Cold Fire

September 1, 2002
Gr. 6-10. In this third title in the Circle Opens series, Daja, the mage featured in " Daja's Book" (2000), travels with her mentor to study with metal smiths. While wintering in a northern empire, she discovers that the twin daughters of her hosts have magical powers, and she is dismayed to learn that she must teach them until appropriate mentors can be found for them. Teaching the twins is frustrating, but Daja finds creative ways to meet the needs of both girls. She is also drawn to Bennat Ladradun, a firefighter with a tragic past, but her friendship with him is cruelly tested. The author continues to dazzle with appealing, fully realized characters, as well as impressively realized magic, cultures, and settings. Pierce introduces some dark themes--madness, murder, and betrayal--but Daja emerges from these struggles as strong as the fire-forged objects she creates. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)