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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
*cough* *cough* Harry Potter ripoff #1344556678 that I've read in the middle grade fantasy genre. The authors didn't even try to hide it.
The second books which I read for 24 hours readathon #maratonbialeksiazki
Super fun read, and totally going on my recommendation list for students. It definitely follows the Harry Potter Formula, but I'm kind of okay with that.
DNF at 44%.
Some books look better in the abstract than they do in practice.
Imagine a school where students are taught the elements. No, not like Avatar, because Avatar was actually creative and would've made an awesome book series, if they weren't already doing comics. No, not like Harry Potter, although you'd be hard pressed to say this book wasn't a blatant rip off of the series in general.
Imagine a school in which the characters are either 2D, wispy, or both. Imagine in that school Hermione Granger (Tamara), Ron Weasley (Aaron), and Callum Hunt (Harry Potter). Now, imagine that none of these characters has any depth or likability. You get The Iron Trial.
Perhaps I'm being unfair. After all, I read 44% of the book. I was inclined to give the book a chance--at first, I tried to think of the mages as being like Avatars. They can bend all the elements. Except, no, there's this stupid saying running throughout the book ruining that illusion. Pretty sure Toph wouldn't agree with "earth wants to bind" and Zuko wouldn't agree with "fire wants to burn". The elements don't want anything. They're elements. Besides, earth can be used for far more than binding, much as water can be used for more than flowing and air is more than just zipping around like Zaheer. (Sorry, I'm on a Legend of Korra kick).
Even ignoring this, the obvious Harry Potter parallels grow weary. The writing is too reminiscent of it, to the point where you expect lines from the books to show up verbatim. The audiobook is quite good, which makes it a shame that the writing itself is lackluster. There aren't details where there should be...and are too many details where there shouldn't.
I stopped because I realized I don't care what happens to Callum or his friends. I can predict what will happen without finishing the book. Call will have to confront his father's superstitions, Master Rufus (seriously? Rufus? after mentioning naked mole rats?) will probably end up betraying everyone because he's the Dumbledore/Snape, Call will realize that even though he's come close to losing his life,Hogwarts the Magisterium is all a pony show and he loves being there because he feels the most accepted in all of his life, and the Enemy of Death, Voldemort, will probably show up too. Because Callum's been "marked" by the Dark Lord. Oh, sorry, was that too Harry Potter for you?
The test in which the apprentices fight the wyverns is a ripoff of Harry's first task in the Triwizard Tournament. Callum trying to sneak out to use the hurricane phone is a ripoff of Harry sneaking around to the Mirror of Erised. Jasper is Draco Malfoy, albeit rougher around the edges, and Celia is a cross between Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood, as though Clare and Black wished Harry had ended up with Luna instead of Ginny.
This book was a waste of money and time. Try Sarah J. Mass, Rae Carson, Julie Kagawa (for her Blood of Eden series), Maggie Stiefvater, or, really, a lot of other good YA fantasy that isn't this book.
Some books look better in the abstract than they do in practice.
Imagine a school where students are taught the elements. No, not like Avatar, because Avatar was actually creative and would've made an awesome book series, if they weren't already doing comics. No, not like Harry Potter, although you'd be hard pressed to say this book wasn't a blatant rip off of the series in general.
Imagine a school in which the characters are either 2D, wispy, or both. Imagine in that school Hermione Granger (Tamara), Ron Weasley (Aaron), and Callum Hunt (Harry Potter). Now, imagine that none of these characters has any depth or likability. You get The Iron Trial.
Perhaps I'm being unfair. After all, I read 44% of the book. I was inclined to give the book a chance--at first, I tried to think of the mages as being like Avatars. They can bend all the elements. Except, no, there's this stupid saying running throughout the book ruining that illusion. Pretty sure Toph wouldn't agree with "earth wants to bind" and Zuko wouldn't agree with "fire wants to burn". The elements don't want anything. They're elements. Besides, earth can be used for far more than binding, much as water can be used for more than flowing and air is more than just zipping around like Zaheer. (Sorry, I'm on a Legend of Korra kick).
Even ignoring this, the obvious Harry Potter parallels grow weary. The writing is too reminiscent of it, to the point where you expect lines from the books to show up verbatim. The audiobook is quite good, which makes it a shame that the writing itself is lackluster. There aren't details where there should be...and are too many details where there shouldn't.
I stopped because I realized I don't care what happens to Callum or his friends. I can predict what will happen without finishing the book. Call will have to confront his father's superstitions, Master Rufus (seriously? Rufus? after mentioning naked mole rats?) will probably end up betraying everyone because he's the Dumbledore/Snape, Call will realize that even though he's come close to losing his life,
The test in which the apprentices fight the wyverns is a ripoff of Harry's first task in the Triwizard Tournament. Callum trying to sneak out to use the hurricane phone is a ripoff of Harry sneaking around to the Mirror of Erised. Jasper is Draco Malfoy, albeit rougher around the edges, and Celia is a cross between Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood, as though Clare and Black wished Harry had ended up with Luna instead of Ginny.
This book was a waste of money and time. Try Sarah J. Mass, Rae Carson, Julie Kagawa (for her Blood of Eden series), Maggie Stiefvater, or, really, a lot of other good YA fantasy that isn't this book.
Although I'm not a huge fan of Cassandra Clare, I liked this book. It's not perfect, but I was a fan. I'd read the second book! Or listen to it anyway. The audio book reader was great!
The Iron Trial is about a magic school called the Magisterium where gifted children learn to control their magic. The focus is on Call who’s father always warned him against the mages saying that they are dangerous and not to be trusted. But when Call comes of age he must partake in The Iron Trial, an exam undertaken by all children who may have magic, to determine if they need to go to the Magisterium. This is a great book with lots of magic, mystery and friendship. I like this book better than say the Harry Potter books because I found them to be a little slow. (Note: I had seen the movies first)
Callum Hunt has a deformed leg which he has had since he was a baby so he struggles to do physical movements like trying to keep up with his peers. I found it exciting that the main character had a physical disability like this. It helps to understand what everyday life is like for someone with a disability like this. Though Call struggles he doesn’t let this get the better of him, he tries his hardest at everything and doesn’t just give up and wallow constantly about how hard things are for. Call has learnt how to do things differently and what he can and cannot physically do, though like any young boy he likes to push his limits. There is a mystery about Call’s past which becomes revealed at the end of the book and it was not one I was expecting which was a great change. The twist was excellent!
Call has never had any friends because his peers think he's a freak due to his deformity but finally, he makes friends with Tamara and Aaron at the Magisterium. The three are all apprentices for Master Rufus and live in the same dormitory. These three became fast friends though this is difficult for Call who is unsure if they are real friends at first but soon he realises that they genuinely care about him.
The magic in this book is interesting in the fact that everyone can use earth, air, fire and water and are not limited to just one. However, there is a fifth element, chaos, that very few can use. There are also elementals, magical creatures who are often tied to one element. These are exciting as some of them are created by mages that were consumed by an element.
This is a great book and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series! I really enjoyed the characters and the magic of the world as well as the exciting twists and turns.
I give it 5/5.
Happy reading!
*Note: I suffer from a physical disability so could really relate to Call and loved reading about someone in a similar situation who doesn’t let it get the better of him.
Callum Hunt has a deformed leg which he has had since he was a baby so he struggles to do physical movements like trying to keep up with his peers. I found it exciting that the main character had a physical disability like this. It helps to understand what everyday life is like for someone with a disability like this. Though Call struggles he doesn’t let this get the better of him, he tries his hardest at everything and doesn’t just give up and wallow constantly about how hard things are for. Call has learnt how to do things differently and what he can and cannot physically do, though like any young boy he likes to push his limits. There is a mystery about Call’s past which becomes revealed at the end of the book and it was not one I was expecting which was a great change. The twist was excellent!
Call has never had any friends because his peers think he's a freak due to his deformity but finally, he makes friends with Tamara and Aaron at the Magisterium. The three are all apprentices for Master Rufus and live in the same dormitory. These three became fast friends though this is difficult for Call who is unsure if they are real friends at first but soon he realises that they genuinely care about him.
The magic in this book is interesting in the fact that everyone can use earth, air, fire and water and are not limited to just one. However, there is a fifth element, chaos, that very few can use. There are also elementals, magical creatures who are often tied to one element. These are exciting as some of them are created by mages that were consumed by an element.
This is a great book and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series! I really enjoyed the characters and the magic of the world as well as the exciting twists and turns.
I give it 5/5.
Happy reading!
*Note: I suffer from a physical disability so could really relate to Call and loved reading about someone in a similar situation who doesn’t let it get the better of him.
When I first heard of this concept, I was thinking it sounded pretty cool. And then I say that it was written by Cassandra Clare (who's work I've read before) and Holly Black (who's work I haven't yet read) and I decided I needed to get my hands on this one. Looking at some of the reviews over it though I kind of got a little worried though.
"If I have to die, I want to die holding my own weapon."
pg. 3
I got worried because all the early reviews I saw said it reminded them so much of Harry Potter. But with me thinking like another blogger, I didn't want HP to make me not like every magical boarding school. And I'm glad I didn't let it. There are some things that I would compare with HP, but there are other things that made this story all it's own. At one time I had to put it down to be able to get past the references, but when I got back to it, I really did like it. If the only thing putting you off is the fact that you think it's an HP re-make, I say give it a shot.
"Fire wants to burn, water wants to flow, air wants to rise, earth wants to bind, chaos wants to devour."
pg. 59
The characters in this one were very different. I liked that there was diversity in them and that the twists and turns in the plot weren't expected at all. Because trust me, what you think will happen does not. It turns out to be something completely different than what you were expecting. But there were sometimes where I was angry at Call. He did some really dumb things. And when shit really hit the fan, his decisions just got worse. But then again, I guess that can only mean that things will get so much moire interesting when the second book comes out.
"Thoughts are free and subject to no rule."
pg. 147
I also liked the magic and the way it was portrayed. I liked that it was done as the elements instead of just all out magic. I also liked that the way their school was set up. The "try-outs" and then getting to the next year juat seemed really cool. I can't wait to see what else happens in the rest of the series.
"Knowledge and action are one and the same."
pg. 182
The characters and the magic in this one kept me so into this one. Although I was a little put off by the way it reminded me of one of my favorite books ever, I did really enjoy this book. I can't wait to see what Call, his friends, and his Master come up with in the next book!
"If I have to die, I want to die holding my own weapon."
pg. 3
I got worried because all the early reviews I saw said it reminded them so much of Harry Potter. But with me thinking like another blogger, I didn't want HP to make me not like every magical boarding school. And I'm glad I didn't let it. There are some things that I would compare with HP, but there are other things that made this story all it's own. At one time I had to put it down to be able to get past the references, but when I got back to it, I really did like it. If the only thing putting you off is the fact that you think it's an HP re-make, I say give it a shot.
"Fire wants to burn, water wants to flow, air wants to rise, earth wants to bind, chaos wants to devour."
pg. 59
The characters in this one were very different. I liked that there was diversity in them and that the twists and turns in the plot weren't expected at all. Because trust me, what you think will happen does not. It turns out to be something completely different than what you were expecting. But there were sometimes where I was angry at Call. He did some really dumb things. And when shit really hit the fan, his decisions just got worse. But then again, I guess that can only mean that things will get so much moire interesting when the second book comes out.
"Thoughts are free and subject to no rule."
pg. 147
I also liked the magic and the way it was portrayed. I liked that it was done as the elements instead of just all out magic. I also liked that the way their school was set up. The "try-outs" and then getting to the next year juat seemed really cool. I can't wait to see what else happens in the rest of the series.
"Knowledge and action are one and the same."
pg. 182
The characters and the magic in this one kept me so into this one. Although I was a little put off by the way it reminded me of one of my favorite books ever, I did really enjoy this book. I can't wait to see what Call, his friends, and his Master come up with in the next book!
adventurous