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A review by quasinaut
Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Gosh it's weird (re)reading a book about a pandemic during a pandemic! Equal parts devastating and heartwarming, this book follows Briar as he nurses the sick and helps with the intricate behind-the-scenes work uncovering a cure, all while people he cares about fall ill.
I appreciated seeing Briar's growing love for Rosethorn, his friends, and his new home, though I do wish that we'd seen more growth with Briar's magic in this book. I also totally struggled to get a sense of the passage of time -- I still can't tell if months or only weeks passed between the first cases, the middle of the outbreak, and the finding of a cure?
Side note: I can't stand how much Rosethorn "corrects" Briar's speech. Stop being so prescriptivist! Also, can't you see that his code switching allows him to gain the trust of Flick and the other street rats? Major pet peeve of mine!
I appreciated seeing Briar's growing love for Rosethorn, his friends, and his new home, though I do wish that we'd seen more growth with Briar's magic in this book. I also totally struggled to get a sense of the passage of time -- I still can't tell if months or only weeks passed between the first cases, the middle of the outbreak, and the finding of a cure?
Side note: I can't stand how much Rosethorn "corrects" Briar's speech. Stop being so prescriptivist! Also, can't you see that his code switching allows him to gain the trust of Flick and the other street rats? Major pet peeve of mine!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Child death
Moderate: Grief