Review by
Emily B
Melting Stones Review
Tamora Pierce’s new novel Melting Stones, set in the Circle of Magic universe, follows Evvy on a journey with her mentor, Rosethorn, to an island plagued by strange patches of dead plants and acidic water. Readers of the previous Circle of Magic series will recognize Evvy and Rosethorn from Briar’s Book. Even though Briar never appears in the book, he is a constant presence in Evvy’s thoughts, and, as the first person narrator, her thoughts drive the book. As in Pierce’s previous Circle of Magic books this novel requires that a young mage, in this case Evvy, learn to control her powers and eventually help circumvent a natural disaster.
The plot moves much too slowly, which is a huge contrast with the vivacious heroine. Evvy is a dynamic character with trust issues that she begins to address throughout the novel. The past has taught her to avoid relationships with humans and animals alike because she’s been hurt so many times. Unlike the Circle of Magic books that require the four young mages to connect with each other, Evvy manages to avert natural disaster with only her rock-friend Luvo. But, the messages of trust and the power of relationships that pervaded the Circle of Magic books are still the focus of this novel.
Melting Stones was originally written as an audio book, but Pierce reworked it into a novel. There is definitely a sense that Melting Stones is a side note in the greater story of the Circle of Mages, but younger readers will certainly enjoy it. Older readers will find the plot predictable.
