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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
4.5 stars. Briar is my favourite out of the four so I was really looking forward to reading it. And I quite enjoyed it. It was interesting and you got an insight into how the "Street Rats" lived and how much Briar had changed since. And I liked how you got to see the relationship between Rosethorn an Briar. She's like the mother he never knew. It was a great read.
Very timely in this time of pandemic. A great culmination to the Circle of Magic quartet.
Briar Moss hasn't always been known by that name. Before he was brought to Winding Circle by Niklaren Goldeye and told that he had magic, he was street kid known as Roach. Since then, Briar has adjusted to his new way of life, but still feels a connection to his past, as can be seen with his friendship with the homeless girl Flick. But when Flick comes down with a strange illness, all of Summersea is thrown into chaos. No one knows what caused the “Blue Pox,” or how to stop it as it takes away more and more lives. Briar and his teacher Rosethorn find themselves locked into quarantine to take care of the dying. Can they find a cure and save the sick before the Blue Pox infects them too?
The interesting thing about the Circle of Magic books is that they are all completely stand alone. Characters grow and develop from book to book, but there is no big bad to defeat, or ongoing issue to solve by the end of the series. Regardless of that, I feel that Briar's Book is a suitable resolution to the series, as it really shows how close the four students and their teachers have grown. The conflict this time around is not as (for lack of better word) “flashy” as previous volumes in the series. There are no exciting pirate attacks, or suspenseful forest fires. At the same time, this “quieter” plot turns out to be just as much of a page turner as previous volumes. Tammy does a great job of presenting the reality of disease and illness in a way that is understandable to children, without easing back on the emotional impact. I found myself tearing up at two parts in this book, not something I do very often.
If there's one fault that this series has, it's that the books are a bit formulaic . Each book revolved around a specific character (Briar this time) coming to terms with their past, while dealing with a present disaster. At the same time, I can't complain too much because Tammy does so well with this formula, especially this time around. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about Briar's tale. I loved getting to learn a bit more about Rosethorn. I thought it was a lot of fun to watch her combative relationship with Crane (note: professional relationship, not romantic), whom she is forced to work with to find a cure for the disease. I love how Tammy skillfully combines medieval sensibilities with modern medicine. I also liked watching the turmoil within Briar, as he struggled between his two identities as Roach and Briar Moss.
This is my second time reading Briar's Book, but my first time experiencing it as a Full Cast Audiobook. At first, I was a little disappointed to see that some voices had been recast, but that disappointed quickly faded. Once again, we're given a top notch production with passionate voice acting. I am very pleased at this audiobook and will pick up other titles from Full Cast in the future.
The interesting thing about the Circle of Magic books is that they are all completely stand alone. Characters grow and develop from book to book, but there is no big bad to defeat, or ongoing issue to solve by the end of the series. Regardless of that, I feel that Briar's Book is a suitable resolution to the series, as it really shows how close the four students and their teachers have grown. The conflict this time around is not as (for lack of better word) “flashy” as previous volumes in the series. There are no exciting pirate attacks, or suspenseful forest fires. At the same time, this “quieter” plot turns out to be just as much of a page turner as previous volumes. Tammy does a great job of presenting the reality of disease and illness in a way that is understandable to children, without easing back on the emotional impact. I found myself tearing up at two parts in this book, not something I do very often.
If there's one fault that this series has, it's that the books are a bit formulaic . Each book revolved around a specific character (Briar this time) coming to terms with their past, while dealing with a present disaster. At the same time, I can't complain too much because Tammy does so well with this formula, especially this time around. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about Briar's tale. I loved getting to learn a bit more about Rosethorn. I thought it was a lot of fun to watch her combative relationship with Crane (note: professional relationship, not romantic), whom she is forced to work with to find a cure for the disease. I love how Tammy skillfully combines medieval sensibilities with modern medicine. I also liked watching the turmoil within Briar, as he struggled between his two identities as Roach and Briar Moss.
This is my second time reading Briar's Book, but my first time experiencing it as a Full Cast Audiobook. At first, I was a little disappointed to see that some voices had been recast, but that disappointed quickly faded. Once again, we're given a top notch production with passionate voice acting. I am very pleased at this audiobook and will pick up other titles from Full Cast in the future.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OK, finally. The book that justifies my nostalgic expectations for this series. 'Sandry's Book' got a pass through the potential of the characters being introduced and the full weight of re-experiencing these books for the first time. But with 'Tris's Book' and 'Daja's Book' that nostalgia began to spread thin. The book were still pleasant and not unenjoyable, but they were offering less and less for adult me to reflect on. Especially since Pierce was resolving those traits that made the characters stand out in the first place...
But, finally, with 'Briar's Book' we have a solid plot dealt with as realistically as this brand of magic allows, that (almost) doesn't involve the wonder quads saving the day in the last second.
Essentially, this book is the movie 'Contagion' for the tween fantasy genre set. A mysterious plague has come to Summersea and it is the duty of the Winding Circle community to help find a cure, especially after a friend of Briar's falls sick and more people they know begin to fall victim.
I'm much more on the fence then I was before about reading the next quartets, but I'll likely end up checking them out eventually.
Circle of Magic
Next: 'Magic Steps (The Circle Opens, #1)'
Previous: 'Daja's Book'
But, finally, with 'Briar's Book' we have a solid plot dealt with as realistically as this brand of magic allows, that (almost) doesn't involve the wonder quads saving the day in the last second.
Essentially, this book is the movie 'Contagion' for the tween fantasy genre set. A mysterious plague has come to Summersea and it is the duty of the Winding Circle community to help find a cure, especially after a friend of Briar's falls sick and more people they know begin to fall victim.
I'm much more on the fence then I was before about reading the next quartets, but I'll likely end up checking them out eventually.
Circle of Magic
Next: 'Magic Steps (The Circle Opens, #1)'
Previous: 'Daja's Book'
Reread-
Was rereading this book in the middle of a global pandemic a stupid idea? Probably. But I wanted to read the entire series and I couldn't not read this. I also think that this might be my favorite of the first series, partially because the stakes are so high and partially because we get so much of Briar and Tris, my two favorites, and also Rosethorn and Crane, who are wonderful together. I love the relationship between Briar and Rosethorn so so much, and also I love the relationship between Briar and Tris and how much they just care about each other and understand each other. The ending of this book always gets me and I always get nervous even though I know what happens in the end. There is something very gritty and real about this book, and about this series in general. Even though it's aimed at children, Tamora Pierce never shies away from some of the darker aspects of life and understands that the characters have seen some shit that kids their ages shouldn't have seen and doesn't hide those things either. I really appreciate that in a book. As a whole, this series is sweet and short and heartfelt and sometimes darker than I expect and I'm excited to continue on my reread with the Circle Opens.
Was rereading this book in the middle of a global pandemic a stupid idea? Probably. But I wanted to read the entire series and I couldn't not read this. I also think that this might be my favorite of the first series, partially because the stakes are so high and partially because we get so much of Briar and Tris, my two favorites, and also Rosethorn and Crane, who are wonderful together. I love the relationship between Briar and Rosethorn so so much, and also I love the relationship between Briar and Tris and how much they just care about each other and understand each other. The ending of this book always gets me and I always get nervous even though I know what happens in the end. There is something very gritty and real about this book, and about this series in general. Even though it's aimed at children, Tamora Pierce never shies away from some of the darker aspects of life and understands that the characters have seen some shit that kids their ages shouldn't have seen and doesn't hide those things either. I really appreciate that in a book. As a whole, this series is sweet and short and heartfelt and sometimes darker than I expect and I'm excited to continue on my reread with the Circle Opens.
I love any book by Tamora Pierce. This series (Circle of Magic) is good and if it was by any other author I would call it great. However, since I have such high expectations for Tamora Pierce I cannot call it truly wonderful. The characters are where it falls a bit flat for me as the story line I quite like.
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
Again, the Full Cast Audio team have made an outstanding production. This was never my favourite of the first four stories - the focus on illness as a story-telling device is commendable, but always made me just that little bit too sad, and I prefer these stories when the relationship between the four young mages is explored. This barely happened here - the three girls feel like background characters the entire time, and I wish that wasn't so.
Still - Rosethorn! Lark!
Still - Rosethorn! Lark!
Uhhh listen I did not realize this would take place during a damn PLAGUE where they have to quarantine and wear masks and gloves and watch people die around them. It hit a little too close to home right now. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it a lot more than the other books. Briar is my favorite I think, and this one seemed more nuanced, especially in the way the plot arced in the book. One thing I still can't wrap my head around and don't particularly like is how the magic works for the four kids. It seems really convenient, just casually casting their magic selves into situations to learn information quickly and it never seems to play by any set rules. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this, and I'm interested to see how the next quartet feels.