Water & Fire

Circle of Magic #1-2

by Tamora Pierce

In these, the first two books in the Circle of Magic quartet, acclaimed fantasy writer Tamora Pierce enchants her readers. With a heart-pounding mixture of magic and mystery, four outcasts with amazing abilities must learn how to use their magic — and trust each other — in a place where nothing is at first what it seems. Sandry can weave silk thread and create light. Tris has a powerful connection with the weather. Briar has a way with plants. And Daja has the gift of metalcraft. Between these four mages-in-training, they must save their new home, Winding Circle, the only place they have ever been accepted.

This spellbinding collection also features Elder Brother, a bonus story. Set in the world of Tortall, a tree who has been turned into a human at the whim of a mage spell must learn how to survive.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Childrens, Adventure, Young Adult Fantasy

251 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2001

About the author

Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!

Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!

I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.

I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.

Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!

Reviews

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and reviewed the two books collected here separately, so basically this is just for my own records. Both those books earned three stars from me - they're likeable fantasies with a focus on crafts and how those crafts intersect with magic, which is a fascinating idea. Skills like weaving and metalwork, for instance, are genuinely interesting, and I liked how the child protagonists were expected to learn them as a way of exploring their other talents. I do think that, in both cases, the stories were perhaps a little too crammed, as everything moved very quickly and with not a lot of depth, but they were still enjoyable reads.

This collection includes a bonus short story, "Elder Brother," which I would have rated four stars if it had a Goodreads record of its own. It's the story of a friendship between a woman and a tree who was turned, by accident and against its will, into a human. Like most of Pierce's work that I've read thus far, it prioritises kindness and friendship and I appreciate that.

[Inkdeathinbloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Circle of Magic quartet was my favorite (warring with the Immortals quartet) series by Tamora Pierce, whom I read compulsively as a kid. I had a pretty firm ranking of favorites here too - to that extent, Sandry was #2 and Tris was #4. These are standouts in that I can and will go back to them sometimes as an adult, like a childhood blanket. The found family vibes are beautiful, and truly some of the most nurturing I think I've ever read. These books are soft in a lot of ways, even when the kids or the adults around them are thorny with their own issues, it's a found family that says you can heal from trauma; you can grow again; you can find peace; it's ok to be angry or sad and there can be healthy outlets for those things; seriously. These books didn't manage to be therapy as a kid, but they definitely highlighted that the world somewhere could be soft and maybe we can all have those things? It was goal post setting, that's for sure. If you're looking for a soft blanket, recommend, recommend, recommend.

[Katie Whitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading Tamora Pierce with Tempests and Slaughter which I totally got the Harry Potter comparisons too but in reality it really reminded me of this series. I liked this story well enough, although I will say Tris is by far my fave character of the kids, who spend most of the first book being obnoxious and the second being inexplicably close to each other. Since each book is supposed to be the story of an individual I think it would have benefitted from focusing more closely on one character instead of being a mishmash of all of them. I do still want to finish it and find out where the story goes, plus I'm just a huge fan of Pierce's world building and writing, so I'll definitely be continuing.

[✦Artemis✦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel like other people would love this book, but i did not like it that much. i was a good book, but i just like different books. i also don't like how it switched from different characters but i understand why it did.

[Rohan Malpure · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tamora Pierce deserves a lot of credit for this ambitious book. She sets out to create an entirely new world and populate it with interesting characters for the readers to follow. While the main characters are pretty engaging and well-rounded, the world-building falls a bit flat. Some things are not well explained and the reader is often left confused as to the meaning of certain words, especially in the beginning.

Is this a good book? Yes, but it's not a great one. A lot of the book's aspects feel a little underdeveloped, such as the setting and some of the supporting characters. Granted, Pierce had her work cut for her, but it's hard to shake the feeling that this could have been something more. I have not read the sequels yet, but I'm hoping they further develop our protagonists and their world.

[Samuel Lubell · Rating 3 out of 5]

After seeing the author at Chessiecon, I had an urge to re-read some of her books. I actual read the separate editions but they're so short, I didn't want to count them as four books in my total so I'm writing up the combined version. The first book starts out slow as the kid characters start off in jeopardy, then are rescued by Nico the mage, and then the Winding Circle is introduced. It is good that there is some tension between the four with their different background especially as one is a thief, one a noble, one a trader who don't have a history of getting along. Sandry is a little too good to be true, although a Noble, she likes getting along with ordinary people. The second book, Tris' Book, is much better with real jeopardy for the kids, treachery (although a bit obvious that the traitor character was up to no good, even one of the kids suspects the character) and a rather spectacular bit of magic.

I'm inclined to characterize this series as a bit more of a children's series (rather than YA) than her other writing.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a book sale because I heard so much about this author...and I guess I can see where she would be good if you were maybe 9. But oh my god. The plot holes. THE PLOT HOLES! And she is apparently only capable of developing one character, and one character only. Never mind the fact that this was suppose to be two books - one about Sandry, and one about Tris - she can only develop Tris into anything other then a background character.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first book of the two: Sandry's story. It was dissapointing in just how little actually happened. And if I hadn't just read to learn that the book was intended to be "Sandry"s I never would have guessed from the fairly even amount of "screen" time. I did enjoy the diversity of the characters and would hope they progressed a bit in the next book but that half will have to come another time I think.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4 books in The Circle of Magic and the 4 in The Circle Opens are written for younger children in mind--no sex, etc. But The Circle Opens books plots are for more 'mature' readers--serial killers, etc. They do not contain the more innocent themes of The Circle of Magic, which younger readers would really love.

[Melissa Massey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the book, Sandry's Book, is pretty boring and is all set up until the end, when there's suddenly a plot. The second half, Tris's Book, is where the series really takes off and starts developing the characters an their magic well. I think Book 2 is probably the best in the first quartet.

The bonus story in the back is really good too! I enjoyed it very much.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

An imaginative read. I enjoyed the characters a lot and will read other books in this series. The last 1/5th of the book I did get a little lost. Maybe, I just wasn't paying attention enough. Very enjoyable.

[Kara Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books were a little slow paced, but they are juvenile books. I think I would have loved them when I was younger. Still, I did like them. Every child who has been outcast in one way or another looks for a place to belong, even dreaming that one day they will be someone important.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tamora Pierce's books. Every book has strong female heroines which is why I bought the full set for my niece, who loves them too. I strongly suggest this and all her other books to fantasy loving females young and old!!

[Tabatha · Rating 5 out of 5]

the beigning of a great friendship and powerful magic

[April James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An addicting series you just cannot put down.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written for a younger reader, but still a lot of fun.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am working my way back through this series to decide if I want to push them on my oldest niece, and I am thoroughly enjoying my time with these books.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

(On a re-reading binge and finished this one 2/24/2013.)

[Marielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the fantasy with magic hope and friendship in between

[Kristen Mohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I'd never heard of this book before I read it. I would definitely recommend this at work.

[LOL_BOOKS]

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR COMFORT BOOKS?

MG AND YA BOOKS THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST TEEN BOOKS LIST?

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of innocent compared to current YA fantasy, which makes me all the more fond of it.

[Stephanie Christner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!