Circle Opens

Sandrilene fa Toren has moved to the palace of her uncle, Duke Vedris, to care for him after his recent heart attack. While the two are out riding Sandry sees a boy named Pasco dance out a magic spell. To her dismay she soon learns that since she discovered Pasco, she must handle his magical education until a proper teacher can be found. At 14, Sandry feels she is too young for this. Even worse, 12-year-old Pasco refuses to believe he has any magic at all. Light-footed and light-of-heart, he threatens to drive Sandry crazy. But Sandry has greater worries than Pasco. Ruthless assassins are working to eliminate a local merchant clan and as the grisly deaths mount, it becomes clear they are using a terrifying power called Un-magic. Even more unnerving, halting their reign of terror will require not only Sandry's magic, but Pasco's as well.

Briar and Rosethorn are in ancient Chammur, where Briar gets involved in a war between street gangs at that same time as he ends up trying to train a young stone mage that he has discovered. Intrigue, adventure, humor, nastiness, all set against a fascinating culture, this is classic Tamora Pierce.