Wild Magic

by Tamora Pierce

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

English language

Published May 30, 2005 by Simon Pulse.

ISBN:: 978-1-4169-0343-7
OCLC Number:: 60592671

(25 reviews)

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.

22 editions

Jenny Jaybles reviewed Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

So much fun

5 stars

Child with animal powers is always awesome. I would of loved reading this as a kid. I wish someone had given them to me then. But at least I get to discover them now.

Books That Burn reviewed Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Review of 'Wild Magic' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

Daine meets and then travels with Onua, the horse mistress of the Queen’s Riders, beginning as a hired hand for the journey to the palace and quickly becoming indispensable. She has wild magic so strong that she’s in danger of losing track of herself when she connects with animals (the People). They meet the mage, Numair Saladin, who becomes Daine’s master in her magical studies. The plot revolves around Daine connecting with People and with two-leggers, gradually feeling like she can belong again after having traumatically lost her home and family before the events of the book. I like almost all of this book, I just wish it didn't lean quite so hard into Daine's crush on Numair (a man twice her age and her mage master, besides).

There’s a new threat to Tortall: the immortals which were sealed away for several hundred years. Some of them seem to have been in on the return plan, working with enemies of Tortall. Others were unceremoniously plopped in the Mortal Realms with no forewarning and are making the best of it.

In characterization, this focuses nearly as much on animals as humans. Daine connects with many wild animals and enjoys meeting new kinds of creatures (especially on her first visit to the ocean). She also communicates with some of the immortals, particularly the ones with animal forms. I like Cloud, she’s technically an animal sidekick character but she is written much more like a human traveling companion in temperament and tone. She never feels like a gimmick, but is a full person with Daine.

For anyone who’s read The Song of the Lioness quartet, WILD MAGIC occasionally leans into a “where are they now” roundup of beloved characters from those earlier books. If you read this without those, it completely makes sense and doesn’t require background knowledge from that series in order to have 99% of its emotional impact. Usually it just means that readers of Alanna’s quartet may recognize returning characters by their descriptions a paragraph or two earlier than when Daine learns their names.

I like the big battle at the end, it fits the characters and gives a chance to show how much Daine has changed over the summer.

Yashima reviewed Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (The Immortals, #1)

Review of 'Wild Magic' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Nice and easy reading. The heroine is a bit too powerful & free from personal faults for my taste (or did I miss something). The book was over far too quickly. I'll read the sequel anyways.

Mark Philpot reviewed Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (The Immortals, #1)

Review of 'Wild Magic' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Taking place roughly 7 years after the conclusion of the Alanna quartet, Immortals focuses on Diane, a thirteen year old girl who has Wild Magic (a nature based power distinct from the Gift, a human based magic). Pierce weaves Diane's story through many of the old favorite characters, which was appreciated.

This books feels more "kid"-like than either the Alanna series or Protector of the Small (which I put on pause to go back and complete the Immortals series). This may change as the characters get older and more mature (like Pierce did with Alanna). Also, Daine doesn't seem to struggle with much, which is very unlike Alanna's character evolution. She is very strong in her magic, and it seems like things fall into her lap without much work or sacrifice on her part. I'm hoping this changes as the series progresses.