal based on descriptions passed through multiple mouths and languages.
It has been nearly a year since his old life as the thief Roach ended, and Briar Moss of Winding Circle temple has come to love his new life.
Working with the strict teacher Rosethorn and learning plant lore, living in Discipline House with his mage-friends Sandry, Daja, and Tris, it
seems as if his old life on the streets was just a dream. Then, in the town of Summersea, an old associate calls on Briar to help an ailing friend.
Suddenly, the town is engulfed by a mysterious plague that defies even the wizards of Winding Circle. From noble to street rat, nobody is immune.
It will take all the resources of Briar and his friends to find a cure and be sure all their loved ones survive.
Review
Another great book from Pierce, reading like a conclusion to the quartet. Briar's transformation from untrusting street rat to respectable plant
mage completes the transformation of all of the students of Discipline House. On its own, it also makes an interesting, tension-filled examination
of an epidemic, albeit one with magical overtones.
Four years ago, Sandry's unusual talent for weaving magic like cloth was discovered. Since then, she has learned from the great mages of
Winding Circle temple, and from three young mage friends with equally unusual talents, how to use her peculiar magic. Though her friends and
their teachers have departed for their own lessons, she thought she would always live in the little cottage called Discipline at the temple,
under the eye of her kindly teacher Lark... until the day her beloved great uncle, Duke Vedris, suffered a heart attack. Now living in the
duke's castle and helping him run his lands as he recovers, she needs no more complications in her young life. Then, she spies a most unusual
new talent, on the very day a dangerous assassin force marks its first kill in the city.
Pasco's family has been Provost Guards for generations, but his nature is quite unlike the disciplined soldiers of the guard. Always a
daydreamer and clearly the least adept in his family at guard training, he has a gift for dance. Though he tries to deny it, the gift runs far
deeper than a mere physical talent. Like Sandry, who works magic with woven thread, Pasco works power with his body as he dances. An untrained
talent is a danger to himself and others, and, as the one who found him, fourteen-year-old Sandry must teach the reluctant mage Pasco to use his
skills, though he is only two years her junior. She may have found him not a moment too soon, for it will take a combination of their gifts to
bring the assassins to justice.
Review
This quartet is a followup to Pierce's Circle of Magic books, following Sandry, Briar, Daja, and Tris as they leave Winding Circle and
begin to make their own ways in the world beyond Discipline House and the Winding Circle temple. Since so much of the earlier books focused on
the bonds of magic and friendship among Sandry and her fellow mages, this book seems lonely and empty by comparison, as Tris, Briar, and Daja were
only mentioned in passing. Unlike the previous quartet, where more was made of how the children learned to meld craft and magic, the bonds of dance
and power are only touched on now and again. I felt a distinct struggle for story time, as part of the book wanted to follow Sandry's growth and
another part wanted to follow Pasco's struggles to deal with his gift. Since I already knew Sandry from the earlier books, I found myself paying
more attention to her and less to Pasco, which didn't seem like the author's intent. (If it was, Pierce might want to consider a break from writing.
Pasco seemed short-changed here, and would have been better used in a story without ties to previous books.) The story itself was more predictable
than I have come to expect from Pierce, and the climax had one character acting with what pushed dangerously close to plot-extending stupidity; that
is, doing something that the character really should know better than doing just to further the action. It's not a completely disappointing
followup, but I think I preferred the earlier books. Unlike her Tortall series, each quartet of which may be read without ever having heard of the ones
before or after, I doubt that The Circle Opens will be able to stand alone from its preceding quartet. That said, I wouldn't rule out reading
the next books in this quartet someday; if nothing else, I'd like to catch up with Sandry's friends.
The Tortall universe: The Song of the Lioness series, Book 1 Tamora Pierce Random House Fiction, MG Fantasy Themes: Classics, Epics, Girl Power, Magic Workers, Thieves *****
Description
Alanna and her twin brother Thom are about to be shipped away from home for training in the fields chosen by their father, a man more enamored
with his books than his barely-noted children. Alanna is destined to learn the art of magic in a convent, while Thom is to go to the royal court
and become a knight of Tortall. Neither is happy with their destinies. Thom dreams of becoming a master wizard, while Alanna fears her magical
gifts, longing instead for the glory of knighthood that her gender deprives her of. Just before leaving, the twins decide to switch places. Thom
goes to the convent and Alanna, pretending to be the boy Alain, goes to court to fulfill her dream of being a knight. Keeping her gender a secret
is but one of the challenges she faces in the capital, as she has encounters with dark magic, the King of Thieves, and ancient powers harnessed by
a greedy noble out to seize the throne.
Review
A fun, fast read for older children and adults, the first installment of the Song of the Lioness quartet establishes a magical yet real
fantasy world of Tortall, populates it with interesting characters both good and bad, and fills it with adventure and intrigue. Alanna is a great
protagonist, being neither perfect nor pathetic in her efforts to compete with the other boys. A very promising start to a series.
Now a squire to Prince Jonathan, one of a select few who knows her secret, Alanna is visited by the Goddess herself, who tells her that she has
three fears to face: the scheming Duke Roger, the Chamber of the Ordeal, and love. She knows she must face the Duke's plans to take over the crown,
and the Chamber must be endured by all squires in order to become a full knight, but can she conquer the third and greatest challenge set before
her?
Review
A worthy sequel, this book continues events started in the first book and weaves its own adventures for the young lady knight-to-be. Great fun and
great action. Alanna's relationship with Jonathan grows more complicated than she intended - but, then, the same could be said for her whole life
since she made the decision to pursue her forbidden dream of knighthood.
Prince Jonathan and his champion, Alanna, travel to the hostile deserts that cover the southern portion of Tortall. Here, they encounter more dark
magic and threats as they attempt to make peace with the wild tribes of this unforgiving region. The Bahzir tribe of the Bloody Hawk, whom they end up
living with for some time, is almost as much of a threat to Alanna and her companions as the tribe's enemies, with many an ancient tradition and rule
set up against the outsiders.
Review
I felt that this book lacked something. It wasn't quite as involving as the previous two installments, but maybe it was simply a victim of "middle
book syndrome," that somewhat listless and incomplete feeling a book gets when it's in the middle of a series. Still, it had plenty of action and
character development, and was pretty good overall. It certainly didn't discourage me from finishing off the quartet.
In the final installment of the Song of the Lioness quartet, the knight Alanna and a select group of companions set out in search of the lost
Dominion Jewel, a powerful gemstone which could help save Tortall from the dark forces that are tearing at its foundation. With Prince Jonathan's coronation
looming, she races to procure the jewel before it falls into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, her brother Thom is ailing from corrupted magic, and an old enemy
returns from the grave to exact revenge on the Lioness Alanna.
Review
A fantastic conclusion to a fantastic series. Almost everything is wrapped up in a great climax, where everyone pulls their weight and wins their own battles.
Pierce returns to Tortall in multiple future volumes, introducing new characters and exploring new parts of the magical realm, though readers can walk away here with
a sense of satisfaction.
Eleven years ago, the kingdom of Tortall officially declared that girls could train for knighthood. Aside from Alanna the Lioness, King's
Champion and the first-ever female to sneak through the ranks and train as a "boy," however, no girl has shown any interest in taking up arms
as a knight...until now. Keladry, or Kel, has lived six of her eleven years on the island nation of Yamani, where it is common for noblewomen
to learn combat skills. Now, she wants to be a knight, but first she must prove to the trainers and other boys that she's capable.
Review
This is Tamora Pierce's third series set in Tortall, taking place after Song of the Lioness and The Immortals (not reviewed
here), but it's not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this one. Characters and events from the previous two series are mentioned,
but you won't miss anything integral to the plot. Kel is more than just a young Alanna revisited, facing entirely different challenges and tackling
them with a different attitude. I'm looking forward to the day my budget allows me to purchase the next books in the quartet.
Keladry of Mindalen has endured her first year of probation, and is now an official page, training to be a knight for the kingdom of Tortall.
There are still those who, despite the successes of the famed Alanna the Lioness, believe that knighthood is not a woman's occupation. They still
believe they can break Kel's determination, and do their level best to discourage her through increasingly cruel words and tricks. She thought
she had seen the worst of it last year, but as a page she will face greater troubles from her peers and outsiders alike. In addition to her old
allies, she picks up a homely mutt named Jump and a new servant girl who needs protection as much as she needs wages. Even as Kel struggles to
become a knight, she must also deal with her own inevitable growth from girl to woman, and its attendant complications.
Review
Another great installment in what looks to be another great quartet by Pierce. I'm waiting eagerly for my budget to recover sufficiently to allow
me to purchase the next book... and the last one, if it's out in paperback yet.
Keladry has beaten the naysayers and the odds, and is now a squire. Now, she must contend with continued prejudice and opposition without her page
friends to help. Many are surprised when Lord Raoul, Knight Commander of the King's Own, selects the only female squire in Tortall as his own, but she
is determined to prove herself worthy of the honor. Bandits, raiders, a stolen griffin hatchling, and other dangers - not to mention the treacheries
of her own heart - await her in her quest to earn her own shield.
Review
Another excellent installment in the quartet, this serves also as a setup for what promised to be a spectacular conclusion. Like Alanna before her,
Kel must learn to balance the demands of her profession with the demands of her heart, in addition to her other challenges. Once more, she handles her
problems in her own fashion, avoiding a simple retread of the Lioness's footprints.
After eight years as page and squire and a passage through the perilous Chamber of the Ordeal, Keladry of Mindelan has at last earned her own
shield and the rank of Lady Knight. Tortall is in great need of knights, as the northern barbarian clans of Scanran have been united for war.
Raiders alone the soldiers can handle, but the Scanrans have a devastating new weapon: great metal-boned killing machines, powered by black
necromantic arts. Before leaving the Chamber of the Ordeal, the force within that room told young Keladry that she would face down the foe that
created these monstrosities... but her king has ordered her to a place away from the front lines of battle, as head of a camp for war refugees.
Torn between duty to the crown and duty to the Chamber, Keladry must risk everything to fulfill her destiny.
Review
I couldn't wait for the paperback version, so I broke down and got the hardcover book. This is an excellent, spellbinding conclusion to Kel's
story. Plenty of action and conflict, both internal and external, await the lady knight on her journey. It rivals, perhaps even tops Pierce's finale
to the Song of the Lioness.
