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missbookiverse's review
3.0
Lang und breit
Phantom Universe ist ganz anders als die anderen Sci-Fi-, Dystopia- und Fantasy-Bücher, die ich in letzter Zeit gelesen habe. Der Beginn des Buches spielt in etwa in unserer Zeit. Allerdings gibt es dort Piraten, die sich Sklaven halten und Jagd auf Flatscreens und Rum machen. Der zweite Teil der Geschichte findet viele Jahre in der Zukunft statt. Dort hat Kanada die USA überrumpelt und Müll wird zur Entsorgung ins All geschossen. Neben vielfachen technischen Erfindungen gibt es außerdem „Outlander Camps“, in denen die Menschen, die aus der Vergangenheit ganz plötzlich in die Zukunft gereist sind, untergebracht werden.
Die futuristische Entwicklung der Welt war komplex und reizvoll zu erkunden. Es wird erklärt wie genau Kanada die Oberhand gewinnen konnte (hier wird es aber nicht zu politisch, keine Sorge), wie die Eheschließung inzwischen gehandhabt wird und dass jeder einen technischen Minicomputer in den Kopf gepflanzt bekommt, mit dem er geortet werden kann und der sogar Telepathie ermöglicht.
Klingt schon mal abwechslungsreich. War es auch, bis sich plötzlich die Liebesgeschichte angeschlichen hat. Am Anfang fand ich die noch ziemlich süß. Summer, die aus der Vergangenheit in die Zukunft „springt“, verliebt sich dort in den Offizier Gage. Leider hat sich der Handlungsmittelpunkt dabei extrem auf deren Liebelei verschoben. Bald ging es nur noch um Liebesbeweise in Form von Rosen (da Gage sie kitschigerweise „Flower“ nennt) und Eifersucht. Außerdem muss Summer ständig gerettet werden. Immer wieder gerät sie in Situationen, die sie an ihre Zeit als Sklavin auf dem Piratenschiff und die damit verbundene Fast-Vergewaltigung erinnern. Diese ständigen Rettungsaktionen machen Summer leider zu einer sehr schwachen Figur. Sie hat durchaus ihren Reiz mit ihrer Stummheit, ihrer Neugier und ihrem unerschütterlichen Glauben an Feen (auf den übrigens nie weiter eingegangen wird, obwohl er immer wieder Erwähnung findet). Am Ende nimmt sie zwar endlich eine aktive Rolle ein, aber aus ihrem „schwaches Mädchen braucht starken Retter“ Muster kommt sie damit nicht heraus.
Während ich Gage zu Beginn noch genauso mochte wie Summer ihn, verließ mich nach und nach die Begeisterung. Der ausschlaggebende Punkt hierfür war wohl als er Summer verlässt, weil er so unglaublich verwirrt über seine Gefühle und die Situation ist. Dann merkt er aber schnell wie sehr er sich nach Summer sehnt und kehrt zurück, was sie prompt akzeptiert.
Viel lieber war mir da Landon, ein Freund von Summer, der für sie wie ein Bruder ist. Seine Fürsorglichkeit Summer gegenüber war loyal und bewegend.
Hörbucheindruck
Karen Savage hat eine so angenehme Stimme, dass ich mich sofort wohl gefühlt habe. Am Besten hat mir Londons schottischer Akzent gefallen, den sie perfekt imitiert hat. An manchen Stellen redet sie ein wenig zu schnell bzw. klingt es so als hätte man ihre Stimme schneller laufen lassen, um die Hörbuchlänge zu kürzen, aber darüber kann man hinweghören.
Kurz und knapp
Ein Roman, der vor allem in seinem Setting viel Abwechslung und Neues bietet. Die Handlung wandelt sich recht schnell von einem Zeitreiseabenteuer zu einer Liebesgeschichte, die kaum Klischees auslässt. Durch die tolle Vorlesestimme bietet das Buch solide Unterhaltung, so richtig Lust auf die Fortsetzung habe ich aber nicht bekommen.
Phantom Universe ist ganz anders als die anderen Sci-Fi-, Dystopia- und Fantasy-Bücher, die ich in letzter Zeit gelesen habe. Der Beginn des Buches spielt in etwa in unserer Zeit. Allerdings gibt es dort Piraten, die sich Sklaven halten und Jagd auf Flatscreens und Rum machen. Der zweite Teil der Geschichte findet viele Jahre in der Zukunft statt. Dort hat Kanada die USA überrumpelt und Müll wird zur Entsorgung ins All geschossen. Neben vielfachen technischen Erfindungen gibt es außerdem „Outlander Camps“, in denen die Menschen, die aus der Vergangenheit ganz plötzlich in die Zukunft gereist sind, untergebracht werden.
Die futuristische Entwicklung der Welt war komplex und reizvoll zu erkunden. Es wird erklärt wie genau Kanada die Oberhand gewinnen konnte (hier wird es aber nicht zu politisch, keine Sorge), wie die Eheschließung inzwischen gehandhabt wird und dass jeder einen technischen Minicomputer in den Kopf gepflanzt bekommt, mit dem er geortet werden kann und der sogar Telepathie ermöglicht.
Klingt schon mal abwechslungsreich. War es auch, bis sich plötzlich die Liebesgeschichte angeschlichen hat. Am Anfang fand ich die noch ziemlich süß. Summer, die aus der Vergangenheit in die Zukunft „springt“, verliebt sich dort in den Offizier Gage. Leider hat sich der Handlungsmittelpunkt dabei extrem auf deren Liebelei verschoben. Bald ging es nur noch um Liebesbeweise in Form von Rosen (da Gage sie kitschigerweise „Flower“ nennt) und Eifersucht. Außerdem muss Summer ständig gerettet werden. Immer wieder gerät sie in Situationen, die sie an ihre Zeit als Sklavin auf dem Piratenschiff und die damit verbundene Fast-Vergewaltigung erinnern. Diese ständigen Rettungsaktionen machen Summer leider zu einer sehr schwachen Figur. Sie hat durchaus ihren Reiz mit ihrer Stummheit, ihrer Neugier und ihrem unerschütterlichen Glauben an Feen (auf den übrigens nie weiter eingegangen wird, obwohl er immer wieder Erwähnung findet). Am Ende nimmt sie zwar endlich eine aktive Rolle ein, aber aus ihrem „schwaches Mädchen braucht starken Retter“ Muster kommt sie damit nicht heraus.
Während ich Gage zu Beginn noch genauso mochte wie Summer ihn, verließ mich nach und nach die Begeisterung. Der ausschlaggebende Punkt hierfür war wohl als er Summer verlässt, weil er so unglaublich verwirrt über seine Gefühle und die Situation ist. Dann merkt er aber schnell wie sehr er sich nach Summer sehnt und kehrt zurück, was sie prompt akzeptiert.
Viel lieber war mir da Landon, ein Freund von Summer, der für sie wie ein Bruder ist. Seine Fürsorglichkeit Summer gegenüber war loyal und bewegend.
Hörbucheindruck
Karen Savage hat eine so angenehme Stimme, dass ich mich sofort wohl gefühlt habe. Am Besten hat mir Londons schottischer Akzent gefallen, den sie perfekt imitiert hat. An manchen Stellen redet sie ein wenig zu schnell bzw. klingt es so als hätte man ihre Stimme schneller laufen lassen, um die Hörbuchlänge zu kürzen, aber darüber kann man hinweghören.
Kurz und knapp
Ein Roman, der vor allem in seinem Setting viel Abwechslung und Neues bietet. Die Handlung wandelt sich recht schnell von einem Zeitreiseabenteuer zu einer Liebesgeschichte, die kaum Klischees auslässt. Durch die tolle Vorlesestimme bietet das Buch solide Unterhaltung, so richtig Lust auf die Fortsetzung habe ich aber nicht bekommen.
alexlcriddle's review
3.0
This story definitely needed a few more runs under an editing eye. I felt that it dragged on in the beginning and then all of the action was crammed in at the end. I thought that many of the concepts were intriguing, but needed more depth and development. I applaud the author for bringing awareness to modern human trafficking and slavery and I think she did so in a unique way.
noctisora's review
5.0
Phantom Universe took my breath away. This book is unique, heart-wrenching, romantic, beautiful, and thought invoking. Laura Kreitzer has created an exquisite world, alluring story, and amazing characters. I was completely immersed in the story from page one, and I did not want it to end.
Tortured and beaten as a child, Summer became mute, learning that silence was the best policy to avoid the lash of a whip. She was sold to a slave ship at a young age, and her life became dominated by seafarers and the roll of the waves. She is able to find a companion on the ship, Landon, who is able to understand her, and they quickly become best freinds. However, they are wrenched apart when the ship is destroyed, and Summer finds herself stranded on an island. She is unknowingly thrust into a future world, a phantom universe. She meets Gage, who is unlike any other man she has even come across, and he helps introduce her to this new, wondrous realm. Just as Summer is adjusting to her new life, she learns that she is highly sought after, and some Secret Clock Society would love nothing more than to see her dead. When their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?
This book was a completely new type of story for me. I have never read a story where the main character is mute, nor one where slavery and torture is a major underlying theme. The moments when Summer recalls beatings or trauma are packed with raw emotions and pain, and my heart went out to her. Kreitzer does an amazing job bringing Summer’s emotions to life. I cannot remember the last time I have felt this strongly or deeply for a character. However, the thing that I respect the most about this story is how Kreitzer brings awareness to slavery and child trafficking. It is a very real thing, even today, and most of what Summer endured is not far from the truth. If anything, it is a softer version of what some children are forced to deal with. I really like how light was shed on this very real, albeit horrible, problem that we as people face. Hopefully some awareness can be raised, even if it is awareness derived from a fictional story. Ms. Kreitzer, I commend you. People, especially children, should never be exposed to this kind of treatment. I pray some kind of solution can be found soon.
Another thing I loved about this story was the emotional connection and depth between the characters. It is just beautiful and refreshing. With the main character being mute, things like emotions and thoughts have to be relayed through something other than words. The understanding between the characters is amazing! Landon and Gage can look at Summer and decipher her thoughts and feelings from just an expression, making the emotional connection and understanding between them astonishingly strong. The fact that a whole conversation could be held where one side basically used gestures and facial expressions and the other party could completely understand is simply brilliant, in my opinion. With articulation, who really knows a person this well? This deep level of understanding is hardly seen in books (or even in real life), and I really enjoyed it.
The characters themselves were fantastic. Summer, despite her past, is strong, and even through her moments of weakness, she is resilient. Throughout the book, I got to see her heal and learn to trust others, and I really found myself invested in her story. It was so easy to feel for her and connect to her. Gage is just…swoon. He is a soldier, strong and fierce, and he can deliver orders to subordinates with a cold, commanding voice. However, he becomes gentle and caring around Summer. I love how patient he was with her, and how he showed her it was okay to trust him and open up emotionally. He is romantic and kind, and I loved the chemistry between the two of them. Even the side characters were terrific, and I liked them all, especially Landon.
Kreitzer has created a beautiful world and awesome characters in Phantom Universe, and I cannot wait to learn more about them and the Secret Clock Society. I was lucky enough to land an ARC of the second book, Forsaken Harbor, which I am currently getting ready to dive into. If you have not read this book yet, you should definitely give it a try. You will not be disappointed!
Tortured and beaten as a child, Summer became mute, learning that silence was the best policy to avoid the lash of a whip. She was sold to a slave ship at a young age, and her life became dominated by seafarers and the roll of the waves. She is able to find a companion on the ship, Landon, who is able to understand her, and they quickly become best freinds. However, they are wrenched apart when the ship is destroyed, and Summer finds herself stranded on an island. She is unknowingly thrust into a future world, a phantom universe. She meets Gage, who is unlike any other man she has even come across, and he helps introduce her to this new, wondrous realm. Just as Summer is adjusting to her new life, she learns that she is highly sought after, and some Secret Clock Society would love nothing more than to see her dead. When their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?
This book was a completely new type of story for me. I have never read a story where the main character is mute, nor one where slavery and torture is a major underlying theme. The moments when Summer recalls beatings or trauma are packed with raw emotions and pain, and my heart went out to her. Kreitzer does an amazing job bringing Summer’s emotions to life. I cannot remember the last time I have felt this strongly or deeply for a character. However, the thing that I respect the most about this story is how Kreitzer brings awareness to slavery and child trafficking. It is a very real thing, even today, and most of what Summer endured is not far from the truth. If anything, it is a softer version of what some children are forced to deal with. I really like how light was shed on this very real, albeit horrible, problem that we as people face. Hopefully some awareness can be raised, even if it is awareness derived from a fictional story. Ms. Kreitzer, I commend you. People, especially children, should never be exposed to this kind of treatment. I pray some kind of solution can be found soon.
Another thing I loved about this story was the emotional connection and depth between the characters. It is just beautiful and refreshing. With the main character being mute, things like emotions and thoughts have to be relayed through something other than words. The understanding between the characters is amazing! Landon and Gage can look at Summer and decipher her thoughts and feelings from just an expression, making the emotional connection and understanding between them astonishingly strong. The fact that a whole conversation could be held where one side basically used gestures and facial expressions and the other party could completely understand is simply brilliant, in my opinion. With articulation, who really knows a person this well? This deep level of understanding is hardly seen in books (or even in real life), and I really enjoyed it.
The characters themselves were fantastic. Summer, despite her past, is strong, and even through her moments of weakness, she is resilient. Throughout the book, I got to see her heal and learn to trust others, and I really found myself invested in her story. It was so easy to feel for her and connect to her. Gage is just…swoon. He is a soldier, strong and fierce, and he can deliver orders to subordinates with a cold, commanding voice. However, he becomes gentle and caring around Summer. I love how patient he was with her, and how he showed her it was okay to trust him and open up emotionally. He is romantic and kind, and I loved the chemistry between the two of them. Even the side characters were terrific, and I liked them all, especially Landon.
Kreitzer has created a beautiful world and awesome characters in Phantom Universe, and I cannot wait to learn more about them and the Secret Clock Society.
Spoiler
(I also am eager to learn more about Julian, who was introduced at the very end of the book. He seems like a very intriguing character! Who is that guy??)anastaciaknits's review
5.0
First, the disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read & review on my kindle, but did not receive any compensation for the review.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book. I have never read a Kreitzer book before, though I have heard great things about her other books. I won't get into the plot of PU as there are already a ton of reviews out there for this book, with a lot of detail.
Summer is a very likeable character, as is the entire supporting cast. You hate the bad guys just enough. One thing that drove me nuts, throughout the book, is the repeated talk of all of the trauma, anguish, and torture Summer went through as a slave, and it's very true that she did go through a lot, including an attempted rape, but I really never understood exactly why she stopped talking. I mean, I understand what Kreitzer wrote - every time Summer talked or cried or yelled, she got whipped. But, there have been slaves for hundreds of years, who went through a hell of a lot more than Summer went through; or people today (non-slaves) who have gone through worse abuse at the hands of their own parents or family members, and they didn't stop talking. To me, if she was that badly abused that she'd stop talking, she wouldn't be mouthing words. I can sort of see the accidental giggling -- and definitely the flinching -- but I don't know, that whole thing just really bugged me throughout. And, as always with this type of book, the fact that she just magically met a wonderful guy who starts to fall in love with her, and would do anything for her, and she trusts him with no reason to... another little thing that drove me nuts.
I really wish a little bit more time was spent talking about the pirate ship. I realize this has nothing really to do with the series other than to help you know who Summer is as a character, but that part really interested me. Same with the future world - I wish we had gotten to know that world more, other than just a lot of action that took place in that world.
All of those things aside, however, I am still giving the book 5 stars. My personal rule of thumb is that I only give out "5 star reviews" to books where I really fall in love with one or more characters, and I really loved some of the minor characters in the book, and I really did like Summer & felt for her throughout.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book. I have never read a Kreitzer book before, though I have heard great things about her other books. I won't get into the plot of PU as there are already a ton of reviews out there for this book, with a lot of detail.
Summer is a very likeable character, as is the entire supporting cast. You hate the bad guys just enough. One thing that drove me nuts, throughout the book, is the repeated talk of all of the trauma, anguish, and torture Summer went through as a slave, and it's very true that she did go through a lot, including an attempted rape, but I really never understood exactly why she stopped talking. I mean, I understand what Kreitzer wrote - every time Summer talked or cried or yelled, she got whipped. But, there have been slaves for hundreds of years, who went through a hell of a lot more than Summer went through; or people today (non-slaves) who have gone through worse abuse at the hands of their own parents or family members, and they didn't stop talking. To me, if she was that badly abused that she'd stop talking, she wouldn't be mouthing words. I can sort of see the accidental giggling -- and definitely the flinching -- but I don't know, that whole thing just really bugged me throughout. And, as always with this type of book, the fact that she just magically met a wonderful guy who starts to fall in love with her, and would do anything for her, and she trusts him with no reason to... another little thing that drove me nuts.
I really wish a little bit more time was spent talking about the pirate ship. I realize this has nothing really to do with the series other than to help you know who Summer is as a character, but that part really interested me. Same with the future world - I wish we had gotten to know that world more, other than just a lot of action that took place in that world.
All of those things aside, however, I am still giving the book 5 stars. My personal rule of thumb is that I only give out "5 star reviews" to books where I really fall in love with one or more characters, and I really loved some of the minor characters in the book, and I really did like Summer & felt for her throughout.
bookishbritney's review
Laura Kreitzer was kind enough to send me a very early e-copy of Phantom Universe. I wanted to thank her for letting me read it and review it, so THANKS, LAURA! :)
The story was different from any that I have ever read before and I loved the scenes that were set in the future and the people that Summer met. The book started off really interesting--I loved the rush and anxiety of it. Made you jump into the story very quickly. I love sci-fi/fantasy and dystopian books and Phantom Universe had a bit of it all. There was time travel and a future that was full of interesting yet believable gadgets and I loved how Canada conquered the U.S. in the future. (I'm sure my Canadian friends would love that bit, as well.)
I was confused at times when Summer was a slave on the pirate boat because I kept picturing pirates a la Captain Sparrow that stole big screen TVs. I would have loved to see scenes where they steal from 21st century freighters and how it all worked. Would have been very different and interesting!
I also wish there were more scenes that had to do with the Outlander camps and the different people that had found their way there. It's the first in a trilogy so I know a lot is yet to be answered but I was curious to see why and how the time travel happened.
I also couldn't understand the instant love connection between Summer and Gage. I really liked Gage as a character but I wanted to know more about each of them to see what they saw in each other. And I was personally Team Landon even though I don't think Landon had a chance, especially after Summer laid eyes on Gage. Go figure, me and my random AU pairings.
I liked the general plot of Phantom Universe but it was hard for me to relate to Summer. The issues that are explored with her are difficult to communicate (literally and metaphorically for her) but I felt like I wanted Jaden (my favorite character) to be the focus of the story. That is just my personal opinion, though, because the story would have been a very different one if Jaden was the protagonist.
I liked the friends that Summer met in the Outlander camp and the action in the story--very vivid and fast-paced and exciting.
I really liked the ending because I wasn't expecting it (always a plus!) and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I love the universe in Phantom Universe and Kreitzer's does a great job in world-building. Now, I just need to know what's going to happen to Summer and her friends!
The story was different from any that I have ever read before and I loved the scenes that were set in the future and the people that Summer met. The book started off really interesting--I loved the rush and anxiety of it. Made you jump into the story very quickly. I love sci-fi/fantasy and dystopian books and Phantom Universe had a bit of it all. There was time travel and a future that was full of interesting yet believable gadgets and I loved how Canada conquered the U.S. in the future. (I'm sure my Canadian friends would love that bit, as well.)
I was confused at times when Summer was a slave on the pirate boat because I kept picturing pirates a la Captain Sparrow that stole big screen TVs. I would have loved to see scenes where they steal from 21st century freighters and how it all worked. Would have been very different and interesting!
I also wish there were more scenes that had to do with the Outlander camps and the different people that had found their way there. It's the first in a trilogy so I know a lot is yet to be answered but I was curious to see why and how the time travel happened.
I also couldn't understand the instant love connection between Summer and Gage. I really liked Gage as a character but I wanted to know more about each of them to see what they saw in each other. And I was personally Team Landon even though I don't think Landon had a chance, especially after Summer laid eyes on Gage. Go figure, me and my random AU pairings.
I liked the general plot of Phantom Universe but it was hard for me to relate to Summer. The issues that are explored with her are difficult to communicate (literally and metaphorically for her) but I felt like I wanted Jaden (my favorite character) to be the focus of the story. That is just my personal opinion, though, because the story would have been a very different one if Jaden was the protagonist.
I liked the friends that Summer met in the Outlander camp and the action in the story--very vivid and fast-paced and exciting.
I really liked the ending because I wasn't expecting it (always a plus!) and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I love the universe in Phantom Universe and Kreitzer's does a great job in world-building. Now, I just need to know what's going to happen to Summer and her friends!
samisokay's review
5.0
This book was absolutely amazing. It was- wow. I don't even have the words to describe it. This book was beautifully written, and had a sci-fi aspect to it, though it was written as though it was really happening. The characters were all very well described, and the story nicely flowed. I can't wait for the sequel, and I am so glad that Laura Kreitzer decided to be an author. Wow. Just...wow.
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