December 1, 1998
Gr 5-9-As in the other books in the series, four mages-in-training are the key players, but here it is Daja Kisubo's turn to take center stage. While traveling in a drought and fire-stricken part of the country with her fellow students and their mentors, the young people's magical talents somehow become intertwined, leading Daja, who is linked to the element of fire and the craft of smithing, to create a seemingly living vine out of metal. Nomadic Traders recognize the vine as a powerful object and take the complicated ritual steps required to purchase it from Daja. Having been cast out by the Trader class as a young child when her family's ship sank, she is seen as a source of bad luck to be avoided at all costs. During the negotiations, she must come to terms with the part of her that still yearns for her past life, and her growing power as a mage. As in the previous books, the climax revolves around a natural disaster that requires the four new mages' powers working together to minimize its effects. The fantasy elements of the series as a whole are satisfyingly well imagined, as are the main characters, and readers who have not read the first two novels will understand what is going on. This is a definite purchase where the previous books are owned, but it should also be considered on its own merits where they are not-which will undoubtedly lead to demand for the circle to be completed.- Carrie Schadle, Beginning with Children School, New York City
December 1, 1998
Gr. 6^-9. Daja, the outcast trader, faces danger and prejudice in the third title in Pierce's wonderful Circle of Magic series. In earlier adventures featuring Sandry and Tris, the four mages-in-training learned to meld their magical talents to save the Winding Circle temple city. Now, although their powers are increasing in strength, the boundaries between them are severely compromised, as Daja learns when she inadvertently creates a living metal vine. While traveling in the north to help communities threatened by wildfires, Tris, Sandry, Briar, and Daja struggle to separate their powers. Daja must also cope with the horrendous customs of traders who want to purchase her vine, and the fires that could bring destruction to all. Pierce's magic and the customs and rituals of her world continue to fascinate, and Daja and the mages are intriguing characters. Readers will be left eagerly awaiting Briar's turn to take the lead. ((Reviewed December 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)
January 1, 1999
The latest in the series about four young great mages is as innovative as the first two. Daja's skill with metalworking helps her make a connection with a group of Traders, even though she has been declared unclean by her people. With the help of her friends and their power, she also uses her newfound skills to fight a fire that threatens the drought-inflicted land. Rich with detail, the fantasy draws readers into a fascinating and fully realized world.
(Copyright 1999 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
August 1, 2002
Gr 6 Up-Dark and discomfiting, this third volume in the series features Daja, the young smith-mage, without her foster siblings. She makes a winter visit to Kugisko with her teacher Frostpine, and while there discovers that the twin daughters of their hosts possess magic-Jory for cooking and Nia with carpentry-and becomes embroiled in an arson investigation. The city's main volunteer firefighter is Bennat Ladradun, who lost his own family in a fire, and, as he and Daja become friends, she makes him a pair of living metal gloves that can withstand flames to aid him in his rescues. As the fires become more numerous and more deadly, suspicions rise when traces of Daja's magic are found at one site, and she must face the possibility that Ben has betrayed her friendship and her magic. With each volume, the gratuitous violence and number of unnecessary deaths have increased, but the development of the characters has not. Pierce also falls short in plot development. Readers find out long before Daja that Ben is the arsonist and is seriously, psychologically disturbed, which lowers the suspense factor of the story. Add in descriptions of fires where children die, and the book becomes very depressing, indeed. Purchase this for collections where the first two books are in demand, but be prepared for disappointed readers.-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA
Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.