This was our October Book Club pick. Definitely not something I think I would have picked up on my own - not really into young adult fantasy right now (although the Alex Stern series might be considered young-ish adult fantasy). Definitely a lot of Harry Potter inspiration here. Magic exists in the real world. A young orphan is plucked from obscurity by a magical society to train magicians because he is the “Chosen One.”
Overall, too derivative to enjoy on it’s own merits. Too many subplots and ongoing narratives that weren’t tied up tight. The main enjoyable story line with the love story. I audibly gasped when the main antagonist declared who his love interest was. I think the book would have actually been better if the focus was on that love story instead of the all of the other things going on.
Not going to continue reading this series. Just not into this one.