Pierce, Tamora - Circle of Magic books

[oyceter]

(includes Sandry's Book, Tris's Book, Daja's Book, and Briar's Book -- hee, imaginative names)

The Circle of Magic series is about four kids who form (wait for it) a circle of magic. Sandry is the mage whose skills lie in weaving and all sort of clothy things (technically a water mage, but I'm not quite sure how that works out); she's a noble and the nice one of the bunch to boot. Tris is a weather mage (element of air, I think); her short temper has been a danger to those around her. Daja is a Trader but now an outcast from her tribe; she's the fire mage who works with metal. Briar is a former thief who is the earth mage and works with plants.

All in all, the premise isn't one that would normally hook me, but rachelmanija highly recced them. Despite the fairly standard setup of four outcasts who are grouped together and end up bonding and the somewhat pedestrian prose, I ended up really enjoying these books. The thing I liked best was that even though the four children are supposedly associated with the elements, the actuality is that they are associated with particular crafts.

Well, except for Tris.

But still. Apparently this type of magic is fairly uncommon in their world; ergo having the four together under one roof and learning from mentors, as opposed to going to elemental temple schools. And while, of course, each of their teachers are great mages, I really enjoyed seeing the lessons.

My favorite books of the four were Sandry's and Briar's, largely because I felt they had the most crafty things. Also, Sandry does fabric sorts of things, which I obviously highly enjoy, and Briar does plant things, which I would like to enjoy but tend to wreak havoc instead.

Pierce writes in her afterword that she was inspired to write about crafty magic by watching her mother and sister quilt and knit, and then later by watching a friend who did all sorts of things, from metalwork to glassblowing. Of course, I'm biased, given that I knit and crochet, but I completely get the everyday magic of making things, and I'm really glad that Pierce focuses on that in these books. While the four do great feats of magic, they also weed and weave and make nails and do chores.

I also like that magic, while rare, is also used for fairly mundane things. My favorite book in the series, Briar's Book, is about a plague and how the four and their teachers help combat it. Pierce doesn't skimp on detailing exactly how a magic-run lab of sorts would work; she goes into methodology and shows the people using the scientific method, which fascinates me.

The plots and characters tend to follow YA fantasy tropes; I wasn't particularly surprised by the end of the last book, for instance. But the characters manage to not wander into the land of stereotypes, and there's enough detail in all the magic to make it not feel like wish-fulfillment.

Anyhow, looking forward to the next series, which apparently is even better.

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

I liked this series a lot, too.

[slrose.livejournal.com]

One warning -- the next series is darker, dealing with things like serial killers.

After you finish the next set, this year's book _The Will of the Empress_ is a single stand alone sequel. But you need to read the next set first.

Sandry is my favorite because she is so girly but still kicks butt. :)

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

After you finish the next set, this year's book _The Will of the Empress_ is a single stand alone sequel. But you need to read the next set first.

Bought this the same night I saw Serenity. Haven't had time to read it yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! Love Tamora Pierce!

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

Also, Sandry is my favourite too. You're right that she's girly, but still very strong :)

[oyceter]

Oh good! Looking forward to the darker subject matter.

I like Sandry because she's nice but not spineless. And she weaves!

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

Oyce!! You're reading Tamora Pierce (http://www.tamora-pierce.com)?? Yay! You're right that her books aren't the most original or best-written ever. But I love them a lot -- love the characters and the universe. She's got two universes, actually: the 4 series that centre around the kingdom of Tortall (see my Lioness icon above, that's Alanna, first female knight in Tortall in a hundred years) and the 3 series that centre around the duchy of Emelan (the Circle of Magic books).

(includes Sandry's Book, Tris's Book, Daja's Book, and Briar's Book -- hee, imaginative names)

Those books actually had other names, but they're not used for the American publications, not sure why.

Sandry's Book = The Magic in the Weaving
Tris's Book = The Power in the Storm
Daja's Book = The Fire in the Forging
Briar's Book = The Healing in the Vine

Also, the elements associated with the four kids aren't clearly defined. It's confusing and never explicitly matched up. I switch Tris and Sandry, because it makes way more sense for Sandry to be Air and Tris to be Water. On the book jackets of my copies, Sandry has the Air symbol and Tris has the Water, so that's what I work with.

No Circle of Magic icon, unfortunately, but here's Keladry from the 3rd series set in Tortall. She's my favourite of them all :)

[oyceter]

Huh, wonder why they didn't use those other titles! They certainly sound better....

I've heard somewhat mixed things about the Alanna series (mostly because they're her first?) but that she plays with expectations in a really interesting way! And that the Keladry books are relaly good as well.

I don't get the Sandry-Tris elements either... alas. I do sort of wish Tris had a crafty thing like all the rest seem to do, but I suppose it's a little difficult to craft things with weather ;).

[eeb-bee.livejournal.com]

I may check them out then. I'd read her Alanna books as a junior-highschooler and adored them. When I tried to revisit them I found them flat. Not nearly as richly textured as they'd been in my childhood.

Interesting that what makes them intriguing to me now is the combination of science and magic. Truthfully, I'm eager to read about a science and magic lab, in detail.

[oyceter]

Yeah, I actually really liked the scientific method in the magic lab and all the precautions they took and everything.