The first 3 series are 4 books each and the last one is only 2 books, but with as many pages as the four in the other series! Check out the Song of the Lioness series (Alanna: the First Adventure, In the Hands of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man and Lioness Rampant), followed by the Immortals series (Wild Magic, Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage and The Realms of the Gods), then the Protector of the Small (First Test, Page, Squire, and Lady Knight) and finally the Daughter of the Lioness (Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen).

She writes with very strong female characters, sometimes called sheroes. They are phenomenal stories for teens and some of the best that I have ever read and also reread. If you like these, then I would go on to any of Tamora Pierce's other series. After I read Battle Magic and lend it to my Mom, sister and nephew, I plan on rereading the whole series again in the order that I gave you. Then you can read the Circle Reforged in chronological order and NOT the order in which these were published: Battle Magic (just came out), Melting Stones, and The Will of the Empress as the culmination. Then read the Circle Opens series: Magic Steps, Street Magic, Cold Fire and Shatterglass. I would recommend that you read the Circle of Magic first in order: Sandry's Book, Tris's Book, Daja's Book and Briar's Book (one for each new mage, but all intertwined and following in chronological order). There are also some serious secondary mysteries that go on during this series. The newly discovered mage's skill is dance and it is interesting to see how a thread magician will have to work with that. The main characters all are in the second category, but the majority of mages are in the first category. There are 2 types of mages, those that use spells and those that draw the magic from the nature of their skill. Then they have to teach them until or if they can find a better teacher for the new mages.

I like that the young mages (3 girls and one boy) from the Circle of Magic are going out into the world and discovering other mages in this second series called the Circle Opens. Life is not sugar-coated in these 2 follow-up series. This is what makes it a super series for teens and young adults. They are harsher than the books in the first series and the troubles are still solved, but the results make you think. These stories are darker and more intense than those of the first series. This book is the start of the second series with the characters from the Circle of Magic series. It is very easy to identify with these characters. The characters are well-drawn and engaging and their situations draw you in.

Her stories have super detailed worlds with magic. I reread her stories whenever I am in the mood for a pick-me-up. Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite fantasy authors. Great story, great characters, Tamora Pierce always satisfies!

Magic steps tamora pierce