The re-issued versions of this book are stunning. The covers are eyecatching and incredibly beautiful. It’s easy to see why anyone would be drawn to this book. Then when you get to the blurb… well, it’s so beautifully written and captivated my attention right away I just knew I needed to pick this book up.

The only thing I wish had been done differently is that I wish I had found this book sooner than 2019! I can imagine myself devouring this series when I had more time to read. I loved it because it combined all of my favourite fictional elements into one - a complex magic system, political intrigue, villains you can truly hate, and the most lovable of friendship groups that had me yearning to become of them.

This book follows a young girl called Daine, who meets one of the Queen's Riders, and takes a job with her, which thrusts her unto a world of mages and immortals. She also has magic herself. This story is so action-packed and throws you right in. From other reviews I have read, it’s because the Alanna books should be read before this one but I had no trouble following the story.

DNF @ 35%

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

After trying on a number of occasions to read this physically, I decided to try out the audiobook instead. But unfortunately, this isn't holding my interest. I was pretty confused and a little bored and while I really liked the premise, this just isn't for me.

Thank you to Net galley for providing an e copy of this book which I read along with the audiobook.

When I first started this book I was a little confused as there was very little world building or explanation of the magic system after a quick Google, I found out that this isn't the first series in this world so I let that go as it was probably all in an earlier book that I'd missed.

What I did learn about this magic system was really interesting and for me, it was quite unique.

This is a fast paced YA novel and though it's an older series, I feel that this book has held up well. I also liked that there wasn't any romance in this book which was quite refreshing.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and will be continuing the series

This was a brilliant first book in a wonderful new series. I have never read anything by Tamora Pierce before, and I feel although I have been missing out.
I really enjoyed this book, I really enjoyed the magic system and the animals.
It was wonderfully engaging and beautifully written. My 10-year-old daughter would love this book

Thankyou to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperVoyager and the author, Tamora Pierce. for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Wild magic in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It offers a good, quick read with engaging characters. I thought the storyline was well thought out and written. This beautifully written story is the firs,t in what I think, is going to be an exciting new series.

Worth a read for fans of the genre.

This was a really fun book that throws you right into the action and keeps that pace right the way through. It tells the story of Daine, a young girl who has always had an affinity with animals and finds herself in the middle of the Tortall court. What I enjoyed most here was the simplicity and cleanliness of the narrative. There were no deep dives into character motivations and no twists to pad out the plot. The story is very linear and the heroes and villains are refreshingly heroic and villainous. As the first in a four part series, this is a great introduction and I was able to read this without issue, despite not having previously read the Alanna books. There are a lot of strong roles for women here, which is always welcome in a fantasy book, particularly those aimed towards children and young adults. All in all, I found this to be a delightful opener to a series that I will read with great interest.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Although thirteen year old Daine has no magical talent, she’s always had an affinity for animals. So, when her family are killed she finds a job with the royal horse master driving ponies to the training camp for the Queen’s Riders. However, it becomes clear through Daine’s journey that her abilities with animals reach into the realm of wild magic. This is a rare magic, and not even a master mage has seen such raw power in one person. But Daine must learn to master her abilities, war is coming to Tortall and her magic will be key to countering the darkness the enemy brings.

I’ve been trying to read more young adult fantasy and Wild Magic caught my interest. It seemed like a traditional fantasy with a young protagonist; just what I was looking for. Over all this was a good read it had magic, adventure…talking animals.

There was an almost innocence to this fantasy that you don’t see much, even in the young adult genre. Then I looked at the original publishing date (I had an ARC of a UK re-issue from October 2018) and saw it was first published in 1992. As time has gone on, it has been my experience that the young adult genre incorporates books that are grittier and darker. Teenagers swear and explore their sexuality; modern day books reflect that. So, seeing this was published in 1992 made the relative “innocence” and almost 2D characteristics of Daine make sense.

This is the first time I have read Tamora Pierce and it became clear to me as I was reading that Tortall, the continent she had created, was well established and populated with characters from previous series she had written. Series that I hadn’t read. This didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, but there was a history to the current conflict and between some of the characters that I didn’t know about. But, I enjoyed having such a mature world, a world that the previously sheltered Daine was new to as well. This meant we experienced all the new characters and places along with our main protagonist.

This was a nice read, it was a light fantasy which although lacked some depth was a fun read nonetheless. If you want something safe to read to your children or give to them to read themselves, this would definitely be a good choice. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Okay so first of all a great re-read for me. I love Daine!

Of all the powers in the Tortall Universe I love Daine's the most. I love that she can communicate with animals!

There was a lot happening in this book. I don't want to get too spoilery but it made my heart pound in excitement, fear and joy.

I love how Daine has made her own home and her own family with some lovely and familiar characters. The last bit where Daine says she goes from no home to too many is just key!

a book that is very easy to read, so i thoroughly enjoyed it!!

i literally read it in 1 sitting!! It was my first book from this author, but it definitely will not be the last!!!

This is the first book in the Immortals Quartet and what a great start to this fantasy series. We meet the main character Daine - a thirteen-year-old with wild magic that she doesn't yet realise she has. Daine can communicate with animals, but was always told my her mother that she didn't possess the gift. Her mother was a hedgewitch with the ability to heal.

Daine is a great character, well written, and all her vulnerabilities are clear to see. She's lonely and has isolated herself from humans after they threatened to kill her. The animals protect her and she gets a job with Onua who is gathering horses for the Raiders. We also meet Numaire, a mage that agrees to teach Daine about her wild magic. We do meet a whole host of other characters too and all are well written and fully fleshed out.

This book, the first in the series, introduces all the main characters and it is well written, with vivid scenes that pull you in. I loved becoming Daine as she meditated and connected with all the different animals. I particularly enjoyed her first encounter with sea and the songs she heard from the ocean's depths.

The end battle is superbly written and I felt as if I was in the thick of it. There is so much to love about this book and it's the first I've read from this author. It won't be the last as I have books 2 and 3 ready and waiting.

If you enjoy magic, battles, mythical creatures, and a heroine that is believable, you'll love this book too.

“The person who commits an action is the one responsible for it, not the people he commits the action upon.”

Wild Magic explores the story of Daine, a young girl whose entire family was murdered by evil creatures. Daine is accompanied by her companion Cloud, her loyal mare. Daine has a knack with all animals, being able to communicate with them and hear their thoughts. This knack gets Daine a job helping the royal horse-mistress take a herd of ponies to Tortall. Along their journey they meet friend and foe, and it soon becomes clear that Daine doesn't just have a knack, she has a power unlike any other. The only question is; will Daine learn to trust herself, and to trust those around her?

I liked the look of this book just based upon the premise, not realising that there were numerous other books out there about the world this story is set in. I was initially concerned that I wouldn't understand half of what was being spoken about, however that was not really an issue. The focal story is about Daine and her journey, whilst characters from other books make an appearance, their role is clearly explained and defined, and we are introduced to them as Daine is. Pierce does a good job of building the world up so that it is relatively easy to understand.

Whilst reading the book I felt that Daine showed traits of a 'Mary Sue' however upon finishing I rethought this, and realised that I would never think that about a male character. Daine is strong, and she is powerful, however she's not indestructible; she doesn't know or understand anything about her power, she relies on those around her to guide and show her the way. She seeks help from others, and makes some mistakes that others help rectify. Daine is a young teenage girl just trying to find her way in a world she doesn't really understand; she does keep some secrets which does grate a bit, however it soon becomes clear why, and I found myself emphathising with her as to why this was. I also enjoyed all the side characters, and thought their interactions worked well with introducing Daine to the wild world.

My only negative point, which isn't really negative, is that this book was clearly a bit young for me. I think if I was reading this when I was 12/13 I would keep it on my bookshelf for years, however reading it as an adult, it is clear that this is too young or me. I did enjoy the plot, however it's not one that I would keep on my bookshelf. I would be interested in reading the following stories to see were Daine goes.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book for my honest review.

Lovely to see a book I enjoyed as a teenager getting the digital treatment. The writing is just as good as it ever was, and it loses nothing in its translation to an e-book. I love that the writing style of the author appeals to both young adult and adult audiences. The new cover isn't quite what I'd choose personally, but it's not bad.

I would have absolutely adored this book as a young teen but as an adult I also loved it.

Daine has wild magic, she can talk to and with all animals, but had left her home due to horrible circumstances. She is taken on to help with horses and trainee ’ soldiers’, it’s here she really comes into her own. With training from Numair she can control her magic and can heal.

I don’t want to spoil any of the story, but it’s full of wonders, monsters and magic, there’s even a dragon.

Tamora Pierce has written a stunning Fantasy novel and created a world full of strong female characters with grown up relationships. I realise this was first published some time ago and I’m sorry it had passed me by, but now I’m truly smitten and will be reading more of this series.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

My thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for a review copy of this one.

While I’d heard of Tamora Pierce’s books, I didn’t really know what genre she wrote in, but when I noticed these books on NetGalley, and the description, a fantasy which involved a girl who could communicate with animals, I decided to put in a request. Wild Magic, the first of this quartet (the Immortals) was first published in 1992. This is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl, Daine (Veralidaine Sarrasi), who doesn’t have the “Gift”, magic that the rest of her family and community has but has the power to communicate with animals, to the extent that they do as she asks, though at times, they even put themselves in danger to help her as well. She herself however, doesn’t seem to consider that at par with the others’ magic. After her family is killed, she leaves her home and takes up employment with Onua, horsemistress to the Queen’s Riders, female knights and riders who ride with the Queen of Tortall. Here among her new friends, her talents are appreciated and she finds love and acceptance, but she is carrying a secret about her past which she is reluctant to reveal. Her new friends including the mage Numair Salmalin, begin to help her understand her true powers and the wild magic that she has and get some measure of control over it. When they find themselves under attack by enemy forces, which include not only mages but mythical monsters who were believed to be trapped in another realm for some centuries, it falls to Daine to come to the rescue of her new friends.

While the plot of this book sounded interesting, I was a little sceptical about reading it since it is more or less a full-blown fantasy, and at times I find these difficult to wrap my head around. However, I needn’t have been worried, because I got into the story almost immediately and didn’t feel lost or struggling to understand the world or how it worked at any point. The first two characters we meet, Daine, and Onua I took to immediately, and the others we meet in the Kingdom of Tortall were very likeable as well. It was fun seeing Daine’s bewilderment (more than that, the fact that she spoke out her thoughts) in a world where the people don’t seem to behave as they’re supposed to—the nobles aren’t haughty but just like any “normal person”, the power structures don’t seem to work as she expects them to, and more than that everyone is welcoming. Things in this world are far from stereotypical, especially as far as the gender roles are concerned, which was good to see. I could also really connect with Daine because I could relate to her feelings vis-à-vis animals which were very similar to my own and I wished I could have her powers to communicate with them as well. Plus, at times of trouble, the heartbreak and gut-wrenching feelings that she goes through for her animal friends was something I could understand. The story which is obviously only the first of many challenges that Daine and her friends will face was fairly enjoyable as well, giving us the back stories of the characters and the idea of the problem/battle that is unfolding. I can’t wait to read on to the next instalment and see how the story progresses and what lies ahead for the characters. Very enjoyable read, of which my favourite element was the animals and Daine’s friendship with them. Four and a half stars.

I received a free ebook version of this book from Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this! My review is still honest.

Believe it or not, this was my first Tamora Pierce novel! Because of this, I didn't realise until I'd started that I should have read the Alanna quartet first, but I still got the gist of the story and I don't think it impacted my enjoyment/understanding too much.
Wild Magic follows Daine, a young girl with a secret, tragic past. When she meets Onua, one of the Queen's Riders, and takes a job with her, she is thrust into a world of mages and war and Immortals emerging from realms they haven't escaped from in centuries. She also might have a little magic herself-and it's so damn cool.
This book does reflect when it was written. It was great, but it doesn't have the same vibe as a modern fantasy, and if I'm right about my guess of a potential romance, it's definitely not something that would be accepted if written today. However, the female characters in this are strong and would be so inspiring for a young reader. I wish I'd read this when I was a child! Daine, Alanna and Onua are such great role models and I really loved reading from Daine's perspective.
The action was good, especially towards the end. For the first third or so, I thought it was a little too action packed! It just seemed like it threw me straight in with no world building (which could be because I hadn't read the Alanna books) but after a while, it straightened itself out and I was just enthralled. I was so excited to know what happened next! The end battle was so exciting and tense.
By far my favourite aspect though is the magic. The animals were some of my favourite characters and it was nothing like what I've read before. It's one of those books that makes you want to be in that world.
A solid read! I'm intrigued to know what happens next.

This is the first instalment in The Immortals series.

This managed to combine all of my favourite fictional elements - a complex magic system, political intrigue, a sprawling fantastical world, villains you can truly hate, an abundance of animals and the most lovable of friendship groups that had me yearning to become of them - and did all of this whilst also creating a unique and consistently exciting story-line. This may only be my first Tamora Pierce book, but it definitely not be the last!

This is my first Tamora Pierce book, but I promise it will not be my last. The crisp prose and enchanting worldbuilding made this a captivating read. Every characted felt fully realised and capable of carrying their own story. I can't wait to dive into the sequel!

Thoroughly enjoyable. So glad HarperVoyager decided to reissue Tamora Pierce's books hopefully they'll publish/ republish her other Totally series in the UK as well. I'd definitely recommend all female lovers of fantasy in their early teens.

This was a solid introduction to this series. The characters are well written, the pacing is good and the story is engaging. Although I did enjoy this book, I definitely think I would have loved it if I read it when I was younger. Overall this was a quick, enjoyable read and I would recommend checking it out if you're interested.

Don't get me wrong, Alanna was a phenomenal protagonist, but something about Daine just clicked with me, maybe it was her connection with animals, maybe it was her fear of her own madness, I don't know. Suffice it to say that I fell hard for Daine. I loved her, I want to read fifty books from her perspective and I couldn't wait to keep reading more. This book captured all of the things I love about books with animals and just kept running with them, I adore a young protagonist learning to master her skills and that is exactly what you get in this story.

I also loved that this book built on the Alanna series, it's like greeting old friends (ok, I only read the Alanna books the week before but that was the feeling). There's something satisfying about being allowed to continue the stories of characters through the eyes of someone new. You can learn new things about them and the lives they lead and it's an opportunity to see them flourishing which is just nice, profoundly nice.

I loved the plot, there was just the right amount of intrigue, deception and also bonding between the 'good' characters. I liked that the story built on what you thought you knew about magic in the first books and then just twists it a little bit more.

I should stress that you don't have to have read the Alanna books to enjoy this story. It might help, but this definitely stands alone.

What I have enjoyed is that all of these books, so far, have been ten chapters long. I think it makes the pacing much more gentle, working through a long chapter is quite satisfying. I enjoy the pattern of events as they evolve in a ten-part structure.

I know this review is profoundly waffley and that's because I just don't have the words to describe what I love about this book. All I can say is Tamora Pierce knows how to write a setting and a story. She works for me.

My rating: 5/5 stars - didn't even have to think about it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.