Some things remain constant in life. It happens to me occasionally and my dislike for this series is one such occasion. May contain spoilers! Read at your own risk! Wait a minute, I don't think this review even has spoilers, because there is NOTHING TO SPOIL!When it comes to the Circle of Magic series, I thought I would give it another shot and read it in English this time since I was not at all impressed by how it was in Romanian. Turns out I was not impressed with the English Version either. And if you just bear with me for a moment I will explain why. But first, let me go through my ordinary review sequence.When it comes to the setting, this world is really flimsy, in terms of world-building. There are a whole lot of cultures here thrown on the page and we, as the readers, have to accept them. No, thanks, I do not have to accept this mish-mash that is supposed to be an attempt at writing a believable world. The world is far from believable and, for God's sake, we don't even have a map! In a fantasy world, if there is no map in order to actually pinpoint where said places are, I am lost. I know many people don't like using maps, but no one can deny their practicality in such situations. The atmosphere, except for the eventual "Hogwarts-y" type of atmosphere, is really pissing me off, and i mean it's almost non-existant.The plot is one of the things that the book almost completely lacks. Some characters make a hint to the existence of some sort of threat, but my god man, 60 % in the first book, the characters have barely met each other and are doing chores, because hey, they're kids, why not. So 60 % in the novel, there there are no clear signs of a plot... anywhere >.>I have to address the cast. The main and secondary characters are so dull. Aside from having no sort of chemistry between themselves, the main characters - Daja, Sandry, Tris and Briar - they seem to make it their life mission to not have interaction of the natural sort with any of the secondary characters either. Daja is this lone, silent type of character, with a lot of hardship behind her and she also seems to be the most mature of the four youngsters and her powers show the most potential. Tris is a rejectee and cannot control her emotions that directly influence the weather around her. Of all the characters she is my least favorite.Briar is a thief and has a secret interest in plants. Of all the characters I find him the most endearing, though he can be mean-spirited and a total prick sometimes with no real and palpable reason. I say that he's the most endearing because he seems to be the most fleshed out of all the characters and he does seem to have a more easy to grasp backstory and most of the other characters.Even though this book is named after her, Sandry does not appear all that much, the main focus is instead on Briar and Daja, most of the times. She is the stuck-up, cloudcoocoolander, bossy type of charcter that likes the idea of befriending people and not giving a rat's ass what other people say. Of all the characters I find her backstory to be the least understandable and even though I read it twice I still dunno how she got herself into that situation that she had to be taken out of by Master Niko.*-______________-*Master... Niko? Really? This guy has my freaking name and he's a mage. He's supposed to be this sort of mentor figure to the four of them, but I get the impression that none of them actually look up to him. The other characters are really one dimensional, Lark and Rosethorn I cannot distinguish between the two of them and rest is down the drain.When it comes to the writing I just have to say that it is not engaging, not humorous, not enthralling and while it is a children's book primarily (see page count - it's 10 times smaller than A Dance with Dragons) I don't think I would've been captivated with it even if I were the same age as the book is meant to be. Because I can't connect with the characters. And the use of third person limited is so jarring that after the main character eventually do come together, the 3rd person limited tends to still be used instead of shifting to omniscient. And the vocabulary used, does tend to be rather juvenile at times. I mean instead of proper swear words of at least using something that resembles a palpable swear the terms used are along the lines of "donkey dung" and "cat dirt". I. am not. kidding.Let's Rate This - 2.2 / 10Setting and Atmosphere - 2Plot - 3Main Characters - 4Secondary Characters - 1Antagonists - 1 Writing - 3Enjoyability - 2So yeah i don't think I'll continue the series, because hey, why would I waste time reading something I don't like. nd I'll probably take it out of my reading list too :/Ok back to Mistborn :DMy other reviews :D
One of my favorites. This is the book that introduced me to Tamora Pierce. My mom was at the library and looking for books by another author (Meredith Pirce perhaps? Something like that, books about vampires in an alternate universe) and found Sandry's Book instead. She brought it home to me and I dove in, knowing even in my adolescent angst that if my mom knows anything about anything, it's books!And so began my love affair with these fantasy novels for young adults (meaning teens of course). The Circle books are a great way to introduce a younger reader (above average 8 yr. old up, I'd say) to Pierce's work, and I'd say fantasy in general (yeah, I know there's HP, but I know from experience with kids that even HP 1 is to scary for some kids - circle books won't have that effect). As they get a little older, the 10-12 range, the Lioness books could be introduced, but there are instances of more adult relationships and concepts that some parents may want to at least know about, but the Circle of Magic books don't have all that.Anywho, Sandry is a young fiber mage, meaning she has magic that works itself through sewing, weaving, knitting etc. She is teamed up more or less by accident with three other children who are just discovering their magical abilities - Tris (weather), Daja (metal), and Briar (plants). They all have as much in common as they do differences, and I think this is a great series for children from "blended" families. Lark and Rosethorn are totally Lesbian, if you want/need to see it that way as a kid, the characters all come in well described and various shapes and sizes and colors - which was always great for me because it illustrated the world I saw around me. So, this is probably my umpteenth read of this book, and it won't be my last. I love delving into these books again and again and noticing all the different nuances, even as an adult.
What do You think about Sandry's Book (2006)?
This book has been one of my favorites since I first read it years ago. I was first introduced to Tamora Pierce through her series that take place in the Tortall universe. The Circle of Magic series is directed at a younger audience than those, but this does not detract from the vivid detail and the fascinating concept of magic rooted in crafts. As an adult, the timeline at the beginning of the novel isn't clear to me, but that doesn't detract from its beauty, in my opinion. Each character has a unique background and culture. To me, it's an exciting page-turner that I have reread many times without the words ever getting boring. (view spoiler)[Towards the end, Sandry weaves her magic together with that of Briar, Tris, and Daja. (hide spoiler)]
—Katie
Sandry's Book is the first in the Circle of Magic series. It begins with Lady Sandrilene who is alone and afraid after being hidden by magic in a small storeroom by her nurse, to keep her safe from a smallpox outbreak and rioting villagers. Her nurse is killed and Sandry is left for a very long time without light and only her needlework to keep her company. She is found by Niko, a mage, who was able to locate her and save her from the dark and lonely room where she was held safe. Her parents and nurse are now dead so Niko delivers her to her uncle, Duke Vedris, who lives near the Winding Circle temple. The duke is a widower, who's children are all grown, so it is decided that Sandry shall go to live at the Winding Circle temple with other children who have been sent there to study.We are also introduced to the other three members of the Circle of Magic, Daja, Briar, and Trisana. These three come from very different walks of life and are brought together by Niko, who seems to be acting on a vision or a prophecy in seeking out these four and bringing them to study at the Winding Circle temple. Daja is a Trader and the sole survivor when her family's trading ship sinks in dangerous seas. She is saved from the sea by Niko but then cast out by her people for being "bad luck". Briar is a thief, twice convicted, who is arrested and sent for his final sentencing. He is saved when Niko offers to take him to Winding Circle instead of punishment. Trisana is the daughter of a merchant who's strange powers have terrified her family, causing them to send her away, time and time again. She is expelled from yet another boarding school after strange weather causes chaos at the school. Niko is there visiting the the director and offers to take Tris to the Winding Circle instead of trying to convince yet another relative or school to take her.The four children are brought together at the Discipline House after having been rejected by the other houses of the Winding Circle for various reasons. They begin to form a tenuous friendship and find that they all have something in common, a hidden ability in magic that until coming to Winding Circle, had remained untapped or misunderstood. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. It was a quick read and I expect to gulp down the next three pretty quickly!
—Stephanie
A wonderful beginning to the Circle of Magic series! "The Magic in the Weaving" may be a slightly slower start when compared to the Alanna, Keladry and Daine series, but I actually preferred the steady pace with which certain elements of the plot are revealed. The different uses of magic is really highlighted here; I've rarely been so interested in reading the bare bones of how a character's own magic works, but Sandry's weaving of light into thread made me hold my breath. Although it may not be as interesting as the other three books in the Circle of Magic series, it is understandable as it lays the groundwork for the rest of the story, and sketches the events that result in the creation of the Circle. Sandry's character may come across as a goody-two-shoes, but she's still endearing all the same and her strong sense of justice and loving nature is what ties together the rest of the characters. I'd have to say I prefer her sweet nature above the other three.
—Hannah
