Trial by Fire Hardcover – January 1, 2014

Josephine Angelini writes some addicting stories. I wasn't sure how the witches + alt reality set up of this story would work out for me, but I ended up liking Trial by Fire a lot. I definitely couldn't put it down. Plus it's always fun to read a story that takes place in your backyard.Set-up. Lily lives in present day Salem, Massachusetts, where her life is a daily struggle to survive a compounding amount of environmental and food allergies. It doesn't help that her mom is a little crazy and her dad is pretty much absent. But she has the constant support of her sister Juliet and her best friend Tristan. Lily has been interested in Tristan as more than a friend for quite a while, and it finally seems like he's noticing her. But after a disastrous night at a high school party, which almost kills her, Lily gets transported to a different Salem, Massachusetts. One filled with magic and witches, all ruled by an alternate version of her, Lillian. Only this girl is the villain in the tale.Parallel worlds. I generally avoid parallel world/alternate reality books like the plague. Mostly, because the main character is typically in the head of multiple versions of herself and that means love triangles and confusion for me. So I appreciated that the characters in each of these realities were distinct individuals. Although the story feels very contemporary high school when Lily is in her Salem, once she travels to the alternate New Salem, the story becomes something different entirely. I loved meeting the alternate versions of characters we'd known before, as well as new people too. It's definitely an interesting nature vs. nurture debate to see what other versions of people have become.Still, I did have trouble in places seeing Lillian as an evil villain. We don't spend a lot of time with her, and she rarely interacts with Lily. We also don't get her full motives or plans. I think also, because she was a version of Lily, I sympathized with her. Or at least felt like I didn't fully understand her enough to judge her, and I gave her some slack, despite the awful things she'd done. But all that also served to make the story and her character more compelling too, and it's one of the reasons this book was so very intriguing. I can't wait to see where her character goes in the future.Magic. The New Salem to which Lily is transported is a place ruled by witches who wield incredible magic. The difference between men and women's abilities and how their talents work together is fascinating. Although all people have some magic in them, women are the most powerful, and Lily is one of the strongest. The strength of her ability has to do with why her Salem was physically killing her. But Lily, like other female witches, works best when her magic is projected through others. She also needs Mechanics (doctors/healers for witches) like Rowan to keep her healthy. Oh Rowan. We will get to him next.Romance. [I'm going to outline this for those who like these details. Not major plot spoilers, but I'm candid about the romantic elements.] I would not consider this story to have any sort of Love Triangle, although it is a bit of of a progression in the beginning. It's clear pretty quickly that Tristan is not a great match for Lily, and I don't think there is any threat of that relationship reviving in any future world. Especially, after she meets Rowan in the alternate Salem.Rowan used to be Lillian's head Mechanic and how he hates her for very valid reasons. Then he meets Lily who is a version of Lillian but also is very much not her, and he dislikes her on sight. I really liked the way that Lily and Rowan's relationship starts off antagonistically and takes time to build slowly over the course of the book, as they discover who each other is. Even by the end they are not trying to rush anything, which hopefully will mean that the author won't introduce an awkward triangle in future books to add tension (I hate when that happens).However, just as I had trouble seeing Lillian as an evil villain, I struggled with the Lillian - Rowan - Lily situation. It's very clear that Rowan and Lillian once had a relationship. I don't think that Rowan would ever go back to Lillian, but it is a little awkward watching him move on to another version of her. I want to know more about how much his feelings for Lily are wrapped in Lillian - and see them separate from that. This lessened as the book continued, and I think the romance has potential to be very strong and epic as it continues. But it was uncomfortable at times, though that's also a reason why it intrigued me.Cliffhangers. The end of this book is especially exciting. I really, really liked the direction it took, and that has made me quite impatient for the next installment. It's one of those cliffhangers that makes you eager to keep reading, instead of stressed out. It's also a good breaking point in the series.Final thoughts. I read Trial by Fire a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. There was something incredibly compelling about this story for me. It's funny because the romance made me slightly uncomfortable, and I was't completely sold on the villain. But those elements somehow combined to make me more excited about what happens next. I want to know a lot more about these characters and I'm eager to get back into this story.

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!!

Interesting

Loved this book and finished it in just over a day. Superb storytelling and great characters. I love Lily and Rowan and Tristan, and all the rest of the people in this story. There was so much in this first book in the series and the ending was amazing. I'm jumping straight into book 2 to continue the story and see where Lily ends up and what happens next.I've read all of Josephine Angelini's book and Trial by Fire certainly didn't disappoint. There was action, adventure, mystery, and so much more. I loved the concept of the book. Lily is so sick at the start of the book and so excited to be with Tristan, who turns out to be an ass. I don't like his character and feel there's something sneaky about him, even in the other universe that Lily ends up in. Juliet is great in both worlds, and I'm dying to see what Lilian did to cause Roman to hate her. We get bits and pieces in the first book but I know there is so much more to come. I love how strong Lily is and her character is amazing. I felt her terror when the Woven were chasing her, her desolation when she was held prisoner, and her triumphs and highs throughout the book.If you are a fan of witches and other worlds and magic, this is a series you will definitely want to read.

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

No Spoliers:-I had this book on pre-order as soon as I knew it was to be released as Josephine had already added me to her book fan list following her amazing Awakening series and has firmly cemented herself onto my favourite authors list after this latest offering from her. If you haven't read her first series ( Starcrossed: 1 (Awakening) , Starcrossed: Dreamless: 2 (Awakening)  & Goddess (Starcrossed 3) ) then I urge you to do so as it truly is a fantastic series to read with a concept that I hadn't read before about Scions. Josephine has written yet another fantastic first installment in what is set to be another outstanding series with again another concept that I hadn't read about before which is rare in the world of YA and fantasy books at the moment. Brilliant unputdownable book which I urge you to read if you enjoy YA and fantasy.The story follows Lily Proctor who is a normal teenage girl growing up in Salem, Massachusetts but Lily is basically very ill all of the time and only has to drink a sip of alcohol to get severely ill. It is after the one big party that she has never managed to go to before that she becomes ill and has a fit in public in front of all the kids from school. That plus her best friend/boyfriend doing the dirty on her makes her very upset and she find herself wishing she was anywhere but there only to find her wish granted.Lily is whisked into an alternate universe where the same people exist as in her world just that everything is different including the version of her. Witchcraft and Magic run this world and everything is dependent on it and science is frowned upon and the people practicing it executed. Lily's alternate version of herself is a very powerful witch in this world and in fact is the leader of the world she is in. Lily soon discovers she can do witchcraft and that she is extremely powerful too. She also discovers Rowan who hates the version of herself in this world but becomes her teacher and mentor in this world and soon Lily find herself falling in love with Rowan but does he and can he ever feel the same or has this world's version ruined any chances of love between them? Add to all of this that Lily is actually trying to get home and stop the persecution of the Outlanders and Lily has an awful lot on her plate.Brilliant concept and story and I was literally hooked to this book from about chapter 2 until the end. What a cliffhanger ending! Darn you Angelini and making me wait to find out what happens next! Cannot wait for the second installment Trail of Tears which is due out in 2015 with no release date as yet. Starcrossed: 1 (Awakening)Starcrossed: Dreamless: 2 (Awakening)Goddess (Starcrossed 3)

"Funny how quickly the mind moves, but how slowly time does when you're in pain".It seems that, with a few exceptions, this book has actually really grabbed the attention of many YA readers and my question is this: Why? I know I'm probably inviting insults by saying this, but I just missed the point. Time moved momentously slowly.As a fan of Starcrossed but not such a fan of Dreamless and Goddess, I had middle of the road expectations for Angelini's newest addition. The blurb sounded good, and I knew she could write gripping storylines with a twist so I was excited. Now, after trawling through a book in which every page felt like a horrible shift at work, I feel relieved it's over and saddened to admit I almost gave up.The plot itself is actually fantastic and the reason for my two stars. What a brilliant idea, or bunch of ideas really. Multiple universes? Check. Intelligent leading characters? Check. Fantastical, archaic worlds of magic and treachery. Check, check, check.So let's start with the characters. Lily Proctor is an allergy ridden, allegedly intelligent school girl with a mum with mental health problems and a beautiful sister. Everything smells of roses. Especially her gorgeous half best friend, half unlabelled boyfriend Tristan - and he's finally asked her to go with him to a party instead of keeping things low key and secretive. Now at this point all of you must be thinking, I bet he's a jerk. And you'd be right. Very typically leading girl crushes on a jerk, throws herself at him and gets hurt. This is all rubbish for our leading lady but great for us because it sends Lily's world crashing down (yep, it's really that cringy and desperate) and opens another dimension entirely for us. Literally.Lily is infuriating within the first few chapters. She's a class A sap, obsessing over a boy and frankly over her very ridiculous, annoying problems. For example at one point she points out that she feels too pale for current fashion and annoyingly thin but 'even she was aware that she had a great face'. Yes. It must be terrible to effectively be a supermodel. So it's fair to say Lily doesn't win us over to begin with. Nor does pompous, player Tristan who I can easily say is the most awful book crush I've had presented to me in years. This was to the point that at one stage it was almost comical how uncomfortably pathetic Lily was around an uncomfortably arrogant Tristan that I began to question if Angelini did it on purpose to rile us up. I still don't know.Despite this rant, there were some clever ideas as I mentioned earlier. Lily is essentially brought into another dimension by another version of herself, albeit seemingly an evil version, for reasons unknown to us. Within this dimension there are hybrid creatures with a pretty cool explanation, mechanics (semi magical people destined to aid the witches) and willstones - these are really interesting so I won't go into this. These ideas were fantastic and the reason for my perseverance to be honest.Something else I really enjoyed was Angelini's representation of mental health and the root cause for one of the characters affected within this book. It was a unique spin on things and I'd like to have seen more development of this. I also loved the comparison that were especially well made between good and evil throughout using Lillian (not Lily). It was great to begin to question what makes Lillian evil, what posesses her to act how she does and if she can really be so evil when she does a lot of compassionate things for her family.Lily perked up for me towards the end, but I couldn't forgive how utterly irritating she was to begin with and I just couldn't connect with any of the additional characters in the alternate universe. There was so much science type information dumped in throughout that I felt like the story ran off on it's own and I lost track of it.Ultimately I think this genuinely had the makings of a fantastic series. A couple of the concepts are fabulous and I can't knock Angelini's talent, I just wish she'd had less silly characters and interactions between them and more world/story building. A shame, because despite my rant I really do think some readers will be hooked by the interesting ideas and I think she may lose a lot of readers because of the poor presentation of them - I just can't face reading the second Installment.

Every man, woman, and their dog seems to be loving this book lately so I was pretty excited to read it. Unfortunately we hit it off pretty bad, me and Trial By Fire. The characters in the first few chapters were despicable, insufferable, and downright unlikeable. The story was disinteresting, and the setting didn't grip me one but. But I'm happy to say ALL of that changed when Lily went to the other world.The other world was imaginative, well built, and an amalgamation of the typical old medieval style fantasy and new world technology. I LOVED how the world was explained, how it sprang into being ruled by witches and magic when the Salem witches were burned, not hung. I liked a lot of things about this book, mostly the story and the setting and the magic. The magic was so creative and felt new and old school at the same time. I really enjoyed the blend of new and old in this book.The characters stayed pretty iffy with me though. While I grew to like Lily because of her bravery and guts, I never warmed to Tristan. And my relationship with Rowan was about as complicated as they came - one minute I was starting to like him, the next I aggressively hated him. I kept flipping between the two, like and hate, every few chapters. It was irritating but I have a feeling I'll eventually settle into liking him. Caleb was really the only character I started off and ended up liking.All in all Trial By Fire was a great new take on the witch lore, with a unique story and an imaginative world, but I must say I think I'll like book two in this series much more than I like this one. I'm looking forward to book two and the continuation of Lily's story.