Wolf-Speaker, the second book in the Immortals series, proves to be just as good as the last. In this book Daine and Numair are off north when Daine gets a distress call from the wolf pack that helped her avenge her parents death. The pack tells them about a force of two-leggers (or humans) that are tearing up the land, cutting down trees, and scaring away all the game. Daine is the only one that can tell the nobles in the area to stop. But when Daine and Numair comes across the nobles of the area they realize that they might have much more sinister causes, causes that has something to do with the dangerous immortals that are running rampant in Tortall. Because of this Daine and Numair are seperated, both focused on their tasks. Daine wants to help her pack brothers and sisters more than anything, but with every step she takes she finds herself getting in more dangerous predicaments. I really enjoyed this book, I've nearly read everything by Tamora Pierce and this series is becoming a fast favorite of mine. I was really happy to see Daine learning more about Stormwings and meeting ... different kinds of immortals (but I won't spoil it for you!) I recommend this series not only to fans of Tamora Pierce and Fantasy fiction, but to animal loves as well.

The book, Wolf-Speaker, in the Immortals series, is a wonderful book. It is about a girl named Daine, 14, and a mage, her teacher, Numair, 30, who live in the time period with King Jonathan III, and Queen Thayet. The world is invaded with immortal creatures, such as dragons and Stormwings. Daine can mind-speak with animals using her Wild Magic. In the 2nd book in this series, Wolf-Speaker, Numair, their 2 horses, Spots and Mangle, her pony, Cloud, her dragon, Skysong or Kitten, and she go to heed the wolves of the Long Lake Pack's cry for help. People in Dunlath Valley are cutting down trees and turning the peaceful valley into a nightmare. She and Numair find out the awful plan Tristan (Numair's old mage school classmate) and Lady Yolane of Dunlath have for Dunlath Valley. Read this book and find out the excellent ending. Wolf lovers, like myself, will love this book.

Wolf-Speaker is definitely my favorite book in the Immortals quartet. I feel that this book is just as good as Prisoner of Azkaban or any other Harry Potter book. It captivates in it's own way. Numair, Daine, and the cast of other memorable characters are definitely the best! Great wolf book! It's like a personification except only one person can see them that way. We actually meet the first batch of truly evil people, Tristan Staghorn and his crew. Numair, the most powerful mage in all of Tortall, and Daine, the only wildmage, stop them! The magic in the Immortals quartet is a really imaginative branch of animal magic. Daine is a girl who's perfectly human, except for the fact that she has wild magic. A must read series and book for lovers of magic, wolves, magical creatures ~aka the Immortals~, and animals overall! Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite authors. Her books, including Song of the Lioness series and Protector of the Small, will captivate any reader. Beware of night-reading! You won't be able to put this book down!

Unfortunately, when I picked up this book at a local bookstore, I did not have the money to buy the charming autobiography of this small, yet wise, cat. However, while my mother shopped elsewhere, I began reading it. Although I only got twenty-some pages in the book, I would be willing to fork over the value of this book just for that much. Delightfully, retold, I extremely enjoyed the first part of this book, although I do not particularly care for cats. Such books as "A Dog's Life" by Peter Mayle, and this one, interest me for its peculiar point of view. A must-read. I can't wait to finish it.

If you own a cat or love cats, you'll love this book. It's extremely well-written and draws you into the life of Foudini M. Cat from page one. The characterization of Foudini, Sam and Grace are convincing, humorous and touching. The most poignant scene between Sam and Foudini reminds me of The Velveteen Rabbit, and was just as heart-warming. This is a great book for any adult cat-lover, and would also make a great book to read to young children.

I loved this book as much as the creatures in this story love one another. I think this is a remarkable book, immensely touching, extremely funny, and in the end, conveys a deep understanding of human attachment and the way everything--people or cat--cope with loss. I didn't think about these things while I was reading; I was swept up by the story. It's not a good book to read when you want to go to sleep because you stay up trying to finish. I said, "I'll read just one more chapter," and then I only had forty more pages, so I finished reading at three in the morning. This story about a cat and his dog manage to capture the very strange way in which the minds of human beings become interwoven with their animals. The author makes this possible because she has carefully observed the behavior and meaning of both dogs and cats and the animals in this volume have such depth and meaning that when a tragedy finally strikes, it is almost impossible to read about it without crying, so be prepared.

The writing is beautiful and so is the story. This would be a perfect book for any adult (who doesn't hate cats, although reading this might convert him) and a marvelous book for intelligent children who don't have enough really good books published for them.

I bought the hardcover because I intend to read it again and again and I don't want it to ever fall apart.

I didn't realize at first when I bought this book it was a young adult book! Why do all the young adults get some of the best stories these days? Anyway, this has to be my favorite book so far. I'm a Harry Potter fan and love this book as much as I love HP. I'm reading into the 2nd book now and have the third and can't put it down! I even got my best friend a copy to read. The Dark Angel's lure is also felt with readers. Along with the Dark Angel, all of the characters are enduring and quick to get to your heart. You feel for Pierce's characters and even feel all the emotions Aeriel is feeling. The ending was my favorite part, the Wraiths/13 Brides are truely funny and how the characters change and grow in this book just amazes me. I LOVE IT! I haven't read a good fantasy novel like this in a long time, the good ones are hard to find and I just simply ate it up. You will not be able to put it down, trust me!

I read the entire trilogy when I was fourteen. I fell completely in love with it then, and now at 21 I love it even more. The Darkangel is probably one of the most fascinating vampires ever created--he is arrogant, evil, and utterly beautiful. But he too has a very human side to him, so one can certainly understand Aeriel's predicament when she falls for him, and why she is so desperate to save him. The style of writing is almost poetic, and so powerful that you forget you're reading about a futuristic moon colony. The sequels are truly moving, with one of the saddest endings I have ever read. Anyone who enjoys vampire fiction must read this book!

I read this book a few years ago, and I liked it as well as an eleven or twelve year old can be expected to like it. But I checked it out at the library again, when I was for the second time attracted to its cover. I loved it! It's absolutely brilliant writing, spun just like a beautiful tapestry. It is not a typical vampire book at all--it's very much a fantasy, verging on sci-fi.

Ariel is a servant girl. When her mistress, Eoduin I think her name was, is kidnapped by the infamous Darkangel (vampire) to be his bride, and nobody will do anything about it, she knows she has to. She gets captured by the Darkangel, and he makes her the handmaiden of his thirteen wives. His wives, once beautiful women, are now shrieking wraiths, and at first Ariel is hesitant to go near them. Soon she gets to know them, spinning them clothes out of charity and love, and gently coaxing their memories to return. But then they ask her to kill their husband, and she knows she must, but how? She goes on a journey to retrieve the only weapon on earth that can destroy him, and when she returns she has every intention of killing him. But she finds that she's fallen in love with him, for the good that she knows is buried in his heart somewhere. Will she kill him for all the misery he's caused, or will she try and save him?

This book was wonderfully written and highly imaginative and I recommend it highly to anyone who is looking for fantasy, drama, a small touch of romance, or just a beautifully written book.

"You will be haunted by Three Spirits." So forewarns Jacob Marley's ghost to Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser of stingy, unfavorable traits. And so begins the enduring Christmas classic distinguished by almost everyone. Come along on an erratic journey with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, all of whom attempt to point Scrooge onto a virtuous path. Meet the most notable characters ever introduced in literature: Bob Cratchit, angelic Tiny Tim, and good-natured Fred. With vivid descriptions of Victorian England and enlightening dialogue, 'A Christmas Carol' will enrapture both the young and old throughout the year with a vital lesson on hope and benevolence for humanity. This, I find, is treasured most of all in this brief story marvelously crafted by the creative Charles Dickens. No matter how many adaptations of the book one has seen on television or as films, the real source is highly recommended and should not be missed. For if you do pass the book up, you are being just a Scrooge (metamorphically speaking, of course!).

Master storyteller and social critic, Charles Dickens, turns this social treatise on shortcomings of Victorian society into an entertaining and heartwarming Christmas ghost story which has charmed generations and become an icon of Christmas traditions. Who, in the Western world has not heard, "Bah, Humbug!" And who can forget the now almost hackneyed line of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!" or his cheerfully poignant observation, that he did not mind the stares of strangers in church, for he might thus serve as a reminder of He who made the lame, walk and the blind, see. Several movie versions: musical, animated, updated, or standard; as well as stage productions (I recall the Cleveland Playhouse and McCarter Theatre`s with fondess.) have brought the wonderful characterizations to the screen, as well as to life. This story of the redemption of the bitter and spiritually poor miser, and the book itself; however, is a timeless treasure whose richness, like Mrs Cratchit`s Christmas pudding, is one that no production can hope to fully capture.

Well, I finally read it (instead of just watching it on the TV screen).

This is what you can call a simple idea, well told. A lonely, bitter old gaffer needs redemption, and thus is visited by three spirits who wish to give him a push in the right direction. You have then a ghost story, a timeslip adventure, and the slow defrosting of old Scrooge's soul. There are certain additions in the more famous filmed versions that help tweak the bare essentials as laid down by Dickens, but really, all the emotional impact and plot development necessary to make it believable that Scrooge is redeemable--and worth redeeming--is brilliantly cozied into place by the great novelist.

The scenes that choke me up the most are in the book; they may not be your favourites. I react very strongly to our very first look at the young Scrooge, sitting alone at school, emotionally abandoned by his father, waiting for his sister to come tell him there may be a happy Christmas. Then there are the various Cratchit scenes, but it is not so much Tiny Tim's appearances or absence that get to me--it's Bob Cratchit's dedication to his ailing son, and his various bits of small talk that either reveal how much he really listens to Tim, or else hide the pain Cratchit is feeling after we witness the family coming to grips with an empty place at the table. Scrooge as Tim's saviour is grandly set up, if only Scrooge can remember the little boy he once was, and start empathizing with the world once again. I especially like all Scrooge's minor epiphanies along his mystical journey; he stops a few times and realizes when he has said the wrong thing to Cratchit, having belittled Bob's low wages and position in life, and only later realizing that he is the miser with his bootheel on Cratchit's back. Plus, he must confront his opposite in business, Fezziwig, who treated his workers so wonderfully, and he watches as true love slips through his fingers again.

It all makes up the perfect Christmas tale, and if anyone can find happiness after having true love slip through his fingers many years ago, surprisingly, it's Scrooge. With the help of several supporting players borrowed from the horror arena, and put to splendid use here.

Briar's Book is the 4th Book in a series of four by Tamora Pierce. Brair was a kid on the streets until Niko, one of his teachers, finds him and discovers his magic and brings him to Winding Circle. Now Briar is helping his teacher Rosethorn to find the cure to a disease. When Rosethorn becomes sick it becomes harder for Briar and everyone else involved in finding the cure to the plague. This book is a great read and always keep you wondering what will happen next. Throughout the book, there is always something to hope for and more to possibly lose. This is a book to read again and again

I really loved all of the Circle of Magic books! Tammy has done well with this one. I got to like Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar right away, and their teachers before the series was over.

Anyway, Briar's Book was great. I kind of got disappointed; it didn't really complete anything...

But that's alright. You can bet that when The Circle Opens series comes out, I'm going to dash to a bookstore--ANY bookstore!-- within two seconds of finding out so.

I don't even dream of giving Tamora Pierce's book a point less than 5. Well, I must admit, this book is nothing like the "end." That's cuz there's the Circle Opens and all. I think this book was really cool and unique... with all the medical stuff. Sure, I love fantasy like the Tortall series, but I think Circle of Magic is really cool. I think it's really cool how Rosethron's character is developed so well. At first, I disliked Crane, but now, my feelings have change. No offense, but I think that she is the most interesting adult in the story. Sure, Niko's powerful and all-- hardly a person. Lark is cool, but no *interesting* Same with Frostpine. The only disappointing thing is that there is like no romance in the story... Only hints of it which I can't decide if I am imagining. Maybe it's because it is for "kids" Oh well. Man, Briar is a cool character. I like bad boys like him (with a soft heart) And why do I like Sandry? That's cuz she's the thread which binds the 4 together. And why do I want those two together? Because they have an *aura* Only B+S-- that's what I call them-- fans will understand what I mean. No more said. I can't wait till the next part of this series comes out! I've waited ever so long to get the paperback edition of this. Yeah, some may complain, some may say the later books are not good, but I believe that all Tamora Pierce books has a certain flavor (causing an excitement to tingle in me). She's an awesome writer!

Tris' Book is a book about a girl, who has recently discovered that she has powerful mage power, and her 3 close friends. They live at the Winding Circle Temple, which has recently received damage from an Earthquake. Unsettling things begin to happen, and it becomes clear that something is amiss and danger threatens Winding Circle. The danger comes in the form of Pirates, who are taking advantage of Winding Circle's wounded state. A cousin from the Family that cast Tris out shows up, and advises her to return home, but Tris is fiercly determined to fight for and protect the only place that she has ever felt at home, with her equally powerful friends right beside her.

This book has more action than the first book in the Circle of Magic series, and the ending, in my opinion, is more satisfying. This book allows more exploration of the characters, because introductions do not need to be made, allowing for a greater story line. It is definitely worth your while to read, I quite enjoyed it. I would give it about a 4 and one half star rating, but there is no half so I am giving it 4.

Tris' book is the second best in the series (Brair's being the best) and is a book you must read. When pirates attack winding circle, the only home to the four mages in training Sandry, Daja, Tris, And Briar,they have come with a new weapon. How will the four fight to protect the only home that they have been accepted in?

this is a book that has it's own unique plot filled with unforgetable characters. In this book, I found that the description of tris's past to be interesting and strange in the sense that her family are so mean. I can say that the end is good and the text will keep you reading. I give this five stars because I not only love all of Tamora Pierce's books, but I think that this book has a wonderful way of describing things that happen in her world, and in the real world with the added push of magic and a new language. If you like smart-mouthed red heads that have unsettling ways with the weather, then this book is for you. So if your looking for an good book, then you have found one in this!!!!! I truly believe that this series is the best, and Tris's book is one of them that earns it it's name!

As the second book in the Circle of Magic series, Tris's book proves to be even better than the last. Having a more darker air this book pulls you in with it's vivid descriptions and wonderful charecters, expecially Tris. Ever since the four young mages living at Winding Circle, Tris, Daja, Briar, and Sandry, joined their powers with Sandry's weaving strange things have been happening. They can talk to eachother through their minds, and hear peoples voices on the wind, a talent only TRis used to posess. Their powers have been connected somehow and they don't know why. But they are put to the test when Pirats attack the only home they know about. People are dying and no one knows how to stop them. What can they do to protect their home? If you want to find out read this book. I found it to be even better than the last. I reccomend this book to people who love Sandry's book, magical midevil fiction, or Tamora Pierce's work.

This novel was fantastic. I started reading the series in 6th grade and finished all four books in a month. This last entry in the saga was by far the best, but all four books remain my favorite. My copies of these books have been read so often that the overs are bent, torn, and water damaged, and I think if you read these books, it won't be long before yours are too.
These novels thouch topics that are near and dear to my heart, such as girl-power, believing in yourself, love, trust, friendships, and hard work. You grow with Alanna as she learns that she must work twice as hard as the boys to accomplish the same thing, and as she learns how to love.
There is never a dull moment in this series, and I find this last novel to be the best. Alanna is finally coming of age with herself and her accomplishments, and there is a lot of romance in this book. She once again must save Tortall from past defeated enemies that unfortunately
arise again. This book ends the series spectacularly, but when I got to the last page, I almost cried, because I didn't want the magic Pierce created to end. This could be the best thing you do for yourself, because your Lioness rampant and other Alanna books (like they did with me) will become a close friend.

WOW! I mean really! First of all I'd like to say that this is probably the best series of all time. I love the Alanna's. Tamora Pierce creates the perfect combination of romance, comedy, fantasy and girl power in the series. The characters are believable, likeable and you can feel their emotions, as if they're real and you know them. The whole series is great, but this is my favorite book. Alanna still struggles with trying to prove herself worthy of being a knight, but she gets her glory in the end! It has the return of all the old and familiar characters and the debut of some new ones. Although I didn't like that Alanna just kinda blew off George to go romance with Liam. (...) I was extremely happy how Tamora Pierce ended the series after the some-what letdown of The Woman Who Rides Like A Man. A GREAT READ!

In this wonderful, adventure-packed book, you meet up with Alanna on her search for the Dominion Jewel. She encounters many obsticles on her path towards success. She meets a new guy (isn't she always doing that?), runs into the princess of a war-torn country, and finally discovers that she really does enjoy using her Gift. After retrieving the Jewel, she arrives home to find several interesting problems...(I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't read it yet.) Alanna finally does settle down and I think she made the right choice, you'll have to read it to see!! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, magic, and romance. If you like books where the odds are against you and the outcome is always unknown, then you'll love this book. This heroine proves she deserves to be a knight, so please read Lioness Rampant, you won't regret it!!

Briar, the boy with plant magic and the former child-gang member from the Circle of Magic books,is traveling to Yanjing in the east with his teacher Rosethorn the plant mage; the teachers of Briar and two of his foster-sisters, Daja and Tris, have agreed that the three need to see new things. Four years have passed since Briar, Tris, Sandry, and Daja came to Winding Circle in "Sandry's Book"; Briar is now fourteen. Briar and Rosethorn have stopped in Chammur, a huge trading city in Briar's hometown of Sotat, southeast of Emelan. While Briar is wandering the jewelry and stone marketplace, he sees a gang, all wearing gold nose-rings with garnet drops. Next Briar notices a ten-year-old street girl,Evumeimei Dingzai of Yanjing, polishing stones with magic. Briar approaches the girl, forgetting the gang, but the girl (known as Evvy) flees. Briar chases her, but she loses him when she gets to her home, or "squat," in Chammur Oldtown, a part of the city tunneled into the cliffs of Chammur. Briar gets to the house where he is staying. First, he asks members of a local gang with whom he is friends, the Camelguts, if he knows anything about the gang in the marketplace. Briar is informed that the gang, the Vipers, work for a rich woman, who gives them weapons. Next he tells Rosethorn about the little girl, and is informed that since he discovered Evvy's magic, he must be her teacher! Briar finally gets to know Evvy, who is an escaped slave. Briar, though, doesn't want to teach a child magic. "I'm a plant-mage," Briar tells Evvy. "You're a stone-mage!" But Briar tries to ask the only stone-mage in Chammur, Jebilu Stoneslicer, for help with Evvy. Jebilu refuses. Then he agrees, but is so mean to Evvy that Evvy resolves to stick with Briar. Meanwhile, the lady who controls the Vipers, Zenadia doa Attaneh, has made up her mind: the gang must first beat the Camelguts into submission so that the Camelguts will be forced to join the Vipers. Then, Lady Zenadia wants to capture Evvy and make the girl work for her and her gang. Briar knows this and feels torn. Should he get caught up in gang warfare yet again? He thought that part of his life was over. But he decides to; he must protect Evvy. The Camelguts finally join the Vipers, who capture Evvy while Briar is lured out of the house by a Viper. Evvy is taken to Lady Zenadia's house. But Briar and Evvy destroy the house together, and the Vipers are broken up forever. Evvy decides to come with Briar and Rosethorn out of Chammur...and that's the end. I hope I haven't given too much away! The characters in this book are better drawn than they are in "Magic Steps," the first "Circle Opens" book. The descriptions of Chammur Oldtown are amazing, and I liked Evvy at once. She is so brave but so childlike at the same time. Every part of the book that shows Evvy's thoughts, feelings, and cats is the best! I gave this book four stars, though, because I felt Evvy and Briar overcame Lady Zenadia too easily. If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading the "Circle of Magic" books before reading "Street Magic." "Sandry's Book," the first in that series, is incredibly good!!! And yes, I'd recommend "Street Magic." Though it is not the best of Tamora Pierce's books (but it's definitely one of them!), it is well worth reading.

Another episode of Briar Moss, the 14 year-old plant mage, and his teacher Rosethorn, a famous dedicate-plant mage from Winding Circle. In the book, Briar and Rosethorn have traveled to the distant land of Chammur in order to help the farmers with their dying land and to stock up the earth temples w/ medicines and supplies.~~While walking in the Grand Bazaar, Briar comes across a young orphan named Evvy, who was using powerful magic to polish stones and jewels. She needs a teacher: so Briar decides to teach Evvy as best as he could since the only other stone mage in town has refused to. ~~In the streets, the gang called the Vipers, with the help of their rich Lady leader, have been growing stronger by recruiting more kids and they plan to kidnap Evvy, so they can have a stone mage to search out precious gems in their roberies. Briar tries his best to protect her, but when he is lured into a trap the Vipers catch her! Can Briar save Evvy before she is forced to help the Vipers steal or before the Lady does what she has done to all the other members who have not complied w/ her wishes????? Read and find out~~~you'll be totally amazed!!!It will have you dying w/ suspense!!! READ IT!!!

Briar and Rosethorn are in the city of Chammur,in Briar's old home land of Sotat.One day in the market he sees Evvy,a "street rat"polishing stones for a merchant.Briar can see that she has stone magic,and resolves to track her down and find a teacher for her .This means getting her to trust him.Meanwhile Briar is caught up in gang warfare,even though he promised not to go back to his old way of life.One of the gangs wants Evvy to join them,so she can track down hidden jewels for them.In the end he must choose between what he thinks he needs to,and what he knows he has do.This book opeons up a completely different side of Briar not seen in the previous one.

Ok, the whole Circle of Magic series is a nice, easy read and enjoyable. However, I don't think they are up to the standards of Ms Pierce's "Lioness" or "Immortals" series. If you are just starting to read Ms Pierce's work - start with "Alanna: the first adventure".

Perhaps, it was that just _too_ many disasters occurred to the quartet of friends in one short year, or that I found none of the characters to be as engaging as Alanna or Diane, nor did I find the world to be as well defined and thought out as Torell.

The concept of magic in craft (weaving, smithing, etc.) is not new but Ms Pierce does have a nice spin on it. And I did love the idea of spinning their magics together to make weak strands/magic stronger (Sandry's), which results in blending/sharing of magics (Tris's/Daja's)and the idea of mapping their magics with weaving and using the weaving to prevent further blending of their power (Daja's).

Over all I found the Circle of Magic series to be nice but if you want a true representation of Ms Pierce's talent try the books set in Torell (Song of the Lioness, Immortals, Protector of the Small)

For some strange reason, in all the years I've been reading fantasy, I haven't picked up many Tamora Pierce books. Now it's not that I dislike them, I find them to be quite interesting, but I never really got into them. Now I'm 16 and probably a bit too old to be getting into these books but I still love them. Sandry's book is the first book in a fantasy quartet about four young adults with special gifts. The first book introduces us to the four main charecters: Sandry, the bright and friendly noble girl who has a strange gift for weaveing, Daja, a headstrong Trader who is considered cursed by her people, Triss, a stubborn young girl who's power over the weather mystifies even herself, and Briar, a street smart theif who has a strange gift with plant life. These four children live dark lives until they are brought to a temple by Master Niko. Here they learn about magic hidden deep inside of them and begin to learn how to control it. But if the four strong-willed young people cannot bind together they may find themselves in terrible peril.

I found this book to be magical, entertaining, and exciting. THe only complaint I had with it is how the charecters were first found by Niko and that's more something that irks me than anything. I wish I could have picked this up a few years ago, I may have enjoyed it even more. I will definatly pick up the final three books in this series. I can't wait to see what happens to these four appealing charecters.

This is the first book that I read by Tamora Pierce and I loooved it! I finished this quartet and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in The Circle Opens. HOWEVER, the only reason I am giving this FOUR stars instead of five is that the rest of Tamora's series are slightly better. After I finished reading Street Magic, I read Alanna the First Adventure. That was it and I was swept up in the world of Tortall. Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and Lady Knight are all quartets based in Tortall and I think that those are better BUT the Circle books are great too! GO TAMORA! My friend thinks I'm obsessed but believe me, once you start reading you won't be able to stop.

For all readers who enjoyed Tamora Pierce's four books in the Circle of Magic quartet, MAGIC STEPS gives an opportunity to read more about the unusual mages Sandy, Tris, Daja, and Briar. Though the Circle of Magic and the Circle Opens quartets are supposedly geared for younger audiences than Pierce's Tortall books, MAGIC STEPS gives hints that this may not remain the case.

After coming across a boy-mage just a few years younger than herself, Sandry, thread-mage of Winding Circle, learns that as the discoverer of the boy's power she is responsible for making sure he learns the basics of its use. Her instruction of the boy Pasco, however, takes on more importance when members of a prominent family in the city begin to be brutally murdered. Despite the open attacks which take place with growing frequency and brutality, the killers continue to escape until only a combination of Sandry and Pasco's powers will bring the horror to an end.

Fans of Tamora Pierce everywhere will probably enjoy this book, as well as those that follow it. I myself have read it about two times, and was thouroughly engrossed both times. I happen to think that the usual Tamora Pierce magic is somewhat lacking in this first book of the Circle Opens quartet, but it remains yet another enjoyable read by one of my favourite authors.

Tamora Pierce has really out done herself with details this time!This book, Magic Steps, was very suspenseful and exciting, but when someone was injured or killed even, she went into great detail. Whether about the salty stench of blood or the way the bodies of victims were left by their murderers, strewn about in chopped up pieces. This may be a reason why some people with weak stomachs would not want to read this book, but the reasons to read it out way the reasons not to.So, you should definitely consider reading it.

Now I will briefly describe the story line so you can make a final decision : To Read? Or Not To Read? Magic Steps is about a girl named Sandralene Fa Toren who has recently graduated out of the Winding Circle magic school. She is now living with her Great Uncle Duke Vedris because of his heart attack which happened just a few short months ago. She is determined to keep him out of harms way until he is fully healed. While out on a morning ride with her uncle, Lady Sandry spies a boy of about her age, maybe a little taller than her, with brown curly hair and tan skin who is dancing around a net on the beach, his name was Pasco. She eventually discovers his magic and becomes his teacher. While this is going on, there are a few murders in a local merchant family and Lady Sandry gets wrapped up in this investigation and soon finds that she and Pasco are the only ones who, joined with some head mages, can save the rest of the merchant family and catch the killers. If you are interested in finding out how, read Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce.

As someone who is generally not a big fan of Tamora Pierce's work, I was pleasantly surprised by Magic Steps, the first in a promising new quartet. It's a very diverting action-fantasy with plenty of-- well, everything. There's some particularly creative magic going on: Sandry continues to work with and explore her special type of thread magic, Pasco (her new and somewhat unwilling student) begins to learn control over his unusual dancing Talent, and a new and very dangerous type of magic is discovered. Unmagic, as they call it, permits several murderers to go undiscovered as they exact revenge upon the prominent Rokat family in a truly grisly manner. And only Sandry and Pasco, two young and inexperienced mages, have the combined unique talents to deal with the menace...

The shift of this quartet is definitely off the original four characters; Tris, Briar and Daja are mentioned only in passing. However, Sandry's character is further developed as she becomes more independent, and she gains a surprising amount of depth and maturity by the end of the book. Pasco is also an engaging creation, and Pierce's vivid description of his first dance lesson (and his ensuing sore muscles) will provoke a good deal of compassion from anyone who has ever taken serious dance lessons. Additionally, the villains, though a little underdeveloped, are not the standard implausibly evil Bad Guys.

Really, the only thing that detracted from my pleasure in reading Magic Steps was the occasional intrusion of terms from this world. Tamora Pierce did, for the most part, a good job of creating slang and customs for her world. Even the names of the weekdays are altered. However, they still inexplicably measure height in feet and inches, and some of the foreign customs mentioned are very Asian and Middle-Eastern in feel. Not a major fault, though, and there are plenty of good points that more than make up for that. A warning to those with weaker stomachs-- there is quite a lot more gore and death in Magic Steps than in The Magic Circle quartet. It's hardly excessive, though, and shouldn't be too bothersome.

Naturally, it's a good idea to read The Magic Circle quartet (Sandry's Book, Tris' Book, Daja's Book, Briar's Book) before reading the first entry in The Circle Opens series. I'll be looking forward to following entries as the remaining three characters mature and become teachers in their own rights. But if you like Tamora Pierce, you really must try Sherwood Smith's Crown and Court Duet...

Ailanna