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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
3.5 Stars - I was happy with this one, the ending was perfect and I totally cried... but at the same time it just didn’t “captivate” me like the first one did. It moves very slow and didn’t seem to have as much history mixed in as the first one did. I do love the amazing diversity in this and how Bracken addresses issues of oppression throughout history and highlights ways things have changed throughout time. It’s really great and I actually learned a few things. I did feel that the character and relationship development in this one was much weaker than the first. We miss out on a lot of the emotional draw that she had in the first. For me that’s the biggest motivator in keeping me reading so I struggled a lot finishing this one for that reason. However I LOVED the overall plot! When you combine all the moving parts of this story; the technicalities of time traveling, keeping family histories, alternate time lines and other things historically accurate – it was all so complex and really well done. I feel really torn because I love and appreciate so much of this duology but at the same time wasn’t that invested in the characters. It's best for fans of time travel and slow moving historical fiction with lots of details.
Note: If you haven’t read Passenger recently, you need a review before diving into this one. Big Time. When I went into this the first time, I really needed to go back and refresh several times. I highly recommend marathon reading these two books (back-to-back) because there’s so many moving parts and little things you’ll miss if you wait in between.
Note: If you haven’t read Passenger recently, you need a review before diving into this one. Big Time. When I went into this the first time, I really needed to go back and refresh several times. I highly recommend marathon reading these two books (back-to-back) because there’s so many moving parts and little things you’ll miss if you wait in between.
3.5 stars
Um first of all, why did this take me 20 days to read? 20 days. WHAT?!? thats like nearly 3 weeks. Now I am currently 1 book ahead of schedule. So thanks Wayfarer. Thank you very much.
Second of all, I have no idea why it took me this long to read this. I really don't know. I really hope I don't get in a reading slump.
And third of all, I did enjoy this book I just don't understand why it took so long to read it. So yes, if anyone knows why it took me 3 WEEKS to read this, plz. Do tell.
Um first of all, why did this take me 20 days to read? 20 days. WHAT?!? thats like nearly 3 weeks. Now I am currently 1 book ahead of schedule. So thanks Wayfarer. Thank you very much.
Second of all, I have no idea why it took me this long to read this. I really don't know. I really hope I don't get in a reading slump.
And third of all, I did enjoy this book I just don't understand why it took so long to read it. So yes, if anyone knows why it took me 3 WEEKS to read this, plz. Do tell.
This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. My thanks go to Alexandra Bracken, Hatchette Children’s Group and Netgalley for the opportunity
When I read Passenger about a year ago I was left with love hate feelings for the book. At times the pace pulled me along, breathless and excited to see what happened next. Yet also there were dense periods of unnecessary introspection and exposition which weighed down those shining moments; ultimately tarnishing them. I found the lead characters dull in comparison to the supporting ones; always aching for more of the latter and instead being weighed down by an abundance of the former.
Unfortunately I found Wayfarer much the same – with the caveat that pacing is certainly improved here and there is lot more from the characters I loved. Alexandra Bracken did a lot of laying down of framework in the first instalment, which left Wayfarer with many, many strands to tie up. Ultimately that wasn’t a bad thing, because it kept things interesting. Yet somehow, despite everything that was going on, Wayfarer still felt far, far too long.
Firstly a potentially unpopular opinion – I liked Etta and Nicholas being separated. I found their journeys with Julian and the Thorns and Sophia and Li Minh (respectively) far more interesting than their shared adventures in the first book. Perhaps this is because the side characters are easily as compelling, if not more so, as our heroes. I know the central romance is supposed to be a massive part of the book, but it never really worked for me. Therefore the less of it, in my eyes, the better (in fact, let’s swap it for Sophia and Li Minh!).
In contrast to the good, there was the not so good. Ironwood didn’t feel like he was given the time to really dominate the lives of the characters; always a hissed name and a changing landscape as opposed to an actual presence. Whilst his actions were terrifying, I wanted more than just consequences of his actions – I wanted a character I could loathe. The other big bad, to be frank, I found faintly ridiculous, as menacing as it was supposed to be. If there had been more build up I would definitely have bought into them but, as it stands, I just didn’t see the point of their inclusion.
Wayfarer is definitely an improvement on its predecessor but for me there was always a slight sense of wistful disappointment for what might have been. Bracken is undoubtedly a talented writer. She is also to be applauded for including both a non-white male lead and non-het supporting characters into a genre sorely lacking both. However I found her plots in this case are too multitudinous; making a strong concept unnecessarily drawn out and messy. A sharper edit and this duology would be amazing. As it stands I’m still in that same love-hate place I was twelve months ago.
When I read Passenger about a year ago I was left with love hate feelings for the book. At times the pace pulled me along, breathless and excited to see what happened next. Yet also there were dense periods of unnecessary introspection and exposition which weighed down those shining moments; ultimately tarnishing them. I found the lead characters dull in comparison to the supporting ones; always aching for more of the latter and instead being weighed down by an abundance of the former.
Unfortunately I found Wayfarer much the same – with the caveat that pacing is certainly improved here and there is lot more from the characters I loved. Alexandra Bracken did a lot of laying down of framework in the first instalment, which left Wayfarer with many, many strands to tie up. Ultimately that wasn’t a bad thing, because it kept things interesting. Yet somehow, despite everything that was going on, Wayfarer still felt far, far too long.
Firstly a potentially unpopular opinion – I liked Etta and Nicholas being separated. I found their journeys with Julian and the Thorns and Sophia and Li Minh (respectively) far more interesting than their shared adventures in the first book. Perhaps this is because the side characters are easily as compelling, if not more so, as our heroes. I know the central romance is supposed to be a massive part of the book, but it never really worked for me. Therefore the less of it, in my eyes, the better (in fact, let’s swap it for Sophia and Li Minh!).
Spoiler
One plot point I couldn’t get enough of was Etta and her Father. Without spoiling who that is, or their role in the book, I found every single scene they were in together to be raw and heartbreaking whilst at the same time wholly joy filled. Bracken wrote something incredibly real when she wrote that relationship and it was probably the thing that will sit with me longest in this duology.In contrast to the good, there was the not so good. Ironwood didn’t feel like he was given the time to really dominate the lives of the characters; always a hissed name and a changing landscape as opposed to an actual presence. Whilst his actions were terrifying, I wanted more than just consequences of his actions – I wanted a character I could loathe. The other big bad, to be frank, I found faintly ridiculous, as menacing as it was supposed to be. If there had been more build up I would definitely have bought into them but, as it stands, I just didn’t see the point of their inclusion.
Wayfarer is definitely an improvement on its predecessor but for me there was always a slight sense of wistful disappointment for what might have been. Bracken is undoubtedly a talented writer. She is also to be applauded for including both a non-white male lead and non-het supporting characters into a genre sorely lacking both. However I found her plots in this case are too multitudinous; making a strong concept unnecessarily drawn out and messy. A sharper edit and this duology would be amazing. As it stands I’m still in that same love-hate place I was twelve months ago.
Although I can't really say anything bad about this duology, besides that the ending seemed a bit rushed but I never really got into these books. I really liked the main and characters and the settings though, especially the different times and places. If someone's really into tome travel, this is the book to read!
Finally finished and I'm so happy! I really enjoyed this book & this series in general. I would highly recommend if you adore time travel & history. One of my favorite things about these books is probably the characters. In my opinion they're really well rounded and complex and I adore that in any book. Also will also be fasinated by this world and Alexandra Bracken's take on time travel. I think it's really unique and interesting and I've loved learning about it all through these books.
3.75 stars. I really enjoyed Wayfarer but I don't think it's quite as good as the first book. Still a good read, just not as strong for me.