Product Description

Daja and Frostpine expect to spend some peaceful weeks with old friends in Namorn. But things begin to go awry as soon as they arrive. First Daja discovers that their hosts' twin daughters are mages. Then mysterious fires begin to blaze across the frigid city. Daja works with Bennat Ladradun, to locate what seems to be a serial arsonist. Daja's magic saves the city from going up in flames, but nothing and nobody can save her the disappointment of learning that the arsonist is someone close to her own heart.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30510 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780590396561
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Readers who have followed the fortunes of Daja and her foster siblings in Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens sequences will not be disappointed by this continuation of Daja's adventures as a smith-mage. As her foster siblings Sandry and Briar struggle with their reluctant apprentices (Magic Steps, Street Magic), Daja and her teacher, Frostpine, settle into the northern Namorn city of Kugisko for a restful winter break. Not surprisingly, their illusions are promptly shattered, as Daja discovers that the twin daughters of her host have "ambient magic." As the discovering-mage, Daja is obliged to teach the fidgety girls the rudiments of magic. Meanwhile, Kugisko seems to have fallen into the hands of a ruthless arsonist, and Daja is determined to help her new firefighting friend, Bennat Ladradun, get to the bottom of the mystery. As always, Pierce's writing is both personable and thrilling. Kaja, a strapping, dark-skinned 14-year-old, is tremendously genuine; her powers seem to reflect inner strength rather than an arbitrary gift. An excellent, many-layered read. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
Children's NOTESIn the Next Episode...In the follow-up to Magic Steps and Street Magic, Daja and her teacher, Frostpine, head to a northern Namorn city for a winter retreat. A ruthless arsonist besieges the town, and Daja helps track down the culprit in Cold Fire, the third title in Tamora Pierce's The Circle Opens quartet.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 6-10. In this third title in the Circle Opens series, Daja, the mage featured in Daja's Book (2000), travels with her mentor to study with metal smiths. While wintering in a northern empire, she discovers that the twin daughters of her hosts have magical powers, and she is dismayed to learn that she must teach them until appropriate mentors can be found for them. Teaching the twins is frustrating, but Daja finds creative ways to meet the needs of both girls. She is also drawn to Bennat Ladradun, a firefighter with a tragic past, but her friendship with him is cruelly tested. The author continues to dazzle with appealing, fully realized characters, as well as impressively realized magic, cultures, and settings. Pierce introduces some dark themes--madness, murder, and betrayal--but Daja emerges from these struggles as strong as the fire-forged objects she creates. Chris Sherman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Review by 14-year-old reader
In recent years, Tamora Pierce has not written a bad or even mediocre book. "Cold Fire," third in the "Circle Opens" series, is no exception. The series continues where the "Circle of Magic" books left off: the four mages are now fourteen, and have left Discipline Cottage in Emelan to travel with their teachers.

"Cold Fire" tracks Daja Kisubo, metal-mage and Trader, as she and her teacher, Frostpine, travel north to Kugisko in the Namorn Empire, where they stay with old friends of Frostpine's. During their visit, an arsonist sets fires all through Kugisko: it is up to Daja to find the perpetrator and, ultimately, help bring him to justice.

The most compelling part of the book was the intense psychological portrait of the criminal. Pierce portrays his rationalization of his crimes so well that the reader almost believes it - though not quite, of course.

The characterization was very good here, too: that of the arsonist, and others, too! I particularly liked Nia and Jory, Daja's twelve-year-old students (beginning mages themselves). Daja's character was matured and developed, as well. There was a slight problem, though: the "Circle Opens" books are supposed to take place four years after the "Circle of Magic" books begin - which would make Daja fifteen, as she was eleven in "Sandry's Book." But she is fourteen in "Cold Fire"! That can be ignored, though, and it's such a tiny quibble.

One of the best things in this book was the vivid picture of Kugisko: the costumes, the frozen canals, the people, and the customs. Namorn, I have figured out, is loosely based on Russia, and my mother assures me that her Russian grandfather did indeed drink his tea from a glass and strain it through a mouthful of sugar or cherry preserves - a ritual depicted in "Cold Fire," and one that disgusts Daja! This is one of the reasons I like the "Circle Opens" books: I get to learn about realistic cultures filled with both the magic of mages, and that of different peoples.

The "Circle of Magic" books are my favorite of Tamora Pierce's, and I have read every one of the author's works. But I love "The Circle Opens" almost as much, and "Cold Fire" is a welcome addition to my bookshelf. It combines the wry sense of humor in Pierce's earlier books with the eye for detail in her later ones to make a wonderful read and the best book in its series.

A Good Read for Older Pierce Fans.
I don't know why this book does't have awesome reviews, because I loved it! Out of all the Circle Opens books written so far, Cold Fire is without a doubt my favorite.

Like the other adventures of our infamous mages, this book follows the story of just one mage, Daja. While not my favorite character, I do like Daja's sensible outlook on life. She has a tendency to calm even Tris' rages with her adult, rational perspective and sure-fire appoach to problems. However, Daja's serenity is tested when an arsonist beginst to attack the town where Daja and Frostpine are wintering. With two young (twin) mages to find teachers for and teach meditation to, even Daja's patience is wearing thin. But when she begins to investigate the source of the fires with her fire-fighting friend Ben, she learns that not even she is immune to the lies and trickery of an arsonist.

The reason I like this book so much is because it doesn't gloss over important topics that yes, might be inappropriate for younger readers. But since most of Tamora Pierce's fans are young adults or older, I personally thought it was interesting - in a macabre sort of way - to read the reasons that the arsonist used to rationalize his/her actions. Without the point of view of the arsonist, this amazing book would have lost much of its appeal.

The only complaint I would lodge with the author is the absolute lack of romance, but because of the lack thereof in the earlier quartet Circle of Magic, I have grown to expect this non-romantic vein of Pierce's writing.

Daja faces an unstoppable Force
Being a smith mage, Daja is experienced in working with fire. And as we saw in Daja's book she also knows how to work against it. But in this book Daja has a bigger problem than ever before, and this time she doesn't have her Sandry, Briar or Tris to help her.

In the beginning of the book Daja and Frostpine are living with Frostpine's old friend who has twin daughters, Nia and Jory. Daja discovers that the twins are ambient mages, with powers in carpentry and cooking. Soon Daja is teaching them meditation tactics, which turns out to be much harder than she thought and has started looking for teachers around the city. Unlike Briar and Sandry Daja has no trouble finding them teachers but she finds trouble elsewhere.

Fires are occurring like crazy all over the city, fires that Daja and Frostpine get dangerously involved with. Daja befriends a local fire fighter, Ben, and even works to help make him special gloves that will repel fire. But as she becomes more involved with the fire she discovers that they seem too perfect, maybe even set. Soon she is after a deadly arsonist. Can she stop him before it's too late?

Just like the rest of the book in the series, Cold Fire has proved to be suspenseful and filled with fun and interesting characters. Daja and Frostpine make wonderful returns and we also get introduced to new great characters like the two very different twins, Jory and Nia. If you're a fan of any of the two Circle quartets read this book. Though it's not as good as Street Magic, in my opinion the best in the series so far, it's still a great book!