The Will of the Empress

This book was a journey, both literally and figuratively. The beginning conflicts felt a little... contrived? Like we just had to invent a conflict. But also then by the end I was like fully crying about the resolution and these KIDS, MY BABIES ALL GROWN UP, I LOVE THEM.

Not that you would start here, but I do think you need all the previous books to have this feel as good as it felt for me. So definitely don't start here, but also getting here was so much of a journey and watching these kids grow up has been so much. Pierce's character work here is really divine, loved it, want more.

All round generally great read: an intriguing adventure, teen angst, friendships reignited, and insufferable villains (not to mention a rather vile, arrogant empress).

However: there were events a bit clumsily foreshadowed, and the final dénouement was really a letdown. The young adults suspended in Briar's imaginative reflection of their earlier life simply relegated the characters to their younger life and took away a sense of their developing maturity. The story arc was headed to a 'coming of age' theme, a much more satisfying development that was derailed.

Reunited after their travels to hone their individual specialties, the four young mages from Winding Circle find that they have grown apart. They find it difficult to establish the rapport (both emotional and magical) that they once shared. This proves dangerous when the friends travel to Sandry's estates in Namorn. The empress there, Sandry's cousin, is very powerful and very used to having her own way. What she wants is to keep Sandry (and her great wealth) in the country and under her control. Sandry, of course, balks at the strict hierarchy and backwards customs regarding women that the empress allows. But she needs her friends' help to escape Namorn, and they are being tempted by the things that matter most to them.

I never enjoyed show more the "Circle" series as much as I loved the Tortall books. This was a good addition to the other series, though. The teenagers bicker and argue like family, but they also must learn to trust one another all over again. Each of them has done things which they cannot forgive of themselves, and they both desperately need the support and companionship of the others and shy away from it out of fear of rejection.

Pierce does a wonderful job capturing the complexities of the teenage mind by contrasting their control over their magic with their emotional turmoil. I was impressed. The plot had its strong moments (Sandry with her vassals and Zhegorz), but for the most part it seemed like it was merely a pretext to allow the mages to reconnect through their magical bond.

I truly admire the way Daja's love story was handled. I have never seen a girl/girl love story handled with such naturalness, comfort, and delicacy. It was not a side plot filled with upheaval and the need to take a strong stand, it was just accepted. That's a very bold message to send, but an important one to get across to young adults, I think.

I'm eager for the sequel (I can't wait to learn more about their students.) show less

I really liked this, although it was my introduction to the Circle of Magic books. There was enough context and backstory woven through that I got the gist. As ever, I really like what Tamora Pierce does with magic and culture in her fantasy novels, and with interesting, strong characters, especially the female ones. I wish she'd write more in the Tortall universe.

I never read the books leading up to this- but I was able to get the characters and key events by context. Might go back and try reading the Circle of Magic, though I get the sense it's the kind of thing that works better when you're reading for the first time as a tween.

And it definitely passed the Stayed Up Too Late Reading test.

It's a rich story, with references to events in the Circle Opens quartet throughout. And it's nice seeing the four of them working together again (eventually!). But I can't say I got the impression that they had matured - they behave quite childishly toward one another, while constantly asserting that they're 'grown up' now. Sigh. It's fun, I'm glad I read it, but it felt like they were coming full circle - at the end of this book, they have re-achieved what they had at the end of the first Circle quartet. Maybe a _little_ more, but I don't see a lot of progress. It'll be interesting to see later books, with them as secondary characters (Melting Stones they really don't show up at all).
On a reread - I like it better. They re-achieve show more what they had as children, while establishing/maintaining their adult selves. They all learn more about themselves and the others, plus things about those around them - Sandry about Ambros, for instance, and all of them about Zhegorz. I'd still like to see later stories, though. show less

I like it and I don't. It's noticeably better than the other Circle books, but has a lot of the same flaws - too many separate stories going on at once, with not enough time to focus on any one of them. And the final conflict, the climax of the story, is a bit of a let-down.

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 show more 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. show less