Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

EMPEROR MAGE follows the story of Daine, now fifteen years old, a girl with the rare power of "wild magic" that gives her an extraordinary affinity with animals. With her wild magic, Daine can communicate with animals, see the world through their senses, and even transform herself into one, all skills that the first two books of THE IMMORTALS series have shown her develop.

In this third book, the stakes are raised as Daine accompanies an ambassadorial delegation to Carthak, where she is to use her wild magic to cure the Carthaki Emperor's sick pet birds as a show of goodwill. Carthaki ships have been attacking the coast of Daine's country of Tortall for the last year, resulting in increasingly violent skirmishes, and the intention of this delegation is to negotiate for peace between the nations.

Accompanying Daine on this trip are the famous lady knight Alanna, star of Pierce's LIONESS QUARTET, Tortall's most powerful mage and Daine's teacher, Numair, and the young dragon, Kitten.

Daine finds Carthak to be an alternately strange and disturbing place; she's not comfortable with the practice of slavery, which is legal there, or with Emperor Orzone, a powerful mage in his own right. When the peace negotiations stall, things start to heat up, and the balance of power between two great nations has been staked on the outcome.

In what is undoubtedly my favorite book of the quartet, Pierce continues to develop Daine's skills and abilities while simultaneously allowing the readers entry into the struggles that this wild mage has had to face in order to build her talent. The cast of supporting characters is large but nuanced, and although it might initially seem an easy job to discern between the two sides of the impending fight, the distinctions are increasingly and intelligently blurred.

I particularly enjoyed the further characterization of Numair, as well as the introduction of the young Prince Kaddar, who always kept me guessing. The pacing is spot on, with seemingly innocuous events leading up to a powerful climactic sequence.

I read it all the way through without stopping! ( )

Daine and her friends are sent to Carthack, to meet with the Emperor. Daine's duty is to see if she can heal the Emperor's pet birds and otherwise to stay out of trouble, but unfortunately for her, the god-touched don't have a choice about where and when they're called on to intervene.

Emperor Mage is another thoroughly enjoyable Tortall story. The Immortals series really improves with each book. I love Daine's interactions with the gods and how she chooses to use her borrowed power in a way that reflects her so very well (and which is not precisely the way she is expected to use it). ( )

Book three of the immortals quartet, this one takes place in Carthak, where people from Tortall are there for peace talks, to finally end the feuds between them. Daine is invited along because Emperor Ozorne of Carthak has birds that have been getting ill, and he heard of her gift. The badger god warns Daine not to go, because the Great Gods are angry with Ozorne and Carthak for unleashing the immortals among the mortal realms. This was another good book with alot of the characters we all love; Alanna, Numair, Kitten, and of course Daine. ( )

In her third adventure, wild mage Daine accompanies a delegation to Carthak where new powers and a kingdom-threatening crisis await. While her friends attempt to broker a peace treaty, Daine must balance appeasing a power-mad emperor who's been cursed by his gods and her frightening new necromantic powers gifted by the Graveyard Hag. Although a pawn in the power-struggles of men and gods, Daine valiantly struggles through with the help of human and animal friends and finds herself part of the liberation of the Carthaki people. The believability of our heroine continues as her naiveté and youth occasionally temper her powerful wild magic. The well-beloved characters retain their distinctive dialogue and personalities while Pierce continues to flesh out their histories and potential. Pride, egotism, anger and fear riddle the plot and characters, ratcheting the tension in the story up to gripping levels. The plot remains internally consistent and despite the series format of Pierce’s work, her plot lines never become overly predictable or stale. Common themes such as loyalty, love, responsibility, and power intermix in the award-winning tale of Tortall. One of the best books in the Immortal quartet. ( )

Daine has been sent as an ambassador to the Emperor of the Copper Isles. Tortall is trying to gain the Emperor's favor by having Daine treat his sick; beloved birds. But Daine; who is coming into more of her powers; is caught up in a dangerous political drama which will eventually lead to a revolution. ( )