Dystopian Review: Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

Magisterium
by Jeff Hirsch

Description:
On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.

Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea of what might be on the other side of it. Glenn's only friend, Kevin, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn't for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality: Glenn's mother disappeared when she was six, and soon after, she lost her scientist father to his all-consuming work on the mysterious Project. Glenn buries herself in her studies and dreams about the day she can escape. But when her father's work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that will send Glenn and Kevin on the run---with only one place to go.

With MAGISTERIUM, Jeff Hirsch brings us the story of a complex, captivating world that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.


My Review:
Magisterium is a rather odd blend of fantasy and science fiction. The world is split along a rift between science and magic, and Glenn is a child of both worlds.

This story starts off seeming to point in one direction, then goes somewhere wholly unexpected. The shift in Glenn’s goals is well done, and I must say the conclusion surprised me. The magic and Glenn’s experiments with it are fantastic, coming alive in the mind’s eye.

That being said, I would have liked to see more world building, particularly with regard to the history and cause of the rift, but there is enough there to hold the story together. I’d also liked to have seen just a bit more of the science fiction explained, but this book is focused mostly on the fantasy.

Overall, I really liked this book, which I borrowed as an audiobook from the library. Folks who enjoy fantasy with a touch of sci-fi might like this, but I have a feeling the story might just come off better in audio than in text.


About the Author:

Jeff Hirsch lives in Astoria, New York with his wife who blogs and writes about sewing. They have two cats, but on his various author pages, Jeff is sure to mention his future dog who shall be named Jerry Lee Lewis. He studied both acting and creative writing, and has an MFA in creative writing.

I recommend popping over to both his Goodreads and Amazon profiles to learn more (and see his much more witty versions of this bio). Links below.

Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Profile
Twitter @jeff_hirsch