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Circle of Magic #3-4
Air & Earth
Daja is the outcast Trader whose magic is with metalcraft. Briar is a former "street rat" who is learning plant magic. Together with their fellow mages in training, Sandry and Tris must help two communities whose people are in dire peril. In books three and four, the spellbinding conclusion to the riveting Circle of Magic quartet, acclaimed fantasy writer Tamora Pierce enchants her readers with a heart-pounding mixture of magic and mystery as four outcasts must bind together their magical powers to try and save themselves and what they love most.
504 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
1 person is currently reading
806 people want to read
About the author
Tamora Pierce
100 books85.2k followersHey, 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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 7, 2021
I read and reviewed the two books collected here separately, so basically this is just for my own records. The rating (three and a half stars, rounded up as is my wont) derives from the three stars given to Daja's Book and the four stars given to Briar's Book. These are the final two books in a series of four, and they are the best of them, I think - a judgement which is largely down to their two protagonists, who are the most interesting of the children featured in this series. I continue to enjoy the focus on craftwork, and both the books here place more emphasis on that, I think, than the first two.
I have a particular love for Briar, dedicated to plants as he is, but even so his book was, I thought, the best constructed of the four. A lot of that has to do with the focus of the book, and how little the central problem had to do with the magical abilities of the kids themselves. The kids tend to be ridiculously overpowered (the ease with which they solve each book's problem is the most unconvincing thing about them) but the focus in the last changes more to the abilities of the community in which the kids live, and how that community, working together, can address a plague. I just find that the more appealing story...
I have a particular love for Briar, dedicated to plants as he is, but even so his book was, I thought, the best constructed of the four. A lot of that has to do with the focus of the book, and how little the central problem had to do with the magical abilities of the kids themselves. The kids tend to be ridiculously overpowered (the ease with which they solve each book's problem is the most unconvincing thing about them) but the focus in the last changes more to the abilities of the community in which the kids live, and how that community, working together, can address a plague. I just find that the more appealing story...
September 27, 2021
Basically see my review for the first two books here. I'll then follow up to say that Briar was my all time favorite, ranked #1 and Daja my #3. So the book order is Sandry-Tris-Daja-Briar; if we're going to go with my favorites it's Briar-Sandry-Daja-Tris; and if I were going to recommend an alternate reading order I'd go with Sandry-Daja-Briar and skip Tris altogether (why did I hate that book so much?) All the love for these books, even as an adult (although straight up, I haven't read Tris since I was like 12).
September 2, 2018
I've read each of the books included in this one before and I still loved every single word in them.
Pierce is my first love in Fantasy and anything she writes is always a top read for me.
Pierce is my first love in Fantasy and anything she writes is always a top read for me.
December 5, 2015
After seeing the author at Chessiecon, I had an urge to re-read some of her books. I actual read the separate editions but they're so short, I didn't want to count them as four books in my total so I'm writing up the combined version. I liked the third book (Daja's Book) about the the girl who had been exiled from the Traders still willing to risk her life for them. I thought Briar's Book, about a former thief turned plant mage was rather slow and fighting off a disease, although important, is still more nebulous than fighting off pirates or even fire.
February 27, 2008
Briar was rescued from the streets by Niko when his mage powers are discovered. After a lot of patience and love Briar learns to trust others. He uses his mage magic to create healing medicines from herbs he grows. He learns how to care of the weak, infirm and vulnerable who are the most easily susceptible to the magically create pox that has turned in to a plague. In the end he must race for a cure when his teacher is exposed to the pox.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2012
Tamora Pierce does not disappoint. I still thin it unfortunate that I always have to look for her work in young adults...at 57 yrs old I feel like I am robbing the cradle by walking thru the area. Still, I find many treasures there. And if it is by Pierce, I am going to read it, even when I cannot find the books in the sequece written.
March 31, 2013
This is one of two series and a book that is in the Circle of Magic universe. It's about 4 friends: Sandry, Tris, Briar, and Daja. They all have magical abilities and go on adventures together. Honestly, this is my least favorite of her universes, but I still adore these series. I cannot recommend them enough.
April 12, 2015
I love Tamora Pierce's books. Every book has strong female heroines which is why I bought the full set for my niece, who loves them too. I strongly suggest this and all her other books to fantasy loving females young and old!!
October 26, 2008
these books are so good full of a great friendship and magic galor
January 26, 2010
An addicting series you just cannot put down.
January 30, 2015
(On a re-reading binge and finished this one 2/25/2013.)
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September 4, 2015WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR COMFORT BOOKS?
MG AND YA BOOKS THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST TEEN BOOKS LIST?
MG AND YA BOOKS THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST TEEN BOOKS LIST?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews