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Title: Melting Stones
ISBN: 193418005X
Author:
Tamora Pierce
Publicate Date: 2007-10-01
Publish: 2007-10-01
List Price: $39.95
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Audio CD
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $18.07
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $18.00
Amazon Merchant Price: $21.61
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| Customer Review: |
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1: ok
The book is in great condition and I am very pleased with it. However it took forever for it to arrive. Always when I've ordered used books they came in within a week not two and a half. I'm not saying it did not come in within the time period amazon predicted, but it was cutting it very close.
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2: An enjoyable venture into the realization that we must work with nature in order to enjoy living with it
Author Tamora Pierce is notable for stretching the possibility of just about everything while serving up a great adventure at the same time. She does not disappoint with her new title, MELTING STONES, where the experiences of 14-year-old Evvy, stone-mage-in-training, attempt to teach her to trust people --- not all people, but some. Her hectic life as a young slave sold by her mother in the land of Yanjing and then as an orphan surviving on her own have made Evvy somewhat crispy around the edges. Her friends of intentional choice are cats and, of course, stones and rocks of all shapes, sizes and kinds.
Evvy's life of beatings, deprivation and war has given her a temper along with her distrust of people. Her inability to rein in her desire to pummel anybody who challenges her continually causes trouble. Beating a group of other trainee mages at Winding Circle Temple has placed her in the position of either sailing across the sea (which she hates) to a distressed island or being punished at Winding Circle. Her guardian Rosethorn thinks Evvy might come in handy, so she is a passenger on the ship before she knows it.
As a stone mage, Evvy has the power to communicate, understand, and use rocks for purposes such as stopping a giant boulder in mid-air before it smashes her and her companions. Her talents reach beyond the fanciful as she is also empowered with a special trance ability, which allows her to send her spirit deep into the levels of the earth accessible only to stone mages. Evvy uses this soul-draining talent to help those in need when she accompanies Dedicate Rosethorn and Dedicate Myrrhtide (whom Evvy has nicknamed "Dedicate Fusspot" because his nitpicking annoys her) on a mission to rescue the dying plants and waters on the island of Starns.
Evvy isn't aware that she will be the one mage to whom island residents turn for help. Her problem with being a stone mage is that she doesn't appreciate people enough to save them from anything. For all she cares, a few less meeting-holding, talk-too-much "meat creatures" disguised as humans would suit her just fine. As long as she has rocks to collect and draw strength, power and knowledge from, she doesn't need people.
Pierce's choice to write Evvy's story in first person may disconcert the traditional reader who thinks fiction should be an omniscient, vicarious experience. But in the compulsive turn of a few pages, anyone will be captivated by the mystery and the cheeky young mage. Sharp-tongued and endowed with a dry wit, she is accompanied by a great friend and teacher, who is also another stretch of the imagination. Luvo, the "heart of a mountain," is a wisdom-spouting guru sort of character carried around in a cloth sling. He can walk, but his legs are too stumpy to get anywhere quickly, so Evvy carries him over her shoulder. Luvo is the talking rock equivalent of Jedi Master Yoda as he tempers Evvy's wildness with stories, guidance and challenges designed to help her grow.
When Evvy uncovers what is threatening the island's survival, even Luvo bows to her powers and intuition as she carries out a plan to help the people avoid sure devastation. Of course, there are islanders who don't believe a smirky 14-year-old knows what she's doing, and Evvy doesn't care if the earth's destructive powers eat them whole. Along the way, however, she has come to care about what happens to the orphaned and foster children of Starns Island. That is who Evvy tests her strength for and that is who she saves.
For readers willing to suspend reality and take a chance on believing that rocks, trees, animals and water have spirits worth respecting, MELTING STONES is an enjoyable venture into the realization that we must work with nature in order to enjoy living with it.
--- Reviewed by Joy Held
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3: As a huge Pierce fan...
I was not at all impressed with "Melting Stones". Tamora Pierce has been one of my favorite authors for a few years now and I'll say that "Melting Stones" doesn't live up to her previous novels. The Circle of Magic quartet was quite good and exciting but this novel can be slow.
It took me some time to actually get through the beginning because I was so used to Ms. Pierce's fast paced reads. Usually with her books I'm done with the book in no time flat.
I will admit that maybe I just didn't like "Melting Stones" because Pierce's "magic" books have never been my favorite. I've always been the biggest fan of her knight books filled with action. So perhaps my opinion shouldn't be counted but either way I was not satified with this read.
Evvy is continuing her journey as a stone mage with her teacher, Rosethorn (a plant mage). Her troublesome behavior at Winding Circle (a place for mages) sends her on an adventure overseas and to an island where plants are mysteriously dying for no seen reason. It's up to them to find out what happened and save all they can.
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4: Character Lacked A Certain Something
While I normally adore Tamora Pierce's writing, and I even preordered this book, I didn't enjoy it very much. I felt as though it was rather vague and un-attached, I didn't feel any connection with Evvy as a character. The plot didn't thrill me, and the way Mrs. Pierce chose to write it -- in Evvy's rather uncultured voice -- made the writing difficult to sink into. However, that was just personal opinion. Overall it was an okay read, but for Tamora Pierce? I'd say it was not one of her better books.
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5: Somewhat disappointing
Melting Stones was originally released as an audio book. A year after its release, it was released in print version. According to the Audio Publisher's Association, it is the first time a manuscript had been written to be heard first and read later.
This is the first work from the author I've read. It seems this is a stand-alone book, but I think I would have felt more comfortable as a reader if I had read any of the Circle of Magic series. Melting Stones is a story about a girl who must decide in which world she will live.
Evvy is an appretince stone mage travelling with her mentor, Rosethor, and the powerful Luvo. Luvo is the living stone heart of a mountain. They are traveling to one of the Battle Islands, where the trees and animals are all dying, so that Rosethor can find what is causing all the death.
Evvy is supposed to be quiet, listen and learn. However, she cannot and before long she and Luvo discover an important clue. Now, with the island on the brink of disaster, it's up to Evvy to avert the destruction that looms ahead.
I wanted to like Evvy, but found it very hard with her attitude and treatment of other characters. I sympathized for her because she was an orphan and found it hard to trust others. After all, when you think like a stone, it makes it very difficult to act as a human does.
However, I found it very interesting how her magic sprang from the stones and the volcanoes. The world created, and the characters were well-rounded. I just found it not up to par as there was no twists, turns, or suspense. I felt I knew what was going to happen before it happened.
Since this was written for the young adult genre, they may find pleasure within the pages of this magical story. Unfortunately, I did not.
Armchair Interviews says: For those who love Young adult fantasy
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