Take a photo of a barcode or cover
mamamelreads 's review for:
Trial by Fire
by Josephine Angelini
This one probably gets closer to 4.5 stars. It isn't perfect, but it is sooooo enjoyable. I really, really loved this unique story. After reading the blurb to this book I wasn't all that interested. Witches, Salem, alternate realities ... it didn't really appeal to me. But after reading some absolutely glowing reviews from reviewers I trust I decided to give this book a try, and I am so glad that I did. It was worth it.
The main character of this story begins as a weak one. She is a girl growing up in Salem, Massachusetts, in love with her best friend, Tristan. Tristan finally seems as if he sees Lily as more than a friend. The future looks promising. But it turns out that Tristan is really a jerk. Lily is a mess. She suffers from severe allergies ... allergies to almost everything. She goes through life in an almost protective bubble. But thinking that Tristan is finally going to be her boyfriend, she makes plans to attend a party with him. Long story short ... Lily gets all dressed up, straightens her super curly hair, goes with Tristan to a party, and ultimately gets completely humiliated by him. Thus ends all of Lily's hope when it comes to her best friend in the world. She is devastated, and in the midst of that devastation she gets pulled into another dimension somehow.
It turns out that there are multiple realities out there. Each decision we make creates an infinite number of universes where different outcomes occur. In the world in which she lands, Lily is in another Salem, Massachusetts where witches have great power and science is thought of as dangerous and subversive. Scientists and teachers are routinely hunted and killed by Lillian, Lily's alter ego in this place. Lillian is egomaniacal and cold hearted and amazingly powerful, and it turns out that Lily has the potential to be just as powerful with training. That training comes from Rowan, a man called a mechanic who can help the witches harness and utilize their power. He is joined by this world's Tristan twin and another man named Caleb. Lily finds herself in the role of a potential savior to a downtrodden and persecuted people, but it will take some time for her to accept and be up to this role.
This story is filled with action, adventure, and intrigue. There is a romance. It feels a bit like a love triangle at times, but it doesn't fall into typical love triangle territory. One part of the equation really gets stamped out from the beginning, so I don't think there is ever really a pull to fight for anyone other than the one who ultimately wins Lily's heart. There is a touch of an element that gives this story a steam punk feel in some ways, but I would say that ultimately this is a story of a young woman rising to a challenge, choosing to be good, and fighting for what is important.
Lily is a great main character. At first she is almost annoyingly fragile and weak. Even as she enters a new realm and has great power it takes her some time to really get comfortable with that. She just seems so very young. But by the end of the story she is able to grow into that role. She ends this first book of the trilogy strong and confident.
The supporting characters are wonderful as well. I loved Rowan, even though there is so much more to learn about him, especially regarding his past role as Lillian's mechanic. He was just the right mix of pride, aloofness, and compassion. He wasn't hateful enough to make me hate him, but he was distant enough to make me want to learn more. He is flawed, but one of his flaws is loyalty, and that is a great flaw to have. I can't wait to learn more about him. I thought that other secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. Caleb and Juliet in particular deserved even more time on the page. I even felt as if Tristan (the alternate reality version) would have been more fascinating to read about if I could have seen more of him in the book.
There is still so much more to discover about this story. I am curious to know exactly what Lillian needs from Lily. I can't imagine that it will be good, but things are cloudy enough that it seems as if there is more to Lillian than just pure evil. I definitely think that Josephine Angelini's writing has improved a lot since her Starcrossed series. I can't wait to see where she takes this unique and refreshing story. Loved it! Five stars!!
The main character of this story begins as a weak one. She is a girl growing up in Salem, Massachusetts, in love with her best friend, Tristan. Tristan finally seems as if he sees Lily as more than a friend. The future looks promising. But it turns out that Tristan is really a jerk. Lily is a mess. She suffers from severe allergies ... allergies to almost everything. She goes through life in an almost protective bubble. But thinking that Tristan is finally going to be her boyfriend, she makes plans to attend a party with him. Long story short ... Lily gets all dressed up, straightens her super curly hair, goes with Tristan to a party, and ultimately gets completely humiliated by him. Thus ends all of Lily's hope when it comes to her best friend in the world. She is devastated, and in the midst of that devastation she gets pulled into another dimension somehow.
It turns out that there are multiple realities out there. Each decision we make creates an infinite number of universes where different outcomes occur. In the world in which she lands, Lily is in another Salem, Massachusetts where witches have great power and science is thought of as dangerous and subversive. Scientists and teachers are routinely hunted and killed by Lillian, Lily's alter ego in this place. Lillian is egomaniacal and cold hearted and amazingly powerful, and it turns out that Lily has the potential to be just as powerful with training. That training comes from Rowan, a man called a mechanic who can help the witches harness and utilize their power. He is joined by this world's Tristan twin and another man named Caleb. Lily finds herself in the role of a potential savior to a downtrodden and persecuted people, but it will take some time for her to accept and be up to this role.
This story is filled with action, adventure, and intrigue. There is a romance. It feels a bit like a love triangle at times, but it doesn't fall into typical love triangle territory. One part of the equation really gets stamped out from the beginning, so I don't think there is ever really a pull to fight for anyone other than the one who ultimately wins Lily's heart. There is a touch of an element that gives this story a steam punk feel in some ways, but I would say that ultimately this is a story of a young woman rising to a challenge, choosing to be good, and fighting for what is important.
Lily is a great main character. At first she is almost annoyingly fragile and weak. Even as she enters a new realm and has great power it takes her some time to really get comfortable with that. She just seems so very young. But by the end of the story she is able to grow into that role. She ends this first book of the trilogy strong and confident.
The supporting characters are wonderful as well. I loved Rowan, even though there is so much more to learn about him, especially regarding his past role as Lillian's mechanic. He was just the right mix of pride, aloofness, and compassion. He wasn't hateful enough to make me hate him, but he was distant enough to make me want to learn more. He is flawed, but one of his flaws is loyalty, and that is a great flaw to have. I can't wait to learn more about him. I thought that other secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. Caleb and Juliet in particular deserved even more time on the page. I even felt as if Tristan (the alternate reality version) would have been more fascinating to read about if I could have seen more of him in the book.
There is still so much more to discover about this story. I am curious to know exactly what Lillian needs from Lily. I can't imagine that it will be good, but things are cloudy enough that it seems as if there is more to Lillian than just pure evil. I definitely think that Josephine Angelini's writing has improved a lot since her Starcrossed series. I can't wait to see where she takes this unique and refreshing story. Loved it! Five stars!!