Reviews

The Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

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gpfot's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

robotnik's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Emperor Mage is the book that made little me decide that Tamora Pierce is my favorite writer ever. It's also what made Tortall one of my favorite fantasy worlds ever. I can probably rant on and on about it forever, but I'll just keep it short and sweet to my favorite parts.

- The Graveyard Hag, aka the coolest fictional deity ever
- Rikash
- Kaddar
- Finally getting to see Ozorne
- HYENAS BEING IMPORTANT (the little kid in me who enjoyed the hyenas of TLK will forever love this)
- The chapter "Daine Loses her Temper". Reading the entire book is worth it just for that.

Carthak is a much different landscape than Tortall or its bordering neighbors. It's interesting to see somewhere else that isn't medieval Europe in aesthetic and basis, as it's closer to Egypt, I think. Maybe Africa as a whole, but don't quote me on that. It's always nice to see a world that isn't so western focused on how it's based or inspired by.

The rampage on the palace is one of my favorite novel climaxes ever. It might not be some big badass battle like some might have, but I adore the idea of a teenage girl being mad and deciding 'this fucker killed my mentor so I'mma fuck up his motherfucking palace', and it goes to glorious results. Well, besides the part where the country as a whole probably thinks she's a demon child, but she doesn't have to live that's no skin off her back.

This still isn't Pierce's best writing, but it's definitely my favorite addition to The Immortals quartet, and I'd recommend it to anyone, even if they haven't read the rest of the books (which they should do anyways).

Content Warnings

ashlee00's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

blowp0p's review against another edition

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4.0

Content warnings: slavery, death, violence

I REALLY enjoyed this book for many reasons.

One of them being that I enjoyed jumping back into the world.

Another being that I enjoyed reading a female character point of view that actually was a well developed character (even if she does tend to be Deus Ex Machina at times) and that wasn't a manic pixie dream girl (I can't properly express my contempt for them).

Another being I just really like fantasy and it was a nice thing to jump back into after what I've been reading lately.

And the final being I REALLY want to finish this quartet and go on to read some of the other books in this universe because it's wonderful to read.

I don't particularly enjoy gods/goddesses interferring in mortal lives and making the mortals go deus ex machina but since I can't write better or suggest better things to happen I'm kind of stuck on that one. I do enjoy animals that are typically seen as not smart being shown as as smart as they actually are. And the description of fear. I could almost smell it.

All in all it was a great story and I'm excited to read the last book of this quartet.