The Healing of the Vine (Circle of Magic) (udgave 1999)

FOLKS. THIS BOOK. NOT GREAT TO READ IN A PANDEMIC. But also it feels like everything comes so full circle (lol) here in such amazing and powerful ways. I just love these characters so much and every book it has felt like the stakes get a little bit higher and a little bit higher. Some of it was predictable to some extent but I don't think that predictability hurt the book in any way--if anything, it made the tension of it all greater.

I can't wait to read the next series, but this was such an amazing end that deeply highlighted the growth of all the characters, loved it so much. ( )

This is one of my favorite series, I love the characters and all of their adventures. ( )

OK, finally. The book that justifies my nostalgic expectations for this series. 'Sandry's Book' got a pass through the potential of the characters being introduced and the full weight of re-experiencing these books for the first time. But with 'Tris's Book' and 'Daja's Book' that nostalgia began to spread thin. The book were still pleasant and not unenjoyable, but they were offering less and less for adult me to reflect on. Especially since Pierce was resolving those traits that made the characters stand out in the first place...

But, finally, with 'Briar's Book' we have a solid plot dealt with as realistically as this brand of magic allows, that (almost) doesn't involve the wonder quads saving the day in the last second.

Essentially, this book is the movie 'Contagion' for the tween fantasy genre set. A mysterious plague has come to Summersea and it is the duty of the Winding Circle community to help find a cure, especially after a friend of Briar's falls sick and more people they know begin to fall victim.

I'm much more on the fence then I was before about reading the next quartets, but I'll likely end up checking them out eventually.

Circle of Magic

Next: 'Magic Steps (The Circle Opens, #1)'

Previous: 'Daja's Book' ( )

OMG. this book is so emotional. ( )

I've now listened to the entire Circle of Magic series on audiobook. This was the last book in the series and instead of Pirates or other human enemy to fight, our young mages have to deal with a plague that's spreading rapidly through Summersea. For most of this book, Briar and Rosethorn are separated from the rest of their housemates, nursing the sick in quarantine because they were exposed to the disease. It's a huge change from the previous books, where the four young mages and their teachers were always together. I loved how they all work together throughout the series, but separating them was a surprisingly refreshing change. Due to quarantine, we see different aspects of Rosethorn and Briar's characters than in other stories. As the book [and the disease] progresses, we see more and more of Rosethorn's layered personality, which I loved.

Having a disease that has a magic element,with something created by a malicious mage. But it's more then that. It's not just a matter of tracking down the mage and stopping the spell. This was a true disease that needed a medical cure found with painstaking research and a scientific approach to the disease. It was a joy to read something so true to life in a fantasy novel while still, of course, retaining its fantasy aspects. Then there is the element of Rosethorn contracting the disease and how Briar reacts. I loved the book.
Jack Murphy ( )