Customer Reviews

The Will Of The Empress (Circle Continues)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I work at a bookstore so I got an advance copy of this book. I read it in one sitting. This is just so amazing. Tamora is writing toward an older audience in this book (more like how the Alanna books are written if not a bit older). All four of them have grown up, and it shows in how they act toward each other and other people. I learned some new things about Lark and Rosethorn, that I guess I was just oblivious to previously. Its so frustrating reading about them not getting along in the beginning. Each of them is afraid of admitting what they did before (in the Circle Opens books). Its painful seeing them fight. But when they make up, of course they have to, its wonderful. Its hilarious seeing them astound adults with what they can do. Its touching seeing them stand up for each other and really watch out for each other.

This book brings new characters and developes the old ones much more. I can't even begin to explain everything that happens, and it would ruin it for you anyways. This book is amazing. If you like any of Tamora Pierce's books, you'll like this one. Even if you didn't like the first set of books or the Circle Opens book, you'll like this one. If you have never read any Tamora Pierce before, I strongly suggest reading the first 8 books before this one. You'll get a lot more out of it if you have watched the characters grow up and grow together.

So read this book when it comes out. You'll be missing out if you don't.

I had to really think about what rating to give this. On one hand the book is very flawed but on the other, I didn't want to put it down.

Just as a bit of a disclaimer, I do know that this particular series by Tamora Pierce is not geared towards my age group, and that's likely part of the problem. But as with her continuing _Lioness_ series, this latter book is much more readable to the older audience.

So, the adventures of Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar continue as the latter three return from their travels to discover that, once reunited, they've grown apart. It's a bit of a shock to them, but not to any of the readers who are over 18 (the age of our protagonists) or have spent any significant time away from close friends. As people grow, age and experience life, they change, and it's hard to reconnect with people who haven't had those same experiences, especially if they were traumatic. And all of them, Sandry included, have experienced their share of trauma.

Their ways of dealing with it set them even more apart. Sandry retreats into her "titled noble" facade, Tris has her own cold and remote mask to hide behind, Briar goes through woman after woman with no attachment to any of them, just so he doesn't have to be alone at night. Daja is the best adjusted of the group, but she's feeling out of place as well. No longer allowed to stay at Winding Circle for free due to their age, she's forced to buy a house of her own that she really didn't want. Nothing's at all the same for the four friends and none of them know how to deal with it.

But, of course, a solution arrives in the form of accompanying Sandry to Namorn for a visit that her cousin, Empress Berenene has practically ordered (financial blackmail). The reader already knows that it's not likely to be a trouble free visit and what they go through up in Namorn will forge them together as friends again, but even knowing that, the story is entertaining enough to make you want to stay with it.

What follows is no surprise at all. A glittery, shiny court and a seemingly friendly empress-cousin, which is, of course, little more than a shiny facade covering up all the conniving, scheming and backstabbing you'd expect in a setting like that. It's something that takes the four friends a bit too long to grasp, to my way of thinking, given how worldly some of them are. Oh, Briar thinks he knows, but he still allows himself to be snowed over by the extensive gardens and greenhouses.

Anyone who reads the inside flap of the book knows that the empress wants to marry Sandry off and thus, keep her lands and money for Namorn (herself, really), so when Sandry finally realizes that, it's, again, no surprise to the reader. Still, Sandry does try to make the best of it, as do her friends, even while they're still in-fighting.

One pleasant development in the book is Daja's romance. It was something that had been hinted around but seeing it actually happen definitely put a smile on my face.

Of course, it all comes together when Sandry is put in danger and needs her friends to rescue her. Then all arguments are thrown aside and they band together to get her out of there and themselves out of Namorn. Not that the road out is smooth (big surprise), but it's nothing four genius mages can't handle, and, once again, nothing the reader didn't expect.

One of the major flaws in the book, the biggest, I'd say, is that every single piece of the plot is spoon fed to the reader. Every major and minor character's view point is shown at some time in the narration, so there's never any surprise when something happens, you always know it's coming. Absolutely nothing is left to the imagination, and there's no build up of mystery or suspense; you always know what will happen, and given who these four are, you always know they'll find a way out. It's a major weak point and if Ms. Pierce had stayed with only the viewpoints of the four mages, she might have had a much, *much* stronger book.

That said, it's still an entertaining story, even knowing everything that will happen. It doesn't get boring and although you already know that the four mages will find a way out of whatever predicament they're currently in, you still want to stick around and see how they do it.

***Note: There are spoilers in this review***

I have long been an avid reader and fan of Tamora Pierce's books, at least until Trickster's Choice came along. That book was enough to cause me to not have even the slightest interest in reading its sequel. However, I did look forward to The Will of the Empress and hearing from Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar again.

For the most part, The Will of the Empress didn't dissapoint me as much as Trickster's Choice did. I particularly enjoyed seeing how realistic they are as adults; their travels have caused them to have secrets they no longer want to share in the once very open bond they shared through their magical connection.

The four mages have several new personality traits that were not as apparent in their younger days, with the possible exception of Sandry (she remains the noble-minded, perfect, "let's all be friends"-type character she always was). Tris, for example, became even more irritable and sometimes downright nasty to everyone. Briar, however, became exactly the way you could predict for a young man around 18 years or so: he was very flirtatious and apparently with quite a developed reputation with the ladies. As for Daja, I hadn't thought she was much different, until a scene where she kissed another female nearly made me fall out of my chair. I hadn't expected Tamora to be so open about one of her characters being a lesbian (in the past, she usually just drops a few hints here and there, like with Rosethorn and Lark), so this was quite surprising.

One flaw of the book was that if you've read Tamora Pierce's other books, you would see many obvious similarities to other books in her series. For example, Sandry hired a maid that had been badly abused, in a scene that struck me as suspiciously similar to the chapter in Lady Knight where Keladry hires Tobe. And did anyone else notice the Empress's extreme similarity to Emperor Ozorne from the Immortals series? The chapter with her touring the green houses with Briar struck me as nearly identical to the chapter of Daine touring the bird sanctuary with Ozorne. In both cases, Briar and Daine were charmed by the Emperor/Empress and their seemingly good heart concerning animals/plants. I wasn't impressed at all by the Empress, or her so-called strong will, either.

The book also had far too many kidnappings and mentions of kidnappings. By the end of the book, there were no less than three kidnap attempts on Sandry. If it were me, I'd have been out of there with the first attempt (this one didn't progress much past the threatening stage, but it still would have been enough), but Sandry remained quite unconcerned until the second (she DID try to leave after that one, fortunately).

The climax of the book was very long and drawn out, involving the four mages trying to leave Namorn and being stopped by the Empress's mages, accidents that nearly killed them, and yes, yet another kidnapping. I was starting to wonder at this point if the Empress wanted to keep the mages there out of pure spite, because if they were indeed forced to stay, I can't imagine they'd be willing to just settle down and live happily in Namorn after all of that nonsense.

To conclude, I do recommend this book to people who are a fan of the Circle of Magic and Circle Opens series, because it does tell us very nicely of who the characters have become, and what they can achieve. It is a nice conclusion to their story. The book does keep you interested and doesn't introduce too many new characters that will leave your head spinning with trying to remember them all (an excellent example of this would be Trickster's Choice, but I digress). The flaws I mentioned are really not enough to make you throw down the book in disgust or anything, so overall, the book is quite good.

(This is the review for the book on Tammy's website- www.tamorapierce.com)
Slowly Daja, Tris, and Briar return to Summersea and Sandry, but they are not the carefree youngsters they were when they left to travel with their teachers. They have things they don't really want to share with the others in their old mental link. Sandry, trying to regain their old closeness, feels rejected and angry: she feels punished. With their refusal to renew their old ties bitter in her mind, she can't believe it when they agree to Duke Vedris's request that they accompany Sandry on a long-overdue visits to the lands and family that Sandry has in Namorn.
The duke is right to worry about Sandry's trip to the north. Empress Berenene of Namorn does not like it that any of the income from the vast Landreg estates has been leaving Namorn to fill Sandry's pockets. She wants that money--and her marriageable young cousin--to stay in Namorn, where Berenene can manipulate both for the enrichment of her throne. Moreover, when she sees how powerful Sandry's three young mage friends are, Berenene decides that she wants them to stay as well. To convince the four young people to stay, the wily, beautiful and powerful empress has an empire full of tricks: great mages who can trap less powerful ones, handsome young men and women devoted to her who will court whoever she orders them to, tax laws to beggar people who look to Sandry for help, family ties like Sandry's cousin Ambros and his family, greenhouses and gardens beautiful enough to enchant even the most hard-hearted of garden mages. She is willing to offer Briar, Tris, and Daja money and power to serve her. She is intelligent, and she has a will of steel.
What can four eighteen-year-olds do against her? It is not as if they are even strong at this point: Tris is besieged by visions, Sandry by lovers, Daja by love, Briar by horrific dreams from the last two years. They have people to look after, a madman, and Sandry's new maid and her children. How can they possibly defy imperial Berenene and her powerful servants?
I have really high hopes for this book (after all, evrey single one of her books are great!)Can't Wait!

The Will of the Empress (2005) is the ninth volume in the Circle series. These novels relate the stories of four young ambient mages: Sandrilene fa Toren, Daja Kisubo, Trisana Chandler and Briar Moss. In the Circle of Magic quartet, these youngsters were rescued from distressing situations by the great mage Niklaren Goldeye, who recognized their talents and arranged for them to be trained at Winding Circle. Living together in Discipline Cottage, they learned to control and apply their inherent magics and developed very close relationships. These mages were granted their Medallions at the most unusual age of thirteen.

In the Circle Opens quartet, three mages -- Briar, Daja and Tris -- accompanied their mentors on separate wanderings while Sandry remained behind at the Citadel to help her uncle the Duke. All of them encountered both good and bad circumstances, but they also improved their magical abilities and social skills. After several delays, the three travelers returned to Summersea.

In this novel, Sandry impatiently awaits the return of the wandering mages. They have been out of range of her mental communications for some time and are very much overdue. The Duke is also awaiting their return.

As the wandering mages gradually come back to Summersea, they gather at Number 6 Cheeseman Street, where Daja has rented a house with attached forge. After all have returned, the Duke visits to ask that one or more of them accompany Sandry to Namorn to visit her estates. She has been under increasing pressure by the Empress of Namorn to visit there, but she should not take too many guardsmen with her lest the Empress be angered by the apparent lack of trust. However, her fellow mages could provide sufficient protection.

All volunteer to go with her and they travel with a Trader caravan to Dancruan, the capital of Namorn. Despite her lack of entourage, Sandry soon settles into the formalities of the court. But the Empress completely ignores Sandry's desire to return to Emelan at the end of the summer. Sandry gradually becomes aware that the Empress wants all three of them to remain in service to Namorn. The Empress has a strong will, but she badly underestimates these four mages.

In this novel, the three wanderers fail to resume mental communications with Sandry or each other. They all have reasons to keep their thoughts private, but this mental silence precludes the merging of their talents. The Empress is aware of their mental solitude and counts on it to further her plans for acquiring their services.

Briar has bad dreams of the war in Gyongxe and doesn't want to spread the horrible images (and smells) to his mates; he also resists the idea of consulting mind healers. Daja has bad images of her own that she doesn't want to share with her siblings. Tris just doesn't want them to know that she can see visions on the wind. Even Sandry has had some bad experiences. Each is afraid of rejection by the others, though such withheld images and thoughts are only significant to their fellows for the hurt they cause the possessor.

While these young mages retain their basic personalities, they also display some positive growth in self-esteem and social behavior. Even Tris shows some consideration of others. But only Briar has developed any skill at intersexual relations.

Although actions taken against these young mages are foreshadowed, the details of their reactions are often surprising and usually overwhelms the Empress. Even Ishabal Ladyhammer, the archmage, tries to tell the Empress that they may have overreached themselves. Yet hubris makes the Empress continue to work against Sandry and her magical siblings.

Highly recommended to Pierce fans and to anyone else who enjoys tales of court intrigues and magical talents.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Tamora Pierce brilliantly realized that the audience that was with her in the original Circle of Magic books grew up. As a result, not only have the characters grown up, but the books is definitely, definitely geared toward an older audience.

The book doesn't take long to read. Unfortunately, that isn't a compliment. Parts are a struggle to get through, tedious and predictable. You keep going, however (a point in Pierce's favor) because despite the fact you can easily predict most of the outcomes, you still want to see how the characters go about doing what you know they'll do.

Sandry's struggling to keep her freedom in a country where the Empress is determined to keep the wealth of the richest heiress in the country. It's a clearly political theme, where Pierce champions women's rights. I agree with the need to do so, but her male (key word, male) villains are lackluster and uninspired. You dislike them, but there's nothing to make you remember even the horrible things they did- they're two-dimensional and forgettable. Even Sandry herself seems to lack what made her so lovable in the earlier books. She has traces of the vibrant character she was, but she slips off into a less likable persona throughout this book- a sort of character devolution. Empress Berenene is the only `villain' that makes you actually think, whose reasons for doing what she does at least have reasons behind them rather than stupidity and greed and a desire to make life difficult for traveling mages.

Briar, Tris and Daja are, of course, along for the ride. They all four returned from their various adventures (which, especially in the case of Briar, go rather beyond just the ones in the Circle Opens series) to discover they're too old to stay in Discipline, and have to go move elsewhere. They do so, and shortly after, are called to Namorn by Empress Berenene. Tris and Daja don't get as much time as Briar and Sandry, but it is nice to see the four characters at least in the same book together. Tris has become guarded and cold(er), and there is a clear set-up for her future (meaning Pierce has told us what the next book will be about). Daja's character takes a few...interesting turns, some of which are quite surprising, but at least unexpected.

Briar is the character I have always loved most, and in this area, Pierce did not disappoint. For me, his character and actions are what kept me from putting this book down. It isn't his story, but he plays some important roles.

You may not like some of the changes in the characters, but that's one of the interesting points this book has. The characters *themselves* don't like the changes in each other. You can see how they've drifted apart, to the point of purposely blocking the mental connection they had as kids. If nothing else, that fact will keep you reading- you want to keep going and try to see if they become close again.

The plot may trite and predictable, the clichés may be there, but it isn't a hopeless read. If you loved the characters from the earlier books, even a little, pick it up and try it. If you're like me, you'll be glad you did...but you'll be rather apathetic about whether or not you should wait anxiously for the next one to come out.

Note: mild spoilers are present in this review (not that every other reviewer on this page hasn't spoiled the surprise about Daja without warning.)

I had been anticipating this book for quite a long time - every since the last Circle Opens book, actually. And I have to say, I was not disappointed. In fact, I thought The Will of the Empress was the best book set in the Summersea world since Briar's first book (fourth in the original Circle series). I liked all of the original four, especially Daja's and Briar's books; but I must admit, I was mostly not impressed by the Circle Opens books (with the exception of Briar's.) This is a return to form with style. It helps that the focus is once again on all of the four main characters. That was the principal weakness of the Circle Opens quartet, in my view: Sandry, Tris, Briar and Daja are really best together, despite the strong and interesting minor characters (the teachers, Evvy, etc.) the author also has to work with.

Like many readers, I am sure, I was immensely frustrated at the beginning of the book with the rift that had grown between the foursome; but I recognize that it was only logical for now-adults who hadn't seen each other in four years to be reluctant to leap back into each others' arms/minds, thus giving up some of their hard-won independence. Furthermore, it was necessary for the plot development to give the characters an internal conflict to focus on that distracted them from the true enemy, Berenene (the titular Empress.) Either way, sometimes wanting to slap them for their stubbornness - stubbornness which was always in their characters, incidentally, and is not a new development as some reviewers have claimed - didn't lessen my joy as the foursome slowly progressed to reconciliation and renewed closeness. To be honest, I probably would have been satisfied if that was all this book was, but the addition of a gripping plot is what makes it a truly great book. Sandry, Tris, Briar, and Daja must struggle to avoid entrapments in the form of Sandry's suitors and the Empress' machinations, all the while figuring out what they want to do with their lives and doing their best to take care of each other despite not being as close as they once were. The threat against them in this book (the efforts of the Empress to force them to stay in Namorn by any means necessary) is, in my view, by itself not as serious as the plague in Briar's first book or the pirate attacks in Tris', but the fact that they are quarreling with each other while attempting to deal with it makes it the most dangerous of any they have faced. This is a more realistic view of the struggles in real life - the true problem is not always the problem itself, but how you work with others to solve it.

I must also admit, a large part of the appeal of this book is the classic pull of the sequel: familiar, beloved characters in new adventures. This book only made me more fond of each and every person in the foursome by the way that Tamora Pierce handled their growth into adults - introducing new traits while retaining the parts of them that made them unique and lovable characters.

Sandry, the eternal do-gooder/pacifist/peacemaker, seems at first to be the one who has changed the least, with her efforts at bringing her friends back together - but as the novel progresses, it becomes apparent that taking up much of her Uncle Vedris' work of ruling Emelan after his heart attack has made her a much stronger person than "the girl who was left behind"; and her secret resentments are brought into the open, as they must be. There is also an interesting side plot about what it means to Sandry to be noble, and her duty to the people she is technically responsible for.

Spoiler Alert in this next paragraph!

Daja falls in love with a woman and enters a relationship with her in The Will of the Empress. I was positively *gleeful* when this happened, especially since Tamora Pierce literally could not have handled it better. Bonus: Lark and Rosethorn are now official~ <3 Daja, revelation about her sexuality notwithstanding, is actually the one of the foursome who has changed the least during their prolonged separation. Though her pride demands that she not live off Sandry's money, and she fears that Sandry will expect her to (making their initial meeting tense), she is also the first to reconcile with Sandry.

Tris has not grown less prickly or less lovable, but she, like Daja, is very proud, making her difficult to approach, and she more than any of the others has trouble with her magic, as it is much more powerful and much less socially acceptable or lucrative than that of any of the others.

Briar is probably the one of the original four who has changed the most in their time apart and is the most walled-off toward the others. But even though he is burdened with new and haunting experiences of war in Yanjing, he's as sarcastic as ever, and still harbors a tremendous soft spot for the plants and people close to him, under his irreverent street-rat exterior. (He has also become something of a ladies' man, which amused me.)

In short, if you liked the Circle of Magic or Circle Opens series, you will love this book. Highly recommended.

I was utterly amazed and very disapointed to see that some people rated this a one, two or three stars when the best was five. Someone said that there was inappropriate content in this book but I have to disagree. People have also been complaining about how one of the characters is a lesbian. Infact 354 people tagged this 'lesbian'! That is not even what the book is mainly about. Infact it's not a big part in the story! There is absulutely no problem with being lesbian! And besides your opinion is different than others! It also has nothing to do with how Pierce writes and shouldn't affect how amazingly great this novel is. So you'll be doing yourself a favor if you try out this book.

Sandrrilene fa Toren is Duke Vedris's daughter and happens to be the Empress of Namorn's cousin. The Empress has been wanted to have Sandry come for years and finally she agrees. Sandry brings her old friends that she hasn't seen now for years; Briar, the plant mage; Tris, the very powerful weather mage and Daja, the blacksmith mage. Sandry also has magic, weaving. Her and the other three are the youngest mages around and have all already had students. The four are fighting now but Sandrilene still agrees to take them with.

When Sandry gets to Namorn she knows that the Empress has planned something big for Sandry...and it isn't a good thing. And as they all say,

"The will of the Empress is always done."

Watch out Sandry! I think you'll need your friends help on this one!

This was good, but I was confused for the whole book about Briar. He, Rosethorn, and Evvi were supposedly in a war, but I couldn't find that book. I looked on the website, and it's getting released in 2009. So, for four years we fans have to go insane wondering about what happened in Gyongxe. I thought that she should have released what happened in Gyongxe before Empress or Melting Stones. It's like reading the sequel before the original book.

Tamora Pierce has for years been a favorite author. Her ability to weave a mythical, fantasy world is without a doubt superior to so many others'. Each character she creates is unique and brilliantly original, as are the realms she creates. This book was no exception. "The Will of the Empress," the continuation of the story of four young mages, brought together at a mage school, follows said teenagers through their lives upon returning after several years of travel. The four young people are on their way to Namorn, to visit Sandrilene fa Toren's cousin, Empress Berenene.
Sandry, Tris, Briar, and Daja must attempt to learn to know each other once more, having lost the connection of trust they all once shared, so many years ago. Each has their own secret that they are determined to keep from the others. Each separate secret nightmare is intricately woven by the author, with well planned narratives and thoughtful, realistic situations.
While Sandry is forced to slog through a mess of suitors interested only in her money, Tris, Briar and Daja must attempt to forgo the advances of prospective lovers and the obvious wishes of the Empress for them to stay. Their reactions are semi-interested, with more focus on trying to stay together than anything else. The book, while not quite measuring up to the previous four in the Circle of Magic quartet and the four in The Circle Opens quartet, is nonetheless well planned and written.
As conditions for Sandry grow increasingly dangerous, due to the unwelcome advances of suitors and the Namornese tradition that involves kidnapping a woman to make her a wife, Tris is badly injured, for reasons that cannot be revealed here. Briar is torn between his duty to his foster sisters and the want to stay and become the imperial gardener, and Daja between her friends and her new love.
The graceful way that Tamora Pierce writes makes it a joy to read. Her characters are so complex that many surprises wait along the way for those readers whose interests lay in this book. For other Tamora Pierce fans, out and hungry to read this new installment of the Circle of Magic, be forewarned that it is much different from much of Pierce's other works. With that said, it should be concluded that this, while a new form of writing for Tamora Pierce, is one of her best works.