Publication Date: October 1, 2007 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up
An audiobook first!New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce has written the new novel in her popular Circle of Magic universe to go directly to audio--preceding the print version by at least a year.
Residents on one of the islands south of Emelan have sent a call for help to Winding Circle temple: Their plants and trees and the animals that live around them are mysteriously dying. From Winding Circle come two familiar figures: prickly green mage Rosethorn, whose plant magic will help her decipher what's ailing the plant life, and Briar's former student, the stone mage Evvy. With them comes the eager, nervous Dedicate Initiate Myrrhflower and Luvo, a being best described as a walking, intelligent rock. All are pulled into the island's mystery when Evvy is caught up by the wild spirits loose in an immense bubble of molten rock. Can they evacuate the island in time--or will they try to shift a volcano?
Tamora Pierce is a bestselling author of fantasy books for teenagers. Her books, known for their teenaged girl warriors and wizards, have received critical acclaim and a strong fanbase.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamora Pierce was drawn to books from a young age. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, the child of a "long, proud line of hillbillies," her family never had much. "We were poor, but I didn't know it then. We had a garden where my folks grew fruit and vegetables and our water came from a well," she explains. But one thing they did have was plenty of books. So Tamora read.
A self-proclaimed "geek," she devoured fantasy and science fiction novels, and by the age of 12 was mimicking her literary idols and writing her own action-packed stories. It was thanks to her father that Tamora began writing. "He heard me telling myself stories as I did dishes, and he suggested that I try to write some of them down," Pierce says.
But Tamora's novels had one major difference: unlike the books she was reading, her stories featured teenaged girl warriors. "I couldn't understand this lapse of attention on the part of the writers I loved, so until I could talk them into correcting this small problem, I wrote about those girls, the fearless, bold, athletic creatures that I was not, but wanted so badly to be."
Seventeen years later, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, a brief career in teen social work and some time spent writing for radio, Tamora Pierce held true to her childhood crusade, and published Alanna: The First Adventure, the first in a quartet about a valiant, young, female warrior. Pierce's heroine struck a chord with readers across the country and quickly earned her a loyal following.
Pierce is now a #1 New York Times bestselling author and has written twenty-five books, including her newest, BEKA COOPER #2: Bloodhound. "It's a pretty good life, if I do say so myself. Struggling along as a kid and even through my twenties, it's the kind of life I dreamed of but never believed I would get. Yet here I am, after a lot of work, a lot of worry, a lot of care for details, and a massive chunk of luck, the kind that brought me such strong friends and readers. Pretty good for a hillbilly, yes? And I never take it for granted," she says.
Pierce lives in upstate New York with her husband Tim and their three cats and two birds.
PRAISE
"[Tamora Pierce's heroines] faithfully reiterate an ideal of feminine power that relies on brains, not beauty; of feminine attractiveness that relies on competence, not helplessness; and of feminine alliances that grow stronger, not weaker, in the face of conflicts." -The New York Times
BEKA COOPER #1: TERRIER
"With its rollicking adventures [and] appealing characters . . . Terrier will be in strong demand by Pierce's fans. It will keep readers on the edge of their seats." -School Library Journal, Starred
YOUNG WARRIORS "Memorable characters and well-drawn settings. . . . This timely and appealing anthology will surely help swell the ranks of teenage fantasy readers." -School Library Journal
TRICKSTER'S QUEEN "The plot sweeps readers along in a whirlwind of court intrigue, deception, murder, and romance. The humor is wicked, and the plot twists will keep the pages turning to the supremely satisfying end. Teens will be inspired by Aly's determination, her resourcefulness, and her heart." -School Library Journal
TRICKSTER'S CHOICE "Aly arrives fully formed, a snarky, talented uber-heroine. Cameos of old favorites complement a rich cast of new characters. Aly's difficulty with the complexity of colonialism adds surprising, welcome depth." -Kirkus Reviews
LADY KNIGHT "Unrelentingly realistic in its depiction of the horrors of war, this novel draws the reader into a complete and believable fantasy world. Pierce provides exquisite details of the weaponry, topography, and culture of her world, and her control of a voluminous cast of characters is masterful." -Voice of Youth Advocates
I have been a great fan of Tamora Pierce over the last ten years or so. Her worlds are rich and vibrant, her characters fun and human. The novels themselves tend to flow rapidly and evenly, making them very good reads.
This is the first audio-book of hers I have 'read' - or listened to. I would have gone for the book, if it had been out, but having listened to it I am actually pleased she brought out the audio book first. It took a few minutes to get into it but her characteristic humour, very dry, and interactions between characters soon came out. The book itself is from the point of view of Evvy, and the actress who plays her voice is very good. Just the right amount of emotion into the speech.
The story is typical Tamora. While it might be slightly predictable, and the plot not overly complex, it is an exciting 'read' with a lot of humour. Somehow Tamora introduces moral character development without being preachy, so you can empathise with the main character without being put off.
Of course for a true fan the book explains Luvo, and hints far more about what happeneded to briar, Rosethorn and Evvy on their trip. The relationship to the unpublished story, and to other books is well done although it may be lost to a new reader. The book is more aimed at existing fans, but there is still plenty for the new reader.
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As a fan of Tamora Pierce and Full Cast Audio, I was eagerly anticipating this audiobook. However, it fell far short of my expectations.
The plot was very predictable. An attentive listener could discern the problem and the way it would be solved very early in the book, and there were no twists or turns along the way. More dissapointing than that, however, was the lack of original characters. Tamora Pierce's novels are usually so enjoyable because her characters and distinctive and vibrant. However, the main character, Evvy, is a young mage who grew up on the streets and has trouble trusting people. These two character themes are ones that Pierce has explored more than once already. Of the other characters, the only one that really captures the imagination is Luvo, who is a living rock.
Worse yet, the entire novel left me with a niggling feeling that it was all an allegory about war and self-destructive violence. Many of the characters assumed a preaching tone at times, as if the listener should pay attention to these life lessons. I was looking for a wonderful story, not trite moralizing.
However, Full Cast Audio reads the story with gusto. The voices are wonderful, and the performance makes up somewhat for the lackluster writing.
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I have just completed reading Ms. Pierce's latest. What a disappointment! I slogged through this tedious book; the characters had few redeeming qualities and the dialog was ugly and awkward! I have no idea how it was as an audio book but it did NOT work as a real book.
I am a diehard fan...I have read every book Ms. Pierce has written and this is the first book I didn't enjoy... there were a few I really loved. Wait for the paperback if you must read this.
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