I have a deep affection for this story. When I was younger, it completely captured my heart. And now, even though I'm a bit older, I'm extremely glad to find that its magic remains intact. It's truly remarkable!

I adored Daine in this book. She was incredibly strong, both physically and mentally. She fought with great determination to safeguard the people she cared about and her animal friends. Although she could be a bit stubborn at times, that only added to her charm and made her character more relatable.

The storyline was also very engaging. Even though I had read this book multiple times before and could remember every detail of what happened, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story in the slightest. I loved the elements of travelling, the training that Daine underwent, the appearance of the dragon and other magical creatures. And Numair was definitely a favorite of mine. Even though we don't get to see any romance between him and Daine until later in the series, his character was still very appealing.

Overall, I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. It's a wonderful read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure.

Damn!

Daine really experiences a lot in this one! It's so exciting to see how she evolves and faces various challenges.

I absolutely loved seeing Alanna and Jonathan as adults. They have grown and changed in such interesting ways. Their relationship has developed and deepened, adding another layer of complexity to the story.

The author does a great job of描绘ing their characters and the world they live in. The details are vivid and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story.

Overall, this is a great read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I can't wait to see what else Daine and the gang will get up to in the next installment!

I have always had a deep love for this series ever since I was a child, and it still holds up well today. It truly belongs to its era. For instance, the character of Sarge makes me feel a bit uneasy, and some of the gender-related aspects are extremely outdated. (Seriously, don't flirt with a thirteen-year-old girl when you're a twenty-year-old guy - that's just not okay.) However, on the whole, it is an excellent children's book. It is surprisingly dark and filled with adventure. The pacing and plotting are better than those in the Lioness quartet. Perhaps this is because Pierce wasn't attempting to stuff a great deal of world-building into it (and to be honest, her writing had simply improved since those initial books). It might be a three-star book objectively, but I'm awarding an extra star due to the strong sense of nostalgia it evokes in me.

I read this ages ago, but we just reread it for roommate reading time.

Jasmine and I were extremely stoked to introduce Andre to the world of Tamora Pierce.

The story is filled with excitement and adventure.

As we read, we had a great deal of fun making up a running commentary.

The characters are so vivid and engaging.

We loved the exchanges between them, like "I dreamed I was a badger and woke up covered in bats! Also, we're being attacked." and "… can I hold one?!"

And the dialogue like "I want her to come live with me!" "Inappropriate, Numair!" "There would be no room for inappropriate, she brings home DRAGONS!" just added to the fun.

It's just so much fun to read! And it's so excellent! And so very cute!

Plus, it ends with a baby dragon, so how can you go wrong?

This book is truly a gem and we can't wait to read more from Tamora Pierce.

March 2023: I still find myself bemoaning what this series could have been. It's a pity that it didn't quite reach its full potential.

February 2016: I gave this book two stars, but that doesn't mean I didn't read it in one sitting. In fact, I did. (Then again, it's not very long.) Here are the things that frustrated me, in order from least to most:

1. The note about Daine eating meat like her predator friends is quite interesting. It's definitely important to note, but also a bit weird. The later distinction that she can't eat anything she shifts to is even more crucial as it tries to resolve the inherent contradiction between seeing these animals as friends and yet eating them. However, this isn't introduced in this book, which is a bit of a letdown.

2. Pierce's writing can be rather clunky in places. For example, the description of the K'mir sticking her finger into a pouch filled with "eyebright" and the mention of "rice" in a rather heavy-handed way seem a bit forced. There must be a more natural way to explain these concepts.

The dialogue also has its share of clunkiness. Take this exchange, for instance:

"Great," Thom said. "She has to go away again."

Kally sighed. "It's like Mama in raiding season," she told him. "We're lucky to have mothers who fight. Our fathers must stay home and protect their people."

"Da fights when they hit the village." Thom was a stickler for fact.

"Papa fights if he can." Roald tried to smile and failed.

Poor things, Daine thought. They miss their folks, coming and going all the time.

This conversation feels a bit stilted and perhaps could have been expressed in a more nuanced way.

3. At this point in the Tortall series, I'm starting to get a bit tired of the stark morality. When Kitten's mother is burning the Carthaki ships, Numair's comment about it being justice because they brought her there feels a bit off. While I understand the context, there's something about that statement that just doesn't sit right with me.

4. Daine is only thirteen and Numair is twenty-eight. The fact that Pierce is already hinting subtly at a possible relationship between them makes me a bit uncomfortable. The way Daine reacts to Numair's voice and his help with her leatherwork seems a bit too much for a thirteen-year-old.

5. My biggest problem with this book, though, is that I don't really like Daine. She's essentially defined by her Wild magic, and I don't like the idea of Wild magic at all. In a country full of people with the Gift, it seems unlikely that Daine is the only Wild mage. And if it's so rare, why does everyone seem to know what it is?

Also, I don't find Daine's conversations with animals as interesting as conversations with people. It feels like the animals are deliberately made more simplistic in tone, which makes it all a bit dull. And the fact that everyone immediately sees the value of Daine's magic and starts falling over themselves to offer her a home makes it all seem a bit too calculated.

Ultimately, I think I prefer Pierce's books when they focus on developing skill and hard work rather than just power. Here, it feels like it's all about power and an unacknowledged desire to tap into that power. Daine is immediately special, which is different from characters like Alanna and Kel who start off as more ordinary. I guess this just isn't the kind of story that I enjoy.

I loved this book just as much now as I did when I first read it years ago.

These stories truly stand the test of time. The characters are simply amazing.

Especially Daine, who is so kind to both animals and people. What makes her even more special is that she can communicate with animals.

Despite having been hurt in the past, she is one of the most caring characters I've ever come across in literature.

She is capable of so much, and it's a joy to follow her journey.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters around her.

Onua, the horse master who hires Daine and is truly impressed by her, adds depth to the story.

Numair, who becomes her magic teacher, is also super interesting to read about.

The plot is equally great!

It begins with Daine on her own, meeting Onua and getting hired by her.

We soon discover a plethora of extraordinary things about Daine, such as her special abilities and the tragic fact that her family was brutally murdered by bandits.

As the story progresses, we learn more about her powers.

She even meets and saves Numair when he's in hawk form.

The sad backstory of her family's murder provides great insight into her character.

There are so many other exciting events that occur throughout the book.

I can't wait to read more soon!

After a short break, I've returned to Tortall, and guys, it's truly amazing to be back. I made the decision to resume my long-overdue Tamora Pierce education for two specific reasons. Firstly, the Immortals quartet was completely unknown to me. As a kid, I had only a passing acquaintance with the Alanna, Kel, and Aly series, having read just a few chapters of each before giving up. Secondly, I discovered that my sister had all four of the books in one volume, so I "borrowed" it from her. Oops!

The first book is set about ten years after Lioness Rampant concluded. Many familiar characters make an appearance, including Jonathan, Thayet, George, and of course, Alanna. We also get to meet Jon and Alanna's respective children. Even though I already knew from the Trickster series that Alanna and George have three kids, my heart still skipped a beat just like it did at the end of The Deathly Hallows. That epilogue was beautiful and necessary, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise!

Our heroine this time is Daine (short for Verlidaine Sarrasri). We first encounter her getting a job working with the royal horsemistress of Tortall. Daine has a special affinity for animals, and in true Tamora Pierce fashion, she can actually communicate with them. However, Daine's magic is different from Alanna's. She possesses something called "wild magic" and may not be entirely human.

Alanna will always hold a special place in my heart, but I have to admit that I already prefer this series to the Lioness quartet. For one thing, the issues that plagued the Lioness series are absent here. In those books, Pierce struggled with cramming about eight years' worth of action into four books, resulting in a rushed and disjointed pacing. In Wild Magic, the action unfolds over a couple of months, so it never feels like we're racing through events. The return of so many familiar characters not only allows us to follow Daine's story but also serves as a kind of reunion for the characters we loved in Alanna's series.

Moreover, the conflict in this story is much stronger. We learn that the Immortals have been released from magical captivity and are causing chaos in Tortall. The Immortals include classic fantasy creatures like dragons and griffins, as well as some original creations like spidrens and stormwings. Duke Roger, the main antagonist in the Lioness series, always seemed more like a cartoon villain than a real threat. In contrast, the creatures in Wild Magic are generally terrifying, and I found myself longing for a movie adaptation just to see them brought to life. Imagine what Guillermo del Toro could do with the stormwings!

It's really not fair to compare this series with Alanna's, even though I keep doing it. While they are set in the same universe and share many characters, the similarities end there. On the surface, the books may seem alike, with a plucky girl learning to be a badass and use cool magic with the help of talking animal friends. But in reality, they are trying to convey very different messages. Alanna's books were all about teaching girls about hard work, courage, and not letting society limit them. Wild Magic, on the other hand, is about how family is sometimes what you find, not what you're given. It delves deeper into the concepts of loyalty and sacrifice, and does so in a more eloquent and detailed way. There's a great scene at the end where Daine tries to prevent her animal friends from fighting in the climactic battle because she doesn't want them to get hurt, but then realizes that she has to let them fight for her. It's truly a powerful moment.

The magic in these books is also more effectively executed than in the Lioness series. While Alanna was essentially handed her powers, Daine has to learn to use and trust hers. The mechanics of magic are explored in greater detail, and Tamora Pierce seems to have a better understanding of how it works in her books.

With better villains, improved storytelling, great new characters, and a nice return to old favorites, the Immortals series is off to an excellent start so far.

Pure wish fulfilment.

This narrative, although a bit clumsy in certain parts, holds a special charm for me. I don't mind the imperfections because I truly love Daine.

I am completely enamored with her unique connection to animals. It's as if she has a special language that only they understand.

Moreover, I admire her determination to rebuild herself as a person. She faces numerous challenges and setbacks, but she never gives up.

Her journey of self-discovery and growth is both inspiring and heartwarming.

Despite the flaws in the narrative, it manages to capture the essence of Daine's character and her story, making it a truly enjoyable read for me.

I can't wait to see what adventures and challenges lie ahead for Daine as she continues on her path of self-reinvention.

This has to be my absolute favourite series by Tamora Pierce.

I was a little scared for the re-read, because I was a bit worried that it wouldn't hold up to my memories. However, I am extremely happy that wasn't the case.

Daine has always had an incredibly close bond with animals. Despite not possessing 'the Gift' in the traditional sense, there is something truly magical about the way she can communicate with them. When she has to flee her home, she is presented with an opportunity to work with horses, which ultimately changes her life. Now, she is on the road to Tortall with her friends, looking forward to a new future.

Of course, being Tortall, things there aren't entirely peaceful. Thankfully, with some training, Daine will be well-prepared for the task of safeguarding her home and her newly found friends.

This is one of the formative books of my childhood, featuring a kickass main character. She doesn't rely on a sword or strive to become a knight, but her unique way of fighting is just as crucial.

The plot in this book is a bit on the lighter side. It sets the stage for the Immortals and leaves several storylines open, which makes it all the more exciting. Additionally, it's a great opportunity to catch up with our beloved characters from Alanna.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy and strong female characters.

Such a disappointment! It's truly disheartening. I don't even have the inclination to pen a proper review. And let me tell you, my heart is aching inside. This was my very first Tamora Pierce book, and I had set my expectations sky-high. However, as the story unfolded, those lofty hopes came crashing down one by one. I simply couldn't immerse myself in it. It's all so chaotic and disjointed, to the extent that I had no clue at all about what was happening, who the characters were, when the events were taking place, and where it all was set. I just... I just... it's simply not for me.

(My poor reading buddy was bored to death! xD *hugs Elise*) This experience has really made me question whether Tamora Pierce's writing style is something that I can ever truly appreciate. Maybe I'll give another of her books a try in the future, but for now, I'm left feeling rather let down.

4.5 stars

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Talking hedgehogs are truly fascinating creatures. These small, spiny mammals have the remarkable ability to communicate with each other in their own unique way. They use a combination of sounds, postures, and even scent markings to convey messages. Hedgehogs may make chirping, hissing, or grunting noises to express different emotions or intentions. For example, a soft chirp might indicate contentment, while a sharp hiss could be a warning of danger. Their body language also plays an important role in communication. A bristling of spines or a raised quill can signal aggression or fear. Additionally, hedgehogs use scent glands to mark their territory and identify other hedgehogs. By leaving behind their unique scent, they can communicate information about their presence, gender, and reproductive status. The world of talking hedgehogs is a complex and interesting one, full of secrets and mysteries waiting to be discovered.