Time Travel
Once & Future Book Two
Once & Future Review
Written by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
Space Opera, Fantasy, Historical, Retelling, LGBT
368 Pages
Publishing June 16th 2020
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
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★★★★
Once and future collide when Ari, Merlin and the Knights of the Rainbow attempt to steal a magical chalice from Earth's medieval past in order to save humanity's future, irreparably entangling our spaceage heroes with the original King Arthur.Ari plays a risky game of lies and chivalry and Merlin confronts his nemesis, his older self, while all the time they must preserve the time continuum to eventually return to their own future. When the Lady of the Lake interferes, Merlin and Ari realise how much their future has been manipulated by her exquisite machinations of the past. Nin offers a way to release King Arthur's spirit from Ari's body, to end the cruel cycle that keeps them all prisoner and allow them home. But at what cost?This galaxy altering conclusion unravels the dark truth of Merlin's origins and inspires a new hope for the Once & Future universe.
Every generation, the legendary King Arthur is reawakened and for Ari Helix, she's the first female Arthur and destined to become the heroine that previous Arthurs have forsaken. After withstanding the onslaught from the Mercer Corporation, the group of unlikely companions are travelling back to the middle ages, when King Arthur was an adolescent boy courting the effervescent Guinevere in Camelot. It's imperative that the new residents of Camelot adhere to the original tale as they find themselves enacting the roles of Guinevere, the royal knights and Lancelot, King Arthur's champion, in order to pilfer the chalice and ensure that Arthur is placed upon the throne.
Sword in the Stars is a brilliantly diverse and vivacious narrative exploring capitalism and genocide. In the world envisioned by A.R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy, the Arthurian legend blossoms and although Once & Future is a wonderfully entertaining read, Sword of the Stars is a fantastical adventure and superbly written finale. Journeying to the historic Camelot, our characters arrive in the midst of King Arthur courting Guinevere, the young King besotted with Gwen who is fatigued and heavily pregnant. Ari gallantly arrives on horseback, assuming the role of Lancelot, the King's champion and who was rumoured to have romanced Guinevere, befalling the young King and Kingdom. Merlin arrives in Camelot rapidly aging in reverse, he must avoid the senior and forbidding Merlin who exists in this world, Merlin being an advisor to a young Arthur.
Britannia Camelot is a lively and spirited community, intrigued by knight Lamarack. Lamarack is genderfluid, using they / them pronouns and polyamorous. They see the beauty of the Arthurian legend and Camelot and although the Britannia kingdom appears to be conservative, the community are surprisingly accepting and receptive of gender identities and sexuality through their fondness of the treasured Lamarack. Although Lamarack has adapted wonderfully, Jordan is seething and incredibly uncomfortable in her lavish garments. Masquerading as the gallant knight Lancelot and to conceal her gender, Ari binds her breasts.
The Once & Future duology demolishes gender stereotypes and celebrates sexual and gender diversity throughout the narration of own voices authors. Simply superb!
See my review for Trial by Fire
The Worldwalker Trilogy Book Two
Written by Josephine Angelini
Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic
Published September 8th 2015
528 Pages
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia
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★★★★
Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and it's finally time for her and Rowan to be happy and relax. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic for the safety of the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.'You think I'm a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.'Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she's ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian's running out of time.If she can't persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she'll have to find a way to make them come back.
Escaping with only her life and leaving behind a brigade of Claimed Outlanders, Lily has now returned home but is unable to escape Lillian's clutches. With Rowan now in Lily's world, Rowan feels the lure of returning to his own dimension to fight against the injustice of Lillian's tyrannical rule over the thirteen cities. But how can he leave Lily when she's now being hunted in her own world?
Rowan and Lily will need to enlist the services of Lily's friends in Tristan, Breakfast and Una, who are all potential Mechanics and drawn to one another in both dimensions where versions of themselves reside. As Rowan's animosity grows, Lily begins to understand Lillian's motives when the two alternate Witches share memories through Mindspeak. What lead Lillian to eradicate the scientists and why she had sentenced Rowan's father to death.
The more Lily understands, the greater the divide between Lily and Rowan becomes. But when Lily's family is the target of Lillian's henchmen, she soon comes to realise that to keep her loved ones safe, Lily must return to Lillian's dimension and gather her Claimed against the Lady of Salem or risk destroying her world.
The Worldwalker Trilogy Book Three
Written by Josephine Angelini
Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic
Published September 8th 2015
528 Pages
Thank you to Netgalley & Pan Macmillan Australia
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★★★★
Lily Proctor has come a long way from the weak, sickly girl she used to be. She has gained power as a witch and a leader, found her way home, chosen to face battle again, and, after losing her first love and being betrayed by her new love, she has learned more about loss and grief than she ever wanted to know.Lily now has a new potential ally to contend with. Welcomed into the new community of Bower City, Lily begins to mourn all she has lost over their harrowing journey. Slain friends as a result of the Hive while the Outlanders continue to perish at the hands of the Woven. Bower City is wondrous, a city with a sense of community where Claiming is illegal and people live of their own free will. But in Lillian's world, nothing is ever what it seems.
Thrust once again into a society different from anything they have ever seen, Lily and her coven are determined to find answers to find a new path to victory, a way to defeat the monstrous Woven without resorting to nuclear weapons or becoming a tyrannical mass murderer like her alternate self, Lillian. But sometimes winning requires sacrifices... And when the only clear path to victory lies at Lillian's side, what price will Lily be willing to pay?
My Thoughts
The Worldwalker Trilogy was enthralling, a blend of fantasy with a science fiction flourish. Character driven, the series follows the storyline of Lily who was summoned to a world by her namesake, a witch who commands her world with cruelty and genocide. Although Lily has now gained a greater understanding of who Lillian is, it's apparent that the two share little more than namesakes. Both Lily and Lillian were wonderfully written, distinct and refined. In Trial by Fire, the romance between Lily and Rowan felt incredibly awkward, given his connection to Lillian being her former head Mechanic and lover. Firewalker and Witch's Pyre sees the dynamics of their relationship change. Lily continues to engage with Lillian telepathically with Rowan concerned that Lily is being manipulated, when seemingly he also aspires to use the young woman for his own agenda. Against Lillian.
Lily is a relatable and reliable character, deserving of a love interest with charisma and charm. The romance between Lily and Rowan was dubious. Rowan lacks passion and personality, his character felt incredibly rigid and although I do enjoy a stoic love interest, Rowan didn't develop as a character and I couldn't find a sense of who he was apart from being contrived.
I adored Lillian. Lillian was tenacious and ambitious. She posed her own series of ulterior motives, but through Rowan's lack of trust and feeling of deception, she was painted as the villain. I was elated as a reader to see Lily using her own intuition and not allowing herself to be affected by Rowan and his resentment. All too often, the inexperienced protagonist falls victim to the manipulations of her love interest and seeing Lily confront Rowan was a breath of fresh air. Go Lily!
The friendship between Lily and Tristan is strained, but with the introduction of Tristan's best friend Breakfast and his new girlfriend Una, provided a lightness throughout the storyline. Breakfast and Una were enchanting. Breakfast is compassionate and gentle, while Una prepares herself for battle, Rowan shares Lily's true identity with her friends despite her wishes. While Lily's newly found status justifies why they each feel an attraction to protect Lily, I hadn't expected Lily's friends to be accepting or for Rowan to enlist their aide. If you've just been told your formerly frail friend is an influential witch, you would expect a little more disbelief.
What I absolutely adored was the world building throughout the series, so wonderfully vivid. I enjoyed the contrast between Lily and Lillian's worlds, as varied as the two women themselves. Sadly Rowan's Native heritage isn't explored beyond the concept of Spiritwalking, as taught to Lily by a Native Shaman. The romance felt dubious and the relationship between Lily and Rowan was incredibly insincere but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Josephine Angelini is a wonderful author, blending fantasy and science fiction seamlessly into a captivating storyline. Vivid world building, fierce female characters and when all too often young adult authors tend to unnecessarily complicate themes of parallel worlds, The Worldwalker Trilogy is effortless and engaging. Highly recommended.Final Verdict
Written by Alexandra Bracken
Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Romance
Published January 25th 2016
469 Pages
Gifted
Published by Harper Collins Australia
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★★★
Etta Spencer is a violin prodigy. When tragedy strikes and a mysterious power tied closely to her musical abilities manifests, Etta is pulled back through time to 1776 in the midst of a fierce sea battle.Her capture was orchestrated by the Ironwoods, the most powerful family in the Colonies. Nicholas Carter, handsome, young, prize master of a privateering ship, has been charged with retrieving and delivering her to the family, unharmed.Etta learns her fate is entwined with an object of untold value from her past. Ironwood is desperate to secure his future, but Etta must find it first in order to return home. Embarking on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind from a mysterious traveller, the true nature of the object and Ironwood's dangerous game, could mean the end for Nicholas and Etta...
Preparing herself for the most important performance of her short career, violin prodigy Etta wants nothing more than to make her mother proud and earn the praise of her instructor, once a renowned prodigy herself. Readying herself for an impromptu performance, Etta is thrust into an unknown world that is not her own. It's 1776 and she finds herself on board the Challenger, a ship boarded by pirates.
Nicholas is a young man who has always dreamed of owning his own vessel, but due to the colour of his skin has never been afforded the opportunity. Saved from a live of slavery and servitude and now calls he ocean home. His latest cargo acquisition has Nicholas feeling uneasy, delivering Etta to his employer. But as the two form an tentative and socially impossible friendship, Etta's thoughts never stray far from home. Her mother is missing and Etta left behind a casualty of her capture, a life that she may never know again. In order to find her way home, she must find a lost relic in a past she knows nothing of and a family she never knew existed.
Spanning eras and destinations, Etta and Nicholas are destined to be together but secrets will drive them apart.
There's one aspect of Alexandra Bracken's releases that you can rely on, it'll take you twice as long as any other book to read. It's not the page count, but rather how much is packed into one storyline to lure readers into her world. Readers are introduced to Etta and Nicholas almost within the same breath. Etta is thrown into his world upon the Challenger and it soon becomes apparent that she's not on board of her own free will. Her mother is missing and she leaves behind her violin instructor, a woman she cares more of the welfare of than her own mother. On paper, Etta is your typical young adult heroine but imagined, she's so much more. She's strong, feisty and adaptable which doesn't sit well with her new peers upon the ship. But unfortunately she's also not all that likable.
Nicholas is a young man that pines for freedom. Bought by the ships captain and rescued from a life of slavery, the colour of his skin within the era means he'll always be the target of prejudice. Sailing is all he's ever known. I felt for Nicholas, he was confident in his abilities but doesn't seem to have the fight against his oppressors. Until Etta shows him compassion. The voyage to New York City where Etta is to be delivered to his employer was slowly paced and often lulled in places. It took quite a few chapters for me to immerse myself and I was tempted to skim ahead. Once Etta and Nicholas struck up a tentative friendship, the storyline flowed but unfortunately a little on the side of being dull.
Sophia is responsible for the position Etta finds herself in. She shares a connection to Nicholas, but is headstrong and determined to work her way into a position of power despite the oppression of woman and people of colour during her time. I loved the diversity. It wasn't added as an afterthought but felt as though it had been well researched and true not only to the era, but also the character development. That feeling of being worthless and knowing that even determination seems hopeless. To hope, to dream of a life that is free from prejudice. Etta introduces both Nicholas and Sophia to the concept of equality for women and people of colour, a future neither character could have imagined. The forbidden romance was barely there at times, but still lovely in places, but sadly I didn't feel a genuine connection between the two.
Nicholas is a young man who has always dreamed of owning his own vessel, but due to the colour of his skin has never been afforded the opportunity. Saved from a live of slavery and servitude and now calls he ocean home. His latest cargo acquisition has Nicholas feeling uneasy, delivering Etta to his employer. But as the two form an tentative and socially impossible friendship, Etta's thoughts never stray far from home. Her mother is missing and Etta left behind a casualty of her capture, a life that she may never know again. In order to find her way home, she must find a lost relic in a past she knows nothing of and a family she never knew existed.
Spanning eras and destinations, Etta and Nicholas are destined to be together but secrets will drive them apart.
Passenger was a vividly imagined storyline with such depth and heart. From the modern day to the high seas of 1776, readers will find themselves consumed with Etta and Nicholas and what seems to be an impossible romance in more ways than one.Kelly's Thoughts
There's one aspect of Alexandra Bracken's releases that you can rely on, it'll take you twice as long as any other book to read. It's not the page count, but rather how much is packed into one storyline to lure readers into her world. Readers are introduced to Etta and Nicholas almost within the same breath. Etta is thrown into his world upon the Challenger and it soon becomes apparent that she's not on board of her own free will. Her mother is missing and she leaves behind her violin instructor, a woman she cares more of the welfare of than her own mother. On paper, Etta is your typical young adult heroine but imagined, she's so much more. She's strong, feisty and adaptable which doesn't sit well with her new peers upon the ship. But unfortunately she's also not all that likable.
Nicholas is a young man that pines for freedom. Bought by the ships captain and rescued from a life of slavery, the colour of his skin within the era means he'll always be the target of prejudice. Sailing is all he's ever known. I felt for Nicholas, he was confident in his abilities but doesn't seem to have the fight against his oppressors. Until Etta shows him compassion. The voyage to New York City where Etta is to be delivered to his employer was slowly paced and often lulled in places. It took quite a few chapters for me to immerse myself and I was tempted to skim ahead. Once Etta and Nicholas struck up a tentative friendship, the storyline flowed but unfortunately a little on the side of being dull.
Sophia is responsible for the position Etta finds herself in. She shares a connection to Nicholas, but is headstrong and determined to work her way into a position of power despite the oppression of woman and people of colour during her time. I loved the diversity. It wasn't added as an afterthought but felt as though it had been well researched and true not only to the era, but also the character development. That feeling of being worthless and knowing that even determination seems hopeless. To hope, to dream of a life that is free from prejudice. Etta introduces both Nicholas and Sophia to the concept of equality for women and people of colour, a future neither character could have imagined. The forbidden romance was barely there at times, but still lovely in places, but sadly I didn't feel a genuine connection between the two.
What surprised me most was how lyrical the writing was in bursts, especially from Nicholas' point of view. It added a romanticism and softness to a storyline that needed a warmth and likability. The first half felt slightly underwhelming, too much information squeezed into a storyline that offered very little fanfare, but then slowly the action adventure starts to emerge. The real challenge for readers will be to read through the initial storyline to find the crux of the action.He would not surrender to the disaster of loving her.
Although drawn out in the beginning, Passenger feels a true to the era historical science fiction based on time travel elements. Feisty female characters with a mutual respect for one another, seeking power and freedom from the oppression of 1776. A cast of diverse characters who are multilayered, but unfortunately disconnected. I couldn't grasp the connection as to why Etta was explored as a music prodigy only to go on a time travelling adventure. It felt unnecessarily drawn out and the storyline could have been condensed into an exciting read, that has sadly fell a little short despite the hype.The Final Verdict
Departure
Written by A. G Riddle
Adult, Time Travel, Apocalyptic
Published October 2015
400 Pages
Thank you to Harper Voyager
★★★★Harper Lane has problems. In a few hours, she'll have to make a decision that will change her life forever. But when her flight from New York to London crash-lands in the English countryside, she discovers that she's made of tougher stuff than she ever imagined.
As Harper and the survivors of Flight 305 struggle to stay alive in the aftermath of the crash, they soon realize that this world is very different from the one they left. Their lives are connected, and some believe they've been brought here for a reason.
In addition to Harper, several other passengers seem to hold clues about why Flight 305 crashed. There's...
Nick Stone, an American on his way to a meeting with The Gibraltar Project, an international group dedicated to building a dam across the Strait of Gibraltar and draining the Mediterranean.
Sabrina Schröder, a German scientist who has unknowingly sealed the fate of half the flight's passengers.
Yul Tan, a Chinese-American computer scientist who has just made the breakthrough of a lifetime: a quantum internet capable of transmitting more data, farther, faster than ever thought possible. His invention, however, does much more than he ever dreamed possible.
With time running out to save the survivors of Flight 305, Harper and Nick race to unravel the conspiracy that crashed their plane. As they put the pieces together, they discover that their decisions have already doomed one world and will soon determine the future of ours.
Harper sits with her head between her knees and braces for impact, departing from JFK airport and bound for London, flight 305 is about to plummet to Earth. After turbulence and an explosion, half of the plane is missing and descending fast into the English countryside, with the tail of the plane now resting on the bottom of the lake. The quiet and usually reserved Nick takes charge of the situation, planning a rescue attempt for the remaining survivors. The band of strangers are working together to tend to the injured and awaiting a rescue from the English authorities... But a rescue will never arrive.
A mixture of an apocalyptic science fiction, it was engaging, enthralling and breathtaking. It follows dual narratives in Harper and Nick. Both young, vibrant but with Nick being less inclined to share the personal aspects of his life prior to boarding. Harper is a young, aspiring author who is contemplating the direction her career is taking. Their attraction is undeniable, and along with Sabrina who is now posing as a medic for injured victims, Grayson who is little more than a drunken wealthy heir and Yul who refuses to be separated from his laptop, the group of unlikely heroes will need to ensure the safety of the group.Kelly's Thoughts
It's a woven story of intrigue and survival, wrapped up in an incredible science fiction storyline. Readers are thrown into the storyline just moments before the flight plummets from the sky, where Nick takes charge and finds himself sitting next to Harper, preparing her to brace for impact. Two strangers, brought together through unfortunate circumstance. Or was it.
Trying to rally survivors on the ground, it soon becomes apparent that the world they now set to explore is foreign to their own when a rescue attempt fails to arrive. I loved the dynamic between Harper and Nick. Nick was secretive, but Harper didn't pry nor did she allow herself to fall for a stranger or depend upon him. She was independent, tough and although Nick seemed to be in control of the camp of survivors, I loved her quiet determination to see herself as more than just another survivor but a woman who would rescue herself.
Without giving away the true nature of the storyline, the concept was bizarre but incredibly engrossing. I loved how each of the five main characters' lives entwined, although it seems only Sabrina and Yul may have had a former partnership before boarding when Harper catches them both in heated, whispered debates. Reminiscent of the television series Lost, Departure is more than just a fight for survival. The science fiction element has created an intricate and stunning storyline that will have readers enthralled until the final page is turned. My only complaint is that the ending felt unresolved somewhat.
A. G Riddle has crafted an engaging and enthralling read that will leave readers riveted until the final page. A stunning mix of intrigue and wonderment by a natural born storyteller. An incredible read that needs a sequel desperately. I need more. Just brilliant.The final Verdict
Kelly is celebrating three years of blogging and contemplating dying her hair blue. I'm going to morph into Karou, which should please Kristy
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May contain spoilers for book one. See my review here.
Written by Claudia Gray
Time Travel, Romance
Published October 2015
432 Pages
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia
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Time Travel, Romance
Published October 2015
432 Pages
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia
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★★★★☆
Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse, even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.
Marguerite is the ultimate traveller. With the aid of her scientific parents' discovery of inter dimension travel, she can visit worlds that exist alongside our own. With the use of her Firebird, Marguerite now finds herself back at home and declining the offers from the head of the Triad organisation, who is attempting to recruit Marguerite to work for Wyatt Conley himself. Wyatt has proven he cannot be trusted in any dimension, attempting to steal the research of her parents and responsible for holding her father hostage. So when Paul travels back through the dimensions to look for a cure for Theo, he is captured and his soul splintered into fragments hidden within four versions of himself in different dimensions... And Marguerite has no other option but to agree to Wyatt's terms.
Wyatt has set Marguerite to task, expecting her to resume the life of her other selves in order to destroy her parents work on the Firebird project. After each task is complete, then Wyatt will release the next set of coordinates in order to retrieve Paul's splinted soul. With Theo along for the ride, it soon becomes clear that ourselves in other dimensions may not be as connected as first thought when Marguerite is taken hostage.
As Marguerite begins to question her relationship with Paul, she returns to the dimension where it all began as the Grand Duchess Marguerite of Russia. But time isn't on her side and Marguerite will be faced with the ultimate decision... To live in the now or risk losing everything.
Even though Paul seems to be the only love interest within the storyline, Theo has never been shy when it comes to flirting with Marguerite and when the two discover a dimension where Paul and Marguerite aren't together gives Theo further incentive. Even with Paul never far from her thoughts, I enjoyed that the romance wasn't the main focus of the storyline but rather the adventure of multiverse travel. Flashbacks of Marguerite's relationship with Paul while she searches for fragments of his soul, allows readers to see the bond that formed between the two after the final page of A Thousand Pieces of You. The biggest difference that sets the Firebird series apart from other time travel young adult is it's ability to simplify. There's no long and complicated explanations to confuse readers, but information scattered throughout and making it easier for readers to immerse themselves within the storyline.
It follows a similar storyline as it's predecessor, where most of Marguerite's time is spent with Theo. I loved the dynamic between the two. Even though Theo obviously cares for Marguerite far more than he's willing to admit, it's clear that neither will betray Paul with both characters making it clear that they value their friendship far more and thankfully didn't fall victim to the dreaded love triangle. Incredibly written and although it took me a few chapters to jump back into Marguerite's world, I couldn't seem to put it down.
As Marguerite begins to question her relationship with Paul, she returns to the dimension where it all began as the Grand Duchess Marguerite of Russia. But time isn't on her side and Marguerite will be faced with the ultimate decision... To live in the now or risk losing everything.
Ten Thousand Skies Above You picks up shortly where it's predecessor left off, with Marguerite now back in her own dimension and Theo suffering from the effects of Nightthief, a drug supplied by Wyatt to keep Theo's other self from being discovered in Marguerite's dimension. Paul is visiting the Multiverse, a magnitude of dimensions in which each of themselves already exist, leaping into their bodies in order to find a cure. But when Paul doesn't return and the Triad president himself is pressuring Marguerite to join his organisation, she soon realises that Wyatt Conley is once again holding her family to hostage.Kelly's thoughts
Even though Paul seems to be the only love interest within the storyline, Theo has never been shy when it comes to flirting with Marguerite and when the two discover a dimension where Paul and Marguerite aren't together gives Theo further incentive. Even with Paul never far from her thoughts, I enjoyed that the romance wasn't the main focus of the storyline but rather the adventure of multiverse travel. Flashbacks of Marguerite's relationship with Paul while she searches for fragments of his soul, allows readers to see the bond that formed between the two after the final page of A Thousand Pieces of You. The biggest difference that sets the Firebird series apart from other time travel young adult is it's ability to simplify. There's no long and complicated explanations to confuse readers, but information scattered throughout and making it easier for readers to immerse themselves within the storyline.
It follows a similar storyline as it's predecessor, where most of Marguerite's time is spent with Theo. I loved the dynamic between the two. Even though Theo obviously cares for Marguerite far more than he's willing to admit, it's clear that neither will betray Paul with both characters making it clear that they value their friendship far more and thankfully didn't fall victim to the dreaded love triangle. Incredibly written and although it took me a few chapters to jump back into Marguerite's world, I couldn't seem to put it down.
Wonderfully written, Ten Thousand Skies Above You is a brilliant and adventurous installment in the Firebird series. Shifting the focus from a mild science fiction romance, Claudia Gray has crafted an intense and deeply engaging series that is sure to end in an epic finale to enthrall readers. Absolutely loved it.The final verdict
Kelly is an Aussie who's love of chocolate milk is only surpassed by her love for Alice in Wonderland. She is currently on a semi hiatus.
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Written by Lauren James
Contemporary, Time Travel
Expected Publication November 1st 2015
356 Pages
Thank you to Walker Books Australia
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★★★
Kate and Mathew share a love than spans beyond the realm of a lifetime, with each circumstance ending in the same outcome. Death.How many times can you lose the person you love?Katherine and Matthew are destined to be born again and again, century after century. Each time, their presence changes history for the better, and each time, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be tragically separated.Spanning the Crimean War, the Siege of Carlisle and the near-future of 2019 and 2039 they find themselves sacrificing their lives to save the world. But why do they keep coming back? What else must they achieve before they can be left to live and love in peace?Maybe the next together will be different...
It's 1854 and orphan Kate has been living as alter ego in young boy Kit for the past two years, her only means of survival which is predominantly a man's world. Being the house servant of a wealthy general, Kit has able to teach herself to read and write and now being sent on a mission to the front line of the Crimean War to work for a man reporting on the war effort. Matthew works for the Times, in an effort to depict the brutality of war and not just the minor victories. Posing as a young boy, there the two meet under the toughest of conditions only to still find solace in one another.
Kate was a young lady in waiting, born to English nobility at a time when England faced invasion and a rebellion uprising was gaining momentum. The year is 1745 And the town of Carlisle is on the verge of surrender when Kate meets lowly coach driver Mathew. A scandal if the two are discovered consorting, Kate and Matthew discover a tentative friendship while on the brink of invasion.
Forward to the year 2039 and both Kate And Matt find themselves at the University of Nottingham, chasing careers within the science field. Drawn to one another for some inexplicable reason, it isn't long until the two discover their namesakes, the latest known recorded pair recorded being married the couple Katherine and Matthew, who were tragically killed under the accusation of biological terrorism. But it's more than just similarities they share with their namesakes but a rich history of war, lineage and a romance that will span several lifetimes, each tragically ending in much the same way. To prevent history from again repeating itself, they must investigate the circumstances in which married Katherine and Matthew were killed in the year 2019 and clear their names to stand any chance of living in the now.
kelly's thoughts
The Next Together was a clever contemporary blending time travel and science fiction to create what is ultimately a romance across the ages. Told through a series of perspectives, it ultimately follows the story of Katherine and Matthew, two entities destined to navigate towards one another no matter what era they share. It's the year 2039 and Matthew has just strolled into Kate's science class at the University of Nottingham and instantly find themselves attracted to one another. Kate feels a sense of déjà vu and searches online to see where she may have seen Matthew before. But Kate finds more than she bargained for when not only Matthew's but her own namesake reveals a slain couple who are accused of terrorism by the very scientific laboratory in which they both worked. We only see snippets of their relationship through journal entries and notes between the married couple, Katherine is fun loving and jovial and the straight laced Matthew loved her deeply.
That's where I found myself starting to feel overwhelmed. It wasn't the flashbacks of a past era, but how Matthew, Katherine and their doppelgänger selves were connected. Those around them seemed to be aware of the phenomena but Kate and Matthew only experienced dreamlike flashbacks to eras neither could make sense of. I never really felt a sense of who Kate or Matthew was in any timeline and as much as I loved both 1746 and 1854 versions of themselves, it only complicated the storyline further. From what I gathered, each Katherine and Matthew live within the same era with one or both to die only to be reborn or appear in the next lifetime together. Aspects of the storyline seem to suggest that Kate and Matthew's multiple lives are one in the same, but as one dies another can take his or her place. In one scene when 2039 Kate is confronting her grandmother about her namesake, I was also under the understanding that 2019 Katherine was a close relative simply by how the circumstances were briefly explained. Confused? Me too.
I loved the whirlwind romance of 1745 in a time of war and invasion. A forbidden and tentative romance between the society elite in Kathrine and her stagecoach driver in Matthew. It was the the only relationship between the two that appealed to me and allowed me to invest in both characters. The Kate and Matt of 2039 felt as though they had very little connection and were sexually swept away with the thrill and unease of their investigation into clearing their namesakes of 2019. I just couldn't invest in their plight, not because of the whimsy and far fetched nature of their scenario, but neither were developed enough to care about sadly.
That's where I found myself starting to feel overwhelmed. It wasn't the flashbacks of a past era, but how Matthew, Katherine and their doppelgänger selves were connected. Those around them seemed to be aware of the phenomena but Kate and Matthew only experienced dreamlike flashbacks to eras neither could make sense of. I never really felt a sense of who Kate or Matthew was in any timeline and as much as I loved both 1746 and 1854 versions of themselves, it only complicated the storyline further. From what I gathered, each Katherine and Matthew live within the same era with one or both to die only to be reborn or appear in the next lifetime together. Aspects of the storyline seem to suggest that Kate and Matthew's multiple lives are one in the same, but as one dies another can take his or her place. In one scene when 2039 Kate is confronting her grandmother about her namesake, I was also under the understanding that 2019 Katherine was a close relative simply by how the circumstances were briefly explained. Confused? Me too.
I loved the whirlwind romance of 1745 in a time of war and invasion. A forbidden and tentative romance between the society elite in Kathrine and her stagecoach driver in Matthew. It was the the only relationship between the two that appealed to me and allowed me to invest in both characters. The Kate and Matt of 2039 felt as though they had very little connection and were sexually swept away with the thrill and unease of their investigation into clearing their namesakes of 2019. I just couldn't invest in their plight, not because of the whimsy and far fetched nature of their scenario, but neither were developed enough to care about sadly.
The final verdict
I have no doubt that I'll be within the small majority who wasn't enamored with the romance between Kate and Matthew that spans lifetimes, but sadly I couldn't connect with either character. The back and forth between characters and eras felt disjointed and I couldn't see the connection between the various namesakes beyond sharing the same name and perhaps Katherine's sense of humour. I enjoyed it for the unique premise but the ending felt messy and far more complicated than necessary. This is definitely a case of it's not you, it's me, where The Next Together is concerned and I expect this will become a favorite of readers of every genre. Just not myself unfortunately.
Kelly is currently reading Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray and fangirling over Tahereh Mafi Tweeting her kisses.
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A Thousand Pieces of You Firebird Book One
Written by Claudia Gray
Science Fiction, Time Travel
Published October 7th 2014
360 Pages
Thank you to Keep it Fictional
Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer, her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul, escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt, and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.
The Firebird is a scientific marvel, a complex pendant allowing dimensional travel where Marguerite now finds herself hunting her father's killer. Paul Markov was undergraduate student, working under her father on the Firebird project, turning the dream of multidimensional travel into a reality. But only weeks after the project is proven a success, their laboratory is in ruin, data destroyed and her father killed by the person he entrusted into his home. But Marguerite isn't making the arduous journey alone. The charismatic and scientific genius Theo is determined to find Paul, his former friend that is the only suspect in the death of his beloved mentor.
With Theo by her side, the two transport themselves throughout the dimensions. Only able to follow Paul into alternative worlds that where they already exist, Marguerite, Paul and Theo materialise into the body of their other self. It isn't until Marguerite finds herself as a Princess and daughter of a Russian Tsar, that she is forced to confront Paul. With her Firebird in ruin and Theo unable to jump into her world, Paul is adamant of his innocence. But if he didn't kill her father, than who did? It seems the lives of the Princess and her Lieutenant are heavily entwined and it isn't long before Marguerite finds old feelings beginning to resurface. But Theo can't be convinced of Paul's innocence and Marguerite begins to suspect that Theo's motives may not be seeking justice for her father's death, but proving Paul's guilt.
It was beautifully written and a stunning blend of romance, science fiction and flourished with passion and suspense. The romance is sultry, intense and will have readers yearning for Lieutenant Markov. I'm curious to see what the second installment of the Firebird series will bring, as the conclusion of A Thousand Pieces of You felt befitting and complete. And that cover ain't half bad either.
My hate is stronger than the dimensions, stronger than memory, stronger than time. My hate is now the truest part of who I am.But it seems than Paul isn't escaping, but tracking a trail of deception throughout the dimensions, and Marguerite is one step behind. It isn't until the Firebrand breaks and Marguerite finds herself as the daughter of a Russian Tsar, that she begins to learn the truth. About the project, about Paul and the simmering passion she uncovers.
A Thousand Pieces of You is a a science fiction romance that will leave you utterly breathless. It was more than a science fiction thriller, but a sultry and intense romance. Reminiscent of Cristin Terrill's All Our Yesterdays, it follows the story of Marguerite, an artist amidst a family of scientific genius. Her parents both brilliant inventors, and has spent her seventeen years sharing her home with undergraduate students that her parents have taken in and nurtured. Including young protégés Paul and Theo. But when it seems her parents life work is destroyed, her father killed and Paul fleeing the scene with what he believes is the only Firebird prototype and has now become the only suspect... And Marguerite wants revenge.kelly's thoughts
With Theo by her side, the two transport themselves throughout the dimensions. Only able to follow Paul into alternative worlds that where they already exist, Marguerite, Paul and Theo materialise into the body of their other self. It isn't until Marguerite finds herself as a Princess and daughter of a Russian Tsar, that she is forced to confront Paul. With her Firebird in ruin and Theo unable to jump into her world, Paul is adamant of his innocence. But if he didn't kill her father, than who did? It seems the lives of the Princess and her Lieutenant are heavily entwined and it isn't long before Marguerite finds old feelings beginning to resurface. But Theo can't be convinced of Paul's innocence and Marguerite begins to suspect that Theo's motives may not be seeking justice for her father's death, but proving Paul's guilt.
the final verdict
Chasing Stars (After Eden: Book Two)
Written by Helen Douglas
Published June 5th 2014
352 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
The boy Eden loves just saved her life. Now she must save his. To do so she must make a huge sacrifice. Eden can never see her friends or family again, as she travels a hundred years into the future. But the dangerous risk Ryan took to rescue Eden has been uncovered, and now Ryan faces an exile... Which will leave Eden separated from him. the one person she can't live without, and stuck in the future. She must fight to save both of them
Eden Anfield loves
puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school
she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So
why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler?
What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her.
As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel
his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she
stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom, a biography of her best
friend, written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she
discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose... And she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.
It was inevitable that the entire school would be talking about Ryan Westland, even sixteen year old Eden, but what she didn't expect was to capture his attention. Eden lives in Cornwell and dreams about her life being that from the pages of a novel, wanting to be brave, take risks and make a difference. Little does she know that she'll be given the opportunity to change the world.
Once a city of enormous
wealth and culture, in its day Prague was home to emperors, alchemists,
astronomers. When music student Sarah Weston finds herself with a summer
job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no
idea how dangerous her life is about to become.
Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood.
Sarah is a music graduate at Thoreau college in Boston, serial dater and has a passionate, one sided love affair with Ludwig Van Beethoven. After the tragic death of her mentor professor Sherbatsky, to what authorities have labelled a suicide, Sarah has been offered a position at the Lobkowicz palace in Prague over the summer. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, cataloging the finest that history has to offer, including troves of handwritten scores and musical instruments. Sarah has always been a gifted student, but hardly the world's leading musicologist... Yet. Had she been chosen simply because she's Sherbatsky's protege?
Shrugging off her roommate's suggestion that Prague is the threshold 0f Dark Magic, she is met by Miles, head historian overseeing the cataloged items. There are historian experts from every corner of the globe who share the compound with Prince Max, who is questioned as to whether or not he is the rightful heir. As details of the suicide come to light, it is revealed that the professor had thrown himself from the balcony of the palace. His strange and eccentric behavior not winning him many friends within the group of scholars.
Sarah is brought to the attention of Max, for all the wrong reasons. She is being accused of stealing an artifact, in what is attempted to be a cruel joke, or could it have been a warning? Since the night in question, Prince Max has been withdrawn and parnoid, speaking to no one but his dog, Moritz. It seems there is something sinister in play within the castle walls, as evidence of Max's argument with the professor shortly before his death. Most believing the two were involved with drugs, but Sarah knows the brilliant Sherbatsky would never have entertained the idea. But when Sarah finds Max administering CPR to a ununiformed police officer that Sarah had met earlier, Max revealing he was also the head of security over at the Sternberg. The conflicting identity leading them both to believe that someone may be trying to frame Max... Except the body has now disappeared.
Charlotte Yates is the senior senator from Virginia, holding a seat on the senate committee for foreign relations and regular adviser to the President, and has taken a vested interest in the restoration at the Lobkowicz palace. It seems Charlotte's interest is beyond pure and with inside information on the progress the historians are making, she may just find what she's been searching for after all.
It seems the warning that follows Prague may have been truer than Sarah could every have imagined, when she finds herself delusional, in what she's led to believe is drug induced. But Sarah knows otherwise. As two worlds of past and present collide, Sarah is able to see into the past, see her life's work to come life before her very eyes and now knows why she was called to Prague. She didn't expect to be greeted by Pollina, blind child prodigy with a sixth sense whom she befriended while tutoring. Pollina has been invited to Prague by the Vienna Symphony and Czech Philharmonic, and Sarah wants nothing more than to keep her away from the palace and the evil that breathes life into the city. Sarah confides in the girl who's beyond her years, recounting Beethoven's Immortal Beloved and why Sarah feels that she's personally involved.
As her relationship develops with Max, Sarah's life may be in jeopardy as the bodies begin mounting up. Is she destined to live the same fate of the professor, or is she about to become the most widely acclaimed Beethoven scholar in the world.
The premise of City Of Dark Magic sounded incredible, an intellectual suspense verging on a modern day steam punk novel, and in parts, it certainly delivered. Even though it's clearly intended for the wider adult audience, due to the few brief sexual situations, the scenario felt far more young adult. Sarah was a sexually confident girl, sassy, intelligent but refuses to take a back seat through life. She's promiscuous and knows what she wants. But sadly, Sarah fell flat. The reader will see glimpses of Sarah, but the hectic storyline didn't allow for any in depth character development. Nico, the midget was a breath of fresh air, cheeky, naughty and his flirtations were not only creepy, but highly entertaining. He was a strange, little free spirit and I wanted to see him more involved in the storyline, he was somewhat charming.
I think the let down was due to too many new and inventive ideas for the plot, seemingly thrown in together which didn't allow for the story to be developed. Similar to watching a circus act with too many performers who pull your attention in different directions, it doesn't allow you to fully immerse yourself. It certainly isn't boring and earns the description of being madcap. I wanted to discover the rich Prague surroundings, but the plot was so action packed that I couldn't get a feel for the city. If they storyline was simplified, the sexual content removed and allowed time for proper character development, it would have been a brilliant novel. I'm assuming that will come in the second installment.
Fans of the Magnus Bane series by Cassandra Claire will enjoy the almost medieval modern day surroundings. I would class City Of Dark Magic as more of a fantasy new adult novel.
City Of Dark Magic
(City Of Dark Magic: Book One)
Written By Magnus Flyte
First Published 01 / 01 / 2012
464 Pages
Thank you to Text Publishing for a review copy.
Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.
Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.
All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.
You have to kill him.
When Em finds the cryptic scribblings hidden in the drain of her cell, she knows she's been there before... Or at least another version of herself. Only Finn in the next cell is keeping her sane, and her only bargaining plea is the documents guaranteeing their lives, from the doctor and the director within the government facility in which they're being held. The present is a war ravaged land, with countries on the attack throughout the world and entire states wiped off the map. If you had the chance to travel back to destroy the cause of the death and desolation... Would you?
With help on the inside, Em and Finn escape, making it back to Cassandra, the underground subatomic particle collider that will send them back four years earlier... When the full conception of travel in the fourth dimension is realised, time travel.
Childhood friends Marina and James are best friends, next door neighbours and if Marina is correct, soul mates with Finn completing the unlikely trio. But when tragedy strikes James's life, again, it sets events into motion that no one could have predicted. James is not only gifted, he's a genius. Gone is the shy, awkward teen boy, he's an intellect, handsome and wealthy, his brother is a congressman and James is determined to make the world a better place. But someone wants James dead, he's being hunted and there is nothing that Marina won't do to ensure James is protected.
Em and the slightly older, future Finn need to stop Cassandra being built.... Again. The two have traveled back fourteen times prior, only to discover they've been unable to alter the outcome. The new world is a very different place, American drone planes attacking China, Israel involved in a nuclear standoff against Syria. Marines with machine guns on street corners, the Californian air raids, the government monitoring phone calls and internet usage, waiting for a keyword that will have you tried and convicted as a terrorist. Time travel should never have been capable, if Em fails again, she'll be taken back to her cell and tortured by The Doctor, over the whereabouts of her only insurance policy... And then power hungry, insane totalitarian government will destroy what little humanity remains.
All Our Yesterdays was difficult to review, without giving away the stunning and shocking plot twists. It's young adult, but the intelligence behind the storyline will leave even adults breathless. More science fiction than fantasy, the time travel aspect is well thought out and like most that dabble with the subject, it isn't confusing and won't leave you with boring and lengthy descriptions either.
I really enjoyed it. It's an emotional ride, but more often than not, will leave you on the edge of your seat. The characters are brilliant and it blurs the lines between heroes and villains. Prepare yourself for a gut wrenching ending that you won't see coming. You'll be left utterly exhausted.
All Our Yesterdays
Written by Cristin Terill
Expected Publication 03 / 09 / 2013
Written by Cristin Terill
Expected Publication 03 / 09 / 2013
Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and Cristin Terill
for the opportunity to read and review
for the opportunity to read and review
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