The Will of the Empress (Circle Reforged, #1)

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The Will of the Empress (Circle Reforged #1)

by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 9,304 ratings · 265 reviews

Sandry, Daja, Briar, and Tris, are older now and back together again, in an exciting and much-awaited, stand-alone novel by everyone's favorite mage, Tamora Pierce.

For years the Empress of Namorn has pressed her young cousin, Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, to visit her vast lands within the Empire's borders. Sandry has avoided the invitation for as long as it was possible. Now...more

Paperback, 550 pages

Published October 1st 2006 by Scholastic Inc (first published October 1st 2005)

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Feb 08, 2009 Juliana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy

I really enjoyed seeing the characters come back together and learn to work together as adults-- while they already had many adult responsibilities, they still had the inevitable painful lessons to learn about becoming adults (an ongoing process, I find). This, and the inventive magic, make it another enjoyable read by Pierce. That being said, I wasn't entirely convinced by the empress character-- while it's certainly believable that a short-sighted and self-centered ruler could hang onto power...more

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Dec 06, 2008 Glitterfairy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who are currently trawling libraries rather than bookstores

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Apr 21, 2013 JoLee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, audio, childrens-young-adult

In The Will of the Empress the Circle of Magic gang is back together, but they all have some wounds to heal. Sandry has been summoned by the Empress of Namorn to come tend to her lands. Knowing the reputation of the Empress, her Uncle Vedris asks Briar, Daja, and Tris to travel with her. The Empress of Namorn is a formidable foe, perhaps one of the best of Tamora Pierce's oeuvre. She is smart, sneaky, and, as the title implies, she always get what she wants. And what she wants is for the young m...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Caroline (Cary) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: friendship, ya, high-fantasy, self-knowledge, lgbt

The characters from the original "Circle of Magic" series are reunited after two years. Daja, Tris, Sandry, and Briar are not as close as they once were, though they have come into their powers and matured. Each has learned new skills and made strides in self-discovery, and now they have secrets. A crisis arises, and they journey to Namorn together to keep Sandry's lands from being confiscated by the empress. In order to accomplish that goal, they will have to open up and band together once agai...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Dec 28, 2012 Elaine Wong rated it 5 of 5 stars

No longer children, but accomplished mages in their late teens, Sandry and her foster siblings travel to Namorn and encounter a world they certainly weren't prepared for - especially since their circle was broken. Travel and separate experiences have distanced them emotionally from each other, and they don't always learn to work together before a threat strikes...

The series assumes that you've been kept up-to-date on the siblings' histories. Pierce doesn't spend a lot of time explaining what's b...more No longer children, but accomplished mages in their late teens, Sandry and her foster siblings travel to Namorn and encounter a world they certainly weren't prepared for - especially since their circle was broken. Travel and separate experiences have distanced them emotionally from each other, and they don't always learn to work together before a threat strikes...

The series assumes that you've been kept up-to-date on the siblings' histories. Pierce doesn't spend a lot of time explaining what's been going on, and who can blame her - you've had two tetrologies to read about Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar. By the time you've made it this far, you're invested.

Tamora Pierce does an excellent job describing the rich world of Namorn, a refreshing change from the humble temple the children grew up in and the towns they traveled to. The siblings are treated to the highest echelons of Namornese society, largely because Sandrilene fa Toren is cousin to the Empress and the wealthiest maiden in the country. Pierce lavishes us with vivid textual descriptions of the hidden inheritance Sandry wants to ignore and treasures that the Empress offers specially designed for each of the siblings. Pierce's research into building up the Circle universe shows, from descriptions of homes to the histories of names and common customs. Having the book focused on Sandry, who is out of touch with her Namornese heritage, is a nice way to discreetly explain things to the reader.

The plot and pacing is good. The multiple characters and perspectives is a little daunting at first, as I usually ended up trying to track what was happening at one point in reference to another. Pierce weaves the characters' relationships carefully, showing just where fences are broken and re-mended.

My only difficulty was trying to identify with the characters. Surely there are child geniuses that earned advanced degrees at fourteen or fifteen. Yet the four have not only medallions at fourteen (while one normally studies into their late twenties), they are also highly successful, politically powerful and extremely wealthy (even Tris, who has the potential to earn that much). It feels like due to pure accident, they've become wildly powerful, and they feel overwhelmed with the amount they can wield. It isn't like they didn't work hard, but they're shining examples of what happens when all the right things fall in the right places. There are rare examples in which a mage with a talent falls on the wayside, such as the boy with unmagic (Magic Steps Circle Opens 1) or Eilisa Pearldrop (Briar's Book Circle of Magic 4) - these could have easily been Briar or Tris or Daja.

Aside from that, the book itself is good. Most of the characters are substantial, with thoughts and motives behind their personalities. Crumbs of potential plot - a cut-off statement here or noted observation there - help set up bigger events. There's lots of rereadable value in this book, and it's a good start to the new tetrology.(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Am tempted to rate this a little higher than I would otherwise to make up for the knee-jerk homosexuality-ruins-everything reviews.

I think Pierce suffers from too many narrators. Or at least, something is going on in this book right now that makes her characters, usually rich if not super complex, strangely flat.

A lot has happened since the last time we saw Sandry/Daja/Briar/Tris, and this book is not really going to walk us through it, instead leaving us with bitter versions of the previous c...more Am tempted to rate this a little higher than I would otherwise to make up for the knee-jerk homosexuality-ruins-everything reviews.

I think Pierce suffers from too many narrators. Or at least, something is going on in this book right now that makes her characters, usually rich if not super complex, strangely flat.

A lot has happened since the last time we saw Sandry/Daja/Briar/Tris, and this book is not really going to walk us through it, instead leaving us with bitter versions of the previous characters and telling us that we'll just have to trust that each of their experiences has been traumatic. Sandry, pretty cheerful and doing her best last time we saw her, now feels incredibly bitter about being left behind and has mentally retconned it so that she's felt that way for the whole four years; Briar has PTSD from a war we haven't actually read about and won't see outside of a few dramatic flashbacks; Daja feels like she no longer has a home, which seems like a bit of a silly reason for her to close off from all the others; and Tris has grown so anti-social from spending all her time around arrogant adults that she doesn't feel like sharing any of her thoughts or motivations with the rest of the group. These single bitter points will define each character for a surprisingly long first part of the book, emphasized with grumpy inner monologues, as none of them do much other than fight for a number of chapters, while not actually going over their feelings with enough depth for us to actually empathize with their feelings.

If you liked any of the other characters you've read about in the last eight novels, you'll be lucky if they get a bit part in this book. The four mages all end up traveling to Namorn, an area we haven't seen before, a court that could be cool and political but turns out to just be vapidly pretty on the outside and plainly evil on the inside. No, really, we know that there are sinister motives behind the court because Pierce switches narrators so we can hear about it first-hand. Because of this, there's very little suspense, or any real reason to keep reading other than the momentum your eyes have picked up from the chapters of set-up.

The book brings up issues that young adults have begun to think about, but they're not addressed as thoroughly as they should be if they're to be interesting topics. Take sex. The four-main-character setup doesn't allow for the same Let's-think-about-it-and-here's-my-conclusion approach that some of Pierce's other books have, but while the characters will disagree and bicker about it, there isn't any real discussion of the different values the characters have, or the way that PTSD, sexual orientation, and body image issues are affecting the conversation.

In the end, the characters learn that they should have been communicating with each other all along, a trust-your-friends moral that usually takes up a chapter or two in one of the Tortall books, so that the main character can then move on to further character development and more interesting things.(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone older than thirteen who enjoyed the Circle of Magic books

Shelves: fantasy

I wasn't sure I would like this one, so I didn't read it for a long time after finishing the first two sets of books starring Sandry, Daja, Briar, and Tris. I finally decided to try it, and I'm glad I did. The story itself is interesting but, as usual, it's Briar who really makes the book for me. He's my favorite character. I especially loved the part in the middle where he has to take off all his knives. I think the end count was ten, not including the ones he left in his boots.

Sandry's cousin...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had to really think about what rating to give this. On one hand the book is very flawed but on the other, I didn't want to put it down.

Just as a bit of a disclaimer, I do know that this particular series by Tamora Pierce is not geared towards my age group, and that's likely part of the problem. But as with her continuing _Lioness_ series, this latter book is much more readable to the older audience.

So, the adventures of Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar continue as the latter three return from thei...more I had to really think about what rating to give this. On one hand the book is very flawed but on the other, I didn't want to put it down.

Just as a bit of a disclaimer, I do know that this particular series by Tamora Pierce is not geared towards my age group, and that's likely part of the problem. But as with her continuing _Lioness_ series, this latter book is much more readable to the older audience.

So, the adventures of Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar continue as the latter three return from their travels to discover that, once reunited, they've grown apart. It's a bit of a shock to them, but not to any of the readers who are over 18 (the age of our protagonists) or have spent any significant time away from close friends. As people grow, age and experience life, they change, and it's hard to reconnect with people who haven't had those same experiences, especially if they were traumatic. And all of them, Sandry included, have experienced their share of trauma.

Their ways of dealing with it set them even more apart. Sandry retreats into her "titled noble" facade, Tris has her own cold and remote mask to hide behind, Briar goes through woman after woman with no attachment to any of them, just so he doesn't have to be alone at night. Daja is the best adjusted of the group, but she's feeling out of place as well. No longer allowed to stay at Winding Circle for free due to their age, she's forced to buy a house of her own that she really didn't want. Nothing's at all the same for the four friends and none of them know how to deal with it.

But, of course, a solution arrives in the form of accompanying Sandry to Namorn for a visit that her cousin, Empress Berenene has practically ordered (financial blackmail). The reader already knows that it's not likely to be a trouble free visit and what they go through up in Namorn will forge them together as friends again, but even already knowing all of that, the story is entertaining enough to make you want to stay with it.

What follows is no surprise at all. A glittery, shiny court and a seemingly friendly empress-cousin, which is, of course, little more than a shiny facade covering up all the conniving, scheming and backstabbing you'd expect in a setting like that. It's something that takes the four friends a bit too long to grasp, to my way of thinking, given how worldly some of them are. Oh, Briar thinks he knows, but he still allows himself to be snowed over by the extensive gardens and greenhouses.

Anyone who reads the inside flap of the book knows that the empress wants to marry Sandry off and thus, keep her lands and money for Namorn (herself, really), so when Sandry finally realizes that, it's, again, no surprise to the reader. Still, Sandry does try to make the best of it, as do her friends, even while they're still in-fighting.

One pleasant development in the book is Daja's romance. It was something that had been hinted around but seeing it actually happen definitely put a smile on my face.

Of course, it all comes together when Sandry is put in danger and needs her friends to rescue her. Then all arguments are thrown aside and they band together to get her out of there and themselves out of Namorn. Not that the road out is smooth (big surprise), but it's nothing four genius mages can't handle, and, once again, nothing the reader didn't expect.

One of the major flaws in the book, the biggest, I'd say, is that every single piece of the plot is spoon fed to the reader. Every major and minor character's view point is shown at some time in the narration, so there's never any surprise when something happens, you always know it's coming. Absolutely nothing is left to the imagination, and there's no build up of mystery or suspense; you always know what will happen, and given who these four are, you always know they'll find a way out. It's a major weak point and if Ms. Pierce had stayed with only the viewpoints of the four mages, she might have had a much, *much* stronger book.

That said, it's still an entertaining story, even knowing everything that will happen. It doesn't get boring and although you already know that the four mages will find a way out of whatever predicament they're currently in, you still want to stick around and see how they do it. (less)

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Jun 04, 2011 Anne Toronto1 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fan

***** (the best so far of a favored author) "The Will of the Empress" by Tamora Pierce might be called "Stitch Witch", because set against royal whim is the featured character of four chilhood progidies from mage school Sandry, who transforms threads. How she undoes bullies is hilarious. Her pals have adventured for 2 years in previous books, and now, 16, must leave their teacher's cottage, and she, the rich stay-at-home, welcomes them back to her uncle's place. Scarred by war and violence, they...more

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Mar 03, 2010 Ali rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. God, why do I still read Tamora Pierce books? I'm way too old. I can see so many more flaws in her writing than when I was 13.

For a YA read, it's decent. However, if I didn't recognize the characters that I'd first read about when I was in junior high, I wouldn't be drawn to this at all. Fortunately, every page drips with nostalgia, and it's nice to indulge now and then. Plant magic! Fashion-design-mage-noble-tearful-action girl, Sandrilene! Friends in conflict! Political intrigue! Lesbians!

Oh r...more God, why do I still read Tamora Pierce books? I'm way too old. I can see so many more flaws in her writing than when I was 13.

For a YA read, it's decent. However, if I didn't recognize the characters that I'd first read about when I was in junior high, I wouldn't be drawn to this at all. Fortunately, every page drips with nostalgia, and it's nice to indulge now and then. Plant magic! Fashion-design-mage-noble-tearful-action girl, Sandrilene! Friends in conflict! Political intrigue! Lesbians!

Oh right, lesbians: this is the Tamora Pierce book where she added to the lesbian mage foster-moms she already had in her canon, and made a major character, Daja, gay. I'd have to say I found all the relationships in this book unsatisfactory and awkward, though, lesbian ones included. Briar makes an unconvincing PTSD-affected playboy. Sandry's ardent kidnapper suitors were dull, and that was unfortunate, given that it was the entirety of the plot until the feeble battle with Grandma Mage tacked on at the end. Tris's "I'm too fat to be loved, mean boys dumped honey on me" revelation was probably the most body-image unhealthy thing I've read in a YA novel to date, and it made me want to laugh and shake my head at the same time, probably not the reaction Pierce was going for. Daja's revelatory fling with Rizu, while inclusive, was still portrayed as an obstacle to the friends all being together as a fightin' mage-team again. The queer-positive messages about Daja were undermined a little when she was characterized as ignoring Sandry being kidnapped (with the looming threat of rape), because she was too busy smooching her new girlfriend.

I'd recommend this book to the YA set for sure, but nobody else. I think high-school aged lesbians and their friends in particular would love this one, and it's suitable to list as a queer-content YA book. It's not a book based on a lesbian relationship, but a portrayal of a group of friends with mixed social and ethnic backgrounds - where one happens to be gay and has a cute romance. It's full of drama and the power of friendship-magic triumphing over some mean old ladies and wizards. If you're over 16, though, the weak and flimsy plot will probably bore you.(less)

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May 25, 2009 Korynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fifantasy

Obviously going into this book afresh without any prior history of the characters is troublesome. For those who have read prior volumes, you will be thrown off by allusions to events in our Circle's lives that we are not familiar with (that have not been written yet but will be) but this book is wonderful without. Essentially four young people have separated and become adults with new secrets and come together again with the intention of remaining friends and must feel their way through their ow...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Natasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

This has quickly become one of the most read books on my shelf. For myself personally, it drips with nostalgia, and the little girl that hides in me loves the plot even as my adult mind tells me that the plot is very predictable. But frankly, that's what we read Tamora for. Wonderful, crazy, predictable and oh so wonderfully familiar and loved stories set in new places with new faces and old loves. I love revisiting these characters, love revisiting the familiar plot line, the pages that are now...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Maggie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Killer storytelling, as always. You can't put her books down. I find the WYSIWYG aspect of the characters a little tiresome, and before anyone says that's to be expected with this age group, there's plenty out there that has good characterization.

Things I really liked: the changing face of the Empress as the story unfolded. The changes in all of the characters, ditto. The crazy man. That was a great story element, a seer you can't really trust, because of course we as readers know that he's rig...more

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Jan 25, 2009 Kristyn added it

Shelves: read-in-11th

This is the final book of the seires about the four mages. I'm so sad that this series has come to an end becuase I loved reading about the lives of these four young mages. They always had so much fun with their adventures, and whenever they were in trouble they were able to get through it becuase they were together. In this book they needed each other more than ever. Sandry's cousin, the empress of Namorn is determined to keep the four young mages in Namorn becuase she wants their power. The en...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Margaret rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-and-ya-fiction, fantasy-and-science-fiction, authors-op

The Will of the Empress is a standalone sequel to Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens series, which follow the adventures of a group of four young mages. Here, the mages (Sandry, Briar, Daja, and Tris) reunite after several years of separate travels, when they accompany Sandry on a visit to the Empress of Namorn and to Sandry's own lands in Namorn, which need her attention. Soon the friends discover that the Empress will do anything to keep Sandry in Namorn, and though their for...more

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Apr 04, 2009 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 20, 2011 Leah added it

Tamora Pierce has tackled some pretty tough subjects in this story such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, madness, homosexuality, professional jealousy and ostracism, heartbreak, as well as the quieter trouble of growing apart from close childhood friends. The novel is written with vivid details and natural, realistic dialogue. The use of magic fits well into the story, so that the reader doesn’t even have to think about the fact that many of the things described should be physically impossible...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12th-grade-quarter-4

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Aug 04, 2011 Christine Ricci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well written, although the jump in ages between the last ""Circle"" books was a bit difficult to get my head around. I'm glad Pierce acknowledged this and tried to keep the characters young. I also enjoyed that Sandry, Briar, Tris, and Daja, reunited. In the last novel of the Circle Opens, I was definitely disappointed to find that the four mages did not reunite. I think this novel added closure, which came full circle. However, it was not quite consistant with those circle of magic novels. I un...more

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Aug 29, 2010 Shaya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-books, summer-2010, tamora-pierce, fantasy

I definitely appreciate being able to see Tris, Sandry, Briar and Daja all grow up. The Will of the Empress is somewhat reminiscant of the Circle of Magic books because all four of the mages are together and figuring out how to get along again.

It's an interesting story and I really liked that Berenene came across not just as demanding and willful but smart and clever too. It is obvious that the game she plays is what keeps her in power even if her methods are distateful.

I also appreciated that...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Rae added it

Shelves: 2008

Reactions: Ok I don't know how many books she's written but I've read 24 of them so I'm very proud.. especially since I've read them in the past 7 months!

Anyways.... on to the reflection part and whatnot! Well in this book, we rejoin Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar who are all now 18.. isnt' that a change! From 10 to 18 and boy how things have changed! They haven't seen each other in four years and so things get off to a rocky start when they first meet. They don't talk to one another and they don'...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Kiersten added it

As a story and a sequel to her other series, this was well-written and interesting, but it completely ruined my opinion of Daja and didn't do much for Briar, either. Pierce definitely crossed some moral lines that I simply cannot agree with. I'm pretty conservative, and this just went places I would have been happier not to go. I didn't find the book completely horrible overall - most of the story, as well as the character development (I finally learned to appreciate Tris) - was very good, the h...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Wealhtheow rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pocmaincharacters, queer-characters, ya, fantasy

When they were just children, Sandry, Briar, Tris and Daja linked their magics and became a nigh-unstoppable force. They became mages at the unprecedentedly early age of 13, and split up to explore the world. Now 18, they are finally together once more. But their old intimacy is gone: years apart have made them reticent to join their minds as they once did, and old wounds and insecurities have damaged their friendship. This is a particularly dangerous time to be unlinked, however, because they a...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Janine Coleman rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is technically a stand-alone story of Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar, the ninth in the "Magic Circle" series. The first eight books were split into quartets, one for each character, while this book serves all four characters in one very large book. The main plot centers around Sandry and her Namorese cousin, the Empress Berenene; the quartet travels to Namorn so Sandry can visit her estate left to her by her parents and settle the growing amount of taxes that Berenene continues to levy a...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: older-ya-books

Tamora Pierce's story of the 4 pre-teen mages of previous books growing into young adults has me sucked in. True, they do seem to get caught in one adventure after another, but there are four of them, and each is portrayed very individualistically, both in magic style and personality. I love the conflict of having grown apart over the years, but coming together again to support one another. As I am nearing the end, it's clear the individual adventures are weaving more tightly together to support...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Four mages and friends--Daja, Briar, Tris and Sandry (from the author's other books, The Circle of Magic and the Circle Opens quartets)--are now 18 and three of them come home to Winding Circle, home of mages. But Sandry must go to see her inheritance lands in Namora, where she is a wealthy countess as well as mage. Her cousin the Empress schemes to keep her there and marry her off to a noble. Well, if you know Tamora Pierce's heroines, Sandry is not going to let THAT happen! She brings her frie...more

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Jul 14, 2009 Liz rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who want their childhood favourites crushed into tiny pieces of exposition.

Recommended to Liz by: Suzy. Mental note: Never Trust Suzy.

Shelves: ya

Where do I begin?

- the characters were fighting each other all the time. Their very actions were unlikeable, and I found myself wondering: where did the old characters go? I hated the very plot of this book. It was pointless and unengaging.

- huge retcon involved in making *a certain person* gay-- it was obvious this was a mouthpiece for Tamora's views. She even said that she wanted to make one of the characters gay. Now, I'm definitely not a fan of unnatural relationships, but what made it even...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Shoshana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, female-friendship, ya

So sad - I just wrote this review and then goodreads died and lost it :(

Fortunately, it wasn't too long, and the gist was, this is a solid, fun cap to the Circle Opens. It's good to see the four reuinted, and it's realistic and compelling to see them struggle with their relationships with each other. I like the little bit of complexity we get with Berenene; I like the predictable but fully pleasurable plot twists; I'm interested by the side characters; and I like seeing our heroes continue to gr...more

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Mar 25, 2009 Denae rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy

I am heavily against sexual immorality in books and can't condone it. Briar is distracted, Daja goes weird, and Sandry tries to find love, but at least Tris stays sane. Nothing like a book for company.

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About Tamora Pierce

Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join gro...more Hey, folks! I just discovered that apparently I have given some very popular books single-star ratings--except I haven't. How do I know I haven't? Because I haven't read those books at all. So before you go getting all hacked off at me for trashing your favorites, know that I've written GoodReads to find out what's going on.

I return to my regularly scheduled profile:
Though I would love to join groups, I'm going to turn them all down. I just don't have the time to take part, so please don't be offended if I don't join your group or accept an invitation. I'm not snooty--I'm just up to my eyeballs in work and appearances!

Also, don't be alarmed by the number of books I've read. When I get bored, I go through the different lists and rediscover books I've read in the past. It's a very evil way to use up time when I should be doing other things. Obviously, I've read a lot of books in 54 years!

I was born in South Connellsville, PA. My mother wanted to name me "Tamara" but the nurse who filled out my birth certificate misspelled it as "Tamora". When I was 8 my family moved to California, where we lived for 6 years on both sides of the San Francisco peninsula.

I started writing stories in 6th grade. My interest in fantasy and science fiction began when I was introduced to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J. R. R. Tolkien and so I started to write the kind of books that I was reading. After my parents divorced, my mother took my sisters and me back to Pennsylvania in 1969. There I went to Albert Gallatin Senior High for 2 years and Uniontown Area Senior High School for my senior year.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I wrote the book that became The Song of the Lioness fantasy quartet. I sold some articles and 2 short stories and wrote reviews for a martial arts movie magazine. At last the first book of the quartet, Alanna: The First Adventure was published by Atheneum Books in 1983.

Tim Liebe, who became my Spouse-Creature, and I lived in New York City with assorted cats and two parakeets from 1982 - 2006. In 2006 we moved to Syracuse, New York, where we live now with assorted cats, a number of squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and woodchucks visiting our very small yard. As of 2011, I have 27 novels in print, one short story collection, one comic book arc ("White Tiger: A Hero's Compulsion") co-written with Tim, and a short story anthology co-editing credit. There's more to come, including a companion book to the Tortall `verse. So stay tuned!(less)

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Books by Tamora Pierce

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)

In the Hand of the Goddess (Song of the Lioness, #2)

Lioness Rampant (Song of the Lioness, #4)

The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (Song of the Lioness, #3)

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Quotes from The Will of the Empress

“Ishabal: "If you may correct your vision as you like, why do you wear spectacles?"
Tris: "Because I like them. Because I have better things to do with my magic than fixing my vision when ordinary glass will do.” — 35 people liked it

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The Will of the Empress (Circle Reforged #1)

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