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The Will of the Empress Tamora Pierce Scholastic Press © 2005
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The circle is broken. Four mages are independent
from each other while each tries to cope with his or her past. The first is
Sandry, a royal clehame who has troubles with helping her cousin Ambros
take care of her family’s estates. The second is Daja, a trader who always
wields a staff and despises wealthy people who have no thoughts for the poor.
Briar is another who attempts to bury his previous journey to Gyonxe where
incredible fires and numerous deaths occurred, scarring his life forever. The
last is Tris, a mage who possesses advanced skills in weather and the power of
seeing events on the wind. Together, the four are unconquerable, but apart,
they are now vulnerable to other attackers. Meanwhile, Berenene, Sandry’s
cousin, is a greedy but clever empress who is determined to take advantage of
Sandry and her lands. While sending out an invitation to the mages for a visit
at her palace, Berenene secretly plots ways to capture the mages and keep them
in her service. The empress uses her knowledge of each one’s powers to lure
them into staying, stitching for Sandry, living metal for Daja, plants for
Briar, and weather and books for Tris. Now that the mages find themselves
challenged, they slowly begin to open up their bonds to each other until the
circle is finally reforged when it is needed most in an extremely demanding
escape from Berenene’s deception.
The Will of the Empress is best suited for readers ages twelve and up. In this novel, the four mages Sandry, Daja, Briar, and Tris are brought together in a single adventure to defeat Empress Berenene. Although I have not read any of the previous Circle novels, I was stilled impressed with The Will of the Empress. After I overcame the confusion involved the introduction of the variety of characters, I found that the author creatively brings the characters back to White Circle again. Furthermore, she expresses the mages disgust with Berenene and her court well. While Berenene tried to seduce the circle members, I felt like a part of the circle, always willing the four to reunite and forget their differences. The four main characters’ powers are creative, as well as very useful. I found Sandry’s use of taking clothes apart to defend herself amusing. Briar’s love of plants and his skill with them cunningly outwits his enemies. The same occurs with Daja and Tris. Nevertheless, Tris’s powers seem more complex to me. This is probably due to the significance of seeing events on the wind before they reach Tris. Each individual struggles with himself or herself, debating whether he or she can work with others once more. Overall, Tamora Pierce’s novel has a great storyline with an interaction of the four friends, which allows them to outsmart Berenene as they link together once again.
~Rebecca Theophanous, Boardman High School, Grade 11
The Will of the Empress is best suited for readers ages twelve and up. In this novel, the four mages Sandry, Daja, Briar, and Tris are brought together in a single adventure to defeat Empress Berenene. Although I have not read any of the previous Circle novels, I was stilled impressed with The Will of the Empress. After I overcame the confusion involved the introduction of the variety of characters, I found that the author creatively brings the characters back to White Circle again. Furthermore, she expresses the mages disgust with Berenene and her court well. While Berenene tried to seduce the circle members, I felt like a part of the circle, always willing the four to reunite and forget their differences. The four main characters’ powers are creative, as well as very useful. I found Sandry’s use of taking clothes apart to defend herself amusing. Briar’s love of plants and his skill with them cunningly outwits his enemies. The same occurs with Daja and Tris. Nevertheless, Tris’s powers seem more complex to me. This is probably due to the significance of seeing events on the wind before they reach Tris. Each individual struggles with himself or herself, debating whether he or she can work with others once more. Overall, Tamora Pierce’s novel has a great storyline with an interaction of the four friends, which allows them to outsmart Berenene as they link together once again.
~Rebecca Theophanous, Boardman High School, Grade 11