Posted by Lauren in Book Reviews, Fantasy, Featured | 10 Comments
Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch
Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch
Publisher: Scholastic
Release date: October 1, 2012
Pages: 320
Summary: Glenn’s father finally finishes the project he’s been working on for ages when he is arrested by government officials. Glenn is left with the finished product, a bracelet with a glowing red jewel. The bracelet allows Glenn to cross the rift between her world and the world that exists beyond the forest. It is also a piece of technology that the rulers of both worlds would kill to possess.
My thoughts: This is going to be a bit of an odd review, because although I consider Magisterium to be a good novel, I didn’t enjoy it in the slightest.
Let’s break it down:
Magisterium is intensely creative; the concept of two worlds bound by different rules of nature/physics is brilliant. This is an idea that makes a whole bunch of sense, and yet it something I never would have come up with on my own. Jeff Hirsch has a great mind, I can tell.
Magisterium is very fast paced, making for a book that can be read in one sitting. The suspense is there, and so is the action.
And yet…
I never found myself caring. I’m not sure why. Part of it could be the third person narration, which doesn’t allow for us to really connect with any of the characters. Part of it could be the quickness of the story, which never stops for the reader to absorb and appreciate the details.
For all intents and purposes, I should have enjoyed Magisterium, because I love Jeff Hirsch’s concept, and because I think the story is fleshed out nicely. But somehow, I just couldn’t bring myself to connect—I read Magisterium with vague attentiveness, skimming the pages.
In Summation
A fantastic overall concept
+ lackluster characters
+ a lack of ability to grasp the reader
= Magisterium, a so-so read.
2.5/5 stars
For those who like: fantasy, adventure
Find the author at jeff-hirsch.com
Comment question: What’s the last book you just couldn’t get into?
I had a problem liking Mia in If I Stay. Everyone loves that book, relates to her, find it a tearjerker, but I never really liked her much. I much preferred Adam, and I much preferred Where She Went. That’s a story I totally connected with because Adam’s voice is so unique, his feelings so raw, and I completely understood him.
Oh bummer! I hate when that happens. I had the same thing happen to me when I read “Immortal Rules” by Julie Kagawa which many people loved. I just didn’t see anything new with her characters and there were a lot of slow points in the story where nothing really happened. I ended up getting really frustrated and skimming large chunks of it.
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This one sounded like it had a lot of potential to be awesome. I hate when I can’t get into a book. I also have a hard time with 3rd person writing and it’s hard for me to connect.
The last book I read that I couldn’t get into (and dude, I tried for days and read about half of it) was Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. I really thought the story was great, but it was agonizingly slow and I didn’t care for the characters much so it was hard to force myself to try to keep reading.
Amy @ Book Loving Mom recently posted..Blog Tour: Crash by Nicole Williams Review and Giveaway
To bad you didn’t like this one over all Lauren :(
The last book I could not get into was Stay by Deb Caletti. I had just read the Duff and I wanted to read another contemporary but it just could not get into it at the time. I might try it again another day.
Wonderful review, Lauren! Often times, I have trouble with certain books too where the book seems to have all the necessary components, but I just can’t get into it, so I completely understand the predicament you faced with this one. I love the sound of the world Hirsch has created though, so while I doubt I’ll be jumping up and down to buy this one, I might check it out from my library when it releases.
Concerning your comment question, I think the last book I just couldn’t get into has to be Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh. I loved Nevermore and while Enshadowed was very well-written, it bored me and it’s “on hold” for me as of now, so I still have to finish it. Defiance was another novel everyone but me seemed to love as I couldn’t summon up any feeling for the characters whatsoever. Perhaps the sequel will work out for me more…we’ll see!
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MAGISTERIUM looks like it should be amazing. Such a shame.
There have been quite a few book lately that I could not get into. The most recent being Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans. I think I need to switch up genres for a while.
The last book that I could just not get into was Fever (Chemical Garden Series #2) by Lauren DeStefano. The book dragged for my, nothing significant had happened to peak my interest, and I could not bring myself to finish it!
Aw, wow, I think this might be the first negative review I’ve read of yours! The last book….Easy by Tamarra Webber. I have yet to finish this book but I can’t stand it in the least!
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i hate it when i should like a book but just can’t connect with the characters. for me, that’s the death toll of any book, movie, etc. i don’t have to like you but if i don’t care about what happens to you, then there’s not much point in continuing.
i do have this one at home though so i am going to give it a go. hopefully i will be more into it then you were. thanks for the honest review, lauren!
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I feel like lately I just cant get into any book, and I am taking so long to read any book I pick up. I do think that this is partially due to school. But still I want to find a book I really love!
I am reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy right know and I just can not get into it. I dont hate it or anything just dont find it that interesting.