The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher Numair, are swept into the Divine Realms. Though happy to be alive, they are not where they want to be. They are desperately needed back home, where their old enemy, Ozorne, and his army of strange creatures are waging war against Tortall. Trapped in the mystical realms, Daine discovers her mysterious parentage. And as these secrets of her past are revealed so is the treacherous way back to Tortall. So they embark on an extraordinary journey home, where the fate of all Tortall rests with Daine and her wild magic.

This is the final book in the Immortals quartet. In this book we finally learn of Daine’s father. This story at first was a little confusing as we get to see more of the gods and goddesses in their own setting. Their trials to getting back to their friends brings both Numair and Daine closer, which I loved. I also enjoyed the interaction with the dragons. There is a lot that Daine has to take in and choose as this story goes on. But she ends up returning to Kit and her friends with Numair. I really liked this a lot and was happy with the out come. For another series by Tamora Pierce this was great to have someone who is more of an average girl who becomes extraordinary. The world that started in the Song of the Lioness series has grown rich with the addition of these books, and I love how they just billed on one another. I look forward to reading the next quartet, Protector of the Small which starts with The First Test.
Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 141690817X
Pages: 368
Series: The Immortals
Volume: 4

Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Sent to Carthak as part of the Tortallan peace delegation, Daine finds herself in the middle of a sticky political situation. She doesn’t like the Carthaki practice of keeping slaves, but it’’s not her place to say anything – she’s just there to heal the emperor’s birds. It’’s extremely frustrating! What’s more, her power has grown in a mysterious way. As the peace talks stall, Daine puzzles over Carthak’s two-faced Emperor Ozorne. How can he be so caring with his birds and so cruel to his people? Daine is sure he’s planning something. Daine must fight the powerful Emperor Mage, knowing that the safety and peace of the realm depend on stopping Ozorne’s power-hungry schemes.

This is the third book in the Immortals series. Daine travels to Carthak to help the emperor’s birds. Only things are not what they seemed. Ok first and for most I do not like Ozorne at all. Well I guess your not supposed to but he’s just evil. I did like the power that Daine was given for the book. I found that it was great when she handled it quite nicely. I love the relationship between Numair and Daine. But I loved this book as there is so much going on and it just add more to the world of Tortallan. Numair going back to the city that he used to live and go to school. Daine making friends with the heir to the throne. It was very well done. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series of the Realms of the Gods.

Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 1416903372
Pages: 358
Series: The Immortals
Volume: 3

Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When Daine is summoned by the wold pack that saved her life a year earlier, she knows she has to go. She and Numair travel to Dunlath Valley to answer the call. But when they arrive, Dain realizes with a shock that it’s not just the animals whose lives are threatened; people are in danger too. Dunlath’s rulers have discovered black opals in their valley and are dead set on mining the magic these stones embody. Daine learns that Dunlath’s lord and lady plan to use this power to overthrow King Jonathan – even if it means irreversibly damaging the land and killing their workers. On a mission to save both her animal friends and her human ones, Daine has to master her wild magic in order to fight for the kingdom and triumph over the would-be usurpers.

In this story you get to meet the wolves from Daine’s old village. After learning what has been going on in Dunlath Valley Daine must save everyone. And at one point even have to learn to do some magic on her own. As her powers grow and she learns what she is capable of she has to find away to help those innocent people. I love the way the animals are portrayed in this book. They bring a new light to how the characters don’t have to be human to be significant. I loved the way the wolves interacted together and how they were different from other packs. I also liked the friends that Daine makes here with Maura. She starts to see more of what she can do which at first scares her. But she takes it in strides. It’s a great story can't wait to read the next book, Emperor Mage.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416903445

Pages: 368

Series: The Immortals

Volume: 2

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Thirteen-year-old Daine has always had a knack with animals, but it’s not until she’s forced to leave home that she realizes it’s more than a knack – it’s magic. Whit this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen’s Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student. Under Numair’s guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she begins to sense other beings too: immortals. These bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years, but now someone has broken the barrier. It’s up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack.

Daine is a young girl who has been run out of the only place she could call home. She is still fearful of people and what they may do to her if they find out her secret. After helping Numair, he begins to teach her how to use her magic. She still doesn’t tell them everything at first out of fear. But as time goes on she learns that she can trust them. As more immortals show they learn that battle is on its way. Daine actually is a big help even with both her magic and her new friends. I love this world that Tamora has created. I think that it’s great that you get to see the characters who I grew to love from her Song of the Lioness series. I find that Daine is a great new character to add to the growing world of Tortall. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Wolf-Speaker.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416903437

Pages: 384

Series: The Immortals

Volume: 1

The Pearl of the Soul of the World by Meredith Ann Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, The Darkangel Trilogy

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: All the world’s wisdom and magic reside within the iridescent depths of a small white pearl. “All my sorcery,” the Ancient Ravenna had said to Aeriel. “It is left to you to save the world.” But is the pearl powerful enough to enable Aeriel to defeat the White Witch? Aeriel’s people have assembled an army – led by the redeemed darkangel, Irrylath – and are soon to attack the White and her darkangel sons. But their cause is hopeless unless Aeriel can unravel the riddle of Ravenna and unlock the mysteries of the pearl – and of her own destiny.

This is the final book in the Darkangel Trilogy. Aeriel changes not knowing so much at the beginning of this. As Ravenna’s plans unravel, I felt bad for Aeriel’s destiny. At least she had Erin in the end. While Irrylath finally learns of what is to become of Aeriel and his own fate as well. The story is beautiful. This whole trilogy was very imaginative and visually dynamic. I loved every page of this story. Meredith created a brilliant world in this trilogy. One that I think everyone who reads will love.

Publisher: Little, Brown

ISBN: 0316067245

Pages: 256

Series: The Darkangel Trilogy

Volume: 3

A Gathering of Gargoyles by Meredith Ann Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, The Darkangel Trilogy

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Aeriel’s love has broken the curse on the Darkangel Irrylath, making him human again and freeing him from the control of his mother, the dreaded White Witch. But the Witch is far from defeated. Her wicked plans require all seven of her vampire sons, and she will not give one up so easily. There is but a single hope for the Witch’s defeat – solving an ancient, mysterious riddle. So Aeriel sets off to solve the riddle, sailing across a sea of dust and straight into the worst of the Witch’s terrors. But if Aeriel is to save Irrylath and their world, she will have to overcome his bloodthirsty darkangel brothers – and ultimately confront his terrifying mother face – to – face.

We see Aeriel now trying to still save Irrylath. I love the dynamic between Aeriel and Erin, and their growing friendship. Meeting Irrylath’s family was a sad reunion. And even though Aeriel and Irrylath are separated on their journeys to fight in their own way. Meredith world is beautiful. The story is so imaginative and am looking forward to reading the final in this trilogy, The Pearl of the Soul of the World.

Publisher: Little, Brown

ISBN: 0316067253

Pages: 304

Series: The Darkangel Trilogy

Volume: 2

The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, The Darkangel Trilogy

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Aeriel is kidnapped by the Darkangel, swept up into his dozen black wings and carried to his distant keep. There she is to serve his brides – thirteen pitiful creatures who were once beautiful, before the Darkangel drained away their souls. Aeriel would free them, but now that she, too, is one of the Darkangel’s captives, she can do no other than obey – even while she knows she must destroy him. For when he has found his final bride, he will come fully into his sinister powers. Aeriel must kill him first, even though deep within him is a spark of goodness that makes her love him – a spark that could redeem even his evil

After Aeriel looses her dear friend to the Darkangel she finds a way to meet up with him and have him take her. The story is full of mystery, magic, and fantasy. Aeriel tries as she might not to like the Darkangel and yet over time she falls for him. Then she when she finds out how to save him before he truly becomes a Darkangel, floored me. This is one of those fantasy books that pulls you in and keeps you guessing. I loved reading this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series, A Gathering of Gargoyles.

Publisher: Little, Brown

ISBN: 0316067237

Pages: 238

Series: The Darkangel Trilogy

Volume: 1