Ancient Arab-like city, gangs, plant magic, stone magic, wealthy elitists, and interestingly lots of shopping define Street Magic.

Briar is 14 and discovers a ten-year-old girl that lives on the streets, avoiding gangs and the slave trade after her impoverished parents sold her so they could continue their long journey west. Technically the girl, Evvy, needs a stone mage to teach her stone magic, and Briar needs to find her such a mage. Technically, stone mages like Evvy are known to have stony stubbornness and she refuses to have anyone but the street smart yet kind Briar to teach her. How will this work out? Tamora Pierce kept me guessing. Meanwhile, Rosethorn was more than happy to have minimal responsibilty.

For a while I was concerned about all the gangs in the city that the story is set in. Is it all about gangs and little to do with magic? The gang culture was unsettling and I had to read the book in more spread out sessions that I usually would for Pierce's novels. At first I thought that was my own insecurity about having other people with more power over me than me. Toward the end of the story I figured the effect was intentional and Piece did a good job keeping me unsettled.

Briar was not. I haven't read the first three Circle of Magic books yet, so I can't say how much Briar's tact (or lack of) and bravery (or foolishness) was fleshed out, so I was never sure if his courses of action would bring misfortune later. Early in the book he cares for wounded gang members. Then again shortly later. Yet he assumed that he could chose how he was involved and that he wouldn't get manipulated into joining or murdered. Perhaps it was only because he was a mage, but the story focuses more on his street upbringing more, so I nervously wondered if he had a blind spot and would get sucked in to the point of no escape.

The only Circle of Magic book I read, Briar's Book had no combat. I had no idea if Briar could safely handle himself if--when--the gangs attacked him or if he was the sort that was comfortable gambling. Now, having finished reading, appreciate just how much I unnecessarily intensified the story by not being acquainted with Briar from the previous books. (Not my fault--I'm reading what the library has. I'm going to have to buy the first three Circle of Magic books.)

I much prefer Evvy over Sandry's student in the first installation of this series. He was, as she put it, "young" for his age--a typical, 12-year-old boy archetype. Not Evvy. Evvy can have her own series. Maybe I'm biased to the orphaned and abandoned types of character backgrounds and street-smart and tough female personalities, but Evvy also has great lines and shows fear at appropriate times for her to relate to. She also has cats and goes to great lengths to look after them and spend quality time with them.

How to share my favorite part of the book without spoilers.... Briar is badass when he is angry, in so many ways. The climax is simply a delight. I read fast and laughed hard. Briar and Evvy make a great team. I'm almost surprised they didn't high-five. ( )

I enjoyed The Circle of Magic Series but I think this series, The Circle Opens, is better. The chracters are more fleshed out and I find the stories more engaging. I always love the writing style of Tamora Pierce and this is no exception. As always these are a must read for me. ( )

There were many things about this book I liked--I think it handled the mentorship relationship way better than the last one, in that there was just so much more onscreen time between Briar and Evvy (and it was SO CUTE. Every part they were together I kept going "AWWW" and having to put the book down because I was overcome by how adorable they were.)

There was some stuff going on that I did not love--there was a weird amount of fatphobia which like, I get that here fatness is also a sign of wealth and not caring for the poor, but it's also like. Rough in its depiction. It's also much darker than any of the previous Circle books which is not in and of itself a bad thing, but may be worth knowing going into it.

But apart from that, like I said, I really did enjoy this book, and it made me hope that we will see more of Evvy especially in the future! ( )

This is one of my favorite series, I really enjoy Briar and his journey. ( )

Okay, so I guess I kind of pulled a something like the Emperor Mage for this one. Remember how in the Immortals quartet, Emperor Ozorne called Daine Veralidaine even though she insisted he call her Daine? He said it was beause why should she have a pretty name if no one uses it?
That's what I did. Instead of calling Evvy Evvy, I call her Evumeimei. Cuz Evumeimei is pretty and fun to say! ( )