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Firstly I'd like to thank NetGalley for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I must say that I really, really struggled to get into this book and to get any progress. I just felt that the plot didn't really have any direction and the pacing would race ahead and then slow down repeatedly. I didn't really have a feel that we as readers were getting lead to any big, climactic event, and the plot was really just the main character's day-to-day life. This, for me, got very boring very quickly. I found the main character's discovery of erections and wet dreams a little weird, and I'm not sure if the author was referring to depression when the male best friend would get reclusive and angry. If it was a reference to depression, it seemed to be skimmed over quite quickly so I don't really know what the whole point to it was, maybe other than an aspect of his character.

But I agree with other reviewers who have said that while it did have a Harry Potter feel to it, especially at the university/academy, the book just didn't seem to have much direction and because of this I grew bored of it. The writing was easy to read and enjoyable enough, but the plot (or lack thereof) really seemed to hurt this book in my opinion.

"I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review"

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realize that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

This book was so hard for me to rate. Before going on about my rating I want to explain this is my first Tamora Pierce book and I think if I read her other series this goes with my rating would of been way easier. The writing in this book was amazing and it and on that alone I would of given the book a 4 star rating.

In saying that I just could not get into the book like I wanted to. I am not sure if it was because I haven't read her other series or something in this story was lacking for me. I couldn't connect to the story or the character and it frustrated me throughout the book because I had no issue why I could not. I am thinking it was just down to timing when reading it (I am a mood reader and read certain genres at certain times). If I rated the book based on enjoyment it would maybe 3 stars.

So I decided to set my star rating as 3.5. I will still continue on with the series as I am hoping I connect better with the story with the second book. I am also hoping to try her other series to see if it helps.

While this was an enjoyable read, I felt like Tempests and Slaughter didn't have a strong plot to pull me along through the (pretty long) novel - rather it read a bit like an Enid Blyton book, where our protagonists have a series of adventures throughout which we can see them grow and learn, but there is no one big climax to the story. This also gave the book the feel of an 'origin story' - I felt like the style would make more sense, and maybe would have delivered more to me if I knew (and cared about) the protagonists already. If I had been a Tamora Pierce fan before reading this one the title of this new series would have given away that it is actually going to be a back story for some characters from another of her series - The Numair Chronicles of course referring to the mage Numair Salmalin from The Immortals series. The stories in Tempests and Slaughter do set up nicely for the rest of the series, though - there are a lot of threads that I'm looking forward to seeing what Pierce does with.

Despite missing this bit of context, I did think this was a good read, and I can see why Pierce's writing is so popular. The world was well built, and the characters and magics really fun. The writing itself is super readable, with almost a traditional folktale feel. I also admired the representation in her writing - the diversity of characters (in terms of race, beliefs and sexuality) felt natural rather than token (for instance, one of Arram's male masters mentions his husband in exactly the way others mention wives - the diversity is there but not made a big deal of or used as a plot point.). I also appreciated that there was some discussion of the character experiencing some confusion/awkwardness about puberty - despite so many YA fantasy books centering around teens this is something that isn't often depicted.

Overall I thought this read towards the younger end of YA - it could almost cross-over to middle grade, although there was some pretty graphic gore.

I gave Tempests and Slaughter three stars and would recommend it to fans of Tamora Pierce, especially her series The Immortals. For fans of YA fantasy who haven't read her work yet, I'd recommend thinking about reading that series first.

Tamora Pierce is the queen of fantasy and her books are incredibly well-known and loved by many. Tempests and Slaughter is her newest novel and it kicks off a new series in the Tortall universe, which already has over twenty books set within it. In this book, she gives us insight on Arram’s childhood when he was a boy with very powerful magic at school. His character plays a key role in other Tortall books, however, he isn’t the main character so this was very interesting to see what Tamora had planned for him!

In this book, we cover a couple of years of Arram’s childhood starting at the age of ten-year old as he begins a new year at the School for Mages where he is very young and feels different from all of his classmates. One day, he gets into trouble for doing a spell far beyond the capabilities of most students who are at his level and loses control. He is sure that he’ll get kicked out, but instead he is moved up to more challenging classes, along with a new room and roommate who happens to be the emperor’s nephew, Prince Orzone of Carthak. The pair develop a close friendship which is also shared alongside another character, Varice.

Arram is a very intriguing character when he was a boy and his enthusiasm for magical and magical instruction certainly made his character even more lovable. Tamora’s writing also explored growing up from a male’s perspective, which is somewhat refreshing as many young adult novels often come from a female’s.

The friendship in this novel was one of my favourite parts and it felt like I was learning about the characters in a whole different way, but then again, I could remember what happened with all of them in the later lives which are explored in the other books.

Tempests and Slaughter may seem a little slow to start with, but it certainly picks up in the second half where we see Arram getting drawn towards a dark secret. It’s overall very interesting to see the pasts of characters fans of the Tortall universe know and love.

Tempests and Slaughter is a young adult book, but you can still see some middle-grade aspects that make this book enjoyable for both young and older fans.

Although this book was a little bit slow and I didn’t remember most of the Tortall world, I still ended up enjoying it. It was almost as if I was going into the world blind and I got to see everything sort of come together—so if you haven’t read any of the Numair Chronicles before, you can right over to your local bookstore or library to pick up Tempests and Slaughter!

Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series is one of my favourite ever. I first read it in school (that would've been over 2 decades ago) and have re-read it many times (I don't even know how many now). And it is probably the reason why I love the girl-dressed-as-boy trope so very very much. Needless to say, I was very excited to see a new book by a beloved author set in the same universe as my favourite series ever!

The protagonist of Tempests & Slaughter is a teenage boy named Arram Draper and we first met him as he's supposedly enjoying some bonding time with his father and grandfather at the Arena. What they didn't know was that Arram dreaded seeing these bloody fights everyone is excited for. Still, he was determined to have a good time but then of course, the first accident happened.

Arram was an easily likeable protagonist though there was some time when he was a little obsessed with his 'member' that it was feeling a bit awkward to me... The number of times 'his member' (yes, that's how it's being referred to in the book) started to annoy me to no end but then again, maybe that's how it is with teen boys? I don't know... I was never a teen boy... Thankfully, we got through that phase just as I started to get really annoyed.

Reading Tempests & Slaughter is almost like putting on a much-loved-very-well-fitted glove. It fits me so very comfortably that I have really loved the whole book. When I try to step back and review it as a new reader though, I'm not sure if that may be the case for others. Despite the number of accidents Arram had with his gifts, he seems to be getting on too well. He seems to be a very well balanced character (which seems to not be what's 'in' at the moment with all the antiheros happening). In any case, it did feel like nothing happened much. I also feel like Prince Ozorne may prove to be a much more interesting character. I am very much looking forward to get to know him better next time ;)

If you've never read Tamora Pierce previously, Tempests & Slaughter is really a new series and even though is set in a universe of earlier series, you can definitely pick this up without missing too much. You may want to pick them up to tide them over until book 2 is published though so bewarned! If you need anymore persuasion: magic school, Ancient Rome feels, & an old cranky crocodile (my most fave character in this book!).

If you're a Tamora Pierce's fan, you will NOT be disappointed. If you're anything like me, this is a comfort read & an addition to your treasured collection.

I am a terrible fantasy fan. Why? Because I’ve never read a novel by Tamora Pierce.

I am definitely going to have to correct that mistake by attempting to read her entire Tortall series, because, oh gosh, Tempests and Slaughter was magnificent.

In Tempests and Slaughter, Pierce returns to the very early days of her Tortall series by focusing on the childhood, and eventual rise, of the powerful mage, Numair Salmalín, who is introduced in Wild Magic (Immortals, #1). Originally known as Arram Draper, the book relates his first few years at the University of Carthak in the School of Mages, and a majority of the book is undoubtedly setting up for the rest of the series. But it was still highly enjoyable.

Tempests and Slaughter is the first pure fantasy novel I’ve read in a long time, and it’s such a welcoming feeling to return to a genre that you adore. While the characters tripped me up a little at the beginning of the book, Pierce’s clear writing – definitely something that is needed in fantasy – drew me into the story, and I was able to follow along perfectly for someone who is so completely new to the Tortall universe.

A lot of the novel is focused on Arram’s magical education and the development of his friendships with a girl named Varice (who is his lover in another series) and Prince Ozorne, one of the seven heirs to the throne of Carthak … who later, in another series, becomes one of Numair’s most bitter enemies. While Tempests and Slaughter did an amazing job at highlighting the deep friendship between the two boys, it still set up little moments of disagreement between Arram and Ozorne, and I am highly excited to read about exactly how they become enemies in the next book, The Exile’s Gift.

The novel progresses episodically, which means that there is no larger plot at hand: it’s basically Arram through his years at the university as he studies different forms of magic, meets a few gods, understand that slavery is abhorrent, and learns to utilise his healing Gift. However, there is still little snippets of a larger storyline, which I believe will properly come to light in the next book. In the meantime, I had a fun time pieces together the clues and having wild guesses. It was definitely an experience to come at this book with no knowledge whatsoever from the previous books in Pierce’s series’.

The history and culture in the books was so fascinating. Carthak is a powerful country that conquers at whim, practices slavery, and has very intriguing political issues. At the beginning of the novel, there is a large number of heirs to the throne – perhaps around four or five left – but by the end, there’s only Ozorne and an older cousin remaining. I have my theories, but I won’t share them in case they’re considered spoilers.

Undoubtedly, my favourite character was Arram. He has a very strong moral compass, and always tries to do the right thing. He’s shy, cautious, enthusiastic about studying, and fiercely loyal. He’s such a great protagonist and I loved reading from his perspective. Despite the fact that Arram could be a little obtuse at times, the reader has no issue reading between the lines that Arram cannot see and uncovering the secrets in the plot for themselves.

Tempests and Slaughter is a throughly enjoyable high fantasy novel that I recommend to Tamora Pierce fans and newbies, like myself. Although I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow along clearly – with my lack of knowledge – there was no cause for concern. The novel is readable, concise, and highly entertaining. I am so very excited to continue the series, now that everything has been set up in the first novel. In the mean time, I’m going to get my hands on a copy of the first Immortals book.

Okay, so I have decided to DNF this book at 52%. It’s not that I’m hating the book, I’m just not enjoying myself. I’m having to force myself to pick up the book and read, but when I do try and read I start falling asleep, even though I wasn’t tired at all!

Also, the book is taking forever! I use the app BookOut which you use to track your reading as it goes. So when you start reading you press the ‘continue reading’ button and it times you, then when you’re finished you end the session and put in the page number or percentage you’re up to! I have been reading for 6 hours already and still have an estimated 5 and a half hours to go and that is soooo much longer than a usual book of this size would take me (About 4 to 5 hours more than it would usually take me actually).
As I’m not enjoying the book and because it’s taking so long I just feel like I’m getting nowhere! I may have considering finishing the book if it was a quicker read, but I’m not forcing myself through another 5 and a half hours of something I’m not enjoying.

Also, basically nothing has happened in the first 50% of the book!! The MC has basically just been going to classes, which, sure was interesting at the start but now it’s just getting monotonous! I also don’t know anything about the world. There has been hardly any explanation at all. All I know is that people have magic and they go to this school.
However, I did find out this morning that this book is set in the same world as one of her other series. As I have not read any of her books up until now, I haven’t read that other series. So maybe that is why there is no explanation of the outside world in this book. But it doesn’t say anything about this being based in the same world as her other series in the synopsis or anything! I only found out while watching Cat’s (Little Book Owls) Haul video this morning and she said it.

This book, even though it reads slow, is ridiculously fast! It flips through events and years extremely quickly. Which makes it really hard to follow! At the start of the book the MC was, I think 10 (but pretending to be 11, which makes it even more confusing when trying to keep track of how much time has passed between chapters). Now the MC is I think 15 (or maybe he is just saying he is 15, I have no idea). Even though he is 4 or 5 years older the character doesn’t feel like he has matured any besides from his powers growing. So it is hard to think of him as a 15-year-old when he still reads like a kid. As it was so fast of a change there has been no time for development of the character as he ages.
The chapters do have timestamps, but I honestly feel like timestamps are useless! Sure I read them but I have forgotten what the last one was, to be able to gauge how much time has passed anyway and as I’m reading an eARC, I can’t just easily flip back to the last chapter to check.
Also at the start of some chapters is the MCs school timetable, which I also think is kinda pointless. It’s a tonne of info that you forget two pages later anyway. And as him going to class is basically all that is happening anyway we find out what classes he is doing in that chapter, so what is the point?

I also don’t like Ozorne. He is obsessive and kinda controlling. God forbid if one of the characters want to do something else with there life besides sit by his side or defeat his enemies?! He is also always trying to push Arram to learn war magic or whatever it is called as he wants Arram to help him kill the race that killed his father. Even though on multiple occasions Arram says he never wants to kill anyone, that’s just not the type of person he is. Varice is kinda bleh. She is the ‘perfect side character’. Intelligent, gorgeous, outgoing, caring, etc. But she has nothing that makes her stand out as a character! She is just the pretty smart friend who likes to cook.

In the synopsis, it hints at a romance between Varice and Arram & that Ozorne might be put on the throne, which is yet to happen in the first 50%! Not that I am keen on romances anyway, but I feel like if it doesn’t set the scene or happen in the first quarter of the book, it shouldn’t in on the synopsis! I have been going through page and page, waiting for something major to happen that will put Ozorne near the throne. But it’s not happening.. Which is making the book even more frustrating as you just want it to happen!! Especially because I feel like that would be some action in a so far pretty dull book.

Now I like a good chosen one book, but this one was just pushing it way to hard! It is pointed out multiple times that the MC is more powerful than others and will go on to do amazing things. It is also mentioned hundreds of times how young he is to be that powerful! Like, come on! At one point a teacher gets up him and forces him to prove that what magic he just did, he did alone and someone else wasn’t helping him because ‘how could someone so young be so capable’! Also, all the other tropes related to ‘the chosen one’ is there! Kinda quiet, doesn’t have many friends, not confident around girls, ‘underestimated’ and who knows what else! The chosen one trope can be done so well! Look at The Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni, The Monsters of Verity by Victoria Schwab, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon and heaps more! It can be done amazingly and you barely even realise it’s a chosen one story, it just feels natural. But this is just pushed overboard.

I may pick this book up again later. Possibly as an audiobook as it’s so long and hard to get through the start, listening to it might make life easier.

Tempests and Slaughter is a story set in the School of Mages, we follow the journey of Arram from 10 years old. Arram is intelligent and a loner, he excels in his classes and has achieved higher levels of his education in comparison to his peers and is younger than most at his level. When he is moved up he becomes fast friends with Varice and Prince Ozorne, they become inseparable and their friendship thrives. Prince Ozorne is in line for the throne of Cathark, but as he is about 8th in-line he is called the ‘Left over Prince’, as the story continues Orzone is getting closer and closer to throne as unexpected accidents befall the other heirs. The story is set over the course of a few years and we watch the friendships grow, one is not usually found without the others.
The story is quiet fast paced and beautifully written. Although not much happens during the first half of the book we are soon introduced to the dark and dangerous side of Cathark. There are internal conflicts within the empire, gladiator battles and slavery, as well as plagues and the history of Cathark that holds dark and intriguing secrets of the past.
The Gods and Goddesses have much in store for Arram, Varice and Prince Orzone. It also raises the question of fate and destiny, whether or not you are free to chose your own path or if higher powers have already laid out the road ahead for you.

Tempests and Slaughter is geared to Middle grade readers, I have only one issue with this book and it’s the topic of Arram’s ‘Member’ I don’t feel this was needed to be brought up. I understand that as a 10year old boy hitting puberty he will learn about his body and it’s uses but as a middle grade book I didn’t expect to read that. It’s only brought up in the first half of the book and not again.
I’m rating this book 3.5 stars, it would have been 4 but as stated above discussing Arram’s member wasn’t necessary. I enjoyed the world building and every character that was introduced. The magic that was involved in this story is different to most other magical stories and teaches children what hard work and determination looks like, by putting in the hard work and honing your skills you can do well but you need to practice! The friendships and relationships with teachers and gods shows that there are people looking out for you and trying to help you succeed, they maybe putting you through the rounds of hard work but that is only because you are able to achieve greatness.

Holy Hannah, this was a tough one to review. I’ve been reading Tamora Pierce for over 25 years, ie the amount of time that Wild Magic has been out. This one is a prequel, hehe, the origin story of Numair Salmalin. Plus, it is similar in story to the first Alanna book, both being about a ten year old away at school. So, I’m comparing this one to a lot of other books.

Warning, some slight spoilers if you haven’t read any of the other books.

Things I loved:
Little Arram! Sweetie! He’s a great character as Numair, but seeing him as Arram, before he became the Great Mage, is awesome. There are so many flashes of the man we love. Because I have been reading a lot about trans and NB people, I can almost see similarities in regards to getting to choose your identity. Arram is defined by other people, Numair is the person that he chooses to be?
Hopefully I’m not being dismissive of the identity struggles that a lot of people go through.

Ozorne! As much as I love to hate the Great Emperor Mage, I really really want little Ozorne to be okay. Poor boy.

Arram’s term schedules 😊. This makes me happy. I’d even love a reading list for his subjects because I’m that kind of geek. The mention of books and spells written by 😍 Rosto Cooper, and Farmer Cooper make me extra happy.

The Master’s. There are some awesome characters that you get to meet as Arram’s teachers and I’m really worried about them.

Musenda! We are so getting to know him later, but that’s a spoiler.

Oh my God (literally) Enzi. How can you not love a Crocodile god. I may even like him more than the Badger.

Things that I found problematic:
There’s a bit of retcon going on. I mean, has there ever been any mention of Numair/ Arram being from Tyra? And while some of the breadcrumbs and connections to other books are amazing, some feel forced. Eg. TOTAL SPOILER how could Arram have had such a close relationship with a particular goddess without it being a part of the future/ previous books! Also, spending so much time studying healing, when he flat out says in Wild Magic that he’s not much of a healer.
Also, I really like how Pierce has grown in regards to social awareness and representation within her characters, but the mentions of homosexuality seem shoehorned in. I may have to come back to this.

Things that I didn’t like:
I’m sorry, and I still love you Tamora, but Tempests and Slaughter feels like it’s unfinished. I know that it’s part one of a trilogy, but structurally it should be able to stand up on its own as a narrative. I actually wondered where the rest of the book was!

So, although I loved parts of it, and the characters are well crafted, and well written, I think that this is going to be one of the Tortall books that I skip rereading.

Arc received from Netgallery in exchange for honest review.