Review: Trial by Fire

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

This book had a great beginning. It sucked me right in and I loved it. I thought it was very awesome and, as I was planning to write in my review, supremely cool.

In fact, upto about halfway through, I couldn't see a single thing that was wrong with it. I mean it missed a bit of a spark, the one that makes you fangirl, but that wasn't exactly a flaw.

It was after that point that I noticed some things that the book lacked. Mainly, emotional depth. All the emotional scenes fell a bit flat for me and, consequesntly, so did the romance. I still love Lily and Rowan and want them to be alive and together, but it's mostly just because I love them both than because of their chemistry.

I know they have chemistry but it just doesn't show because it's not executed well. The most emotional scene for me was Rowan's dad's dead scene and even that wasn't very good.

There were also times when things were a bit too convenient. Lily learnt too fast and because so strong so quick that I had trouble buying it.

The ending saved it though. It was unexpected and very good, even if the scene itself was hurried. I wish there was more of a grand-ness to it and the other big, important parts.

But other than that, I loved the book, especially the use of science in it, and I am very eager to get to the next one (which I can't right now because I'm trying to follow my TBR schedule and because I'm stupid).

This was a very good book and I certainly recommend it. The storyline is great and so are the characters and it is, overall, a great read, despite some flaws.

P.S. Lillian is an evil, self-righteous psychopath. In fact, you'll be surprised by the amount of self-righteous people in this book. Everyone thinks what they're doing is for the greater good. Except Gideon, who's a selfish asshole (a selfish asshole that I actually liked. As a villain, of course), and Carrick, who's just pathetic.

4 Needs-more-emotion Stars