#99 Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce
Briar Moss hasn't always been known by that name. Before he was brought to Winding Circle by Niklaren Goldeye and told that he had
magic, he was street kid known as Roach. Since then, Briar has adjusted to his new way of life, but still feels a connection to his past, as can be seen with his friendship with the homeless girl Flick. But when Flick comes down with a strange illness, all of Summersea is thrown into chaos. No one knows what caused the “Blue Pox,” or how to stop it as it takes away more and more lives. Briar and his teacher Rosethorn find themselves locked into quarantine to take care of the dying. Can they find a cure and save the sick before the Blue Pox infects them too?
The interesting thing about the Circle of Magic books is that they are all completely stand alone. Characters grow and develop from book to book, but there is no big bad to defeat, or ongoing issue to solve by the end of the series. Regardless of that, I feel that Briar's Book is a suitable resolution to the series, as it really shows how close the four students and their teachers have grown. The conflict this time around is not as (for lack of better word) “flashy” as previous volumes in the series. There are no exciting pirate attacks, or suspenseful forest fires. At the same time, this “quieter” plot turns out to be just as much of a page turner as previous volumes. Tammy does a great job of presenting the reality of disease and illness in a way that is understandable to children, without easing back on the emotional impact. I found myself tearing up at two parts in this book, not something I do very often.
If there's one fault that this series has, it's that the books are a bit formulaic . Each book revolved around a specific character (Briar this time) coming to terms with their past, while dealing with a present disaster. At the same time, I can't complain too much because Tammy does so well with this formula, especially this time around. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about Briar's tale. I loved getting to learn a bit more about Rosethorn. I thought it was a lot of fun to watch her combative relationship with Crane (note: professional relationship, not romantic), whom she is forced to work with to find a cure for the disease. I love how Tammy skillfully combines medieval sensibilities with modern medicine. I also liked watching the turmoil within Briar, as he struggled between his two identities as Roach and Briar Moss.
This is my second time reading Briar's Book, but my first time experiencing it as a Full Cast Audiobook. At first, I was a little disappointed to see that some voices had been recast, but that disappointed quickly faded. Once again, we're given a top notch production with passionate voice acting. I am very pleased at this audiobook and will pick up other titles from Full Cast in the future.
Rating: four and a half stars
Length: I listened to the audiobook, but the print version is 272 pages
Source: Readfield Community Library
Similar Books: Check out works by Gail Carson Levine, Diane Duane, and JK Rowling.
Other books I've read by this author: Below is a list of the series by Tamora Pierce that I have read. For her Tortall Universe: The Song of the Lioness Quartet, The Immortals Series, The Protector of the Small, Daughter of the Lioness, and the first two books of the Beka Cooper Series (see my review for Bloodhound). For her Emelan universe I've read Circle of Magic (including Tris’s Book- my review, and Daja's Book- my review), The Circle Opens, and the stand alone books The Will of the Empress, and Melting Stones ( my review). I have also read the Young Warriors anthology, which she edited and contributed a short story to, and her short-lived Marvel Comic series White Tiger: A Heroes Compulsion. For short stories, I have read “Elder Brother” (from Half Human), “Student of Ostriches” (from Young Warriors), and “Huntress” (from Firebirds Rising).
xposted to temporaryworlds , bookish , and goodreads
Next up, my review of Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
magic, he was street kid known as Roach. Since then, Briar has adjusted to his new way of life, but still feels a connection to his past, as can be seen with his friendship with the homeless girl Flick. But when Flick comes down with a strange illness, all of Summersea is thrown into chaos. No one knows what caused the “Blue Pox,” or how to stop it as it takes away more and more lives. Briar and his teacher Rosethorn find themselves locked into quarantine to take care of the dying. Can they find a cure and save the sick before the Blue Pox infects them too?
The interesting thing about the Circle of Magic books is that they are all completely stand alone. Characters grow and develop from book to book, but there is no big bad to defeat, or ongoing issue to solve by the end of the series. Regardless of that, I feel that Briar's Book is a suitable resolution to the series, as it really shows how close the four students and their teachers have grown. The conflict this time around is not as (for lack of better word) “flashy” as previous volumes in the series. There are no exciting pirate attacks, or suspenseful forest fires. At the same time, this “quieter” plot turns out to be just as much of a page turner as previous volumes. Tammy does a great job of presenting the reality of disease and illness in a way that is understandable to children, without easing back on the emotional impact. I found myself tearing up at two parts in this book, not something I do very often.
If there's one fault that this series has, it's that the books are a bit formulaic . Each book revolved around a specific character (Briar this time) coming to terms with their past, while dealing with a present disaster. At the same time, I can't complain too much because Tammy does so well with this formula, especially this time around. There were a lot of things I enjoyed about Briar's tale. I loved getting to learn a bit more about Rosethorn. I thought it was a lot of fun to watch her combative relationship with Crane (note: professional relationship, not romantic), whom she is forced to work with to find a cure for the disease. I love how Tammy skillfully combines medieval sensibilities with modern medicine. I also liked watching the turmoil within Briar, as he struggled between his two identities as Roach and Briar Moss.
This is my second time reading Briar's Book, but my first time experiencing it as a Full Cast Audiobook. At first, I was a little disappointed to see that some voices had been recast, but that disappointed quickly faded. Once again, we're given a top notch production with passionate voice acting. I am very pleased at this audiobook and will pick up other titles from Full Cast in the future.
Rating: four and a half stars
Length: I listened to the audiobook, but the print version is 272 pages
Source: Readfield Community Library
Similar Books: Check out works by Gail Carson Levine, Diane Duane, and JK Rowling.
Other books I've read by this author: Below is a list of the series by Tamora Pierce that I have read. For her Tortall Universe: The Song of the Lioness Quartet, The Immortals Series, The Protector of the Small, Daughter of the Lioness, and the first two books of the Beka Cooper Series (see my review for Bloodhound). For her Emelan universe I've read Circle of Magic (including Tris’s Book- my review, and Daja's Book- my review), The Circle Opens, and the stand alone books The Will of the Empress, and Melting Stones ( my review). I have also read the Young Warriors anthology, which she edited and contributed a short story to, and her short-lived Marvel Comic series White Tiger: A Heroes Compulsion. For short stories, I have read “Elder Brother” (from Half Human), “Student of Ostriches” (from Young Warriors), and “Huntress” (from Firebirds Rising).
xposted to temporaryworlds , bookish , and goodreads
Next up, my review of Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay