The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (Review)

Series: Magisterium #1

Genre: Fantasy

Book Length: 295 pages

Publication Date: September 9th, 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format: Hardcover

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Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Callum Hunt has grown up knowing three rules by heart. Never trust a magician. Never pass a test a magician gives you. And never let a magician take you to the Magisterium.
Call is about to break all the rules. And when he does, his life will change in ways he can't possibly imagine.

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The first thing I want to address the main thing that everyone think of when they first hear of this book: It's a Harry Potter rip-off. Well, I am hear to tell you that it has a Harry Potter feel to it, and there are similarities that I can see, but this is not like Harry Potter aside from that. So, when you go into this book, don't expect it to be like that and take it for what it is.

Now, talking about the actual book itself, this was just a fun first book in a series. I loved learning the Magic system and how it works and the history of the world and I can't wait to see how it develops in the later books.

The characters, I really liked how there was a variety of them and a mix bag of personalities and how your opinions on them change as you go through this first book. However, I didn't like how they were acting like stubborn kids. I mean, yes they're twelve years old so it's understandable, but I would have liked it better if they thought some stuff out instead of going into danger immediately.

Also, I would have to say that Callum, our protagonist, was probably my least favorite character. Mostly because, and especially in the beginning, he was being so close-minded and only believing what he was taught to believe. Again, since he was told that everything about the Magisterium and Magic was evil, it is understandable, but I would have liked it if he was a little more open-minded.

Lastly, I want to discuss the writing. I want to warn you that if you only want to read this because of Cassie, don't expect her writing. Because, as far as I can tell, the book was mostly written by Holy Black (I can't be accurate because this is the first time I have ever read anything by Holly). But, that didn't really bother me, and I enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more by Holly.

So, in the end I give The Iron Trial a solid 4/5 stars. This was a pretty good and fun start to this five-book saga and I can't wait to read more of them. They were obviously some flaws and things I didn't like in this book, but I enjoyed it overall. I will be sure to pick up The Copper Gauntlet when it is released next year.