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lilbrown's review against another edition
5.0
Another verrryy good book. Call finally being able to have visitors and having Master Rufus, his dad and, very unexpectedly, Jasper come was great. This book was full of action throughout and starts off hard with the jailbreak very early on in Chapter 2. Getting betrayed by Anastasia and Call, Jasper and Tamara having to be with Master Joseph and Alex was very interesting and seeing how that was gonna pan out kept me wanting to read. The development within the trio was cool to see and Tamara and Call finally admitting their feelings towards each other and starting a romantic relationship was cool to see. Call learning things about chaos magic and secretly wanting to go with Master Joseph’s plan of bringing Aaron back was also something that kept me wanting to see if he would actually do it and what Tamara and Jasper would think. Call actually bringing Aaron back using a piece of his own soul was crazy and I knew that something had to be up so when Aaron was slightly different the entire time and then ended up having to obey Call’s orders like normal chaos-ridden but still being somewhat normal. Call bringing Aaron back was something he 100% shouldn’t have done and was definitely something more “evil” which then made Call look like he was agreeing a little with Master Joseph and Alex. Then, Tamara and Jasper escaped to tell the Magisterium and the Assembly about the enemy stronghold and everything with the chaos-ridden and Aaron which also made Call think that they really thought he was Constantine now. Then, everyone was talking to the Assembly and Call saying he really is the Enemy of Death while internally he is trying to think how he can stop the war. Then, before the battle happens at the island, Call has a solo conversation with Master Rufus, Jasper, Tamara and Assemblyman Graves where he tells them everything about the enemy’s numbers and then Graves wants him to sacrifice himself to kill Alex and himself which causes Call to run away. He starts the battle commanding Constantine’s original army and tells them to dance which causes a pause in the battle which causes Alex to get angry and head towards Call to kill him with the Alkahest. They fight and Call and Alex use all their chaos except Call stops himself from becoming a Devoured and he instead sends Alex into the void. Call about to die because he used some of his soul again to stop Alex has Tamara and Master Rufus above him trying to have him stay alive while Aaron comes and soul taps Call to give him the part of Call’s soul he gave him back. Call jolts up like he got a lot of his life back and Graves is baffled like soul transferring like that shouldn’t be possible. The epilogue was a cool setup for the final novel where Alex comes back as a Devoured of chaos magic. Also a crazy development of Aaron actually being back but as a consciousness in Call’s mind is craaazzzyy.
I really want to see how everybody reacts around Call now that he was their savior yet is still technically Constantine. Also, I really want to see the development around Aaron being back(?) if he is actually back and how that is gonna affect Call and his mind and if he’s gonna tell Tamara. Also, I really want to see how Master Rufus, Tamara, Jasper, and Alastair are towards Call and what is gonna happen with all their relationships.
Overall, verrryyy good book. I like it about as much as the previous novel but there were bigger twists in the previous one which made me rate it a tiny bit higher (kinda unfair considering you can't always have big twists) but, there was a lot of action in this one and I really like the relationship developments between Call and everyone.
My rating: 9/10
I really want to see how everybody reacts around Call now that he was their savior yet is still technically Constantine. Also, I really want to see the development around Aaron being back(?) if he is actually back and how that is gonna affect Call and his mind and if he’s gonna tell Tamara. Also, I really want to see how Master Rufus, Tamara, Jasper, and Alastair are towards Call and what is gonna happen with all their relationships.
Overall, verrryyy good book. I like it about as much as the previous novel but there were bigger twists in the previous one which made me rate it a tiny bit higher (kinda unfair considering you can't always have big twists) but, there was a lot of action in this one and I really like the relationship developments between Call and everyone.
My rating: 9/10
alexcaddel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
monarchsandmyths's review against another edition
genuinely what???? this book manages to have almost nothing that important seemingly happen for 195ish pages and then the last 5 pages are WILD. like i was rereading this and i forgot how chaotic it was. that said cal and aaron should be gay and master rufus said gay rights!
filia7001's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
austejaaje's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
coco_lolo's review
1.0
1.5 stars.
I've never thought the Magisterium series was the strongest or most fully developed, but when I read the first three books last summer, I became invested in the protagonist's story and seeing how it concluded. The Bronze Key ended on a great cliffhanger, so imagine my surprise when The Silver Mask turned out to be such a disappointment. Especially when you consider the emotional value of the previous installments, I still can't believe how disengaging and uninspired this was. Honestly, I don't think there's very much Holly Black and Cassandra Clare can do to salvage the series after the way they butchered this.
It's not that The Silver Mask was a horrible book per say, but rather the fact that this is the fourth in a series and it's the the weakest. In several ways, this was a skeleton: there was no meat to the story, nothing that made it resonate with me. There was something vital missing, a certain charm and humor and emotion that made the characters and their struggles interesting in the previous books. The tone shift was likely intentional because Call and his friends were no longer at the Magisterium, but that shift wasn't successful for me since I didn't care about the conflict (which was such a let down; seriously, there was all this build-up to a mage war, and we got that). The sense of time elapsing was also vague, so I never knew how long this book exactly covered, and although things were taking place during that time, so little focus was given to what was going on that there was nothing to push the plot forward.
The plot itself wasn't even poor—the overall story is still one that interests me—but the execution felt rushed and haphazard. None of the characters experienced any growth, but rather they regressed: Tamara, who had one of the strongest voices in the series, was diminished and not even like herself, while two of the three villains were stereotyped and unimposing. The sentence structure was as well done as always, but where was the depth? Where was the emotion behind Call's actions? Because that's what really hurt this book—I couldn't connect to Call like before, and due to that, the story lost its heart. He's always been such an intriguing character, one I've loved because of how realistic he is when it comes to his worries and trying to do what he believes is right; here, though, I truly couldn't make myself care beyond a few instances.
There was one major plot element that I enjoyed, one that would have worked even better had the authors lengthened the book, and that was Call's relationship with Aaron. Their dynamic has always been one of my favorite things about the series, and to see how their friendship changed past death was an interesting hurtle for them. This was one of the few places I did feel emotion: Call's loneliness without Aaron, his desire to see him alive again and what that said about Call as The Enemy of Death's vessel.
So, will I read The Golden Tower? Right now, I can't say. I want to simply because I've already read everything before it, but I'm worried it may get the same treatment as The Silver Mask. Both authors are working on multiple projects aside from this series, and I could really tell because the story suffered greatly. There were a couple of interesting developments about raising the dead, and I'm honestly intrigued by that last revelation (not the epilogue), so maybe I will end up checking the last book out.
I've never thought the Magisterium series was the strongest or most fully developed, but when I read the first three books last summer, I became invested in the protagonist's story and seeing how it concluded. The Bronze Key ended on a great cliffhanger, so imagine my surprise when The Silver Mask turned out to be such a disappointment. Especially when you consider the emotional value of the previous installments, I still can't believe how disengaging and uninspired this was. Honestly, I don't think there's very much Holly Black and Cassandra Clare can do to salvage the series after the way they butchered this.
It's not that The Silver Mask was a horrible book per say, but rather the fact that this is the fourth in a series and it's the the weakest. In several ways, this was a skeleton: there was no meat to the story, nothing that made it resonate with me. There was something vital missing, a certain charm and humor and emotion that made the characters and their struggles interesting in the previous books. The tone shift was likely intentional because Call and his friends were no longer at the Magisterium, but that shift wasn't successful for me since I didn't care about the conflict (which was such a let down; seriously, there was all this build-up to a mage war, and we got that). The sense of time elapsing was also vague, so I never knew how long this book exactly covered, and although things were taking place during that time, so little focus was given to what was going on that there was nothing to push the plot forward.
The plot itself wasn't even poor—the overall story is still one that interests me—but the execution felt rushed and haphazard. None of the characters experienced any growth, but rather they regressed: Tamara, who had one of the strongest voices in the series, was diminished and not even like herself, while two of the three villains were stereotyped and unimposing. The sentence structure was as well done as always, but where was the depth? Where was the emotion behind Call's actions? Because that's what really hurt this book—I couldn't connect to Call like before, and due to that, the story lost its heart. He's always been such an intriguing character, one I've loved because of how realistic he is when it comes to his worries and trying to do what he believes is right; here, though, I truly couldn't make myself care beyond a few instances.
Spoiler
And can we talk about that tacked-on romance? It was definitely hinted at in the book before, but my gosh, that attempt by the authors was pathetic.There was one major plot element that I enjoyed, one that would have worked even better had the authors lengthened the book, and that was Call's relationship with Aaron. Their dynamic has always been one of my favorite things about the series, and to see how their friendship changed past death was an interesting hurtle for them. This was one of the few places I did feel emotion: Call's loneliness without Aaron, his desire to see him alive again and what that said about Call as The Enemy of Death's vessel.
So, will I read The Golden Tower? Right now, I can't say. I want to simply because I've already read everything before it, but I'm worried it may get the same treatment as The Silver Mask. Both authors are working on multiple projects aside from this series, and I could really tell because the story suffered greatly. There were a couple of interesting developments about raising the dead, and I'm honestly intrigued by that last revelation (not the epilogue), so maybe I will end up checking the last book out.
katiec3000's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paige555's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 for a while i was really annoyed with this book… everything call did made me angry but THE ENDING HOLY SHIT
franzisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
avidbooknerd2028's review against another edition
4.0
This whole series took me by surprise. I can't wait to read the final book!
I normally don't do well with middle-grade. This series definitely is one that I enjoy and would love to read with my girls. There is a ton of adventure, mysterious circumstances, and magic. All of which I enjoy.
I love Holly Black and Cassandra Clare so for a series done by both it has blown me away!
I normally don't do well with middle-grade. This series definitely is one that I enjoy and would love to read with my girls. There is a ton of adventure, mysterious circumstances, and magic. All of which I enjoy.
I love Holly Black and Cassandra Clare so for a series done by both it has blown me away!