Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Format: ARC
Source: BEA
Status: Stand-alone
Genre: YA Fantasy
Other Info: Jeff Hirsch is also the author of The Eleventh Plague.
Description and link from Goodreads):
On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.
Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea of what might be on the other side of it. Glenn’s only friend, Kevin, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn’t for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality: Glenn’s mother disappeared when she was six, and soon after, she lost her scientist father to his all-consuming work on the mysterious Project. Glenn buries herself in her studies and dreams about the day she can escape. But when her father’s work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that will send Glenn and Kevin on the run—with only one place to go.
With MAGISTERIUM, Jeff Hirsch brings us the story of a complex, captivating world that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.
Hello everyone, I’m Willoughby, littlest brother of our dearest Ruby from Ruby’s Reads (That’s me! But seriously, you guys, he may be younger, but he’s not my little brother). A while ago, Ruby asked me if I would like to write a guest-blog for her website. I was apprehensive at first, because I’ve never had the literary gift my sister possesses (*rolls eyes*) but I eventually relented. So here goes nothing and please enjoy.
The book that I eventually landed on was Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch. I was nervous about choosing this book because I had no history with post-apocalyptic fantasy as of then. (I gave him tons of options and eventually forced him to choose.) I was, however, pleasantly surprised and was rewarded with a good time reading it.
Hirsch does a wonderful job setting the story and leading the reader through it with a minimal amount of “Wait… what?” moments. The main characters are well drawn out and consistent throughout the novel, the worlds were relatively immersive and the action felt less contrived and set up than most novels I’ve read.
That being said, aside from the main character Glennora, there is relatively no information or background on any other characters, including her constant companions and love interest. I would have liked to have some more knowledge of their past and what makes them… well them. Perhaps Hirsch will expand upon their backgrounds if he chooses to continue this as a series, but it was just something I picked up on.
Along those lines, the same thing happened with the worlds (Colloquium and Magisterium) that the characters inhabited. While I felt like I was constantly able to envision the worlds that were described in the storyline, I felt like they were a tad underdeveloped. The characters kind of land in Magisterium in the middle of a conflict, and you get hints as to what is going and what has happened but there’s no real information to place it in context. Has this nation always been at war, or is this more of a recent evolution?
Other than that I just enjoyed traveling through the worlds of Colloquium and Magisterium with Glenn, Aamon and Kevin. In the end I would give this book an 4.5 on a scale of 6, a solid reading that will leave you feeling fulfilled but has definite room for improvement.
Thank you for the opportunity! (And thanks for stopping by, Will!)
4 1/2 Matryoshkas: [Willoughby]’d go on a second date with this book.
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That was a very thoughtful review, Will!!
And it was nice to meet you.
I gotta say, though, that I don’t like the cover.
I thought that was a great review. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.