Wild Magic

Book: Wild Magic (Book 1 of the Immortals Quartet)
Author: Tamora Pierce
Audience: Tween and Teen
In a Nutshell: she walks with the animals, talks with the animals

After her entire family is killed and her home destroyed by raiders, Daine sets out with her pony Cloud to make a new life. She becomes apprentice to Onua, horse woman for the army of Tortall. Onua quickly recognizes that Daine doesn't just have a way with animals; she possesses Wild Magic, a much rarer gift than the well-recognized magical Gifts. They meet up with the new recruits in training for the Riders, led by The Lioness herself- Alanna, the famous Queen's Rider- and eventually they travel to the king and queen's seaside castle at Pirate's Swoop.

Nasty, unnatural Stormwings attack on the way, then later are part of a seige by an enemy kingdom, and Daine's ability to rally animals to their support becomes invaluable.

She also is learning to control her powers with the help of a mage, and she is sometimes visited by a mysterious badger at night who seems to know something of her unknown father.

Shocking though this may seem to fellow teen fantasy fans, this was my first Tamora Pierce book. I know, I know. I can see why she's so popular: judging by this book, she puts together a likable cast of characters with a winning balance of action and secrets gradually revealed, both to the reader and the characters themselves. Starting with Alanna's Lioness quartet would have given me more back story and character insight, but this series also stands alone.

Speaking of the cast of characters, I actually "read" it via the Full Cast Audio version. Overall it was well done, with the author herself reading the narrator parts. My one quibble is with how sllloooowwwwly and deliberately they performed it. Great for English language learners and younger read-alongers, and maybe for Texans. For this fast-talkin' Yankee, it was trying my patience until I sped it up on my iPod. Then it sounded a little awkward, like the Stephen Hawking's Computer Voice and Friends cast, but still better.