Circle of Magic Quartet by Tamora Pierce

Series Title: The Circle of Magic Quartet



Author: Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )



Originally published: 1997-1999



Read my other Tamora Pierce book reviews.
Read my other book reviews for my 2020 goal HERE.



Tamora Pierce was one of my favorite authors growing up. For a while now, I've wanted to read through all her books. I have decided to start doing so by reading through her Circle Universe, which consists of 3 (incomplete) quartets. The Circle of Magic Quartet is the first in the whole series. An overall review of the quartet is included in this blog post. If you're interested in a more in-depth review of a specific book within the quartet, the links are below.

Quartet Includes:
#1 Sandry's Book - The Magic in the Weaving
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 8.3 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

#2 Tris's Book - The Power in the Storm
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

#3 Daja's Book - The Fire in the Forging
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 8.7 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

#4 Briar's Book - The Healing in the Vine
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.3 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

As you can tell from the ratings above, Tris's book was my least favorite narrative. I think this was mainly because I was over the nostalgia of reading the first book and was suddenly more critical. I think the book I actively like even less than Tris's book is Briar's book. There wasn't much depth and there wasn't the same use of magic as in the other books, which was disappointing. I enjoyed Sandry's book if for no other reason than the nostalgia of reading Tamora Pierce again and entering into her magical world for the first time since (probably) middle school. Daja's book is by far my favorite in the quartet. Though the story itself was simple, I greatly enjoyed the depth of the characters and the inclusion/representation of various cultures.

Overall... these aren't great books. The stories are simple and predictable, and the characters don't have much depth and tend to be petty... but they're children's books. I have to remind myself of that - often. As children's books (and as books of nostalgia for me) they're pretty good. What I love is the atmosphere and the magic of craft - weaving, metalworking, gardening, and... weather (which isn't a craft, but whatever). I hope as I read more books in the series, Pierce's writing will improve and give more depth to both the characters and narratives. I look forward to the next quartet!

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:

"There is never a point at which we stop learning, or needing to learn."
-Briar's Book

Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce

Title: Briar's Book - The Healing in the Vine
(Circle of Magic #4)


Author: Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )
Originally published: 1999
Page count: 258


Dates read: 3/24/2020-3/29/2020
2020 book goal progress: 8 out of 20
Reading category: TBR Shelf - Circle Universe


Read my other Tamora Pierce book reviews.
Read my other book reviews for my 2020 goal HERE.


Description on back of book:
Former "street rat" Briar leads a comfortable life at Winding Circle Temple, learning plant magic from Rosethorn. But street kids are still his friends and, when one of them gets sick, she turns to Briar for help. When her disease proves beyond even Rosethorn's power, Briar realizes that all of Summersea is in danger. As the mysterious illness spreads, Sandra, Daja, and Tris join Briar and their teachers to fight the epidemic. But just as the situation improves, the unthinkable happens. Will Briar be able to save what he loves most?

First sentence:
"Briar Moss knew he was only dreaming, but he didn't care."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.3 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters      - 8
Atmosphere   - 9
Writing Style - 8
Plot                - 7
Intrigue          - 7
Logic             - 5
Enjoyment     - 7
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This book was OK. There wasn't much magic used - not like in the other books anyway. That was disappointing. We didn't learn much more about the students or their teachers. You did learn a bit more about another plant mage named Crane, which was nice. Despite trying to grapple with the subject of death, this was not a very deep story. I have to remind myself that this is a children's book. I don't want to give too much away, but it dealt with a type of spirit world at one point and I just felt like that was going too far. The story was fine, but I hope the writing gets better the further I get into the series. Despite it being about a pandemic, whilst we're in the midst of one ourselves, it just didn't hold my interest.

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:

"You know why I hate plagues? Most disasters are fast and big. You can see everyone else's life got overturned when yours did. Houses are smashed, livestock dead. But plagues isolate people. They shut themselves inside while disease takes a life at a time, day after day. It adds up. Whole cities break under the load of what was lost. People stop trusting each other because you don't know who's sick."

Daja's Book by Tamora Pierce

Title: Daja's Book - The Fire in the Forging
(Circle of Magic #3)


Author: Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )
Originally published: 1998
Page count: 232


Dates read: 3/19/2020-3/23/2020
2020 book goal progress: 7 out of 20
Reading category: TBR Shelf - Circle Universe


Read my other Tamora Pierce book reviews.
Read my other book reviews for my 2020 goal HERE.


Description on back of book:
Outcast Trader Daja, along with her fellow mages-in-training, journeys from Winding Circle to the Gold Ridge Mountains, where drought threatens widespread famine. There, Daja creates an astonishing object: a living metal vine. Daja's dealings with her former people reawaken a longing for familiar ways. She must choose - should she return to the Traders or remain with the Winding Circle folk who have become her family?

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 8.7 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters      - 10
Atmosphere   - 9
Writing Style - 9
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 7
Enjoyment     - 10
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This was a great book! I loved learning more about the background of the master mages, as well as differences between academic mages and nature mages. I also enjoyed learning more about Trader customs and traditions. The characters seemed to have a bit more depth and I really liked Polyam, who is a maimed Trader. The magic in this book created new things from mixing the four young mages' powers together, which was a neat concept. Also... I might've cried in the end... ok - I did.

I really enjoy these simple stories. They are children's books and not too deep. They also are a bit predictable, but there's just something about them that draws me in. I definitely suggest at least giving the first one a try, even though this one has been my favorite so far.

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:

"Furious, Tris rose, shook out her skirts and petticoats, and closed her book and stuck it into the pocket of her gown. Sparks glimmered at the ends of her hair as she stomped around the side of the building. Coming to a halt beside the Trader, she scowled up at the woman with storm-gray eyes. Her pale, lightly freckled skin was blotched red and white with anger.

'What do you want?' she demanded. 'I was reading.' "

Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

Title: The Tenant of  Wildfell Hall

Author: Anne Bronte (English, 1820-1849)
Originally published: 1848
Page count: 347


Dates read: 3/2/2020-3/18/2020
2020 book goal progress: 6 out of 20
Month category: March - Women’s History Month
Back to the Classics category: 19th Century Classic


Read my other Bronte Sister book reviews.
Read my other book reviews for my 2020 goal HERE.


Description on back of book:
Considered one of the first feminist novels, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was both instantly successful and highly controversial. The story follows the relationship between Gilbert Markham, a prosperous farmer, and the mysterious widow Mrs. Helen Graham, who takes up residence with only her son and a servant in a nearby tumbledown mansion of Wildfell Hall. Told in a series of letters, Gilbert describes how he falls in love with the elusive Helen and learns of her tragic past. The novel was far more realistic in both tone and subject matter than other popular novels of its time and boldly challenged the accepted treatment of women in Victorian England. While Bronte rejected the romantic style popular at the time and frankly addressed the obstacles and prejudices faced by women, Helen and Gilbert's story is essentially one of love and hope.

From the Preface by Anne Bronte:
"I would not be understood to suppose that the proceedings I have here introduced are specimens of the common practices of society - the case is an extreme one, but I know that such characters do exist and if I have warned one rash youth from following in their steps, or prevented one thoughtless girl from falling into the very natural error of my heroine, the book has not been written in vain. But, at the same time, if any honest reader shall have derived more pain than pleasure from its perusal, I humbly crave his pardon, for such was far from my intention; and I will endeavor to do better another time, for I love to give innocent pleasure. Yet, be it understood, I shall not limit my ambition to this - or even to producing 'a perfect work of art:' time and talents so spent, I should consider wasted and misapplied. Such humble talents as God has given me I will endeavor to put to their greatest use; if I am able to amuse, I will try to benefit too; and when I feel it my duty to speak an unpalatable truth, with the help of God, I will speak it, though it be to the prejudice of my name and to the detriment of my reader's immediate pleasure as well as my own."

First sentence:
"You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827."

Favorite quotes:
"I was not sent into the world merely to exercise the good capacities and good feelings of others, but to exert my own towards them; and when I marry, I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable, than in being made so by her: I would rather give than receive."

"Wicked people often say bad words of others better than themselves. Those words cannot make people damned, nor show that they deserve it. God will judge us by our thoughts and deeds, not by what others say about us. When you hear such words spoken, remember never to repeat them: it is wicked to say such things of others, not to have them said against you."

"It is never too late to reform, as long as you have the sense to desire it, and the strength to execute your purpose."

(regarding marriage) "The greatest worldly distinctions and discrepancies of rank, birth, and fortune are as dust in the balance compared with the unity of accordant thoughts and feelings, and truly loving, sympathizing hearts and souls."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 9 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters      - 9
Atmosphere   - 8
Writing Style - 10
Plot                - 9
Intrigue          - 10
Logic             - 8
Enjoyment     - 9
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This was a great book! It dealt a lot more with the expectations of women in general (and specifically in marriage), as well as the dual standards for men and women - much more than I had expected. This really ended up being a good fit for March being Women's History Month! A woman runs away from an abusive husband, lives as a single mother, and, basically, proposes to her second husband. It is wonderful to see such a powerful example of goodness in Helen - even more so when contrasted with such an example of wickedness in her first husband. I really enjoyed the simple and honest belief in God represented in this novel.

Some parts were predictable and other things I would've changed slightly, but I won't say because I don't want to give anything away if you haven't read it yourself. (I've probably given too much away as it is.) Overall, I definitely suggest giving this a read. It's infinitely better than Wuthering Heights (which I despised), it's better than Agnes Grey (which just isn't memorable), and it's a little below Jane Eyre (which is one of my all-time favorite novels). I haven't read any other Bronte books, but I hope to finish them all by the end of next year.

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 Anne Bronte have the last words:

(regarding dating/marriage)
"Keep a guard over your eyes and ears as the inlets of your heart, and over your lips as the outlet, lest they betray you in a moment of unwariness. Receive, coldly and dispassionately, every attention, till you have ascertained and duly considered the worth of the aspirant; and let your affections be consequent upon approbation alone. First study; then approve; then love. Let your eyes be blind to all external attractions, your ears deaf to all the fascinations of flattery and light discourse. These are snares and wiles of the tempter to lure the thoughtless to their own destruction. Principle is the first thing, after all; and next to that, good sense, respectability, and moderate wealth. If you should marry the handsomest, and most accomplished and superficially agreeable man in the world, you little know the misery that would overwhelm you if, after all, should find him to be a worthless reprobate or even an impracticable fool."

Tris's Book by Tamora Pierce

Title: Tris's Book - The Power in the Storm

(Circle of Magic #2)


Author: Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )
Originally published: 1998
Page count: 251


Dates read: 2/25/2020-3/1/2020
2020 book goal progress: 5 out of 20
Reading category: TBR Shelf - Circle Universe


Read my other Tamora Pierce book reviews.
Read my other book reviews for my 2020 goal HERE.


Description on back of book:
Earthquake damage leaves Winding Circle vulnerable to pirate attack, so everyone - including the young mages in training Tris, Briar, Daja, and Sandry - is working to strengthen the community's defenses. When Tris's cousin Aymery comes to visit, he advises the "weather witch" to return to the family that exiled her, but she doesn't wish to leave her friends to face the threat without her. As the onslaught begins, two things become terribly clear: The pirates have a powerful new weapon, and they have an accomplice within Winding Circle. But the attackers have failed to reckon with the fury of a young mage betrayed once too often and her very stubborn, very loyal friends.

First sentence:
"She was pressed - jammed, really - into a corner formed by chunks of stone."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters      - 6
Atmosphere   - 9
Writing Style - 7
Plot                - 7
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 5
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This was an OK story. It was predictable and didn't have much depth to it. It also just doesn't make sense that, especially in a community of master mages, a rag-tag group of 4 children untrained in magic are the ones who save the day. I have to continuously remind myself that it's a children's book, so, obviously, the kids are going to be the heroes of the story. Though I wish it had a bit more depth, there's a part of me that appreciates the simplicity of it all. I love the magical system of the universe and want to learn more about how it works - that's what keeps me coming back.

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:

"We can't just act without thinking anymore. They've been trying to teach us that all along. I guess if we're mages, we can't exactly be kids, can we?"