_Melting Stones_, Tamora Pierce
Mar. 26th, 2009 11:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
walkitoutI have temporarily abandoned _Religious Literacy_. I had a migraine yesterday; probably but not definitely the sun.
The quartet from the two quadologies is off-stage in this entry, but the girl found by Briar, Evvy, is off to the Battle Islands with Luvo, Rosethorn and a water temple initiate named Myrrhtide but nicknamed Fusspot by Evvy. Something is mysteriously killing plants, poisoning water and otherwise doing some damage on the island Starns. Turns out it is volcanic activity.
I'm about halfway through this. I didn't even know this book _existed_ until I saw it at Willow Books (see, this is what happens when I don't visit bookstores in person -- I've been waiting for the next Beka Cooper book but not keeping an eye out for other projects). It is an unalloyed and unexpected (in that I wasn't anticipating it for months but pleasantly surprised) joy. I'm sure there are people out there who don't love Tamora Pierce, so I guess they might not like this one too. She wrote it for audio, so if you love audio books, give this one a spin and tell me how it works for you. I'm reading it the old-fashioned way: on paper.
The quartet from the two quadologies is off-stage in this entry, but the girl found by Briar, Evvy, is off to the Battle Islands with Luvo, Rosethorn and a water temple initiate named Myrrhtide but nicknamed Fusspot by Evvy. Something is mysteriously killing plants, poisoning water and otherwise doing some damage on the island Starns. Turns out it is volcanic activity.
I'm about halfway through this. I didn't even know this book _existed_ until I saw it at Willow Books (see, this is what happens when I don't visit bookstores in person -- I've been waiting for the next Beka Cooper book but not keeping an eye out for other projects). It is an unalloyed and unexpected (in that I wasn't anticipating it for months but pleasantly surprised) joy. I'm sure there are people out there who don't love Tamora Pierce, so I guess they might not like this one too. She wrote it for audio, so if you love audio books, give this one a spin and tell me how it works for you. I'm reading it the old-fashioned way: on paper.
finished -- good to the last page
Date: 2009-03-28 04:43 pm (UTC)Stone magic/stone mages and the influence of early teachers on a young mage are explored in limited detail. The reaction of humans to an impending disaster is depicted very nicely. Evvy is raw-er and more damaged than any of Pierce's other characters who spring to mind. In a lot of ways, she's on a path to becoming a bully and a tyrant (and with her power, a terrifying one). Rosethorn, Luvo and others work very hard to help turn her from that path, but it is the near-death of Meryem which has the biggest impact. Here's hoping the cats re-humanize Evvy -- or the whole world is going to pay the price of a twisted stone mage out to extract vengeance for all that has been done unto her. And unlike most stone mages, Evvy travels.
But this is Pierce's world, so I don't worry about it too much.