Confessions of a Librarian-In-Training

This is my second post, and I hope it helps you guys out.  

 The Warrior Heir by Cinda Chima

I cannot praise this book enough.  It is the first installment of a trilogy.  However, from what I understand, the companion book (The Wizard Heir) is only loosely based on the specifics of the first (except the general world rules) until the end of it.  All I can say is the second book has alot to live up to.  Sixteen year old Jack is everyday and ordinary, until the day he forgets to take his heart medicine and finds himself opened up to the world in which he was born by magically making the jerk-wad of school fly into a soccer net.  We are then introduced to the world hiding behind our world where wizards rule over guilds of warriors, sorcerers, and enchanters and carry out deadly competitions between the two main factions of the wizard guild--the Red Rose and the White Rose.  The book does play off the War of the Roses (English Civil War), saying it was actually the wizarding guild having a massive open war amongst themselves.  The book itself does a great deal with English history, and creates an elaborate hidden world with giant flaming swords and charms.  There are action-packed thrills around every corner and I ended up keep on reading this book so long that I was late for work and one evening stayed up until 5am (yes--it was that good).  I honestly cannot wait to get the Wizard Heir.  In fact, it is all I can think about right now.  We really begin to learn about all the intrigues within this magic world as well with the warring guilds, rebel members, and how downtrodden the other groups can get.  The magic part is great, don't get me wrong, but it is the people part that really is great.  I care about Jack and his friends and family.  The way Chima makes you care about the characters involves really makes this book because without it the story would just be another random novel about a teenager with magical powers.  Also, the twist at the end really makes you thirst for the next one...so don't stop half way!  Another point, you can't just flip to the end of the book like some stories.  You must read it all the way through in order to understand.  Please, please do NOT jump around.  It will completely ruin it.  But DO get this book immediately!  ENJOY!