Briar is my favourite out of the four so I was really looking forward to reading it. And I quite enjoyed it. It was interesting and you got an insight into how the "Street Rats" lived and how much Briar had changed since. And I liked how you got to see the relationship between Rosethorn an Briar. She's like the mother he never knew. It was a great read. ( )

This is my favorite in the series and Briar is my favorite character. I enjoyed the mystery this book provided and the excitement. I also liked the chance to get to know Briar better. ( )

This one I don't like quite as much. The quarantine parts are both dull and depressing. When they get out and start solving the problem, it's much better - I like Crane and the way he deals (or doesn't) with people. He's been a vague boogieman in the background of the first three books; in this one he gets fleshed out and turns into much more of a real person. The climax crisis is...a little much. I wonder if Briar would have thought about hanging on if he hadn't been solemnly warned, several times, not to? Probably, but the foreshadowing is a little heavy. And some of the imagery in the last scene is...I don't know. Unrealistic? Fluffy? It just doesn't strike the right note with me. Which makes this only a very good book, not a wonderful one. ( )

Book 4 in the Circle of Magic focuses on Briar, our plant mage. And what else do plant mages do? Deal with medicine. No, they're not healers, but they do brew medicines to help the regular folk heal. On a regular trip to Summersea's "open health clinic", a street rat friend of Briar's is sick with a new disease. Of course it's contagious, the "Blue Pox" and an epidemic breaks out. Briar and Rosethorn, Daja and Frostpine, Sandry and Lark all have work to do in spelling articles to help with the outbreak. Tris is left out a bit, but of course, helps provide key information and magic. ( )

When a local street urchin falls sick; Briar swears to help. When the illness turns into a plague and beings to kill the whole city; including his mentor; Briar must enlist the help of Sandy; Triss and Daga to defeat the fever. Not the best book ever but readers of the series will not be dissappointed. ( )