Synopsis
Daja is a metal mage - iron speaks to her senses and fire is her friend - more powerful than a student should be, some think. Staying the winter in snow-locked Namorn, Daja is determined to enjoy herself, and her host's twin daughters are good company. But there's more to the pretty pair than meets the eye - the twins may be destined for more than just the marriage market...
It's not only the twins who need Daja's skills - she wants to help Ben Ladradun, the heroic firefigher. Desperate to control the blazes that regularly devastate his wooden city, Ben is fascinated by this girl who can make fire dance between her hands...
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Review
Readers who have followed the fortunes of Daja and her foster siblings in Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens sequences will not be disappointed by this continuation of Daja's adventures as a smith-mage. As her foster siblings Sandry and Briar struggle with their reluctant apprentices (Magic Steps, Street Magic), Daja and her teacher, Frostpine, settle into the northern Namorn city of Kugisko for a restful winter break. Not surprisingly, their illusions are promptly shattered, as Daja discovers that the twin daughters of her host have "ambient magic." As the discovering-mage, Daja is obliged to teach the fidgety girls the rudiments of magic. Meanwhile, Kugisko seems to have fallen into the hands of a ruthless arsonist, and Daja is determined to help her new firefighting friend, Bennat Ladradun, get to the bottom of the mystery. As always, Pierce's writing is both personable and thrilling. Kaja, a strapping, dark-skinned 14-year-old, is tremendously genuine; her powers seem to reflect inner strength rather than an arbitrary gift. An excellent, many-layered read. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
About the Author
TAMORA PIERCE is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous fantasy novels for young people, including the acclaimed Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens quartets, and most recently the novel Melting Stones. She lives in New York State with her husband, Tim.
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