Melting Stones

Melting stones occurs 2 years after Battle Magic, and four years after Street Magic (Book Two of the Circle Opens). As far as Pierce's work goes if this isn't made for Young Adults I don't know what is. It's perfectly wholesome reading and suitable for any age.

Evvy is now 14 years old. She has been living at the Winding Circle temple for almost two years. Briar has left with his foster sisters to go to Namorn. Rosethorn has been called upon for assistance on the island of Starns due to patches of plants randomly dying and has dragged Evvy along with her. Patches of water are also spoiling due on the island so they have brought along a water mage called Dedicate Myrrhtide who is a fussy, pompous, conservative who likes to feel powerful, but he gives a damn which helps smooth off the rest of his annoying attributes.

Within 48 hours Evvy has alredy found out that it's spirits in the Magma wanting to break through and make a volcano. Only problem is everytime they try and fail they force noxious gases through the soil causing trees to die and ponds and lakes to turn to acid.

Whilst they try to evacuate the island Evvy tries to buy them time by trapping the magma spirits, except that back fires badly.

Thoughts and Feelings

This has one main life lesson in it. There is sometimes only a very thin like between being a builder and a breaker.
It's clear by now that Pierce is quite fond of the character Evvy and is able to build her character beautifully because of it. Evvy is everybit the rebellious teen and Pierce delights in tweaking the other characters noses.
The magma spirits are also rebellious teens but worse. More like rebellious teens with bombs.

The other character who is a delight is Luvo. That pudgy polished flourite bear shaped heart of a mountain is the teacher every kid deserves to have.

There's only one thing I don't get in the book. This island is riddled with rare gemstones yet the locals are relatively poor and apparently have a hard time getting funds togethether to create infrastructure (carts, stables etc.).

I give this book 8/10, I wish Pierce had gone a little more into the wrold building in the sense of the culture of the island. Most of Pierces books I am able to go "oh this place is like greec/china/russia where ever culturally speaking. Starns though? I got nothing.