Wild Magic

Wild Magic

By: Tamora Pierce

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.

 

I am so happy for the chance to go back to Tortall. I read The Song of the Lioness quartet late last year and fell in love. I inhaled those books in the space of five days. Finishing that series crushed. But I decided to spread out all of the Tortall books so as not to run out of them too quickly. Finally I picked up Wild Magic from the library, it was just as addictive and fantastic as The Song of the Lioness.

 

I loved this book. It was great seeing even further expansion of the Tortallan world, with experiencing wild magic and more immortals. I also was a bit worried that the new heroine wouldn't match Alanna in terms of awesome-ness or would come out a sort of copy of her (I know, that's dumb. But worry I did..). But I absolutely love Daine. She's spunky and compassionate, but in a quieter way than Alanna. She's not doesn't have a warrior's heart, but she's not sitting back and taking anything either.

 

It was beyond great to see old friends again, but this time through someone else's perspective. She was an newcomer to the group, so it was a great way to show just how much these characters have changed (or not changed, respectively) in the years since we've seen them. And there are new characters to meet, like Onua, Numair, and the children.

 

We got to see future Jonathan, Thayet, Alanna, and George. And they're happy, and they have families, and they've found their places in the world. That was beautiful to see. Then we got to see them helping Daine find her place. IT MADE MY HEART SO HAPPY.

 

I could not have asked any more from this book, it had heart and adventure. It was all that I've come to expect and love from Tamora Pierce. You can bet that I'll be devouring the rest of this series very soon.

Quotes:

"Never?...Never means not meeting sea lions and griffins. Never means not hearing whales sing. Never means not learning to heal."

"Evil people say evil things to make good people cry and doubt."

"We have no choice in being hunted--not animals, not humans. That's how the world is. The choice we do have is to take it--or fight."