Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Author: Tamora Pierce
Title: Tempests and Slaughter
Series: The Numair Chronicles #1
Publication: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
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The highly anticipated NEW Tortall Legend from TAMORA PIERCE, the #1 New York Times bestselling author who is legend herself, is a must-read for any fantasy lover! 

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 a special young man with power beyond his years. After an incident involving the flooding of his entire classroom, he draws the Masters attention and they realize that he needs a structured learning schedule to harness that talent. Every year his class load seems to get heavier but it keeps him from getting bored and seeking out trouble but that doesn't stop it from finding him. Arram has a purpose for something greater than even he knows himself.

This is the first book I've read by Pierce and it was a good introduction to this world. I liked all the different Masters and perspectives they give Arram as he learns what path he wants to choose. Varice seems very intellegent, who knows what she wants and the skills to make it happen. Ozorne makes me wary because there is a bit of mystery about him and I'm curious to see what type of man he will be. Arram has a big heart and moral conscious that makes him the most relatable. It's how he reacts to the ugly parts of his world that were touching because he knows it's wrong. Varice and Ozorne seem fine with the way things are and don't see an issue with the slave fights. They actually get excited about it and make bets. 

The pace of this story was a little slow and it took me some time to get into the plot. I liked the magical elements and the different gifts the mages have. This story did remind me a little of the Harry Potter series with the young mage with enormous power and a secret destiny that he doesn't know about yet. The writing makes it easy to visualize this world that they live to the point I could touch it. Overall, this is a good read for anyone that like fantasy books.