Saw him at a book fair This is Teen discussion panel. It was hard to decide which one to come home with. But a choice was made and I look forward to reading it.
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I spent the first 3/4th of the book frustrated. I think I needed more hand holding regarding who was fighting and why. I didn't know who to root for. Perhaps that was the author's intention but I didn't enjoy the confusion. I don't understand the alt-reality, I don't understand the purpose of the Magister. Why she has affinities and the common people on her side of the border don't, why is she so special? There are magical beings and normal beings on her side but only normal people on the other side? Why do the normal people want to invade the other side... I could go on and on. The last fifth of the book I finally appreciated the author's abilities but I am not the right audience for his writing style. ( )

Wrote a whole review and then accidentally clicked on one of the shelf tags and lost everything.

Anyway, this was shallow and annoying. The main character was a spoiled princess" and extremely stupid to boot.

Nothing she did made sense to me, nor her reasons for those actions [or lack of reasons to be honest].

Obligatory "boy" who was more cardboard than anything. Some protector who manages to be both bad ass and all kind and gentle and fuzzy. Yeah.

Will not be reading any more by this author.

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Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch is a somewhat average YA fantasy novel with a great cover. The artwork on the cover alone is enough to sell the book. The book has a good premise but doesn't quite deliver in the plotting and storytelling part. There is a great supporting cast but the main character is not that sympathetic which makes it hard to stay interested in the novel. On-the-other-hand, this is one of the few age appropriate YA novels I have read in the last year. For that alone, the author deserves some praise. The reader does a good job with the narration. If you are looking for something to entertain the kids in the car this will fit the bill. It won't be the best novel they have heard, but it is passable. ( )

Back in September, I went to Austin Teen Book Festival. Jeff Hirsch was the moderator for a panel. He spoke a little about his book, and I thought it sounded interesting. But I mostly purchased this book based on the cover. It is beautiful and creepy all at the same time. So, of course I had to get it.

The storyline was unique. The book brings together technology and fantasy. I didn't think it could be done, but Hirsch pulled it off nicely.

I didn't connect well with the main character, Glenn. She's whiney, and refuses to believe other possibilities when they are right in front of her face. She's irrational. She does what's best for her and doesn't think about anything or anyone else. The supporting characters were more likeable than Glenn. I just feel like she didn't have much depth.

I felt like the events were rushed, and I was left with a lot of questions. Some of the magical elements weren't explained very well, and that frustrated me beyond belief.

The way the book ended it could be a standalone or series. I'd love to learn more about the Magisterium and get a grasp on the inhabitants.

If you're looking for something different, or a big Fantasy fan, you might enjoy this. ( )

There is a good concept within this book, but the execution of the story was lackluster and boring. This book started and ended in a not so distant version of our world, which I appreciated. Glenn was introduced as a smart and driven girl, but I never got to know that girl. Glenn’s father makes a scientific breakthrough and Glenn and Kevin travel to the Magisterium for most of the book in a search for answers regarding her mother’s disappearance. The Magisterium for me was an ill-conceived, dull, soupy, mess. I had a hard time understanding the character relationships, where the magical powers ultimately came from, and why I should care what happens to the characters that are at war with each other. Overall, the world-building and backstory was hollow, which left me underwhelmed. I read the author’s other book, The Eleventh Plague, which I enjoyed. I feel like fantasy/science fiction is a genre he may not be as comfortable writing about.

The audio version was decent. The transitions between scenes and characters occasionally blended together, which may have been easier to comprehend in print. ☊ ★★★★☆
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