haniehan 's review for:

The Iron Trial by Holly Black, Cassandra Clare

3.0

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This was technically a re-read because I read the book when it first came out. I didn't do the audiobook, I read the physical book. But I forgot everything that happened so I thought why not re-listen. We're in quarantine and I have time. I'm really getting sold on audiobooks now. I recently did the audiobook for Map of Days and that was a really delightful experience for me. First of all, the world building in this was really nice. I enjoyed it. Was it the most amazing world building? No. But was it good enough to be believable? Yes. I'm not expecting the most complex world building because this is a middle grade book and world building can complicate things, which takes focus away from developing a good story and characters. Jasper is a character that is growing on me. He's easy to write off, but there's a story there and he's gonna be important. I know it. Call, Tamara, and Aaron are a little bland in my opinion. They're the core characters, but there's nothing that really making me attached to them and they don't really stand out to me. I mean Aaron has a backstory that can be compelling. Call is not the most exciting main character, but I enjoy the idea of someone who goes against the norm. Tamara is the grounding force of the story and frankly the boys would be lost without her clear expertises. This story is approachable for all age groups in my opinion and I think that this is a fun read for people looking for a quick and easy read.