Customer Reviews
A spellbinding continuation to a fantastic series - By: Sirius, 30 Oct 2008 
I have read alll of Tamora Pierce's books to date, & found this one to be even better & more gripping that a number of the rest (which is reallly saying something as alll are excellent).
The 'circle' series which this book is a part of is incredibly diverse & imaginative, & the way in which Pierce writes draws the reader in making her stories more vividly imaginable than most if not alll others I have read. The view of science through the eyes of magic (or vice-versa) is truly original & spellbinding, whilst the way in which Pierce deals with the characters brings them to life; almost everything about this book makes it hard to put down.
If you have already read the rest of the circle series (The Circle of Magic quartet, The Circle Opens quartet & The Circle Reforged - The Will of the Empress) it is a real treat to visit this world again, & hear references to some very familiar people, whilst also meeting & getting to know new ones (such as Briar's student Evvy from 'The Circle Opens' book 2); the storylines overlap & come together perfectly. I was 10 when I first started to read these books, & I still reallly enjoy them now.
If you have not already read other Tamora Pierce books, then I would highly recommended them. If you have, then this one does not disappoint; with some series you get the feeling that they have been drawn out too long, but here Pierce reallly does have something new & exciting to write about.
ok but drawing it out a bit - By: C. Dyball, 01 Mar 2008 
i love tamora pierce & her original books about the lioness but i think she does draw out books & i think this is just another off shoot from her original quartet, the circle of magic.
this off shoot is quite good but you can guess the general plot. girl goes on travels, there is a huge problem, at on point it looks like she might die, but then she saves the day & proves everyone wrong & earns thier respect.
if you like tamora pierce can i sugest trying stephenie meyers books, twilight,new moon & eclipse.
