The Iron Trial by Black and Clare - ADVISABLE

Black, Holly and Cassandra Clare  The Iron Trial,  295p. Scholastic Press, 2014.   $17.99. 

Language: G; Mature Content:G ; Violence:  PG (fantasy fighting)

EL, MS - ADVISABLE  

Callum has been denied magic all of his life, but when the Magisterium beckons, he and his Dad must attend the trials.  As hard as he tries to fail, Call is chosen as the lead magician’s apprentice and he has no choice but to answer.  While Call is sure that he has been taken to die, he works with two other apprentices to master the incomprehensible tasks that their master sets.  Call learns that he really does have magic.  He also learns that some of the dangers his father warned him about are true.  Someone within the Academy has definite plans for Call, but I can’t tell you why.

You may think you know where this book is going, but you are probably wrong.  While the arrangement of characters and the basic situation will arouse calls of “Harry Potter rip-off” (yes, i thought it too when I started reading), Clare and Black  manage to avoid all of the other trappings of Rowling’s world and build their own unique story.  I am looking forward to seeing where Cal’s future is headed.

Cindy - Library Teacher