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bibliophilicjester 's review for:
The Iron Trial
by Holly Black, Cassandra Clare
2.75? Sigh. Ratings are tricky.
I don't particularly care for either of these authors, but I like middle grade and magic and adventures! I think I like them together better than apart, though I still have trilogies by both I want to read. Anyway...
This was really fun!! I love reading about kids at magic school, no matter what age. I love that feeling like anything could happen and who knows what they'll study and learn?! It's just a really good time. Most of the main kids are 12, so it wasn't so heavy on the character growth and development. It was just good fun and a few scary creatures and what have you. A bit of death. You know, normal magic school business.
I'd heard about the Harry Potter parallels, and at first it didn't bother me so much. Is it a huge deal that Call has wild black hair and has magic? Eh. But I'd say the last few chapters were straight up plagiarized, with Master Rufus as Dumbledore. He even said a version of the Riddle thing, like "is there anything you wish to tell me?" Meh. So yeah, the end got a bit Voldemort-esque, then there was a bit of a Sky High thing too?! I was content following these kids around until all the big reveals at the end. Then it was suddenly like, okay, here's the ending! And. Idk. I don't care for drawn out bits leading up to a battle, villain monologuing, and super quick rush to the end when everyone's all healed and ready to move on to the next book.
Aside from the Harry Potter bits... I really liked Warren 😂 and if his story doesn't end with someone saying his name isn't (fucking) Warren!! I'll be pissed. Don't lead me on with movie references. (I thought his name was Warren...? 😂)
Nitpicky Jess things: when Call and his dad go to the iron trial, Call's wearing a gray shirt...then a chapter or two later, he gets ink all over his white shirt. Grrr. I also don't understand why dumpster was capitalized, and it really bothered me more than it should've.
What else...I definitely like the dynamic of two boys in a trio that is NOT a love triangle. Oh, since the kiddos are 12, there isn't really romance. Which I love, obv. I mean, Call notices pretty girls and the other two give him some shit about this other girl who def likes him, but it's fine. I'm trying not to let the very end skew my rating, but damn I really want to drop it to 2.5. Sigh.
I have the next book, so I'll continue!! I'm also the proud owner of a shiny new library card, so maybe I'll even check out the whole series! Although the ending annoyed me, there were a lot of big reveals, so I'm hopeful the rest of the series will Branch out further away from Harry Potter territory. AND it's always exciting to jump into a series right after the last book is published 😊 I do hate waiting.
I don't particularly care for either of these authors, but I like middle grade and magic and adventures! I think I like them together better than apart, though I still have trilogies by both I want to read. Anyway...
This was really fun!! I love reading about kids at magic school, no matter what age. I love that feeling like anything could happen and who knows what they'll study and learn?! It's just a really good time. Most of the main kids are 12, so it wasn't so heavy on the character growth and development. It was just good fun and a few scary creatures and what have you. A bit of death. You know, normal magic school business.
I'd heard about the Harry Potter parallels, and at first it didn't bother me so much. Is it a huge deal that Call has wild black hair and has magic? Eh. But I'd say the last few chapters were straight up plagiarized, with Master Rufus as Dumbledore. He even said a version of the Riddle thing, like "is there anything you wish to tell me?" Meh. So yeah, the end got a bit Voldemort-esque, then there was a bit of a Sky High thing too?! I was content following these kids around until all the big reveals at the end. Then it was suddenly like, okay, here's the ending! And. Idk. I don't care for drawn out bits leading up to a battle, villain monologuing, and super quick rush to the end when everyone's all healed and ready to move on to the next book.
Aside from the Harry Potter bits... I really liked Warren 😂 and if his story doesn't end with someone saying his name isn't (fucking) Warren!! I'll be pissed. Don't lead me on with movie references. (I thought his name was Warren...? 😂)
Nitpicky Jess things: when Call and his dad go to the iron trial, Call's wearing a gray shirt...then a chapter or two later, he gets ink all over his white shirt. Grrr. I also don't understand why dumpster was capitalized, and it really bothered me more than it should've.
What else...I definitely like the dynamic of two boys in a trio that is NOT a love triangle. Oh, since the kiddos are 12, there isn't really romance. Which I love, obv. I mean, Call notices pretty girls and the other two give him some shit about this other girl who def likes him, but it's fine. I'm trying not to let the very end skew my rating, but damn I really want to drop it to 2.5. Sigh.
I have the next book, so I'll continue!! I'm also the proud owner of a shiny new library card, so maybe I'll even check out the whole series! Although the ending annoyed me, there were a lot of big reveals, so I'm hopeful the rest of the series will Branch out further away from Harry Potter territory. AND it's always exciting to jump into a series right after the last book is published 😊 I do hate waiting.