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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half of the book was so boring, I would give it 1-2 stars. But then the second half was a 5 star again. I really hope the finale is more consistent. I wasn‘t a huge fan of the Trey-romance in the first book, but at least he was a fun character. Everything about his plot is so weird in this second book, however, I don‘t get it at all. And most importantly I don‘t feel it. Anyway, the second half is fantastic, super interesting time jumps, tension, emotions, I even cried at the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder
So the beginning was a bit slow and it took me some time to remember and catch up to the plot from the ending of book 1, however ---- I loved this! I can't wait for number 3 because there is so much that happened in the last 10 pages that I couldn't wrap mind around all that happened and didn't happen and what all changed in that timeline. But I'll leave it with this: Team Kiernan.
If you haven't read the first book in this series, or at least my review of the first book, I suggest you go back and do so. I'm not planning on going in to how this world works as much in this review, since I've already done so. This is more of a status update on where the story is now and how things have changed. I'm not sure when the third book will be out, so I have to at least set myself up to have any sort of clue about what's going on when it finally does.
I feel the way about this book the way I do about most second books of a trilogy - although there was a lot of story included, it felt incomplete, because nothing was truly resolved.
How are they actually going to effect change? They tried this before and failed, and destroyed the other timeline. The key part was Kate's insistence on saving Abel. He and Delia are going to be a key force in actually having a chance at defeating Saul - already proven by the "welcome to the 5th column" note sent from Abel & Delia's descendant, Julia. I'm curious to see what they've done and changed, and whether that prompted Prudence's changed actions.
The biggest change at the end is Prudence revealing herself to her twin (and Kate's mom) Deborah. Most of this book Deborah spent out of the picture, "safe", but what does Prudence appearing in her life really mean? Is it a declaration of war? And what's up with slowly-getting-crazier Pru? If she's increasingly spacey while young, does that not effect her machinations when she is older?
We (and Kate) got to know Kiernan way more in this book (though that novella have us insights), but it's still hard to figure out his motivations.
Kate was given a new perspective with her trying to rebuild her relationship with Trey, and can understand Kiernan's position more. She's going through a lot in this book, though - pressure from her grandma, trying to figure out her feelings, all with the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Trey is in an awkward position in this book - we grew to love him just like Kate did, and see the old Trey in him everywhere, but is he really the same? He seems more tentative and unsure, though he is clearly trying. After that disaster date where he thought they were going for sexy times and then realized he'd been faked out by Pru, and Kate broke up with him, what does it mean that he's at Kate's house now? Is that part of the time shift? Or would that have happened anyway? I'm guessing in the previous timeshift, before the 5th column, Professor Tilson wouldn't have been a part of a large, secret anti-Cyrist alliance of scientists, lawyers and politicians, so that has at least changed.
Here's where we are now:
I'm ready for the next book, please! Time for some resolution.
I feel the way about this book the way I do about most second books of a trilogy - although there was a lot of story included, it felt incomplete, because nothing was truly resolved.
How are they actually going to effect change? They tried this before and failed, and destroyed the other timeline. The key part was Kate's insistence on saving Abel. He and Delia are going to be a key force in actually having a chance at defeating Saul - already proven by the "welcome to the 5th column" note sent from Abel & Delia's descendant, Julia. I'm curious to see what they've done and changed, and whether that prompted Prudence's changed actions.
The biggest change at the end is Prudence revealing herself to her twin (and Kate's mom) Deborah. Most of this book Deborah spent out of the picture, "safe", but what does Prudence appearing in her life really mean? Is it a declaration of war? And what's up with slowly-getting-crazier Pru? If she's increasingly spacey while young, does that not effect her machinations when she is older?
We (and Kate) got to know Kiernan way more in this book (though that novella have us insights), but it's still hard to figure out his motivations.
Kate was given a new perspective with her trying to rebuild her relationship with Trey, and can understand Kiernan's position more. She's going through a lot in this book, though - pressure from her grandma, trying to figure out her feelings, all with the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Trey is in an awkward position in this book - we grew to love him just like Kate did, and see the old Trey in him everywhere, but is he really the same? He seems more tentative and unsure, though he is clearly trying. After that disaster date where he thought they were going for sexy times and then realized he'd been faked out by Pru, and Kate broke up with him, what does it mean that he's at Kate's house now? Is that part of the time shift? Or would that have happened anyway? I'm guessing in the previous timeshift, before the 5th column, Professor Tilson wouldn't have been a part of a large, secret anti-Cyrist alliance of scientists, lawyers and politicians, so that has at least changed.
Here's where we are now:
Spoiler
Kate left Delia, Abel, and Kiernan back in 1938 with Simon, ostensibly to join him and Saul at a Cyrist commune, where they apparently started the 5th column, working from the inside. Grant disappeared while they were at Martha's house and no one knows where he went. Deborah is all excited because Prudence is "back." Trey has brought in Professor Tilson and friends to help analyze the poisoned water Kate & Kiernan brought back from Saul's test murder in Six Bridges in 1911, in hopes of coming up with an antidote to whatever chemical agent Saul plans on using for the Culling. Katherine is still dying of cancer and she and Connor are in a relationship (your grandma dating the great-grandson of your ex? Time travel weirdness!!). Charlayne, Kate's BFF from another timeline and now a Cyrist spy for evil Eve, is fully on Kate's side now, another apparent side effect of the 5th column shift.I'm ready for the next book, please! Time for some resolution.
I loved the first book but really didn't care for this one. It seems to wonder at times with no clear idea of where the story is going or what is happening. About the only thing for sure in this book is the main character is not very likable for most of the book.
i loved this book! i can't wait until number 3 comes out!
I love this series.
In this book the "big" jump is to 1938 Georgia, which doesn't sound that exciting, especially compared to the last book where we were at the World's Fair in Chicago and took on a serial killer. Yet, this book does not disappoint.
The author successfully walks the line between dark and light tackling some pretty upsetting subject matter without beating up the reader. Historical events and times are presented in a way that feels authentic without cluttering the story with facts and exposition.
In this book the "big" jump is to 1938 Georgia, which doesn't sound that exciting, especially compared to the last book where we were at the World's Fair in Chicago and took on a serial killer. Yet, this book does not disappoint.
The author successfully walks the line between dark and light tackling some pretty upsetting subject matter without beating up the reader. Historical events and times are presented in a way that feels authentic without cluttering the story with facts and exposition.
I'm really enjoying this series. My only quibble is what high school boy makes dinner reservations?? What high school couple is dining at expensive restaurants overlooking D.C.?
Oh man, I just love how deeply we dive into the concepts of time travel now that the initial threat from the first book has sunk in. I seriously eat up the cause and effect concepts that web out from a single event from history being changed. Saul's efforts are simply fascinating and in depth, even though they are evil, and Kate's ability to barely be two steps behind him are commendable. I think I had to write a few things down to keep up with the changing timelines and tweaks to the past that changed the future. I think that's why I fell pretty hard for this book. I love, LOVE the world building and that everything is consistent. This was a great second book to the trilogy.
Loved it even more than the first. Great writing and not too cheesy like other ya novels out there.
Interesting book. Hard to keep all the timelines straight.