Circle of Magic: Briar’s Book, by Tamora Pierce

When Rosethorn and Briar visit the Mire in Summersea to bring medicine to the poor, they discover something much more serious than a shortage of chilblain salve. A plague is starting, and it is one that has never been seen before. One of the symptoms is blue spots covering the infected bodies. Briar and Rosethorn are put under quarantine after they try to help a street rat whom Briar befriended. Briar longs to be back at Discipline, and Rosethorn hates being under quarantine. She needs to be back at Winding Circle, trying to find a cure. But they are stuck where they are, as more and more sick people are brought in from all parts of the city. Briar’s friend is taking a turn for the worse, and there is no cure that can help her. Both Briar and Rosethorn wish to be where they can be of use, and that doesn’t seem to be happening where they are. But they cannot go home, and all they can do is wait.

Okay, many really really cool things happen in this book. The children are very strong in their magics by this point, and this leads them to do some monstrously huge thing that is indescribably wonderful. But I can’t tell you what that is. It would spoil so much. All I will say is that this is my favorite book in this series, and not only because Briar is my favorite character. The ending of this book amazes me as it tugs on my heart. Many kudos go to Tamora Pierce for thinking up this ending, because it knocks everything else out of the water. Hands down the best book in the series in terms of writing and wonderfulness. There is no option this time: you really should read this book. And all the others just so you know all that is going on. J I love it when an author makes the end of the series so good that you can tell people to read the series just so they can get to the end. Pick this series up: it’ll take you all of a week to finish. Oooh, scary week! Oh, no! Or you can read it faster. Your choice.