"Instead, Rizu leaned over and kissed her softly, gently, on the mouth....Strictly to make Rizu feel better, certainly not because she wanted more of that sunlight spilling into her heart and mind, Daja leaned over and kissed Rizu's mouth all on her own..."

Fairly good writing (although in a different style from the original Circle books), until Ms. Pierce intrudes the "real world" we Californians are forced to live in. Ms. Pierce has forgotten what made these characters attractive to young teenagers, and has added a level of homosexual sensuality which makes the book suitable only to adults, not the original audience (although I suspect that she targeted the books for that young audience as a political statement). Sadly, just a few paragraphs threaded through the book make it not a book for a Christian household.

After hearing mixed reviews about this book, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it and ended up reading it all in one day (even though it's a fairly thick book!).

While I wouldn't say it is one of my favorite of Pierce's books, it was still a good read; every time I thought the plot was beginning to wrap up, something new would be thrown in- but not in a way that seemed out of place or didn't make sense.

I was also surprised (in a good way) about the development of Daja's romance, and the way the four main characters have grown up- their personalities reflect this and yet they still feel like the same characters from the previous books.

In short, not one of Pierce's best books but still very enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who hasn't read all of the Circle of Magic and the Circle Opens series' yet, but if you already have then I think you will probably find this an interesting read and worth the money to buy.

I am rating this book very low as I normally love her books. This book however was full of so many non climaxes I am not sure where to start. As reading I kept thinking this is it, this is the base line of the story; the driving force that will make the 4 reconcile to each. Instead I got a whole lot of pages of temper tantrums, misplaced trysts and political maneuvering ... For example the 4 have the same fights over and over, the intimacy between the characters and there love interests usually blends well into the story, in this book it was like she was trying make a statement, which she repeat over and over. And My god how many times can the same boring thing happen in this book?? I say all this in respect to the author, her books tricksters choice and queen as well as the terrier book where FABULOUS. I read everything she does and was sorely disappointed this time...

there is lesbian content in this book. As reader who feels that is controversial and not a "young adult" appropriate reading material I am not impressed with this book and that there wasn't some sort of warning label attached. I am disappointed that the author went that direction and didn't keep her book young adult friendly. This should be in the Adult section. I have always loved Tamora's books. She has an amazing imagination and she is a gifted writer. So this was a disappointement to me.

Will of the Empress is a good start to the new Circle series. Like all Tamara Pierce novels it is well written with fun and quirky characters who know what they want and go get it. As an adult reader the circle series seem a little younger in tone then some of Pierces other series, but they are all still worth the read. If you are new to Pierce I would not start here as you are missing a lot of back story, but when you finally get to reading this one you'll like it a lot.