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Magic Steps - Wikipedia

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Magic Steps
US hardcover edition cover featuring Sandry's first discovery of Pasco.
Author	Tamora Pierce
Language	English
Series	The Circle Opens
Genre	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Scholastic Press
Publication date	March 1, 2000
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	272 pp
ISBN	0-590-39588-2 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-590-39605-6 (paperback edition)
OCLC	41468528
LC Class	PZ7.P61464 Mag 2000
Followed by	Street Magic

Magic Steps is the opening book of The Circle Opens quartet of young adult fantasy novels by Tamora Pierce. It is preceded by the Circle of Magic quartet, taking place four years after the conclusion of Briar's Book. It portrays the adventures of Sandrilene fa Toren, the noble thread mage and her first experience as a teacher of magic.

Plot

Like the previous quartet, Magic Steps is set in Summersea, the capital of Emelan. When Sandry’s three foster-siblings leave Summersea to travel the world with their teachers, Sandry and her teacher Lark remain behind in the Winding Circle community of mage dedicates. After Sandry’s uncle, the Duke of Emelan, falls ill, Sandry leaves Discipline Cottage to live with and care for him.

While out riding with her uncle, Sandry makes two discoveries: the murder of Roka, part of the war between organized crime families Rokat and Dihanur, and a boy named Pasco, whose dancing is visible to Sandry's magical vision as imbued with ambient magic.

Publication and reception

The book was first published in 2000, one year after Briar's Book concluded the original Circle of Magic quartet in 1999. A review by Janice M. Del Negro for the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books says the book "serves more as set-up than as a well-developed story of its own" and "The characterizations are less richly layered, relying on the previous series to fill in the blanks".^[1]

Kirkus Reviews praised the book's "vibrant language" and "great energy."^[2] A review by Ann St. John for Horn Book Magazine notes the "grisly descriptions of the crime scenes and the ongoing murders are shocking" and states "Rather than being weighed down by the dark story line, however, the fantasy emphasizes Sandry's strength of character in the face of danger and focuses on her attempts to find a solution."^[3] In a review for School Library Journal, Eva Mitnick observes, "the admirable heroine remains calm, capable, and always ready to giggle" and states, "Violent acts are horrifying but are not graphically described."^[4]

It was adapted into an audiobook in 2011 by Full Cast Audio.^[5] A review of the audio version by Sarah Flood for School Library Journal states, "Sandry and Pasco are likeable and strong-willed characters, and the full-cast narration captures their spunk and humorous interactions with Pierce taking the role of narrator."^[6]

References

^ Del Negro, Janice M. (March 2000). "The Circle Opens: Magic Steps". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 53 (7): 253. ProQuest 223698618
^ "Magic Steps". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
^ St. John, Anne (May–June 2000). "Magic Steps". Horn Book Magazine. 76 (3) – via Literary Reference Center Plus.
^ Mitnick, Eva (April 2000). "Magic Steps (Book Review)". School Library Journal. 46 (4) – via Literary Reference Center Plus.
^ "Magic Steps The Circle Opens: Book 1". FullCastAudio. 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
^ Flood, Sarah (January 2012). "Magic Steps: The Circle Opens, Book 1". School Library Journal. 58 (1) – via Literary Reference Center Plus.

Works by Tamora Pierce

Tortall series

The Song of the Lioness	Alanna: The First Adventure In the Hand of the Goddess The Woman Who Rides Like a Man Lioness Rampant
The Immortals	Wild Magic Wolf-Speaker Emperor Mage The Realms of the Gods
Protector of the Small	First Test Page Squire Lady Knight
Daughter of the Lioness	Trickster's Choice Trickster's Queen
Provost's Dog	Terrier Bloodhound Mastiff
Related works	Tortall and Other Lands Tortall, A Spy's Guide Tempests and Slaughter

Emelan series

Circle of Magic	Sandry's Book Tris's Book Daja's Book Briar's Book
The Circle Opens	Magic Steps Street Magic Cold Fire Shatterglass
The Circle Reforged	The Will of the Empress Melting Stones Battle Magic

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