Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

Pierce returns to the Circle Universe (The Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens quartets) to follow Evvy, the young stone mage from Street Magic. Evvy is traveling with two Winding Circle mages Rosethorn and Myrrhtide to the Battle Islands to see if they can discover why plants and animals on the Islands are dying for no apparent reason. Evvy hates traveling by sea and once she arrives on land begins to act out, unable to control her behavior. It is Evvy’s talking rock Luvo, a living heart of a mountain, who is able to help Evvy identify the source of the problem on the Island, an active volcano that is getting ready to burst.

Melting Stones is the first novel written for publication as an audio novel. While not Pierce’s finest novel, it is certain to be popular with fans that are anxious to return to the Circle Universe and who have been wondering what became of the feisty stone mage. The plot leans toward predictable and tends to drag, but Evvy’s strong narration and spirited personality will keep readers interested until the end.