Magisterium was not quite like any book I’ve read before. Part futuristic dystopia, part dreamlike fantasy, this story weaves together a number of disparate elements into one intriguing whole. Reading Magisterium felt a little bit like being in an odd dream, where I could never quite predict what might happen next and curious things were waiting around every corner. Although in the end I wished that some things about the story had been more fleshed out, and there were times when the pacing of the novel seemed uneven, on the whole, Magisterium was a book I’ll probably be thinking about for a while! Recommended for teens and adults who like thought-provoking, unique stories that don’t quite conform to the parameters you might expect.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  ***

Violence/Gore: In an extended scene that goes on for more than 10 pages, teens are chased and shot at; one teen is shot and wounded, while one of their attackers is killed. A minor character shows signs of having been beaten. Characters witness a brief murder. A story is told of boy soldiers being hung as prisoners of war. A character is threatened with a knife. A character is killed by a magical monster. A girl commits suicide. A character finds a man who has been murdered. A group of characters come upon the scene of a previous battle, including casualties. A magical battle takes place. A man is hanged. A girl is threatened with a knife. A character is killed; blood is described (the scene takes about 3/4 of a page). Men are killed by magic. A woman is shot by an arrow; blood is described briefly. A character sees an army attacking villages in a vision. A fantasy war is fought (several pages). A girl falls and breaks bones. A man is murdered by magic.

Sex/Nudity: Characters kiss, embrace, and are attracted to each other. A magical creature transforms into a human and is briefly nude.

Mature Subject Matter:

Corrupt government, dealing with the enticement of power, making hard decisions.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

***