''Circle of Magic'' is a quartet of
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
novel
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...
s by
Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce (born December 13, 1954) is an American writer of fantasy fiction for teenagers, known best for stories featuring young heroines. She made a name for herself with her first book series, '' The Song of the Lioness'' (1983–1988), wh ...
, set in Emelan, a fictional realm in a pseudo-
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
and
renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
era. It revolves around four young
mages
Mage most commonly refers to:
* Mage (paranormal) or magician, a practitioner of magic derived from supernatural or occult sources
* Mage (fantasy) or magician, a type of character in mythology, folklore, and fiction
*Mage, a character class in so ...
, each specializing in a different kind of
magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
, as they learn to control their extraordinary and strong powers and put them to use. It is followed by another quartet, ''
The Circle Opens
''The Circle Opens'' is a quartet of novels written by Tamora Pierce and set in a pseudo-medieval/renaissance era. It mainly revolves around four teenage mages, each specializing in a different kind of magic, as they find that they are forced to ...
'', which takes place four years later, and the standalone book ''
The Will of the Empress
''The Will of the Empress'', previously titled ''The Circle Reforged'', is a standalone fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, a continuation of the story of the quartets '' Circle of Magic'' and ''The Circle Opens''.
Plot summary
Empress Berenene
The ...
'', which takes place several years after that. ''
Melting Stones
''Melting Stones'', a fantasy novel by young adult author Tamora Pierce, was released by Full Cast Audio as an audiobook original in October 2007, and was released in print form by Scholastic in the summer of 2008.
The book takes place after th ...
'' and ''
Battle Magic
''Battle Magic'' is the third album by Bal-Sagoth, released in 1998 on Cacophonous Records, and is their last recording for that company before they signed to Nuclear Blast. It is the last album to feature Jonny Maudling on drums, who following ...
'' are also set in the same universe, but they feature only Briar.
Series
*''
Sandry's Book
''Sandry's Book'', by Tamora Pierce is a fantasy novel set mainly in Emelan. It is the first in a quartet of books: '' The Circle of Magic'', starring four young mages as they discover their magic.
Plot
Four young misfits from four different cla ...
'' (1997, also published as ''The Magic in the Weaving'') The four recover from their disastrous lives and move to Discipline Cottage. After just starting lessons, the four must spin their magics together to save themselves from disaster.
*''
Tris's Book
''Tris's Book'', a fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, tells the story of four young mages as they battle pirates and become closer than ever.
Plot introduction
Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, Trisana Chandler, Daja Kisubo, and Briar Moss have been li ...
'' (1998, also published as ''The Power in the Storm'') Things are finally settling down and the four have become friends. Then, Tris's cousin, Aymery, suddenly enters Winding Circle. When Tris learns that her cousin is working with the pirates, she and her friends must defend their life from a cutthroat band ruled by the sorcerer Enahar and his sister Pauha.
*''
Daja's Book
Plot introduction
''Daja's Book'', the third installment in the Circle of Magic quartet by Tamora Pierce, is a young adult fantasy novel. Daja Kisubo, an outcast to her people after she was the lone survivor of her family ship's wreck, and a ...
'' (1998, also published as ''The Fire in the Forging'') On a trip to the north, Daja meets her past: members of the very culture that banished her. A foolish mage fails to stop a forest fire, and it's up to Daja to save the clan that turned her away.
*''
Briar's Book
''Briar's Book'' by Tamora Pierce, is a fantasy novel set in the fictional duchy of Emelan. It is the fourth and final book in the Circle of Magic quartet, starring the four young mages Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar as they learn to handle po ...
'' (1999, also published as ''The Healing in the Vine'') A terrible unknown disease, characterized by blue spots all over the body, has fallen over Summersea. Briar, Tris, and Rosethorn are called upon to help find a cure, only to find it has magical origins. Rosethorn falls prey to the Blue Pox, and Briar must find a way to save her before it's too late.
Characters
*Lady Sandrilene fa Toren – Also known as Sandry. A girl of noble descent with thread magic and the power to weave magic itself. She is of a noble family in Namorn, a country to the north of Emelan, though she does not consider her estates there to be 'home'. She is the daughter of Count Mattin fer Toren and Countess Amiliane fa Landreg. She is the great-niece of his Grace, Duke Vedris of Emelan and cousin of her Imperial Highness, Empress Berenene of the Namornese Empire.
*Briar Moss – Formerly a street gang thief by the name of Roach. His power is with plants. He bears a scar on his palm from a briar's thorn growing under his uncontrolled power when he was younger, which is how he decided upon his new name when he was given a fresh start. He had two "X" tattoos put on his hands to show he had been caught twice stealing. From the Circle Opens quartet, his hands are tattooed with vine patterns that move and grow around on his skin to hide his "X" tattoos.
*Trisana Chandler – Also known as Tris, and as 'Coppercurls' by Briar for her mass of red hair. A girl from a merchant family who has rare weather magic and some earth magic. Tris also possesses a sharp mind and a temper that can cause her to release weather accidentally, with devastating effects.
*Daja Kisubo – Also known as Daj'. A former sea Trader with control over smithing, orphaned in a terrible accident at sea for which the Trader clan banished her. Another Trader clan then returned her Trader pride and allowed her back into Trader ranks because she had saved their tribe. Daja can also control fire and heat, and has been known to weave fire and metal.
*Dedicate Lark – Lark, who has thread magic, is Sandry's teacher at Winding Circle. She runs the cottage at Winding Circle known as Discipline. Lark is also considered a Great Mage at Winding Circle Temple, her magic being with thread and spinning. She is the four young mages' foster-mother when they are moved into Discipline.
*Dedicate Rosethorn – Rosethorn, with plant magic, is Briar's teacher at Winding Circle. Rosethorn is also a Great Mage, and is tart-tongued. The four youngsters know very well to stay out of her way, but they also consider her a foster-mother.
*Niklaren Goldeye – Also known as Niko. He is a great mage with Academic magic. His speciality is magic with vision. He is Tris's main instructor. He has been called the Greatest Vision mage of his day.
*Dedicate Frostpine – A blacksmith mage who teaches Daja. His powers are unrivaled by any mage of his kind in the era, save Daja.
*Dedicate Initiate Crane – A rival of Rosethorn who helps to clear the bluepox plague in ''Briar's Book''. Briar stole his first shakkan (a miniature
Bonsai
Bonsai ( ja, 盆栽, , tray planting, ) is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees in pots, developed from the traditional Chinese art form of ''penjing''. Unlike ''penjing'', which utilizes traditional techniques to produce ...
-like tree used for storing magic) from Dedicate Crane.
* Duke Vedris IV is the ruler of
Emelan during the ''Circle of Magic'' and ''
The Circle Opens
''The Circle Opens'' is a quartet of novels written by Tamora Pierce and set in a pseudo-medieval/renaissance era. It mainly revolves around four teenage mages, each specializing in a different kind of magic, as they find that they are forced to ...
'' quartets as well as ''
Battle Magic (novel)
''Battle Magic'', a fantasy novel by young adult author Tamora Pierce, was released by Scholastic on September 24, 2013.
The book follows Pierce's characters Briar Moss, Evumeimei Dingzai (nicknamed Evvy), and Rosethorn after the events of her 2 ...
'', ''
Magic Steps
''Magic Steps'' is the opening book of '' The Circle Opens'' quartet of young adult fantasy novels by Tamora Pierce. It is preceded by the ''Circle of Magic'' quartet, taking place four years after the conclusion of '' Briar's Book''. It portra ...
,'' and ''
The Will of the Empress
''The Will of the Empress'', previously titled ''The Circle Reforged'', is a standalone fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, a continuation of the story of the quartets '' Circle of Magic'' and ''The Circle Opens''.
Plot summary
Empress Berenene
The ...
''. Duke Vedris IV is the great-uncle of protagonist
Sandrilene fa Toren
''Circle of Magic'' is a quartet of fantasy novels by Tamora Pierce, set in Emelan, a fictional realm in a pseudo-medieval and renaissance era. It revolves around four young mages, each specializing in a different kind of magic, as they learn to c ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Circle Of Magic
Emelanese books
Fantasy novel series
1990s fantasy novels