Magic Steps

Magic Steps is the thrilling first book in Tamora Pierce's 'The Circle Opens' quartet, following Sandrilene fa Toren, now fourteen, as she steps into her role as a magic teacher. When a series of gruesome murders plague her city, Sandry discovers her new twelve-year-old student, Pasco, holds the key to stopping the killer. The book features a unique magic system, a compelling mystery, and strong themes of mentorship, bravery, and collaboration. Parents should be aware of the murder mystery plot, which includes multiple character deaths, though the violence is not graphically described. It's a rich fantasy adventure perfect for middle-grade readers ready for a longer, more complex story.

Lady Sandrilene fa Toren knows all about unusual magic - she herself spins and weaves it like thread. But when she witnessed a boy dancing a spell, even she is confounded. To her dismay, Sandry learns that as the mage who discovered the power of the young dancer, she must be his teacher. Before lessons can begin, however, Sandry and her uncle, Duke Vedris, get news of a mysterious murderer stalking a clan of local merchants. The killer employs the strangest magic of all: the ability to reduce essence to nothingness. As the murders mount and the killer grows bolder, Sandry's teaching takes on a grave purpose. For it becomes clear to everyone that the killings can only be stopped by the combined workings of two people: the young teacher and her even younger student.