Oh no – it’s another one! Just like the Starcossed series, Trial By Fire is stuffed with yet more teen clichés. So I’m left struggling to imagine as to why I couldn’t put it down! Magic, mystery and a cheesy love triangle collide in Angelini’s latest (and perhaps greatest) novel.
Lily’s sick, really sick; in our world it seems like she’s allergic to the very air she breathes. So after a mortifying allergenic moment at her first and probably last high school party, she wants nothing more than to disappear forever. Didn’t anyone tell her to be careful what you wish for?
Lily appears once more in Salem, yet not the Salem she knows. Surrounded by monsters, magic and a medieval like justice system, all lorded over by Lily’s alter ego – Lillian – Lily is completely lost. Yet what makes Lily weak in our world, in this parallel universe makes her strong. Here, on her quest to journey home, Lily encounters danger and darkness around every corner. Drawn in by the rebellion movement against Lillian’s brutal regime, Lily must battle against herself as she faces a love she never expected.
To be blunt, this book is unoriginal, many elements in it have been seen before in other YA fiction. Yet together this concoction creates a compelling read, both fast-paced and exhilarating, sure to enthral most readers.
I’m not sure what quite hooked me on this book, perhaps the idea of alternate universes (which has always been so fascinating to me) or the complicated relationships between characters – is it possible to have a love quadrilateral? Regardless it was a real page turner, easily devoured in one sitting!
So firstly, parallel universes – this is an idea relatively new to me in the realms of YA fiction. The idea that for every world that’s succeeded infinite others have failed (known as cinder worlds) is truly haunting. Angelini explores this concept in her novel and brings into reality the dangers our actions pose, from climate change to nuclear warfare.
But, then there’s the problem with trilogies – is it just me or is basically every YA book you read nowadays part of a trilogy? Now this sometimes works, such as in the cases of the Chaos Walking trilogy and The Hunger Games. Yet, as we also know trilogies can often end as epic failures, where you feel the same plot line is being repeated in each novel again and again, or the author just can’t maintain the brilliance of their first book (*cough* Moira Young).
In regards to the ending of this book, I’m not sure if I see much room left for a trilogy. Admittedly, there were a few questions left unanswered, but it’s the same in most stories and often it’s fun to speculate the answers, rather than have the remaining plot line spelled out by the author.
Overall, a good read that I’m sure most of Angelini’s fans will love, equipped with a fantastical new world, diverse characters and a rollercoaster plot line. But, if you’d prefer to swerve clear of the cheese clichés we’ve seen too many times in Starcrossed, Twilight and *dare I say it* The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Claire, throw this book back on the bookshelf before it can hook its claws into you.
Quick!
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Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
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