Trial by Fire

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.

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.

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!!

Trial By Fire Author: Josephine Angelini Paperback Edition I read this book twice before writing my review. What a great book. The action takes off from the very beginning, and continues until the end. This book is so full of action and adventure, love and romance, and great characters, that you won’t be able to put it down, in my opinion. Universe travel, Witches, super hot guys; what more can a girl ask for? Plot- Lily is a sick person in our world. She is deceived into leaving our version of Earth behind for another version, by her own alternate self from the other universe. She is mistakenly assumed to be her evil alternate self by the rebels. She finally convinces the rebels that she is not her evil alternate self, but then they want her to help them. She finally agrees, so they will help her get back to her world, and her family. They train her as a witch to help them defeat her evil alternate self from this universe. Then come the cute guys, and the story gets more complicated from there, as she starts to have feelings for one of the hot guys. Likes- The story line is new and fresh. There are not a lot of books out there with female protagonists who jump universes. The world building is great, as are the characters. Lily- Lily is great. She is sick in our world, but a heroic witch in theirs. She is caring, compassionate, and believes in right and wrong in both worlds. She will die for her beliefs, if that is what it takes. She grows from a sick teen to a force to reckoned with, as she discovers her powers, and her feelings for Rowan. Lillian- Lillian is a great villain. I love great villains. She also believes that what she is doing is right, which makes her a villain to both love and hate. She has a great story behind her, and if you read the Lillian letters at the end of the book it explains some of the mystery. Rowan- There is so much to say about Rowan. Rowan is the love interest of both Lily and Lillian, which makes him an essential part of the story. He once loved Lillian, but now he loves Lilly. He is so caring and protective of those he cares about, that you just can’t help but adore him. His relationship with Lily is complex, as she looks like his old love Lillian. As their relationship grows, he starts to become worried that she will die, and break his heart, because he truly loves her, and doesn’t want to give her up for anyone or anything. Tristan- Tristan is a secondary character, but still a great character. There is a Tristan in both worlds. He is kind of an offensive character, as he is a player. The Tristan in Lily’s world broke her heart. The Tristan in the new world becomes her friend, but she is careful around him, as her other Tristan was also her friend. Caleb- Caleb is also a secondary character, but he is sweet. I do wish that there was more of him in the book. Dislikes- Cliffhanger. I dislike cliffhangers a lot. Even though I’m not sure how I would have ended this book to make way for the next, I do not feel any book should end in a cliffhanger. I usually have a feeling about how I would end a book after reading it, and finding a cliffhanger, but I have no idea with this one, yet. That is was not a longer book. I could have read this story for many days, and not have put it down. I would say this book is close to perfect, in my opinion. I look forward to reading the next one.

This was a great read. I loved the characters and original story line. However I was annoyed by the fact that most of the major plot questions in the story are left unanswered. Why did Lillian bring Lily to this world? Why did she choose her and what does she want her to do. Why did Lillian turn "evil". What did she see in the other parallel worlds? Also, it seemed to me Like Rowan only liked Lily because she reminded him of Lillian before she went bad. Not Lily as her own person. I know that sounds like a lot of complaints but don't let that stop you. I really enjoyed this book even though I kept turning the page hoping for an answer that never came.

TRIAL BY FIRE is a riveting, action-packed first book in a series that looks to be every bit as amazing. Set in an alternate world to our own, one with only a few similarities, a world of magic, where witches are in control, and where life outside the Thirteen Cities is extremely dangerous, this story will captivate from the moment Lily Proctor arrives in this Salem of covens, Outlanders, shamans and the Woven. When Lily Proctor wished she could be anywhere but in her life, she never imagined it was a possibility. Plagued by afflictions her doctors could never diagnose that left her unable to do almost anything fun, stuck in a town that judged her based on her crazy mother, and virtually abandoned by her father so that she and her sister Juliet were left to pick up the pieces, Lily already wanted things to be different. But when her best friend, Tristan, the boy she hoped was finally going to be more than just a friend, betrayed and humiliated her, it was the last straw. She wanted out of her life. She just didn’t think it could happen. Or that there was an alternate version of her world, one where she wasn’t sick but instead powerful and feared, that she would be summoned to. A world where she would have to fight for her survival, fight for her beliefs, fight to save those she has come to care about, and fight to find a way to get back home. Josephine Angelini created a story that is fast-paced, exciting and imaginative. She created characters that readers will immediately adore or detest. She created a world that blends the past, the present and the fictional in a way that will make readers anxious to explore it. She filled it with deadly battles, daring rescues, harrowing escapes, nightmarish creatures, intriguing magic, a hint of romance, a touch of heat, and an ending that will make waiting for the sequel torturous. Thrilling and absolutely spellbinding, TRIAL BY FIRE is a must for readers who love stories that are epic, who prefer to be transported to different and fantastical worlds, who are fascinated by magical abilities, who want characters they can root for, and who love the promise of something awesome in future books in a series.

This was not bad , but not elegant either. When I finished the book I noticed that it didn't get to me at all. I expected to come out totally awestruck and amazed. Instead guess what I felt? Disappointment and regret that I wasted my precious time. I felt the book was missing five key elements of writing that most authors include to make a book a hit. First, the development of book characters was missing. I felt this book's characters were incredibly underdeveloped. First Rowen has the typical perfect characteristics. That wasn't a problem, but when I figured his other traits, I disliked him. He was very mysterious and not the intriguing type. I am talking about unreal and very untrustworthy kind. I don't know how Lily could trust him at all , let alone be friends with him. Second, the book had Redone done plot and very few originality. Maybe I am just a picky reader or this author needs a better plotline. When Lily was explaining things about earth, I don't think the boys asked common questions. It was like they were listening,but not understanding. Fourth, please more humor! It wasn't the kind of book that made me double over in laughter, instead it was steady easy going. This can be a good thing, but I didn't like it in this case. Lastly, it didn't keep me interested the whole way through. It wasn't the kind of book I woke up thinking about. It was exceptional, but not amazing. Though I like how she tried to keep the book slow paced. If you're looking for fantastic books try the ones below. They're in order from best to worst. The selection by Keira cass The beyonders The falling kingdoms by Morgan rhode

This book is clearly a labor of love for Josephine Angelina. She poured her heart and soul into bringing Lily Proctor to life with the natural stinginess of a great story teller, revealing the complexity of the world she is bringing us into one layer at a time and finally bringing the reader back into our world. She has created a wondrous parallel universe where the magic of witches became dominant and science is the dream of the downtrodden who don't have magic, as opposed to our world where science became dominant and magic exists largely in the minds of writers like Angelina. The story is full of adventure, violence, suspense, and magical ideas that somehow fit with science. In this book, Angelini introduced many innovative concepts that captured my imagination. For example, she introduced the concept that witches draw energy and matter from the surrounding environment and transform them into biological energy and products to treat diseases, a social structure where witches form bonds with magically talented "mechanics" who implement their magic, and a world where biological solutions such as bioluminescent trees and cultured leather provide light and clothing without pollution. But perhaps the most impressive aspect of this book is the care the author took to build complicated and memorable characters who are weak and strong, cowardly and brave, selfish and altruistic. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.

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.