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secretmagic's review
5.0
Tamora Pierce is my favourite YA fantasy author. She has a way of making me lose myself in her world and characters. I can't wait for more of Arram's story.
burningupasun's review
5.0
I'm so torn on this. On the one hand i was frustrated that there wasn't really any plot going on besides Arram going to school and learning. But on the other hand, it's my favorite author and she's so good she can make going to school amazing. It was also interesting seeing the characters at a young age, knowing how they would turn out.
mxpk's review
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
booksmadmaddie's review
5.0
I would give this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 because I needed less politics and more magic.
I was scared to pick this up because of the reviews saying there doesn't seem to be a plot but I ended up loving it exactly because of that. We really need more fantasy books that focus on the fantasy part and not politics, royal drama, war, the evil one is coming back, etc.
This is a character driven book, and it is executed splendidly. I love knowledge-hungry characters that fly through books, so I fell in love with Arram immediately. Most of the other characters also found their way to my heart, and even though I don't particularly like the "bad guys", they were well written (men reprimand men for not asking for consent????).
Some scenes and descriptions did leave me confused, but overall, I think the writing is excellent, the characters lovely and the world-building exceeded my expectations.
I was scared to pick this up because of the reviews saying there doesn't seem to be a plot but I ended up loving it exactly because of that. We really need more fantasy books that focus on the fantasy part and not politics, royal drama, war, the evil one is coming back, etc.
This is a character driven book, and it is executed splendidly. I love knowledge-hungry characters that fly through books, so I fell in love with Arram immediately. Most of the other characters also found their way to my heart, and even though I don't particularly like the "bad guys", they were well written (men reprimand men for not asking for consent????).
Some scenes and descriptions did leave me confused, but overall, I think the writing is excellent, the characters lovely and the world-building exceeded my expectations.
mermaidonion's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
meghaha's review against another edition
3.0
This book made me so nostalgic.
As a kid then teenager, I loved Daine and The Immortals was my favorite Tamora Pierce series (or perhaps Alanna was?).
I had to get my copy of Emperor Mage out to flip through because I couldn't remember anything about what'd happened in Carthak. Then I flipped through the some of the other books in the quartet, remembering. One thing that stuck out: Tamora Pierce is really good at writing animals and connections between animals and humans. It's no different in this book.
What I liked about Tempests and Slaughter is that Numair is kind, but neither his genius nor his kindness made him a completely boring character, which I think is the danger when you write characters who are too good.
Honestly I feel really sorry for him, the sweet child, because although Varice and Orzone are his best friends they are going to turn out to be really bad friends eventually. At least he'll find better friends in Tortall. I also like that Pierce made it so he was already realizing he'd have to leave once he's older, so his eventual exile doesn't feel as heart-wrenching.
The whole magic school thing worked for me, I really enjoyed it. But I felt that ultimately this book didn't really hold together. The real climax and emotional core of this story of course, is whatever leads Orzone to turn on him, and we're all waiting for that, but it's going to occur in book two or three. As such there wasn't a real climax that fit in this book, The narrative essentially was Numair-learns-this-new-magic-thing which is fun but kind of lacking in the story department. You can tell this was originally meant to be one book.
Speaking of which, I can not believe I first heard about this book like ten years ago and only now have read it. What is time, the passing of it.
As a kid then teenager, I loved Daine and The Immortals was my favorite Tamora Pierce series (or perhaps Alanna was?).
I had to get my copy of Emperor Mage out to flip through because I couldn't remember anything about what'd happened in Carthak. Then I flipped through the some of the other books in the quartet, remembering. One thing that stuck out: Tamora Pierce is really good at writing animals and connections between animals and humans. It's no different in this book.
What I liked about Tempests and Slaughter is that Numair is kind, but neither his genius nor his kindness made him a completely boring character, which I think is the danger when you write characters who are too good.
Honestly I feel really sorry for him, the sweet child, because although Varice and Orzone are his best friends they are going to turn out to be really bad friends eventually. At least he'll find better friends in Tortall. I also like that Pierce made it so he was already realizing he'd have to leave once he's older, so his eventual exile doesn't feel as heart-wrenching.
The whole magic school thing worked for me, I really enjoyed it. But I felt that ultimately this book didn't really hold together. The real climax and emotional core of this story of course, is whatever leads Orzone to turn on him, and we're all waiting for that, but it's going to occur in book two or three. As such there wasn't a real climax that fit in this book,
Spoiler
the whole episode at the end with the gladiator didn't pack much of a punch. I feel the climax should've revolved around Faziy, but it's kind of strange how emotionlessly he took Faziy's death – it didn't seem to faze him as much as expectedSpeaking of which, I can not believe I first heard about this book like ten years ago and only now have read it. What is time, the passing of it.
anakaya's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
kmkasiner's review
4.0
The Wild Magic series was one of my favorites as a kid, and I loved Numair, so I was excited to read about his early days. Pierce is a great writer, and I loved the first 3/4 or so of this book. Then it started to get a little slow. Nothing really happens, and the conclusion is just a set-up for the next book in the series. The worldbuilding is fantastic, but I did expect more plot to show up, especially since her other books are pretty action-packed.
It's also character driven, which I like. I can't lie, Ozorne is my favorite, even knowing how he grows up...or maybe because of that, because I enjoy a good complex villain.
tbh I spent most of the book assuming Ozorne was gay/bi and in love with Arram and then it didn't happen...Guess I've read too much fanfic? But I did appreciate the diversity in this book, with different identities and ethnicities represented.
I'll definitely read the next one, and hopefully it will be a bit more fast paced.
It's also character driven, which I like. I can't lie, Ozorne is my favorite, even knowing how he grows up...or maybe because of that, because I enjoy a good complex villain.
tbh I spent most of the book assuming Ozorne was gay/bi and in love with Arram and then it didn't happen...Guess I've read too much fanfic? But I did appreciate the diversity in this book, with different identities and ethnicities represented.
I'll definitely read the next one, and hopefully it will be a bit more fast paced.
tourmalinequeen's review
5.0
I loved this, although anyone that knows me this comes as no surprise, as I have adored Tamora Pierce's Tortall-set books since I was a teenager, and that love has never left me.
This one focuses on the early life of Arram Draper, better known to Tortall fans as Numair Salmalín, an immensely powerful mage featuring in The Immortals Quartet and The Protector of The Small Quartet.
This one has all the elements of Pierce's earlier works that I love: a realistic setting, filled with hard work, experts in the world around them to bring the worldbuilding even more into focus, a diverse and vivid cast of background characters who are realistically portrayed (some are friends, some are teachers both good and bad, some are bullies, some are beloved but flawed or outright problematic, and some of whom readers of The Immortals Quartet will recognise), not to mention Pierce's characteristically well-drawn friendships and relationships.
Honestly, if she had chosen to have a book that focused solely on Arram's classwork I would happily read it and reread it once a year until the end of time, and this one does look like that at first glance. But as time passes there's action and conspiracy aplenty, as well as cryptic hints about Arram's future.
I understand it's part of a three-book series, and I can't wait until the next part is published. I utterly adore wee Arram.
This one focuses on the early life of Arram Draper, better known to Tortall fans as Numair Salmalín, an immensely powerful mage featuring in The Immortals Quartet and The Protector of The Small Quartet.
This one has all the elements of Pierce's earlier works that I love: a realistic setting, filled with hard work, experts in the world around them to bring the worldbuilding even more into focus, a diverse and vivid cast of background characters who are realistically portrayed (some are friends, some are teachers both good and bad, some are bullies, some are beloved but flawed or outright problematic, and some of whom readers of The Immortals Quartet will recognise), not to mention Pierce's characteristically well-drawn friendships and relationships.
Honestly, if she had chosen to have a book that focused solely on Arram's classwork I would happily read it and reread it once a year until the end of time, and this one does look like that at first glance. But as time passes there's action and conspiracy aplenty, as well as cryptic hints about Arram's future.
I understand it's part of a three-book series, and I can't wait until the next part is published. I utterly adore wee Arram.