Originally published: 1983-1988
Page count: 1,151 total
Dates read: 8/14/24-9/17/24
2024 book goal progress: 17, 18, 19, 20 out of 24
Read my other book reviews for my 2024 goals HERE.
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.1/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Overall Review:
1. Wild Magic (1992) - 299 pages
Description:
Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal housemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. It soon becomes clear that Daine's talent, despite her struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey the mysterious girl, they come to her and seem to listen to her words. Daine will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.
Set in Tortall during the reign of King Jonathan III and Queen Thayet, The Immortals Quartet chronicles the time when the world is invaded by immortal creatures and a girl with a magical gift who tries to restore the very balance of nature.
First sentence:
"Each year, at the end of March, a great fair was held in Cria, the capital of Galla."
Favorite quote:
"Evil people say evil things to make good people cry and doubt. Don't let them get that hold on you."
"Each year, at the end of March, a great fair was held in Cria, the capital of Galla."
Favorite quote:
"Evil people say evil things to make good people cry and doubt. Don't let them get that hold on you."
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This is a cute fantasy story set about 10 years after the Song of the Lioness Quartet. The main character is Daine, who has a special connection to all animals. She is 13 and the book spans less than a year since she didn't have a birthday. I like many of the characters, even if they are a bit simple. As with the other quartet, I'd say this was written for middle schoolers. I don't think I read this one growing up, but I would've loved it due to the connections with all the animals. We learn that whales are extreme pacifists and that dragons, stormwings, spidrens, griffins, and the Kraken exist. Not all immortals are bad, but they were locked away several centuries ago and we don't really know why/how nor why/how they're back now.
2. Wolf-Speaker (1994) - 281 pages
Description:
When humans start cutting down trees and digging holes in peaceful Dunlath Valley, the wolves know that something is wrong. They send a messenger to the only human who will listen - Daine, a fourteen-year-old girl with the unpredictable power of wild magic. Daine and her closest companions heed the wolves' cry for help.
First sentence:
"The wolves of the Long Lake Pack, gorged on a careless mountain sheep, slept as they digested their meal."
"The wolves of the Long Lake Pack, gorged on a careless mountain sheep, slept as they digested their meal."
Favorite quotes:
A good reminder:
"You're too young to be so close-minded. A little tolerance wouldn't come amiss."
A good response when learning:
"Forgive me. I spoke from ignorance, not contempt."
"So you picked up that stupid human habit of blaming yourself for things you didn't or couldn't control."
Daine is now 14.5 years old and it's probably been less than a year since the end of the previous book. I'd say this book lasts only a couple of weeks, 5 months at most. In this book, she not only communicates with animals but can also go into their bodies and she starts to shapeshift herself. New immortals we meet include ogres, harroks, coldfangs, and a basilisk. Unicorns have been mentioned but not seen. This is a fun continuation and I really like the basilisk!
3. Emperor Mage (1995) - 294 pages
Description:
Daine sails to Carthak as part of a peace treaty delegation from Tortall. She is amazed by strange and wonderous sights, including rooms filled with dinosaur bones and the Emperor Mage's zoo. Daine also senses a darkness beneath all the gold and glitter. At the same time, her wild magic is growing and the gods give her a temporary power that is both great and terrifying.
First sentence:
"His Royal Highness Kaddar, prince of Siraj, duke of Yamut, count of Amar, first lord of the Imperium, heir apparent to His Most Serene Majesty Emperor Ozorne of Carthak, fanned himself and wished to Tortallans would dock."
Favorite quotes:
"His Royal Highness Kaddar, prince of Siraj, duke of Yamut, count of Amar, first lord of the Imperium, heir apparent to His Most Serene Majesty Emperor Ozorne of Carthak, fanned himself and wished to Tortallans would dock."
Favorite quotes:
"The prince looked thoughtful. 'So there are drawbacks to your power.'
'There're drawbacks to any power, your highness.' "
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.1/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I enjoyed this one a lot. I liked the characters and there was even a potential love interest, but nothing happened in that regard. The main bummer was that she didn't really learn more about her wild magic or even use it much, except for the temporary OP power the gods gave her. I enjoyed the intrigue and the battle in the end was great, though much of it was predictable. I miss Onua (from the first book), the Basilisk (from the second book), and Cloud (her pony in both of the previous books). She is now 15 and the book takes place about 2-6 months after the last book. I would say this book lasted a couple of weeks up to a couple of months, probably on the shorter end. We see unicorns and centaurs, and merfolk are mentioned.
4. The Realms of the Gods (1996) - 277 pages
Description:
Daine and the mage Numair are faced with certain death when they are suddenly swept into the mystical realms of the gods, where Daine learns the secrets of her past. But she and Numair are both needed in the mortal world to help fight the desperate war that is raging in Tortall. They undertake the dangerous journey home that will teach them about life and each other. Their path leads them to the final clash, which involves both mortals and immortals.
First paragraph:
"A magical barrier had separated the realms of the gods from the mortal realms for over four hundred years. While it stood, mortals were safe from the legendary creatures known as immortals, so named because, unless they were slain, they lived forever. Giants, Stormwings, griffins, basilisk, tauroses, Coldfangs, ogres, centaurs, winged horses, unicorns: In time all became the stuff of children's tales, or the concern of scholars who explored the records of times long gone."
"A magical barrier had separated the realms of the gods from the mortal realms for over four hundred years. While it stood, mortals were safe from the legendary creatures known as immortals, so named because, unless they were slain, they lived forever. Giants, Stormwings, griffins, basilisk, tauroses, Coldfangs, ogres, centaurs, winged horses, unicorns: In time all became the stuff of children's tales, or the concern of scholars who explored the records of times long gone."
The prologue is a couple months after the last book and then jumps 3 months at the start of Chapter 1. This book lasts a couple weeks to a couple months and Daine is 16. We see some favorite characters from previous books, but very briefly. New immortals we see include giants, tauroses, wyverns, skinners, darkings, sunbirds, and apes with bat wings. We meet a multitude of gods, including the First Platypus (who actually calls himself a duckmole instead of a platypus).
What was good in this story was really good, but what was bad was really, really bad. I think going into the god realms was unnecessary and keeping it a little more 'normal' would have been better. It would have made the suspension of disbelief more constant and the story more immersive. There was just too much in this one and Daine didn't learn anything new with her powers. Daine's parents were annoying and I didn't like them at all. It was nice to meet more dragons and I loved the redemption arch of the stormwings throughout the series. Other characters and events were enjoyable as well, but the bad significantly outweighs the good.
The BIG problem is a 16-year-old having relations with her teacher who's about 15 years older than her. I understand this age gap in relationships was common historically - but the target audience is today's middle schoolers. Will they be aware of this knowledge? Even high schoolers could start thinking, 'Maybe a relationship with one of their teachers isn't too bad.' This book has the potential to groom teens (females in particular) into thinking that having relationships with someone significantly older than you and/or someone in an authority position, like a teacher, is acceptable - and it absolutely is not. There was 0 romance in the other 3 books and then this disgusting relationship was crammed down your throat - and much of it felt very forced and out of left field. The romance should have been with Prince Kaddar in the previous book or just left as it was - with no romance at all.
Unfortunately, this book left me feeling gross and I absolutely cannot recommend this to anyone unless they're an adult and, by then, most adults may not be interested in the writing since it's for middle schoolers. The writing is simple and very predictable.
Overall Review:
This is a pretty decent series overall, but I do NOT recommend having anyone younger than 18 read the 4th book. The third book has a good ending to the series and the 4th book is unnecessary. Unfortunately, it probably is better just to skip this series altogether. I'm very disappointed with how the 4th book went.
Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Tamora Pierce have the last words:
" 'He is a good pack leader for you,' Brokefang [the wolf pack leader] went on. 'Humans are like wolves. We all need a pack.' He looked at Cloud [a pony] and added, 'Or a herd.'
'Not me,' the girl said fastening her thing to Cloud's saddle. 'I can hunt alone.'
'No,' Brokefang said. 'It is not just for food that you need a pack. It is for warmth and the pack song. The wolf who sings alone is not happy.' "
-Wolf-Speaker
**********
" 'Like all females, you are sentimental about animals,' the prince replied, his tone superior. 'If you had a croc after you in the water, you wouldn't be so quick to stand up for them.'
'They came after you personally?' She couldn't see this painted fellow doing anything that might wrinkle his clothes.
'Well, no, but everyone says they do.'
Someday I must read this scholar Everyone, she thought as she bit her tongue to keep from giving a rude answer. He seems to have written so much - all of it wrong."
-Emperor Mage
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