| Similar to other books in the Circle of Magic series, this third book in the quartet is about four mages-in-training are the main characters. However it is now Daja Kisubo's turn to take the limelight. While traveling in the drought and fire-stricken Gold Ridge with fellow mage apprentices and their mentors, the young people's magical talents somehow become intertwined, leading Daja, who is linked to the element of fire and the craft of smithing, to construct a ostensibly living vine out of metal. Migrating Traders recognize this vine as a powerful object and take the complicated steps required to purchase it from Daja, who once has been a Trader herself but has been cast out by the Trader class as a young child when her family's ship sank. Under Trader customs, she is seen as a source of bad luck to be avoided at all costs. During the negotiations, she must come to terms with the part of her that still yearns for her past life, and her growing power as a mage. As in the previous books, the climax revolves around a natural disaster that requires the four new mages' powers working together to minimize its effects.
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes Explore: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen If magical mental powers: - fire/lightning/weather cntrl - can cast many different spells Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - fire/thunder/weather cntrl - can cast all sorts of spells Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting Terrain A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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