Magic Steps

Magic Steps is the opening book of The Circle Opens quartet of young adult fantasy novels by Tamora Pierce. It is preceded by the Circle of Magic quartet, taking place four years after the conclusion of Briar's Book. It portrays the adventures of Sandrilene fa Toren, the noble thread mage and her first experience as a teacher of magic.

Plot
Like the previous quartet, Magic Steps is set in Summersea, the capital of Emelan. When her three foster-siblings leave Summersea to travel the world with their teachers, Sandry and Lark, remain alone in a Temple. Sandry leaves Discipline Cottage to live with and care for him.

While out riding with her uncle, Sandry makes two discoveries: the murder of Rokat part of the war between organized crime families Rokat and Dihanur, and a boy named Pasco, whose dancing is visible to Sandry's magical vision as imbued with ambient magic.

Publication and reception
The book was first published in 2000, one year after Briar's Book concluded the original Circle of Magic quartet in 1999. A review by Janice M. Del Negro for the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books says the book "serves more as set-up than as a well-developed story of its own" and "The characterizations are less richly layered, relying on the previous series to fill in the blanks".

Kirkus Reviews praised the book's "vibrant language" and "great energy." A review by Ann St. John for Horn Book Magazine notes the "grisly descriptions of the crime scenes and the ongoing murders are shocking" and states "Rather than being weighed down by the dark story line, however, the fantasy emphasizes Sandry's strength of character in the face of danger and focuses on her attempts to find a solution." In a review for School Library Journal, Eva Mitnick observes, "the admirable heroine remains calm, capable, and always ready to giggle" and states, "Violent acts are horrifying but are not graphically described."

It was adapted into an audiobook in 2011 by Full Cast Audio. A review of the audio version by Sarah Flood for School Library Journal states, "Sandry and Pasco are likeable and strong-willed characters, and the full-cast narration captures their spunk and humorous interactions with Pierce taking the role of narrator."