Street Magic by Tamora Pierce (Circle Opens Quartet, Book 2)

Pierce, Tamora (2002). Street Magic. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780509396431

264 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Magic, Royalty, Fantasy, Relationships, 

Reader's Annotation

Briar, now a full-powered mage, is traveling with his mentor when he encounters a young street urchin in possession of powerful stone magic whom he must protect from warring gangs seeking to exploit her powers. 

Summary

Similar to the first book in the series, Magic Steps, the former student becomes a teacher. In this book, Briar, the plant mage, has come into his power. While traveling with his mentor, he comes acros Evvy, an urchin who can perform powerful storm magic. He finds that, having discovered her, he is responsible for her and must protect her from those seeking to use her and her talents, but this places Briar in and uncomfortable position between warring gangs who desire to use Evvy for their own ends. 

Notes

Although this is a sequel to Pierce's Magic Steps, it can also stand alone as a book. Pierce carefully weaves the story so that readers are brought along every step of Briar's journey as he becomes a teacher and protector of a young mage. Those interested in learning more and following these characters should explore the Magic Circle books by Tamora Pierce or other books in this series. 

Author Information

Tamora Pierce Fansite

Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce (Circle Opens Quartet, Book 1)

Pierce, Tamora (2001). Magic Steps. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780590396059

272 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: War, Royalty, Magic,  Murder, Family, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

Sandrilene fa Toren (Sandry) is fourteen years old and fully in her powers as she helps her great-uncle, Duke Vedris IV, ruler of Emelan, recover after a near-fatal heart attack, when she realizes that she must help another with his magical training as they both work to stop a murderer. 

Summary

14-year old Sandrilene fa Toren (Sandry) has finally come into her powers. She is busy helping her great-uncle, Duke Vedris IV, the ruler of Emelan, recover after a near-fatal heart attack when she witnesses a younger boy unknowingly perform a dance of magical power. She takes it upon herself to become his trainer and to guide him in the arts of magic before he becomes a danger to more than himself. He is reluctant to accept her as a teacher, making her job more difficult. In the meanwhile, a powerful family is slowly being killed off and the two must weave magic to overcome the murderers before it is too late. 

Notes

There can be quite a bit of gore and death, so those with weak stomach should read with caution. Those who read the Magic Circle Quartet will recognize the characters in this book as they have grown and developed. Younger teens will find it easier to relate to young Sandry than older teens, but anyone who enjoys a skillful fantasy narrative will enjoy this and the other books in the series. 

Author Information

Tamora Pierce Fansite

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil (2003). Stardust. New York, New York: Avon.

ISBN: 9780380804559

288 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Romance, Fantasy, Relationships, Identity, Magic

Reader's Annotation

Tristran Thorn, in love with the most beautiful girl in town, goes on a quest across the boundaries of his world to bring back a fallen star to prove his love, and on the way he learns a thing or two about love, life, and his mysterious past. 

Summary

Tristran Thorn lives in the town of Wall, England, and he lives a fairly mundane life at that. He is in love with the most beautiful girl in town who barely pauses to notice him, but if he goes beyond the wall and into the land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star and prove his love for her, she will accept his hand in marriage. He sets out on this quest and has help along the way from talking animals, gnomes, and magic trees as he avoids evil witches and a power struggle he inadvertently becomes the center of in his quest to find the star. It is an engaging fairy tale with just enough light-heartedness to pull of what would otherwise be an unbelievable romantic tale. 

Notes

This was originally created as a "story book with pictures" to be published by DC Comics. Once Charles Vess came onboard to do illustrations, it was released in 1997 as a four-issue miniseries, after which it was then released into single book format. In 1999 Gaiman decided to release the book as a conventional novel without illustrations, and that is the version reviewed here. 

Other Information

This was made into a movie starring Claire Danes and Robert DeNiro. Information on the film can be found here. 

Author Information

Neil Gaiman's Website

Voices by Ursula LeGuin

LeGuin, Ursula (2008). Voices. New York, New York: Harcourt Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780152062422

360 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Magic, Fantasy, Family, Revenge, Rebellion, Politics

Reader's Annotation

17-year-old Memer and her mentor are protectors of a library in a world in which war is a fact of life and the ownership of books is punishable by death, but with the arrival of a storyteller, the lengthy war might end at last, forcing Memer to consider what she has been fighting for for so many years. 

Summary

This book is the sequel to LeGuin's Gifts, but it is strong enough to stand on its own. This book follows 17-year-old Memer, who from birth has been brought up to resent the invaders of her town who raperd her mother and destroyed the city. When a storyteller arrives in the city and the differences between the conquered and the conquerors no longer seem as great, it looks like the war may at last be over. Her dreams of vengeance need to find a new outlet, however, once it looks like peace may be on the horizon, and this forces her to consider what she has been fighting for and whether her personal quest for redemption and justice is still a valid pursuit. 

Awards

2007 Locus Award Nomination

2007 New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age

Author Information 

Ursula LeGuin's Website