Briar’s Book is the final book in Tamora Pierce’s Circle of Magic quartet, which of course is ending just as I’m getting used to the format Pierce wrote them in. Naturally, it focuses on Briar, the former thief and street rat, now plant-mage of Winding Circle Temple. He and the three girls are now a year older than they were in the first book, but still quite young. They’ve adjusted to their new lives and are learning in heaps and loads. For Briar, a large part of this book involves him interacting with bits and pieces of his old life and coming to terms with what it means for him now that heidentifies so strongly with groups of people he used to feel so far above him when he was living on the streets.
That’s the underlying stuff, though. The main plot involves an outbreak of a mysterious new disease that has turned into an epidemic in the Summersea area. The first victim is Briar’s street friend Flick, which is how he and Rosethorn end up in quarantine when they should be helping to find a cure.
As always, Pierce stealthily uses her plots to examine not only characters and the ways they see the world, but to lay out a world where people interact in complex ways and power dynamics. This wasn’t as big of a focus as in previous books, though, because it’s Briar’s book (doi) and the main thing he has grown to care about, even over his three magically entwined friends, is his relationship with his teacher, Rosethorn, whom he sees as a surrogate mother. Their interactions and his feelings about her are the heart of this book.
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed this series, but I will be excited to move on in the Emelan world to a time when these characters are a bit older and their stories will be suitably more complex.
These were the first Tamora Pierce series I read many, many moons ago, and while I re-visit this series the least out of all of them now, it really does help to have that basis for the more interesting stories to come! Tris’ more adult story is my favorite of them all. After those four books there’s also The Will of the Empress which is pretty good as well.
She just published another one in the series last year or the year before, I think with Briar in it. Battle Magic. Not sure of details because of spoilers.
I have Battle Magic, but haven’t read it yet. She publishes so few these days I try to save them as long as possible before I read them.
It’s set between Street Magic and Will of the Empress. To say it was not my favorite book ever would be an understatement.
It doesn’t matter. She has been my favorite author since I was twelve. In my house (not counting what’s at my parents still) I have 38 different copies of her books.
Oh, I’m not suggesting you don’t read it. I’ve been a Tammy fan since I was 12 too and despite the fact that I didn’t love her last couple of books (I think the last book that I LOVED was Will of the Empress) I bought Battle Magic in hardcover the day it came out and gobbled it up. I just didn’t enjoy the book very much. You’re experience may be different and that’s okay! Different strokes and all that.
Happy half cannonball!!
Oh, I didn’t even realize! Thanks :)
Congratulations on completing half a Cannonball! I admire your ability to review the books you read right after you finish them now. Having caught up last weekend, I’m now four books behind again, because it’s strange how having to correct a ton of secondary school kids’ English essays makes one too worn out to review, yet it’s impossible for one not to keep reading. Will hopefully be up to date again by tomorrow evening.
I’m trying to make it a habit, so that I will feel immense guilt and pressure if I even try to start reading my next book before reviewing the one I just finished. So far it’s working. Good luck catching up again :)
I haven’t read this series. I think the last Pierce books I read for the first time were Tricksters Choice and Tricksters Queen (which I loved, btw), and that was when they first came out. I re-read a lot of her older stuff several times a year.
It’s good, but it’s definitely younger skewing. I’m starting the next quartet soon, and I’m hopeful they’ll be a bit more like the Tortall books I’m used to.