Magic Steps (The Circle Opens, Book 1) - Hardcover

Pierce, Tamora

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590395882 ISBN 13: 9780590395885

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2000

Synopsis

When drawn into the investigation of murders perpetrated on a powerful family in Summersea, Sandy and her student Pasco undertake the dangerous mission of entrapping the invisible killers.

About this title

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.

Reviews

Grade 5-8-Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, known to readers of the "Circle of Magic" quartet(Scholastic) as Sandry, comes fully into her powers here. Now 14, Sandry is caring for her great-uncle, Duke Vedris of Emelan, after his near-fatal heart attack, when her attention is suddenly seized by two very different events. After witnessing a younger boy, Pasco, unwittingly perform a dance of magical power, she realizes reluctantly that she must take on his magical training before he becomes a danger to himself and others. At the same time, members of a powerful merchant family are being killed one by one by assassins cloaking themselves in "unmagic," or "the absence of all things." Sandry must use all her skill to weave her magic and Pasco's into a force that can overcome the assassins. Readers are immediately plunged into the rich and vibrant atmosphere of Sandry's world, with its merchants, miscreants, and mages. Though the pace of the plot is heart quickening, the admirable heroine remains calm, capable, and always ready to giggle. Violent acts are horrifying but are not graphically described. Fans of the previous quartet and new readers alike will immerse themselves in this thrilling tale of magical intrigue.
Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In vibrant language and with great energy, Pierce spins out the story of Sandry (Circle of Magic, 1997) for the Circle Opens quartet. At 14, Lady SandrileneSandryhas endured the loss of her family, danger, and tragedy, but she has mastered her magic, which she can spin and knot and weave like thread. She's staying with her great uncle, the Duke, trying to keep him from overwork after an illness, and cheering him with her spirit and sharp mind. She will exert both in the face of two events: a family of unscrupulous merchants is being slaughtered under the very noses of their protectors; and a local boy named Pasco is mightily resisting his own magic. Sandry must begin to teach Pasco, and does so by enlisting her own teacher and one of the most famous dancers of the realm. While there is darkness and violence, Sandry works with strength and confidence to overcome them, secure in the love of her uncle and her teachers. It ends well, and with the promise of more stirring tales to come. (Fiction. 10-13) -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

In the first book in the Circle Opens series, 14-year-old Sandry is no stranger to magic; she spins and weaves it in wondrous ways. Then she meets Pasco, a boy who somehow dances spells, and reluctantly becomes his mentor. When mysterious killers target local merchants, the two interweave their magic to stop the murderers. Using descriptive, personable prose, Pierce combines dimensional characters, intricate details, plot twists, and alternating story lines for a gripping read, while introducing issues of modern relevance symbolized by the heroin-like Dragonsalt and the evil Unmagic, which has all the hazards of nuclear waste. Independent, brave Sandry is an appealing protagonist, sometimes prone to nervous giggling; there is some vivid violence, and though the romantic cover art indicates otherwise, the emphasis is on suspense. Fans of the Circle of Magic series will recognize some familiar characters, but this book stands well on its own as a fast-paced, engrossing read, sure to satisfy fantasy fans. Shelle Rosenfeld

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590395882
• ISBN 13: 9780590395885
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272