Most of these quick reviews were written two years ago and never got published. Instead of posting them individually I’ve combined them and then added my thoughts about what I can remember about the last book. This doesn’t mean I’m back, just doing some house cleaning.
Continue reading “Magisterium – Books 2-5 – By Holly Black & Cassandra Clare”Holly Black
Magisterium – Book 1: The Iron Trial – By Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Hiya Jared,
This is one that Lisa read a while ago that I’d been meaning to read ever since. She described it kind of like Harry Potter but the only thing similar is “magic school” and even that starts to get a bit frayed only a short way in.
Title: The Iron Trial
Series: Magisterium; Book 1
Author: Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Higher Magic, School
Synopsis: Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he tries his best to do his worst – and fails at failing. Now the Magisterium awaits him. It’s a place that’s both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future. The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .
Recommendation: I would recommended this book for teens.
Continue reading “Magisterium – Book 1: The Iron Trial – By Holly Black & Cassandra Clare”
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review
Hey Jared,
As promised, this is a bit late in getting posted but I still got it out today. I decided to make this a series review and just include what I’d said of the first book.
Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern/Contemporary, Magical Creatures, Faeries, Giants, Nixies
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an “expedition” to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem – the huge, lumbering, fire-breathing variety – and it’s up to Nick; his stepsister, Laurie; and his big brother, Julian (plus a familiar face from the original Spiderwick Chronicles) to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for younger readers.
The Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review
Howdy Jared,
This was supposed to be published on Monday, but I forgot to schedule it. It’s almost the end of the month so I’m sprinting to the end.
I’ve got the first two books on my shelf (Bookshelf Blitz) but since they’re so short I figured I should probably just review the whole series at once instead of piecing them out. Also expect a review of the movie soon-ish.
Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Faeries, Dragons,
Synopsis: The Field Guide sets up the story of the Grace children—13-year-old Mallory and 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon—who with their mother move into the dilapidated Spiderwick Estate only to quickly find themselves sucked into a dark and fascinating world of faeries.
Recommendation: This book is recommended. Suitable for nearly all ages.
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – Book 1: The Nixie’s Song – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Jared,
I have yet to read the actual Spiderwick Chronicles so I can’t compare. I did enjoy this though and I’m going to track down the rest of the series before reading the main series. There are only 3 books in this spin-off, so that shouldn’t be too hard.
Title: The Nixie’s Song
Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles; Book 1
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern/Contemporary, Magical Creatures, Faeries, Giants, Nixies
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an “expedition” to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem – the huge, lumbering, fire-breathing variety – and it’s up to Nick; his stepsister, Laurie; and his big brother, Julian (plus a familiar face from the original Spiderwick Chronicles) to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for younger readers.
Reading Over The Shoulder 