Tempests and Slaughter – Tamora Pierce

I was definitely looking forward to reading this book – it’s the back story for the mage Numair, when he was still a young man named Arram Draper. It’s how he studied in Carthak and became the mage that he is in later books, and how he knew Orzone, before he become emperor.

I really enjoyed the story – the mage’s academy is really fascinating, and the viewpoints from the mages from various lands and how they shaped Arram are well drawn. I really need to go back and read the Wild Magic books. I can’t remember if his friend Varice figures into them or not (she must, based on how that friendship is going, but I really can’t remember that in the more “present” day stories. Granted, it has been a while since I last read those.)

I’m very interested to see where thing go next – there’s definitely trouble viewing – both from the set up in the book and since this is a prequel. I’m excited to see the whole story.