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

The Duke of Emelan invited the children and their teachers to come with him on an inspection of an ailing Gold Ridge Valley: there has been drought for three years in a row, and now fires are running wild across the plains. The Duke wants to help all that he can, but his treasury is stretched thin fixing damage from the earthquake and the pirate attacks. The children follow their teachers around the area, and soon discover that their magics have mixed to such an extent that Briar is displaying lightning ability, Sandry melts a wire thread, and Daja shows a new affinity for plants. When Daja has a moment of inattention in the forge, she accidentally creates a living vine of iron. Some Traders in the area are reluctant to associate with a trangshi, but they cannot resist the chance to buy the vine from her. The fires in the area are continuing to be a problem, and the children’s magics are running wild. Why is life never peaceful?

Tamora Pierce never allows her characters to grow simplistic or boring. There is always some new aspect of them that she brings to light that compliments the rest of their character that we know. And then we wonder if we haven’t known that about them all along. Daja loves her new family, but being a Trader was more than a way of life: it was life itself. The smells, the sights, and the family that was lost. So when Traders show up at Gold Ridge, the struggle she goes through is truly heartrending. Wanting to be a Trader again, but hurt that they declared her trangshi and won’t associate with her. These are not simple emotions, and they make for a great character.

Daja’s Book is just as interesting and thrilling as all the other Circle of Magic books. We see the people we love, but they are growing all the time into characters that we love even more. I truly wish I could meet these people, because they seem like real people who should exist so the world would be a better place. Briar, Rosethorn, Lark, Tris, Sandry, Niko…I know I shouldn’t get so attached to characters in books, but it’s hard to help it. I wish month passes were allowed to fantasy worlds. What a vacation that would be.