Wild Magic

I had the wonderful opportunity to see all of my old and beloved characters. I'm truly in love with them <3.

PLUS, seeing Alanna with kids was absolutely mind-blowing! I was so happy about it, and George is the perfect father.

Daine was a great addition to the old Tortall group. I also liked the new characters, although I have no clue how to spell any of their names. Daine is as fierce as Alanna, but she has a bit more wildness to her, which was a great fit for this story. Her reaction to being told she could wear pants was hilarious, and she was completely starstruck when she met Jonathan - it was so adorable.

The addition of more animals in this story was really great, especially since I still miss Faithful and cried internally when Alanna showed up without him. Watching Daine master her magic was really cool, and I can't wait to see if she'll develop more powers. I felt like the pacing in this book was more relaxed, like in the later Alanna books. It made it much easier to follow since only weeks or months passed, rather than years.

This story has truly been a delight to read, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

I have delved into several of Tamora Pierce's remarkable works, and the world she has constructed in Tortall and the neighboring countries has always been incredibly rich and cohesive.

It is a world filled with diverse characters, complex relationships, and thrilling adventures. The details she weaves into the fabric of this fictional universe are truly captivating.

If you find yourself yearning to immerse yourself in a completely new and enchanting setting, then her Tortall books are an absolute must-read for you.

You will be transported to a land of magic, mystery, and danger, where you will join the characters on their quests and share in their triumphs and tribulations.

Prepare to be spellbound by the vivid descriptions, engaging storylines, and unforgettable characters that populate the pages of Tamora Pierce's Tortall series.

I have not read any of these books before, but they have been on my list for many years.

As I listened to this full-cast audio, it strongly reminded me of The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede, which I also listened to as a full-cast production. However, this is not a bad thing. The full-cast audio works extremely well for this series (at least from this first book), so I will continue reading this series in this manner.

This book does an excellent job of setting up Daine's story. There were a couple of times when they mentioned Alanna, who has her own story, which made me realize that this series takes place a little later. But there is no issue with confusion about who the characters are. So, I don't think you have to read Alanna's story before reading this series since I had no problem being drawn into Daine's story. I love stories where characters have the ability to communicate with animals, so this fantasy is exactly what I like. If this is a good example of the author's writing, I can't wait to explore the rest of Daine's story and will definitely be reading other series in this universe.

2021: Just an add-on to my earlier comments to say that the Full-Cast Audio reading of this is one of the best things ever.

2012: If you have read my other reviews, you will know that I am a huge Tamora Pierce fan, (though I am now perhaps a little older than her target demographic). However, despite this I am not blinded to the faults in her writing, something which I discovered in the disappointing recent release "Melting Stones." So trust me, the fact that I've given this book 5 stars is because I believe it to be truly deserving of each and every one of them.

I grew up on a diet of richly rendered fantasy books, which included Pierce's Lioness quartet as well as the semi-sequel quartet Protector of the Small. Both of these convinced me it was ok to not fit into the perfect stereotype of what young girls should and shouldn't like - if I wanted to be a knight (or an archaeologist as the case was at the time) instead of a princess, or a nurse, or a ballerina, then that was ok. (Nevermind that knights these days do not seem half as exciting as those in Pierce's Tortallan world.)

Somehow in all my readings, the Immortals quartet largely (though not completely) passed me by and I never got around to reading the books in full until now.

These books are set directly between the Lioness and Protector quartets, so if you have read either there will be many familiar characters, but I also think it wouldn't be too hard to get into with no prior knowledge of the world in which all three series are set.

I'm going to go off on a brief tangent again before I get to my main point: One thing that frustrates me hugely about YA fiction today is that mostly the female protagonists are fairly interchangeable. They are usually bland, and are either so perfect as to be utterly unrelateable, or so flawed that they are simply impossible to like (take Bella from Twilight as an example). There are, of course, exceptions to this, and this is one reason why I love Pierce's stories. The fact that most of the Tortallan books were written almost twenty years ago may have something to do with it, I'm not sure.

Anyway, back to the book. Daine (Verilidaine Sarrasri) is possibly the perfect heroine/role-model for a young girl. Unlike those other bland female protagonists, Daine is both far from perfect, and very likeable. She has untamed talents and gifts, which scare her until - with hard work and will power - she manages to master them. She has hurts and worries to overcome; she isn't always perfectly nice or perfectly polite, but does recognise her mistakes; and most important, she is actually willing to learn from these mistakes.

The writing itself is nothing special, but one of the benefits of this is that it is easy to read, without being patronisingly simple. The plot is interesting, and all the supporting characters are characters in their own rights - no Mary-Sues here. None of these things should quite add up to the full 5 stars though apart from one fact: I cannot for the life of me think of anything that is actually wrong with this book.

I am unsure whether the full quartet is as good (the second book was good, and interesting but not as much as Wild Magic) but this one entirely brings me back to my childhood fantasies, and I loved it.

I have an unwavering passion for re-reading this timeless classic of YA fantasy.

Every time I pick up this book, I am immediately transported into a magical world filled with enchanting characters and thrilling adventures.

The story weaves a captivating narrative that keeps me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

The vivid descriptions bring the settings to life, allowing me to truly immerse myself in the fantastical realm.

It's not just the plot that hooks me, but also the deep and relatable characters.

Their growth and development throughout the story are both inspiring and heartwarming.

This YA fantasy classic holds a special place in my heart, and I will continue to return to it time and time again, eager to rediscover the magic within its pages.

I don't know! This story was never as special as Alanna was to me, and it still feels a bit off. It all seems to come somewhat easily for Daine. I have no idea what's going on with the plot.

However, I do like all the updates on the Alanna characters. It's interesting to see how they've developed. And I really like Daine! She has a unique charm and personality.

But why couldn't Daine have more friends her age? The few that are there are so minor and don't really add much to the story. It would be nice to see her interact with more peers and have some deeper friendships.

Overall, while I have some concerns about the plot and the lack of age-appropriate friendships for Daine, I'm still enjoying the story and looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Thoughts from 2021 reread:

It's truly wonderful to commence the year with a cozy favorite. I have a profound love for these books, and I've always cherished the unique perspective on magic and animals they offer. This particular book was an ideal choice to start the year for me, as one of its prominent themes is Daine realizing that she can embark on a new life. She discovers that she can heal from her past traumas and doesn't have to allow them to impede her progress in the future.

Moreover, I adored the patience exhibited by the adults in her life towards her. They refrained from pressuring her to share her feelings or experiences but instead gave her the freedom to approach them in her own time. This aspect added a layer of authenticity and warmth to the story, making it even more engaging and relatable.

Rereading this book in 2021 was a delightful experience that not only reminded me of the charm and beauty of the story but also offered valuable insights and lessons about moving forward and finding strength within oneself.

One of my favorite books from childhood is still very dear to me.

I firmly believe that it has withstood the test of time. This particular book serves as a wonderful introduction to the series.

What Pierce presents in it, such as the charming characters, the enchanting magic, and the interesting animals, is truly captivating.

It manages to draw the reader in and make them eager to explore more.

However, I must admit that at certain points, there is a tendency to overload the reader with information.

Nonetheless, this minor flaw does not in any way diminish my love for this book.

I still cherish it deeply and consider it a classic that I would highly recommend to others.

It has a special place in my heart and continues to bring me joy whenever I pick it up.