Street Magic

*spoiler warning*

I'm finding it kinda weird that in addition to other thematic similarities, both the first two books in this sequel series to "Circle of Magic" end with Sandry and Briar respectively killing people, and coming to terms with the necessity of doing so. Or at least, ostensibly so.
In Magic Steps it seems at least that the deed was somewhat inevitable, even though it was also a choice made by Sandry. And Lark's response/rationalization that at least Sandry did not kill them with hate in her heart, and at least she feels like there's blood on her hands did actually feel to me the reader like a satisfactory closure.
However, in Rosethorn's case she simply told Briar that she herself still has terrifying dreams of past deaths show more and horrors, which is in no way settling nor reassuring. I also felt pretty surprised both that Briar killed Zenadia's mute slave even though the slave was clearly just another tool or pawn being manipulated just like Briar had complained of Zenadia doing to Evvy, and also that Evvy met Briar's deed with "approval" and Briar was additionally described as approving when Evvy killed Ikrum with a caved-in roof. I could just imagine them nodding their heads proudly at each killing!

So now I can't help but try to remember from my previous reading whether the rest of the books in the series will also end in Tris and Daja murdering people and rationalizing it more or less effectively, just like they will probably include each of them becoming teachers whether they like it or not and doubting their ability to be good at it.

Oh well. For all my qualms and misgivings about the ending of the book, I still loved it. Loved the way Pierce can highlight and make so delightful the seemingly mundane details of daily life, like chores and lessons, that accompany finding one's place in the world. show less

After becoming a council-recognized mage in his own right (at only 13!), Briar and his crotchety teacher Rosethorn start traveling their world, seeking new magics and spreading knowledge of their own. Briar has taken to cultivating the magical equivalent of bonsai trees, and while selling them in the bazaar he discovers a young street kid has magic. Convincing her to listen to him takes a great deal of effort--Evvy's as skittish as her bevy of cats--but eventually she agrees to be taught. The only problem is, the only stonemage in the area refuses to teach her. Briar is only a teenager himself, and his plant magic is utterly unlike Evvy's own stone magic, but seeing no either options he begins to teach her. But then a bored and show more power-hungry noblewoman starts a gang war, and Evvy has to work with her only half-realized magic to survive.

Briar is a goddamn badass in this book. He's my least favorite of the Circle mages (only because I love Daja, Tris, and Sandry so hard--he's a perfectly cromulent character), and it's easy to think that the magic of living plants is too slow and subtle to be useful in battle. Not so. Briar tangles his foes in vines, tortures them with pollen (almost killing one of them), even sets a tree to eat a guard from the inside out. He is a scary dude when he's riled. The action scenes in Pierce's novels are by far my favorite part, because as wonderful as her world-building and character development are, her action is just that much better. She is probably one of the best action writers working today.

Edited to add: also, Briar and Rosethorn's seed bombs are totally a real thing! So exciting! show less

There were many things about this book I liked--I think it handled the mentorship relationship way better than the last one, in that there was just so much more onscreen time between Briar and Evvy (and it was SO CUTE. Every part they were together I kept going "AWWW" and having to put the book down because I was overcome by how adorable they were.)

There was some stuff going on that I did not love--there was a weird amount of fatphobia which like, I get that here fatness is also a sign of wealth and not caring for the poor, but it's also like. Rough in its depiction. It's also much darker than any of the previous Circle books which is not in and of itself a bad thing, but may be worth knowing going into it.

But apart from that, like I show more said, I really did enjoy this book, and it made me hope that we will see more of Evvy especially in the future! show less

Ancient Arab-like city, gangs, plant magic, stone magic, wealthy elitists, and interestingly lots of shopping define Street Magic.

Briar is 14 and discovers a ten-year-old girl that lives on the streets, avoiding gangs and the slave trade after her impoverished parents sold her so they could continue their long journey west. Technically the girl, Evvy, needs a stone mage to teach her stone magic, and Briar needs to find her such a mage. Technically, stone mages like Evvy are known to have stony stubbornness and she refuses to have anyone but the street smart yet kind Briar to teach her. How will this work out? Tamora Pierce kept me guessing. Meanwhile, Rosethorn was more than happy to have minimal responsibilty.

For a while I was show more concerned about all the gangs in the city that the story is set in. Is it all about gangs and little to do with magic? The gang culture was unsettling and I had to read the book in more spread out sessions that I usually would for Pierce's novels. At first I thought that was my own insecurity about having other people with more power over me than me. Toward the end of the story I figured the effect was intentional and Piece did a good job keeping me unsettled.

Briar was not. I haven't read the first three Circle of Magic books yet, so I can't say how much Briar's tact (or lack of) and bravery (or foolishness) was fleshed out, so I was never sure if his courses of action would bring misfortune later. Early in the book he cares for wounded gang members. Then again shortly later. Yet he assumed that he could chose how he was involved and that he wouldn't get manipulated into joining or murdered. Perhaps it was only because he was a mage, but the story focuses more on his street upbringing more, so I nervously wondered if he had a blind spot and would get sucked in to the point of no escape.

The only Circle of Magic book I read, Briar's Book had no combat. I had no idea if Briar could safely handle himself if--when--the gangs attacked him or if he was the sort that was comfortable gambling. Now, having finished reading, appreciate just how much I unnecessarily intensified the story by not being acquainted with Briar from the previous books. (Not my fault--I'm reading what the library has. I'm going to have to buy the first three Circle of Magic books.)

I much prefer Evvy over Sandry's student in the first installation of this series. He was, as she put it, "young" for his age--a typical, 12-year-old boy archetype. Not Evvy. Evvy can have her own series. Maybe I'm biased to the orphaned and abandoned types of character backgrounds and street-smart and tough female personalities, but Evvy also has great lines and shows fear at appropriate times for her to relate to. She also has cats and goes to great lengths to look after them and spend quality time with them.

How to share my favorite part of the book without spoilers.... Briar is badass when he is angry, in so many ways. The climax is simply a delight. I read fast and laughed hard. Briar and Evvy make a great team. I'm almost surprised they didn't high-five. show less

While Briar and Rosethorn are travelling in Chammur, he discovers Evvy, who doesn't realize she has 'stone magic'. Ultimately, after exciting adventures with street gangs and kidnappings, Briar takes on her training himself.

This was an excellent adventure with Briar, who comes into his own in the story. While there are some not too graphic, but violent beatings between gang members, it is otherwise a marvellous tale for the YA reader. It was also very good escapism for tired adults who really want to read Tamora Pierce's next book in the 'Circle Opens' series.

What can I say? Once again I was drawn to this Circle Audio book even though I know I'm reading this story out of sequence. Street Magic's a quick, engrossing, and entertaining story . Like the previous volumes, I'm enjoying this series more than when we met the original group at the Winding Circle, with its four rotating POVs. I thought the plot was fairly straightforward . As Tamora Pierce's only male character, Briar Moss, is one of her best characters. Amongst the rest of the mainly female cast, his charisma, street smarts and ongoing inner conflict between his younger, wilder instincts, and his older, more civilized self, makes him one of the most lovable and well-rounded characters in the Circle of Magic series. Seeing Briar show show more off his magic was rather awesome and how he takes Evvy under his wing as his student, even though she had Earth mage magic was remarkably written. I love the Circle of Magic series and recommend it to young and old (like me) alike.
Jack Murphy show less

I really don't like Evvy much. She varies wildly between totally pliable and preemptively surrendering, and (as soon as she thinks she's safe) unreasonably stubborn. And here, her magic is a minor point...well, it makes her the trigger for the problem, and makes Briar act to deal with it. And she does free herself as he's coming to get her. But it's very much Briar's book, with Evvy being the reasons for Briar's actions but not much of an actor (acter?) on her own.