The Bronze Key (Magesterium bk 3)

by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
PRMS hardcover 249 pages
genre: YA fantasy

I didn't like this one as well as the first two. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the scene at the end was disappointing (and of course, now I have to read the next book to see . . . )

Alex Strike
Anastasia Tarquin
romance
spy
betrayal

The summer experience for Aaron staying with Call and his dad was such a contrast with the previous summer when Aaron stayed with Tamara.

The scene where the kids talk to the elementals raised more questions than ever. I'll probably keep reading this series, but I did not enjoy this venture quite as much.

The Copper Gauntlet

by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
PRMS hardcover 284 pages
genre: YA fantasy,  magic

Callum assumes the worst when he and his father have a falling out. Call, Aaron, Tamara, and Havoc go out on a self-determined mission but gain Jasper as an unlikely member of their team. Call's ability to communicate with the Chaos-filled humans both scares him and empowers him. A quick, rollicking adventure with a happy ending and notes of caution for what will come next.

The Iron Trial

by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Carver County Library paperback 295 pages
genre: YA fantasy, magic

I enjoyed this far more than I anticipated! Neither of these authors are ones I especially like and the cover looks creepy, but I was pleasantly surprised. Callum "Call" Hunt has grown up with a damaged leg, a pronounced lip, and a sassy mouth. His mother died when he was just an infant and his father has always bad-mouthed the mages and the Magesterium. But when Call is summoned to the Iron Trial and strives to fail the tests, he is accepted by Master Rufus, the same man who trained his parents in the use of magic.

Lots of adventure, mystery, and some lovely coming-of-age moments. Tamara, Aaron, Jasper, Celia, and of course the evil minions and Chaos-ridden creatures all make this an intriguing story. I read book two last night and will have book three done before I go back to school on Monday. When my book club meets to discuss this title, I'll be ready to recommend the rest of the series!

Medicine in the Industrial World

by John D. Clare
part of the "The History of Medicine" series
PRMS hardcover 62 pages
genre: non-fiction

I initially picked this up after I checked out my Florence Nightingale book to a student and wanted an example for doing bibliographies. Then I checked it out because I was curious. Some of it was super interesting. Some was familiar info. Some stuff bugged me, like the author basically saying Nightingale was a "creation of the newspapers." Wow. He completely dissed her contributions in the field of medicine.

City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare
book one in The Mortal Instruments
Becky C loaned it to me, hardcover, 485 pages

Hmmm. This one didn't do it for me. I'm a bit surprised that it's a "New York Times Bestseller" - wonder if that happened before or after Stephenie Meyer endorsed it as a "story world I love to live in." It has some interesting characters and scenes, but I found it to be too dark. The romance angle was also disappointing (spoiler alert!) . . . when the sparks between Jace and Clary fizzle upon their learning that they are actually siblings. I don't even want to read the rest of the series to find out what happens. The scene in the church was most disappointing to me. Jace's abrupt change of allegiances in the final scene with Valentine put the nail in the coffin, so to speak. I'm glad Becky has found a series that she loves, but I don't share the love!