Review: Amazing story, very engaging
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 23, 2014
I picked this up when it was listed for free because I really liked the cover.  I didn't read the description of it.  I just liked the cover.  I will say that I have never heard of, or read any of Mr. Hale's previous works so some of the references in this book were kind of over my head at times.  However, with that being said, I really thoroughly enjoyed the world he created.  At first I was half expecting a few Hogwart's references to come popping out and slapping me in the face (no offense to the author), but once I understood where he was going in his world and the magics involved in it, any similarities to anything else ended.I don't know if it's because I haven't read any of his previous works or not, but Hawk confused me most of the time.  I never really knew if he was the good guy or the bad guy.  If he was sane or completely nuts.  What his purpose was exactly in the life of Tess, the main character?  Near as I could tell he was just some random guy that just showed up, saved her life, had her lie to her parents, took her to world outside of anything she's ever known, and pretty much went "Ok here you go, learn it cause you're important, bye!"Tess I would have a hard time describing.  She does kind of grow on you though.  At first she's this typical teenager.  Typical teenage problems.  Centered in that whole "me" world they tend to get involved in at times.  I did love her parents though.  Especially the things her father would do whenever she would "get in trouble" at school for standing up for things that were right, even if she did so in a rather aggressive way.  Her solid childhood will play an important role later in what she is meant to become.  It's endearing how although she behaves like a typical teenager sometimes, she also has that very solid "this is right, this is wrong, this is important, this is not" thought pattern and she doesn't like lying to her parents.  I liked that about her.  I liked the dynamic of her.  Scared, confident, angry, smart, clueless, but also rational.However, she is not my favorite character.  No, that honor goes to her roommate, Iris.  I adore Iris.  Everything about her is so sweet and loveable! She's charming, she's spastic, she tries so hard to focus, and she is so indescribable sometimes that the only way to describe her is just to go "It's just Iris".  As a techno mage, her focus is always on a million things at once.  No matter how hard she tries to just be in one place at one time, it's impossible.  You can't help but love her.  She's brilliant and amazing.Overall, it is definitely a book series I would recommend.  It's a bit fast paced, sometimes you're left wondering how you got from one point to the next, but the important things are always explained.  Other things that you wish were explained in more detail aren't (they're probably in the other books I haven't read - like the histories they talk about), but anything pertinent to the ongoing storyline is so you can keep up.  There are also a few surprises as well.  It's quite an enjoyable read.  I can't wait to grab the third one as soon as it comes out.