Review: The Iron Trial - Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare, published by Doubleday on 11th September 2014

Goodreads 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.

Review:
A double team offering from bestselling authors Cassandra Clare and Holly Black.  I've never read anything by the latter before but I love Cassandra Clare so I was dying to get my hands on this book which sounded brilliant.

It's the first in a new five book series which will follow the main character Call through each year of his life at the Magisterium.  Callum Hunt, or Call as he is known, reluctantly enters the Magisterium against the wishes of his father.  He must learn to hone his magical skills and abilities, even though he has always been told that magic is dangerous and must never be used. 

I loved seeing life at the school.  Everything from the training lessons, to the friendships which are formed between Call, Aaron and Tamera, to the magical foods and challenging tests were a treat to read about.  It was also great to see Call gradually embracing his magical gifts and learning more about his past, as he becomes someone at the Magisterium that the others can begin to rely. 

There is a brilliant twist near the end which was very unexpected but definitely changed some of my opinions about the characters and the direction of the series in an extremely positive way.  I'm excited to see what will happen to Call and his friends next.     

Yes, there are similarities to Harry Potter but so what.  It didn't bother me at all.  This is still a fantastically entertaining and magical read which I really enjoyed and which swept me away for a couple of hours while I became totally immersed in the intrigues of the plot and the struggles of the characters. 

The second book in the series is due for release in 2015 and I for one will be first in the queue to get a copy. 

News: Bath Children's Literature Festival 2014

Every year I wish I was able to attend the Bath Children's Literature Festival.  They always have a stellar line-up of authors talking about their new books and this year is no exception with some fabulous guest speakers.

Moira Young and Michael Grant are going to be there on Sunday 5th October and even more excitingly, if you are able to get a ticket, then on Saturday 4th October you will be able to see Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in their first UK event together.  They are going to be discussing their new book 'The Iron Trial' which is the first in the Magisterium series.  I am dying to read this one which sounds absolutely fantastic.

 

The Festival runs from 26th September to 5th October and you can find out lots of information about tickets and the schedule here

Comment and let me know if you're attending.  It sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!

From Page to Screen in 2013

There are some fantastic young-adult books currently being adapted for the big screen and lots of exciting releases to look forward to next year.  Here are some of the page to screen titles that I'm especially thrilled about with release dates for when the films are due out.

'Beautiful Creatures' is released in the UK on 13th February 2013.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

The Host is released in the UK on 29th March 2013.

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

City of Bones is released in the UK on 23rd August 2013.

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . 

Catching Fire is released in the UK on 22nd November 2013.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are still alive. Katniss should be relieved, but now there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol -- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped crate.

As the nation watches Katniss and Peeta, the stakes are higher than ever. One false move and the consequences will be unimaginable.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is also set to hit the big screen in 2013 but there is no release date for it yet. 

There's also the film of Veronica Roth's bestselling novel 'Divergent' to come in 2014, as well as an adaptation of 'Delirium' by Lauren Oliver and 'Fallen' by Lauren Kate!

Comment and let me know which book you would love to see made into a film.