Magic Steps

April 1, 2000
Gr 5-8-Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, known to readers of the "Circle of Magic" quartet(Scholastic) as Sandry, comes fully into her powers here. Now 14, Sandry is caring for her great-uncle, Duke Vedris of Emelan, after his near-fatal heart attack, when her attention is suddenly seized by two very different events. After witnessing a younger boy, Pasco, unwittingly perform a dance of magical power, she realizes reluctantly that she must take on his magical training before he becomes a danger to himself and others. At the same time, members of a powerful merchant family are being killed one by one by assassins cloaking themselves in "unmagic," or "the absence of all things." Sandry must use all her skill to weave her magic and Pasco's into a force that can overcome the assassins. Readers are immediately plunged into the rich and vibrant atmosphere of Sandry's world, with its merchants, miscreants, and mages. Though the pace of the plot is heart quickening, the admirable heroine remains calm, capable, and always ready to giggle. Violent acts are horrifying but are not graphically described. Fans of the previous quartet and new readers alike will immerse themselves in this thrilling tale of magical intrigue.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2000
Gr. 5^-9. In the first book in the Circle Opens series, 14-year-old Sandry is no stranger to magic; she spins and weaves it in wondrous ways. Then she meets Pasco, a boy who somehow dances spells, and reluctantly becomes his mentor. When mysterious killers target local merchants, the two interweave their magic to stop the murderers. Using descriptive, personable prose, Pierce combines dimensional characters, intricate details, plot twists, and alternating story lines for a gripping read, while introducing issues of modern relevance symbolized by the heroin-like Dragonsalt and the evil Unmagic, which has all the hazards of nuclear waste. Independent, brave Sandry is an appealing protagonist, sometimes prone to nervous giggling; there is some vivid violence, and though the romantic cover art indicates otherwise, the emphasis is on suspense. Fans of the Circle of Magic series will recognize some familiar characters, but this book stands well on its own as a fast-paced, engrossing read, sure to satisfy fantasy fans. ((Reviewed March 1, 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)