Fantasy trends come and go. One year we’re all obsessed with sparkly vampires; the next, it’s high-stakes dragon riding or gritty political maneuvers in some grimdark empire. But there’s a specific kind of magic—literally—that keeps readers coming back to Tortall decades after the first ink dried. Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s or early 2000s, the Immortals series Tamora Pierce probably wasn't just a book on your shelf. It was your personality.
Veralidaine Sarrasri, better known as Daine, isn't your typical "chosen one" trope. She’s messy. She starts the series traumatized, smelling like a horse, and barely holding onto her sanity after her village in Galla was razed. She doesn't have the "Gift"—the standard human magic that mages like Alanna or Numair use. She has something weirder, older, and way more chaotic: Wild Magic.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Daine’s Journey
When people talk about the Immortals series Tamora Pierce, they often frame it as a "girl talks to animals" story. That’s such a massive oversimplification. Basically, it’s a story about a girl who becomes the animals.
In Wild Magic, we meet a 13-year-old girl who is terrified of the voices in her head. She thinks she’s losing it. It’s only when she’s hired by Onua, the horse mistress for the Queen’s Riders, that she realizes those voices are actually the thoughts of every bird, dog, and pony in a ten-mile radius.
Most YA fantasy focuses on a character gaining power to defeat a Dark Lord. Daine’s arc is different. Her struggle is about control and identity. In Wolf-Speaker, she has to navigate the complex social structures of a wolf pack. She doesn't just "talk" to them; she has to think like them to survive. By the time we get to Emperor Mage, she’s literally shapeshifting into a hyena to hunt down the people who hurt her friends. It’s primal. It’s visceral.
The Numair Salmalin Factor
We have to talk about the elephant in the room—or rather, the 6'5" mage in the library. Numair Salmalin is arguably the most powerful wizard in the world. He’s also Daine’s teacher. The relationship between Daine and Numair is one of the most debated aspects of the series today.
Let's look at the facts:
- Age Gap: When they meet in Wild Magic, Daine is 13 and Numair is roughly 27 or 28.
- Power Dynamic: He is her mentor, teacher, and primary protector.
- The Shift: By The Realms of the Gods, the relationship turns romantic.
Honestly, reading this as an adult in 2026 feels different than reading it as a kid in 1996. Pierce herself has acknowledged that if she wrote the series today, she’d probably handle that gap differently. But within the context of the Tortallan world—a pseudo-medieval setting where 16 was considered adulthood—it made sense to the narrative. Fans still love Numair because he’s brilliantly written: he’s tall, gangly, clumsy with tea sets, but capable of turning a corrupt mage into a tree without breaking a sweat.
Why the Immortals Series Tamora Pierce Stands Out in the Tortall Universe
If you're new to the Tortall books, you might be tempted to start with Alanna (Song of the Lioness). That’s fine, but the Immortals series is where the world-building really explodes.
Before Daine showed up, "Immortals" like Stormwings, Spidrens, and Griffins were just legends trapped behind a divine veil. Someone (looking at you, Emperor Ozorne) broke that veil. Suddenly, the kingdom of Tortall is crawling with nightmare creatures.
The Best Order to Read Daine’s Adventure
While you can jump straight into Wild Magic, you’ll get more out of it if you follow the chronological flow of the kingdom's history. Here is how most die-hard fans recommend it:
- Song of the Lioness Quartet: You meet Alanna, George, and King Jonathan here. They are major supporting characters in Daine's books.
- The Immortals Series: This is the core Daine saga (Wild Magic, Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage, Realms of the Gods).
- Protector of the Small: This follows Keladry of Mindelan. Daine and Numair appear as established power players here.
- The Numair Chronicles: Specifically Tempests and Slaughter, which is a prequel about Numair’s youth.
Realism in a World of Dragons
What makes Tamora Pierce a legend is her refusal to sugarcoat the hard stuff. Daine deals with grief. She deals with the physical reality of being a woman in a war zone. In Emperor Mage, when she travels to Carthak, we see a searing critique of colonialism and slavery.
Pierce doesn't just show Daine being "strong"; she shows Daine being exhausted. She shows her failing to save every animal. There’s a scene with a baby dragon, Skysong (Kitten), that will absolutely wreck you. It’s not just cute "pet" stuff—it’s about the burden of care and the fear of losing something you love.
Breaking Down the Magic System
The magic in this series is layered. You have:
- The Gift: Academic, "clean" magic used by mages like Numair and Alanna. It’s often visualized as flames or light.
- Wild Magic: Daine’s magic. It’s described as a "web" or a "pulse." It’s connected to the earth and living things. It can’t be taught in a classroom.
- Divine Power: The magic of the gods themselves, which Daine eventually has to navigate when she literally goes to the divine realms.
Daine’s discovery that her father is Weiryn, a god of the hunt, adds a huge layer of complexity. She isn't just a girl with a knack for ponies; she’s part of the fabric of the universe.
Actionable Insights for New and Returning Readers
If you're planning a reread or picking these up for the first time, keep these tips in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Pay attention to the animals. They aren't just background noise. Their dialogue (rendered through Daine’s mind) provides some of the best humor and world-building in the books.
- Look for the cameos. Alanna, George, and Thayet are all there. Seeing them through Daine’s eyes—as intimidating, powerful adults—is a cool perspective shift from their own series.
- Don't skip Emperor Mage. While Wild Magic is the classic intro, Emperor Mage is arguably the best book Pierce ever wrote. The tension in the Carthak court is masterclass-level writing.
- Check the new editions. Many of the 2020s reprints include new afterwords or updated maps that help clarify the geography of the Divine Realms.
The Immortals series Tamora Pierce created is more than just a nostalgic trip. It's a study in empathy. Daine learns to see the humanity—or at least the sentience—in creatures that everyone else considers monsters. Whether it's the terrifying Stormwings or the misunderstood basilisks, the series teaches us that power is nothing without the compassion to use it correctly.
If you want to understand why Tortall remains the gold standard for YA fantasy, start with the girl who talks to the wolves. You won't regret it.
To deepen your experience with the world of Tortall, track down the "Squire's Guide" or the updated maps available on Tamora Pierce's official website to visualize the borders of Galla, Carthak, and the Copper Isles as you read.