Customer Reviews

Wild Magic (Immortals)

5 star:		(264)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Tamora Pierce, the greatest author of all time, has written another miracle. No mere words can express my heartfelt praise: funny, thoughtful, top-of-the-line, number one, At . . . how about it's just, plain wonderful? Daine, a girl blessed with the unique ability to speak with animals, is hired by Onua, the woman that manages the Rider's ponies. The story weaves together danger, adventure, humor, and love in perfect unison. It also touches on the subject of finding your true self, which I thought was brilliant.

I have read Wild Magic, cover to cover more times than I can possibly count. It's perfectly suited to all ages groups. Fifth graders read it and think it's cool the way a girl can talk to animals, whereas high school students may read it and relate to the loyalty, bravery, and compassion of all the characters. If you're going to read one book in your entire life, make this one it. It's a journey unlike any other you have ever encountered. My copy is ragged and torn, but I look upon it like an old friend. I am an extremely avid reader, and out of all the books i've read, i have yet to see one come even close to ranking with Wild Magic. READ THIS BOOK!

Wild Magic is a great book. The storyline catches you from the beginning, and the characters are intriguing. Daine's secret is built well, and the different ways she interacts with humans and animals is well done. Readers of the Alanna books will be glad to know that the lady knight will be appearing in this series, though not as a main character. Other great new characters are Numair Salmalin, the mage, and Buri, the Queen's Rider.

Pierce's books are aimed at a strange demographic, since her main characters are usually girls and start a series around 10 years, but finish it around 18 years of age. Still, I read the Alanna books for the first time when I was about eight, and I've reread them several times (I'm 25 now). Same with The Immortals. There are often things I overlooked the first time I read it, and as I got older, other things stood out to me.

Even now, at age 13, riffling through the well worn pages of my beloved Immortals series, I wonder how it is humanly possible to write books so amazing. I've always loved fantasy, and Tamora Pierce is my favorite author, and always has been. This entire series is a must read for any fantasy nut. It's just like a good smoothie - the perfect blend of everything. Humor, adventure, a touch of romance and a whole lot of enchantment, I consider the Wild magic story one of Ms.Pierce's finest. The young girl Daine, who has the wonderful gift of animal speech, and even shape shifting, starts out as a sad orphan who's lost her family.It was wonderfull to "watch" her slowly heal, and discover herself shinig through her past. But I really felt myself connect with all the characters, and I consider that one of the most important things about novels. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a good fantasy.

I have read all Tamora Pierce's books so far and I think this is her best yet! This book is about Daine a 13 year old who has 'Wild Magic' which means the power to communicate, change into, and heal animals. In this book she faces off to the evil stormwings and their queen, Zaneth Bitterclaws. But she is not alone in this fight for she soon teams up with Cloud a horse with strong opinions, Numair who teaches her about her 'Wild Magic', Onua who hires her to help with the horses, King Jonathon, Queen Thayet and the Riders and Kitten a baby dragon. They all know the emporer of Carthank is involved somehow with all the 'Immortals' running about but they can't prove how. Alanna is also in this book so if you've read the 'Song of the Lioness' series this is a must read. This book is full of magic and fantasy and is my favorite book so far

Okay, I'm probably going to end up being lynched by Pierce's legions of devoted fans for this, but... I can't stand her books. They're fine if you like honest, trust worthy, modest characters, but for people like me (and there are few) they're too nice. Quite frankly, I'm just too cynical and sarcastic to find it nice that nobles, and the King and Queen, go around acting like 'common people'. And every one's too nice. The bad guys are just plain bad, the good guys kind and resonable. "My goodness!" thinks Daine upon meeting everyone, "these rich people are much nicer than I expected, not high-and-mighty at all!"
Excuse me while I gag.
Any ways, this review was just and excuse for me to rant on and on and on, so in summary, if you love idealistic, romantic, 'nice' books, read Tamora Pierce. If, however, you are untrustworthy, cynical and with all the sentimental side of a dead squirrel, steer clear.

WILD MAGIC, by Tamora Pierce, begins the story of Daine, a 13-year-old girl who has a "knack with animals" and a dark past. Set in the realm of Tortall a few years into the reign of King Jonathan and Queen Thayet, the story begins with Daine being taken on by Buri of the Queen's riders as an assistant to help bring ponies from Gala into Tortall. Along the way they run into a couple of Immortals, strange beings who have been let out of the Divine Realms by an unknown mage , from whom they have to rescue a large, strange black hawk who acts like no other animal Daine has ever delt with...

For the rest of the story you'll just have to read the book. I have to say that WILD MAGIC is not my most favorite of Tamora Pierce's books. It's just not as interesting to me as, say, the "Song of the Lioness" books. However, that is not to say that I dislike it, and I think that anyone who liked Tamora Pierce's other books will probably like this one too, ESPECIALLY if they like animals. =)

-Read on-

I just finished listening to a full-cast audio version of Wild Magic, by Tamora Pierce. This is the first book in Pierce's Immortals quartet, which is a follow-on series to her Song of the Lioness quartet. I had previously listened to another Tamora Pierce book (Circle Of Magic #1 : Sandry's Book), and I really didn't see what all the fuss was about. But I liked Wild Magic much more than I expected to. It's the story of 13-year-old Daine, an orphan with an unusual gift for communicating with animals, living in a land where many people have magical abilities.

Daine actually seems to be part animal: creatures flock to her, defend her, and will do just about anything for her. Sometimes, in fact, she fears losing her human self, because she bonds so completely with animals. Despite her abilities, Daine is a vulnerable young girl. She's ashamed of her common upbringing and the fact that she doesn't have the usual "gift" of magic, and she mourns her lost family. Her animal friends keep her grounded, however, and she has a blunt, unique voice that gradually wins over human friends, too.

Through her gift with animals, Daine gets a job as an assistant horse mistress for the kingdom of Tortall. There she is trained in her type of "wild magic" by mage Numair, and uses her gift to help Tortall to defend itself from enemies. And enemies abound, as a rival kingdom begins a series of stealthy attacks, drawing on the power of strange immortal creatures. Daine slowly finds her place among the people of Tortall, but finds everything she now cares for threatened by these attacking immortal creatures.

The full-cast audio of this book is excellent. Daine's voice is perfect, usually pleasant and young, but becoming almost strained when her friends are threatened, or when she has to yell to get attention. When Daine communicates with her mind, there's an echoing quality to the audio, so that it's clear that the words aren't spoken aloud. The voices of the other characters are, for the most part, distinct and recognizable (though I had trouble distinguishing between a couple of the women). I especially liked the voice of Sarge, a relatively minor character, but one who's voice stood out. I don't usually think that full cast audios are necessary, but I did enjoy this one.

Overall, I thought that Wild Magic was an engaging story, featuring several strong characters, and detailed relationships between the characters. Tortall is a fully realized world, and I look forward to visiting again.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on June 22, 2006.

"Wild Magic" was the first book I ever read by fantasy teen writer Tamora Pierce, and continues to be my favourite. It may help slightly if you have read Pierce's previous "Song of the Lioness" quartet, but certainly not necessary - I didn't get round to reading it until several years later. "Wild Magic" is the first book of "The Immortals" quartet, and in my opinion, the best series of stories that Pierce has to offer, placing her immensely likeable heroine Daine amidst a backdrop of magical upheaval, the threat of war and Daine's own mysterious and tragic past. That Pierce manages to meld this huge range of subjects into a coherent whole is amazing - that it is set in a fantasy world that reads as a realistic place makes it even more remarkable.

Daine is a thirteen-year-old orphan, harbouring a dark secret, that joins up with Onua the horsemistress to take ponies across the borders to the kingdom of Tortall. Although Daine doesn't have the magical "Gift" that many other people possess, she does have what she calls "a knack with animals" that allows her to communicate on a deeper level with animals of all kind, a magical trait she soon finds is called "Wild Magic". As the two women begin their journey they are soon beset by a range of dangers: monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years have suddenly been released back into the human realms where previously they had been locked up in the Divine Realms. After a run-in with a flock of hideous half-human, half-steel winged birds the women rescue a strange black hawk that has a very odd effect on Daine's magical abilities.

Though I won't give away the twist in the tale concerning the bird, I will say that its presence causes much concern for the Tortallians, for it is just another piece of evidence that the mighty conquering empire of Charthak, lying just beyond the Inland Sea, has set its sights on Tortall. When Alanna's home Pirate's Swoop is placed under siege, it would seem that Daine alone can use her Wild Magic to save her newfound friends and home.

"Wild Magic" is chocka-block full of every possible scenario you could think of, from dragons and griffins, to war barges and sea battles. Daine's Wild Magic is instigated in the most ingenious ways to fight the marauding pirates, and her own training on using and controlling her magic is a task that Pierce nicely draws out throughout the novel (harking back to Alanna's own knight-training in the previous quartet). There are appearances from old familiar faces, and one might be delighted that both Thayet and Alanna now have children of their own, but the new cast are fascinating: Cloud, Numair, Onua - they're all wonderful, colourful, well-drawn characters.

Although the main secret to Daine's dark past is revealed by the end of the book, readers know that there is more to come that even she isn't aware of. Guided by the gruff silver-clawed Badger, and haunted by dreams of a strange horned man, readers should have the next book "Wolf-Speaker" on hand in order to find out more.

For many years now Pierce has been writing wonderful books, and it is easy to spot why her books are so popular: not only is her fantasy realm colourful and magical, with intriguing plots and incredibly vivid, likeable characters, but the books feel very *real*. All of her magical components have rules and limits, and there is a sense of both history and politics to the world. As well as this, there is subtle mention of the daily necessities of people that other fantasy novels pretend don't exist: human beings in Pierce's books eat, sleep, go to the toilet, and (if they are a woman) have their monthly bleeding. It sounds silly to mention, but all of the above detail make Pierce an author worth exploring, who has managed to create a world as interesting and complete as Middle-Earth, Narnia, Prydain, the Old Kingdom (Garth Nix) and Phillip Pullman's alternate worlds - I only wish the books were longer! Forget the fantasy imitators - Pierce is the real thing.

This book is set in the land of Tortall during the reign of King Jonathan the III and Queen Thayet. A girl named Daine and her horse Cloud travels to a fair in Cria.A trader named Onua questions Daine and almost doesn't accept to take her with her. Though, eventually Onua does. And the start of an adventure begins.

Daine meets up with Alanna(one of the Queen's riders) and a shape-shifting man named Numari Salmalin. Both of they are gifted, Numair being a mage. They encounter Stormwings, which haven't been seen for centuries.

For unanswered reasons the immortals have escaped their imprisonment in the Divine Realms. Wrecking havoc where ever they go. Alanna, Numair and Daine have planned their way to go to Pirate's Swoop. On the way Numair and Alanna sense a strange power in Daine. One that has not be seen for years. Daine has Wild Magic, the ability to communicate with animals. Numair helps her train, helping her control it more.

This book is one of my top five favorite books. It is really amazing and I'm not just saying that. Tamora Pierce has crafted an excellent novel and it's shame she hasn't won any awards for it(correct me if I'm wrong). It's one of those books you pick up and can't stop reading. Somethings were unclear in the begining but they all straightened themselves out in the end. But some questions were left unaswered so some plot could be used for the next novel, Wolf Speaker.

I reccommend this book to anyone who likes to read. I'm not that really into fantasy, but I LOVED IT! Trust me, this book is worth the read.

Thirteen-year-old Veralidaine "Daine" Sarrasri has always been known for her knack with animals. From birds to whales, horses to dogs, and everywhere in between, animals seem to sense that Daine is a friend of theirs. When Daine is forced to leave home after a group of bandits attack her family, however, she begins to realize that her so-called knack packs more punch than she originally realized, and begins to think that, perhaps, magic is a more proper word for her talents. Of course, it's not your basic magic. It's wild magic - something Daine has no control over. With this wild magic, Daine has the ability to not only hear animals, but the ability to speak to them, and have them obey her, as well. The powers she is saddled with only make being on the road less difficult, for she always has a companion by her side. When Daine accepts a job handling horses with Onua Chamtong, of the K'miri Raadeh, she can't believe her luck. She'll be working for the Queen's Riders. And, even though the hours are long, Daine thinks of her new position as quite an honor. It is while holding this position, however, that Daine meets Numair, a man who will change her life. Numair is a master mage, and is thrilled to take Daine on as a student, in an attempt to help her hone her magic, and gain more control over it. And Daine couldn't be happier to have the privilege to work with such a skilled individual. Under the guidance of Numair, Daine finds herself improving on a daily basis. Through Numair's assignments, Daine begins to explore the inner-workings of her magic; learning the depths of it. But exploring her magic isn't all that Daine has the power to learn. Soon, she finds herself sensing the magic of other beings surrounding her: immortals. Immortals who have been unwillingly imprisoned within the confines of the Divine Realms for over four-hundred years, who are bloodthirsty and angry. The barriers have been broken by enemies, setting the immortals loose, and placing them dangerously close to the royals of Tortall. Now, protecting the Queen, along with the heirs to the royal throne, rests in the hands of Daine and her newfound friends. Together, they must defend their country from an immortal attack that could leave them all in ruins; or succumb to the tyranny of enemies.

I will admit that I'm not usually a reader of fantasy/science fiction novels that revolve around wars, magic, and make-believe kingdoms. However, after reading Tamora Pierce's ALANNA quartet, I can't help but find myself absolutely mesmerized by her writing, and grappling for another taste of the Kingdom of Tortall. The ALANNA quartet brought magic to life, and, with the introduction of THE IMMORTALS, Pierce manages to capture that engrossing magic once more within the pages of WILD MAGIC. While many characters often lack depth, or are hard to sympathize with, Daine does not come close to falling into that category. From page one, Daine is presented in a manner that makes the reader sympathize with the fact that she has recently been orphaned; while creating a passion to learn more about Daine's past, and the inner-workings of both her mind, and her magic. Her kind heart, determination to prove herself as a worthy asset to the Kingdom of Tortall, and ability to outshine even some of the most talented mage's make her extremely appealing; but it's her interactions with the various characters surrounding her - both animal and human varieties - which work to make WILD MAGIC such an amazing release. Numair's dry humor, yet tough-as-nails teaching skills are entertaining; Onua's understanding persona presents her as a mother-figure; the royal heirs to Tortall are both adorable, yet mischievous, coming off as the annoying, yet adorable, younger brother and sister; the appearance of Alanna is thrilling, especially for those who devoured Pierce's ALANNA series one by one; however, it is Daine's conversations from animals of all walks of life that will certainly leave animal lovers laughing out loud, and craving more of Daine and her comrades. A 'wild' series debut!

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer