whatanerdgirlsays's review against another edition
5.0
It was so great to return to the world of Tortall…well, in this case, Carthak, with a character that is both familiar and brand new. I’ve been feeling extra nostalgic for Tammy Pierce lately and I was basically counting down the minutes and seconds until this book came out. I can’t even remember when these first started being talked about but I feel like its at least a decade and finally, finally, its here and I loved every moment of it.
I’ll admit there was one thing that made the book a little…not difficult exactly, but just different to read than a previous Tammy book because I’ve never read a book by her that a main character that was a male. I never really got into the Circle books and have been a staunch Tortall fan for years so I’m used to Alanna and Kel and Daine and Beka and Aly so it was definitely weird to recognize Tammy’s style but in the mindset of a boy. It definitely threw me off guard at first and the first third of the book was a little slower reading for me than the rest.
That being said, I loved every minute of this book. For one thing, even with how young he is in this book and even though you know that he is going to evolve as a character, you can definitely see the Numair of the later years in the younger years of Arram Draper that we see in this book. A willingness and need to learn more and more, an incredible power, a fierce loyalty to his friends and those he loves, his desire to do the right thing…it all felt familiar. It felt like opening a book you’ve already read before but just slightly different. It was so interesting to see Numair as a child, as his humble beginnings when he was simple Arram, trying to learn to harness his power.
It was also interesting too, to meet characters that we’ve already met before. To meet Varice and Ozorne and Tristan and Gissa and Lindhall and Sarge. It was cool to see the beginnings of those characters that we love, that became heroes and its difficult, but really interesting to see characters like Ozorne, who is intense but a good friend to Arram, and to know what kind of person he becomes in the future. Its interesting to see the beginnings of these characters when you know exactly where they end up. It almost feels like spoilers or that it could potentially not make the story interesting, but that’s not true at all. Numair is a pivotal character in the Immortals series but besides what we see of him with Daine and what he tells her, we don’t know much about his past, not like we do with other characters and this is truly great to see.
I honestly can’t wait for book two. I love the build up that Tammy has created and I love that she has given a heart to these characters and she’s breathed life into them and that we like them. I like Arram and Ozorne and Varice (not Tristan but geez, was he always a jerk?) and I’m interested in seeing what on earth happens between this book and the Immortals series to make it all fall to hell. Knowing Tammy, its sure to be a great story and I can’t wait for more!
I’ll admit there was one thing that made the book a little…not difficult exactly, but just different to read than a previous Tammy book because I’ve never read a book by her that a main character that was a male. I never really got into the Circle books and have been a staunch Tortall fan for years so I’m used to Alanna and Kel and Daine and Beka and Aly so it was definitely weird to recognize Tammy’s style but in the mindset of a boy. It definitely threw me off guard at first and the first third of the book was a little slower reading for me than the rest.
That being said, I loved every minute of this book. For one thing, even with how young he is in this book and even though you know that he is going to evolve as a character, you can definitely see the Numair of the later years in the younger years of Arram Draper that we see in this book. A willingness and need to learn more and more, an incredible power, a fierce loyalty to his friends and those he loves, his desire to do the right thing…it all felt familiar. It felt like opening a book you’ve already read before but just slightly different. It was so interesting to see Numair as a child, as his humble beginnings when he was simple Arram, trying to learn to harness his power.
It was also interesting too, to meet characters that we’ve already met before. To meet Varice and Ozorne and Tristan and Gissa and Lindhall and Sarge. It was cool to see the beginnings of those characters that we love, that became heroes and its difficult, but really interesting to see characters like Ozorne, who is intense but a good friend to Arram, and to know what kind of person he becomes in the future. Its interesting to see the beginnings of these characters when you know exactly where they end up. It almost feels like spoilers or that it could potentially not make the story interesting, but that’s not true at all. Numair is a pivotal character in the Immortals series but besides what we see of him with Daine and what he tells her, we don’t know much about his past, not like we do with other characters and this is truly great to see.
I honestly can’t wait for book two. I love the build up that Tammy has created and I love that she has given a heart to these characters and she’s breathed life into them and that we like them. I like Arram and Ozorne and Varice (not Tristan but geez, was he always a jerk?) and I’m interested in seeing what on earth happens between this book and the Immortals series to make it all fall to hell. Knowing Tammy, its sure to be a great story and I can’t wait for more!
exlibrisl's review against another edition
4.0
*4 stars*
I understand the mixed feelings about this book. For a fantasy, it's not as fast-paced as some but the slow progression was so well-presented. I loved the setting - a school for mages! And I loved how we were able to cheer on Arram and his friends as they grew into their teens (Tamora Pierce isn't shy about blatant signs of adolescence here!) This is the first book I've read since the beginning of the year that captured my attention so much I read throughout the weekend! Here's to one anticipated read that didn't disappoint me. Keeping my fingers crossed about the rest in my on-my-radar shelf.
I understand the mixed feelings about this book. For a fantasy, it's not as fast-paced as some but the slow progression was so well-presented. I loved the setting - a school for mages! And I loved how we were able to cheer on Arram and his friends as they grew into their teens (Tamora Pierce isn't shy about blatant signs of adolescence here!) This is the first book I've read since the beginning of the year that captured my attention so much I read throughout the weekend! Here's to one anticipated read that didn't disappoint me. Keeping my fingers crossed about the rest in my on-my-radar shelf.
mkintish's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lizlbarrett's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read but it was mostly set up for the next and I’m not sure it stands alone well
ksophialydia's review against another edition
2.0
This book took far too long to really hook me, which is the main reason for two instead of three stars. This was also my first Tamora Pierce novel, and after hearing about how important her works have been in inspiring women through her strong female characters.... this was a bit of a let down, in a way, because its main character us a boy. An interesting boy, who is apparently beloved of Pierce’s fans due to his appearance in her earlier books.
But really, it’s about a tremendously powerful boy at wizard school who befriends a boy and a girl and they’re the three amigos. Sound familiar? There’s nothing new or ground-breaking in this novel. I suspect the larger part of its high rating is from long-time fans excited for a prequel.
The writing was good and the world is interesting, but maybe it wasn’t the best introduction to Tamora Pierce, no matter what the blurb on the back says.
But really, it’s about a tremendously powerful boy at wizard school who befriends a boy and a girl and they’re the three amigos. Sound familiar? There’s nothing new or ground-breaking in this novel. I suspect the larger part of its high rating is from long-time fans excited for a prequel.
The writing was good and the world is interesting, but maybe it wasn’t the best introduction to Tamora Pierce, no matter what the blurb on the back says.
moonbites's review against another edition
2.0
I am so happy to finally be done with this book. My biggest qualm was that it was just too boring. I listened to the audiobook version of this and I think that is the only reason I could finish it. If I had to read through the book myself I would have given up. With the audiobook version I could half listen to it on my commute. It took longer than usual to finish, because I found myself wanting to listen to music rather than the story. Which is always an indicator to me that I am just not into it.
The plot moved at a snail's pace. Spending a lot of time building up the world and magic system. No real action happened in the story, I don't even feel like there was a tangible climax. This may be the first book in a series to come, but I think that it could have been more compelling. I also found two of characters from the main trio annoying. Arram and Varice were not good characters. I found Arram extremely whiney and annoying. Meanwhile, Varice's character felt like she was supposed to be a strong female character but missed the mark entirely.
I did like Ozorne, who I felt had a more complex character. He had a mix between unlikable and endearing qualities that made him more relatable and enjoyable. Arram felt too much like the stereotypical good boy. Everything seemed to come to Arram on a silver platter. In comparison, it was nice that Ozorne have his own faults and problems that he will either overcome or succumb to later on. I also liked the magic system and the mythologic aspects of the story. I found the magic believable and interesting. I just wish the overall story and the other main characters were more enjoyable.
I probably wont be picking up the next book in this series, I am just not interested enough to care.
The plot moved at a snail's pace. Spending a lot of time building up the world and magic system. No real action happened in the story, I don't even feel like there was a tangible climax. This may be the first book in a series to come, but I think that it could have been more compelling. I also found two of characters from the main trio annoying. Arram and Varice were not good characters. I found Arram extremely whiney and annoying. Meanwhile, Varice's character felt like she was supposed to be a strong female character but missed the mark entirely.
I did like Ozorne, who I felt had a more complex character. He had a mix between unlikable and endearing qualities that made him more relatable and enjoyable. Arram felt too much like the stereotypical good boy. Everything seemed to come to Arram on a silver platter. In comparison, it was nice that Ozorne have his own faults and problems that he will either overcome or succumb to later on. I also liked the magic system and the mythologic aspects of the story. I found the magic believable and interesting. I just wish the overall story and the other main characters were more enjoyable.
I probably wont be picking up the next book in this series, I am just not interested enough to care.
hilaryjsc's review against another edition
4.0
A sign of a good prequel is that it makes you want to go back and read the original series immediately, which is what I am now doing.
amaboo's review against another edition
I’ve enjoyed Tamara pierce’s books for years, however, this chosen-male-hero-that’s-11-year old type of story is rather odd coming from her in the late 2010s.
I won’t write too much because of the other low reviews are very much in line with how I feel about this.
I won’t write too much because of the other low reviews are very much in line with how I feel about this.