Circle Of Magic

Tamora Pierce is one of the most respected women in fantasy, but attention tends to focus on her Song of the Lioness series. With Circle of Magic, she ventures into young adult territory, but not in the usual sense. Instead, Pierce goes back to a time where YA books simply had young protagonists. She doesn’t tie in love triangles, immaturity, or really much romance at all. Despite the name Sandry’s Book, we’re introduced to four main characters in the first novel, with a surprising level of diversity. All four find their way to the Winding Circle community, but each is a misfit and must learn to hone their talent. For Sandry, that means magic. Daja, meanwhile, is gifted at metalcraft, while Tris has a strange connection with the weather and Briar with plants. This focus on different narratives gives the series one of the farthest reaches in the sub-genre. Each presents equal progression, all inside of Pierce’s incredible world-building and magic systems. At the same time, there is the combined story. A tale of growing friendship between four outcasts, and their fight to save the realm of Eleman.