AHHHH!!! I am so excited that the day has finally come when I get to share my intense love of all things Tamora Pierce with all of you. The Queen of Modern Fantasy is back with an inside look at Numair’s history in Tempests and Slaughter. Set in Ozorne, and featuring Numair when he was still Arram Draper, studying magic in Carthak, this book is a delight from start to finish and is sure to have fans – both new and old – hanging onto every word.
Arram. Varice. Ozorne. In the first book in the Numair Chronicles, three student mages are bound by fate . . . fated for trouble. Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realize that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie. In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.
It’s no secret that I am a HARDCORE Tamora Pierce fangirl, but I would have enjoyed this book regardless. It has all the makings of a fantastic fantasy read – there are magical creatures, Gods messing in the affairs of humans, a school of magic (a la Harry Potter), and a likeable band of unlikely friends who are better than everyone else but still relatable and (for the most part) good guys.
I can definitely already see the comparisons that people will draw between Tempests and Slaughter and Harry Potter (it’s a school of magic, there are 3 friends – 2 boys and a girl, Arram is around eleven years old when the book starts, etc. etc.). Honestly, while those things are similar, the story is definitely its own beast. Pierce brings us back to the world of Carthak (which we visited back in Emperor Mage in the Immortals Quartet) and shows us a whole other side of the empire. It’s fascinating to get the perspective of kids here, and to be able to see the empire before Ozorne sat on the throne.
While you definitely could enjoy this book on its own, I would highly recommend going back and reading all of the other Tortall books, but especially the Immortals Quartet first to get the maximum impact of this story. It’s incredible to see Ozorne and Varice in a new light – to see some of the things that may have led them to where they ended up in Emperor Mage. It was hard to reconcile Ozorne the student with Ozorne the emperor. I found his story arc to be truly enthralling.
There are also some hidden gems here – they reveal a certain character’s origins about two-thirds of the way through that had me squealing out loud I was so excited to find him in this book! I was totally not expecting that at all. Sorry to be vague, but I’d had to spoil it for you.
If you like character-driven fantasy, Tempests and Slaughter is the book for you. Now I’m just bummed that I have to wait for a sequel!
Rating: 5+/5 stars (ALL THE STARS REALLY)
Tamora Pierce is a bestselling author of young adult fantasy books that break past the traditions of the fantasy genre to feature teenage girls as knights, wizards, and above all: heroes. A #1 New York Times bestseller and the recipient of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards award, Tamora has written over 30 books, including the upcoming TORTALL: A SPY’S GUIDE (Oct. 31, 2017) and TEMPESTS AND SLAUGHTER (Feb. 6, 2018).
Giveaway Details: International
3 winners will receive a finished copy of TEMPESTS AND SLAUGHTER, US Only.
Ends on March 2nd at Midnight EST!
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Upcoming Tour Stops:
2/26/2018- A Backwards Story– Review
2/27/2018- The Book Shire– Review
2/28/2018- Falling Down The Book Hole– Excerpt