Book Review: Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

Goodreads Summary:

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily’s other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can’t hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

Review:

Seductive. That is the only word you can really use to describe this book. I had received an ARC in a gift box from another blogger and at first it didn’t seem like my type of book, but then Kayla raved so much about it I said heck I’ll try it.

Let’s start off with ROWAN. Dear Lord that man will be the death of me. Why the heck does he not exist?! Seriously. I absolutely loved that there weren’t any sexy time or heavy make out sessions because that just made the sexual/romantic tension between Lily and Rowan more intense and that is one of the many reasons why it is seductive. Gosh. It gives me chills.

Something I found really interesting was the concept that what makes you weak in one world, makes you the most powerful person in another. The message sent across to us the reader is that our weakness can also be our strength. The way we receive the message is rather ingenious by putting Lily into Lillian’s world.

I need to give Ms. Angelini a virtual *high five* because the world building was done very well. It wasn’t hard for me to understand what was going on and the way everything was described and explained just made the story a whole lot more enjoyable. I love it when we learn about a new world along with the main character. I feel like it gives us a fuller experience as opposed other ways authors use to do their world building.

For a first book in a series Trial by Fire is a great beginning to this thrilling ride that awaits us. The blurb on the cover describes it completely. Worlds Collide. Magic Reigns. Love Burns. 

Rating: 5 out of freaking 5