One might want from a pre-teen fantasy novel: The underdog protagonist, magic My Thoughts on The Iron Trialįantasy novels, and this one did not disappoint. Yet, despite his best efforts to keep as far away from magicians as possible, Call finds himself at the Magisterium, discovering a twisted truth about his past. Call grew up with his father warning him against the evils of the Magisterium, and whereas others will do anything to get accepted, Call wants nothing part of it. Well, maybe not too typical, as he knows that magic is as real as his infamous status at school.

The Iron Trial follows the life of Callum Hunt, just your typical troubled, social outcast, trying to survive his pre-teens. Lucky for me, the story itself also held great charm. I’m not well-acquainted with either authors (please don’t stone me for this statement, The Shadowhunter Chronicles is on my to-read list), so I might have passed this book had it not seduced me with its visual charms.

What first drew me to The Iron Trial, the first novel in Holly Black and Cassandra Clare’s Magisterium series, was the fantastical and murky cover (seems like I do judge a book by its cover). Nothing brings out the nerdy kid in me like a fantasy novel with an angsty pre-teen protagonist throwing sarcastic comments at the world while also trying to save it (with magic of course) from a great evil. In 2016, the American Library Association named The Iron Trial one of their top ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.A Book Review on The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare Maggie Reagan, writing on behalf of Booklist, provided a mixed review, stating,'Expectations are bound to be high for this powerhouse duo’s first cowritten effort, and although it doesn’t quite live up to the authors’ respective works.and there are several missed opportunities, the end offers a few intriguing twists and perspectives that hint at what’s to come in the next installments.'

Kirkus Reviews called the book ' promising beginning to a complex exploration of good and evil, as well as friendship’s loyalty.' The Iron Trial received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, as well as positive reviews from Kirkus. Call participates in a test to see whether he has sufficient magic to attend the magisterium and train to be a mage using the four elements fire, water, air and earth. The protagonist of The Magisterium Series is twelve-year-old Callum (Call) Hunt who was raised by the mage Alastair Hunt, who after the third mage war with 'The Enemy of Death' also known as Constantine Madden, and the death of his wife Sarah at the Cold Massacre, decided to spurn magic and raised up Call to be the same. The Iron Trial, written by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare and published Septemby Scholastic Corporation, is the first book in The Magisterium Series.