Magnolia Paranormal Reviews
  • Home
  • Reviews, Interviews, and More
  • Petals Key & FAQ
  • Request A Review

Magnolia Reviews

Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce

4/14/2017

0 Comments

 

Briar's Book

Picture
Author: Tamora Pierce
Title: Briar's Book
Series: Circle of Magic 4
Genre: High Fantasy
Pairing: None
Rating: Three Petals

On the Author's Website
:
http://www.tamora-pierce.net/books/briars-book/

Summary:

Four elements of power, four mages-in-training learning to control them. In Book 4 of the Circle of Magic Quartet, former "street rat" Briar leads a comfortable life at Winding Circle Temple, learning plant magic from his teacher Rosethorn. But street kids are still his friends, and when one of them gets sick, she turns to Briar for help. As the mysterious illness spreads, Sandry, Daja, and Tris join Briar and their teachers to fight the epidemic. But just as the situation improves, the unthinkable happens. Will Briar be able to save what he loves most?


Maggie's Rating: Three Petals
Picture
Maggie's Review:

After enduring a terrible earthquake and a pirate attack, the city of Emelan is starting to get back on its feet.  Then a plague hits and as people start dying Briar, Sandry, Daja, and Tris know that they have to do everything in their power to combat the epidemic before it's too late. 

This was definitely the best book in this four-part series.  I could see how much Pierce has grown as an author during the writing of each book.  While the plot was still predictable and lacking in depth, there was so much more put into it.  Add the emotional weight Pierce learned and the exceptional characterizations and world building, and you get the culmination of Briar's Book. 

There are two aspects to this story that I found particularly compelling.  When Briar and Rosethorn are stuck in quarantine and Rosethorn literally begins to wilt from lack of sunlight and plants, Briar does everything he can to make her feel better.  The emotions he and Rosethorn have made me want to cry on their behalf.  The second was the amount of detail that went into creating a cure for the disease.  The various mixtures of powders and oils that went into trying to combat the illness was something I had never before read in a fantasy novel.  I admit that I don't really understand how the keys work and how some powders and oils could combat a plague, but it worked from a fantasy-world perspective and I really enjoyed reading it. 

Maggie's Recommendation:

Pierce has learned to add details to her plot and weave emotions into the pages.  That, combined with her amazing characterizations and world-building made for the best book of the Circle of Magic quartet.  I definitely recommend this book and this series. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Magnolia's Reviews

    Maggie reviews paranormal and fantasy novels and novellas. She also interviews authors and hosts giveaways.


    Tweets by @MagnoliaReviews

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Reviews, Interviews, and More
  • Petals Key & FAQ
  • Request A Review