Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce ★★☆☆☆

This Story Was A Little Rocky

Fiction  - YA – High Fantasy

Reading level: Ages 12 and up Grade 8 Up

312 pages

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

Originally published as an audio book

Circle Reforged #2

When Dedicate Rosethorn and water Dedicate Myrrhtide are called to the Battle Islands to investigate a series of unexplained water poisonings and  plant deaths Evvy, the stone mage, and Luvo, the living heart of a mountain, join them.  Using her special powers, with the help of Luvo, Evvy discovers the root of the problem.  Armed with the knowledge that the islands are on the brink of disaster and their inhabitant are in danger, Evvy and Luvo must figure out a way to buy enough time to get the people and themselves to safety.

First written as an audio book Melting Stones is a departure for Pierce from her usual pen and paper approach.  While well written, as with all of Pierce’s other books, I found the Evvy in this story rather unappealing and the storyline not very well executed.  As the story progressed I came to care very little where the storyline was heading; never a good sign.  Perhaps it loses something in the translation from audio book to written book; I’m not sure as I haven’t been able to listen to it yet. Also the constant mentions of a human war in Evvy and Rosethorn’s recent history – which has yet to be written- was bothersome.  I have to say I was rather disappointed in this book.  As a fan of Tamora Pierce I have come to expect more.  Evvy in no way compares to Ali or Beka Cooper or Kel –heroines in her other series - and the story lacked the spark of interest I found in Briar’s Book or Shatter Glass or Cold Fire from her Emelan Series.

ISBN-13: 978-0545052658