I love any book by Tamora Pierce. This series is good and if it was by any other author I would call it great. However, since I have such high expectations for Tamora Pierce I cannot call it truly wonderful. It didn't flow the way I wanted it to and I found myself annoyed at the characters for much of the story. ( )

Happy to see these characters back again. ( )

This book was a journey, both literally and figuratively. The beginning conflicts felt a little... contrived? Like we just had to invent a conflict. But also then by the end I was like fully crying about the resolution and these KIDS, MY BABIES ALL GROWN UP, I LOVE THEM.

Not that you would start here, but I do think you need all the previous books to have this feel as good as it felt for me. So definitely don't start here, but also getting here was so much of a journey and watching these kids grow up has been so much. Pierce's character work here is really divine, loved it, want more. ( )

Book Two of the Circle Reforged (third segment of ongoing story universe).
Best read if you are familiar with the characters and previous stories.
Hits the target audience of high-schoolers who started reading in middle school (which is a closer fitting age for the first segment of 4 novels).
The characters are older teens, more mature, starting to deal with court intrigue, sexuality, the implications of mayhem and death as their personal responsibility.
There are effects on their lives, but not as vicious as would happen in real life, which is appropriate for the audience. ( )

A really good continuation of one of my favorite series, I only wish we had a book about the war Briar was in, instead of just jumping into vague details about it and me wondering if I had missed something. ( )