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juliannegern's review against another edition
3.0
This is my least favorite of this quartet and of the books I’m re-reading. Of course, it’s lovely and nostalgic, but the story and setting in this one fell a little flat.
tellingetienne's review against another edition
4.0
Tris is not always my favorite character, but I really enjoyed this book. It was great to see how she evolved away from the other three, and to see her teaching. I loved her student, and the little girl in the novel as well.
jameyanne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I'm torn about this book. It pulled together for me in the last 150 pages, but the first two thirds of it dragged for me. Partly because we've seen this three times before: one of the four mages is on their own, finds a student, learns of their responsibility to teach that student, teaches that student, gets involved in some sort of crime. I also partly had a hard time with this because I didn't really get Tris's motivation--borderline obsession--to find the killer at first. After she takes in Glaki I can see it, but until then I was sort of confused why she was so invested in it. I do like that Tris and her student become a team, more like Briar and Evy do in the second book than Sandry and Daja and their students in the first and third books. I'm intrigued by the issues surrounding religion and government addressed in this book too. And who doesn't love a glass dragon? Allin all, there was a lot of good stuff here, but it took a while to get to that point for me, and I'm left feeling like Tris really didn't learn much from her experience except some new skills. I'm normally a raving Tamora Pierce fan, especially about the Circle books, but I'm considerably less fond of this book.
magaramach's review against another edition
4.0
This entire series is just kids rule grownups drool and as a teenager it’s occasionally very cathartic to read. Also worldbuilding everywhere. It’s kind of annoying how much Tris judges this world without ever saying anything good about it, but it’s still a marvellously fleshed-our place.
lizlbarrett's review against another edition
4.0
This was well plotted and I liked a lot of it but I really don’t think it has aged super well. It had a lot of shades of Alanna 3 white savior of a barbaric people that perhaps don’t read as well in 2021
bookishpapercuts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nbhatta's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed watching Tris mature. I liked Keth and Dema And Glaki too.
But my favourite has to be Chime!
But my favourite has to be Chime!
hoosgracie's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the other Circle Opens books, but then Tris isn't my favorite character. I did enjoy the glass dragon and some of the story. Decent addition to the series.
meganelise's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sbauer378's review against another edition
5.0
Hands-down favorite of this series. Honestly, the other three don't really hold up when you reread them as an adult but this one does.
I love that glassmaking is such a large part of the book. Just like Tris, I am absolutely fascinated by it. Chime is super cool and Keth is my favorite of all the new students. Most of that is because he's an adult and even when he has tantrums, he eventually thinks things through and calms down on his own. He's not a childish brat like the rest of them. Keth and Tris are able to work together and resolve their differences without too much drama.
Tris is my favorite of the four, mostly because I identify with her the most. Introverted bookworm who has an acerbic wit but with a heart of gold under it all. Seeing her with Glaki, Little Bear, and Chime was very sweet. Hers and Niko's mentor/mentee relationship is also the strongest of the four, I find. Niko is what Numair should have been instead of a pedophile.
I liked that Tharios was clearly Greek-based, it made it easier for me to picture in my mind, even if I would never want to visit such a society. They got a taste of their own bullshit medicine, even if I don't think they'll learn anything in the long run.
Finally, the villain is more intriguing in this book of the series. The first three are really just psychopaths who enjoy wanton murder, which I don't find interesting. At least this villain had a motive that does make sense. I can see how a person got to that point even if I don't agree with murder as the solution. Very Criminal Minds, honestly.
I love that glassmaking is such a large part of the book. Just like Tris, I am absolutely fascinated by it. Chime is super cool and Keth is my favorite of all the new students. Most of that is because he's an adult and even when he has tantrums, he eventually thinks things through and calms down on his own. He's not a childish brat like the rest of them. Keth and Tris are able to work together and resolve their differences without too much drama.
Tris is my favorite of the four, mostly because I identify with her the most. Introverted bookworm who has an acerbic wit but with a heart of gold under it all. Seeing her with Glaki, Little Bear, and Chime was very sweet. Hers and Niko's mentor/mentee relationship is also the strongest of the four, I find. Niko is what Numair should have been instead of a pedophile.
I liked that Tharios was clearly Greek-based, it made it easier for me to picture in my mind, even if I would never want to visit such a society. They got a taste of their own bullshit medicine, even if I don't think they'll learn anything in the long run.
Finally, the villain is more intriguing in this book of the series. The first three are really just psychopaths who enjoy wanton murder, which I don't find interesting. At least this villain had a motive that does make sense. I can see how a person got to that point even if I don't agree with murder as the solution. Very Criminal Minds, honestly.