The Barnes & Noble Review
Bestselling fantasy author Tamora Pierce continues the Circle Opens series in this fourth energizing book filled with lightning magic and a killer on the loose.
When Tris Chandler -- a 14-year-old lightning mage whose braids contain spellbinding magic -- meets Keth Warder, she sees instantly that the older glassblower has his own lightning skills yet to be harnessed. Tris soon becomes his all-knowing teacher, and the two discover that Keth's electricity-filled glass balls can produce images of near-past events. Unfortunately, the town of Tharios also has a ghostly murderer stalking young girls (much to the chagrin of Dema Nomasdina, the investigator), but as Keth further develops his magic, his glass creations become crucial to finding the killer before he or she takes another victim.
Using the vivid descriptions and in-depth characters that her fans have come to appreciate in her work, Pierce winds up her quartet with a powerhouse that will keep you entranced to the end. The author's own magic doesn't lie only in the exciting plotline; it shines through in each scene, letting each personality play off another with fantastic style and finesse. Another Pierce page-turner that'll keep young audiences fired up for other tales. Shana Taylor
Tamora Pierce closes her The Circle Opens quartet of fantasy novels with Shatterglass. Tris, the weather mage introduced in the previous series, Circle of Magic, now travels to Tharios, where a glassmaker's magic may help him identify a serial killer-if Tris can teach him how to use his power. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Gr 6 Up-In this concluding volume of the second quartet of novels about four young mages with unusual powers, it is Trisana Chandler's turn to take on her first student. Tris's visit to Tharios, a medieval city of castes, brings her into contact with a glassblower named Kethlun Warder. Keth has been struck by lightning, which has awakened his latent magical gifts and remains a part of his powers. He creates a living glass dragon and globes that show images of the victims of a serial killer. The Ghost has been murdering members of the city's entertainer caste and leaving their bodies displayed in various public areas. Along with a police mage, Tris and Keth follow the images, which results in a face-to-face confrontation with the killer. Like Pierce's Cold Fire (2002), this is a successful combination of fantasy and mystery, though this book is a more traditional mystery with the killer's identity not revealed until the conclusion. Keth's status as an adult and his existing knowledge of his craft make the relationship between him and Tris interesting, and their often-sarcastic repartee adds humor to a serious plot. The mage's guardianship of a girl who has been orphaned by the Ghost, and her responsible use of magic, shows how she has matured since Tris's Book (1998, both Scholastic). This fast-moving, action-filled story can stand alone, and is sure to be a hit with Pierce's many fans.-Beth L. Meister, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Flushing, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Pierce continues her successful blend of high fantasy, grisly suspense, and wry social commentary in this conclusion to the second series starring her quartet of adolescent mages. With control over earthquakes, lightning, volcanoes, and tides, the plump bespectacled pepperpot Tris may be one of the most powerful mages in the world; but the 14-year-old's practical mind is more concerned about earning a living. A magical conference in exotic Tharios (which resembles a cross between the intellectual sophistication of Athens and the caste-ridden otherworldliness of India) seems a promising venue to learn some marketable magic. Instead, she bumps into Keth, a journeyman glassmaker, whose untrained powers over glass and lightning accidentally create a miniature living glass dragon, whom Tris delightedly adopts; less cheerfully, she takes on tutoring Keth in his dangerous magic, and he is equally reluctant to take lessons from a child years his junior. Meanwhile, Tharios is being stalked by a serial killer; and as the authorities worry more about avoiding ritual pollution than catching a murderer, Keth's magic just might supply the key to stopping his rampage. There really isn't much of a mystery here, since the eventual murderer turns out to be a total unknown, and the pace is too leisurely and repetitive to create much suspense. But Pierce (Lady Knight, 2002, etc.) more than makes up for these deficiencies with her appealing, well-rounded characters. Her fans will undoubtedly clamor for further updates on her likable young mages and their fascinating world. (Fiction. 11+)
In lively prose laced with wry humor, Pierce creates realistic, dimensional characters--Tris is spunky, independent, and thoroughly likable--and places them in exotic, imaginatively detailed locales. . . . There's plenty of suspense, as well as a social commentary simmering beneath the surface of the story (the human rights of the lower classes are being ignored by the city in an effort to maintain its beautiful facade). Like previous books in the Circle Opens Quartet, this one is an engaging blend of mystery, magic, and timeless social themes. It will stand well on its own, and it's also sure to satisfy Pierce's many fans.” -- Booklist, March 1st, 2003“ In a series with so many predetermined factors, Pierce injects enough twists to keep the franchise fresh.” -- Horn Book