Magic Steps

The Circle Opens #1

by Tamora Pierce

Lady Sandrilene fa Toren knows all about unusual magic--she herself spins and weaves it like thread. But when she witnesses a boy dancing a spell, even she is confounded. To her dismay she gets news of a mysterious murderer stalking a clan of local merchants. The killer employs the strangest magic of the ability to reduce essence to nothingness. As the murders mount and the killer grows bolder, Sandry's teaching takes on a grave purpose. It becomes clear to everyone that the killings can only be stopped by the combined magic of two the young teacher and her even younger student.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, High Fantasy, Teen

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!

Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!

I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.

I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.

Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.25 stars ✰

“Sandry knew fear and disaster well.

But this is the first time I’ve ever grabbed danger with both hands and hugged it close.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It only took a woman who could disappear into the shadows to behead her prey without remorse or hesitation for me to realize that this was the only way for the author to impress upon her readers that this was the darker side of magic that the circle of friends would have to encounter, leaving behind the comforts of innocence. 🫣 It was jarring and grim and kinda nauseous at the ease in which children were even being killed.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ And with Sandry all on her own, whilst her fellow mages were advancing their magics on their own journey, she definitely had to pull her own weight and strength to take down this ruthless threat, which was no easy feat, especially when the person who could assist her most was a novice of magic, and the only one who wielded a unique power that could save them all. 🥺

“She needed spells that would make her and her student feel they were of some use in this tangle.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It's been four years since Sandry arrived in Winding Circle as a pupil, but to see her now as the tutor to an unskilled and untrained mage-in-training was a daunting challenge. And being only fourteen, she was prone to mistakes and quick rebukes; but the lessons of patience imposed upon her by her own elders was what saved her in not making too many rash decisions when it came to Pasco. 😢

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ She really went above and beyond to prove her worth; despite the wariness and loneliness without her friends, her resolve and strength in her weaving magic was unparalleled - a talent that earned her the respect of many, including her uncle and the awe of Pasco, wishing to shed away his own disheartened lifestyle, so that he could become the master of his own dancing abilities. 👌🏻

“What did he think magic was, if not a kind of thread?”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The portrayal of unmagic - 'it’s — nothingness. The absence of all else — of light, magic, existence' was unnerving and unsettling. Kudos to the author for capturing the ill-intent of the villains, but it also made me kinda uncomfortable. 😟 The swift ease in which killings were being shown also felt a bit too dark for my liking, even though it is a young adult and should be alright, but maybe I wasn't quite prepared for such an intense jump, so that affected my overall enjoyment. 😞

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Sandry as ever remained true to her being. Her loyalty and devotion to her overworked uncle, her thoughts, her emotions, her compassion, her abilities, she is a heroine who rises to the challenge and has a courageous spirit and brave tenacity that makes her noble stature as a Lady shine even truer at how good a heart she possesses. ❤️‍🩹 It makes her worthy of the praise and respect of those around her. Her tutelage experience provided a lighter respite to the sinister plot, as she and Pasco often butted heads over her capabilities as his teacher, and then at the most crucial of moments, the strength of their bond was tested that would determine their fates. 🫂

“It’s time we spread our luck to others.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Despite my own personal discomfort, the writing was still as dynamic as ever, swiftly moving with an illustrious cast of old and new characters that laid the foundation for the Magic Steps of having she and her friends realize the importance of taking on their own pupils to extend the tapestry of their magic, thus setting the stage for the circle to open for seeking out undiscovered mages, waiting for someone to guide them towards their future and untapped potential. ✨

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're finally diving into the second quartet learning more about our favorite kiddos and this definitely did not disappoint. I was anxiously awaiting how each of our characters would develop since they have aged a little bit since the last quartet. This was great and definitely showcases Pierce's ability to write a great middle grade fantasy while tackling some touch topics. We discussed this one over on Bethany's channel so if you're interested in hearing more of my thoughts about it definitely watch the live show here: https://www.youtube.com/live/KLFXliL0...

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not the first time I've read this but it did not disappoint upon re-read. Sandry has grown up quite a lot and is ready to begin taking on more responsibility and is faced with more darkness in the wider world. Now 14, her friends have gone off on their own adventures and she is caring for her uncle Duke Vedris after a heart attack took him out of commission for awhile. When she discovers a boy with untrained dancing magic, she must take responsibility for training him. But then things get a whole lot more dangerous when a merchant is assassinated by rivals using a dangerous sort of magic, and they are out to take down his entire family.

This really does feel like it's a bit aged up from the first quartet. Sandry is dealing with murdered children, and perhaps having to engage in serious violence herself in order to protect the people and city she loves. Pasco is a great new character to bring in. He reminds you a bit of Briar, but with less trauma and a family who loves him even if they want him to join him in the family trade of what's basically a fantasy version of policing. He's the odd one out and will frustrate Sandry as she tries to help him accept that he has magic and learn the basics. A great first book where we see real character growth and I'm excited to read on!

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four years after the magical plague swept their city in Briar's Story, the magical students of Winding Circle have separated to pursue further training. Sandry, whose gift lies in weaving magic as though it were thread, discovers a boy with a strange ability. Unlike ordinary mages, he has to dance to do magic. Everyone else in his family is a harrier (the city's version of police), but Sandry convinces them to let him train with her.

Meanwhile, a feud between merchant clans leads to murder, as assassins descend upon the city. The assassins are using a terrifying form of un-magic, and even Sandry's weaving magic is hard-pressed to deal with it.

Sandry isn't 10 years old any longer, and her inner voice is more mature. The portions of this book that deal with her and her magic are wonderful reads. The parts concerning Pasco are less so. Pasco is trained in investigation and law-enforcement, but when the mysterious murders begin, he has nothing to do with the plot. He mostly trains off-page, and does nothing at the climax of the action. I think this would have been a much better book if it was told from his perspective. His training with the dancers and struggle between family expectations and personal dreams would have come across a lot more strongly. Plus, seeing familiar characters through the eyes of a stranger always adds a zing to the narrative.

[Lee (the Book Butcher) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend was right this was my favorite Tamora Pierce book yet.

the four magical children are now a little older and training separately. Lady Sandrilene fa Toren is with her uncle Duke Vedris. She hears of a boy who dances as a form of magic. Pasco Acalon the dancer thinks it's a joke. he and his family have never heard of dancing magic. He is meant to be a city guards man or harriers as they are called. I know what you're thinking this boy the dancing boy, this guy just read a children's book about a dancing boy. let me stop your there. this series is like the hunger games it's got kids but deals in adult stuff. to make my point the villains who were using a druggie pre-teen magician to murder a merchant family was desegrated! that's right DESEGRATED! Sandry becomes his teacher. with the help of a world famous dancer who is tough as nails teacher. that's right it's a murder case! my favorite thing!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more like a really high three, but I'm rounding up because of sentiment. I still find myself wanting more from the Emelan books, and not getting it. They just take place in such a short period of time, and there isn't much character interaction. There was even less in this one than usual, because the four main characters are split up, each character getting their own spotlight book while the others are off having adventures in other parts of the world.

This one is Sandry's book, and the main arc is for fourteen year old Sandry to transition from being a student to a teacher herself, when she accidentally finds a young boy who appears to be a very rare dance mage. Pasco is a reluctant student, believing his powers are first, not real, then second, frivolous and pointless, largely because of his family's expectations. Pasco's appearance coincides with the multiple assassinations being carried out in Summersea against a merchant family by two rival merchants bent on revenge. They are utilizing a mage whose magic specialty is something they begin to call 'unmagic,' a very dangerous substance that is corrosive and eats normal magic.

The stuff with Sandry is great. Watching her grow into her new role and come to accept that things have changed was satisfying, but Pasco was way underused. He basically only functioned here as a way both to get Sandry to that point, and to have powers that could be unique enough to catch the bad guys. His relationship with Sandry was barely developed, and his role in the denouement was slight.

I listened to the full cast audiobook, narrated by Tamora Pierce herself along with the cast. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it was very jarring, as Pierce doesn't have the most natural sounding reading voice. Some of the cast members were excellent, and some sounded very robotic. I'd reccommend sticking with the plain text for this one.

Not sure when I'll get to the next three books in this quartet, as my library system doesn't have them, and neither does audible. ILL, be a dear and please work fast for me. Plzkthxbye.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I *loved* this book. It's perhaps the darkest of Pierce's books so far (although the end of the Protector of the Small series, and much of the Beka Cooper series, rivals it), but I also love the way it builds on CIRCLE OF MAGIC. It's clear that THE CIRCLE OPENS is likely to be about adding new mages to ~the circle of friendship~ and about Sandry, Briar, Tris, and Daja growing up- at least, this book certainly seems to make that point, as Sandry is featured in a new role, and a new young mage, Pasco, is introduced. This alone would have made a great book, but we add in a giant dose of Sandraline fa Toren, Girl Detective, and a really creepy and really good murder mystery and it's just... fantastic. One of the final reveals is easily one of the saddest and most depressing things I've ever read, and yet the book does an excellent job of truly ending on hope.

The only thing I missed in this book was having all 4 kids together- their friendship is such a great strength to the first series; I was sad it took a way back seat here.

Very excited for STREET MAGIC next. :)

[Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been too many years since I read this second quartet in the Circle of Magic series. I missed the full cast reading, but it's still so nice to give the words your own full attention. A few gaps in the story have been filled - now on to the next!

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I would have known this is part of a larger series so I could have started at the beginning. I still liked it and it wasn't too confusing, but I would have gotten more out of it. I liked Sandry, she's strong and smart and took the time to teach Pasco even when he wasn't the easiest student to work with. It was easy to forget she's only fourteen, she seems so mature. I thought the murder mystery was interesting, though I didn't completely understand the magic that undoes things? Maybe I'll start with the first book and things will come together better.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series! You can see my series review on the blog.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sandry stumbles upon Pasco, a boy who can do magic through dance, and because of ~mage law~ she must teach him—even though she's 14 and he's 12. Meanwhile, a trio of brutal assassins are magically murdering a merchant family, and must be stopped.

I enjoyed this a whole lot more than the first time I read it, which I think is because I kept comparing it to my beloved Tortall series and it just doesn't measure up. However, I did enjoy this book a lot more than the Circle of Magic quartet, because it felt like this one was more centered on world-building instead of throwing you into a world without actually doing anything to set the scene or have things relate to each other. In this one, the city really does come alive, as do the various politics and relationships between noble and commoner, merchant and harrier, and performer and mage.

Sandry herself is a little too precocious for me, but then again she's a 14 year old noble lady who has been accustomed to living as a de facto lady of the house for the summer while her great-uncle recovers from a heart attack. But she has grown quite a bit, even if I was hoping she'd turn around and ask for help from the adult mages at Winding Circle a little more often.

Also, this book as a lot bloodier than I remembered, and a whole lot darker. I completely forgot about the drug addiction and brutal murders (including an infant and a child).

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Tamora Pierce destroys me emotionally.

[Britt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the first book in The Circle Opens series to be a disappointment in many ways. Part of that is on me, I regret that we skipped four years of learning and growing with these four young mages and went straight to their separation and teaching. It seems a shame to miss out on so much potential for quality content to skip straight to...this. Taking my opinion out of this, though, it's still not a great addition to the Emelan universe.

Almost as if Pierce forfeited the writing of this book to someone who never read the Circle of Magic series, Sandry is a secondhand retelling of the young noble we've met. Everything ever written about her points to her being a caring, compassionate person regardless of their status. However, once she meets Pasco, that all goes out the window. First, she ambushes him with accusations, refusing to let up even when he is clearly shaken and confused that she thinks he could perform magic. Then she bullies him into learning from her, with an inner monologue about how little she wants to do this, even when she can see that he needs support and more information. He comes from a family of harriers, tells her over and over that they won't accept magic that would help catch criminals, and doubts that he has any magic at all. So Sandry fobs him off on a dance teacher with no magic, half-asses his meditation teaching with almost no patience or understanding, involves him in a dangerous task with no follow-through to be sure he's safe other than harping at him to make sure he can do it right over and over again. Super supportive. This is not the girl who stood up for Daja, a complete stranger, in a room full of nobles. The girl who protected Briar, her brand new housemate, from a full-grown mage when he was clearly in the wrong and had stolen something. The girl who saw how lonely Tris was and refused to give up on befriending her, no matter how many sharp comments, lightning bolts, and sudden storms she had to endure. The Sandry in Magic Steps is not the same one we met in Sandry's Book .

There were a few redeemable qualities. The concept of unmagic was interesting. Sandry's interactions with her uncle seemed closer to the character I expected her to be, but they were mostly just a distraction from the story. Lark was the same caring, eccentric, powerful mage, a true stabilising presence. Unfortunately, these facts weren't enough to lift the overall impression Magic Steps left behind.

Other books in the Circle Opens series:
#2: Street Magic ⭐⭐⭐
#3 Cold Fire ⭐⭐
#4: Shatterglass ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Other books in the Emelan Universe:
#1: Sandry’s Book ⭐⭐⭐
#2: Tris’s Book ⭐⭐⭐
#3: Daja’s Book ⭐⭐⭐
#4: Briar’s Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#6: Street Magic ⭐⭐⭐
#7 Cold Fire ⭐⭐
#8: Shatterglass ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#9: The Will of the Empress ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#10: Melting Stones ⭐⭐
#11: Battle Magic ⭐⭐⭐

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[Abi (The Knights Who Say Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 Review: This time around, I appreciated Sandry's relationship with her uncle even more. Their moments during the Circle of Magic series are also really sweet, but in this book you get to see how he really trusts her and her maturity, which is really nice.

Another thing I picked up more on this time is how much emphasis the story places on Sandry becoming an adult over the course of this book. It partly comes from looking after her uncle, taking on responsibilities in his castle, and having much higher mastery of her power, all things she had begun before the book started. But the real passage into adulthood takes the form of taking on her first student, taking on responsibilities she would rather leave to other people, and finally accepting that she has grown out of her childhood home, and thus out of her childhood. It's bittersweet, and there's an interesting dynamic where the adults around Sandry all seem to understand this before she does, and are waiting patiently for her to discover it for herself. As a reader, it hurts. You've read four books about how special the group's childhood was, and you don't want to hear that it's done now, and will never be the same. But that's growing up and growing out. And Lark is there to assure Sandry that she is not being cast out from her home, but is simply ready to do great things outside it.

Through this lens, the book doesn't seem as dark as it did the first time I read it, and I wonder if that's because I'm seeing it from the other side of the story now. In 2018, I was terrified of change while in the middle (or at the beginning) of a lot of it. Two years later, I've grown out of so many places. I've seen how scary it is, and how okay it is. And the ending resonates with me in a new way.

2018 review: This is a... tentatively rated book. To be honest, I finished it during a personally really rough week when reading was hard, so maybe I could have fully enjoyed it more at another time and given it five stars. Just focus less on the star rating and more on the fact that I liked it, because this book didn't get a fair shot to begin with.

At first I was a bit disappointed that we were skipping several years. After getting so invested in these kids in the Circle of Magic series, I wanted to see them grow up every step of the way. But in another way it was really fascinating to jump to a more mature Sandry — not to mention, it's probably good that nothing worth writing a series about has happened to them since Briar's Book. These kids desperately needed a break after their first year at Winding Circle.

Sandry, of course, has "grown up" (she's still pretty young) to be the determined, poised young lady we knew she would be, and she's a great protagonist. Her mix of calculated demure manner and complete knowledge of her power works really well. Since I was griping about her not getting much focus in her own book of the first series, it's great that she has such a personal journey in this one. (Although of course splitting the kids up was another thing I didn't like at the beginning)

Also, Pasco! And the more minor characters that all got to be more than flat paper dolls, which is very impressive. I wish we got to see more of Pasco's lessons, but he was still a great character and of course there was plenty of other plot to go around. While the Circle of Magic books of course followed some really intense events — brutal pirate attacks that killed many people and a plague that killed even more — this book went even darker with the murders. Not to mention the metaphors for depression and much less metaphorical drug addiction as a coping mechanism.

This is definitely a more grown up continuation, but it makes perfect sense. It turns up the dial on everything — the subject matter, the personal growth, the kids finding independence now that they've achieved a family in the first place — but it follows a logical progression that feels smooth and natural. I'm definitely happy with it as the opening of a new series.

[Myth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so. On a regular book scale this gets five stars. Tamora Pierce hasn't written a bad book yet, and I don't expect her to do so any time soon.

On a Tamora Pierce scale, though...

I love Sandry. I love her a lot. I think she's my favorite Circle kid. That being said, in comparison to the rest of the books in Circle of Magic AND Circle Opens, this one is the weakest. It could just be that I miss all the kids hanging out and helping each other, or it could be that I miss the element of learning that comes from the first quartet. I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I think we know more about all the other players in the other books, and in this, even though we get Alzena and Nurhar's PoV, I felt less connected to the whole enterprise.

I don't know. I still love this book, but I think it, Battle Magic, and Melting Stones remain my low three of Tamora Pierce's works. That still puts them head and shoulders above most books, to be clear.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PSA: The author narrates this and I love it!

Gosh the babies are growing up! Seeing Sandry take on her own student and help solve crimes with Duke Vedris made her seem so old!! And she's only 14, the precious babies. I absolutely loved seeing Sandry grow into the charming young woman she is. The only thing I really missed was her friends helping her and being around her.

The murder mystery part of this was fascinating since we knew who the villains were. The story was more about trying to catch them since "unmagic" was involved. The "unmagic" is tricky stuff and I loved how it was incorporated into the murder, really shook things up. Many of the police force looked down on Sandry because she was young and a woman, but boy did she prove them wrong. She also did not let their misconceptions thwart her efforts to solve the crime. I loved her determination and perseverance.

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wulfric Snaptrap" sounds like a character name you'd find if Charles Dickens wrote a fantasy book lol.

CW: Grief, addiction, child abuse, murder, violence, death of children

[Kaylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful entry into the Circle of Magic world! I can’t believe I never read this quartert.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unmagic. Eww. I'd really have hated to be Sandry when she wove that unmagic thread. Gah.

Edited: Added detail

I just realized that the unmagic is somewhat like depression. It robs you of the will to do anything and infects every part of your body and life.

I'm glad that the children are growing up and learning to pass on what they themselves have learned. I'm worried about Sandry's Uncle and glad that he might have a new love interest in the beautiful dance Yazmin! :)

Edited:

I feel so bad for the little boy who had unmagic. He had a horrible life being used by pirates and then the Dihanars.

I'm always happy when a new kind of magic is introduced and I two in this one. Dancing and unmagic!

Pasco wasn't the best student but I could see that he was trying. I was mad at his family for not being more supportive at first and then trying to influence him after it turned out to be useful.

I really liked Yasmine. She will be a good teacher for lazy impish Pasco.

Sandry is growing up. She helps her Great Uncle a lot and is really good at it. I know that he appreciates having her at the castle.

I like that the Duke like Yasmine. But obviously the flirtation doesn't last as it's not mentioned in The Will of the Empress. :(

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another example of a book that I wasn't in love with the first go around (although this is still on the scale of my general feelings for anything by Tamora Pierce, so still adored it), but this re-read changed my mind. It was definitely a great transition for the characters growing up and experiencing more complicated issues.

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come :)

[Ronnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a little sad to see the quartet broken up this series, and I'm going to miss seeing them all together this whole quartet. But I can see why they have been, and the fact that this series is going to work on them developing independently, instead of continuing to grow more codependent on one another.

This book follows Sandry and her new student. It is a little more mature than the previous series, and was unexpectedly dark/gruesome in some spots, but in a way that works and that I think probably works well, too, for upper-Middle Grade fiction.

Anyway, overall I enjoyed reading this quite a bit.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamora Pierce never disappoints! I was looking for a book that I could easily slip into and this one did the trick. I adore the world of Emelan and its magic so it was a welcome return. It was interesting to see Sandry take on an apprentice and the challenges that came with it. The murder mystery component was unexpected but well done and darker than I was expecting--though one thing I love about Pierce is that even though she writes for younger audiences, she never shies away from difficult themes.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one wasn't quite as engaging as the first quartet, and in fact the first half was rather boring. The second half was a lot more interesting though. Overall I really enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing what Briar and Tris and Daja are up to. I liked seeing more of Sandry's magic, and Pascal's dancing magic, although I found the boy quite annoying. He seemed so much younger than Sandry than the two years of their age difference.

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much Sandry and not enough Winding Circle squad. I would prefer a dozen more books in the universe of them as students growing and being awesome together, so this is always a hard transition.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um, dancing magic? Sign me up.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. The Emelan books aren't as compelling to me as Tortall, but I liked the idea of dancing magic a lot. WHOA, though, that ending is WAY more violent than Pierce usually goes with.

[Jason Beineke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and it is a book that is on a higher maturity level than the original Circle of Magic books. Among the themes at play here are Sandry's devotion to her uncle and her desire to care for him out of selfless love as opposed to the selfishness of Duke Vestry's third son and current heir. In the original Circle of Magic books we saw Sandry as both the most psychologically damaged of the four youths due to her accidental imprisonment in the dark and also as the most compassionate of the four (think of how the children came to adopt the dog, Little Bear). During the Blue Pox she worked herself to the bone to provide the medical gear that the Water Temple forgot about. Also, she was the one that wove the four friends' magic together, then tirelessly sifted them apart again.

Sandry's caring/motherly instincts extend to the young boy she comes across during an outing with her uncle. Like Sandry herself was, he is an unrecognized magical talent, with his specialty being dance magic. As becomes the theme in Street Magic as well, Sandry finds herself having to mentor this youth while uncertain of her ability and skill to do so. Yet, with the help of her mentor, Lark, she manages to persevere. The underlying theme here as well is that the boy's family at first is not that thrilled that he is a mage who is aspected to dance magic. The family serves the local guard and to be a mage in the family means a university education at Lightsbridge, with strictures and set expectations. Winding Circle magic the opposite as the methodology is to find that which is particular to the individual, not to bend the individual to the strictures.

Of course, to make things juicy, Ms. Pierce needs something to be going on that keeps us exciting, reading and on the edge of our seats. More so than in Street Magic, the antagonists of this book provide murder, mystery and mayhem. While we feel little sympathy at first for the murder victims, it is the continuing targeted assassinations that we are concerned with and the widening circle of people at danger. The assassins are using magic that confounds both the duke's men and Sandry until they finally start to piece things together. What makes it all worse for everyone involved is the concept of addiction and decay inherit in the dangerous methodologies of the assassins.

As I said before, this is a more mature book than the previous Circle of Magic books as we are introduced to outright blood, murder and many of the dark sides of human nature. Ms. Pierce does a better job with the murder/mystery plot in this book than she does in some of the other Circle of Magic stories.

While the Pebble Sea setting is very much a highly evolved Renaissance one (Ms. Pierce based much of the world on the Mediterranean), there seemed to be a few things that were a bit too modern for me, but that is mostly my nitpicking. I did have a few issues with the dance studio that was introduced, though its instructor was a highly engaging character. The studio just seemed a bit too modern for me.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and its companions for young readers. Despite the bloody and dark aspects that you will find throughout, I feel that the underlying themes are extremely positive and good.

[Lennora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story set in a vibrant and diverse world. This quartet is a continuation of the Circle of Magic quartet and seems to follow the same format. I was very happy to catch up with Sandry and can't wait to read about the other three.