The Circle Opens #2: Street Magic

Rating:
Summary: Best of Circle Opens series
Review: I loved this book! Evvy is a wonderful character, and Chammur is fascinating and a much better setting than many of T.P.'s other settings. I love what was done with Briar and Rosethorn in this book. Briar is more grown-up, but he's still the Briar we all know and love (no way could he grow up so much that he wouldn't needle people). Rosethorn is the same as ever, except maybe a bit more interesting and emotional (not that she shows it). Except maybe for Kethlun, Evvy is the best character in this series. I love her cats, and her views of Briar and Rosethorn are interesting. She almost seems like Tris, in a way, and Tris, although weird, is probably the smartest of the Circle.
I am glad to own this book, and would suggest that you buy it too, if you like T.P. books.

Rating:
Summary: Best of Circle Opens series
Review: I loved this book! Evvy is a wonderful character, and Chammur is fascinating and a much better setting than many of T.P.'s other settings. I love what was done with Briar and Rosethorn in this book. Briar is more grown-up, but he's still the Briar we all know and love (no way could he grow up so much that he wouldn't needle people). Rosethorn is the same as ever, except maybe a bit more interesting and emotional (not that she shows it). Except maybe for Kethlun, Evvy is the best character in this series. I love her cats, and her views of Briar and Rosethorn are interesting. She almost seems like Tris, in a way, and Tris, although weird, is probably the smartest of the Circle.
I am glad to own this book, and would suggest that you buy it too, if you like T.P. books.

Rating:
Summary: A funky book
Review: I read this in one sitting. I thought it was really good and everything, but I thought that the first one was better. I liked how Briar reacted to the other characters and how the other characters reacted to him. I liked the beginning, and the end, and the middle. Overall, it was a good book, just not the exact best.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for any fantasy fan!
Review: I really like this book. It is a welcome improvment from the Circle of Magic series. This book has lots of adventure, which is what I love about Tamora Pierce's books. A good plot, I like how Tamora also told about what the emeny thought and did. In this book, Briar and Rosethorn travel to Chamuni. There Briar meets Evvy, who has stone magic. He learns he must not only teah her, but protect her from the street gangs what want to use her for her power.

Rating:
Summary: Street Magic
Review: I really like this book. It is a welcome improvment from the Circle of Magic series. This book has lots of adventure, which is what I love about Tamora Pierce's books. A good plot, I like how Tamora also told about what the emeny thought and did. In this book, Briar and Rosethorn travel to Chamuni. There Briar meets Evvy, who has stone magic. He learns he must not only teah her, but protect her from the street gangs what want to use her for her power.

Rating:
Summary: This is really good!
Review: I thought that this book was really good. When I first heard about it I didn't want to read it. I read the whole Cricle of Magic series and loved it, then I read the Circle Opens book one with Sandry. I didn't like it so I didn't want to read this one. Finally, after one of my friends read it and liked it I decided to try. I loved it! Briar is just as wonderful as he was before. I didn't like it when he and the girls had to break apart, but the characters in Street Magic make up for it. Action packed and of course combining it with all types of magic, mostly new and very useful. Having a student is a great expereince for Briar, all right, maybe not great, but it makes things interesting. Evvy, his student, makes him rethink his childhood a little, and think about gangs in a way he had never thought before. I strongly recommend this book to everyone!

Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I'll keep this short. I love all of Pierce's books and can't wait until the next. This book focused on Briar and his past. He faces his past as a gang member as he teaches Evvy. He reevaluates how good a gang really his. He finds someone else to care about besides the girls and his teachers in Winding Circle. I think that it was a great book and read it in one hour and a half. (I am a speedy reader) I absolutely loved it and I can't wait until the next one.=p

Rating:
Summary: Even better that the previous quartet!
Review: In Street Magic, which is the second book in The Circle Opens quartet, we are transported to Chammur, where Briar Moss and his teacher, Rosethorn, are helping farmers with their crops. As Briar was wandering through markets, he noticed a young girl named Evvy who is gifted in stone magic. Thus begins the story of Briar's coming of age as he tries to teach a stubborn girl about magic he has never even heard of. However, that is not the only problem Briar encounters. The former street rat, who thought he would never have to deal with gangs again, is now in a delicate position. The Vipers are ruled by a rich, powerful female named Lady Zenadia who wants to use Evvy's magic. Briar refuses to let Evvy live with her, yet Lady Zenadia will do anything to get what she wants...

I found this book was filled with great descriptions of Chammur and great character development. Briar's maturity is obvious throughout the book since we are continuously sharing his thoughts. The dialogues are witty and well thought out. This book shows that Tamora Pierce is not only gifted in making likeable heroines; Briar is just as interesting as Alanna, Daine or Kel.

Since the book deals with gangs, the reader must expect to come across quite a few violent scenes. However, this just makes the story even more realistic and believable. Pierce obviously informed herself about teenage gangs and how they work, and she shares her knowledge with us. She never preaches, and makes us judge for ourselves whether being in a gang is good or not.

The only criticism I have to make is that the book's plot is very similar to that of Magic Steps. I found, though, that Street Magic is better than Magic Steps, and I strongly recommend this book. However, I think you should read The Circle of Magic quartet first, to be able to appreciate Briar's evolution from a street rat to a responsible mage.

Rating:
Summary: Briar, Sandry, Triss, and Daja - again.
Review: It's been a few years since these four mages met and learned their magic together. They have all left Winding Circle, and gone with their mentors.
Briar and Rosethorn are travelling the world! Ok, maybe not entirely, but that's ok. This story takes place mostly in a single city. A nice city - but like all cities, it has its ups and downs.
Thieves, a stone mage girl, and plots that need foiling.
Briar has to earn the trust of the girl, then help her learn her magic - after teaching her to read and write.
But he's not the only one who's trying to befriend the girl - though the others have other, not so pleasant, ways of making 'friends'.

Rating:
Summary: Briar the Plant Mage at fourteen!!!
Review: It's been four years since Briar Moss left Winding Circle Temple in SummerSea . Now he is in Chammur. There he meets Evvy. She is a 10 year old girl who uses her magic to polish stones for a local merchant. When Briar try's to talk to her she flees.Finally , she gives in and Briar starts teaching her about her magic. Then, a local gang called the Vipers here Briar say that Evvy has stone magic so they try to kidnap her to make a profit on her ability. In the meantime the Vipers are trying to take over Camelgut territory with the help of a rich noble. She gives them weapons and the Vipers start a war with the Camelguts. I won't spoil the whole book. All I can say is that this book is right up there with all of her other wonderful,marvelious,outstanding,terrific quartets. I highly reccomend this book. Only if you can manage complex plots and many confusing parts. I hope many of you out there have lots of acadimic ability!!!!!! Farewell!