YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Book one (Wild Magic) Description:

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.

So excited!!

Me too! :D

Starting todayyyyy :D

Ch1 (view spoiler)[Once again, Tamora Pierce’s writing is flawless and I’m immediately drawn in to the story c:

Daine seems like a really interesting character, and I love the natural ease she has with the horses and Onua’s dog (the result of a Gift maybe?), and the sibling-like relationship she seems to have with Cloud.

I love the throwback to the original series with mentions of Alanna, the Queen, Buri etc. I’d be interested to see if they make a physical appearance in this series. (hide spoiler)]

Ch2 (view spoiler)[Well that was quick. Alanna has been introduced to this story already!

We also appear to have an “animagus” (Harry Potter style ;D) (hide spoiler)]

Ch5 (view spoiler)[And now King Jonathan has been officially introduced in this book too! We also have mention of Daine having ‘wild magic’ and the introduction to her lessons on how to use it!

I really loved the first lesson and how all of that went down, the description of all the colours of magic in the environment was beautiful and I enjoyed reading about the water sprites and forest sprites... it definitely seems like Tamora Pierce is evolving the world that was created in the previous series, expanding on everything that was learnt previously without clashing with the previous knowledge.

I’m really loving how the story is going so far c: (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Ch2 [spoilers removed]"

I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN THAT HAPPENED

In chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ Omg I love Alanna, I'm so glad she showed up!! I forgot she was so short lmao. And I didn't even know Daine was wearing skirts!!! That sounds horrible. I like the hawk dude so far but idk what his name is. (hide spoiler)]

Ch7 (view spoiler)[The conversation with the griffins was pretty interesting, and I wonder if they’ll have a bigger role to play later in the series... they would definitely be useful allies against the stormwings. (hide spoiler)]

In chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ I'm so in love with all the old characters and I like Daine for the most part. I'm glad she finally told Numare(?) and the other lady about her past. I don't think so was crazy more like she went wild. I love when the trainers boss around the riders and tell them to suck it up, makes me laugh. (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Ch7 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Oh man i didn't even think about that!! i hope they do come back they're very interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ Oh shit. Of course something bad happens when Alanna leaves. I wish Daine would find a way to let the animals help without too much risk to themselves. They want to help and she should let them, it's their choice. I hope they find a way out of this (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ WOW A FUCKING KRAKEN THAT WAS AWESOME. I was kinda angry when the whales said no, but I guess it's to be expected. I wish the dragon didn't have to die. BUT A BABY OMG IM SO EXCITED. (hide spoiler)]

Ch9 (view spoiler)[...I did not expect a dragon. Let alone a pregnant one with a dead/dying baby... to be healed by Daine.

That was definitely interesting o.o

...side note: are they going to have a dragon ally later now? (hide spoiler)]

May I please join you all in reading this series? I've wanted to read it forever, but I never got around to it.

Jessica wrote: "May I please join you all in reading this series? I've wanted to read it forever, but I never got around to it."

Yeah of course!

Natalie wrote: "Ch9 ...[spoilers removed]"

RIGHT!?! (view spoiler)[ That was so crazy, I'm glad Daine was able to heal it (hide spoiler)]

Andrea wrote: "Jessica wrote: "May I please join you all in reading this series? I've wanted to read it forever, but I never got around to it."

Yeah of course!"

Thank you.

Finished! (view spoiler)[I’m glad the dragon came to their aid, but I do wish they hadn’t died (and left behind a baby ;-;). I can’t help but hope the dragon isn’t REALLY dead, though I doubt that’s the case...

I am definitely intrigued to see how things are going to go in the rest of the series, and whether Daine is going to end up as some kind of dragon rider or something with the baby dragonet she’s now raising ;D (hide spoiler)]

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Ch7 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

It seems silly to introduce them in such a way if they’re just going to be a one-off, y’know? XD

Andrea wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I was definitely not expecting (view spoiler)[a kraken (hide spoiler)] of all things! That came as a huge shock! XD

(view spoiler)[And as adorable as a baby dragon is, I’m pretty pissed about the mother dragon dying ._. Hopefully there’s going to be a happy ending there by the end of this series! (hide spoiler)]

Jessica wrote: "May I please join you all in reading this series? I've wanted to read it forever, but I never got around to it."

Of course! The more the merrier! :D

And before I forget to update with the book I’m currently on...

Started reading Book #2 - Wolf Speaker
(Next lot of chapter updates will be from this one ;D)

Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I was definitely not expecting [spoilers removed] of all things! That came as a huge shock! XD

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I also hope it's not dead because I lost what happened in the book so I didn't hear all of that part XD (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "And before I forget to update with the book I’m currently on...

Started reading Book #2 - Wolf Speaker
(Next lot of chapter updates will be from this one ;D)"

I'm still waiting for my copy to come in so I'm going to jump into and then come back to this

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I was definitely not expecting [spoilers removed] of all things! That came as a huge shock! XD

[spo..."

Hmm? What do you mean, what happened to the book? O.o

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "And before I forget to update with the book I’m currently on...

Started reading Book #2 - Wolf Speaker
(Next lot of chapter updates will be from this one ;D)"

I'm still waiting fo..."

Completely fair! I have so many BRs for this month that I’m a bit worried I’m going to fall really far behind so I really want to keep going with this atm XD
Plus, I have a couple of days off work which is lovely :|

Ch1 (view spoiler)[Oh neat! There’s a throwback to the time when Daine went ‘mad’!

Interested in learning more about her time with the wolves, that’s for sure! (hide spoiler)]

Ch3 (view spoiler)[Well crap, they’re separating. That’s probably not a good sign...

On the bright side, I have a feeling that Daine and the wolf pack are going to be getting shit DONE while Numair is away. Maybe geurilla warfare tactics? ;D (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I was definitely not expecting [spoilers removed] of all things! That came as a huge ..."

I was listening to the audiobook and got distracted for a little bit whoops haha

Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I was definitely not expecting [spoilers removed] of all things! That..."

That would definitely do it XD

Ch5 (view spoiler)[Okay first things first, I REALLY like Tkaa. He is freaking awesome :| Didn’t expect a basilisk in this novel (though considering the other creatures that have been introduced so far it shouldn’t have been a surprise) and the fact that he’s more humanoid reptile than well... snake... is pretty interesting. He reminds me of the ‘Dragon’ from the previous series (that I forget the name of... but he was one of Alanna’s significant others in I think book 4) which is both awesome and worrying considering how that turned out XD

The idea of the magic barrier thing is pretty neat too. It reminds me of the barrier thing in Catching Fire (Hunger Games) and I’m picturing it just as it was portrayed in the movie c:

Glad they have Maura with them too - I was worried about her being left at the castle! (hide spoiler)]

Ch8 (view spoiler)[Is Weiryn (the god of the hunt) Daine’s father perhaps? The description seems to fit, and that but about Beltane...?

I’m also really liking where this novel is going, and really hope it DOES turn out to be a human/People/Immortal area where they all live in (relative) harmony with the Ogres being farmers and such. I can 100% see Maura as the lady of the land, with Tkaa as her head advisor ;D

Definitely hoping things go well though... that whole ‘Bloodrain’ thing sounds terrifying - and rather like this universe’s version of a nuclear bomb ._. (hide spoiler)]

Ch10 (view spoiler)[The final battle was pretty well done, though I’m a bit disappointed they couldn’t save the ‘evil horse’ things for potential allies etc - or just y’know, preventing them from being enslaved any further.

Loved the bit with Daine as a wolf - and the image of her and her pack herding Yolane back to the castle was a great one ;D (hide spoiler)]

Epilogue (view spoiler)[YES! Maura in charge (ish, she’s ten and needs a guardian :P) and Tkaa and co. are her new advisors! :D (hide spoiler)]

Now starting Book #3 - Emperor Mage

Really enjoying this series so far :D

Ch1 (view spoiler)[Well it looks like Daine is making a ‘splash’ in the new kingdom :P

I am so confused though, I mean we go from war in book one to treason in book two to... ambassador delegations and treating sick birds... in book three. What the hell. (hide spoiler)]

Ch3 (view spoiler)[And once again there has been something introduced that I did not at ALL expect - dinosaurs! The whole reality of the Tortall universe is really being expanded upon in this novel o.o

...side note: what is going on with Daine’s reanimation of animals? First the tiger rug, and now a triceratops skeleton? What’s going on?! (hide spoiler)]

Ch7 (view spoiler)[The thing with the rats coming out of the cake would have been absolutely horrifying to those present, yikes o.o

I’m definitely interested to learn more about the hyenas though, and how it is they are meant to bring the emperor’s doom to him... (hide spoiler)]

Ch9 (view spoiler)[Okay, first thing’s first.... there is no WAY that Numair was executed, not after all that talk about making magical copies of yourself :|
—
The whole thing with waking all the dinosaurs sounds great - especially that pet about the enemy Mage and guards seeing them and immediately making a run for it (and also screaming).

Interesting little chat with Varice too... I won’t if that will lead anywhere? (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[I KNEW NUMAIR WASN’T DEAD!! Yes!!

I enjoyed the ending to this one c: (hide spoiler)]

Now starting Book #4 - The Realm of the Gods

Prologue (view spoiler)[I am loving the prologue right now - it’s really putting the timeline of this series in perspective, both as a stand-alone series itself and in reference to the original quartet. Plus, it’s done very well as a set-up for the finale of this quartet XD (hide spoiler)]

Ch1 (view spoiler)[I was right, her father IS the god of the hunt, Weiryn! :D (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "Now starting Book #4 - The Realm of the Gods"

OMG so quick!! Good news tho, Wolf Speaker came in so I'm reading that tomorrow :D

I’ve gotten completely engrossed honestly XD Enjoying this so much! :D

Glad you’ll be starting that one so soon!

Ch4 (view spoiler)[Okay, the whole thing with the chaos creature in the lake was very confusing...

I’m also very intrigued with the darking(?) creatures... I get the impression that they’re kind of like Spirited Away’s soot sprites, but I could be WAY off XD (hide spoiler)]

Ch7 (view spoiler)[EEEEEEEEEEEEE!! First kiss between Numair and Daine!
If this was a modern story I would be very wary of the age gap, but given the time in which it’s set... I think I’m okay with it XD (hide spoiler)]

Ch9 (view spoiler)[While that battle scene was really well put together and just pretty great all around... I really hope that Rikash didn’t ACTUALLY die and is maybe just really injured or something so that he can be healed later.... but then Tamora Pierce has definitely dashed my hopes before (poor Kit’s mother ;-;) so I’m not holding my breath D:

But on the bright side, it looks like the emperor dude whose name I forget (O-something) is about to get the shit kicked out of him. So that’s nice. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[The final battle between Daine and Ozorne(?) was pretty interesting and I like how they pinker everything to the goddess of chaos and brought all the gods and goddesses in at the end. Pretty peeved that the gods gave Daine an ultimatum at the end regarding the rest of her life though :/ I mean seriously, “become a minor god and never go back to the mortal realm and see your friends again, OR stay mortal and never come here to visit your parents again”? Wtf.

I also have SO MANY QUESTIONS regarding Kit. Because I was thinking that with Daine’s parents being what they are when she died (of hopefully natural causes) she and Numair would also become minor gods, and Kit being a dragon with a potential lifespan of 1,000years+ would end up in the dragon realm with regular visits to her “foster parents” in the realm of the gods, but with the way all of this is going all the friends and family that Kit has made in the mortal realm (with the exception of Tkaa and other potential immortals) EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE BEFORE KIT IS EVEN AN ADULT. The baby dragons in the dragon realm were a couple of centuries old at least! HOW IS KIT GOING TO COPE DAMMIT!!!

Aside from that though... I DID like the ending with Numair and Daine’s reunion... XD (hide spoiler)]

Looks like the sequel series to this one is Protector of the Small, starting with “First Test”. Let me know if you want to read that one too Andrea? c:

Will still keep track of this thread though, I’m curious to read your thoughts as you go through this series ;D

Natalie wrote: "Ch3 [spoilers removed].."

(view spoiler)[ AH YOU SPELLED HIS NAME THANK GOD. I'm really liking the wolves in this!! I feel like Daine and the pack are gonna prove those other two leggers wrong about how much damage some wolves can cause. (hide spoiler)]