When two authors team up to write a novel it can sometimes read as disjointed and discombobulating. With this in mind it was with some trepidation that I approached the novel The Iron Trial –Book 1 in the Magisterium series by the dynamic duo, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black.
Let me first state that this is a preview as I have only read the prologue and first chapter. Why write this? I was excited that Clare was taking on the middle school genre, but I was a little nervous as EVERYONE points out the synopsis reads a little like a Harry Potter rip-off. So while waiting for my review copy (come on Random House pull your finger out, ha-ha no honestly love you guys, but I may drop over to Netgalley if it takes any longer)
Here are my thoughts so far.
The Prologue was interesting, yet jumpy.
The first chapter was engaging, well written and had me wanting more.
This brings me back to the point of this post. Can two authors successfully write as one voice? What I’ve read of The Iron Trial has me assuming Black wrote the prologue and Clare wrote the first chapter. If the rest of the novel is written in tag team fashion then cohesion will be its first victim. I have read other novels with duel authors and the result is a loss in continuity and flow. Sometimes the changeover in author is as obvious as a line in the sand.
What do my readers think of duel (Yes, duel not dual, as it can be a battle) writers?
bookgirl 
The only writing team I have read is Ilona Andrews, and I love them 🙂 It’s quote seamless. They are married though. I don’t know how these two would work this! I love them both, though.
I know Black and Clare have shared an office space for years, so maybe that’s like being married. Haha. The results will speak for themselves , we’ll just have to wait and see.
I’m trying to think but I don’t think I have read a book yet with duel authors, none come to mind anyway. But I am really excited to read The Iron Trial and hoping that it will turn out to be amazing.
fingers crossed 🙂
I’ve read some that I’ve loved like Ilona Andrews, Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia, and others, not so much, such as P.C. & Kristen Cast, and James Patterson and his many co-authors. I am interested in this one though. I hope it works as I’m a big fan of both authors.
Me too, I hope it’s a new series I can get into. Agreed the James Patterson ones are not good.
Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings wrote the WICKED! series in 1998. It has been a while since I read them, but I remember being really impressed with how it was done.
Excellent example, thanks for sharing 🙂
I don’t believe I have read anything that was written by two authors and my first reaction would be similar to your own, with the added proviso that personally I would never contemplate it. I believe, however, that Terry Pratchett may have been involved in one or two co-operations, though I can’t imagine he shared the actual penning of the works…
I have the whole book now and it’s reading ok, but still at times I an sense the joins.
At book signing Jenkins & LaHaye told me how they make it work; LaHayeDoes the research, Jenkins the writing.
That’s a good pairing. A well known author I know hired seven researchers for his books. No credit though.