Tempests and Slaughter

Tempests and Slaughter

by Tamora Pierce

3.5 out of 5

Synopsis
Arram. Varice. Ozorne. In the first book in the Numair Chronicles, three student mages are bound by fate . . . fated for trouble.

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.

In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

Review
Arram is training to be a mage, with his best friends Ozorne and Varice. When the gods start to meddle with his life, it is obvious that Arram is inline for something great.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a prequel, telling the story of Numair and Ozorne in their youth. It reads well, and you don't need any prior knowledge of these characters. And I say that because I read Alannah when I was younger, but haven't caught up with the rest of Pierce's Immortal books.

Arram is a young lad, infinitely curious about everything about him and the magic that could be learnt. He is training to be a mage, with kids a couple of years older than him, but he already surpasses them. When a bit of water magic goes awry, instead of getting expelled, Arram is promoted in the academy, and gets the training he really needs.

Whilst at school, he meets his two best friends, Prince Ozorne - a distant heir to the Emperor, who is often belittled; and Varice - a girl who charms everyone she meets.
The story follows the three of them, as they grow up, and try to navigate what fate throws their way.

This book has very heavy Harry Potter vibes, as it focusses mainly on school, and the Masters/Professors. Arram/Harry is a powerful young mage/wizard, who is fated to be very important in the future. He has his two best friends, Ozorne/Ron and Varice/Hermione.
But that aside, I thought that Pierce had created something that felt realistic, for all that it was a fantasy setting. Not being familiar with the Immortal books, it was so easy to find my feet in Cathark, and all of its traditions.

I very much liked the tackling of the slavery theme. You learn about it through Arram's eyes, as he is initially naive and blinkered to the fact that slaves are used as gladiators. In the beginning, he is excited to watch the Games, because he has heard great things about it. It's quite a sudden awakening for the poor lad when he watches the violence, and realises what it is really all about.
Arram is a really sweet lad, and he sees everyone as equals. Whether it's Prince Ozorne, or the slave Musenda, he treats them in the same, courteous way.

Not-so-good
The first half is really slow. Really, really slow. I kept waiting for something to happen, for some underlying plot to appear and pull me through the story. But this was as thrilling as my own time at school. The second half gets better, but there's still no real plot, just hints at stuff, and then it ends. I was left feeling a little cheated, it's a very long book to be a preamble for future books.

I kept wanting to roll my eyes, every time little kidlet Arram proved that he was the most powerful mage in Carthak. Oh, and when his Masters kept buoying him up as the golden boy. And when various gods came to stake their claim on the powerful mage. Did I mention he was powerful?

I was left disappointed with Varice - the supposed best friend, and third party in the Arram/Ozorne/Varice super trio. I think I rushed to say she was the Hermione of the group. She's not a patch on Hermione. She's pretty, she likes cooking and looking after the boys. She's nice and lacking opinion, enough to appease everybody. Oh, and she's pretty. I found her quite dull, and simply there to make up the girl quota.

Overall, this is a slow-building book that can be read by anyone, but I think is best for Numair fans.
3.5 out of 5 for me.

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