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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Iron Trial : Magisterium Book 1 by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare 295 pages

There are a lot of books out there that you start and say, "Ah, another Harry Potter-ish book", maybe you give it a shot, maybe you abandon it.  Either way, you probably feel a little disenfranchised by the formula being used over and over.  I thought this might be like that, but I couldn't have been more wrong.  Is there a school for magical children to attend once they come of age?  Yes.  Is our hero, Callum Hunt, excited about attending?  Not at all.  His father has warned him his whole life that magic is dangerous, that the Magisterium cares nothing for its students' safety, only their ability to train soldiers.  His father even blames the Magisterium for Call's mother's death.  Call does everything he can to flunk the entrance exam.  Unfortunately, he is still chosen to attend.
Once within the Magisterium's tunnels, Call finds his life changing in unexpected and not so terrible ways.  He has friends for the first time in his life.  He is able to do things that his peers can do, sometimes even better.  His confusion and discomfort are palpable and understandable.  The end was completely unexpected and so NOT a Harry Potter ending that my jaw actually dropped.  I highly recommend this book for fantasy lovers.  Nothing can ever sway my love for the Potter series, but I give this one full props for originality and a very good read.

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