Daja's Book

December 1, 1998
Gr 5-9-As in the other books in the series, four mages-in-training are the key players, but here it is Daja Kisubo's turn to take center stage. While traveling in a drought and fire-stricken part of the country with her fellow students and their mentors, the young people's magical talents somehow become intertwined, leading Daja, who is linked to the element of fire and the craft of smithing, to create a seemingly living vine out of metal. Nomadic Traders recognize the vine as a powerful object and take the complicated ritual steps required to purchase it from Daja. Having been cast out by the Trader class as a young child when her family's ship sank, she is seen as a source of bad luck to be avoided at all costs. During the negotiations, she must come to terms with the part of her that still yearns for her past life, and her growing power as a mage. As in the previous books, the climax revolves around a natural disaster that requires the four new mages' powers working together to minimize its effects. The fantasy elements of the series as a whole are satisfyingly well imagined, as are the main characters, and readers who have not read the first two novels will understand what is going on. This is a definite purchase where the previous books are owned, but it should also be considered on its own merits where they are not-which will undoubtedly lead to demand for the circle to be completed.- Carrie Schadle, Beginning with Children School, New York City

December 1, 1998
Gr. 6^-9. Daja, the outcast trader, faces danger and prejudice in the third title in Pierce's wonderful Circle of Magic series. In earlier adventures featuring Sandry and Tris, the four mages-in-training learned to meld their magical talents to save the Winding Circle temple city. Now, although their powers are increasing in strength, the boundaries between them are severely compromised, as Daja learns when she inadvertently creates a living metal vine. While traveling in the north to help communities threatened by wildfires, Tris, Sandry, Briar, and Daja struggle to separate their powers. Daja must also cope with the horrendous customs of traders who want to purchase her vine, and the fires that could bring destruction to all. Pierce's magic and the customs and rituals of her world continue to fascinate, and Daja and the mages are intriguing characters. Readers will be left eagerly awaiting Briar's turn to take the lead. ((Reviewed December 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)