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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
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
Liked
- Sandry's development
- Paco (though he was a little annoying - then again, he is just twelve years old)
- the murder mystery
- the new kinds of magic
- the secondary characters, even the grumpy or evil ones were well enough fleshed out and not over the top ridiculous.
The only little complaint I have is that is all goes by so quickly - but that is likely due to it being middle grade and from a time when middle grade books weren't permitted to be long.
- Sandry's development
- Paco (though he was a little annoying - then again, he is just twelve years old)
- the murder mystery
- the new kinds of magic
- the secondary characters, even the grumpy or evil ones were well enough fleshed out and not over the top ridiculous.
The only little complaint I have is that is all goes by so quickly - but that is likely due to it being middle grade and from a time when middle grade books weren't permitted to be long.
dark
funny
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was good but didn't draw me in as much as Tamora's other books have. Perhaps because I'm reading this for the first time as an adult whereas I read the other books as a kid and knew what was coming during my re-reads which makes them more exciting? It felt like there was less of a point to this book though.
I really enjoyed the idea that the students are now becomming the teachers and facing similar problems to those that were faced by Lark and Rosethorn. I really enjoyed seeing the changes whilst magic took a far darker turn with murder and drugs. It was a very different change of pace just having Sandry in the book but it allowed the world to grow in a very different way.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Circle Opens is the continuation of Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar. This time, though, the young mages are traveling with their respective teachers, and the situations reveal as more adult than students.
Magic Steps follows Sandry as she is nursing her uncle the duke after a heart attack. As the only one still in Emelan, Sandry soon becomes embroiled in a series of murders. Along the way, she discovers a young mage similar to herself and her adoptive siblings, only he produces dance magic. Now she must get the young man and his magic under control, while maintaining the realm and stopping more murders.
Street Magic shows us Briar and his teacher Rosethorn in Chammuri when he sees a young girl using stone magic. But there are gangs about and Briar can smell a war brewing. How does he find a teacher for the young girl and get all of them to safety in time?
Cold Fire discovers Daja and Frostpine in the middle of winter in Kugisko. There, Daja sees their host's twin girls each conduct magic, and each is different. If anyone can handle 2 different mages as well as a firestarter, it's Daja. The locals all believe the fires are accidental. It is winter after all. But when Daja gets caught in one, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident. Now it's a balancing act for survival.
Finally, there is Shatterglass. Tris is simply trying to learn all about her magic and the different things she can hear, and now see. She does not have time for a wayward glass works mage. Nor does she have time to deal with someone murdering the "lower class" in Tharios. In the end, even she cannot ignore the rules of being a mage and a decent human being.
Overall, I rated each book 4 out of 5 stars. This second series is decidedly darker than the original. In a couple there is the implication of abuse and torture. While the scenes are not overly graphic, there are brief descriptions of what may have happened concerning the torture. It makes me as an adult shudder. I think that's why I can't stand them as an adult. I can't even watch shows that show that level of cruelty. Having an overactive imagination can be exhausting.
I will say what saved the series was the fact that Tamora Pierce developed the matureness of each character just right. These are still young mages but because of their experiences and their learning, they are a little more than young adults. Oh, they have the temper tantrum moments that a young adult has, "I don't want to do this," but in the end they do it. They have a wonderful sense of morals, justice, and responsibility.
https://caitlinmariegonya.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-circle-opens-by-tamora-pierce.html
Magic Steps follows Sandry as she is nursing her uncle the duke after a heart attack. As the only one still in Emelan, Sandry soon becomes embroiled in a series of murders. Along the way, she discovers a young mage similar to herself and her adoptive siblings, only he produces dance magic. Now she must get the young man and his magic under control, while maintaining the realm and stopping more murders.
Street Magic shows us Briar and his teacher Rosethorn in Chammuri when he sees a young girl using stone magic. But there are gangs about and Briar can smell a war brewing. How does he find a teacher for the young girl and get all of them to safety in time?
Cold Fire discovers Daja and Frostpine in the middle of winter in Kugisko. There, Daja sees their host's twin girls each conduct magic, and each is different. If anyone can handle 2 different mages as well as a firestarter, it's Daja. The locals all believe the fires are accidental. It is winter after all. But when Daja gets caught in one, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident. Now it's a balancing act for survival.
Finally, there is Shatterglass. Tris is simply trying to learn all about her magic and the different things she can hear, and now see. She does not have time for a wayward glass works mage. Nor does she have time to deal with someone murdering the "lower class" in Tharios. In the end, even she cannot ignore the rules of being a mage and a decent human being.
Overall, I rated each book 4 out of 5 stars. This second series is decidedly darker than the original. In a couple there is the implication of abuse and torture. While the scenes are not overly graphic, there are brief descriptions of what may have happened concerning the torture. It makes me as an adult shudder. I think that's why I can't stand them as an adult. I can't even watch shows that show that level of cruelty. Having an overactive imagination can be exhausting.
I will say what saved the series was the fact that Tamora Pierce developed the matureness of each character just right. These are still young mages but because of their experiences and their learning, they are a little more than young adults. Oh, they have the temper tantrum moments that a young adult has, "I don't want to do this," but in the end they do it. They have a wonderful sense of morals, justice, and responsibility.
https://caitlinmariegonya.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-circle-opens-by-tamora-pierce.html
As much as I miss the friendship group, I'm excited to see each character get their own time to shine. Though they are still young (Sandry is only 14 in this one), they have to face hard things and make horrible decisions. I'm grateful that mental health isn't discounted, whether acute or chronic. There are some questionable word choices, but they are few and far between.
TW: violence, murder, murder of children
TW: violence, murder, murder of children
I absolutely adore Sandry. She is my favorite of the four. I was disappointed the other 3 didn't appear but it soon became apparent why. Unlike the first quartet, it seems this one will focus more on each of the young mages. I look forward to their reunion after all their adventures!
On to the story itself, I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely more YA now that the MCs are older and they're experiencing the adult world. Interesting how Sandry was made to go through this kind of trail/event. Seems more like something that would be fitting for Briar. But, having Sandry deal with criminals allowed her to grow and see the world differently. Pasco is a cute character. What you would expect for someone of his age. I like how contradictory his character is - lazy when it comes to chores but passionate when it comes to dancing. A strange combination of magic for the teacher and pupil. I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops.
Also, that ending?! I was so not expecting it to be so....gory. But, it definitely resolved the problem.
On to the story itself, I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely more YA now that the MCs are older and they're experiencing the adult world. Interesting how Sandry was made to go through this kind of trail/event. Seems more like something that would be fitting for Briar. But, having Sandry deal with criminals allowed her to grow and see the world differently. Pasco is a cute character. What you would expect for someone of his age. I like how contradictory his character is - lazy when it comes to chores but passionate when it comes to dancing. A strange combination of magic for the teacher and pupil. I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops.
Also, that ending?! I was so not expecting it to be so....gory. But, it definitely resolved the problem.
adventurous
fast-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No