Gr. 6^-9. The good news is that Pierce is planning a new fantasy cycle featuring "some of the familiar characters from the Circle of Magic quartet." The bad news is that readers who have eagerly awaited each of the four young mages' stories will be even more reluctant to say good-bye to the well-conceived characters after reading Briar's tale. Pierce raises the danger and pace of action to fever pitch here, literally and figuratively, as Briar, the fiesty former street urchin and convicted thief, and his equally prickly teacher, Rosethorn, search for the cause of a deadly plague sweeping through Summersea. Magic and science merge as Daja, Tris, Sandry, and Briar artfully combine their talents in ways that continue to astound their mentors. No one is prepared for the power of the response when Briar willingly plunges to the brink of death to save Rosethorn. An entirely satisfying, carefully crafted fantasy. --Chris Sherman

As a previously unknown plague spreads through the land, Briar, who has a magical connection to plantlife, helps with the desperate search for a cure. When the deadly disease strikes Briar's mentor, Rosethorn, Briar and his friends Sandry, Tris, and Daja must work together to save her. The final book in the series about four powerful young mages is as magical as the first three volumes. From HORN BOOK Fall 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 5-8-In this final book in the quartet, the focus is on Briar, one of the four talented mages-in-training who live and study at Winding Circle Temple. During a visit to a neighboring town, Briar learns that his friend, a young "street rat" named Flick, has come down with a strange illness. Soon, others are stricken with the disease and Briar and his teacher Rosethorn end up in quarantine, using magic and medicine to nurse the increasing numbers of plague victims. Meanwhile, Briar's friends Sandry, Tris, and Daja do their part at Winding Circle, each using her own brand of magic to help end the epidemic. At the height of the crisis, Rosethorn becomes desperately ill, and the young mages must use their powers to follow her past death's doorstep. Fans of the previous titles will be satisfied with this installment. Briar is an intriguing and likable fellow, and this book brings out some of his conflicting feelings about the contrast between his thieving street-rat past and his current privileged position. This fast-paced, imaginative fantasy could be read and enjoyed on its own, but it works better as part of the quartet, which covers the span of a year and begins with Sandry's Book (Scholastic, 1997).-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.