A review by foggy_rosamund
The Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

4.0

This had a slightly rocky beginning, but overall I enjoyed it a lot. Though Tamora Pierce's fantasy worlds have many familiar trappings -- kings, mages, orientalism -- they also have so many aspects that are very weird in a delightful way. I love the inclusion of dinosaurs, and the rapid explanation of evolution via mage, within a world that contains basilisks, dragons, and other mythical monsters. I also like how Pierce doesn't discriminate between animals -- a bat or a hyena is just as much a good friend as a more traditionally likeable animal, such as a horse. I was also delighted by Zek, Daine's marmoset friend. These books are tremendously fun and full of the best escapism, as well as creating a lovely portrait of animals as individuals, with ideas, rights and opinions of their own.