Trial by Fire

This one probably gets closer to 4.5 stars. It isn't perfect, but it is sooooo enjoyable. I really, really loved this unique story. After reading the blurb to this book I wasn't all that interested. Witches, Salem, alternate realities ... it didn't really appeal to me. But after reading some absolutely glowing reviews from reviewers I trust I decided to give this book a try, and I am so glad that I did. It was worth it. The main character of this story begins as a weak one. She is a girl growing up in Salem, Massachusetts, in love with her best friend, Tristan. Tristan finally seems as if he sees Lily as more than a friend. The future looks promising. But it turns out that Tristan is really a jerk. Lily is a mess. She suffers from severe allergies ... allergies to almost everything. She goes through life in an almost protective bubble. But thinking that Tristan is finally going to be her boyfriend, she makes plans to attend a party with him. Long story short ... Lily gets all dressed up, straightens her super curly hair, goes with Tristan to a party, and ultimately gets completely humiliated by him. Thus ends all of Lily's hope when it comes to her best friend in the world. She is devastated, and in the midst of that devastation she gets pulled into another dimension somehow. It turns out that there are multiple realities out there. Each decision we make creates an infinite number of universes where different outcomes occur. In the world in which she lands, Lily is in another Salem, Massachusetts where witches have great power and science is thought of as dangerous and subversive. Scientists and teachers are routinely hunted and killed by Lillian, Lily's alter ego in this place. Lillian is egomaniacal and cold hearted and amazingly powerful, and it turns out that Lily has the potential to be just as powerful with training. That training comes from Rowan, a man called a mechanic who can help the witches harness and utilize their power. He is joined by this world's Tristan twin and another man named Caleb. Lily finds herself in the role of a potential savior to a downtrodden and persecuted people, but it will take some time for her to accept and be up to this role. This story is filled with action, adventure, and intrigue. There is a romance. It feels a bit like a love triangle at times, but it doesn't fall into typical love triangle territory. One part of the equation really gets stamped out from the beginning, so I don't think there is ever really a pull to fight for anyone other than the one who ultimately wins Lily's heart. There is a touch of an element that gives this story a steam punk feel in some ways, but I would say that ultimately this is a story of a young woman rising to a challenge, choosing to be good, and fighting for what is important. Lily is a great main character. At first she is almost annoyingly fragile and weak. Even as she enters a new realm and has great power it takes her some time to really get comfortable with that. She just seems so very young. But by the end of the story she is able to grow into that role. She ends this first book of the trilogy strong and confident. The supporting characters are wonderful as well. I loved Rowan, even though there is so much more to learn about him, especially regarding his past role as Lillian's mechanic. He was just the right mix of pride, aloofness, and compassion. He wasn't hateful enough to make me hate him, but he was distant enough to make me want to learn more. He is flawed, but one of his flaws is loyalty, and that is a great flaw to have. I can't wait to learn more about him. I thought that other secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. Caleb and Juliet in particular deserved even more time on the page. I even felt as if Tristan (the alternate reality version) would have been more fascinating to read about if I could have seen more of him in the book. There is still so much more to discover about this story. I am curious to know exactly what Lillian needs from Lily. I can't imagine that it will be good, but things are cloudy enough that it seems as if there is more to Lillian than just pure evil. I definitely think that Josephine Angelini's writing has improved a lot since her Starcrossed series. I can't wait to see where she takes this unique and refreshing story. Loved it! Five stars!!

Alternate worlds with the magic and monsters? Yes please! It was so easy to love a character in one world, only to turn around and hate them in the other. As Lily is, somewhat, whiny at the start of this book, I still prefer her over Lillian; her alternate self in another Salem. This is what fascinated me with this book, the alternate worlds. I’m not big on them, but if the author can take the time to make them super villains of their original selves – or vice versa – I’m game. At the start, Lily is desperate to make that leap with her best friend Tristan. She’s been crushing on him forever and they finally may have something. All she wants is to go to a party on his arm, and for once, not let her allergies disrupt her life. Things turn out differently, and she is humiliated in front of her peers. “Dear God, make me a bird; so I can fly far. Far Far away from here”, is her mantra. Well, not those words but you get my point. And, wish granted! Only, she ends up in the other Salem, which is filled with creatures and magic. Most of all, Lily is not prone to sickness in this world, and she is as strong as ever. Lily soon learns that Crucibles can be cruel, and that Lillian is up to no good. Rowan. I liked him instantly. He shows Lily how to use her magic to help the Outlanders. I loved the blossoming relationship between Lily and Rowan. But, when it all boils down, Lily has to make a choice. Stay in this alternate world where she is stronger and powerful, or return home and live with her allergies and self consciousness. She doesn’t want to face what she left back there and now she has found herself. I really liked this story – though the ending left me wanting more. Well, only 3.5 months to go until the next book, so there’s not a long wait. I definitely recommend this book, especially if you love witches and magic.

Das hätte ich niemals erwartet! Ich lese sehr viele Bücher und teste auch immer neue Autoren aus. Dieses Buch war eine echte Überraschung. Die Geschichte ist toll geschrieben, voller Spannung, Magie und starker Charaktere: Die immer kranke und an Allergien leidende Lily wird, nachdem ihr bester Freund Tristan sie schwer enttäuscht hat, von einem anderen Ich in eine Parallelwelt gezogen. Dort existieren Hexen und Magie, dafür aber keine Wissenschaft. Forscher, Doktoren und Lehrer werden verfolgt und ermordet - und zwar von Lilys anderem Ich - Lillian. Diese ist die stärkste Hexe der Parallelwelt. Verwirrt und geschockt flieht Lily vor Lillian und wird von Rowan gefunden. Dieser war einst Lillians engster Vertrauter, hat sich aber von ihr abgewandt und versucht nun, zusammen mit Freunden den Menschen zu helfen, die von der Gunst der Hexenmagie ausgeschlossen sind - den Outlandern. Diese müssen ohne den Schutz und die Magie der Hexen (Elektrizität, sauberes Wasser, Medikamente...) in den Wäldern außerhalb der Städte leben und versuchen, dort zu überleben. Doch in den Wäldern lauern die Woven - einst durch Magie als Diener der Menschen kreiert (Methode à la Frankenstein), sind sie nun nicht mehr zu kontrollieren und töten alles, was ihnen in den Weg kommt. Lily versucht, sich in dieser neuen Welt zurecht zu finden und mit Hilfe von Rowan, dem Tristan dieser Welt und anderen Freunden, die Magie, die in ihr wohnt, unter Kontrolle zu bringen und für die Outlander einzusetzen. Doch viel Zeit zum Lernen bleibt ihr nicht, denn ihr Auftauchen in dieser Welt blieb nicht unbemerkt und andere Personen wollen die neue, starke Hexe für ihre eigenen Zwecke nutzen. Dabei will Lily eigentlich nur eins - wieder nach Hause. Ich kann es nur noch einmal betonen: ein tolles Buch! Ich lese sonst Bücher von Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Elizabeth Hunter, Thea Harrison oder Patricia Briggs. Dieses Buch hier hat mich vom Hocker gehauen und daher kann ich nur sagen: 5 Sterne; unbedingt lesen! P.S. Was man noch wissen sollte: Das Buch ist der erste Teil einer Trilogie. Teil zwei ist für 2015 geplant. Man muss sich also noch ein wenig gedulden.

One of the best books I have ever read!

I didn't expect this book to be quite so... this book. It was an at times uncomfortable, painful, delightful, epic adventure. I found myself suffering alongside main character Lily as she was backed into corner after corner by strangers, friends, family and even her own body. She had to make the best of having no choices and I yearned for this young woman to learn how to fend for herself, to be able to take control of her own life. I found her reactions honest even when they were uncomfortable or ugly, and I admired her strength of will. I don't want to talk too much about the other characters in the book to avoid giving anything away but let me say that I was intrigued by their stories. I found Rowan, Tristan and Caleb endearing in their own ways. The different ways in which they reacted to and interacted with Lily was, along with Lily's personal journey, the foundation of the story, for me. The weakest portions of the book (for me) were the sections that involved Gideon, one of the villains of the piece, mainly because I was less interested in his side of things. Perhaps if his motivation had been more evident early on? I don't know. I do think that these scenes provided important information about Lillian's side of the story, and about the overall state of things in this universe. They made the struggle that Lily was caught up in much clearer and that elevated the reader's emotional stake in her decisions. so ultimately, I didn't *dislike* these bits, I just didn't find them as compelling as what was happening with Lily. There's some great business with magic, and some science-fictiony bits as well, none of which I want to touch on because it would spoil things. i don't think the book was without flaws - but instead that there was that 'something' that just got to me and kept me entertained and enthralled from start to finish. I enjoyed it so much that it's a five star book for me even if there were some weak parts.

This was an amazing read and I loved it from the very first, to the very last, page. Lily has been in pain her whole life - plagued with allergies and an apparent aversion to the world she inhabits. Tristan is her best friend and he's been a constant support for as long as she can remember. She has harbored a crush on him for years but he's a major player. Recently, things have changed between them, and now it looks like he may return those feelings. Instead, he lets her down in the worst way imaginable. Crushed and heartbroken, she is vulnerable to Lillian's will. Lillian is a different version of Lily from an alternate Salem and a very powerful witch. Essentially, she kidnaps Lily and magics her to a different Salem where horrible creatures known as the Woven strike fear into the hearts of the Outlanders. The Outlanders have essentially been banished outside the walls of the 13 cities by the Coven and the Council. Lily manages to get away from Lillian only to be captured by the terrifying Rowan. Rowan was Lillian's head mechanic ( a cross between a healer, a doctor, and a life coach) and her former lover. She betrayed him and he has now sided with the Outlanders against her. At first Rowan doesn't believe Lily when she tells him who she really is, but gradually he sees the truth and they develop a strong relationship and a very close bond. Rowan helps train Lily and she transforms from someone who was weak in her Salem to a person of considerable strength and power in this Salem. Her life changes beyond all recognition. I loved everything about this book - imaginative world building, strong character development, fast-paced plot and beautiful prose. I enjoyed the slow burning romance mixed in with plenty of action and life-threatening moments and all the magical elements. I particularly liked how the mindspeak aspect was executed. I enjoyed Josephine's Starcrossed series, but I think this has the potential to be even better. A fantastic read. Highly Recommended. This review will be posted to my blog My YA NA Book Obsession

Ho ordinato questo libro per un'amica, che ne è stata felicissima! E' arrivato puntualissimo e in ottime condizioni, anche se la copertina era leggermente ammaccata sul dorso.