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Title: Circle of Magic: Sandry's Book (Circle of Magic, Book 1) (UNABRIDGED)
ISBN: 1933322039
Author:
Tamora Pierce
Publicate Date: 2002-08-01
Publish: 2002-08-01
List Price: $42.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Audio CD
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $26.60
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $25.81
Amazon Merchant Price: $32.76
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| Customer Review: |
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1: great for readers of any age
"Sandry's Book" is the first in Tamora Pierce's "Circle of Magic" quartet. (The foursome was recently followed with a sequel quartet called "The Circle Opens".) The four books do tell a series of events, but work just as well when read out of order.
The story opens with four children in four equally bad situations. As their stories unfold, the children--the daughter of a duke, a young thief, a Trader and a girl with a connection to the weather so strange that her own family abandoned her. As their stories, and magical abilities, intertwine it becomes clear that these characters have more in common than readers (or the characters themselves) would have thought.
Eventually, the children are discovered by Niklaren "Niko" Goldeye (I have been enamored with his name since I read this book when I was fourteen, still stand by the assessment that it's the best name ever). Adrift in their respective communities (or lack thereof), Niko takes them all to Winding Circle, a temple community where the children fall into a temple called Discipline where, finally, each of the four begin to find their place in the world.
Like any good fantasy, this book (and the series in general) features a lot of detail as Pierce builds a convincing world for her novel to inhabit. As a result, the story does describe the daily life and rituals of the temple. I had the misfortune of finding a negative review with the audacity to say that "Sandry's Book" focused too much on the occult. Aside from being completely inaccurate (such information comes up IN RELATION to the plot not to create some pseudo-subversive book on witchcraft), I found the trepidation distasteful and on par with saying Harry Potter should be censored because Hogwarts trains witches. Plus, aside from that, the information--like the information in so many challenged books--is harmless and only serves to teach readers something new (as every good book should).
Moving on from the issue of censorship, I liked this book because of all the strong female characters.
Three of the four main characters are girls. Not the secondary-character-type girls that sometimes populate fantasy novels of this type (a specific example being "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin). No, these girls are strong-minded and tough--two of my favorite qualities for book heroines. My personal favorite of the foursome is Tris, but Sandry is pretty cool too. A spunky noble, Sandry is an anti-princess discussion all by herself.
This book is one of the few that I feel could be solidy situated as a children's novel (although given some recent YA titles I've encountered, an argument probably could be made to place it there). The plot is straightforward, and the writing cogent, which make it ideal for a younger audience who lacks the experience to follow a winding narrative. At the same time, Pierce creates a story that is engaging and action-packed for readers of any age. I haven't gotten around to reading any of Pierce's books outside this series, but if "Sandry's Book" is any indication, I definitely should.
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2: warning - very occult
My 9 yr old daughter an I have read Tamora Pierce's books on Tortall, and found them very good. These books were recommended to me also, and since I enjoyed the Alanna series very much, I decided to read these. They aren't as good as the books on Tortall. What's more, although Pierce writes about magic in all of her books, these ones in particular I have found to be quite occult in nature.
The occult elements include magic circles, craft magic, and gods/goddesses. The human mages are part of a Temple and practice meditation. Their blessing is tracing a "gods circle" on their chests with their fingertips.
Just as a warning to parents who like to monitor what their children read, these books could almost be a primer to Pagan/Wiccan rites. Read them before your kids do, or with them... but if you are concerned about the occult, don't let them read these books on their own.
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3: Fire, Plants, Weaving, and Storms...come together
Sandry is in a dungeon...and her oil-lamp is nearly empty.
Daja is out at sea, floating. All her family was gone, they'd drowned.
Roach (later known as Briar) is about to be sentanced to the docks.
Tris's family doesn't want her anymore.
These four children all have something in common, magic. When Niko, a famous mage comes and takes them to Winding Circle, they are not getting along. Before they know it all four of them are kicked out and placed in Disciplin Cottage where their mentors Niko, Rosethorn, Frostpine, and Lark teach them about magic.
This is a great beginning to a great series! Anybody should enjoy it!
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4: Ahmazing.
About four years ago, I got this book for my birthday. And at that time, I had no interest in fantasy, so I swear it sat on my nightstand for weeks--no, MONTHS before I even opened the thing. Eventually, I opened it. And I read a couple sentences, put the book down and started on homework. Then the calling came, my mind started edging towards ideas of what would happen to Sandry. Why was she in a cell, what did she do with the thread? I ended up crawling onto my bed and reading it. I couldn't stop. I fell in love with Sandry and Briar, Tris and Daja. I loved how everybody seemed to clash and then smooth over. That is when I fell in love with fantasy, with Tamora Pierce.
I reccommend this book for anybody who wants a good fantasy. Just give it a try.
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5: complicated (parts almost don't make sense) and boring, very boring
Sandry's Book is a book I had to read for an assignment at school. The book gives you about 100 pages of almost a Martha Stewart, Dr.Phil feeling like your watching it on tv (you'd get it if you read it - which you should NOT)and the other 152 pages are dissapointing. There's about 2 parts of excitement and they both end quickly. This novel is very, very boring and I would only reccomend this to a person that is into weaving, gardening and metalwork.
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