The Iron Trial, by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Holly Black and Cassandra Clare are both great writers, but when they team up they create something fantastic. The Iron Trial, is the first book in their Magisterium series and I was blown away when I read it. I loved that the main character, Callum, didn’t want anything to do with magic. He tried so very hard to fail the tests that would grant him entry to the Magisterium, that when he was accepted I felt just as scared and angry as he was. Many fantastical stories have a main character that loves their new world and their role in it, at least at first. But Callum always hated the idea of magic and didn’t want to take his place in that world. This is a very refreshing take on traditional fantasy.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loved the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series. The Iron Trial has a lot of the same elements, but with twists that you won’t see coming and that will keep you interested enough to finish the book in record time.

-Reviewed by Dani

A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones is the first book in the series. I love this novel because it always had me wanting to read more and not wanting to put the book down. The author describes the scenario so clearly that it almost feels as if you were there. The characters' feelings and thoughts are described so thoroughly it makes them seem lifelike. A Game of Thrones is a science fiction book which also includes the political system of lords and lordships. I highly recommend this book to those of you who have liked the books in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series by Rick Riordan, and the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and the book Eragon by Christopher Paolini . -Reviewed by Olivia

Never Ever Getting Back Together, by Sophie Gonzales

. Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales is a near perfect novel. It’s off to an amazing start right from the title, extrapolated from a song by Taylor Swift, the mother of modern romance. The story is told from alternating points of view, featuring two women competing against each other on a reality dating show, where the prize is their mutual ex. The only problem: while one of them is still head-over-heels in love, the other is plotting to take down the man that cheated on her and broke her heart. As the competition progresses, truths are revealed and unexpected relationships are established right up until the ending. While a little predictable, Never Ever Getting Back Together is a feel-good celebration of queer love, reality TV...

Life As We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life As We Knew It is a fictional diary about a 16-year-old girl named Miranda who lived in Pennsylvania. When she first heard warnings about an asteroid hitting the moon, she easily dismisses them, just like everyone else. But when a fatal event causes the moon to knock closer into orbit, altering Earth’s climate, Miranda’s life drastically changes. Grocery stores run out of food, gas prices go up, and everything else is completely closed. Miranda witnesses catastrophes like mass tsunamis, weather changes, and more, all while writing in a diary almost every day. She writes about struggles between her family, friends, and how hard it is to survive. But just as everyone may seem to get used to this apocalyptic world, another catastrophe happens completely sending life out of control once more. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy science fiction or apocalyptic books. -Reviewed by Vivienne

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