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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quelle surprise! Après avoir entendu parler de ce livre partout sur le booktube anglophone et surtout après avoir entendu à quel point cette saga avait déçu beaucoup de personnes j'ai décidé de l'ajouter à ma wishlist. Et oh boy! je ne regrette en rien cette décision. L'histoire de Cal est touchante, drôle et magique évidemment. le fait que les tomes soient courts sont à la fois une bonne et une mauvaise chose. c'était une bonne chose puisque ça m'a vraiment permis de voler à travers les pages et à chaque fois je me disais "j'ai bientôt fini je ne vais pas m'arrêter là". En revanche j'aurais quand même voulu plus de cette histoire, j'ai eu le sentiment qu'il manquait des pages pour vraiment me connecté au monde et au personnages secondaires. cela reste une super bonne lecture et je recommande si vous cherchez un livre qui vous fera sentir bien et magique un peu comme dans HP
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
Are there similarities between this and the Harry Potter series? Yes. Is it still a unique and entertaining read? Definitely.
While the story and characters share some traits with Harry Potter, there is tons of new stuff going on and each character is dealing with their own unique struggles. So yes, it's a wizarding school featuring a team of two males and one female with a stuck-up, slightly charismatic male as a school nemesis, but I promise this is not just a Harry Potter rip off. So much different stuff going on.
I picked this up from the library because I have become obsessed with Holly Black's writing lately and was intrigued by the cover. I'll admit, the book starts out kind of slow. I didn't really like Call's character (plus, it took me forever to realize his name was "Call" and not "Cole", darn audiobooks- the whole time I couldn't figure out how "Cole" was short for "Callum"). He's a bit irritating and clueless. He grows on your a little bit, but I mostly stuck around for Aaron and Tamara.
But the whole world-building. I loved all of the descriptions of the school itself and the various rooms. So cool. All of the magic stuff was fascinating. I liked the idea of magic coming from the elements and the apprentices learning to control them without wands or potions.
The plot was a bit slow to start, but in my opinion, it was worth it for the twist at the end. You know something was coming, but I never would have guessed it was that. Great twist that really pulls the reader in.
I definitely want to continue the series. Just requested the next audiobook from the library.
Reread: I recently took a road trip through Canada and thought my husband would enjoy listening to this series along the way. I have read the first three books in the series (had to take a break because my library doesn't have the fourth book on audiobook yet) and liked them more and more as the series went on. Upon rereading, I actually think I liked this one more than I did originally (may help that I have a better understanding of the world setup having read the later books). My husband really enjoyed it and asked me to pick up the second book for him to listen to. Holly Black snags another loyal reader. I am bumping this book up to 4 stars instead of the original 3 because I did enjoy it more the second time. This is a solid series and I am looking forward to getting back into it.
Are there similarities between this and the Harry Potter series? Yes. Is it still a unique and entertaining read? Definitely.
While the story and characters share some traits with Harry Potter, there is tons of new stuff going on and each character is dealing with their own unique struggles. So yes, it's a wizarding school featuring a team of two males and one female with a stuck-up, slightly charismatic male as a school nemesis, but I promise this is not just a Harry Potter rip off. So much different stuff going on.
I picked this up from the library because I have become obsessed with Holly Black's writing lately and was intrigued by the cover. I'll admit, the book starts out kind of slow. I didn't really like Call's character (plus, it took me forever to realize his name was "Call" and not "Cole", darn audiobooks- the whole time I couldn't figure out how "Cole" was short for "Callum"). He's a bit irritating and clueless. He grows on your a little bit, but I mostly stuck around for Aaron and Tamara.
But the whole world-building. I loved all of the descriptions of the school itself and the various rooms. So cool. All of the magic stuff was fascinating. I liked the idea of magic coming from the elements and the apprentices learning to control them without wands or potions.
The plot was a bit slow to start, but in my opinion, it was worth it for the twist at the end. You know something was coming, but I never would have guessed it was that. Great twist that really pulls the reader in.
I definitely want to continue the series. Just requested the next audiobook from the library.
Reread: I recently took a road trip through Canada and thought my husband would enjoy listening to this series along the way. I have read the first three books in the series (had to take a break because my library doesn't have the fourth book on audiobook yet) and liked them more and more as the series went on. Upon rereading, I actually think I liked this one more than I did originally (may help that I have a better understanding of the world setup having read the later books). My husband really enjoyed it and asked me to pick up the second book for him to listen to. Holly Black snags another loyal reader. I am bumping this book up to 4 stars instead of the original 3 because I did enjoy it more the second time. This is a solid series and I am looking forward to getting back into it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing first book to an amazing series.
SO MANY PLOTTWISTS!
Also, even tho there is so much dark and serious going on, its also funny and emotional.
SO MANY PLOTTWISTS!
Also, even tho there is so much dark and serious going on, its also funny and emotional.
This was overall a cool book. I loved the new world and how the magic works. However, my biggest problem with this book was not enough character development both within and between the characters. I just didn't feel like I really knew the characters or related to them. Peeks into more conversations between Callum, Aaron, and Tamara would have been great so that their relationship seemed genuine. Also, it didn't draw me in and I didn't feel too compelled to keep reading until maybe 3/4 of the way through the book. This is a middle grade book and I'm about to turn 17, so of course, that may be a reason for not enjoying this book as much as others have. The surprises at the end were unexpected though, which I loved. I think I'll keep reading the series to see what happens next and get to know the characters more.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
An excellent Harry Potter readalike, it's a quick and compelling read. A bit too predictable for my taste as an adult reader, but solid choice for a lot of our teens and an easy recommendation.
I'm literally just sitting here staring like "What the heck just happened?" because SERIOUSLY. WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED. WHAT. THAT ENDING. WHAT. HOW. WHO. WHAT. WHERE. WHY. I'M SO CONFUSED BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE CONFUSED ABOUT THIS. BUT I AM. IT'S OBVIOUS BUT IT'S NOT. I'M NOT OKAY WITH THIS.
I read this in the German version, something I normally don't do, since I prefer the original, but it was a good translation.
The book is a good start into a new series about a young magician. Callum Hunt hates and fears magic and magicians, but he has to take the iron trial, which will bring him into the magisterium, a school for magicians.
The book reminds me a bit of the Harry Potter series, but it starts of darker and doesn't explain that much of the magician's world. But it has some nice characters in it, people you start to love and of whom you wanna know more. But also people you don't like. All in all a good mixture of characters, some with a touch of mystery, which wants me to read the other books.
It is interesting, that you get the "big surprise" in this book already, but it makes you just more curious for how the authors will handle the rest of the series, how some characters will develop and how the whole story will end, cause right now, there so many possibilities.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Let's hope it will come soon.
The book is a good start into a new series about a young magician. Callum Hunt hates and fears magic and magicians, but he has to take the iron trial, which will bring him into the magisterium, a school for magicians.
The book reminds me a bit of the Harry Potter series, but it starts of darker and doesn't explain that much of the magician's world. But it has some nice characters in it, people you start to love and of whom you wanna know more. But also people you don't like. All in all a good mixture of characters, some with a touch of mystery, which wants me to read the other books.
It is interesting, that you get the "big surprise" in this book already, but it makes you just more curious for how the authors will handle the rest of the series, how some characters will develop and how the whole story will end, cause right now, there so many possibilities.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Let's hope it will come soon.