Magic Steps (Circle Opens #1) ~ Paperback ~ Pierce Tamora

Lady Sandrilene fa Toren knows all about unusual magic–she herself spins and weaves it like thread. But when she witnesses a boy dancing a spell, even she is confounded. To her dismay she gets news of a mysterious murderer stalking a clan of local merchants. The killer employs the strangest magic of all: the ability to reduce essence to nothingness. As the murders mount and the killer grows bolder, Sandry's teaching takes on a grave purpose. It becomes clear to everyone that the killings can only be stopped by the combined magic of two people: the young teacher and her even younger student. Age 10+ The Circle Opens Quartet is set in the Circle universe. Review “In the first book in the Circle Opens series, 14-year-old Sandry is no stranger to magic; she spins and weaves it in wondrous ways. Then she meets Pasco, a boy who somehow dances spells, and reluctantly becomes his mentor. When mysterious killers target local merchants, the two interweave their magic to stop the murderers. Using descriptive, personable prose, Pierce combines dimensional characters, intricate details, plot twists, and alternating story lines for a gripping read, while introducing issues of modern relevance symbolized by the heroin-like Dragonsalt and the evil Unmagic, which has all the hazards of nuclear waste. Independent, brave Sandry is an appealing protagonist, sometimes prone to nervous giggling; there is some vivid violence, and though the romantic cover art indicates otherwise, the emphasis is on suspense. Fans of the Circle of Magic series will recognize some familiar characters, but this book stands well on its own as a fast-paced, engrossing read, sure to satisfy fantasy fans.” Booklist Author Biography Tamora Pierce was born in South Connellsville, Pennsylvania and her parents were originally going to call her Tamara, but the nurse who filled out her birth certificate had never heard of that name before and accidentally misspelled it. However, Tamora likes her name and in case you're wondering how to pronounce it, it sounds just like camera. She was a passionate reader from an early age, devouring encyclopaedias, Dr Seuss books and J.R.R. Tolkien. Writing helped Tamora get through her parents' divorce and in her junior year at college she sold her first story and went on to publish The Song of the Lioness, originally with adult readers in mind, but found success when she turned it into a quartet for teenagers. The rest, as they say, is history! Tamora lives in New York with her husband.