The Will of the Empress

By: Tamora Pierce

Narrated by: Tamora Pierce

For years, the Empress of Namorn has pressed her young cousin, Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, to visit her vast lands within the Empire's borders. Sandry has avoided the invitation for as long as it was possible. Now, Sandry has agreed to pay that overdue visit. Sandry's uncle promises guards to accompany her. But they're hardly a group of warriors! They're her old friends from Winding Circle: Daja, Tris, and Briar. Sandry hardly knows them now. They've grown up and grown apart. Sandry isn't sure they'll ever find their old connection again, or if she even wants them to.

Tamora Pierce returns to the world of Circle of Magic for this smashing novel, which brings the four young mages back together as teens.

Suspense! Court intrigue! Romance! Fights! All the things that you love about Tamora Pierce's books are here in abundance.

©2006 Tamora Pierce (P)2006 Full Cast Audio

Critic reviews

"A delightful page-turner." (KLIATT)
"How well word-mage Pierce understands what her audience wants, and how ably she provides it in this epic postscript to her two Circle quartets....A standalone tour de force, this will gratify Circle devotees and ensnare new readers for the series." (Booklist)

Great book; spurred to comment by other reviews

I wasn't initially going to write a review on this book. As a staunch fan of Tamora Pierce and especially the Emelan universe, it is an absolute treat to listen to the author, herself, read the book as the primary narrator with the members of Full Cast Audio reading the dialogue. (Bruce Coville is a fantastic reader and author!) If you are a Fierce fan, you should give this series (Circle of Magic quartet, Circle Opens quartet and Circle Reforged quartet) a listen. Her cadence and enunciation is endearing (and you get the proper name pronunciations without scouring Google). It's like listening to her in person with only a little sprinkle of her sense of humor.

As the headline reads, I wasn't going to comment on this book, but some of the other reviews really inspired me to use my (online) voice. At least one reviewer mentioned that "Bride Kidnapping" was overused in this novel. I can't disagree more, and not just because bride kidnapping is STILL actively practiced in certain cultures RIGHT NOW. Thankfully, it's considered a sex crime in most nations.

No, the biggest reason that bride kidnapping isn't overused is voiced by Briar in the content of this book.
His voice was heavy with contempt. "You think a strong woman can always beat this? I call it rape, in any country."
Tammy wasn't just talking about traditional bride kidnapping practiced throughout our own history. She's straight up talking about rape. With a (properly) negative lens. In young adult FANTASY fiction. IN 2005! 12 YEARS before the #metoo movement went viral. I'd honestly be surprised that Scholastic OK-ed the book, if it wasn't already printing a lot of non-fantasy fiction in the YA field at the time.

By no means do I think that people are not entitled to think this premise was used too often in the book. Everyone should have their own opinion. Most of these types of reviews have 4-5 stars, anyway, despite the lack of enthusiasm for the recurring theme.

As an aside: I thoroughly enjoy anyone who criticizes the main narrator as being an unpracticed voice actress. I certainly hope that Tamora Pierce continues to focus on writing, rather than improving vocal delivery. I like her delivery just fine.

Great Audio Book

I love Full Cast Audio, and the way they have different actors for each character. It's perfectly cast and each voice is dynamic and understandable. It's very fun to listen to!

Tamora Pierce Fangirl

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would, very much. First off, I loved the full cast. It made it much easier to envision the characters and the world they were in. I love all Tamora Pierce books, and I had already read this one, but it's one of my favorites and I loved hearing it read aloud by the author.

What other book might you compare The Will of the Empress to and why?

Any of her other books. I can't think of others offhand that are similar.

What does Tamora Pierce bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It's the author of the actual book, for one. She's not alone, of course. There are voice actors for all of the characters. I also loved the music. You can tell she's very passionate about her content.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was really looking forward to the moments when the four finally came together and really used there magics together. I don't want to get spoilery but the end was awesome.

Full Cast Audio brings the Circle to life

Will of the Empress is my favorite book and the full cast audio team brings it to life in a way that transcends my own imagination. The voice actors for the characters in the circle books are so quintessentially them that they are the voices in my head when I read the books. I regularly listen and re-listen to this book time and again. Please do not tell my giant "to read" pile....
I try to hide my inability to move on from the hold the Circle books have on me from the new books I'm seeing.....

Full Cast Phenomenon!

I have long been a Tamora Pierce fan, but this was the first audiobook I purchased from her collection, and I was not let down. Each of the voices was a perfect match for the character. This is a wonderful production, and I cannot imagine that anyone who is a fan of Tamora Pierce's books (or even someone new to the series) could be disappointed.

For once it works

I think because I listened to the previous series when I as younger, I was more okay with there being a cast of readers, instead of just one, so I actually enjoyed the many many voices.

I do love this book quite a bit, and the story is, as always, like comfort food for me. Tamora Pierce is just such a classic these days that it's wonderful going back to it.

Mastery Over Shifting Perspectives

This is another example of Tamora Pierce’s delightful writing. The full cast team contributed to the joy of listening to a book I read multiple times as a teen. I wish we could see more of the Circle of Magic universe, but it’s bad for you to get everything you want, right? ;)

Listen to the whole thing in two days

The story was good, I wish there was a little more action, and a little more character development on Sandra’s character.

awesome

I loved it I'm not picky about genres. I read it while reading I couldn't put it down. it pulls you in throughout the whole series.

full cast audio delivers another stunner

this was amazing! full cast audio is incredible, and this next step in the lives of the circle opens characters is everything I was hoping for!