A big thank you to Netgalley.com for the advance readers copy of the book. Tamora Pierce hits it out of the park again. I was hoping to learn more about Numair and his dealings with the Emperor when they where kids and I got it. I cant wait to find out more about what made them blow up.

The story of Numair when he was a student of magic in Carthak, and his relationships with Varice and Ozorne. Having read all of the books in the Tortall Universe (Immortals series, Song of the Lioness quartet, Protector of the Small quartet, Beka Cooper trilogy and the Trickster series), I could not pass up a 'flashback' to Numair's youth.

For those who have read the Immortals series, in which Numair appears most often, this is a must read. I feel like there will be a few more in this series, as the ending was a bit abrupt, with a strong indication that there is more story to tell.

<spoiler>I am already leery of Ozorne because of his behavior in [book:Emperor Mage|13833]; I just cannot find him likable. It must be horrid to be friends with someone who is from a very powerful ruling family. The amount of calculation of behavior in order to not offend, even considerate, caring Arram has to watch how he phrases things and how he acts. At the very end, the story just touched on the mutual romantic nature of Arram and Varice's relationship, which I assume will be fleshed out in the further books. That might be interesting. Currently, I have a general idea of Varice, but we have not gotten too close to her, have not learned more about who she really is yet. I would like to learn more.</spoiler>

This is the first book that I have read by Tamora Pierce that has a male as the main character (other than Briar in the Emelan books), and I am not enjoying it as much as the series featuring Alanna, Keladry, Daine, Beka and Aly. I never really loved Numair, so that might be a factor, because I absolutely love Briar, and the way he was written. Also, there are some really awkward parts featuring young Arram's body parts and entry into puberty which I really could have done without.

Overall, it is Tamora Pierce's writing, so definitely worth reading. Just, not my favorite when compared to her other work.

*I have read every Tamora Pierce novel, and have liked them all, so this is clearly not an unbiased review*

Reading this book was like going to visit a friends parents and hearing stories about them growing up. It was a delightful look into the youth of a favorite character. It was great to learn about some of the events that have made Numair who he is. It was also heart breaking to read about his friendship with Ozorne knowing how it turns out in the end. I can't wait for the next book. I will just have to re-read the Wild Magic series again while I wait.

Tempests and Slaughter is amazing! I cannot say enough good things about this book. Arram Draper is the perfect protagonist. He is smart and talented but also short-tempered and impulsive. He learns and grows so much in this volume. While a treat for fans who already love Numair from the Immortals series; it is also a stand-alone novel that will compel readers to explore more of the magical worlds of Tamora Pierce.

I've been waiting for this since it was announced, and while it didn't let me down as a fan, this isn't a book for a new reader of Pierce. I don't believe the story would be enough to engage a reader who wasn't aware of the outcome of the friendship between Arram and Orzone, and who Arram becomes as he grows up. For one, it has a slow, drawn out pacing, and for another the plot doesn't follow a rising action/climax because it IS the rising action for Numair's story. As the whole novel is kind of a rising action for Numair's growth into an adult, you have have smaller climaxes, but they'll lack the impact of new to readers character.

However, for a fan, especially one who has read the Wild Magic series and loves Numair, it's going to be delightful to fill in his backstory.

To say that I've been waiting for this book for twenty years is not an understatement. Numair was my favorite character when I purchased Wild Magic on a whim at the age of eight, and this book answers so many of the questions I have had since journeying to Tortall. This book is an intimate look at the education of Arram Draper at the Carthak school of mages, focusing on his studies and friendship with Ozorne Tasihke. Knowing the end and having the foreshadowing of Emperor Mage provides a kind of Grecian tragedy backdrop, which Pierce plays to her advantage, adding in direct parallels and themes that resonate throughout the series. It's a thrilling read, and I am now awaiting the second volume with the same veracity I waited for this one. In the meantime I'll just have to reread all of Tortall again. Oh well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tamora Pierce, and Random House for the opportunity to read this book. I can't wait to buy a copy in hardcover to grace my shelves.

I loved the Tortall books since I first read them, and the immortals series was probably my favorite. Numair is such an amazing character it’s wonderful to see who he was as a child. I love the friendship Arram, Ozorne, and Varice share- I’m not looking forward to the inevitable decline of their friendship.

Tamora Pierce is quite possibly my favorite author of all time. That said I was not certain how I would feel about this book because I love Numair so much with Daine I was not sure how I would feel about a book about him in which she was not there. I should never have worried though because this story waws great on its own but also served to flesh out the back story of several characters. I loved it and flew through reading it. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.