Tamora Pierce does not disappoint in her next expedition into the Tortall Universe. Engaging characters and wonderful plot make this a book you don't want to put down. The only down side is having to wait for the next book to come out!

Tempests and Slaughter did not fail my (high) expectations. I have been a Tamora Pierce fan for almost twenty years and, at any age, her stories have never disappointed me so I am glad to add this book to the list. What I really love about Tamora Pierce books is how she tackles issues without it seeming like she’s taking a stand. In Tempests and Slaughter she addresses issues of growing up, like navigating friendships and relationships, puberty (reading a boy’s perspective was certainly a huge change!), bullying, social issues and the importance of education without making it seem like she’s tackling them. I don’t think the editor’s letter will be in the final copy but I really appreciated reading it and seeing this as a book for those kids who are considered “gifted”. I know there are a lot of books out there where the main character is labeled as “smart” but rarely are they learning at levels way above their age. I’ve read all of the other Tortall books so I know where Arram ends up and a simple explanation of why, but I am really looking forward to finding out the in-depth story of how it all happened in the next book(s). If you’ve read the other Tortall books, you see how his ideals as a youngster are carried through to his adulthood and if you haven’t, you see how the events around him as a youngster will shape him into adulthood. I did feel the pacing was a little slower than her other books.
To potential readers: you can definitely read this book without reading any other Tortall book. The same world-building that is given to the other books is given to this one.
To fans of Tamora Pierce: you will be very happy to see some old faces and learn more about them!

Wow, you guys. I really enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of Tamora Pierce for ... 22 years, and it was VERY exciting for me to read this book. I have been waiting for it for a while, and I'm glad that it is coming out soon. This book is a pretty good coming of age story for Numair. I think it would be an interesting place to start, if you've never read any Pierce before. I enjoyed it a lot because I know what happens to these people. At the same time it is a little weird to think and this person has THIS happen and this person has THIS happen. And I know this person is a villain and this person is THIS, etc. So, it was enjoyable, but also a little odd. A lot of prequels are like that though.

There were also a couple clumsy parts where the narrative where it jumped around a little. Although these are mostly in the beginning of the text.

I also missed the cues about who one of the characters really was and yelled, "WAIT! HOW DID I MISS THAT?"

Like a lot of Tamora Pierce's books this one also happened to mention puberty. It was interesting, because we've had characters go through it in the other Tortall books, but they were all girls. it was different to have it be from a boy's point of view.

I'm excited for the next one. I don't know if this will be a duology, a trilogy or a quartet, but it'll be fun to find out how Arram turned into Numair and then ended up where he does for Wild Magic.

This is only the second Tamora Pierce book I've ever read, so take my opinions with a grain of salt as one of the uninitiated.

This book is the chronicle of around four years of Arram Draper's time in mage school. Since I've never met Numair, I feel like I'm missing TONS of details and foreshadowing, but I like Arram alright. My favorite parts were the gods Arram meets, especially Enzi. I feel like things are building to an eventual heartbreaking split between Ozorne and Arram. It's a huge bummer because I like Ozorne and he's not EVIL but at the same time Ozorne is also very wrong about very many things and Arram won't be able to continue with him indefinitely unless he changes, and I don't think he's going to. And I feel like I would already knOW ABOUT THIS if I had read the previous series.

Usually, in a mage school type book, I'm used to having all the small conflicts of school life swell into a large and dramatic climax in every book. Like Harry Potter, for instance. I kept waiting for Enzi to run out of time and Arram to be called before Mithros, or for all hell to break loose regarding the scheming, ambitious master mage and the suspicious deaths of all the royal heirs... but nothing happened. I guess those plots are for the rest of the trilogy. This book is truly just a chronicle of Arram's school training & related adventures and, though it did feel like a bit of a slog near the middle as academic term followed academic term with seemingly no dramatic ramp-up, I did still enjoy it.

I'm probably going to have to read the rest of the Tortall books now.

Really liked this book. Reminded me of Harry Potter. I would definitely read the next in this series.

Tempests and Slaughter
(The Numair Chronicles #1)
by Tamora Pierce, 5 Stars
Publishing date: February 6, 2018
When I finished the book, I paused and thought do I have time to read it again? At that time the answer was no, however, just like all of her other books I will read this one again and maybe again. The storyline just flows and with likable, well-developed characters and it gives you that feeling there is no one but you and the book in the room. As you can tell I loved this book, and can’t wait for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for this eARC.

Y'all, this is vintage Tamora Pierce! If you love the first books in some of her other series (Lioness/Kel in particular), this will hit your sweet spot.

In this first <i>Numair Chronicle</i>, Arram, Varice, and Ozorne make their way through mage school at the Carthaki university (we see masters like Chioke and Lindhall that show up in Daine's books). Arram has an animal sidekick, Preet, he meets a god, and he learns a lot about doing magic. Like some of the other firsts from Tammy, not <i>that</i> much happens and there isn't a feeling of too much narrative thrust. (TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT MAD ABOUT IT) Arram is a student (a special one, yes) and we follow along with him. The characterizations are generally good, if unsubtle - we see the coming cracks between Arram and his friends. Arram is the sweetest tween/teen boy, you'll want to pinch his cheeks.

This book isn't as strong as the Trickster duo, my favorite of Tamora's books, but that might not be a fair comparison since the next one of these isn't out.

If you're a Tammy/Tortall fan, pick this up, it is worth the visit to the world, and will probably hit your nostalgia sweet spot. If you're not already a fan, I wouldn't start here, grab the Lioness or Wild Magic series first!

I stopped this book after about 25% in. Not because it was bad, because this book is very well written and the characters are mostly likeable. I just stopped because I wasn't enjoying it as much as I wanted to.
I may pick this book up in a month when it's published, and I might feel differently about it then, but right now it's just reminding me of a couple other books that follow a similar plot that all left me unsatisfied.
This book is similar to the style of the Song of Achilles, so, if you loved that book, you'll love this one.

An excellent addition to the Tortall Universe, although the story takes place in Carthak. Arram Drapper is gong to the University of Carhak to become a mage. He may become the most powerful mage that the University has ever seen.. He and his two firends, Varice and Ozorne hope to form an alliance when they grow up and change the world. This is a wonderful story of a young man coming into his own power and realizing consequences of his actions and his friends. Can not wait for the next one. Highly recommended.

Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.

I have loved Tamora Pierce since I first discovered the Alanna books as a kid (shortly after the series was finished I believe). I still think she's one of the best young adult writers for female fantasy characters; I really can't overstate how big an impression it made on me to see Alanna dealing with things like safe sex and getting her period while also dealing with becoming a warrior. I also loved Daine and the Immortals books, and Numair was a big part of that. I've been waiting to read "Tempests and Slaughter" ever since it was first announced, and I'm happy to say that my only real disappointment after having read it is the knowledge that now I have to wait for book two.

"Tempests and Slaughter" deals with Arram's (Numair's) first years at the Imperial Academy in Carthak. This is not a book that relies on action and huge plot developments, but rather on character and relationship building. Personally I found it fascinating to see how Numair's friendships with Ozorne and Varice developed. You don't have to have read the Immortals Quartet to read this book, but I do suggest it as the relationships here take on an entirely different tone when you know where all of the characters eventually end up. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but this book made me like Ozorne and Varice more then I expected that I would. You can see why Arram cares so much for them. You can also see hints, especially in Ozorne's speech and behavior, of who he will become later in life.

This is Tamora Pierce's first book from a solely male viewpoint, and you can tell that she tried very hard to make it as genuine an experience in being an adolescent boy as she always did with girls. There are some awkward sections dealing with puberty; I can't say exactly how well Pierce has down because obviously I've never been a teen boy, but it feels accurate, and I can only hope that young boys reading this will be as drawn in by Arram as young girls were by Alanna.

"Tempests and Slaughter" is another great book in Tamora Pierce's Tortall canon, and I can't wait to read the next installment.

Note: I will publish this on the library website and Goodreads.com two weeks from the publication date.

In Arram Draper’s first year at Carthak’s School for Mages, his work ethic and raw power make him something of child prodigy. As such, he is singled out for individual studies with two other similarly passionate and hard-working students: Varice and Orzone. Varice is a charming young lady with a gift for cooking magic and charm for days, and Arram quickly finds himself drawn to her, perhaps as more than a friend. Orzone is the leftover prince which means that he’s the fourth of four in line for the Emperor’s throne, though that list seems to be shortening quickly. The three quickly learn that they will not just have to contend with their studies, but a growing struggle for power and control of the Empire that is threatening to change Carthak forever.
If you’ve read some of Tamora Pierce’s other works (if you haven’t, stop reading this review and pick up The Song of the Lioness quartet RIGHT NOW – it is apparently awesome in audio format as well), the lead character of this story will be familiar to you. I read and re-read her books continually in my youth, but while there was a huge nostalgia factor in reading this for me (so many easter eggs!), I absolutely would have still enjoyed it if I were totally new to the character. While you certainly should read her other works, you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this one.
Tempests and Slaughter starts when Arram is just 10. Precocious little bugger that he is, Arram started school a full year early. Because he’s so young at the beginning, the start of the book read as very middle grade to me, which wasn’t a bad thing; it just wasn’t what I was expecting. As in her other series, Pierce perfectly captures the pain and biological changes that come with puberty and I found myself transported back to those awkward times in the best of ways. After Arram gets a little older and meets up with Varice and Orzone, the book begins to pick up as all three characters get developed and the worldbuilding picks up. This is definitely a book that’s primarily focused on character development and worldbuilding, but as Arram is a lovable character and the worldbuilding is rich, the almost total lack of plot did not bother me too much. A very interesting mystery appears later in the book, though it felt a little rushed and the conclusion a bit forced. However, it nicely sets things up for the next installment which I will unquestionably be pre-ordering.
All in all, this was a great read. If you like your fantasy with a healthy dose of complex characters and intricate world building, you’ll really enjoy this one. I’m going to go re-read some backlist Tamora Pierce now, and I suggest you do the same. 4 stars.

The first in a new series by Tamora Pierce about the beginnings of the mage who will become known as Numair. You may already know Numair and his fate from Pierce's other series. Now you can find out his origins in Carthak and how he learned to be a mage. Other characters from the Torall series also have cameos which makes this a wonderful book.
After finished this I am itching to re-read all the other Tortall series, especially Alanna the Lioness and the Daine series. Tamora Pierce is a master of plot, she intertwines generations of people and their histories in a way that no one else can. She is my favorite author.

TEMPESTS AND SLAUGHTER tells the story of a young Arram Draper who is a student at the School for Mages at the Imperial University of Carthak. He is the youngest student there. He was born in Tyra in a family of people who work with cloth but his magical abilities gained him acceptance at the School for Mages.

Arram has a bit of a hard time when he is first there because he is so much younger than the other students and so very talented. Once he meets Ozorne, who is an Imperial Prince but not very close to the throne, and Varice who is another young talent things get better. The three form a firm friendship.

Arram's abilities lead him being taught by Masters in the various disciplines and they also lead him to being noticed by the gods - which is a mixed blessing. One such happening is when Enzi the Crocodile God asks him to take custody of a Sunbird from the Divine Realms until he can come up with a gift grand enough to appease Mithos who really hates it when someone steals one of his Sunbirds. Thus, the Sunbird Preet becomes one of Arram's companions.

This story follows Arram through a number of years of his schooling. It also sees him becoming more aware of the world around him and less able to tolerate the idea of the slavery that exists in the Empire and the cruelty of the gladiator games in the Arena. He befriends a gladiator who rescues him when he falls into the Arena and the two keep crossing paths. First when Arram is taken by his teacher to work with victims of the Plague and then when he is taken to the Arena to care for gladiators during one of the Arena games.

Happening outside the school but impacting Arram, is that Ozorne is coming closer and closer to the throne as his fellow heirs die in a variety of accidents. He is also watching Ozorne change from a boy who wants to be a mage with a small household and his friends to a young man who is beginning to cast his eye on the position of Emperor. Arram's vast curiosity about magic and the world also grows and he begins to realize that he doesn't want either of the lives Ozorne imagines him living. Arram wants to leave Carthak to explore and get away from a place with slavery.

This story was well-written and engaging. It provides background for a character who appears in a number of other books by Pierce. It also begins a series which I can't wait to read.

Arram Draper is studying his way though the University learning to be a mage. As he studies, he encounters many new ways to use his gift, many troubles, and encounters plots swirling in the world around him. Much is left to future books.

Pierce has done it again! This was a fantastic book with excellent, well realized characters. Pierce is he author of my childhood, and I am glad that she continues to write. This way she can be the author of the childhoods of many more to come.

First, to answer any questions about whether you have to read other books in the series before this one, no, you do not--I have not and I enjoyed the book immensely. However, there were some pacing issues I may not have noticed if I was familiar with the universe it is set in.

I found all three primary characters very engaging and am anxious to know more about their futures--I'm torn whether to wait for the next book in the series or whether to "cheat" and see what happens indirectly by reading other titles in this world. I really don't want to end up jumping too far ahead, however, resulting in the possibility of a Star Wars episode VI conclusion after only seeing episode I.

This is a YA novel and fit the category quite well. The protagonist is a teenage boy, experiencing life change events as he matures from age 11(?) to 15(?) [sorry, it's been a couple of weeks since I read the book and I didn't take notes]. There were a few descriptions I was surprised to see stated frankly, for this level of readership, but I presume it will make the story more real for its readers (at least its male readers). I was pleased any hints at a love story were realistic and nearly irrelevant to the story-line. Pages were not squandered on teen angst or teen romantic notations, nor were all adults portrayed as obstructions that needed to be worked around (although there were a few).

Overall, a well crafted world (as to be expected, since it is well established), satisfying multi-dimensional character development, some suspense, a bit of mystery, and a plot I want to see progress. I recommend this strongly to fans of epic fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review an electronic galley proof.

Three become friends while attending a university for mages. One’s an extra royal prince. Arram is poorer but talented and from a land across the ocean where there are no slaves. The other is a girl, Varice, who is beautiful and smart. The story centers around Arrram and his learning about his powers as a mage. Arram’s about ten years old when the story starts and 14 when it ends. This book has some excellent stories about Arram encounters with the gods for the first time, injustices in the world, and his introduction to the world of the royal court. There are stories of his powers gone wrong and when he uses them for good and fair. I liked Arram very much, he is shy, polite and has a strong moral compass.

This book reminded me of Harry Potter, a magic school, master teachers, and three friends growing up and their magic together. It seemed to be written to a slightly older reader than Harry Potter. It was easy to read, flowed well, and enjoyable. The ending seemed somewhat abrupt and clear on setting the stage for future adventures of these three. I love that there is a map and glossary. This is a world building book. However, the glossary didn’t have or contain names of people. a few times I had lost track of who all Arram’s master teachers were and backstories. I plan on going back and read "Wild Magic when Abram is an adult.

For fans of Tamora Pierce, this book is like curling up in a cozy chair to read away a rainy afternoon. For new readers, it's a great introduction into the world. For both groups of readers, this story will charm and give insight into friendship, ambition in various forms, and how different individuals can see the same circumstances in very different points of view.
For some, it will be jarring to see one that they may have seen only as a villain as a young man with many good qualities as well as dark shadows that foretell (a bit heavily) the path he will take in the future. Personally, I loved being back in the world of Tortall and look forward to seeing other known characters make appearances. It also is pushing me to go reread all the books to refresh my memory.

It’s great to see a new book out by Tamora Pierce. I feel like the book took a little while to get rolling, but the magic was interesting and vividly imagined. I’m looking forward to future installments in the series.

I wanted to love this book so much. I've been reading Tamora Pierce's books for the last 17 or so years, and was ecstatic about this when I found out it was finally being published. Unfortunately I just could not get in to this book. Pierce's books are usually quick, entertaining reads and this one was just so slow to me. There wasn't anything really driving the plot for the first half of the book. We're just following Arram through his studies with no real direction to the story. If you've read the Immortals series, you also know how this friendship ends. Maybe knowing the way this all plays out effected my enjoyment of the book. Overall, it was just too slow for me.

While I certainly love Pierce's female protagonists and this certainly isn't the first time she's written from a male point of view, it was nice to see her write something a little different. Even though those who have read The Immortals series know where the story and characters are ultimately heading, reading the way in which they get there is completely satisfying. Pierce somehow manageed to make the younger versions of some of her villains into likeable characters.