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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This review was written for The Review Diaries.
To read the full review please visit the site:http://reviewdiaries.blogspot.fr/2015/02/review-iron-trial-by-holly-black.html
Huge thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was very curious to see how the book would turn out, coming from two such well known and prolific authors as Clare and Black, but also because of the comparisons being made to Harry Potter.
Yes there are a lot of comparisons, but there are also a lot of differences too which helps once you get into it. There’s the school for magic, the trio of friends who band together, the sneaking around and general hijinks happening behind people’s backs, the prophecy, the Dumbledore and Snape like teacher figures, but there’s an awful lot in there that sets it apart from the Potter series. The series is always going to divide opinion, and there will always be people who can’t get into it or don’t want to read it because of the comparisons. For me personally it was like looking into a slightly skewed mirror until I got far enough into the story that it stopped being quite so obvious.
It was a bit unsettling though because I did always have Potter in the back of my head. And whilst every effort was being made to make magic school cool and exciting, I couldn’t get beyond some aspects of it. It was underground and cold and dark and no one ever really saw the outside world and the food, no matter how delicious it was described to be, sounded weird… I missed Hogwarts.
And if it hadn’t been so similar in so many ways, that comparison wouldn’t have been there.
Comparisons aside, it is still a very good book. Black and Clare make a great writing team and I really enjoyed the story. There were some great twists, some wonderful characters, and some really intriguing elements.
To read the full review please visit the site:http://reviewdiaries.blogspot.fr/2015/02/review-iron-trial-by-holly-black.html
Huge thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was very curious to see how the book would turn out, coming from two such well known and prolific authors as Clare and Black, but also because of the comparisons being made to Harry Potter.
Yes there are a lot of comparisons, but there are also a lot of differences too which helps once you get into it. There’s the school for magic, the trio of friends who band together, the sneaking around and general hijinks happening behind people’s backs, the prophecy, the Dumbledore and Snape like teacher figures, but there’s an awful lot in there that sets it apart from the Potter series. The series is always going to divide opinion, and there will always be people who can’t get into it or don’t want to read it because of the comparisons. For me personally it was like looking into a slightly skewed mirror until I got far enough into the story that it stopped being quite so obvious.
It was a bit unsettling though because I did always have Potter in the back of my head. And whilst every effort was being made to make magic school cool and exciting, I couldn’t get beyond some aspects of it. It was underground and cold and dark and no one ever really saw the outside world and the food, no matter how delicious it was described to be, sounded weird… I missed Hogwarts.
And if it hadn’t been so similar in so many ways, that comparison wouldn’t have been there.
Comparisons aside, it is still a very good book. Black and Clare make a great writing team and I really enjoyed the story. There were some great twists, some wonderful characters, and some really intriguing elements.
Callum Hunt wurde von seinem Vater schon immer dazu erzogen, dem Magisterium, der Schule für Zauberei, zu misstrauen. Zu sehr nagt der Tod seiner Frau im letzten Magierkrieg noch immer an Callums Vater.
Leider wird Callum trotzdem „eingezogen“ und findet sich fortan eingeschlossen in der unterirdischen Schule vor. Ein geheimnisvoller Ort, wo er nach und nach lernt, seine magischen Fähigkeiten zu kontrollieren.
Und irgendwie sind seine Mitschüler Tamara und Aaron auch ganz nett und setzen sich für ihn ein, wenn er z.B. wegen seines lahmen Beins gehänselt wird. Gemeinsam erleben sie so einige Abenteuer, und vielleicht ist Call etwas ganz Besonderes, ein magisch Begabter, der im Kampf gegen den bösen Chaos-Magier XY das Zünglein an der Waage für die Guten sein könnte.
Ziemlich 08/15 für mich als erfahrene Fantasy-Leserin… Aber trotzdem gut geschrieben und Harry Potter in einigen Punkten ähnlich (z.B. drei Freunde, tödliche Abenteuer, eine Gefährdung durch einen bösen Magier, eine Halbwaise, die ein neues Zuhause in einer Zauberschule findet, jeder Band ein neues Schuljahr, …). Die weiteren 4 Bände werde ich vielleicht 2022 lesen.
Leider wird Callum trotzdem „eingezogen“ und findet sich fortan eingeschlossen in der unterirdischen Schule vor. Ein geheimnisvoller Ort, wo er nach und nach lernt, seine magischen Fähigkeiten zu kontrollieren.
Und irgendwie sind seine Mitschüler Tamara und Aaron auch ganz nett und setzen sich für ihn ein, wenn er z.B. wegen seines lahmen Beins gehänselt wird. Gemeinsam erleben sie so einige Abenteuer, und vielleicht ist Call etwas ganz Besonderes, ein magisch Begabter, der im Kampf gegen den bösen Chaos-Magier XY das Zünglein an der Waage für die Guten sein könnte.
Ziemlich 08/15 für mich als erfahrene Fantasy-Leserin… Aber trotzdem gut geschrieben und Harry Potter in einigen Punkten ähnlich (z.B. drei Freunde, tödliche Abenteuer, eine Gefährdung durch einen bösen Magier, eine Halbwaise, die ein neues Zuhause in einer Zauberschule findet, jeder Band ein neues Schuljahr, …). Die weiteren 4 Bände werde ich vielleicht 2022 lesen.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book. I know everyone keeps comparing it to Harry Potter, but really, it is QUITE different. I mean, if we're just going off the fact that it takes place at a boarding school, there's magic, and two boys and a girl, then that means Percy Jackson is a rip off too! You have to look at the WHOLE picture, not just the basic elements. This story really is unique in a LOT of aspects, and that's what made it interesting. I will admit, it is a little slow going, but the last quarter REALLY is worth it! It really takes an unexpected turns that REALLY makes you want to rush out and get the next book! I think this was a good starter book for a series, and i REALLY believe this series is only going to get better and better. I'm super excited for the next installment!!!
This is one of those books I've wanted to read for ages. I mean, come on, Cassie Clare and Holly Black writing a book together? What's not to love? But as a librarian, I have access and exposure to SO many books, it's hard to find the time. I checked this one out of the public library as an audiobook and listened to it slowly over a month or so. Let me tell you, by the end, I was taking extra drives just so I could find out what happened.
If you have a student who has read all the Harry Potter books and is ready to move on, hand them this. Or if you have a student who is not quite old enough for Cassie Clare's other stuff, again, hand them this. I enjoyed it immensely. Callum Hunt is a likable and believable main character, and the rest of the cast is well-drawn, varied and interesting. The plot thickens enough by the end of this book that you can see how it will easily be drawn out over the subsequent four more books. Now that I've read this book, I'll be pushing this series on students with enthusiasm.
If you have a student who has read all the Harry Potter books and is ready to move on, hand them this. Or if you have a student who is not quite old enough for Cassie Clare's other stuff, again, hand them this. I enjoyed it immensely. Callum Hunt is a likable and believable main character, and the rest of the cast is well-drawn, varied and interesting. The plot thickens enough by the end of this book that you can see how it will easily be drawn out over the subsequent four more books. Now that I've read this book, I'll be pushing this series on students with enthusiasm.
First posted at The Story Goes...
Okay I admit I had a hard time reviewing this book because it's just okay, I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, I don't hate it, I don't love it, all together it's meh. First I want to address the whole it's a Harry Potter ripoff thing that appears to be going around surrounding this book on Goodreads, honestly if I hadn't read that people(most who have not read the book) were calling it an HP rip off it never would have occurred to me. 1. Just because there are two boys and a girl as the main characters doesn't mean it's an HP ripoff(I see this all the time on Goodreads and it annoys me to no end). 2. Sure when you see a book about magic set in a magical school you're going to be hesitant, and I completely understand this but really the magic, the school, it's nothing like HP, the only similarities is that there is magic and schools of magic in both books. Having said that this wasn't the best book.
I love my middle grade and my fantasy and I loved the idea that the authors wanted to take everything they know about fantasy books and turn it on its head, I was excepting some awesome revelation at the end that I didn't get. It was unique, it wasn't your average middle grade "chosen one" fantasy book but it wasn't some epic thing that's going to stand out like I was excepting.
This book follows Call, an angry 12 year old boy who happens to be a mage. His dad thinks that the mages are corrupt and has been telling Call this all his life, that they caused the death of his mother, that they don't care abut the other mages, that if Call were to train at the Magistrium he would end up dead, and that Call had to fail at the Iron Trail so that he wouldn't be excepted into the school. Of course, he fails at failing and nothing is as he thought.
Let's Talk -
Plot - It's still your average fantasy novel. The young mages are trained, there is going to be a war, they are looking for a "maker" a mage who can use chaos magic and stop "The Enemy". Unfortunately it was really slow and boring, that's all I have to say about the whole book.
Characters - Call was fairly unlikable. There were a few moments were I enjoyed his character but for the most part he was kind of a jerk. I don't feel like we got to know his team mates(you know the other two pictured on the cover? I can't remember their names....awkward.), there wasn't enough time spent on building their friendship and everything. I can't really think of a character that I loved...
The Enemy - Short for The Enemy Of Death....could you not come up with a lamer name?
Overall - Sure their were a couple plot twists that make this book different from you're average fantasy but in a sea of middle grade fantasy it doesn't stand out. On the upside I finally figured out what it is I don't like about Cassandra Clare books...they're all slow and boring! Revelation! =)
Would I Recommend This? Sure.
Who To? Actual middle graders.
Will I read more from this author(or series)? Maybe????
Okay I admit I had a hard time reviewing this book because it's just okay, I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, I don't hate it, I don't love it, all together it's meh. First I want to address the whole it's a Harry Potter ripoff thing that appears to be going around surrounding this book on Goodreads, honestly if I hadn't read that people(most who have not read the book) were calling it an HP rip off it never would have occurred to me. 1. Just because there are two boys and a girl as the main characters doesn't mean it's an HP ripoff(I see this all the time on Goodreads and it annoys me to no end). 2. Sure when you see a book about magic set in a magical school you're going to be hesitant, and I completely understand this but really the magic, the school, it's nothing like HP, the only similarities is that there is magic and schools of magic in both books. Having said that this wasn't the best book.
I love my middle grade and my fantasy and I loved the idea that the authors wanted to take everything they know about fantasy books and turn it on its head, I was excepting some awesome revelation at the end that I didn't get. It was unique, it wasn't your average middle grade "chosen one" fantasy book but it wasn't some epic thing that's going to stand out like I was excepting.
This book follows Call, an angry 12 year old boy who happens to be a mage. His dad thinks that the mages are corrupt and has been telling Call this all his life, that they caused the death of his mother, that they don't care abut the other mages, that if Call were to train at the Magistrium he would end up dead, and that Call had to fail at the Iron Trail so that he wouldn't be excepted into the school. Of course, he fails at failing and nothing is as he thought.
Let's Talk -
Plot - It's still your average fantasy novel. The young mages are trained, there is going to be a war, they are looking for a "maker" a mage who can use chaos magic and stop "The Enemy". Unfortunately it was really slow and boring, that's all I have to say about the whole book.
Characters - Call was fairly unlikable. There were a few moments were I enjoyed his character but for the most part he was kind of a jerk. I don't feel like we got to know his team mates(you know the other two pictured on the cover? I can't remember their names....awkward.), there wasn't enough time spent on building their friendship and everything. I can't really think of a character that I loved...
The Enemy - Short for The Enemy Of Death....could you not come up with a lamer name?
Overall - Sure their were a couple plot twists that make this book different from you're average fantasy but in a sea of middle grade fantasy it doesn't stand out. On the upside I finally figured out what it is I don't like about Cassandra Clare books...they're all slow and boring! Revelation! =)
Would I Recommend This? Sure.
Who To? Actual middle graders.
Will I read more from this author(or series)? Maybe????
Basically HP but I’ll keep reading the series anyway.
I am so excited to be reading this series again, I always really enjoy it. This is one of the few book series that both myself and my Husband enjoy, My mother just started the series and really enjoyed the first book too. The fact that it's ||the best friend who ends up "the chosen one" and the main character is his enemy|| is such a good twist. This book is a good representation of good and evil not being quite so black and white. This book introduces us to Call, a reluctant student at the magisterium. Call has been brought believing magic is bad and people who use it are not to be trusted so he is less than thrilled when against his wishes he is forced into becoming a student here. I (already have and) will reccomend this series to people of any age. If you are looking for War and Peace this book is not for you, if you are looking for something fun and engaging this is great.
*Added, to address the parallels with a certain other popular book series featuring a young wizard, please don't go into these books expecting it to be the same just because a lot of reviews say it is, there is a school for magic users and the main characters (atleast in the first book) are 2 boys and a girl. Other than that it's an entirely different story, the main guy is not the chosen one, he frequently questions whether he's ||a good guy or possibly completely evil||. The magic is different, the school is different, the characters have personalities that grow and develop. As somebody who has read and enjoyed both series, I can tell you they are not the same. There are too many books in the world for it to be possible to write a story with not a single element that shows up in another book. Please stop saying it's ripped off.
*Added, to address the parallels with a certain other popular book series featuring a young wizard, please don't go into these books expecting it to be the same just because a lot of reviews say it is, there is a school for magic users and the main characters (atleast in the first book) are 2 boys and a girl. Other than that it's an entirely different story, the main guy is not the chosen one, he frequently questions whether he's ||a good guy or possibly completely evil||. The magic is different, the school is different, the characters have personalities that grow and develop. As somebody who has read and enjoyed both series, I can tell you they are not the same. There are too many books in the world for it to be possible to write a story with not a single element that shows up in another book. Please stop saying it's ripped off.
this was just so boring, and the characters weren’t interesting at all. couldn’t even bring myself to finish it, and that’s sad because the book was given to me as a present
I thought I had predicted the ending and I was wrong, and that to me makes for great reading!