The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Publisher's Summary - 
From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.

Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .

From the remarkable imaginations of bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a heart-stopping, mind-blowing, pulse-pounding plunge into the magical unknown.

Review - (4 stars) When I saw there was a book written by BOTH Holly Black (author of Doll Bones and co-author for the Spiderwick Chronicles) and Cassandra Clare (author of The Mortal Instruments series) I was intrigued! Who wouldn't be!? Both authors have amazing reputations for fantasy for middle and high school fantasy. The Iron Trials, book one in the Magisterium series was an sure to get any fantasy fiction enthusiasts attention. 

I agree with the reviews who are saying there are similarities for the Harry Potter series. The three main characters include Callum who is unaware of his famous magical past, Aaron who epitomizes the hero figure and Tamara the ultra bright, slightly snobbish type (yes, two boys and one girl). They are sorted into groups to be led by a magician in the ways of magic. They find there is an ultimate evil magician they must defeat eventually.  The book series is definitely geared towards lower to middle grade students. 

But given there are similarities between the Rowling's famous trios and Black/Clare's group of fledgling magicians; it seems there are enough differences in the story line to "get over" the comparisons. 

The length of the book is good for a "quick read", there is plenty of action and suspense and the characters are a nice mix of personalities to keep the readers interested. Perhaps the similarities to the Harry Potter series is just what the story needs to help kids open the book to a new series. Personally, I liked the book and can't wait to read the next in the series, "The Copper Gauntlet" due out September 2015.