(2) 4-6 Circle Opens series. In this fourth book in the quartet, Trisana Chandler, a plump, headstrong weather mage, takes on a student and stops a murderer while abroad in Tharios, a hot, Mediterranean/Indian-flavored culture obsessed with castes and the uncleanliness of death. Pierce has quite a few balls to keep in the air; that a few drop before the end won't bother fans of her down-to-earth characters, earnest magical effects, and low-key mysteries.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2003

(2) 4-6 Circle Opens series. Daja, the magical young metal smith, faces down an arsonist in this addition to the series. The main tension is in the relationship that forms between the young mage and an older firefighter whose passion for training and leading fire brigades borders on obsession. The novel is filled with tactile descriptions that help develop a full picture of Daja, her passion for her work, and her interactions with the snowy and fiery environments.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2002

(2) 4-6 Circle Opens series. Although the second book in this popular series has the same premise as the first--a mage from Winding Circle discovers and must train a younger teen with an unrealized magical talent--there are enough twists and turns to provide an exciting read. Set in fictional Chammur, the novel emphasizes the exotic elements of the city, but the main characters have universal appeal and scenarios regarding gang life ring true.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2001

(2) 4-6 Circle Opens series. Sandry, one of the four young mages in Pierce's Circle of Magic Quartet, is a "stitch witch" who can weave magic as well as cloth. She reluctantly takes on twelve-year-old Pasco as a student, and the plot revolves around her struggles as a first-time teacher and her involvement in investigating a series of vicious murders. The fantasy emphasizes Sandry's strength of character in the face of danger and focuses on her attempts to find a solution.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2000