I have had this a quarter read for so many weeks, but I finally got into a groove and finished my read of Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce, first book in The Immortals Quartet, and it is so much fun! From the magic system and familiar faces from the Songs of the Lioness Quartet to the new characters and new plights needing a couple heroes, this book had me hooked.

Wildness is a kind of magic. Discover a land of enchantment, legend, and adventure in the first book of The Immortals series, featuring an updated cover – perfect for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Daine has always had a special connection with animals, but only when she’s forced to leave home does she realise it’s more than a knack . . . it’s magic. With this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but she can also make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen’s Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his apprentice. Under Numair’s guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she encounters other beings, too, who are not so gentle. These terrifying creatures, called Immortals, have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years – but now someone has broken the barrier. And it’s up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an Immortal attack.

The set-up is so good, and I truly do wish I was feeling the reading bug when I started this, but at the same time, I am glad I didn’t force myself to get through it. The beginning is a lot like Alanna: The First Adventure with its literal journey from one place to another and the tests to go through to grow stronger and gain a deeper understanding of who the protagonists are and what they need to do. I like the difference in Diane’s journey, that otherness that slowly seeps into the interactions and situations she finds herself in. She’s got a personality and strong mood, and while there were times it was a little frustrating, I have to commend Tamora Pierce for writing characters with grit and presence. They are different from other characters I have seen, even the ones who would use them as templates, like the current selection of fantasy and romantasy female main characters these days.

I really like the new elements and conflicts this quartet brings to the table, and the exploration into complexities and fantasy world details that has been made possible through the expansion of the world. There are so many more interactions and characters now given the role Diane has as a spokesperson and friend to animals. It feels fuller in a simpler way, if that makes sense, like the story world is richer and more layered than before. I may be partial to this development of the world through my thorough enjoyment of non-human characters in books, especially fantasy. I also really like the Immortals and the mythical variations and exciting possibilities as the series moves forward – what other otherworldly creatures are we going to be blessed with in Wolf Speaker? Who’s perspective are we going to be shown more intimately? How have I not read these in my teen years?

I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and I plan on starting Wolf Speaker posthaste, hopefully before the end of the week. I can see myself really loving this series and what it does for my reading right now, both mentally and creatively. Wild Magic is such a great start for this series!