It was truly excellent. It was far, far superior to the last book.

Now, Daine, Allana, Numair, and other ministers have journeyed to Carthak to deliberate on the peace treaty between the kingdoms. This is because Carthak has declined to admit that the attack on the Tortall empire was carried out with the knowledge of the imperial majesty and his kingdom. There is no evidence from Tortall to back up their accusation, leaving them with no alternative but the peace treaty.

Daine has come to heal the emperor's birds, and her arrival here has embroiled her in other matters between the Gods and the Kingdom. Zek, the marmoset, is a new member of Daine's animal friends. She rescues him from drowning and crocodiles. Kaddar, the heir, has become a new friend of Daine's. However, the conversation between Numair and Daine is rather limited, which I would have preferred to see more of.

The main moral of this novel is to maintain the balance in nature. The first priority of any kingdom should be the well-being of the people and also agriculture. If there is a lack of food due to famine, then measures should be taken to address the issue rather than waging war against other kingdoms.

Third in the Immortals fantasy adventure series for children, this book follows a young girl with the remarkable ability to speak and heal animals. The adventure takes place in Carthak.

If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Tortall books on my website.

My Take: I truly hope King Jon realizes the treasure that Daine is for the kingdom of Tortall! And it's interesting to see Daine starting to view Numair differently, not as a young girl but more as a young woman.

It's yet another moral tale, expertly crafted by Pierce, hidden within a captivating story full of adventure and intrigue. This one emphasizes treating everyone with decency, whether they're slaves, family, gods, animals, or just an ordinary person. It shows what can happen when someone becomes too full of themselves and tramples on the freedoms of others.

The Story: To avoid war, Tortall sends an embassy to Carthak to negotiate a treaty. Daine goes along to heal the emperor's ill birds. However, the embassy is in great danger as they don't trust the emperor. At first, things go as expected, but then the treaty negotiations get worse and Daine finds herself in grave danger.

Luckily, Numair is a brilliant mage, the emperor is too vain, and he has angered many, including the gods. He also underestimated Daine and her abilities.

The Characters: Veralidaine "Daine" Sarrasri has wild magic and can speak to and heal animals. The Emperor of Carthak wants her to heal his birds. Daine also discovers her father's identity. There are many other interesting characters, such as Numair, the Tortallan delegation, and various immortals.

The Cover and Title: The cover is quite eerie with its purple gradients and Daine's face. The title is accurate as the story is all about the Emperor Mage.

Overall, this is a great addition to the Immortals series, full of adventure, interesting characters, and important moral lessons.

This series took a rather unexpected turn and suddenly morphed into a religion series. What's more, it had some rather unfortunate and outdated racism thrown in for good measure.

I had actually quite enjoyed the first two books in this series. However, in this particular installment, Dane embarks on a journey to a different country. This country is depicted as the only one that still has slaves, places a higher value on material possessions than on human life, and has started to worship their leader and university more than the gods. Coincidentally, all the people in this country are people of color.

For me, this just reeks of so many stereotypes from the western world. It gives the impression that white culture is superior and advanced, while all other cultures are in a state of need, requiring saving and liberation. I understand that this book was written in the 90's, but as I am reviewing it in 2021, I simply can't overlook these issues.

To make matters worse, there is also more sexism added to the mix. The teenage boys in this new country initially exclude Dane, but then start worshipping her when she proves herself to be 'not like other girls' (a feat she never had to accomplish in the predominantly white country). It all seems rather gratuitous and unnecessary.

Overall, while I had high hopes for this series, this particular book has left me rather disappointed.

My second favorite, because dinosaurs.

This book would have been my actual favorite, but Daine is a bit of a Mary-Sue in this one. Of course, she has just been touched by a local Goddess and given the ability to raise dead critters, so I'm trying to look past that.

Daine has gone off to Carthak with a team of ambassadors in hopes of making a peace treaty. She is going along because the Emperor's birds are sick.

It is an enjoyable book. The story is engaging and the characters are well-developed. The addition of dinosaurs makes it even more exciting.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure. It is a great read that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Also, dinosaurs.

As with the prior book in the series,

there's not all that emotional development from Daine.

This really affected my reading experience as it didn't entrance me as much as it could have.

The plot is quite complex and there's a lot going on.

However, I'm a character girl at heart.

I'm more interested in the growth and development of the characters.

So, while I did like the book to some extent,

I just wasn't as invested as I wanted to be.

I was hoping for more depth and exploration of Daine's emotions.

Maybe in the next book of the series, the author will focus more on her character development and give me a more fulfilling reading experience.

Overall, this book had its strengths in the plot, but it fell a bit short in terms of character emotional development for me.

Zombie dinosaurs! What's not to love?

These prehistoric creatures, brought back to life in a rather unconventional way, have captured the imagination of many. The idea of seeing dinosaurs that were once extinct now roaming the earth as zombies is both terrifying and exciting.

Imagine the sight of these massive, undead dinosaurs stomping through the forest, their decaying bodies and glowing eyes sending shivers down your spine. It's a concept that combines the mystery and wonder of dinosaurs with the horror and thrill of zombies.

Whether it's in movies, books, or video games, zombie dinosaurs have become a popular theme. They offer a unique and exciting twist on two classic genres. So, the next time you hear the words "zombie dinosaurs," get ready for a wild and unforgettable adventure.

Ok, this was hugely entertaining. However, there are a few things that need to be pointed out.

First, it is always easier to find fault in others than in oneself. While slavery is indeed bad in any form, the way the Tortall vs. Carthak culture is set up seems rather preachy. Why is one culture considered superior to the other? Is Tortall really an ideal country with perfect citizens leading perfect lives? The answer is no. So, why is there a sense of a good Tortall and a bad Carthak?

Second, there is a sentence that seems really strange. When Diane meets Kaddar, she describes him as a "light-skinned black, with thin lips and long, thick eye lashes, dressed in a calf-length tunic of crimson-silk." The term "light-skinned black" is quite odd and stuck in my mind until the end of the book. I think a more appropriate description could have been "he was a black man" or "he was dark-skinned." Am I being too politically correct? I don't think so. It's just an unusual way of describing someone.

Third, what about the preservation of architecture and imperial records? Not to mention all those ancient and valuable fossils. It's a pity that they were all destroyed.

Finally, after all the destruction, Diane goes back home without even a slap on the wrist. It's irritating how it seems that the entire country of Carthak is apologizing to Diane for the actions of one crazed and power-hungry man.

Pros:

I have a great passion for books that incorporate significant concepts and explore them in a manner that can be detached from real life yet still have a connection to it. This particular book offers us a peek into the institution of slavery and the efforts involved in bringing it to an end. Additionally, we witness how arduous achieving peace can be between different countries with distinct social structures and beliefs.

I truly adored the small scenes between Diane and Alanna. It is these little details that link the stories together, construct the world, and make it so much more vivid and rich.

Cons:

I am certain that it is addressed in a later series within this world, but I do wish that at some point someone had delved into more detail about how the emperor became the person he is now. I find it hard to envision that he began as completely evil.

It took an enormous amount of time to complete this one.

Well, mostly because I've been extremely busy. But I am truly overjoyed that I finally managed to complete it.

This series is evolving into one of my all-time favorite fantasy/magic series.

The way it unveils a whole new realm of magic and allows us to get to know all the animals so much more intimately by delving into their minds through Daine is simply epic.

I have been enamored with her and her wild magic ever since the very first novel.

She is such a powerful individual, even for a little girl, and yet she remains her humble self. That's precisely what I cherish about her.

I believe this part of the novel contains a hidden message. One powerful person, Emperor Ozorne, who was boastful of his great powers and wealth and inflicted cruelty upon his slaves as well as other creatures, was ultimately led to his downfall.

Daine, on the other hand, who was always humble towards those around her and helped everyone, including the animals, despite possessing such powerful magic, received peace, love, and her true family in her friends.

It shows that humility and kindness are far more valuable than arrogance and cruelty.

The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce is about Daine, a teenage girl with the magical ability to communicate with animals. This installment, the third one, is unfortunately the worst of the four.

The story has its merits. Daine travels to Carthak to assist in treating the emperor's sick birds and gets caught up in political intrigues. However, what truly detracts from the book is the author's blatant prejudice.

Typically, in Pierce's works, all animals have an automatic affinity for Daine and vice versa. But in this book, rats inexplicably loathe Daine and she hates them back. They are portrayed as evil and unpleasant without any justifiable reason. This is extremely disappointing coming from an author who usually goes to great lengths to correct the common negative perceptions of animals that are based on myths. In her other books, animals like wolves, hyenas, and crocodiles, which are traditionally seen as "bad," are depicted positively or realistically.

The author may have a personal aversion to rats, but Daine would not. She loves and understands all animals. Having her dislike rats simply because of what they are is out of character and a sign of poor writing. It truly spoiled the book for me.

Tamora Pierce is truly a literary genius.

Her works are nothing short of 10/10 chefs kiss perfection.

It seems that she can do no wrong.

Every book she writes is a masterpiece, filled with captivating characters, thrilling adventures, and thought-provoking themes.

Her ability to create vivid and immersive worlds is simply astounding.

Readers are instantly drawn into her stories and find themselves unable to put the book down until they reach the very end.

Tamora Pierce's writing style is engaging and accessible, making her books suitable for readers of all ages.

Whether you're a fan of fantasy, adventure, or just great literature, Tamora Pierce's books are a must-read.

She is truly one of the greatest authors of our time, and her work will continue to inspire generations of readers to come.

This series continues to be highly enjoyable!

We are now starting to witness the emergence of the first inklings of Feeeeelings between Daine and Numair. I am extremely interested in observing how Pierce will handle this aspect in the next book. It's important to note that there has been a gap of a year or two between each of the books. So, the question arises: will the next installment pick up when Daine is much closer to 18? This anticipation adds an extra layer of excitement to the series.

As readers, we are eager to see how their relationship develops and evolves. Will their feelings deepen and lead to something more? Or will there be obstacles and challenges that they need to overcome? Only time will tell, and I can't wait to find out in the next book.

The slow build-up of their connection has been masterfully done by Pierce, and I have high hopes for what's to come.