The Will of the Empress (2005)

Really good engrossing read. I was trying to figure out what this has over and above other Pierce books and though I'm not sure I've definitely figured it, I think it's the characters that I particularly like. Her other books also have good strong characters of course, but I think I just really like these four people more and more the more I read about them. ( )

Previously read, but listened to the CD edition from Full Cast Audio - I absolutely loved this book. There were times I didn't want to get out of my car so that I could keep listening. I think it's some revisionist history that Lark and Rosethorn are a couple, but also sort of an interesting development. I only wish that Pierce could write faster so I could know sooner what happens next to Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar. ( )

Sandry must travel north to take care of her property there and Briar, Daja, and Tris travel with her. In Namorn, she's seen as a prize to collect and little more than property, and the Empress is set on collecting her friends for her empire as well.

I enjoyed seeing this quartet grown up and finding their connection again. I thought the Daja romance was handled sweetly. While the court life definitely sounded insufferable, I was able to enjoy almost all of the new characters without having to like them. It was nice to get to a book in the series for a bit older audience, but it actually had the least of amount of violent content so far (not to belittle the domestic violence in this book, but all of the others in the series have involved multiple gruesome murders). I hope we get to continue to follow these four in the future. ( )

I originally reviewed this book on my blog - The Cosy Dragon. For more recent reviews by me, please hop over there.

Briar, Daja, Tris and Sandry have each gone their own ways, and have now all returned to Winding Circle. But Winding Circle can not longer keep them - they are 18, and have reached the age of their majority. When Sandry's uncle suggests that the other three accompany Sandry to her family holdings, it seems like a chance for the circle to be reformed.

The Empress is determined to court the four powerful mages and get them to stay with her. Things aren't as rosy as they appear though, and various things conspire that Sandry soon finds herself wishing for home, even as the other three find things that they like in the Empire!

Once again, this book's third person narration swaps between each of the four characters. Pierce makes it work really well, and it adds a further sense of continuity for the four characters. The character development is relatively obvious, as the four settle back into their relationships. Each of them has changed, but they are still able to connect and bicker as they once did. This is one of the real strengths of the novel, which takes me to read it time and time again.

Briar's time away and how Luvo appears is something I'd really like to know more about. My suggestion for why Pierce hasn't written about this is that it would possibly make the storyline too adult. I know that Pierce is planning a book where Tris goes to Lightsbridge, but I'm not sure if she is going to fill in any more of the time between ages 14 and 18.

Something that irritated me was the constant explaining of what a 'kid' and a 'mate' were. Perhaps in other countries, it's not obvious that these terms refer to children and good friends, but to me, I knew what they were, and I didn't need reminding! This was something that annoyed me a little in reading the other books of this series as well.

I would like to comment both positively and negatively for the specific inclusion of a gay/queer subplot in this novel. I'm happy that one has been included, and the idea is treated quite sensitively, but I'm not so impressed with who turns out to be lesbian. It's a far too obvious choice to me, and seems to be playing to the stereotype of connecting sexuality and job choice. I won't further spoil this for you, but it's something I had to mention.

I hesitat to tag this book as queer, as some people would interpret this to mean that the entire book is about a queer character, but it really isn't. I also wanted to label it with dragons, because Chime shows up again, but it is really a very minor role. Also, I could possibly tag it with depression, because one of the characters (not of the main four) has had several suicide attempts, but again, it's not a focus of the novel.

I'd recommend this book, and the other eight books that came before this one, to children and teens alike. Please read them all in order! This one does stand alone, but really, why miss out on the story from before? It's relatively family friendly, with some hints of violence and also of courtship. Some people may not be comfortable with the queer aspect, but I didn't find it at all offensive. ( )

Review by: Leena

Read the Circle of Magic and the Circle Opens before you read this!! Go Tamora Pierce! ( )