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redheadsuperpowers's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-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? No
4.5
This is a reread for me, but it's been many years since the last time I had read this. This is one of many books Tamora Pierce has written for this fantasy land, and the start of my favorite of her series. I love the introduction of each character, and the depth she gives each of their unique cultures, in the short amount she gives each introduction. The setting of The Winding Circle Temple, and the new home of Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar, has always fascinated me. I love that they live in a world of magic, but that they all believe the can't be magic, just because their magic doesn't look like everyone else's. Sandry led such an atypical life for a noble, even before her parents pass, that she has always been so endearing to me. Her steadfast insistence on treating everyone like equals, yet still using her status when needed was just neat. We also meet their caretakers, Lark, a weaver, and Rose thorn, a gardener, who are not boring average adults you usually saw in the children's books of this era. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys high fantasy, with strong female characters.
Sandry's book is mostly focused on Sandry, but gives us a fair chunk of introductions to the other characters and the lovely setting. Sandry is a noble born girl, who lost her parents to an epidemic that swept the country they were visiting. She loses her parents, then her governess in short order, and nearly loses her sanity and self before she is found and brought to her nearest family member, her Uncle, ruler of Emelan. He is ill equipped to handle a young girl, so it is suggested she be sent to stay and get educated at The Winding Circle Temple, and large religious and educational facility a few leagues away. Sandry leaps at the chance. On arrival, she quickly realizes that the other girls of her station are not quite like her, and disapprove of the friends she makes as they are below them, so to speak. Sandry ends up moving out of the dorms, into a small cottage with three other misfits, Daja, a trader girl, Tris, a merchant's disowned daughter, and Briar, a former thief from the streets. They are living with Lark and Rosethorn, who just want them to thrive, but there is strange magic afoot, and danger ahead.
Sandry's book is mostly focused on Sandry, but gives us a fair chunk of introductions to the other characters and the lovely setting. Sandry is a noble born girl, who lost her parents to an epidemic that swept the country they were visiting. She loses her parents, then her governess in short order, and nearly loses her sanity and self before she is found and brought to her nearest family member, her Uncle, ruler of Emelan. He is ill equipped to handle a young girl, so it is suggested she be sent to stay and get educated at The Winding Circle Temple, and large religious and educational facility a few leagues away. Sandry leaps at the chance. On arrival, she quickly realizes that the other girls of her station are not quite like her, and disapprove of the friends she makes as they are below them, so to speak. Sandry ends up moving out of the dorms, into a small cottage with three other misfits, Daja, a trader girl, Tris, a merchant's disowned daughter, and Briar, a former thief from the streets. They are living with Lark and Rosethorn, who just want them to thrive, but there is strange magic afoot, and danger ahead.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Grief, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
bailey_the_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.5
I read this one for a challenge—this is a series of Pierce’s I never got to as a young reader, and it was a pleasure to try it out now. I was, perhaps, more interested in Lark and Rosethorn’s stories than the stories of preteens, but then I am not a preteen and haven’t been for a very long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Animal cruelty, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Violence
321zeggy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, Abandonment, Classism, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia and Animal cruelty
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
I disliked this for the first 10-15 minutes of listening, but it grew on me. It was tough to keep the characters straight in my head for some reason. Once I figured them all out, it was a super fun middle grade adventure. I loved watching each character come into their own unique magic. This felt like Avatar the Last Airbender and Percy Jackson crashed into each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content, Death, and Terminal illness
Small spaces, natural disasters, death of familyquasinaut's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
I am so, so delighted at how well this book holds up after so many years. I've been long overdue for a reread. It was a joy to meet Sandry, Tris, Briar, and Daja again, and watch them discover their magic, form a friendship, and grow through their trauma. I adore the characters, settings, and stories that fill this world. Can't wait to continue on in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Bullying
Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Abandonment
spacerkip's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was so vibrant and original, and I would have loved it to pieces as a kid. The world-building felt so lived-in, and I was continually impressed at how that comes across with a couple details sprinkled in. The focus on meditation and a magic system that revolved around domestic and artisan work I thought was especially clever. Creating magic out of the mundane is an essential part of children's literature. I loved each of the four protagonists - how different they were, where they all came from, watching them learn their magic. It was wonderful to see them grow closer to each other over the course of the book, and I can't wait to see how their friendship grows stronger as the series goes on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fatphobia
charm0nix's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty and Emotional abuse
obviousthings's review against another edition
I felt like the book was really pushing me to like the characters, which got on my nerves. I was also expecting something with a close focus on one protagonist, since it's called "Sandry's Book", but there are about four main characters that the story switches between.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Bullying
etosaurus's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism